Chapter Fourteen

A/N Hello everyone! I'm hoping not to make these start of chapter author's notes a regular thing but I needed to explain why I hadn't written after saying I was getting a schedule. (I actually had to go to a funeral and didn't get to write anything during my time there, so…)

So all of this was written basically on the four/five hour car ride home and edited the morning after. Then I hated it and re-wrote the end. I'm so sorry it took so long!

Alright, that's it, thank you very much! A/N over.


Pretending that he had to catch a phone call from his government, Russia had escaped the kitchen and left to stand in the hallway outside of it.

From his position in the hallway he could hear the wind in the branches of the trees that dotted the neighborhood and the soft clinking of dishware from the other room. Both were calming sounds, definitely comforting in it's differences from the whistling snow and ice that plagued his own home. Yet in it's own way he felt a different type of loneliness in the air, it was definitely not as bad as what he felt in his own home (though this could have been a personal preference of distraction from a new place).

Pulling himself back to the present, Russia reached into his coat pocket, searching for his phone.

It had been a major surprise to the other nations judging by how far behind he always seemed when he had been caught checking the date on the Nokia. America especially had seemed shocked, or maybe even insulted, by his ownership of the object. Amusing as the day might have been it was certainly an unpleasant insight to everyone's view of him. At the time he hadn't mentioned that he had only recently bought it and didn't fully know how it worked, but that certainly didn't need to be announced publicly.

Even China had teased him at that time, unaware that it had actually stung seeing as they were right out of the Cold War and all and neither of them had access to modern technologies only a few years before. It did make Russia feel slightly better when they were walking to their separate hotels and China confessed to him that he didn't have one yet.

A small smile playing on his lips, Russia quickly taped Japan's home number into the small device, hoping with all his cold heart that the Asian nation was awake.

It rang a few times before he heard the click of the device being picked up.

"本田菊, これは誰ですか?" Japan's cracked voice played into his ears.

"Ah Japan," the white haired personification purred in Russian, trying his hardest to make it sound as if he was talking to a government, hoping that China didn't remember enough to understand what he was saying.

"何?" Japan sounded confused. Along with this Russia was mildly aware of a brushing noise, as if he were sitting up. Had he woken him up anyway? And more importantly, was it night in Tokyo or was he taking a midday nap?

"It's Russia, this is my mobile phone," Russia said, trying to make his words clear even through the language barrier. He knew Japan spoke some Russian but he hadn't made it clear if he was conversational yet.

"A-ah," Japan stuttered, this time in English, "Hi Russia," he paused before tentatively continuing, as if worried, "...what do you want?"

"I'm-" Russia started, only to be cut off by the nation on the other side of the line.

"Why don't we talk in Japanese…?" Japan started, following it with "Or English-!" when Russia gave an unimpressed snort.

"I can't right now," Russia explained, "I'm in China."

Sounding a mix of shocked and worried, Japan yellped, "Wha-?!"

Cutting him off and gritting his teeth into a smile, Russia hissed furiously, "Not like that you fucking pervert!"

Both were quiet, Russia tapping his foot and grumbling, annoyed by the other personification's ignorance to the situation. Japan himself coughed once before he stuttered into speech again, "Sorry," he choked out before another shuffling sound was heard, maybe him standing up, "Why are you calling me again?"

Russia leaned his back against the wall, crossing his free arm across his stomach, "I wish to discuss some things with you…"

"W-what type of things?" Japan immediately rushed, sounding suddenly distrustful of his half-ally.

"China clearly," Russia purred gleefully, his voice free of annoyance with the new proof of the Japanese man's utter obliviousness.

But he surprised him, becoming completely serious Japan almost seemed to straighten up, "What happened? What can I do?"

Smirking at the change in personality, Russia started to speak, "Well, I have a theory…"

Japan waited, and hearing his intense focus Russia's smirk widened, "It's-" he started. But suddenly China spoke up from the other room, worry twisted into his heavily accented voice.

"Is your government treating you badly aru?" He called sounding distinctly unsure, "do you need help?"

