Hetalia
Tri-Stars
Three ordinary girls somehow get transported into the anime world of Hetalia, where they're somehow called "Elements". More importantly, everyone around them is crazy, there's a lot of really hot/perverted guys, it's only 1942, and a meteor is coming to "end" World War II...and the world!
Author's Notes: This chapter contains mild sexual references (nothing explicit). Please don't panic. It should be okay for those over the ages of thirteen but, just in case, all pre-teens STOP READING! I mean it!
Canada: *Stands on guard to stop under-aged people coming through*
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Let Love Lead The Way
Krystal ended up yelling at the captain of the ship that France's boss had sent, saying something about him being late.
It didn't matter. None of them were in very good moods, except for Russia and, surprisingly, America.
America seemed to be deep in thought, which was so out of character for him that Mayling would have, had she not been upset, accused him of being OOC. However, she was mentally berating herself for letting their friend get taken again...no, not taken...Emma had chosen to go.
Mayling sat on the deck, bow-riding but not really caring about that. She knew where everyone else on the ship was. England, France and Monaco were talking to the captain. Krystal was admiring the pink seashell necklace that Seychelles had given her before they'd left (Seychelles had needed to stay behind, and figure out how she was going to pay for all the damage that had been caused that morning). America was talking in hushed tones with Australia. China was sitting on a nearby crate, and kept glancing at Mayling in concern. Russia was smiling, and reading a newspaper, which headlines read Man Dies In Horrible Accident...
Mayling sighed, and rested her chin on the railing, thinking that she might have forgotten something. Seychelles was getting smaller and smaller...Mayling pictured the nation herself standing on the jetty, waving to them, and next to her would be...
Mayling sat bolt upright, and yelled: "Holy God, we forgot Canada!"
"Who?"
America and Australia walked into the state room, where France, England and Monaco were speaking to the captain.
America walked straight up to the captain. "Dude, my people are nearby. Let me open up communication with them, I gotta ask them a favour."
The captain glanced at France, who shrugged. They had moored, to allow Krystal to swim back and get Canada, so it was easy for America to get in touch with one of his submarines.
"Listen, dudes, there's something I need you to do." America said.
The guy on the other end of the line spoke in a southern-American accent. "Who's it this time, pardner?"
"I'll send you the estimated coordinates." America replied, as Australia began to tap out the Morse Code of the target's location. "They should cross paths with you at about 0400 hours tomorrow morning."
"That's a big ship, pardner, bar none!" The southern-sailor exclaimed.
"Yeah, well, those German-made ships are pretty big..."
The Füchsin Du Anmut sliced gracefully through the waters, looking much scarier than its name suggested. Somehow, after getting lost together for twenty minutes, Emma and Italy had managed to find the kitchens.
Italy's eyes grew starry. "Pastaaaa..." He declared, drifting into the sparkling kitchen (those Germans just kept everything clean!) and leaving Emma to stare in confusion at some waiters and waitresses outfits hanging on clothes hangers by the door. She reached out to touch the black and white fabric of a maid's dress.
Italy was already bustling around, getting out the things he'd need to make pasta. He glanced over his shoulder at Emma, noticing for the first time what she was looking at. His face lit up. "Ve, ve, Emma, know what we should do?"
"I've a feeling you're going to tell me..." Emma glanced at him.
"We'll make pasta for everyone, and wear those outfits!" Italy declared.
Emma blushed. "I-I can't wear a maid outfit! Not with two out of three members of the BTT here!"
"Ve?" Italy had no idea what she meant, and just started making the pasta dough. "Emma, can you help me...?"
Emma flinched. "Umm, I can't cook, Italy...and, I don't think Prussia wants me to burn down his kitchen..." She added. "Germany wouldn't be too thrilled, either..."
Italy laughed. "We won't burn it down, bella! Come on, you can make the sauce!"
"How?"
"I will show you!"
Prussia's scarlet eyes glittered. He was sitting in the state room with Germany, Japan, Romano and Spain, and they were discussing Prussia's favourite topic - battle plans.
