A Nation and His Cat

Ch. 4

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or Fruits Basket.


Life in England's house seemed to just fly by and before Kyo even knew a total of two months had passed by since he became England's cat. Kyo still didn't know a lot about England's nation states, but it did not help that England never really talked about his nation situation. The only thing that Kyo really knew was that England was probably a hell of a lot older then he looked and that any small injuries that he would get would heal in a matter of seconds. However other than those few things Kyo didn't really know just how being a nation really worked. Kyo was also not sure if he would ever find out how it really worked, but he figured he would find out more as time goes on.

As for Kyo himself he felt like he was slowly forgetting what it was like to be a regular person. He had been stuck in his cat body for so long that he was starting to forget what it had been like to walk on two feet instead of four. Kyo couldn't understand why he had been stuck as a cat for so long, but as the days went on he started to feel like he would be stuck as a cat for the rest of his life. Kyo had no clue why this was happening and he did not know how to turn back to normal. It was pretty depressing to think about, but it really did seem like Kyo was stuck with the fate of being a cat.

The only small thing that Kyo had to be grateful for was the fact that he lived with a kind person (or should it be nation). Sure England was strange what with the nation thing, but he was still a nice person. England had helped him when he was injured and even if he was not too happy about being taken away from his home it's not like he knew any better. To England he was just a regular cat so being mad about it was just a little bit on the ridicules side. England didn't know any better and it's not like Kyo could have really told him anyway.

Any anger that Kyo had over the incident had long since faded away. Right now England was the only companion that Kyo really had and England did take good care of him. If Kyo was going to be stuck with the fate of being a cat for the rest of his life then at least he was living a good life for a cat. He lived in a nice house, England took good care of him, and the guy he lived with was nice enough. England usually always had a soft smile on his face whenever he talked to Kyo and he would only grow annoyed when he got a call from France (or the Frog as England liked to call him).

Life just seemed to move on and Kyo thought nothing in his now small world would ever change. However Kyo would learn that there was one day every year where the usually calm and collected England would break down and that day was going to happen very soon…


England had been acting rather oddly today. England had always been a bit of an early bird who usually woke up around six in the morning. However, today he didn't get up until twelve in the afternoon. Also, the only reason he really woke up was because Kyo got so hungry that he just started yowling until he finally woke up. Arthur had just gave Kyo a week smile before he took the cat into the kitchen. Once they were in the kitchen England placed Kyo down on the floor.

Kyo waited expecting to get a can of nasty cat food as always, but he was surprised when England gave him a can of tuna instead. Kyo just looked up at England in confusion. He had a can of tuna for breakfast yesterday too, and while Kyo had no problems with this he did think it was rather odd. He usually only got a can of tuna every other week so getting two cans in one week was strange. England noticed that Kyo was staring at him because the nation just kneeled down and started to scratch Kyo behind the ear.

"I figure I should spoil you a little this week" England said.

He sighed a little before he stood up and started to leave the room.

"Besides at least someone in this house should be able to have a little bit of happiness this week." England said.

Kyo had no idea what England meant by that, and since he couldn't ask all he could do was watch as England left the room. Kyo just shook his head and started eating his tuna. He figured England would be back in a few minutes so he didn't bother following him. Sure enough after five minutes had passed by England returned to the kitchen and it looked like he had brought back the mail with him. Kyo just continued eating as England sorted through the mail, but he stopped eating when he heard England started muttering to himself.

Kyo looked up from his food and over at England only to see that England was holding some sort of letter in his hands. Kyo watched as England opened up the letter and pulled out what looked like some sort of cards. England started to read the card, but after a few minutes of reading the blond nation started to scowl.

"Why in the hell did America send me this stupid invention? He knows better than anyone that I won't come to his bloody party." England shouted out.

Kyo watched in slight surprise as the English nation tossed the card onto the counter and started to stomp out of the room.

"I don't have time for this I have work to do." England muttered as he left the room.

Kyo just watched him leave. Once England was gone Kyo just looked over at the counter where England had tossed the card. 'What the hell was that all about?' Kyo thought. He jumped up onto the counter and looked at the card.

Dear Arthur Kirkland

You have been invited to Alfred Jones birthday. The party will be held on July 4th.

Kyo stopped reading once he hit the words July fourth. He looked over at the calendar that was on the wall nearby only to see that today was July the third.

'July fourth is tomorrow….' Kyo thought.

He looked back down at the card and titled his head to the side.

'Why won't England go to the birthday?' Kyo thought.

He didn't know the answer to that question, and he didn't know why England got so mad when he saw the invention. This was really confusing, and Kyo was hoping that he would find out soon…..


