Hi! Did y'all have a good Christmas/holiday season?
I did.
Ready for chapter 3?
I am.
My kitten climbed my christmas tree. She is orange and fluffy.
...Yeah.
Enjoy! :3 (For once, it is entirely Lilli-free-)
Oh hon hon hon hon...
...Never mind. (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
Why are you still standing?
You are NOTHING.
Someday, Yao, I will join you on the battlefield! And we'll never lose!
I look forward to that day.
Yao?
Please...
Yao's eyes fluttered open.
Kill me.
WHY?
Yao was now fully awake, gasping and panting. Another nightmare, filled with his brother and that bastard Francis. He shuddered and looked at his clock. It said 3:02.
He bit his lip, thinking of Ivan. He never should've invited him to come with him. Ivan wouldn't want to be hung up by him, would he? He shifted so he was lying on his stomach and pulled his pillow over his head.
Also, Ivan would be a distraction. Yao sighed. I...need to come to terms with myself. I l-love Ivan. He doesn't return the feeling. Why bring him along? I'd hurt myself...and Kiku...might be d-Yao didn't dare finish the thought.
He sat up. Maybe, just maybe, if he got ready fast enough, he'd beat Ivan out the door. Yao leapt out of bed and, wincing slightly, raced into the bathroom.
He was out, dressed, hair brushed, and bags packed in 2 minutes. This is where Yao paused and stared at himself in the mirror.
The past days had been harsh on him. Dark circles lay under his eyes, whose golden-brown that had once shined like day had dulled. His skin was pale and he looked like he was going to fall over any minute.
"...Can't stop looking." Yao murmured to himself, straightening his red and gold top. He walked over to a small umbrella stand next to his door and grabbed a sword. He was about to leave when a thought struck him.
He slid out the huge wok from under his bed. "I almost forgot..." He murmured, inspecting the wok's smooth surface. He stared at his waver-y reflection. The wok reminded him of his brother.
He strapped it to his back.
Yao stood in the kitchen, an apple in his hand and a writing pad on the counter in front of him. Maybe I should leave Ivan a note...yes, I shall. Picking up a pen, he scribbled a quick note and signed it. He put his hand on the cold handle, but didn't open it.
I should write a thank-you to Eliza...and Roderich. After all, this is their house. And what are they going to do with Yong Soo? I should tell them that if I don't come back in time for the funeral, then just to have it without me.
Yao sighed and let go of the handle, glancing up at the clock nervously. It read 3:10. Yao relaxed. He had plenty of time before Ivan awoke. Turning back to the notepad, he tore off Ivan's note and placed it next to the pad.
Eliza, Roderich, and all my friends,
Thank you for your hospitality and your kindness. Without it, I would be dead. I'm sorry if I've caused any inconvienences to any of you.
I'm also sorry to leave so abruptly. I have to find Kiku, and I have to figure out why Yong Soo was trying to kill me. If in the circumstance that I am not able to come back in time for my brother's funeral, please, do not wait for me. I can always pay my condolances to my brother later.
Again, I cannot thank you enough, and I am sorry. I will miss all of you.
Yao
Yao leaned back and reread his letter. It seemed okay enough. Wait...something was wrong.
The letter to Ivan had vanished. Yao turned to the door and stiffened.
A tall figure was leaning against the door, only their hand holding the letter to Ivan visible in the moonlight. "Ivan, I am sorry, but I have to leave without you. I do not want to burden you any more than I already have. Thank you, goodbye." The hand shook the letter. "So you wanted to leave me here?" Ivan's voice sounded calm, but his aura radiated dangerously.
Yao shivered slightly. "Y-You're awake?"
"I never slept."
"O-Oh."
Ivan stepped out of the shadows, and towered over Yao. "Is that all you can say? 'Oh'?" He said again, in his deadly calm voice.
"Well, what i-is there to say?" Yao exclaimed, his anger getting the best of him. "I need to go find Kiku! It's what Yong Soo wanted-"
Ivan grabbed Yao's shoulders. "It's what ALL of us want, Yao! Stop carrying all these burdens, stop being so WEAK! You're not the only one who loved Yong Soo, or who loves Kiku!" He shouted.
Yao was silent. "Weak..." He said slowly, "I have been called that once already by my brother, a long time ago..." Ivan's face took on a guilty look. "Ah...Y-Yao, I'm sorry-"
"Don't apologize for the damn truth." Yao spat. "You think I'm going to burst into tears after you insult me? Just shut up and let me leave. Also, let go of me. I'm already injured."
Ivan's eyes darkened slightly. His grip softened on Yao's shoulders and his violet aura began to flare again. He looked like a madman silhouetted by the moonlight. "You think I'm...you...think..." His eye twitched slightly. "You think I would hurt you." It wasn't a question.
Yao chuckled without humour and stepped away from Ivan's grip. "Why wouldn't you? I mean, you're Russia. I bet you even like seeing people in pain. You terrify people. It's what you do best, isn't it? It's what you've done to me the entire time I've known you." The cruel words just kept pouring out. "You look at me like I'm...like I'm just something...like your god-damn TOY. Don't underestimate my strength, RUSSIA."
Ivan was silent. He lowered his arms, expression unreadable. Yao clenched his teeth. " And don't give me that damn unreadable look. I. Need. To. Find. My. Kiku. I'm his-and Yong Soo's-Aniki-san. I owe them this." He picked up his bag and turned towards the door. "Anyways, I'd just burden you. What with me being so WEAK and all." He spat the word.
