Greece's dream seemed to go back in time, pulling him backward, away from his dream Japan. He scrambled and tried to keep his balance, but fell back into the solid darkness.

"Japan!"

He called out, reaching for something to stop himself from being torn away from the lonely looking Japan. Turkey's body also moved in reverse, and he took his arm away from Japan, disappearing into the darkness of Greece's dream.

"Ah!" Greece cried out as his leg struck against something, but his hands fumbled, and couldn't reach it.

The dream Japan was now walking towards Greece, and despite the unknown force pulling Greece back, Japan easily caught up to him, and placed his hands on Greece's shoulders. Greece froze; the invisible hands that were pulling him away had suddenly stopped, and now Japan was sitting in Greece's lap.

"Greece-san…"

Japan murmured as he brushed Greece's dark curly hair from his eyes; Greece closed his eyes, and allowed the dream Japan to run his fingers through his hair. This was a dream that Greece wouldn't mind reliving over and over, and he opened his eyes to see Japan smiling at him.

"Japan."

Greece whispered into Japan's lips as he leaned forward and their lips met.

Greece opened his eyes slowly to see a plain white ceiling above him; it was unfamiliar, but at least he knew where he was. Japan's house.

Sitting up was a little difficult as the room swam before his eyes for a moment; Greece braced himself with his right hand planted solidly against the floor. As his vision cleared, he looked around the room to see the opening to a Japanese garden, and the sun had just begun to set beyond a wooden fence at the end of the garden.

Greece stood up, taking his time to stretch his arms above his head, and yawn widely. I'm hungry. He thought uneasily, not wanting to upset his stomach again.

As Greece opened the sliding door to see the hallway, he could hear the noises of a kitchen, and he followed the sound. His socks slid across the smooth floor as he walked sleepily to the noises coming from a nearby room.

"No, no! Let me cook this, aru, and you can cook that!" China objected as a pan slammed down onto a burner. Greece listened quietly as Japan sighed and shook another pan, causing a symphony of sizzles into the air. Greece smiled, and slid open the door to the kitchen in time to see Japan elbow China in the side.

"You do know that you are in my home. Let me cook, Yao."

China stuck out his tongue at Japan, but moved out of the way to check the rice cooker. Greece cleared his throat and the two countries turned around.

"Ah! Heracles, good morning!" China smiled brightly, and Greece gave him a curt nod. Japan blinked at China and shook his head.

"It's evening, Yao."

Greece raised an eyebrow; it was unusual for Japan to use human names, but he seemed comfortable with it now. Looking around the room, he saw a small table and mats where Greece assumed people sat down to eat. He sat down at the low table, and watched the brothers cook in unison.

"Are you hungry, Heracles?" Japan said to a frying pan, stirring the contents with a large spoon. Greece paused and placed a hand over his stomach; I don't want to push my luck. Greece contemplated silently. Japan turned around to see if Greece had heard him, and Greece nodded with a smile.

"Not anything fancy, though." Japan smiled, and turned back to the stove. "Something… plain."

China laughed, and pushed Japan out of the way, flipping the ingredients in the pan into the air and catching them easily.

"White rice, Heracles?" China asked as Japan rolled his eyes and moved to the rice cooker. Greece nodded, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose; a headache had somehow slipped into his head without any warning, and his eyes had begun to hurt.

Japan looked back to see Greece close his eyes, and pointed to the other side of the table where a bottle of aspirin was sitting.

"I'm sorry I didn't bring those to you yesterday. It must've… slipped my mind."

Japan said as he turned back to the rice cooker; China's hands paused as he gave his brother a sideways glance. Something wasn't right with the way he acted, but he didn't want to ruin a chance to have a perfectly fine evening with him.

Greece plucked up the bottle of aspirin, and knocked a few into his hand, swallowing them easily without anything to wash them down.

The three men didn't say anything for a few minutes; China flipped the wok again, catching the ingredients with his lips in a tight line, as if he was upset about something. Japan was quiet as well, staring at the rice cooker as if it was going to get up and walk away.

Greece raised an eyebrow at the brothers. They weren't usually this quiet around each other, so there was surely a reason. Did I say something? Greece wondered, looking from Japan to China.

"Say something to him, Kiku." China whispered, deep and low so Greece couldn't hear.

"Not right now, Yao." Japan said as he leaned his palms onto the counter and looked down to the floor. China frowned, slamming the pan onto the burner to catch his brothers attention; Japan looked up, and Greece looked down, not wanting to get involved.

"I don't know what he did to you, but you seem upset." China hissed, holding Japan's blank stare with an icy glare.

"No, I'm… fine, Yao. Just leave it alone."

Japan looked back to the rice cooker with a sad look on his face, and China took hold of his collar, and brought their faces inches apart.

"You say something before I do, Kiku." Japan's eyes stretched wide at the statement, and Greece looked up.

"Alright, what's going on?" He asked crossing his arms as the brothers turned to him with looks of surprise on their faces.

"Nothing." Japan said, pushing China's hands away from his collar and turning back to the rice cooker, which was still cooking. China huffed, stirring the wok again, and Greece raised an eyebrow. Something was definitely going on, even if they refused to tell him.