England had locked himself up in his office, and Kyo was really confused by his behavior. Usually, England left his office door open, but he had it shut today and Kyo wouldn't be surprised if it was locked too. Kyo figured he would come out of his office once lunch time came around, but England never did leave his office. He didn't even come out to get any tea which was really strange considering the fact that the guy went through about ten cups of the stuff a day. Kyo couldn't do anything about it so he just stayed in the living room.

Kyo was able to push the buttons of the remote to the TV so he could at least watch some television. Also, if England ever left the office to go to the kitchen he would have to walk past the living room. Kyo figured he would catch him when he left his office to go to the kitchen. However, as the hours flew by Kyo was quickly finding out that England was never going to come out of his office. Kyo stayed up until midnight, but England never did come out of his office.

Kyo eventually gave up on waiting for England so he just went into England's room, took his place at the edge of the bed, and tried to go to sleep. However, just when Kyo was about to fall asleep England entered the room. The green eyed nation quickly changed into his pajamas and got into bed without saying a word. Kyo just watched England for a few seconds before he shook his head and tried to go to sleep. Something was wrong with England, and Kyo didn't know just what was wrong. All he could do was fall asleep and hope England would be better in the morning…..


Kyo's hopes where destroyed when he woke up the next morning. England didn't get out of bed until four in the afternoon, and when he did get out of bed he just got dressed and started to make his way toward the front door. England was strangely quiet and his face was completely devoid of all emotion. Kyo tried to get the nation's attention by meowing at him and bumping his head up against England's legs, but England never reacted to any of it. Kyo followed him to the front door only to have England leave and slam the door shut in Kyo's face.

A few seconds latter Kyo heard what sounded like a car starting up. Kyo quickly ran over to a window and looked outside only to see England drive away. Once England had disappeared Kyo could feel his temper starting to rise, and his fur started to fluff up an annoyance.

"The hell is his problem!? Ever since he got that damn letter he's been acting all strange!" Kyo hissed.

Kyo was annoyed by the behavior, but deep down he knew that he was also annoyed by the fact that he had been ignored. Kyo was so used to England giving him attention so being ignored by the English nation really throwing him off. However, Kyo would never admit that he was kind of hurt by the fact that he was ignored or at least Kyo wouldn't admit it at loud anyway. Kyo just tired to push the slight disappointment at being hurt away, and instead he decided to continue to be pissed off at the fact that England was acting all strange. Kyo hissed a little before he moved away from the window and started to make his way back over.

"The idiot can do whatever he wants I don't care!" Kyo said to himself.

Once Kyo was back into England's bedroom he jumped back onto England's bed and tried to make himself comfortable. However, right after Kyo laid down he heard what sounded like rain falling on the roof. Kyo glanced out the window only to see that it was starting to rain. Kyo's ears laid down flat on his head as he glared out the window.

"I hate the rain." He grumbled out as laid his head down.

It took awhile, but Kyo was finally able to fall asleep….


The loud sound of a door slamming shut was what woke Kyo up. He quickly jumped up to his feet and looked around only to see that there was no one around. Kyo looked out the window and sighed when he saw that it was still raining outside. A quick glance at the clock showed him that it was two in the morning. Kyo was about to go back to sleep, but he stopped what he was doing when he saw England stumble into the room. Kyo was shocked to see that England was a complete mess. His hair was ruffled up, he was soaking wet, and he had dark bags under his eyes. He had half empty bottle of rum clutched in his right hand, but the second England had stepped into the room he dropped the bottle.

The bottle fell to the ground with a loud thump and Kyo was rather surprised that the glass bottle didn't break. England stumbled over to the bed and flopped down onto the matters.

"Stupid America!" England shouted out.

Kyo flinched at the loud yell and glared at the nation, but the glare soon went away when he saw that the green eyed nation was crying. England didn't even seem to notice Kyo he just clung to the blanket that was underneath him and continued to cry.

"Stupid America and his stupid birthday! Why does he think I would want to celebrate the day that he succeeded from me?" England cried out. "Why would I want to celebrate the day when he stopped being my beloved brother?"

At first Kyo was confused, but then suddenly it hit him. The fourth of July was not just any ordinary day it was the day that America celebrated getting its independence from Great Britten. Kyo didn't know a lot about the holidays of other nations, but he knew that Independence Day was a pretty big one in America. Kyo watched as England just sobbed and continued talking to himself.

"Was it all my fault? Was I not there for him enough? Did I not tell him that I loved him enough?" England shouted.