"Hold on," Russia whispered into his phone before putting it down and turning his head and changing the tone of his voice to sound less focused, "Ah, no Yao, it's fine."

"Are you sure aru…?" China stuttered, sounding worried despite Russia's clear reassurance.

"Uh, yeah, it's fine Yao," He called back every so slightly shakily, "I'll leave if you want me to…"

"Uhm," the older personification mumbled before raising his voice again, "S-sure, because you have to go back home soon enough anyway aru…"

"You're at his house?!" Japan's shocked voice sounded through the Nokia in Russia's hand. Having almost forgotten he was still on the other side of the phone the taller nation jumped and quickly brought it closer to his mouth.

"Shhhh!" he hissed, "Give me a moment!"

Dropping the phone to his side again, Russia peaked around the corner, not noticing how intensely he was staring into China's soul in the process. "I'll do that then, just give me a few seconds…!"

"Alright aru," China sighed, "Bye I guess…?" His voice sounded hopeful, as if asking to talk again, though he would never admit it in words. His white haired companion smirked behind the cover of the wall that separated them. Maybe he was getting somewhere.

China went silent with a last shaky breath and Russia swallowed, suddenly feeling almost bad for cutting off their conversation. Plus, he wasn't sure why his ally seemed so distressed in the first place and that in itself was a reason to worry.

"I'll call you back," Russia spat out into the receiving end of the phone, sounding much more hostile than he had meant to.

"Wha-" Japan started, but he was cut off as Russia ended the call, dropping the phone back into his pocket with an almost cracking noise due to the quickly moving fabric of his sleeve.

He walked back into the main room, awkwardly smiling across the room at China who nodded in acknowledgement.

"Sorry," he sighed, scratching the back of his head with on leather gloved hand, "So sorry about that call, but my boss wants me back,"

"No no, it's okay aru," China shook his head as if clearing his mind, face lightening after he had finished, a small yet sad smile on his lips, "I get it, plus, you still have to sort out some stuff after the war?"

"Tell me about it," Russia sighed. It was really tiring work, setting up an entirely new government.

They both stared at each other in silence, a sort of weakness in the air where their words had been. Russia took in a shaky breath, knowing that he had to leave, "Okay, I'll… be going." There was a clipped edge to the words, almost sounding mad, though that wasn't at all the case.

China puffed up one cheek with air, turning his head to the side, a blush only barely visible, "Yeah," he muttered quietly, "bye Ivan."

The Russian man's long strides took him to the door quick enough, leaving his ally to marinate in his loneliness again.

Having hailed a taxi to take him back to the entrance of the airport Russia searched for the floor he was supposed to be on. (It was a ridiculously long way away considering that he didn't know the layout of the airport very well.)

He hummed to himself, knowing that he had to call Japan back. Though whatever he would reveal to the smaller personification would depend on his confidence in the information. He hadn't particularly learned much, just a bit of mostly useless information and a theory. Considering why he had started this project (for personal amusement) a theory was a bit pathetic.

The Russian smirked to himself, listening to the dialing tone after typing in the phone number. He had most of the nation's numbers memorized, all except for the few who didn't own hand-held phones of course, in which case he knew their home phone.

"本田菊-" Japan started, only to be cut off by an ever impatient Russia.

"Hello," the taller country purred, now in English rather than Russian, "so sorry it took so long…"

"That's alright," Japan sighed in response, though he sounded a bit cross at the way his introduction had been cut off, "what do you want to tel-?"

"Well it's gotta be quick because my flight leaves soon," Russia provided, hearing Japan muffle a groan on the other end, clearly irritated by how much he was getting cut off in the middle of his sentences.

"That's not what I aske-"

"Oh sorry," Russia stifled a short chortel, "what did you ask?"

"Maybe if you stopped interrupting me I would be able to get the point across!" Japan snapped, his normally calm and respectable nature breaking way for his annoyance at his Russian counterpart.

"Hmn," Russia contemplated this before breaking free of his joking interruptions and becoming serious once again, "Sure, that sounds alright,"

"Good," Japan sighed, his voice, and presumably posture judging by the sound of shifting fabric, relaxing. Russia nodded, shifting his eyes around the airport to check that no one official looking was around. This had to be kept private, even if it was almost nothing to go off of by itself. After all, who knew how much the government knew?