Greece reflected on the past few days he had spent at Japan's house, remembering only bits and pieces of when he was awake. Nothing really stood out about what happened while he was awake, and his dreams weren't relevant, even if they were recurring.

Japan got tired of waiting for the rice cooker to be done, and opened it, scooping rice into a bowl and slamming the lid shut. China jumped, and glared at the wall in front of him, refusing to look at Japan. Japan set the bowl down gently in front of Greece, and avoided the gaze from his deep green eyes as he walked back to the kitchen.

"Kiku? Is something wrong?"

Japan froze when he heard Greece's words, and gripped the counter again for support. China gave him a strange look, and waited for his answer. Japan took a deep breath, and struggled to keep his expression blank.

"No, everything is fine."

Japan said uneasily as China stared at him. "Why are you staring at me Yao?" Japan questioned as his cheeks flared bright red; China smiled and took the wok off of the stove.

"I think I get it." Japan held his breath as China smiled; Greece sat perfectly still, wanting to know when was going on.

"You like him… don't you?"

China's words seemed to reach into Japans heart, and he took a step back. Greece blinked spastically.

Japan likes… me? His heart thudded loudly in his chest as he thought about it. Could he tell Japan the truth about how he felt now? Or should he wait?

Japan looked quickly from Greece to China, his black hair slapping against his cheeks as he turned wildly.

"No!" He finally shouted at China. "No, Greece-san and I are just… friends."

Greece's breath caught in his lungs; it felt like Japan had slapped him. Just friends? China gave Japan a confused look, and looked to Greece, who was glaring down at the table with shaking fists.

"Are you sure about that, Kiku?"

China asked as he watched as Greece closed his eyes in despair.

"Of course I'm sure, Yao. We are just friends. Right, Heracles?"

Japan turned to him for support, but when Greece didn't answer when he looked up. He merely locked his jaw, and stood up.

"May I use your phone?"

Greece didn't wait for permission as he headed out the door and slammed it after him; China watched him leave wearily, and then turned to Japan.

"Nice going, aru."

Japan stared at China, watching him push the food from the wok to a large serving plate, and begin to pick through it with his fingers, occasionally taking a bite. Japan buried his face in his palm, and sighed.

"You missed your golden opportunity, Kiku." China said as he popped a piece of tomato into his mouth. Japan slammed his palm on the counter.

"I didn't think he…!" Japan looked away from China's pitying gaze. "I mean… I didn't know that he felt…"

China lifted another piece of food to his mouth, but rethought it; turning to Japan, he shoved the piece of food into his mouth. Japan coughed several times before managing to swallow the vegetable.

"You are dense sometimes, Kiku."

China stated as Japan glared at him, China's hand brushed back a piece of Japan's black hair from his eyes as China sighed.

"Sometimes, you are so focused on protecting your emotions; you forget to consider the fact that other people have those emotions, too."

Japan looked down at the floor; he didn't want Greece to leave, but after what he had just said, he didn't want to hurt Greece more than he already had.

China smiled as Japan slid the door open, and walked down the hall to find Greece on the phone.

Greece had his back to China, but he had an edge to his voice, as if he could sense him there.

"Cyprus? Yes… this is Greece. I know. I got sick and… yes, I'm at Japan's house."

Japan bit his lip and waited for the courage to say something, but it never came. Greece sighed, and ran his empty hand through his curly hair, listening to Cyprus on the other side of the phone.

"Could you please schedule a flight for me? Yes, today, if possible."

Japan opened his mouth to object, but the words were caught in his throat. He had to say it before Greece left, but his voice refused to work. Greece nodded to the phone, obviously alright with Cyprus's schedule.

"Well, it's about five in the afternoon here… yes. I'm sure I could make it to the airport in time."

Japan gaped; he was leaving that soon? Was Greece really that eager to get away from here?

"Thank you, Cyprus. Tell my boss not to worry. I'll be home soon."

Greece gently placed the phone back down, and took a deep breath; he didn't turn around to face Japan. Japan inhaled, and Greece turned around. He had a weary expression on his face, as if he was tired of looking at Japan.

"I should be leaving. My boss is worried about me."

Greece stated, standing still as Japan watched him silently.

"Oh." Japan muttered; following Greece as he moved to the entryway and tie his shoes. Japan leaned against the wall and watched the powerful muscles in Greece's arms turned as he pulled his passport out of his pocket, then shove it back in.

Greece reached for the door, and Japan reached for Greece.

"Heracles,"

Japan started; Greece cut him off by holding up a hand.

"I understand Kiku. We are just friends." Japan withdrew his hand and clutched the fabric of his kimono that covered his aching heart.

"So, as my friend, you should understand that I need to leave." Greece put on a fake smile, and walked opened the door, waved down a taxi, and shut the door behind him.

Japan leaned against the wall again, and slid down to his knees. China quietly shuffled down the hall and placed his hand on his broken brothers' shoulder with a frown.

Japan's entire body began to shake as he held back the sobs that were rising in his throat. China knelt down behind him, and pressed his face against Japan's kimono.

For once, China didn't have anything to say. There was nothing to say; Japan had begun to cry. Japan never liked to show his true emotions, but when he did, China cried with him.

"I'm… sorry." Japan cried, allowing his brother to cling to him as the sound of their tears filled the house.