As England continued to loudly wonder if everything was all his fault Kyo couldn't help but empathize with the guy. After all, Kyo felt guilty about plenty of things too. It was no small secret that Kyo's father blamed him for his mother's suicide. Hell, Kyo had heard plenty of the servants of the Sohma's main household whispering about how his mother committed suicide because she had the cat as a son. He was no stranger to the blame game, and he had asked himself the same kind so questions.

Could I have stopped her? Was it really my fault? Would she have been better off if I was never born? Kyo had asked himself these questions plenty of times before, but he never got an answer to any of them. So sitting here watching England blame himself for something that he may or may not have been able to control really made him realize that they were both rather similar to each other.

Granted the person that England was crying about was still alive, but he was a nation and Kyo just knew that he had to have lost people that he cared about to the cruel fate of death.

'Hell, I can't be mad at him now.' Kyo thought.

Kyo took a couple of steps towards England, but he quickly stopped walking when England quickly looked over at him. They both just stared at each other for a few minutes, but before Kyo could even do anything England quickly grabbed Kyo and hugged him to his chest. Kyo cringed a little when he smiled the strong scent of alcohol that clung onto the nation. England smiled like he had just walked out of a brewery and Kyo sort of figured that England was more than just a little drunk. The nation was clinging onto the cat rather tightly, and although it was kind of uncomfortable Kyo didn't let his displeasure be known.

England started to calm down a little, and before Kyo knew it the guy started babbling about his past.

"My relationship with my brothers was never good." England said. "Back when I was a child my brothers would always try to shoot me with arrows whenever they saw me and they would always try to curse me."

"Wait they did what now?!" Kyo shouted out in shook.

Of course England couldn't understand Kyo and he just went right along with telling his story.

"When I found America and made him into my brother I was so happy. For that short amount of time I had a brother who actually loved me, and I had someone to love in return." England said with a slight smile.

However, the smile quickly disappeared and England started to frown. "However, when America declared independence he declared that we where no longer brothers. He cut all ties with me and or relationship has never truly recovered from that."

England just sighed before he said "It seems like I'm always alone, but that shouldn't he a surprise though. I am Friendless England after all…" Kyo didn't know how to respond to that so he just tucked his head under England's chin and started to purr. England smiled a little before he started to loosen his grip on the cat.

England started to pet Kyo as he said "I'll always have you though right?"

Kyo just meowed, and England just continued to smile.

"I'll take that as a yes." England said.

Kyo just let out a small sigh, but he continued to purr. What England didn't know was that when Kyo meowed he really was saying yes. As far as Kyo was concerned he was probably going to be stuck as a cat for the rest of his life, and if that was the case then Kyo was perfectly fine with staying with England. Besides, it was kind of fitting that they end up stuck with each other. England was a lonely nation, and Kyo was the lonely cat who was left out of the Zodiac. If they were going to be lonely they might as well be lonely together…


Info Time!

England's brother problems: I know that in the anima and in manga they mention quite a few times that England and his brothers don't get along. They shoot arrows at him, and they would mail curses to him as well. Since they did all of this to England I think it's safe to assume that England had a pretty lonely childhood. I also think it's safe to say that in general England is a pretty lonely guy. I also think that after getting hurt so much by his own family he would have some trust issues.

So when America came along England found someone who loved him and openly showed that he loved him. As such England found someone that he could love in return, and I think he was probably thrilled to finally have someone love him like that. He actually had someone to love (like a brother ) and have said person love him back in return without fear of having said person trying to hurt him in a physical or emotional way. The Revolutionary War was probably rather painful because he was losing one of the few people that he actually considered family. Add on to the fact that England does not seem to trust a lot of people so I think he only lets a few people get close to him and as such when one of those few people hurt him in some way England ends up taking it pretty hard. Also, having someone leave you and want nothing to do with you is pretty painful.

Granted I know that deep down America and England care about each other, but I figure the damage is done.

Odd Behavior: I know that every year on the fourth of July England pretty much falls apart. However, I always kind of think that the few days leading up to the Fourth of July he start to fall into his depression. I also like to think that he tries to any work that he has to do done beforehand so that on the Fourth of July he can just have that day to let it all out.

Also, while he's drunk on that day I'm pretty sure he blames a lot of things for America's separation, but he probably puts himself on that list too. I think he couldn't help but wonder if it's his fault every once in awhile.

Friendless England: I have heard England be called Friendless England a few times. I also know for a fact that France actually said that England was the black sheep of Europe. I can't help, but imagine that when emotions are running high and a fight is really bad someone might call England friendless. However, I don't think they ever mean it.

Anyway, I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible so please review and don't flame.