DISCLAIMER: I don't own these characters and they're likely a bit out of character, so don't sue me. I loves my Swissy, and I was conned into putting him with Vietnam by people who know who they are and blah blah blah disclaimer stuff are you still reading this? Get to the blankety blank story already!

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The day was a cool one, as was per usual in the beautiful land of Switzerland, and I was tapping my gloved hand on the table in front of me, awaiting the arrival of the girl I was supposed to be entertaining this evening.

I looked up as the bell rang. Well, this was it. I got up and headed over, pulling the door open, eyes interested as they found themselves trailing down along the Vietnamese girl. She'd... dressed up. I glanced down at myself, in my white t-shirt, green pants and black gloves. Awkward...

Blinking, green eyes lifted to the dark-haired girl. She turned her eyes away as she leaned over in front of me. What in the world is she doing? "Oh!" She's BOWING, you dolt! You've done your research, you KNOW these things! I bowed back to her. "Chao da."

"Chao co." She straightened up and gave me a strange look as if I'd insulted her in that terribly smooth and almost sultry voice.

"Did I say something wrong?"

The girl whose beauty rivaled even my sister's laughed lightly. Wait, she *laughed*? Why was she laughing? "Xin lỗi.. I'm sorry. I spend so much time alone with my brother that I forget other nations don't know the language. When you said 'Chao da', you were calling me an old woman."

"Ehh? Es tut mir furchtbar Leid! I didn't mean..." I cleared my throat, trying to stop myself from this outburst of foolishness.

"I know you didn't."

And that was when the awkward silence rolled in like a thick fog. I found myself looking at my shoes, then counting the boards that made up the wall. I don't know what she was doing, but I hope she wasn't feeling this awkward... Well... break the silence, idiot. "Dinner will be a little while, but I've got some hors d'oevres set up on the terrace."

"Whore... derbies?"

"Hors d'oevres. Snacks."

"Oh. Oh! I hope you've got kimchi! I know it's Korean, but I do like it~"

"Oh... well... mostly I've got my own specialties..."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure those will be good, too.."

I brought her out onto the terrace, where I had set up a cheese fondue pot with perfect cubes of bread, crackers with some of the finest cheeses I have to offer, and many different types of chocolate in several different flavors. I scratched the back of my head when she looked disappointed. I didn't know what she wanted. I wish I did. "Please have a seat and help yourself. Have as much as you like."

"Do you eat like this every day?"

"Hah? No, not every day. Only on special occasions."

"Then what is the occasion?"

"...I have company today."

"I see."

Well, this looked like it was going to be a giant disaster right from the start.

"Are the two of us supposed to finish all of this?"

"What? Mein Gott, no. These things will keep for quite awhile in the refrigerator. I don't like throwing things away. Not to say that we can't if you decide you'd like to."

"..." She took a seat at the table. The one Liechtenstein always sits in. "I've never had Swiss chocolate or cheese. They're supposed to be sme of the best in the world, aren't they?"

"The best on the chocolate. I get a lot of my cheese from France.. Try it, see what you like."

She did hesitantly taste the fondue first. I could feel the corners of my mouth turning up as her perfect eyebrows lifted and she moved to have some more, and then on to try other things as well. I joined her in merrily snacking on chocolate and cheese, though the conversation was at a standstill. I pulled my pocket-watch out to check the time. "Dinner should be about ready. I'm going to go check on it." I excused myself and went inside. Of course it was done by this point, but I wanted to give myself a moment. I poured a glass of wine for myself and drank it as I was getting everything ready to be served. Maybe it would relax me a bit. I settled two dishes and two smaller ones on a tray along with a fresh bottle of wine and two glasses to bring them out to the table. Once I'd gotten it all settled and had taken my seat again, she looked warily at the food in the dishes. "I promise it's all delicious. This is Zurich Geschnetzeltes, veal with mushrooms. And this is Rosti. Potatoes with cheese. And these are pickled onions, and strudel for after."

"..Well..." I had already started dishing out her first helping of everything, minus the strudel of course, that was dessert, so she couldn't refuse. She swallowed and picked up her fork, looking at it oddly. What was it with Asian nations and eating with twigs? She figured it out pretty quickly, tasting the Zurich Geschnetzeltes, and again, she seemed pleased. All in all, I do believe she liked my food choices. The time we were eating was spent in a less awkward silence as she enjoyed the meal.

When we had finished, it was becoming awkward again. And anyone who knows me will know that when I'm feeling awkward, I have a habit. I was cleaning my pistol without even realizing it. I looked up when I felt those dark eyes staring at me. "What?"

"Where did you have that?"

It took me a moment to figure out what she was talking about. "Wh-? Oh, the gun?" I looked down into my hands, and by the time I looked up, she was holding a sword that looked like a katana. "Where...?"

"It's a secret~" She chuckled. "Do you have a lot of weapons?"

"More than anyone knows. Do you?"

"I've got an arsenal. I've got guns and launchers, but I like the traditional feel of a sword in my hand."

I could feel a smile pulling onto my lips as hers did the same.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize the time."

"That's alright, Vash. I had a really good time."

It was several hours later when we finally realized that it was dark out and midnight had come and gone without anyone noticing. It's amazing how quickly time can pass when you're discussing weaponry. "It's late. You can stay the night here if you like. I have a guest bedroom."

"No no, I must be getting home. My brother would be displeased if I stayed." She drew closer to me. "Maybe next time." She leaned in and kissed my cheek, and I felt heat rising in my cheeks like I'd never felt before as she turned and started down the walk.

I watched her go and couldn't help but smile again. There was going to be a 'next time'.