As a nation it was a common courtesy to keep private things away from their bosses. If that meant lying when people asked questions or straight up avoiding talking to humans whose jobs or social positions weren't clear then that was okay. It didn't matter who they avoided, their personal lives were about the only things they got to keep from their bosses and even that was often given away.

"Go on," Japan sounded so patient that Russia almost didn't notice how he had been stalling.

"Ah," he coughed, "Yeah. Well, it's just a theory…"

"Theories are important Ivan," Japan said quietly. Russia grinned, he was right. Theories were important.

"It has something to do with kids?" He phrased it like a question, semi-curious if Japan was hiding anything that he would let go of. There was a beat of silence and Russia raised his eyebrows, "Kiku…?" he started.

"Y-yeah," Japan stuttered, but it didn't seem like a confirmation to the Russian's second question. It almost sounded like it was a response to the first sentence.

" 'Yeah'?" Russia repeated, "to what? Do you agree with my theory? Or…" his eyes narrowed, "are you withholding information?"

"No-!" Japan yelped, "いいえ、違います! I'm not withholding information Russia, but I... um..."

"You what?" Russia purred, his voice low and soft.

"I agree," Japan started with an air of finalization, "I could be that."

"Perfect," Russia smiled behind the phone, "then that is all."

"Wha-" Japan started, "Hey wait no! That can't be it, didn't you figure out anything else…?" Sneering at his sudden interest in the topic now that they had a start, Russia laughed.

"No, not really, did you expect more?" Ignoring Japan's soft comment of 'well kinda' he continued, "is there anything else you have to say to me? My flight is boarding soon."

That was, of course, a complete lie. The flight was boarding in a few hours. The truth was that Russia wanted some time to think about the day by himself, and not just for the point of finding out the secret, just for the sake of the day. He had kind of enjoyed himself, in fact-

Wait, he thought, what am I talking about? This is only for my sake, I only enjoyed my time there because I was not lonely. He repeated this in his head childishly, hoping to beat down any more strange ideas. Luckily, he did not have to for very long, Japan distracting him by speaking into the phone.

"Did you hear me?" his voice asked, sounding impatient now.

"Uh," Russia laughed awkwardly, "No, did you say something?"

"Of course I- ugg, never mind," Japan groaned, "I was just asking you if we could continue this conversation at the next meeting, maybe tell Alfred-"

"Tell America?" Russia scowled, "Why?"

"Because I'm friends with him I guess?" Japan sighed, "I was hoping that he could help. If you haven't noticed, us two aren't very good at communicating,"

Russia growled, "What do you mean? I've told you everything I've thought of," it didn't feel like a lie, but he knew it probably was.

"Yeah, well…" he sighed again, as if it were a way to puncture his speech where he wanted a better effect, "we don't get along very well at best, I'm sure you have noticed that,"

"Yes," Russia said, "but why do you think I would get along with America so soon after…" he trailed off. Both of them knew what he was talking about. The Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union, America's win. All of what had been going on for the past two years.

"I don't," Japan seemed to shake his head, "But I know I get along with him, besides, we can discuss it at the meeting."

"Wait-" Russia tried, only to be cut off once again.

"You said your plane was coming did you not?" Japan smirked, "if something new happens that we can't tell Alfred then call me, I'm not going to say much to him beforehand, maybe pretend you wanted to apologize or something along those lines."

"Apologize?" Russia scoffed, "He will see right through that, what makes you think-"

"Goodbye Russia," Japan said, "have a safe flight!"

"Wait-!" Russia tried again, but was met with the disconnect tone once again, "Ugg!" he hissed, "stupid freaking…" as he plopped down in a seat the mumbling continued, though the insults were now in Russian so as to further confuse the people around him.

He really did not want to tell the American. It sounded like a horrible plan and he wasn't ready to ally himself with such an annoying, idiotic, and narssasistic nation so soon after a war, even if it was on a personal level.

He was not ready to expose himself, or China, to such ignorance.