The thing about avoiding Russia is that you can't really do it. He has this habit of popping up anytime. He always seemed to find me wherever I was.

"There you are, China!"

He had found me yet again. I couldn't let him distract me. I instead focused on breathing in and out. I was balanced on one of the upturned corners of my roof. My toes curled around the edge supporting my difficult pose. I held my leg behind me in a perfect split. My back arched as I rested my head back on my thigh. My eyes were closed in concentration of the stretch.

"You weren't at the G8 meeting. I missed you!"

I exhaled slowly. "Russia, I don't know how many times I have to tell you this. I'm not part of the G8."

"What! Why not?"

"There are more things in life than trying to accumulate the most amount of wealth in the world," I said deepening the stretch by straightening my back.

"But, you should join. All the other Allies are there. You're the only one left out."

Russia just didn't understand. I relaxed a bit by bending my lifted knee. "It doesn't matter. I just don't have the money to join your little club even if I wanted to," I explained.

"Oh, is that all!" Russia sounded a bit more relieved. I could hear the smile in his voice. "Then let's just get married!"

My foot twisted and faltered under me. It was painful as I tried to twist to keep my balance. I released my leg. I used its downward motion to flip and invert myself. I caught my fall placing my hands on the post. I kept my arms and leg straight. I could feel the blood draining to my head.

"What? Why in the world would I do that?" I said slightly out of breath.

"If we got married, you could have my money, and we could both be in the G8!" Russia said enthusiastically.

"What part of money isn't important to me don't you understand?"

My arms were starting to get tired. I wouldn't be able to stay like this much longer. I lowered my good foot to where I placed my hands. I brought myself back upright. I experimentally placed my other foot down. I hissed. My ankle hurt. I must have sprained it. Great, now how was I going to get down? I couldn't chance landing on my other ankle. If I hurt both of them, I'd be stuck.

"Are you okay?" Russia called up, concern apparent in his voice.

"It's nothing. I just twisted my ankle a bit," I said.

"Come down! I'll catch you!"

I peered down below my roof. Russia was waiting there. His arms were held up, and he had an encouraging smile on his face.

I couldn't see much else of a choice. Without much hesitation, I dove into Russia's arms. He caught me lightly and easily. Much too easily. It shouldn't have felt this good to be surrounded by his arms. He looked much too happy holding me this way. It shouldn't make me feel so elated to see him that way. I groaned internally when I realized he was carrying me bridal style.

"We'd make good married couple!" Russia continued.

I rolled my eyes. "If we're going to continue this conversation, you might as well just drop me now."

Russia just held me closer. "It doesn't have to be for money. Think of all the things we could do together when we're one! You are very flexible, da? And I am known for being biggest..."

"Biggest load of crap if I've ever heard it! You do realize I'm a man, right?"

I should have interrupted him earlier. Already, my mind was wondering. Imagining. Russia loving every inch of my body. Every fiber of himself devoted to loving me. His fingers tracing and burning away every single scar. Treating me as if I was the most delicate thing in the world. The way I would imagine his lips on my skin. The way his lips would feel kissing me. Him gently pulling my hair. His slow, steady, careful way of fusing into me. The way his eyes would look staring into mine with such pure and untainted, unstoppable love. The way he was staring at me right now.

"It doesn't matter. China is China no matter what. China will always be the one I love!"

"Russia, I..." I couldn't do this any longer. I kicked upward to flip out of Russia's arm. I remembered to land on my good foot. "Russia, I think it's time for you to leave."

"China...why do you do this every time?"

"I can't do this, Russia. I just can't."

"We don't have to get married right away. I can be very patient. I've waited so long already. We'd have to plan how to sneak around Belarus..."

"Russia, I can't marry you! Period! Now will you just go!" I hobbled over to my door. He easily followed me.

"Why, China? Can't you at least tell me why? Am I just too young? Haven't I grown up enough already? I mean it, I can be very patient. I'll wait forever if that means I can be with you."

"Russia," I said, holding back the tears that were threatening to fall from my face. I couldn't let them show. I didn't want to see Russia see me like that. So weak and vulnerable. How he would try to hold me together. I don't think I could handle that. "I'm going to make this perfectly clear. We can never EVER be together. I want you to leave. Please."

Stubbornness set on Russia's face. He chose to ignore these words along with the countless others. "China, no matter what you say, I'm never EVER giving up on you. I want to stay with you, but I see I'll just have to be a bit more patient. Good things come to those who wait, you know. I'll leave for now. I know we'll be together eventually. I've waited a very long time, so I expect nothing less than you."

He was still standing there when I closed the door. I closed my eyes. I couldn't open this door again. I just needed to walk away. But before I could really walk again, I needed to get this ankle wrapped up. I grabbed a long strip of cloth and plopped myself down in the middle of the floor. Each time I brought the cloth around, I could feel myself falling apart a bit. Why did it always have to be this hard? I could hold back no longer, and the tears flowed freely from my eyes.

