Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.
Prologue
Canada had gone to England for a meeting, and he was happy that England only forgot about him three times during the meeting. It was better than usual! Afterwards, the two sat down for tea and biscuits, and during that England didn't forget him even once.
England had to leave the room when the landline started to ring, and Canada waited patiently for his return. He waited for several minutes. Even after the muffled sounds of England's voice were no longer heard, Canada waited. It was only after the doorbell rang and England went to answer it did Canada realise that England had forgotten him again. And that hurt.
There was always a point, after being forgotten several times during a social event, that Canada felt the painful pang as realisation hit. It was random when he would feel it, and depending on how many people were involved, it could come sooner or later. After that point, he wouldn't even try anymore, and with the exceptions of meetings, he usually took that as his cue to leave.
He placed the empty cup and saucer back on the table. If he didn't run into England again before he made it to the front door, he hoped that it would act as a reminder that Canada had been there. But only 25% of the time would Canada get an apology if someone he was spending time with forgot about him, or failed to see him. And personally, he didn't want to run into England and whoever his visitor was now.
As he stood, he thought he heard a whisper. He paused, listening for the sound again.
Help me.
His eyes widened. Who could be needing help?
"Hello?" he called out. "Where are you?"
In the basement. There's a black box on one of the shelves. Please, help me.
Canada didn't stop to think that it was strange that he was hearing a voice that claimed to come from a box in the basement. In fact, he wasn't thinking much at all, except that he needed to find the box. He knew where England's basement was, and knew that when he was still a colony he had been forbidden from going down there. But England had already forgotten that Canada was there, so he saw no reason to obey one of England's old rules that didn't really apply anymore.
It took him a while to get used to the darkness of the basement, but once he was accustomed to the darkness, he easily spotted the box.
Help me, please.
He walked up to the box. He reached out to touch it, but before he could, he hesitated. Something about this felt wrong. What was going…?
Please.
He opened the box. He winced when a red light flooded the basement, and once it faded, the box was gone. Canada blinked. Why was he in England's basement?
Canada remembered that England had forgotten him again, and he thought that he must have come down here to look for England. But England was obviously not here, and it might be better if Canada just left.
Canada went back upstairs and grabbed his things. The moment he left the room, however, he found himself colliding with someone. And now he would get to see England's reaction to his departure.
Except it wasn't England that he bumped into.
"Oh, Canada! I didn't know you were here."
Canada felt two hands on his arms, steadying him. It took him a while to realise that the person he was looking at was Portugal. The European smiled before releasing Canada.
"Um, I-I was just leaving," Canada said, attempting to go past Portugal. "Sorry."
He felt a hand grab his wrist, and he turned around to Portugal, who was looking at him sadly.
"He forgot, didn't he?" Portugal asked.
Canada flinched, averting his eyes. He tried to pull his wrist free, but Portugal only gripped tighter.
"You don't have to go," Portugal insisted.
"It's better if I do," Canada whispered.
He managed to pull free and started to walk away.
"Canada?" Portugal called out, and Canada paused. "At the next world meeting, would you join me for a cup of coffee?"
Canada turned back and nodded, a smile on his face. In truth, he didn't believe that Portugal would remember him. But at the moment, the thought was comforting.
As he left, he didn't realise that Portugal kept watching him, longing to follow him. He didn't know that Portugal would confront England later about him forgetting Canada, or that England would vow to make amends and forget. And Canada was unaware that inside him, something was stirring.
And England would forget that there had been a box that he had every intention of destroying, or hiding away where no innocent soul would find it.
So, this story is complete, and only has a few chapters. Along with the dates used in this story (you'll see next chapter), this will be updated daily instead of weekly. So, see you tomorrow!