"England aru?" China stood in front of his house's opened door, both confused and surprised.
"Hai, sorry for the sudden visit, but we would wish to speak to England San regarding some urgent matters." Japan bowed apologetically as he told China his purpose of the visit.
"According to Romania Kun over here, England San told him that he will be staying in your house for the week?"
"Urgent matters? What kind? Maybe I can help aru." China asked, rather curious about this.
"The kind that involves America." Romania replied with a brief answer as China nodded with understanding.
"If that's the case, I'll pass. We did plan to have him stay over for a week and talk about tea, but he was feeling unwell on the second day and decided to leave early. Have you tried calling him?"
"We did, both his cell phone and his house, but he didn't pick up." Romania answered, looking defeated. Just when they've make up their mind on getting help, England goes missing. What else can go wrong?
"Aiyaa, Well he's got to be somewhere aru, a person don't just disappear, so you will just have to look harder. Since you are already here, do you want to come in for some tea?" China invited.
'Sure, a person don't just disappear, he gets eaten by a book' Both Japan and Romania thought.
"Thank you very much for the invitation China Kun, but I am afraid that we still have the urgent matter to attend to. Perhaps next time?" Japan asked, sounded rather sorry for not accepting the offer.
"I see... Well, feel free to drop by for ta visit aru. I kind of miss the times when we admire the moon together." China replied with a warm smile.
"I will remember that, thank you very much, China Kun." Japan bowed again before leaving with Romania.
Alright, now what? They can go ahead and start looking for England, but if he's not feeling well, then telling him the news that America got eating by his book and was now roaming around in that super dark memory of his was probably not a good idea. The last thing Japan wanted to do was to further stress the poor Brit; Romania didn't quite mind though, he just wanted to get this thing over with.
Then again, if England gets overly stressed and pass out for a few months before doing anything to help America, it would only mean more work for him. Romania was almost certain that Japan was determined to help America out, and since he had promised to help Japan till things are solved... Dammit. Just dammit.
With that, they scratched out the idea of finding England and dragging him out of his sick bed and went on to the next plan: getting some information from America's side.
"So do we call him now?" Romania asked, already dialing America's number on his phone.
"Maybe not now, I was thinking of talking to someone who's close to America Kun in person." Japan shook his head. "Preferably someone who's clear about America Kun's past and personality. "
"... Someone like that exist?" Romania raised his eyebrow, besides England, who was obviously out of option, he really could not come up with anyone else who can do what Japan's described.
"Please, come on in. It's really rare of me to have any visitors except for Brother, England and France at times." Canada gestured for them to enter his house with a wide smile on his face, his bear was sitting beside him.
"Who are they?" The bear, Kumajurou asked as he pointed to Japan and Romania, then at Canada. "Who are you?"
"I'm Canada..." Canada's smile was turning into a troubled one, "They are Japan and Romania, our guests. Now be a good bear and fetch us some tea, will you?"
"... I'll have extra maple syrup on my pancakes tonight." With that, Kumajirou turned away and walked into the kitchen, followed by the sound of glass banging together.
"... Thank you." Canada felt a sweat down his forehead.
"Sorry for the trouble, Canada Kun." Japan bowed slightly after they've entered the house. "It's really alright if you would save the work, we are just here to have a little chat with you and ask you some questions if possible."
"Oh, it's really fine. Please, have a seat." Canada simply nodded as they sat on the sofas. Japan and Romania sat on one while Canada sat on the other. The two sofas were facing each other and between them was a small coffee table. Just a moment after they've settled down, Kumajirou came up with a two plates of tea and some cookies as he placed them on the table and helped himself to one of the cookies.
"Hey um..." Romania looked on the floor, trying hard to remember the name of the person in front of him. "Canada! Yes, Canada. What do you think of your brother?"
"Huh? My brother?" Canada looked at Romania, rather clueless. But that only lasted for perhaps a mere second or two before he opened his mouth again to answer the question.
"He's really outspoken, has a sense of justice, can't read the atmosphere and is always ignoring me. But he's nonetheless a caring brother." He paused and met Romania and Japan's eye contact. "Did he get himself into trouble again?"
"Wow, you are not excellent in archery for nothing. Bull's eye." Romania whistled as Japan took a sip of the tea.
"-sigh- What did he do this time?" Canada was acting more like an older brother carrying the blame for his younger brother than who he's supposed to be; the younger brother who's always being protected.