"Yao."
"I don't care!" Yao exclaimed, not turning around. "I've had enough of your shit for a day-hell, for a lifetime! My life SUCKS, Ivan. I've seen people dying before my eyes and not been able to do anything. I've betrayed everyone I loved and for NOTHING. I've been underestimated, I've been shunned, I've been hated. I've killed my brother, lost Kiku, been RAPED by my worst enemy, and now I had to be insulted by SOMEONE who I actually thought understands. Guess not. So here's all I have to say to you; GOOD BYE." He swung open the door.
Ivan's hand slammed the door closed, coming up right behind Yao. "Yao."
"Don't you LISTEN?" Yao exclaimed, spinning around. "I DON'T CARE!" Tears ran down his cheeks and his body shook with sobs that were repressed too long. "Just...please, I need to go..."
Ivan hugged Yao to his chest tightly. "Shh, it's ok." He murmured. "Everything will be alright." He whispered soothing words to Yao, all the while holding him to his chest as he cried himself out.
Yao's sobs eventually subsided. Ivan looked down and took Yao's chin gently but firmly into his cold hand, forcing Yao to look into his own. "Please let me help. Share your burden. It's true...I have no idea what you are going through. But I would do anything to help you through it. I WILL do anything...for you, Yao. So, if you'll take me...may I go with you...?"
Yao bit the inside of his cheek to keep from yelling YES. "W-Well I-"
"Maybe I should rephrase." Ivan smiled. "It's not a question. I am coming with you, da."
Yao sighed. "O-Okay."
Ivan beamed down at him. "Good. My bags are already packed."
"Good."
A minute of silence hung between the two.
"I-Ivan..."
"Da?"
"Y-You c-c-can let go o-of me now."
"...Hmm, no. I like this moment."
Yao sighed and blushed, but didn't pull away. It amazed him how this man could be terrifying at one moment, deadly serious the next, and then so...so...childish! I suppose that's part of the reason I l-lo-
"I'd go get my bag, but it's behind the table, and I fear you'll run out the door when I let go of you." Yao looked up into Ivan's violet eyes, and saw a great sadness in them. Without thinking, he caressed Ivan's pale cheek. Ivan's eyes fluttered close at the touch. He sighed.
Yao gasped slightly and removed his hand quickly. "I apologize...I wasn't thinking, aru."
Ivan smiled. "It is ok." His expression turned serious again. "Promise you won't run away?"
Yao nodded vigourously. Ivan backed away from him and to the table, never taking his eyes off of Yao. He bent down quickly, grabbed his bag, and jumped back up.
Yao was still there.
He let out a sigh of relief and crossed over to Yao, taking the shorter man's hand and leading him out the door and towards his car. It was a masterpiece (an annoyingly bright masterpiece, at that) that Alfred had lent him, with the kind parting words, "Break it and you're dead, you fucking commie."
Ivan sighed, opening the door of the fiery red Porche 911 for Yao, idly wondering if Alfred actually knew what 'subtlety' meant. He would've borrowed a car from someone else, but:
He hated Francis.
Gilbert's taste in cars could only be worse than Alfred's.
Elizabeta and Roderich shared a car, and they needed it.
Arthur hated him.
And Yao's car was back at his house, and Ivan didn't want to take him there.
Ivan started the car, and it glided smoothly away and down the street. Yao glanced at the house one last time.
To his surprise, in the second floor window, Elizabeta and Gilbert stood, waving like madmen. Elizabeta held a sign that said GOOD LUCK in large block letters. Yao beamed and waved back. Gil and Elizabeta didn't stop waving until the car turned a corner and was lost from sight.
"Think they'll find him?" Gil asked, crossing the room and sitting back on their shared bed.
Eliza nodded. "I know they will."
Gil nodded, then sighed, rubbing his head. "They could've left without the damn shouting, though."
Eliza giggled. "Aw, did they wake poor little Gil?"
"Hey, shut it." Gil grinned and held a hand out to Eliza. "Care to join me? We could use the sleep."
Eliza took his hand. "I don't think we'll be doing much sleeping." She smiled as Gil pressed their lips together.
"Just the way I like it." Gil murmured against her lips, suddenly flipping her down onto the bed. Her laugh echoed around the small room.
Yao looked up at the sky as the car sped down unnamed streets. The clouds were beginning to retreat back as the sky began to lighten to a pinkish hue. The sun was coming, and the stars were flickering out, one by one.
One very bright star caught his attention. The North Star.
Aniki!
I see it!
What is it?
That's the North Star.
It's...beautiful.
Yao closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself. He gently placed his head against the cool glass of the window and exhaled. "I'm sorry, Yong Soo." He murmured before succumbing to a needed rest.
Ivan's violet eyes shifted to Yao's sleeping form, then back to the road. He smiled slightly. I'm with Yao...this is all I need.
Yeah, ok, it's short. WHATEVER! *Austria voice* It's not like I was actually trying to give the characters depth! GOD!
...^^' Sorry, I've gotten too much hell already about short chapters. Anyways, this is a set-up chap. for Lilli's chap!
OH ALSO Mine and Lilli's OCs will be in the story later. Sometime later.
For now, Ta-Ta, R&R, all that jazz.
-Wren