A lot had happened in the time the Axis Powers had been marooned on Seychelles. It had taken them a good few hours to discuss what had been happening and what they needed to do in certain places. Prussia was itching to go and fight.
Germany took note of this, and warned his brother against anything foolish. Prussia responded that he was too awesome to do anything foolish, and Spain cheerfully spoke up that Prussia had done more foolish things than all of them put together, and that included Romano.
"Hey!" The brunette protested. "You tomato bastard, you sure that's not your idiota stunts you're referring to?!"
Spain pretended to be taken aback. "Aww, Romi..."
"Don't call me Romi..." Romano growled. He leaned back in his chair. "Why are we even here, anyway? Just because that cagna..."
Prussia pounced, grabbing Romano and slamming him up against a wall. "Don't talk like that about her, you bastard!" His red eyes were fierce. "Unless you want me to use a rusty scalpel to remove your Lecce.." * * *
"Prussia!" Germany shouted, at the same time that Emma did.
Emma marched across the room, and grabbed Prussia's hand, removing it from Romano's neck. The Italian slumped to the ground.
Emma glared up at Prussia, still holding onto his hands. "I apologize for interrupting your plans for a Blutbad, Prussia." She leaned closer, still glaring. "But, Italy and I just spent three hours making dinner, and I want Romano to still be a man when he eats with us!"
Prussia, for once, was speechless, and so was everybody else. It took Emma a moment to figure out why. She blushed. "It's the outfit, isn't it?" She smoothed the black and white maid outfit down self-consciously. "Yes, well, Italy suggested we wear waiters outfits, and this one fit me, so..." She coughed. They're looking at me... She glanced at Japan. Yup, he's definitely staring at me...because I probably remind him of Ayuzawa Misaki from Kaichou-Wa Maid-Sama!
Prussia was smirking. "Don't worry, Bunny - at least one man will be dining with you tonight, kesesese..."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Who is it? Oh, wait, lemme guess - it's Spain, right?"
Spain chuckled, as Prussia's smirk grew. "Wrong answer..." He whispered - and then he tickled her. Right on her sides, just above her hips, which is where she was the most ticklish.
She gasped, and then giggled, attempting feebly to push against Prussia's strong hands, but to no avail. He seemed to know where her most tender spots were, much to her embarrassment.
Germany rolled his eyes, but Spain just smiled good-naturdly.
Japan, however, shot across the room, and pushed Prussia away from Emma, keeping his eyes trained on the floor as Prussia took a quick step back.
"We shourd rearry...enjoy the mear that Em-Chan and Itary-San cooked for us." Japan said flatly.
Em-Chan?
Prussia's face looked dark, but he was grinning - he would love to lock horns with Japan! "You think so, do you, ja?"
Emma's eyes widened slightly. "Now come on, you two..." She said, stepping between them, and then she looked down. "Umm...Prussia...about...Romano?"
"Ja?"
"I think that...you killed him..."
Prussia looked down, also, and saw Romano lying motionless and pale on the floor. "Augh!"
Spain freaked out.
Germany just sighed.
Prussia cried: "We're standing in a room with a dead guy in it!" He grabbed Emma's hand, and she grabbed Japan's hand, and Prussia pulled them both from the room, and all the way to the dining hall!
"Zis vas an excellent meal, Italy." Germany praised, leaning back in his chair.
Italy was thrilled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Germany!" He grinned. "But, Emma was the one that made the pasta sauce!"
Emma blushed. "Yes, well...even I was surprised that I could cook..."
Prussia looked at her. "Nein, Bunny, you shouldn't be - you must be as awesome as me, ja."
Emma shook her head. "No...I hate house-work, and it's really a miracle I was able to cook...I'm not very sociable with people I don't know, and I'm not very athletic or pretty or, well...much of anything, really..." She shrugged.
"But, bella..." Italy protested. "You are much of something!" He said, and that seemed to make sense despite not being a proper sentence.
Emma shook her head. "No, I'm not. I turned against my own country, I nearly got a whole bunch of people blown up..."
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself." Germany ordered her. "Nobody here thinks any less of you for all of zat..."
Emma cringed at the harsh voice that he was using.