Warm fur gently brushed against my face. I hadn't even heard the door open and close for Panda to get in. Panda hardly came around anymore. I figured Russia just scared him away. I had missed him so much.

Panda sat down beside me and hugged me like he usually did. Warm and protective. Like I was his alone, and he was mine. It was a touch that let me let all my barriers down.

"Panda, I'm scared," I finally admitted. He was the only one I could ever say this to. "I'm scared of Russia. I'm terrified of the way he makes me feel. I know I shouldn't be scared. I shouldn't even feel this way. I can't afford to. I can't...I can't let myself love him."

Panda continued to nuzzle away the tears that fell. I leaned against him. Could he even understand? He laid down and pulled me on top of him.

"And it's so hard, Panda. He loves me so much. He loves me so much, I can hardly stand it. It hurts so much to push him away, but I know it's better than the alternative. To let myself love him. To have myself torn apart when he leaves me. Because they always leave. I live on, and the others just disappear." Panda brought his paw to my face. "I don't think I could live with myself if I lost someone I loved."

Panda held my head to his chest. He then proceeded to roll with me along the floor.

I couldn't help but laugh. I was starting to get dizzy. We stopped with Panda on his back and me on top of him again.

Thank you, Panda!" I lifted myself up to kiss his furry cheek. "You'll always be there for me. Why couldn't I just fall for a guy like you?"

I noticed from the window that the sun was setting lower in the sky. Great, I had to go back to work like this.

"Ugh, I've got to go back to work. This is going to be another long night." I pushed myself off Panda and upright. My ankle still hurt a bit, but it was nothing i couldn't handle. Panda got up as well and followed me.

"You want to help out, too?" I asked. Panda nodded his head. "Alright, but try not to get any fur in the food. Customers don't like that."

I worked in the restaurant during evenings. I usually spent my days selling my original products. And by original I mean slightly inspired from other works from Japan and America. I don't think they'd mind too much. It was mostly original.

Working in a restaurant sucked, but it was a good source of money. It was also nice to see the faces of the people who enjoyed my food. Plus, it helped that Panda was here. He didn't really do much. He mostly followed me around. He was pretty much the only thing that made this night bearable.

Why in the world was Belarus here? Did she hear that Russia had proposed to me? I saw Panda show a guy to her table. Wait. That couldn't be Lithuania, could it? Was Belarus here on a date? With someone other than her brother? She did look awfully dressed up. She didn't look to happy, though. Then again, did she ever really look happy?

Panda was back at my side as I went to deliver their dumplings. "I hope you enjoy your stay here. Please enjoy, aru!" I said a bit too cheerfully. It was like I was gloating over her. I even added my old "aru" habit. Like now that she was taken, I could have Russia all to myself. It was ridiculous. I thought I told myself not to think that way. I couldn't let Russia be mine.

There was a bit of a commotion at their table. I didn't quite see what happened, but Lithuania seemed to be giving Belarus a gift. A ribbon. His other hand was stuck to the table. I frowned. Those bloodstains would take forever to get out of the table cloth. Belarus put the new ribbon in her hair. She pulled apart her old bow at the not, revealing a tiny knife.

She ran towards us. So this was how she was going to make her move. I prepared myself to deflect her blow. However, I wasn't prepared for this. She pushed the knife into Panda.

I was in shock. "Aiyah! What have you done to Panda?" I screamed. Not him. He was supposed to be there for me. How dare she hurt him?!

There was something wrong. Belarus shied her knife down Panda's stomach. There was no blood. She pulled back on his fur revealing a coat and a long scarf. Panda lifted his hands to his head and lifted it off.

"Russia..." I said in disbelief. "Why are you here?" Anger colored my voice. How dare he? How could he?

"Big Brother..." Belarus said with a sees of satisfaction.

"Belarus! China! It's not what you think!" Russia pleaded. His eyes were frantic purple.

"You promised me a date, Big Brother. And you planned to trick me. I forgive you. I'll even help you keep your promise." She grabbed his arm and dragged Russia away. I let her.

"China, please! You've got to understand!"

"I don't want to understand, Russia. Was it all a lie then? Was I just some sort a game to you? Did you just want to find where I'm vulnerable? How you could hurt me the most? I hope you're satisfied. I don't want you anywhere near me."

"China, no! That's wrong! I would never..."

I walked away. I went through the kitchen to the back exit.

See? I reminded myself. This is why I shouldn't get close to people. Life had so much pain. Maybe, it was about time for me to just disappear.

AN: You guys are almost there! Just two more votes until 10 people have voted. I would like to thank all the people who voted and reviewed! You guys are awesome! So far, it looks like the Ameripan is going to be what I write next...