Chapter 2: ASEAN+America, Russians and Canada

"All right everyone. Let's get going then. Nothing to do here anymore." Thailand remarked as he turned off the lights and closed the door behind us. ASEAN Members, plus America, headed downstairs to head out of the school and to freedom.

As we walked a long the courtyard, Cambodia flipped her phone back in her bag as she had talked over with Poland "Looks like the Baltics will be joining us, Latvia's going to buy a new laptop as a present by Estonia."

"So expected of him" we all muttered out loud.

"The good news is, they'll drive for us since we're all going to the same place. Isn't that great?"

I smiled as everyone of us cheered as we heade dover to the parking lot. Thailand chuckled along with the other boys as they watched us. "Are you guys also heading over to the new mall? Looks like we'll be heading there in a convoy." he remarked as he pointed to his car.

"We're going to check out the new arcade there! They said there was laser-tag , and ain't that cool!" Malaysia said happily and started to become giddy. "I can't wait to kick all of your butts!"

"Oh brother, don't make any promises you can't keep. We all know I will be the victor in the end." Indonesia remarked as he struck his brother in the head and they were already onto an electrifying staring match.

"Oh it is so on!" Myanmar remarked and watched in glee as the two brothers started to pummel each other and Brunei only watched from afar and sighed loudly.

"All right you two, don't raise it to Signal 3, if ever. Just do it once we get to the mall." Thailand remarked as he pulled the two fighting brothers off each other by the collars as they flailed their arms to get away from Thailand. A surprise attack, he bumped both of their heads together that made them yelp and touch their bursting heads. "Now, be good boys and don't mess up here. Okay?"

"Truce until the game.." both murmured as they rubbed their hit marks as the rest of us just watched them dumbfounded.

"Thailand really acts as the pacifier of the group, I see.." America chuckled as he whispered to me. "I would have wanted to see another brawl of those two, they're fun to watch.." I could only shrug my shoulders and looked up to the voice calling us.

"Hey, everyone. Over here!" they all looked to the direction of the voice to notice Lithuania as he waved at them beside a van along with Poland, the two Baltics and two girls beside them. As we approached them, we recognized who they were.

"Hi guys, Ukraine and Belarus will be joining us as well today. They said they needed some help on their hair, all right with you guys?" Estonia explained as he pointed to the two Russian sisters.

We all gulped in surprise. We didn't mind having Ukraine but Belarus was hell scary. Why? Oh you know why.

"Thanks in advance for helping us. I'll be sure to repay the favor one day." the BIG brother of Russia commented and bowed to us in thanks, and we had to make sure the boys weren't watching too much of the action. We all smiled at Ukraine, she really was kind and all, but we were really scared of the lurking presence behind her.

"Where is big brother, you told me he would be here, big sister..where is he.." she remarked with venom in her voice as she latched onto her big sister. Ukraine jumped and ran off to hide behind Lithuania's back, since he was the closest.

"Ahh. I didn't say that, Belarus! Lithuania, she's scaring me!"

"Ah. Miss Belarus. Please calm yourself." Estonia tried to comfort the younger Russian but Latvia came to say something.

"Russia won't be coming here. We're only going for a makeover with the rest of th-" and he was also stopped as Belarus showed a knife she had been hiding under her belt, that sent him hiding over to Estonia's back.

"You lied to me..how dare you, you dare get in the way of our love.."

"Miss Belarus! Please put that away! You'll be suspended if they spot you with that!" Lithuania rushed forward to remove the knife from the young girl but jumped back as she started slashing at them while growling.

"Are you hiding him from me..where..where is he?"

And the rest of them had already screamed in horror as she was being enveloped by a large mass of darkness and terror as she stared at them with her knife in hand. Everyone was shaking already in terror as she closed in on them..dark clouds looming behind her, lightning flashing across the sky..loud panic-making music..

"Wow..I didn't expect, like, your hair to be this smooth, Belarus.." Poland's voice cam from behind her as he massaged the hair in his fingers.

"Yeah. Her hair really is smooth. It's quite a natural, what shampoo do you use..it's too good for just a spa treatment!" I answered as well as I combed it in my fingers. Belarus, well, she did scare me a lot, especially since I got close to Russia when one of my bosses visited him. Somehow, I was able to avert the danger away from me as I told her I would help in making Russia like her..somehow. (read my other story: Philippines visits Russia) So..Belarus and I somehow remained close. Not that she would always be with me but I can be counted as the few people who can approach her..without shaking.

