Chapter 3 - Just Curvier

"KIKU!" Japan spun around in time for a flying mass to hit him around the middle, hugging him tightly.

"Italy-san!" Japan looked down and was surprised at the blue eyes staring at him pleadingly.

"JAPAN YOU GOT HIDE ME!" America looked over her shoulder worried. "I only just got away! Please!"

"A-America… what is going on?" He moved awkwardly away from the female nation, unsure what to do. If she was Alfred, he would of just pushed her off and made her take breaths… but she wasn't. Not anymore. He wasn't really sure what to do around her anymore.

"Hungary and Belgium! Their nuts!" She shivered a little and looked at him desperately. "They're trying to force me to take Etiquette lessons! I just got away! They already took Canada and Finland- I don't want to sit through those again!"

"Etiquette ressons?" He looked at her confused and opened hi mouth to inquire more when he heard a loud thud. America gave an odd squeak and grabbed his arm pulling him along as she ran.

"A-America-san!" She didn't slow down or acknowledge he spoke, he noted with slight apprehension she was just as strong as when she was a boy. Whipping around another corner she looked both ways like a rabid9 animal before giving a loud whoop and running towards the door. Once outside she hailed a cab and the moment it stopped she threw Kiku in and then dived in.

"DRIVE!" She threw a few handfuls of cash up front and looked back. "Take us to the Grand Central Terminal!"

The driver looked back at her before shaking his head. "Whatever you miss." America looked out the window and gave a small fist pump before turning around and smirking.

"Lost em."

"…Why are you running from etiquette ressons?"

She glanced at Japan before looking up at the ceiling with a scowl. "I already took them as a Nation numerous times. I mean, if I have to sit through one more lesson on how to hold a fork, or how to ballroom dance, I will go crazy! Well, crazier."

"…I see.." Kiku looked at his friend as she smiled at him widely.

"I lost them with the cab out here." She laughed, and it sounded like a female verison of her old laugh. She looked at him with an odd sparkle. "When I saw you I figured we could go hang out and maybe play some video games! Grand Central terminal just upgraded one of their Arcades, however, if yo want I can have him take us back to my apartment and we can play COD or something." Japan opened his mouth, but America interrupted. "Actually let's do that. Hey Ben,"

Japan fidgeted a little as she told him her address and figured out the new cab rate with the cabbie. When she turned back to him he cleared his throat and tried to look firm.

"America, I think-"

"Oh yeah! We thought of a human name for me! You are now looking at Amelia F. Jones! Named partly after the queen of the airs herself, Amelia Earhart!"

"Ah… Ameria…" He corrected himself, "I don't think it would be proper for us to go to your apartment. Besides, you should go. You might learn something new."

"Doubt it." She said with a scowl. "You can only hold a salad fork so many ways."

"Either way-"

"Besides we haven't hung out in ages!" She whined. Kiku gave a small eyeroll. "And to be honest… I want to get away from everyone." Kiku looked at her and noticed Amelia slumping in her seat, a genuine frown on her face. He stared a little surprised. America didn't frown, pout yes, frowning was just not natural.

"America?"

"…I- I just need some gaming time, ya know?" She laughed a little as the cabbie turned sharply and came to a sharp stop. "And who is better for gaming time than the maker of the games himself?" She laughed louder and dragged the Japanese man outside. "Take car dude, keep the change!"

"Are you sure it's okay for me to hang out with you?"

"Why? Did you have a meeting?" She asked looking at him annoyed.

"No, but,"

"They didn't have a problem when I was Alfred, so if any of them have an issue with you hanging with Amelia they can all grow the hell up." She pulled him into the building and nodded at the doorman.

"excuse me miss!"

"Amelia Jones, Floor twelve, just moved in!" She said over her shoulder pushing Kiku into the elevator. "I am really getting tired of that. It's been a week!"

"Ah, how did your Boss take it?"

"Eh…. He'll adjust." She shrugged a little and tapped her foot as the elevator moved up slowly. "So how does Mario cart sound?"

