Chapter 12: Pain of the Simpler Times
"Black Northern Lights!"
Everything went black around them, Ikuto using one of X-Canada's attacks. A dim sable glow could be seen in the darkness, but it moved too fast for anyone to track. Amu was suddenly struck in the back with the hockey stick, Rima suffering the same fate. The two fell to their knees, recovering.
Ikuto had no problem seeing; it was his own attack, and it obviously gave him special powers. The hockey stick that glowed a dim light would barely be seen by the others, but to Ikuto, it illuminated the whole room in a bright violet hue.
Greece, however, didn't have any problem seeing either. His newfound "Cat-Vision" allowed him to move in quickly and strike Ikuto down, smacking the hockey stick from his hands. As Yaya and Atlantis fumbled for the stick, they couldn't see a lick and continuously tripped over each other. Soon, the black faded slowly back into the lights, and Ikuto quickly dashed to grab the hockey stick. As Amu and Rima regained themselves, the others prepared to corner Ikuto before he dashed to the wide set of steps at the head of the room; the director watched from above, a stern expression on his face.
"You kids didn't have to get involved in this, you know," Ikuto spat. "You could have just let the nations suffer on their own, not drag yourselves into the pain.
"But we wanted to, don't you get that?" Tadase shouted, making his way up the stairs with Kukai in tow. "A person in need is a person in need, no matter who they are! And we will always, always step in and do what we have to!"
"Yeah! It's that kind of nobility that lets us be the Seiyo Guardians!" Kukai agreed. A sudden crack could be heard from within his pocket, and Kukai quickly pulled Japan's egg out as it cracked. As Japan pushed his was out, everyone looked at him with a sense of awe and relief.
"I heard what you said…" Japan began. "I'm not sure what's going on, but you're obviously a good friend of everyone what I care for… so I'll help in any way that I can."
Ping!
Character Transformation: Sky Samurai!
Wearing a green kimono and bearing a bright silver sword, Kukai grinned and gave a quick thumbs-up before dashing and smacking Ikuto down with the flat of the katana. Ikuto rebutted with his hockey stick, the two going back and forth until Ikuto smacked Kukai down the stairs.
"Kukai-chi!" Yaya cried, coming to Kukai's aid and pulling him out of danger.
"I don't need to deal with this." It was Canada's voice that rung out this time, not Ikuto's; the cat boy was looking down, shadows over his face. "There has to be… some way to get you to understand me!"
"We do understand you, Canada," Atlantis reassured, taking a step forward. "We get the pain…"
"No you don't! None of you understand it, because you aren't looking at your own pain! You're only seeing mine and feeling sorry for me! There has to be a way… there has…"
Ikuto looked up, his usually blue eyes a quivering deep violet; Canada had made his pain known to Ikuto, had taken control.
"Unraveled Memories!"
Most everyone collapsed to the floor, memories of angst and pain and sadness flooding back to them.
For Rima, it was the pain of her parents fighting. For America, the neglect he'd given his brother.
For Yaya, it was the neglect she'd faced from her parents. England's pain was everyone he loved slowly growing away from him.
Atlantis remembered the lengthily period of time she'd convinced herself she hated her brother, running away from home. Italy faced the sadness of his grandfather's death.
For Nagihiko, his pain was being unable to truly express himself, even with his heart's desires in physical form. For France, he could hardly bear to face his misunderstood self.
Greece's chest swelled up at the thought of war and pain he'd caused his loved ones. For Germany, the pain was forced out by the personality he exerted that forced away everyone he cared about.
Ikuto's pain was the burden Easter put on his shoulders, and Canada's was the one he'd been exerting all this time.
The pain of Amu was caused by watching those she card about hurt, and the pain for China came about from the melancholy of those long, lonely 4,000 years.
For Kukai, it was leaving his friends behind. For Japan, it was the pain he'd caused from vicious betrayal.
Tadase's pain was that of watching those he loved suffer and being unable to change things. Scarlett's pain was her lengthily past that had caused a heart-wrenching sorrow for so many years. For Russia, it was his country's history of majesty and power… and sorrow.
However, despite the pain, Amu managed to get to her feet.
"Don't you get it, Canada?" She shouted. "We've all seen pain! The devastating effects of it are right in front of you! But that's no reason to feel sorry for yourself… If you just get back up on your feet, the pain can fade away when you're with the ones you love… do you get it now?"
Atlantis soon managed to stand, America undoing the Character Transformation with Rima and joining her. England followed suit.
"Canada, come on… we all care about you, whether we show it all the time or not. You were always like a brother to me, and so many others think of you as such a great country… Don't you understand?" She gave him a comforting look.
"Matt… I never meant to hurt you… I never meant to ignore you, bro…" He began choking up. "I always looked up to you, because you always had so many accomplishments that I could never live up to… Nobody ever dared to touch you in war, and you were always England's favorite… But… even if I was just a little jealous, I never meant to alienate you like that. You're my brother… I love you, man…"
"As much as I'm ashamed to admit it, America's right- you were always my favorite." England shook his head, letting out a small chuckle. "You were always so polite and innocent and intelligent. How could I not admire that?"
Ikuto began to tremble, and Canada suddenly bust out of the Character Transformation; his X was gone, the glasses returned, and he looked once again innocent. Canada forced China out of his Transformation with Amu, taking over.
Ping!
Character Transformation: Amulet Maple!
Amu now adorned a skin-tight low cut red hoodie, decorated with the signature white maple leaf. A red skirt and black snow boots, Amu's pink hair was tied partially to the side in its traditional style, held up by a red maple leaf pin with a black heart in the center of it.
'I'm so sorry, all of you,' Canada spoke from within. 'I never meant to cause all this trouble, I just wanted to be noticed… so let me make it up to you.'
-x-x-x-
A/N: Yay, normal happy Canada! This chapter was so heartfelt~ The original "Amulet Maple" was actually called "Maple Heart", and was Canada doing a Chara Nari with Atlantis. But I'd given her too much love. It was Heroine Time~
But, regretfully, it's about that time. Unlock my Heart! is all but over, leaving about 2 chapters left to go. There will be epilogues, though, 'cause I like Peach Pit's thinking. When you have a story so heartfelt and dynamic, there has to be some sort of extras to it all, because you just don't want it to end. And I've been thinking- there may be a possible sequal with the same situation, only in reverse. And that's all I'll tell you guys for now ;3