Karen here! To tell you the truth, I really didn't think that it is more than six months that I have updated this... Then again, I have been busy with other fanfictions and then there's school and other excuses and reasons. So, here is the second chapter.
Chapter 2: Shadow
Shadows are part of us, for they'll be there wherever you go… Shadows can hide in the dark and hold a part that's the true you… So if the right light comes at you, your shadow will be revealed…
Durarara!
Everyone has dreams. Dreams can be: a conscious, a foreshadower, a meaning, or something meaningless to have. But to a certain man, he didn't know what to call it…
He dreams of something unusual. The dream he has isn't blurry at all but is clear as if it is reality. When he is in his dream is a village in the past with no such things as skyscrapers, sub stations, or any of the technology used in the present. The village is peaceful, with kids playing their games and there are adults having civil conversations that he couldn't believe it was Ikebukuro… Or really, how he knows it is Ikebukuro…
He just stands there and watches. Though… he didn't know the people in this village could see him even if it is a dream. He just stands there and watches as people just go on their usual life as if there's nothing really to worry about at all… There are some people working with determination and sometimes together or go solo and for this little village or for others… With some of the people outside or inside either writing or drawing something that is indeed ancient and historical…
Of course, it is until he sees a turtle staring right at his eyes. Yet like the male, it seems no one sees the turtle but it could see them. It's not like they are ghosts, but it's just that there's an invincible force that makes the people get near them, especially somehow the kids. Then… how exactly did the turtle did get there…?
The turtle soon slowly, like any turtle would, turn around and walks away… The male didn't know what he should do as he watches the turtle soon stops after taking some steps and with its unique and incredible body structure, it looked like it's waiting for him to follow. It stares at what could be fully black eyes on him, as if telling or even demanding him to follow it.
As he took a few steps, the turtle begins to walk again. But this time, the turtle walks faster as if those previous first slow steps are indeed a sign for him to follow it. After taking a few big steps, the male soon is side to side with turtle, following it as they walk away from the village. He didn't know why but he couldn't help but follow the turtle. He knows this is a dream and all of what's around him isn't real but he just follows the turtle…
Walking away from the peaceful village, the male sees… lakes.
Not just a couple of lakes but incredibly large numbers of them that seemed countless. It is incredible to see the pure blue water from all he lived is the city with its flashing colorful signs, windows of light for people who are going to be out late, and metal and concrete that he all ever stepped in.
It really seem like he was back in time of Ikebukuro… It is really strange that he knows this…
Also, there's a lake that's different from the rest. There, that lake is shaped like… someone holding a bag… Indeed there other oddly shaped lakes that could have taken the man's attention, but somehow… this one interests him the most for some reason.
Could it be that this somehow reminds him of Ikebukuro…? And in some way, how?
Just walking to the lake with curiosity and something else, he just looks closer to this lake. Like any other lake, it was clean and blue but… this one had a slight grayish shade or tone for the water. Usually no one would see it far and in first glance but as he walks closer and closer to the lake, the more he observes it… Something about this lake just reminds of Ikebukuro… but what?
He just now stops walking for he's right in front of the lake. Really, why is it so intriguing?
Also, how come he is so calm about this? How does he know this is a dream? How is it that he's dreaming of what could be Ikebukuro in the past? How is it really important that he's having this dream? How could this dream have any message? Meaning? Or maybe the dream could be a warning for something to come?
The man was never the one who is fascinated by dreams. For how could dreams be important when you just forget about them a few moments later? But he knew that he cannot forget about this dream, this dream had something. It had importance to it, and it had meaning that he just couldn't figure out…
As if to answer him, something came out of the pond, something alive…
And surprisingly, it was… the turtle?
He raises an eyebrow in question and just stares at the turtle that just popped up to the water surface with… a bag?
As the turtle just swims slowly (really, it's a turtle) to the land surface while still having a mysterious bag on top of it… for he knew that this was indeed a dream. But really, he didn't know what this dream supposed to mean. Sure, there's a very highly likely chance he'll forget this dream but…
Why does this feel highly unlikely for him to forget it…?
As if wanting to answer him, a sound of rustling came from what appeared a forest from where the lakes end. He really didn't pay much attention around his surrounding for focusing too much on the intriguing lake. Maybe it's because it's a dream but he now focuses on where the rustling is.
"Eh!" He quickly turns to see where that unfamiliar and unknown voice is. Far but near enough, he could see a typical Japanese with fair skin, a bob haircut on his thick black hair, and dark brown eyes that somehow it's hard to see the pupils.
