((#7~~~!
OK, this theme is really loosely based, as it only takes place near the ocean, instead of the theme being focused directly on something to do with the ocean. I had to look up locations for this one, because the crew live in the Manhattan part of New York and since I don't live there I didn't know any areas. So...yeah.
This is less fluff and more reflection, if anything. Aw well!
Hetalia is not mine, and neither is New York!))
"Thank you for coming out here with me, aru."
"Oh, it's no trouble."
Yao and Madeline were trekking along the edge of Turtle Bay Beach at about 7:00 that morning. It was going to be a rainy day; the sky was grayish slate color and the smell of rain was abundant. Yao had his hands stuffed in his coat pockets as Madeline took tiny sips from her mocha.
"Why are we here again?" Madeline asked a little shyly.
"We came here to chat as friends according to you, aru," Yao answered. "You said you wanted to know me a bit better, since your sister has been blabbing about me all week."
"Hehe," giggled Madeline. "I suppose I just forgot." She looked towards the papery sky. "It's very cloudy today, isn't it?"
"They said it would rain on TV, aru."
"I believe it."
"It is October, aru."
Madeline fell silent. Yao looked over at her, taking in her similarities to Emily. Same blond hair, if not slightly more yellow, big eyes, a cute mouth. Everything else was quite different, but Yao could detect the family resemblance.
"You know, you really do look like your sister, aru," he commented lightly.
"I've heard that more times than you'd believe," Madeline said, laughing. She smiled warmly. "You really do love her, don't you?"
What. Yao's eyes went wide. "H-how did you even know, aru?! I've never told you!" His face was deep red even though the air was cold.
Madeline chuckled. "Don't be so startled. It wasn't that hard to figure out."
Double what. Yao facepalmed. Was he really all that obvious? He sighed. "See? Ever since I came to New York I've come across nothing but trouble, aru! I get a stupid job at a talent agency with a high-strung Italian woman, I get pestered and possibly stalked by a creepy Russian, get involved in a bunch of stupid love dodecahedrons that I want no part of and I end up falling for a stupid hot dog-loving Western girl who is too freaking oblivious to see I have feelings for her!"
"Well, don't say it like that," said Madeline. "Admit it. You love being here and meeting us. After all, Kiku and Yong Soo told us you felt lonely back in China."
"That's not even true, aru!" Madeline gave him a look. "OK, maybe it was a little true, aru. But still! My life has been insane ever since I met all of you!"
"We're all crazy in our own special ways, Yao," Madeline said bluntly. "Even you, what with your being in touch with your feminine side and all that jazz. Besides, and I'm honest here, I think your crush on Emily is great."
"Wait a minute," said Yao, frozen at her words, "you actually approve of my crush on her, aru?"
"Of course!" Madeline said. "You're both so cute. Emily has always had guys after her, but she shows some special interest in you. Believe me, I see it."
Yao stared at her, unable to make a response.
"Come on, Yao," she said lightly, "Just try a little harder. If I know anything about my sister, it's that when you get her attention, you really have it. Use that attention and tell her. I honestly doubt she'd do something unsavory to you if you tried. She's a nice girl."
Yao let this sink in. The way Madeline was putting it, telling Emily he liked her—probably loved her—sounded as easy as eating cake. But still, it really wasn't, as Yao knew how freaking awkward he could be around people. He had been here for three months already and he wasn't even remotely used to America yet.
He sighed. "I see what you mean, aru. I do have to try harder, aru..."
"There ya go." Madeline smiled softly and patted his shoulder. "I believe in you."
"HEY!"
They both turned around. Coming up the beach were Emily, Alfred, and Kiku, the American siblings waving their arms to get the attention.
"Yo, guys! What are doing at the beach at like, 6 in the morning?"
"We've been looking for you all morning! There's gonna be a rainstorm at 9 and we wanted to hang out at Antonio's restaurant!"
Yao and Madeline looked at each other and laughed. "We better head out with them. Besides, the surf is kicking up. See?" She pointed to the churning waves of the bay, signaling the approach of hard weather.
Yao smiled. "It seems so, aru. Let's go."
Then the two walked over the excited Americans and (not-as-much-excited) Japanese man, ready for another day.
((My God, that was a horrid ending. XD
Anyway, that's it for the moment! Review!))