"You sound like you're really used to this." Romania had to admit that he was a little caught off guard by Canada's reaction. He was expecting Canada to not make a huge fuss about it, but at least look troubled or worried.
"Well... Brother's always getting intro trouble and I'm somehow taking the blame every time. Guess that I'm used to it even without noticing." Canada simply shrugged. There's really nothing much he can do in making sure that his brother stays out of trouble. Come on, he's America for crying out loud.
"I feel sorry for you, Canada Kun. Please hang in there and let's hope that America Kun would learn his lesson and hopefully stays out of trouble for a while after he's safe from this one." Japan sincerely hoped.
"Thank you. That would be wonderful, don't you think so too, Kumameiji san?" Canada asked the bear sitting beside him.
"Who are you?"
"... Canada."
"Well, at least we don't have to waste our time trying to assure you that he'll be fine and you don't have to worry." Romania finished up another cookie and said, "So let's cut straight to the point."
"Your brother got swallowed by a book." He said with a rather calm expression.
"... Excuse me?" Canada could have swore that the chances of that happening was lower than his brother being abducted by aliens. Well on second thought the chances of that happening was lower than the chances of his brother actually picking a book up and reading it.
"England San is very closely involved in it." Japan explained after reading Canada's expression.
"I see. If it's England, then it makes a lot more sense." Canada smiled as he scratched the back of his head. "So what do you want me to do? Whatever it is, as long as brother can come back, I'll cooperate 100%."
"Thank you very much for your help. 'I'm sure America Kun will be saved soon.' ...Is what i would like to say. However..."
"We are kinda hoping that you'll tell us what to do." Romania put it in a simpler way.
"...I'm sorry, I don't quite get it."
Romania and Japan glanced at each other and then at Canada for a few times before they nodded to each other and with a few more servings of the snacks (mostly the cookies, Romania found it rather nice), told Canada everything. Japan had a bad feeling that if this goes on, it'll only be a matter of time before they had to tell everyone else about this.
"What is the pressing problem now then?" Canada asked as he hugged Kumajirou, who moved to sit on his lap.
"We have no idea where England is and he's a must have if we want to free America. Well, at least for now he's a must have. There's also the problem that America used England's magic. That's something i don't understand."
"Is there something peculiar about that? He just used it right? Do you have to know something about magic to use any?" Canada tilted his head slightly.
"Unfortunately, you do." Japan replied as Canada realized how weird the situation was.
"So you see, we need to know how he managed to work the spell. Well we know he's an idiot and idiots have a thing with luck but... The point is, if we can figure that out, i may be able to come up with another way to get America out of there." Romania analysed.
After that was another moment of silence as everyone were deep in their thoughts. Kumajirou was probably thinking about what to have for dessert later, but the others were mainly thinking of the problems at hand.
Just as Canada was about to give up thinking about something that he could hardly understand, he looked up at the wall clock as an idea hit him. Now to confirm that idea...
"Romania, I'm not very sure about it but is there such things as magic or enchanted items? Any sort of it that can contain magic?"
"As a matter of fact, there is. In fact, it's not hard to make one of those things. For example, a healing pendant. All you have to do is to trap a whole lot of healing spells and magic into a single pendant. Takes a whole lot of time and energy so i don't really go about making them. What makes you ask about that?"
"Must the user of the magic item know any magic him or herself?" this time was Japan.
"Don't have to. I can just toss Canada the pendant- if i have any, and he'll be able to use its healing powers at his own will- Wait, you are not saying that.."
"England San is extremely strong in magic." Japan muttered.
"He's definitely capable of making something like that..." Romania continued as both Japan and he looked back at Canada.
"England gave brother a watch a few years ago for his birthday. He's always wearing it, even in his sleep." Canada concluded, a glint of spark was caught in his eyes.
THERE! THE CHAPTER BEFORE I GO ON A SMALL HIATUS! ~~
Okay I'm cruel on not making America appear. i am so sorry. But look at the bright side, the next chapter (which i honestly have no idea when i'll type it out) will be all about America and Pirate England! :D (gosh time for more rock music and badass Iggy)
REVIEW! If i get like.. 65 reviews in total, I'll resume writing a month earlier than the original time. (Doing this because i am somehow confident that it won't happen.) Hope you enjoyed the chapter! :D See you next time~