The Japanese is wearing a blue yukata and even though he is coming out of the forest, there's no leaf or scratch or really anything that is dirtying the yukata. It seems he really is back in time… and not in a dream… But what could this Japanese be and what exactly is he doing in the forest…?
The man tries to walk towards the Japanese, whose focus is on the village it seems, but he couldn't… It wasn't because he couldn't move his feet –no, he definitely moved his feet. But strangely, his mind is focused on the man and nothing else. There's a question in his head and is primarily filling his head to curiosity that really, he couldn't really move for his mind wouldn't let him… So why is it that this man seems to be so… familiar…?
There's really nothing about this Japanese man that makes him different from the other Japanese people or really, stand out in the crowd… But strangely there's something that he doesn't know what is making this guy stand out…
…But…
He didn't really get close to the man… For soon just a few steps toward the man, something is holding tightly around his ankle… Causing the man to trip a bit from the surprise but whatever is holding him is holding him even tighter and now is… pulling him into the lake that look someone holding a bag…
Somehow, the man opens his mouth and says something but he just couldn't hear himself. As if in real life, it seemed time slowed down for the man to witness his surroundings before he fully goes into the lake… It seemed now that this is the last time he gets to see Ikebukuro peaceful without cell phones, buildings, cars, or any technology that's happening in his time…
And just before he splashes into the lake, the Japanese man that he was focusing on and was walking to then he turns around. The man could see the Japanese's dark brown eyes more clearly –even though he still couldn't see his pupils still –and soon, those eyes looked at his eyes. Like him, it seems the man could somehow recognize him but not really. Those dark brown eyes soon widen that his irises soon take a lighter shade of color that he could actually see a bit of the pupils and there's more than that… Somehow… something is happening inside of him…
But before the man can recognizes what that something or could look at the Japanese's eyes even longer, he could feel the coldness of the water as he first interacts with the lake. He could feel the hard impact of the lake and then… time went normal…
The lake soon begins sucking the man inside of it. The man soon sees the blue yet cloudy sky as splashes of water spring up and shines from the sunlight. And before he could even blink, the cold water soon splashes into his face and more of the lake water floods it. He didn't get a good breath of air that he knows he isn't going to get hold his breath very long and soon drown if he doesn't do anything soon.
He tries to struggle from what was holding him down but when he looks down…
It's the same turtle that guide him to the lake and one came out of this lake… that's actually biting into his ankle and pulling him deeper and deeper…
Now, he is indeed trying to struggle even though he took a second or more of shock when finding out and is short of needed breath. How can a turtle have such a grip! He needs air. Fast. But he can't. He can't. He can't breathe. He can't move much. He can't do anything.
He can't…
Can't…
Can't breathe…
As if in a snap, his eyes quickly snapped open and his body sat up straight. He tries to take his breath, as if he was indeed drowning. Indeed now, he is taking deep and quick breaths as if after holding his breath underwater too long. Sweat has lightly coated his skin… or is this water from the lake…?
He soon closes his eyes and groans. Now that was stupid. There's no way he could just drown in a lake and just somehow wakes up to been in his bed in any realistic reason at all. Sure, there's a few strange things happening that has became normal to him but he seriously can't believe that he can somehow transport, especially since he was…
Opening his eyes again but then narrowing down, he just realizes something.
Aren't you supposed to not remember much of your dreams…? Then why… why does he remember everything in the dream…?
…What is that dream even about…?
…And is it really only a dream…?
Hetalia
Meanwhile, Japan soon wakes up similar. Sitting up straight and taking deep breaths as quickly as it seems for him, Japan wonders of the dream he just had. He could actually get a clue of what the dream was. This could be the very first meeting of his micronation and really, not really much of a meeting…
From what Japan has heard from Hong Kong, that dream must be the dream of origins. Japan remembered how he was in his village that he once usually sees in the past. The village was, in just one plain word, peaceful. Then there was an owl that seems to be the only thing that actually seems to notice his existence. Of course, Japan really didn't know what he should have done but just plainly walk to the owl was definitely staring at him. He didn't think that as the owl flew from branch to branch, deeper and deeper into the woods or perhaps the forest, that he would soon be lost in the middle of it and can't either the owl or a pathway to get out.
