(This one is pretty long so I've decided to split it into chapters. Well, hope you like it! -Itite Emakoiji xxx)

"Oh bother, I do believe I am lost!" Britain shook his head and looked around at the snow-covered evergreen trees. A small bird was perched on one of the tree's branches and it chirped shortly before flying off.

Britain sighed, his breath coming in clouds, "Well, I guess there's nothing to be done but retrace my steps and start again," he said and turned, but he could not see any footprints. The silent show had seen fit to cover them. Britain shivered. It was not just that he was cold, but there was certain eerie presence in the clearing. It felt as if… someone… was watching him. Carefully, he looked around. There was no one he could see, but the feeling kept on bugging him.

"H-hello?" Britain said.

"Hi."

Britain felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up in shock and he whirled around. And, standing there was… nothing? Britain blinked and looked a little harder.

"Oh! America. Why did you not say something?" he said, relieved to have finally seen the mystery figure.

"Be-because I'm not America…?" said the figure weakly. It sounded as if he was fed up of something, but still happy to continue to imply it. "I'm his brother, Canada."

"Oh, of course," said Britain simply, looking sheepish.

Canada smiled and took a couple of steps towards the other blond man who was tugging at his coat to avoid eye contact.

"I've got coffee at my place… if you're cold…" Canada murmured, trying to make his statement sound like an invite. Britain didn't know it, but Canada was so desperately lonely that he would ask anyone over just so that he could be accepted into the warmth of their friendship.

"Are you inviting me over?" Britain asked, unsure of what his companion meant by that.

Canada merely nodded shyly, clasping Kumajirou, his bear, close to him. Britain looked Canada up and down. He certainly did not seem like a dangerous person. He actually looked rather ostracized and, even though he was smiling, there was sadness in his eyes. Britain usually was not great at reading facial expressions, but Canada's was so severe that it was hard to get it wrong.

"If I'm not intruding on anything," Britain said politely, "I'd love to come."

Canada was certainly not expecting this, so when Britain said he would come, Canada had to suppress the urge to jump for joy. Canada didn't know it, but Britain was so shunned by the other countries that he would always try for new friends. Britain followed Canada, the two of them walking through the snow, happy and content, in silence, until they reached Canada's chalet.

"Many a time have I not been accepted by my fellow man."

"… Tell me more."

"Many days go by when I just wish I had… friends. Any friends."

The jade-green eyes closed and the man they belonged to sighed. He tried to make it sound hearty, but there was a slight sob there. His hair, the colour of yellow leaves in the autumn, fell over his eyes to stop the other one who was sitting opposite from him and listening carefully from seeing him cry.

The other man smiled. "It's okay. Don't feel bad for crying. Tears make a strong man. Tears mean you are able to accept and understand."

The man with the jade-green eyes looked up into the sky-blue ones of his companion.

"I only wish I could believe you. But I am afraid I cannot," he said, looking away from his host. "Please. You don't have to allow me to stay here. Just say and I will go."

"Britain…" his companion laid a hand on his.

"… Why do you touch my hand?" Britain said, looking up fiercely.

The hand withdrew quickly as the blue-eyed man flinched.

"I am sorry. I am not used to… affection…" said Britain apologetically.

"Then allow me to take your hands."

Britain let the other man take his and he felt steadier. He sat up a little straighter.

"Canada, what are you making of this?"

The other man, Canada, smiled. The room of Canada's house became a little dimmer and the snow fell on the ground even quieter than usual, like it did not want to disturb the two. The fire crackled and expelled its warmth into the room. The picture above the fire, a picture of a young Canada, seemed to smile. Canada was not one to be egotistical, but the portrait was one he was proud to own and display. Why? Because, when Britain and France were looking after him and America, Britain had taken time out of his own schedule to paint it just for Canada.

"Britain, what do you think I'm making of this?" Canada said quietly. It was normal for him to be quiet. Britain could often hear Kumajirou talk louder than Canada. Even though Canada was Kumajirou's owner, Canada just wasn't cut out for owning anything. So, obviously, Canada was not cut out to be a Seme, either. Britain looked down at their hands. Canada's were on top of Britain's. That was not right. Not now that Britain had figured out that Canada could never be 'on top', as it were. He looked straight into Canada's soft, blue eyes and smiled slightly. He took his hands out from under Canada's and placed them on top.

"No, you're not making anything of this. I will be the one making something of this. And all you have to do is follow my lead…"

As Britain rose from his chair, towards Canada and over the coffee table, the snow fell even more quietly. The fire hushed and the portrait of young Canada seemed to close its eyes, to give the two men the privacy they wanted. And Kumajirou, sitting over in the corner, smiled and shook his head. He got up and walked, as steadily as he could, towards the door.

Kumajirou pulled the door open and it creaked. Canada opened his eyes and tried to push Britain away so that he could see what was happening behind the chair. He managed to pull himself up in time to see Kumajirou tiptoe through the door.

"Ku-Kumajirou? Where are you going?" Canada cried.

Britain twitched. How dare Canada start thinking about that bear! He pushed himself off Canada and swung around, retightening his belt as he did so.

"Yes, where are you going, bear?" he said, his voice an icy cold.

Kumajirou turned and faced the man, perfectly calm, "You don't want to be disturbed. I thought I'd leave you two alone to do what you wanted to," he said.

"But… you can stay!" Canada said.

"Oh no he can't! I have no idea why he can talk, but he cannot stay!" Britain said, stamping towards Kumajirou over the wooden floor. He picked Kumajirou up by the ear and carried him to the front door of Canada's chalet.

"What are you doing?" Kumajirou squeaked.

"I'm making sure you don't disturb us," Britain said, swinging open the door. The cold wind yawned into the chalet, making the golden-leaf-coloured hair of Britain wave.

"No no no! I was just going to go back to Canada's Toybox with the rest of my other friends!"

Britain blinked. "There are more of you?!" he swung around to face Canada, who had hurriedly followed him out. Canada winced and stepped backwards quickly.

"You have a toybox? You're a grown man, and you have a toybox?!" Britain marched towards Canada, dropping Kumajirou on the way and pushed Canada up against the wall.

"P-please tell me this is just violent forepla-!" his sentence was cut off as Britain pushed hard against him.

"No, please tell me what you, a grown man, are doing with a child's toybox," Britain's voice was hard and cold. It was obvious to Canada that he was not playing games.

"I-"

"Show it to me!" Britain said, pushing Canada along the hallway. "Show it to me!"

Kumajirou ran to Canada's leg and Canada hastily picked him up.

"Why… why are you yelling at me, Britain?" Canada asked quietly. He had taken a gamble. He did not want to anger Britain further.

"Why?! I'll tell you why! How can I love a man who is so attached to his childhood that he puts toys before boys?!"

Canada stepped backwards, fearfully looking at Britain. Kumajirou hugged Canada's arms as Canada turned and ran towards his bedroom. Britain was not following yet, so Canada shot into his bedroom opened his toybox.

"What are you doing?" Kumajirou said as Canada started hauling his toys, mostly polar bears, out of the box and onto the red rug.

"I'm getting rid of these. I can't have these and Britain. And I really… I really don't want to lose him…" Canada said, putting Kumajirou down.

"You're getting rid of me, too?" Kumajirou said, unable to believe it. Canada stopped. Could he really get rid of his best friend?