"Ahh..you think so?" she asked meekly, surprised and embarrassed by our sudden appearance and then touched her hair to see if we were telling the truth.

"Yes. And surely with a makeover, we can make you look fantastic!"

"Will..will it..will it make my big brother love me?" she asked in a hopeful tone, leaving the knife behind which nearly clashed near a poor Latvian's feet and grabbing my hand. "Will he, Philippines?"

"Err..I'm sure he'll like you much more if we changed it a bit. Add that to the ladylike lessons I gave you when I visited, and he might."

"R-Really?" she asked with her hopes up.

"Yeah. Don't worry. Your brother did notice it when we were together, right? So, let's get you all make-overed and then who knows what the effects will be!" I remarked as I comforted the Belarussian.

"I-I'll take your word for it, Philippines." she remarked as she clutched my hands in gratitude.

"Dear Lord, I am so praying for that tonight.." I thought over as the others filed into their respective cars. ASEAN Boys with Thailand. ASEAN Girls, the Baltics and Belarus and Ukraine in the jeep of Lithuania.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'll take Vietnam along with me in my car! We're also heading to the mall since I reserved some se-" America exclaimed as he pulled Vietnam who was still complaining away from them and had hushed him but we got the message.

As I was about to get on, my phone started to vibrate, and the song was "Absolutely Invincible British Gentleman...Nice ring tone there, Maria.." America called as he and Vietnam stopped to turn at her.

"Oh, put a zip on it!" I remarked as I took out my phone and checked my message. "It's..augh.."

"W-What's wrong?" Brunei asked worriedly since I made a face.

"Sorry guys. I'll catch up on you later. Looks like I've got some club activities to deal with.."

"Club activities? After exam?" Ukraine asked me in surprise.

"I didn't know you were in a club, Maria." Poland said in surprise as he stood by the car door.

"She's part of the Magic Club." Lithuania explained as Poland gave a loud Oh.

"Tsk. What does Arthur want from me now..God.." I heard a soft snicker and looked at my Malay brothers "What?"

"Well, aren't you guys close?" Indonesia and Malaysia chirped as they snickered beside me that made me want to hit them next time with my arnis sticks.

"Pardon?"

"See, even starting to use his terms. I usually hear you say it as 'Excuse me?' as I had taught you." America exclaimed in surprise "Has being with him affected you as well?"

"You even called him by his first name, Arthur!" that was Belarus.

Surprised by what I had been doing as well and realizing what they meant, "Eh. Geez. That means nothing!"

"Oh, she's being defensive! What you've got to hide?" Laos exclaimed and giggled at my outburst.

"Guh. Guys. What do I have to hide and say about him? All he does is tease me and send me insults day after day!" I finally complained out loud as I turned to them with a glare..which I think didn't work well.

"Yeah..those small fights were quite cute to watch.." Poland mentioned and laughed.

"Well, I'm starting to not find them enjoyable. Pretty irritating as he does it to me all the time.."

The next comment..by Latvia, certainly made me speechless "Maybe he's just trying to catch your attention?"

Although the others looked at her with a glare, I gave her a blank stare "Of course..he just wants to continue with a word match. He must have my attention!"

"That's..not it.." Estonia remarked at the same time and all seemed to have facepalmed. Why?

"I think I get what she means.." Myanmar remarked as he turned to me.

"Huh?"

"You know, England hardly goes about talking to other people. He did have that splendid Isolation and stuff you know.." Ukraine explained to me.

Thailand added to her answer. "But..those that he really talks to are the ones who are special to him..well some by colonies and territories.."

"So you mean..even if France and you America go and all out at him, as he talks to you it means you guys are special?" I asked.

"..including you.." Cambodia concluded and turned to my disbelieving face.

"Hah. As if.." I grinned and took it as a joke. Seriously..

"We mean it..I'm saying that as I had been his colony before, Piri. England doesn't USUALLY act like that..he does it mostly when the person is special.." Singapore told her.

America came forward to answer "And he's pretty toned it down now..well unless France and I are in the room..but, he does it with you too.."

"So..what can you derive from that.." Malaysia asked me as I tried to take in all they said.

"What I can only see..is that England acts just like how Malaysia and Indonesia tease me..so I'd call it some sort of brotherly affection." I explained calmly "He just likes to tease me since I am the perfect target after all.."