Japan did successfully of calming down as he did remember Germany's training of what they seem to do as usual. Japan tried to explore the woods as clean as he can as he was indeed wearing a yukata… He tried to find the owl that had lead him here and a possible exit at the same time…
However, as Japan tried to either of the two he is looking for: the ability of calming down has been slowly then quickly thinning out… Japan didn't know what to do at that time… He couldn't help but began panicking as all he began seeing is the same thing wherever he walked, then speed-walked, sprinted, jogged, and then finally ran…
Finally, Japan saw hope. Japan saw both the owl and a very possible exit…
Of course, Japan began running his fastest as if he was Italy running away from England or running to pasta. And what Japan saw is lakes… and soon but too late… Japan saw only a glimpse of his micronation…
Of course, Japan couldn't really get to see the human that will become a micronation if too late… But that doesn't mean Japan didn't come empty-handed. Japan actually had a few clues what human he is looking for, and these clues are valuable enough to start an investigation.
The clues are:
A lot of lakes in an area…
An owl…
That lake that somehow look like someone holding a bag that the human splashed and possibly drowned in…
The voice that Japan heard that could possibly from the human…
Though the clues are limited, Japan couldn't give up already before he even starts and this might even at least give a hint of where to look and who to find.
Now, Japan had one clue that will help him find who he was looking for… The voice of the human… From what he remembered from his dream, he only heard the voice plainly saying something and is in a tone of being surprised. Also, the voice belong to… a male… It seems deep enough that it is indeed a guy and doesn't go high enough to be a girl…
First clue: The human is a male…
Now… the lakes…
Japan feels like he has seen or has read it before… Something he must have seen recently… as if the destination is closer than he thought… But what's close to him is urban with plenty of buildings and technology, not the rural cities or areas or maybe event the suburban areas if Japan thinks about it… But perhaps because Japan saw what was in the past make him think it's rural… Japan can't figure out yet…
Then… there's the owl…
The owl is the most interesting one. Japan has never seen that type of owl before and Japan has plenty of owls due to the different destinations in different areas in different countries. This owl had different eyes than the complete round circle ones and more oval than any owl eyes. Its beak is larger and wider as if it uses its jaw to catch its prey not the usual sharp talons. Strangely when Japan thinks about it, the owl's talons didn't really look sharp at all and looked squished together… Then there are the feathers… The feathers seem to be the most similar but still is different for it is indeed in a pattern and the feathers in the wings and back were thick-looking to be just plain and more… scaly…?
Japan's eyes begin widening as he soon begins realizing something… The color of the owl is… it represents the conclusion of where to go…
For it represents another animal…
A reptile…
…A turtle…
Soon, Japan got out of his futon and begins to run to his laptop. Quickly pressing button for it to turn on and now waiting, Japan begins to write his clues on a piece of paper for he didn't have time to waste. Writing down as fast as he can of all the clues and conclusions he can remember and have, Japan didn't really pay attention at first that his computer has been fully turned on. Detailed as he can get, with a few drawings that he remembers like the owl, he writes what he indeed believes is the answer.
Soon, snapping out and finishing his notes at the same time, Japan soon looks up to the blinding screen of his laptop and finally logging in and typing on the search is…
I…
K…
E…
B…
U…
K...
U…
R…
O…
池袋
…Later…
"Ve, fratello, shy do you think Japan has called a super duper special meeting on some of the countries…?"
"How the hell should I know!" Romano growls, who's not really glaring at his airheaded brother and more on his phone that he's angrily texting on. "All I damn know is that Japan calls an emergency meeting with a few nations that he damn specifically called for in damn Tokyo and that's it! Damn it, if it was someone else, I would have said "fuck you!" to them but… damn it…"
Veneziano cower a bit as Romano's anger soon grows into an unpleasing aura. It seems Romano didn't seem to have any sort of rest, even in the airplane, due to him just constantly texting in his phone…
"Ve…" Veneziano says in a sad tone, "Fratello, is this something that has to do with… the mafia…?"
Romano soon freezes, stop walking altogether and now clutching on his phone, in other words, yes it is… Veneziano lets out a "Ve…" as he now knows and already knows that Romano has always dealt with mafia, working with them or working against them from time to time, as if balancing three governments in his lands… One is political which both Romano and Veneziano share the work together, another being religion which is also the brothers share, and then there's the crime government… which Romano has all on his own…
"Let's just get to the damn meeting, damn it…" Romano soon growls, walking again but still gripping on his phone.
Veneziano sighs, for he really worries about Romano with his involvement with the mafia…
"Bloody hell…" Veneziano soon recognizes that voice… Usually Romano didn't seem to have that many friends but there are a few personifications that are, one which England… "This is too bloody early in the bloody morning…"
Veneziano didn't really like or dislike England but felt discomfort and fear due to the horrible experiences of even trying out his food, especially when England made it himself… However, it turns out that England has been friends with Romano for a while that Veneziano didn't really till then as well as Russia which is also invited and another personification that just gives discomfort to Veneziano…
"Hello товарищ," Russia coos to the grumbling Romano as he begins to enter the room while Veneziano is just a few feet away and both watching and shivering of might will come. "Would you like to become one with me, да?"