Prussia rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to my idiot brother, Bunny. But, he's right - you need more self-esteem, ja." He smirked. "Then you can be just like me, kesesese..."
"But..." Emma averted her gaze. "You...umm...well..." She sighed. "I'm a human. You guys are nations." She said it bluntly, and without any emotion.
The nations all exchanged a glance, and then looked at Prussia and Japan. They were exchanging Looks, which Emma missed, because she was busy twisting the ring on her finger.
Everyone...I wonder what they're doing right now...
Krystal was in jail again, but it wasn't her fault. She argued that the ship had swayed, causing her to roll a one after Connecticut Avenue, but nobody believed her. So, she sat there and watched as America passed Go and collected two-hundred dollars, and Mayling and China teamed up to buy Atlantic Avenue, Venice Avenue and the Water Works, and Russia revealed his secret cash stash.
"You can't do that, dude!" America protested.
"Yes, you can't own a secret cash stash, that is highly illegal, aru." China added.
"In Soviet Russia, secret cash stash own you." Russia smiled pleasantly. "So, is not illegal, da?"
The others exchanged glances. "Uh, I suppose it isn't..." England shrugged.
"I'm out of money." Australia groaned.
"Just borrow some from China, dude!"
"Hey, aru!"
Canada suddenly raise this hand. "Umm, I've won, eh...?"
Krystal examined the board, and nodded. "Guys...guys?" She jabbed the closest person - England - with her little Scottie Dog. "Canada's the winner..."
Canada looked extremely proud of himself.
Emma wandered out onto the deck later that night, feeling the cool air on her skin, as her dress billowed out gently around her. She had changed out of her maid outfit and back into her white dress, and her slightly pale skin gave her a ghost-like appearance as she leaned across the railing, looking first down at the black water, and then up at the sky. She'd seen a Perth-city-night-sky, a Perth-country-night-sky and a Bali-beach-night-sky, but never an out-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-night-sky. It was amazing how many stars there really were out here.
Emma heard something behind her, and glanced over her shoulder, to see Japan standing there.
"Konbanwa..." Emma muttered.
"Konbanwa." Japan replied, coming to stand beside her on her right. "It is a rovery night, isn't it?"
Emma agreed. "Hai...I'll be happy when we get back to your homeland, though..."
"Oh?" Japan raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah..." Emma nodded, smiling slightly. "I missed it...not sure why..."
Japan nodded, looking thoughtful, and they continued to stare out at the ocean in silence, before they both turned to each other and said, at the exact same time: "I need to ask you something!"
They blinked, and then chuckled softly. "You go first." Japan said quietly.
Emma nodded, and fiddled with her hands. "J-Japan-Kun...please tell me..." She looked down, and then looked back at him, blushing furiously. "Tell me what it means for a human to become a nation's Capital!"
Japan looked a little bit shocked by her outburst, but then he nodded, like he'd been expecting her to ask him this question for awhile now. He clasped his hands, and regarded her very seriously. "A nation's Capitar is very simirar to a nation, being the human personification of a capitar. But, they are bonded to their country. For arr of time." He added, and Emma gulped, remembering what Prussia and Germany had said about immortality. Japan continued: "The bond between a nation and capitar arso depends on the rever of trust between the two...they are recognised around the worrd very highry. They represent the capitar, and other rarge cities, as werr."
"How does...a person become a nation's capital?" Emma wanted to know.
"You arready know." Japan replied. "A nation asks a person, and they say yes."
"That's it?" Emma blinked. "There's no test? No ritual? No virgin sacrifice?"
Japan blushed at the word 'virgin', but shook his head. "Iie. The issues of eternar bonding are a test enough for two peopre."
"Wait, so it's like marriage?" Emma asked.
Japan nodded. "Hai. It runs much deeper than that, though. It is a sacred and deep bond. Do you understand?" He asked her.
Emma nodded. "I understand why Germany freaked out when Prussia asked me that...though...I might not be so quick to say no if he asks me again..." She hadn't actually meant to say that out-loud, and watched as Japan's expression darkened.