"Erm, fine."

"Cool" The door opened and he found himself getting pulled off and into Amelia's flat. "And after that we can play some COD or maybe Halo. OOO!" She let go and raced over to her TV, "I also got this new game, Zombie Slayers Five!"

Kiku nodded deftly and looked around the apartment relieved. Everything looked the same as before. Same white and blue walls covered in red stars and Super Hero posters. Shaking his head a little he wondered why he expected it to be any different… And what had he expected? Dresses everywhere? Pink? Posters of Justin Beiber? Japan repressed a slight shudder at the thought and moved into the living room area.

"Hey, do you want some tea or Soda at all?" Amelia asked moving into the kitchen.

"Ah…green tea would be nice." He looked at the games and noted how most of the ones were the ones he had given Alfred…they played a lot of bloody games and watched a lot of Anime… could he still do that?

"Alright!" Amelia came back in with a large tray of various junk food and a mug of tea. "Are you ready to get your ass handed to you?"

"Ah, America I have been thinking and I have a game I think you should play." He reached into his bag and pulled one out. "Try this please." She took it curiously and then paled reading the title.

"NOT YOU TOO!" She looked at him, a heartbroken look across her face. "I thought you of all people would be- I can't believe- ARG!" She flew back onto her couch and laid her head back. "Seriously? Harvest moon?"

"W-What is wrong with Harvest Moon?"

She ignored him and scowled. "I thought you would be the coolest with this, I mean you're my best friend! I-I thought you would still get it."

"Ameria?"

"…Is it that bad…" She looked at him hurt. "Is it that bad that I'm a girl?" She shook her head. "You know I figured it would be cool when I turned back, not that I really ever thought I would… I thought I would be able to do the stuff other girls did and you know… still keep all my normal friends. I never realized that …" She scowled. "North Korea threatened to shoot me today, said I was no longer a threat. Ivan demanded I give him Alaska, which I will not do!

"France is being a complete weirdo, apologizing to me and Canada every ten seconds for stuff he didn't do to be a gentleman… Iggy's avoiding me… Hell, only Gilbert's been the same, but I think he likes Maddie too much as a girl…" She stopped and just closed her eyes. "This just sucks."

"I-I'm sorry." Kiku said sitting down. "I-I didn't…I didn't mean to be insensitive America… but…" she looked at him and he frowned, "This isn't an easy pir to take. You were a boy… you did boy things and now… you're a girl. It' s just… what else changed?"

America sighed a little and looked up. "I guess I just figured you guys would just be cool with it and life would move on." She sighed again and gave a rueful smile. "You do realize I was a girl before I was a dude right?" Kiku fidgeted and she laughed bitterly. "I guess that's odd to you. Well, it just is. It's still me. I ate Mickey-Dees for lunch yesterday, I had coffee with my toast and I still play COD. Same me … just curvier."

"Definatnry curvier."

"DUDE!" Amelia moved away looking mortified. "YOU NOTICED! I mean- JAPAN!"

"I-I" He turned bright red noticing what he said and Amelia started to crack up. Realizing what he was doing he glared. "That is not funny America-kun!" She laughed harder and he paused. "Wait… America-chan? Er… san?"

"Dude," She gasped a little, trying to calm down. "Just…go …with …Amelia!" She laughed loudly again and Kiku stared confused. "S-Sorry, I just…wondered when… you were going …..to hit that dilemma…." She gasped a little more before shaking her head and clearing her throat. She beamed up at him. "And chill, I knew you guys would notice… I'm not exactly small."

"…I am going to sense the mood and refrain from speaking." Amelia snorted and shook her head. "…You are the same?"

"Yep." She said emphasizing the p at the end. "Same old America. Just curvier." She winked at him and picked up a control. "Now then, shall we smash some bros?"

Japan smiled a little as she handed him a controller. Same old America just …he glanced down and quickly looked up. This was going to take some getting use to… he glanced over and wondered for a brief moment if it mattered if he found her really attractive now... Or if he thought he convince her to cosplay with him...