"Stai zitto vodka bastard." Romano grumbles, stopping to where Russia is but still angrily texting to the mafia. "I'm fucking busy for your shit and I'm sure as hell thinking you shouldn't ask around since your hot psycho sister is coming soon. So, don't go damn asking or things are going to get fucked up if that sister of yours hears you."
Though Veneziano really shouldn't tense up of what Romano bluntly said to the scary and possibly incredibly insane and sadistic personification for it has already happened plenty of times, Veneziano just does it and have both his mind and heart racing if the worst case scenario playing on his head once again. But of course, Russia doesn't do really anything that Veneziano couldn't help but imagine and plainly just smiles down on Romano. And this time, it seems Russia's smile is a bit bigger or wider than normal… Must be because of the warning of Belarus that Romano has told to Russia…
"Спасибо for the warning товарищ, I did not know my младшая сестра is coming. I shall keep note of your warning." Russia thanks Romano though Romano just grunts after and then finally walking inside of the meeting room. However, Russia then looks to see Veneziano, which Veneziano stiffens once more. "Ah, Маленький товарищ брата, shall we enter together, да?"
But before Veneziano could say or do anything, someone else thankfully refused it before him.
"The awesomeness is here and also the awesome me believes dear Itakins should never be near a psychopath like you!" Indeed, that was Prussia and Veneziano knows that if Prussia is here then…
"Germany~!" Veneziano sheers, after looking behind to see that indeed there's Prussia and his best friend in the whole wide world is there behind him. Of course, Veneziano just runs straight at the German and give a huge tackle-hug to him, which of course is making him blush in embarrassment.
However, Prussia isn't usually teasing Germany, except he is now glaring at the smiling personification that is Russia. Of course, it is common knowledge to know that Prussia hates Russia that there's no chance that they would ever really get along or become friends due to their shared past together. However, Russia just smiles away while Prussia is glaring and unintentionally ignoring his blushing brother being hugged by his crush… And only a moment later, Russia just goes inside of the meeting room and still having that childish grin on his face.
Though Russia may enter the room, he could see that there were more people than just him, England, and Romano that entered… There is also China who is drinking tea and eating a bag of his own snacks, as if trying to relax before very possibly havoc that will be coming soon. There's Spain and France who is too busy talking to each other to tease either Romano or England who are both in a bad and grouchy mood from lack of sleep due to the big display of black bags under their eyes and how they look like they are both ready to fall asleep anytime soon as well as literally rip someone's head off if anyone would daringly annoy them.
Russia inwardly chuckles, for his comrade Romano doesn't truly know that Spain is completely in love with him and is like the love of his little sister except for less scary and uncomfortable and didn't give Russia nightmares. How strange that Romano could be so blind of his former boss's feelings but is one of the most observing and detail-catching people that Russia knows.
But Russia is getting off-topic as he then sees… a little boy hiding…? Strangely, there's a boy hiding behind the long flowing red window curtains with a smirk or grin of determination as if he is trying to do something to accomplish a life-long goal or something. But then England soon sees the boy right in front of him and begins to furiously march right up to the boy and in a snap, grabbing onto one of his ears.
"Bloody damn it Sealand!" England soon yells, catching attention to his self though Romano is still texting and grumbling to himself. "This is a blood meeting to nations! You are not a bloody nation! Go home!"
Russia couldn't help but giggle as he hears England rant more that it seemed France didn't look like he even want to get near him. But of course, Russia has to sit down and wait for the meeting to start when Japan finally arrives. So, Russia just walks to an empty seat close to Romano and China while he watches England both ranting and pulling Sealand's ear and moving Sealand out of the room all at the same time while his comrade's little brother, Germany, and Prussia enter with confused and curious faces as they witness what England is doing and finally exiting out of the room, still dragging Sealand with him…
Meanwhile, England is in a complete foul mood due to his airplane trip having a sugar addict boy kicking on his bloody seat and whining as well as bawling his bloody eyes out with a babying mother who's too bloody blind to see her "little angel" is a bloodthirsty, greedy, bratty, and selfish little demon that people had to face. So, England didn't want to see any children after the incredible torturous trip to Japan since after the trip, it turns out the blind mother chose the wrong flight and like her bloody son, began to whine and complain…
So to say at least… England is bloody PISSED.