"I was afraid you wourd say that..." Japan stated. "I've been struggring with my feerings for you for months now...getting jearous when you spent too much time with other nations."
Emma was suddenly aware that she'd stopped breathing, and hurried to take a few deep breaths as she waited for Japan to continue. She was shaking.
"I hated myserf for feering that way," the moonlight was reflected in Japan's dark eyes. "For wanting you arr for myserf, but he said that this is how it wourd be."
"Wh-who's he?" Emma wanted to know.
"Greece-San." Japan replied. "He is one of the onry nations that has a capitar. Her human name is Meg, but she represents the capitar that is Athens."
Emma could only stare at him. She never would have guessed. "So, when do I get to meet this capital?"
"Perhaps when the war is over." Japan shrugged. "Hopefurry, you two wirr have much to tark about." He added, not meeting her gaze.
"Meaning...?" Emma's breath quickened. She suddenly had a feeling that she knew what Japan was going to ask her, and it was starting to scare her...
Japan still wasn't looking at her, but he said: "Em-Chan...I rove you, more than anyone has ever roved anyone." He was blushing - for Japan, one of the shyest of all the world's nations, this was a very big deal. Emma knew that, she'd known that for years. "I spent so rong in soritude, and now I am at war with other nations, that I armost forgot what rove was. But then, when you froated down from the sky rike a tenshi...you berate yourserf for so many things that you shourdn't."
"So do you." Emma pointed out.
Japan nodded. "Maybe so, however...Em-Chan, I want to be with you for arr of time."
"B-but, I'm not Japanese!" Emma protested.
"I don't care. Em-Chan..." Japan looked up at her, his gaze intense suddenly, and his voice ringing with strength. "Become my capitar, shite kudasai?"
Emma felt like her heart was about to stop, like she was about to faint, and that time was not moving at all, as she stared at Japan, at the nation that had just asked her to marry him, to become his capital...
What should she do? What should she say? If she said yes, then she would be setting herself up for eternity, for the rest of forever, to be loved and to love. If she said yes, she could protect Japan, as his strong and devoted capital, as Tokyo. If she said yes, then she could become a part of the world, a part of something big and important, and do more than she'd been doing before. If she said yes, then she would become something more than what she was...
So, why would she say no?!
Emma reached out, and took Japan's hands in her own, realising that, if her heart didn't slow down, she might have a heart attack. At this moment, that didn't matter to her.
Tears were in her eyes. She was going to change within the next few seconds, and she knew it. "Hai." She said simply, the tears spilling over, but she was smiling.
Japan smiled genuinely, leaning forwards and pressing his lips to hers. There were unaccustomed tears in the Asian nation's eyes, as he wrapped his arms around Emma's shoulders, drawing her to lean against his chest.
Emma closed her hazel eyes, and smiled, listening to the sound of Japan's heart, beating at the exact same rate as her own.
Japan closed his eyes briefly, wondering if he should have told Emma this next bit before he asked her and she said yes, but he'd actually been terrified that she would have said no if she'd known.
"Em-Chan?"
"Mmm?" She muttered.
"I...actuarry ried, srightry...gomen..." Japan admitted, taking a deep breath. "There is...one thing that must be done...for you to officarry become my capitar..."
"What's that, Japan-Chama?"
"We have to become one." Japan closed his eyes again, waiting for the response, for the fear, for the rejection that he expected to come.
It didn't. When he opened his eyes again, Emma had her hands on his shoulders, and was gazing up at him, with so much love and adoration in her shimmering eyes that it nearly took Japan's breath away.
"Okay." She whispered, her melodic voice shining. "I want to...douzo onegai..."
Japan stared down at her for a moment, hearing the sincerity and the longing in her voice, before he made up his mind and picked her up, bridal-style. After tonight, nobody would take her away from him again. She would be his, for all time, and they would be together. Japan had a sudden vision of them through the seasons, wearing their yukatas and enjoying the simpler things in life like an old married couple. He had a feeling, however, that Emma would revolutionise many things about their country, bringing it into the future with west-meets-east. He smiled, looking forward to the thought, but not as much as he was looking forward to what they were about to do.
