Reviews! Thanks for all the support, guys!
Citrine sunflower: Your wish has come true. *bows*
Chaos Desu: Thanks! Enjoy!
Iggychu: This is the longest chapter yet, so do I get a cookie? :D Now, I can't answer that question, can I? Just wait and see, okay?
Iggychu's friend: Too bad…:)
Reader: A-ha! We have got an expert here!
Technically, Jiang shi can be translated into both 'zombie' and 'vampire' because shi mean corpse, but it is used almost all the time for zombies. But, it's used as 'vampire' in loads of non-chinese text, so I thought people would be more familiar with JiangShi.
And also, if you go back to where Yao introduces this phrase, he didn't say it definitely means vampire. 134Love134: Mug? I do like mugs… :D
PandaTea lovers: Well, Arthur's body is a vampire, but, his mind is half human, half vampire. So, it's as if someone identcial to Iggy is also living in his head~ The Iggy in ch1 is vampire dom, the Iggy in ch2 is human dom...You get the idea~
On with the story!
"Teacher…not safe here…"
"Nothing we can do…vampires…Mei."
"…must try…"
"…overreact… no… I meant…"
"…Aniki…our duty, da-ze!"
"Since when…serious?"
Sitting in Hong's hotel room, staring blankly out of the frost-covered window, Yao was only vaguely aware of the conversation in the back ground, but he was far too occupied with his muddled thoughts to join in.
What did Opium mean by 'claimed'? Was what he said true? Was Yao really his so called mate?
But he can't be Arthur's partner, because he loved Ivan and the Russian was clearly his soul mate.
Right?
Aiya, so many questions and so little answers…
Meanwhile, Hong stopped and noticed Yao's glazed look. Hong has recovered from Arthur's mind control but the feeling of betrayal left a bitter taste in his mouth that made Hong want to puke. Elbowing Taiwan, he hissed, "Mei!"
"What?" asked Taiwan, arms folded. She glared at her brother for interrupting her. Anyone else would have wilted under her gaze, but Hong was Hong, and at the moment he was far too concerned with China to notice. The blank look was too creepy.
She followed Hong's finger and mentally slapped her forehead. How could she forget Yao?
"Teacher?" Taiwan walked across the room and kneeled in front of Yao.
Her worried voice became clearer and clearer to Yao as he slowly tried to sort out his thoughts. "Hmm? Yeah?" croaked Yao, throat as dry as dead wood.
"Are you okay, gege?" Hong spoke out from the side, Korea bouncing up and down beside him.
He wanted to say: 'If one more person asked me that, I'm going to smack something with my wok, aru' but he didn't. He just nodded and continued watch the fresh snowflake dance as they fell.
"Oh, Aniki, can we take a look at the scar, da-ze?"
"No, aru." Yao covered his neck with his long sleeve. "It's a curse and I don't want you all to be affected."
Pretty snowflake, just like Ivan.
Hong leaned closer, intrigued, "What do you mean 'curse'?"
"Well," Yao finally turned away from the beautiful scene outside. "It could be said that this is the start of this entire vampire problem, aru…Aiya, when did things get so complex?" He tugged at his ponytail, a habit of his whenever he gets upset.
"First of all, when and where did you get that?" Taiwan pushed a cup of tea into his hands.
"Last night in the woods beside the celebrations, aru. I received a note from England, but I didn't realize it was him until I got there. Then, he just bit me, aru," Yao sipped his tea, trying to calm himself. "It was much…unexpected, aru."
Despite the situation, Taiwan rolled her eyes at Yao. She mouthed to Hong: Told you he can't take care of himself. Duh! Clearing her throat as Hong raised his eyebrows, she gestured to China to continue.
"So, I woke up this morning and Korea burst into my room, aru, talking about Christmas." At this, Yong Soo nodded his head proudly. "Then, Opium came in, Korea went out, an-and…"
"What did he say?" Hong made himself comfortable on the windowsill. "Go on, Teacher."
"Un-huh, da-ze!"
"Yao-ge, I'm getting impatient."
Furrowing, Yao took a deep breath. "He told me by drinking my blood, aru, he has claimed me as his mate. So, if either of us dies, then the other goes mad. That's all!"
Soon, when the shock wore off, his siblings went mental.
Slowly, growing angrier and angrier, Yao's head throbbed unbearably. He got to his feet and exited the room, unable to stand the youngsters any long. "I'm going to find Ivan, aru," he sighed but no one heard him.
XXXX
Skipping happily with a sunflower behind his back, the oversized man-child neared China's room, humming a Russian nursery rhyme under his breath.
"Привет," He greeted everyone he met cheerfully, as if he, for once, wasn't planning their eventual and painful death. That was really unusual…
An eyebrow raised, Poland commented as he waved back, "What, like, has happened to, like, that man?"
"Umm, I think he's visiting Mr. Wang," Lithuania replied, trying to herd Poland away but with no success. "Please, let's go!"
And, indeed, Ivan was heading there.
However, meanwhile, inside the room, Arthur was still on the floor, reflecting to what he has done wrong.
Why do you do that? Hong is practically my son! He demanded an answer from the vampire in his head.
What else can I do? He was taking away my mate, He- or it said, unconcerned, crossing its legs, sitting on a imaginary throne. The vampire looked identical to Arthur, except his features were a little sharper, paler, and his eyes bright red.
In his mind, Arthur snorted. You could have seriously hurt the boy, you git.
Haha, calling yourself a git, Arthur Kirkland- I did not expect that!
Suddenly, a very familiar voice called at the door, "Yao-yao! Open the door, little Sunflower!"
Russia.
Arthur started panicking. Sweat began to slime across his forehead. Where to hide, where to hide?
"Yao-yao, I'm coming in."
"A-ha!" Arthur spotted a small space between the wardrobe and the wall, just big enough for him to fit.
Go!
As soon as Arthur disappeared from sight, the door was smashed open, and Ivan marched in. Arthur stood very still. His breath fluttered like a tiny bird in his throat. He looked down and saw his knees were shaking violently.
"Aw…Yao's not here, da…" Ivan said that in such a sad, childlike voice Arthur can't help but pity him.
Yao is my mate and I've claimed him. You are too late, Russia. Sorry.
"What to do with this sunflower?" Ivan asked aloud. He eyed the empty vase near the window and his violet eyes lit up. "Da!"
The tall Russian snatched the vase and ran off to fill it up, however, not before sniffing the air once, but Arthur did not notice. He was too relieved that Ivan's gone. Bad for him.
"Thank goodness…" he sighed, stretching.
He took one last look at Yao's unmade bed, resisting the urge to sniff it. Smiling, he left the room.
He wished he hadn't.
Because he had arrived just in time to see Yao and Ivan embrace and kiss.
Review! Reviews help me write more and faster!
I won't mind questions and people pointing out mistakes 'cos it makes my writing better. Happy new year!
~chibi-panda cub