However, when England soon marches angrily back to the building with a sniffling America who is holding his mouth and following England, both didn't get to see the determined micronation that is Sealand go into… the building's air vents…
Though people, especially personifications of the nations, didn't see that Sealand has or big heart or his attempts to be noticed, it is not like Sealand would give up easily. Actually, this motivates Sealand to even do more attempts to be recognized. Even if that means Sealand has to get the information that only a specific group of nations should know because then they'll have to make Sealand a nation! Even though he did get lost in the air vents a few times and sees a few things that he didn't want to see… (Especially when he saw a pair of bodyguards drunk and dancing to pop music like they don't care…) he soon travels to the room that he got kicked out of.
He could that jerk England sitting next to a guy named… Romano was it…? But whatever that personification of Southern Italy name is supposed to be, he has a face similar face of the jerk, scowling. There's also the younger brother of Southern Italy –that Sealand doesn't really know since Sealand really only remembers the Southern Italian due to hanging out with his jerk of a brother –who is sitting next the other side of his older brother who seems to grumbling curses up like a silent but deadly storm. There's that big blond personification that Sealand knows is called Germany who is sitting next to the Southern Italian's younger brother and then Prussia (Sealand remembers him due to being incredibly inspired of his actions and successful attempts of being noticed) is sitting with two of jerk England's worst enemies.
Then there's that girly old man that is sitting from the Europeans while drinking tea and those weird food things that he calls "snacks". There's also that big man that wears that scarf and usually had a smile on his face that is frowning and… shivering…? There was also that pretty lady, which Sealand always see with that big man with the scarf, who is sitting next to the big man and… leaning on him…?
However, Sealand didn't get to observe much due to an unwanted jump-scare of a door being slammed open… Luckily, Sealand only let out a yelp that he is sure that nobody heard… he hoped…
"ごめんなさい. I must apologize for being seven minutes late and calling all of you here." The guy known as Japan (which Sealand knows due to the jerk hanging out with him a lot and also being the first country that actually noticed him) went speed-walking to supposedly his seat, which turns out to somehow look the most important of all of the seats. "ありがとう to all who have took their time for this emergency meeting and –ロシア? How did you get here…? Or even know about this meeting…?" But before Russia could talk or even properly open his mouth, surprisingly Japan interrupts. "Never mind, it's not even that important."
Now that catches all the nations in the room their attention. It seemed all but China and Romano gave a shocked look and has their attention fully on Japan, who indeed did something out of character to himself. And not only that, Japan also is the only one with a brief case… a humongous briefcase…
However, Sealand look at China then Romano. China seemed to have stopped eating snacks and is concentrating on Japan but has this look on his face that Sealand saw a few times in those serious police dramas that he sometimes see when he's waiting for cartoons or anime. Usually that look is characterized as someone who knows something about a certain person and is waiting for the truth to be revealed while keeping their mouth shut. So Sealand could conclude that China already knows what's going on and like any character with that look, is waiting for the person to reveal that crucial secret and top information to a certain group of people.
However when Sealand examines Romano… Romano is still angrily texting on his phone as if not really caring what just happened… But thanks to those serious police shows, Sealand sees Romano as the person with the bigger secrets hiding in him and always act too suspicious and hiding behind the shadows. Usually they're the person with the mysterious personality, secret, and/or past so they intentionally or unintentionally cause trouble…
"Alright," Japan soon unintentionally interrupts Sealand's thinking and observing process. "I have called you all for this special emergency meeting for something urgent…"
In a quick second, Japan slammed the briefcase on the table. In a flick of his finger, Japan opens his briefcase wide open to show… well… typically papers and a laptop… This somehow takes a bit of Romano's attention away from his phone…
"Nations," Japan begins and finally answers.
"I have a human that's going to become my micronation and I need you to help me find him."
Well, here's another chapter but really… it's slower than I thought when I begin writing this and well… Hopefully the actions begin in the next chapter as me and Hikaru go plan another chapter (if we aren't so busy with school… TT^TT…).
Translations:
Italian: *Stai zitto –Shut up
Japanese: *池袋 –Ikebukuro
*ごめんなさい –I am sorry
*ありがとう –Thank you
*ロシア -Russia
Russian: * товарищ – comrade
* Да –yes
* Спасибо –Thank you
* младшая сестра –little sister
* Маленький товарищ брата –comrade's little brother
Well, here is the incredibly late chapter that you guys have read, thank you for all of you for waiting so long for this to get updated. I applause you guys for that.
Also, some of you guys are already making assumptions of who the personification of Ikebukuro is and that is great! So, thank you for all who reviewed, favorite, and/or alerted this fanfiction.
All in all, review! Ciao!