"Still..not what we really meant.." Vietnam sighed and looked at me this time with a sad look.

"Piri..can't you see that-" Laos started but had to stop as he noticed me glaring.

"Look ." Crossing my arms, puffing my cheeks, and giving them the best glare I could muster and talking ton them with venom. "Guys..just get going or else I'll lose my cool.."

"All right, speaking aside. Well, join any of us if you want to have some fun. You know where we'll be!" Thailand exclaimed and patted me on the head. Somehow it alleviated my mood as he pushed them away from me although they were still screaming something about me and England.

"Catch up on us, okay!" they all screamed as they left the gates. I know they meant that since they wouldn't be able to handle Belarus for too long.

As soon as they had left, I turned over and headed back inside the school. But, geez..not again. Matthew had even talked to me about this as well last weekend.

-After Library Help-

With Matthew's help, I finally understood most of the concepts. Since it was already sunset and we hadn't eaten anything much, we decided to head out to eat at the closest Pancake House. As we munched onto some pancakes, Matthew mumbled something to me.

"What was that?" I asked as I cut some pancakes into smaller pieces and offered some for his pet.

"A-Arthur's here as well.." he pointed to one corner of the shop behind me and I couldn't mistake the Briton as he sipped on his cup of tea. But was he glaring at us?

Turning away from him with a loud, Hmph!, I returned my attention to Matthew as he still glanced at England. "Leave him be, just think he's another regular customer.."

"But he's glaring at you..and then me..is something wrong?"

"He's normally like that..always glaring at everything.." I stuffed some pancakes into my mouth but forgot to put some syrup.. "Augh.. he may just be here to eat.."

"But..England hardly visits this shop..I'm a regular customer so I should know..Could he be following you?" he asked as I spluttered on my orange juice.

"W-What are you talking about? Of course not!" I looked back to see him also looking at me surprised but gave a sly smirk as he read his newspaper. "Why would he want to follow me..tsk."

"Well..he was at the library a while ago and I noticed him many times and he seemed to have followed us as well here.."

"He must have been hungry as well, plain coincidence.." I mumbled as I placed more syrup on my pancakes.

Matthew gave a thoughtful look at me and then to him. "Why didn't you ask him to help you with your studies?"

"Huh? Why-"

"I mean..he is the 2nd to the top ranking student, under Heracles, and Francis and him usually fight over the second spot..you guys are in the same club, so I would have thought you would have asked him instead.." Matthew mumbled as his polar bear asked for more.

I glanced over again as England suddenly stood up and headed over to the counter, maybe to order something else. At least he was still far off. "Well..I'm kind of still embarrassed to ask him about it..I mean, yeah. Because he's high and all?"

"But he did try to ask about your problem back at the library.."

I blushed at his statement "Y-You saw that?"

"Not much, but basing it on how you guys went out of the same lane and he glanced at you as you returned the book, I would say he did ask and you refused?"

"I guess you heard us. Geez..kind of. But, I got to have more fun and understand the concepts more with you! I mean..if he did teach me, he would have taunted or teased me more and I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on my studies.." I explained in one breath.

"Really?" he asked with a slight tilt of the head which kind of made me pissed off a bit. "I'm not saying I don't believe you, Piri..I kind of know you guys usually are like that..but I could tell he was sincere when he wanted to help you.."

"You..think so?"

"Yeah..well, he never usually goes and give help to other people. You're right that he's high and mighty and all, but it is kind of rare to find him wanting to help someone. So I do think he really wanted to help you and not mock you. Maybe you should accept his help. He might be looking out for you.." he answered as he took in another bite.

"I..I see.." I mumbled out as I dipped more of my pancake in the ice cream and the sauce. "No..no way. As if. That guy's just being a gentleman. Maybe..just like that..haha.." I shrugged it off and waved my hand to emphasize what I meant.

Matthew gave an exasperated sigh and a sad look at the Briton who he noticed was still glancing at her "If that's what you think.."

A/N: Yes, most of the characters here are OOC. Poor Piri. Sorry if there are lots of flashbacks..I just want to show her relationship with the other characters..somehow. Thank you Google Translate for the Russian words!

Redone Note: I placed the Russia story in a different file as it seemed not much connected with the main plot of the story. I meant flashbacks as a recap of how her relationship goes with England. Thank you!