From the top deck, Germany and Prussia watched silently as Japan carried his new capital off to his room. They waited until they heard the heavy metal door leading below deck shut, before Germany turned to his brother.
"Are you okay, bruder?" Germany wanted to know.
"Nein." Prussia shook his head, his face unreadable. "But, as long as she is happy..."
"Zat doesn't sound like you..." Germany mused. Perhaps my bruder is growing up, after all...
"I won't stop fighting for her." Prussia added. "I can always steal her from Japan, just like Normandy and the Hill Of Tara...kesesesese..."
Germany just shook his head. And, zen again, perhaps he is NOT...
Just before dawn the next day, the only female onboard the ship walked back out onto the deck. She still looked the same as she had a few hours ago, but she was different. She was older and wiser, and she was more than a woman...she was a Capital.
Tokyo, to be exact.
During hers and Japan's...moment...Emma had learned everything about him, and by that she knew everything. There was not a part of him that she didn't know now, and vice-a-versa. She hadn't known what to expect but, now, she knew that she had made the right choice.
She had become stronger, she knew it, and she was looking forward to returning to her new home and putting some new skills to use. She wanted to make some tea, try out some traditional Japanese dancing, play the koto and find out just how immortal she really was now. When she'd voiced that last desire to Japan, his eyes had widened in horror, and he hadn't let her leave for another half an hour (not that she minded).
Emma had learned Japan's history, some of it quite violent and bloody. It had scared her, but she had held on, knowing that together they could be strong. There was so much beauty and culture as well, enough that it made Emma's heart feel patriotism for a country she wasn't even from!
Now, however, she was Tokyo, and represented many other cities of Japan's as well. What was his was hers, and what was hers was his.
Emma smiled, standing out on deck as she waited for the sun to rise. She could feel a connection with Japan already, strong and steady. He was still asleep, but she knew that, if she called to him in her mind, he would come to her. She wondered what kind of range this thing had, and if it worked like a GPS.
Closing her eyes, Emma began to sing, in her soft voice:
"Kimigayo wa
Chiyo ni yachiyo ni
Sazare-ishi no
Iwao to narite
Koke no musu made..." As she sang Kimigayo, she opened her eyes, and watched as the sun rose over the ocean.
In her mind, she sensed that Japan had heard her, in his state of half sleep, and felt a sense of pride coming from him. She couldn't keep the smile off her face now.
"Bella...?" A sleepy voice said from behind her, and Emma turned to see Italy standing there, yawning.
"Ohayo gozaimasu!" Emma said cheerfully.
"Bella, did you..." Italy tilted his head to one side. "You look different, ve...are you Japan's capital now?"
Emma nodded. "Mmhmm. Atashi wa Tokyo, demo...you can still call me Emma or Bella or whatever." She smiled kindly at him.
Italy smiled, too. "So then, we're still amici?"
Emma giggled. "Of course we are, Italy - we can be friends forever now!" She told him, holding out her arms.
"Yay!" Italy hugged Emma, before saying something about going back to bed because he was tired.
Laughing at the loveable nation's hyperactivity, Emma turned back to the sea. Yes, she would be friends with Italy forever, and Germany and the others, too. She would be with Japan forever, as well...she would protect him, from everyone...from America...
If she messed this up so that the Allies lost and the Axis Powers won...well...she'd cross that bridge if she came to it...
Emma had no idea what made her look down at the water.
On all accounts, she should have been looking up at the red sky but, as they say, a red sky in the morning is a shepard's warning. For a second, she thought it was a shark but, looking back, she realised that it was too big and too fast to be a shark.
By the time she'd figured out what it was, the torpedo had already hit. Emma gasped, grabbing onto the railing as the ship shook, and an explosion rocked the lower decks.
The door to the deck flew open, and Japan sprinted out, just as a second torpedo hit them, and Emma felt her feet fly out from underneath her. She flew over the railing, and managed to yell out Japan's name before she hit the water, and everything went black, but she did hear him respond to her.
"Tokyo!"
Hai...that's what I am...I am...Tokyo...