Rating: T

Talking: I'm considering moving the rating up because... Well, France. Thoughts?

Disclaimer: I do not hold or claim to hold any sort of ownership or rights over the characters in this story: they belong to Hetalia/Hidekaz Himaruya

CHAPTER TEN:

"Uh, Honda?" I wonder, knocking on the wooden frame of the tent. The whispers from inside it cease, and Japan appears at the door. His skin looks oddly waxy in the dim twilight.

"Bonnefoy-san," he replies respectfully, inclining his head in a minimal bow. "Nani?"

"I just had a question I thought you would be able to answer," I say. "Nothing much. I didn't mean to disturb you and your tent-mates."

Japan smiles and opens the tent door. "Come in, I'll try my best."

Japan and I have an... Odd relationship. There's clearly some tension, as we never truly recovered from World War II like Japan and America did. He's also one of the few people who have realized I won't grope or make sexual comments if you ask politely, so a good amount of my normal vocabulary is taken away with just that. And he's polite in a strange way-a way that doesn't hide veiled insults like most, just a kindness he carefully restrains.

He shares a tent with three other people-human Sorcerers, skilled mages, and I'm sure America picked some of the best to be with Japan. They're best friends, and honestly, I wish… I wish I had a relationship like that. Oh well. My kindness will have to come full circle eventually, right?

I quickly assess the inhabitants. There's Japan, of course. A man who's a little old for a human soldier-about twenty-nine. He has short black hair, charcoal-dark wings with hints of even darker ink on his wingtips, and a small, friendly smile on his face. A brunette with long hair, ghostly white skin and very broad wings. Polish, probably. She has a small bandage around her arm. She must've been grazed in her last battle. The last is an man with bronzed skin and oddly purplish-red hair. Italian? Did he dye it or something?

"I was wondering if you knew the spell Fatis Ut Moriatur. It was mentioned awhile ago and I just remembered it, and was curious," I said. "Have any of you heard of it?"

"Isn't that forbidden?" the Polish woman asks, tucking her brown hair behind her ears.

"I don't know," I lie smoothly with a small shrug of my shoulders. I'm pretty sure it is, judging on England's refusal to answer my questions.

"Angelina is correct, it's forbidden. I believe the Archmage mentioned it awhile back… It marks the victim for death, but in order to be completed, the caster is sent into a deep coma of the same nature," Japan says, nodding thoughtfully. "So you can't do it. It would require a highly skilled mage even if it was legal."

Angelina pumps her fist. "Knew it," she says with a smirk.

"Like hell you did," the Italian snorts, leaning back in his cot. "That was a guess."

Angelina leans over and gives him a solid whack on the head with her wing. He flinches. Japan and the other man sigh in unison as Angelina shouts, "Dominic, you liar!"

"My neck…" Dominic sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Between you and Soo Jin, I'm gonna get hurt one day and it won't even be in battle!"

Soo Jin, the quiet man, smirks slightly. "Probably," he replies, just as Angelina says, "Of course not, you're our friend!"

"Um… Anyway… Merci…" I say, trailing off. "Have a good evening."

Japan waves a quiet goodbye as I make my escape, keeping my footsteps quiet.

I walk silently to England's tent. My tent too now, I suppose, since I was officially moved here. Does that really count? My thoughts are swirling around my head, trapped in the confines of my skull. They retreat to the dark corners of my mind, but I know they'll come out into the open again as soon as I let my guard down. I pull my wings closer to me.

When I walk in, England is already laying down. I know he's not asleep-his breathing is too quick for that. I say nothing as I walk to my bed, quickly changing into more comfortable clothes. Then I turn and make a decision.

I watch England quietly. He makes sure to keep himself still-he's trying to fool me into thinking he's asleep. Probably so I'll leave him alone. I watch, a faint smile gracing my lips, and then I slip into bed beside him. He tenses immediately and half-turns toward me, his cheeks already darkening. "Get the hell out-"

"I found out about Fatis Ut Moriatur, mon lapin. Honorable of you to try, but don't put yourself into a coma. Please," I interrupt softly. My wings drape over me, warm and soft, and I make sure not to touch him.

He quiets, staring at me. "You… Where'd you figure it out?"

I know he'll get angry at Kiku for telling me, so I just repeat, "Please don't try it again, emmon lapin/em. Promise me you won't."

He stares at me for a little while longer, eyes bright green and I've never considered before how pretty that color really is. He doesn't promise anything, but I suppose it turned out better than it could've.

He turns over onto his side. He doesn't push me away that night, or the next, or ever again.