Hehe, it's been awhile since I've updated this...On the other hand, I've finally managed to get rid of my stalker. Persistent guys are flattering, but sooo annoying. I think I can kinda understand what China feels when Russia stalks him...except that China actually loves his stalker ^^

Disclaimer: Hetalia is not mine...


Unexpected.

Yao peered over the railing, on the tips of his toes. The water of the river was so smooth. How much he wished his life was like the flow of the river- smooth, contained, safe.

He dropped a rock into the water and watched as the flow of the water was shattered. No, instead his life was like this- unexpected, things were always coming at him from different directions.

With a sigh, Yao leaned his forehead against the cold surface of the railing, finding it soothing. He was so tired; all sorts of nightmares had disturbed his sleep.

Tracing the smooth surface, Yao tried to calm his frantically beating heart. Ivan would be coming soon, and as much as he was actually scared, Yao didn't want to show his fear to him. Not when Ivan was finally going to show him the sunflower field- Ivan was so excited about it.

Things will be fine, he told himself. Yes, there was nothing to worry about.

Idly he wondered, if he ever had to kill someone, would he do it?

With a sigh, Yao slumped down against the side and waited.

~oO|Oo~

Yao woke with a start as someone roughly shook him awake. Disoriented he gazed up at the person for a bit before realizing it was Roderich looking detached yet concerned for him.

"Are you alright?" he asked, polite as usual. Yao could only nod up at him. "You should head home, it looks as though it will rain soon."

Yao glanced up and was surprised to see the overcast sky. How long had he been waiting for Ivan now? Unease grew in his stomach, but Yao quickly pushed it away.

"Thank you, aru," Yao murmured drowsily, getting to his feet. Perhaps he should go check at Ivan's house?

Rain began to splatter down on both of them.

"Well, I shall be going now. Elizabeta is waiting for me," Roderich said, trying to fill in the awkward silence between them.

"Wait, aru!" Yao grabbed on to Roderich's sleeve before he could leave. "What…what time now, aru?"

Roderich blinked down at him before answering. "Almost dinner time now."

Yao bit his lip. It had been many hours now that he had been waiting for Ivan. He was probably just over thinking things, yet he couldn't help the fear and anxiety that was rippling through him.

"Here." Roderich held out his umbrella to Yao. "I live near here. Go home now." He awkwardly gave Yao a little pat on the head before turning away.

Yao paused, only to look back at the Austrian, before opening the umbrella and breaking into a run.

~oO|Oo~

Where would Ivan be?

Yao checked around their community first, but found no sight of him nor did anyone admit to seeing him recently. He ran to Ivan and Natalia's house, but neither was home. Running to Feliciano and Ludwig's to check, Yao collided against Ludwig. Strong hands grabbed his arms before he could fall to the ground.

"Vee~ Yao's back," Feliciano peeked around the corner from the kitchen. "Pasta's almost ready."

"Feliciano, I do not want to eat pasta again," Ludwig said, massaging his temples. "Why don't you let me cook for once?"

"But your wursts taste like shit," Feliciano complained. "And cooking is the wife's job, vee~"

"Wha- no- we're not married!" Ludwig stuttered, his face going a pale red.

"Ve~ You don't want to marry me!" Feliciano cried, promptly dropping some paper on the stove.

"Feliciano!" Ludwig ran over and yanked the paper off. "Stop crying! Don't twist my words into something else!" When that did nothing to console the crying Italian, he added, "I would…marry you, so stop crying!"

"Vee~ I love Ludwig too," Feliciano cried, attempting to wrap his arms around Ludwig.

Yao waited patiently for Ludwig to pry Feliciano off him before asking if they had seen Ivan.

"Nope!" Feliciano responded cheerfully.

Ludwig shook his head. "There was someone else looking for you…" Yao didn't wait to hear the rest before turning and running back into the rain.

Fear was quickly becoming the dominant emotion. No one had seen Ivan and he hadn't shown up- that was too unusual. Yao was beginning to admit that something was off, if not wrong.

Rain was pouring down now and the wind had picked up. With a gasp, the umbrella was swept out of Yao's hand. Yao stopped, contemplating whether he should go get the umbrellas before deciding to forget about it. He ignored the rain that was quickly soaking his clothes, plastering them to his skin.

The ground was slippery now. Yao wasn't looking to the ground as he ran. His heart seemed to freeze as he was suddenly sliding through mud. His eyes flickered open, wide, before he landed on the ground, mud splattering everywhere. Yao, coughing out mud and groaning, pushed himself off the ground, not caring about his messy appearance.

He ran to Ivan's house and began to bang on the door.

"Yiwan! Yiwan, aru!" he yelled. He continued screaming for Ivan, as if that would somehow make Ivan appear. "Yiwan…" He pressed his head to the door, trying to fight the tears.

Icy fear was washing over him now. He tried to calm himself- this wouldn't be like last time. Last time- he had almost believed that Ivan was gone and that he would never be able to see him again.

No, it wouldn't be like last time. Ivan was probably…somewhere. Somewhere close by. He was probably being stupid and childish. Yes, he would be coming soon, drenched and cold, but he would come. And then he would pull Yao into a hug and Yao would feel safe and happy.

Ah, how much he wanted to believe that would actually happen…

His breath caught as a knife lodged itself into the door above his head. Without turning, he knew immediately Natalia was behind him. Fear from Natalia sent goose bumps down his arms.

Dropping quickly to the ground, Yao was able to avoid another knife as it also lodged itself into the door where his head had previously been. Turning to face Ivan's younger sister, Yao couldn't help but blanch at the sight of her terrifying face.

Quickly acting for his safety, Yao grabbed the knives and threw them into the next yard.

But Natalia paid no attention to the loss of her knives as she stomped up to Yao and grabbed him by his collar.

It was unreasonable for him to be trembling this much, in fear of a girl, yet here he was. And he couldn't help but remember what Ivan had told of his and Natalia's childhood.

"…Aru…" Yao swallowed noisily, looking into the piercing eyes of Natalia. "Wh-what is it?" he finally managed to squeak out.

"Where is he?" Natalia demanded, her voice harsh and grating to Yao's ears. "Where is he!"

"Y- Yiwan, aru?"

Yao didn't see her hand coming towards him, but he definitely felt his cheek raw and stinging after. He was dimly aware of a small trickle of blood making its way down to his chin.

"He's gone- disappeared," Natalia's voice choked out, suddenly breaking. "Where is he?"

Yao stopped hearing anything. His head refused to acknowledge what Natalia was saying while his heart squeezed in fear.

Ivan was gone. He had disappeared again.

"No, not again," Yao whimpered to himself. He had only just found Ivan, and now he was gone again?

All previous fear of Ivan was gone, replaced by a chilling fear.

Why was it only when Ivan was gone did he truly realize how precious Ivan was? How much he needed Ivan?


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