Matthew looked at the empty house with an expression that mimicked how hollow his once-home now appeared. He couldn't even believe it was the same house.. He had lived in it for decades, maybe even centuries? He wasn't sure. Matthew's memory had degraded rapidly since he found out he wasn't technically a nation anymore.. In fact he could barely recall anything that was before World War One.

"Kumahiru what am I going to do?" He asked the little polar bear, who was happily pretending an empty cardboard box was an airplane.

Kumajirou didn't even look up.

"Who are you?"

Despite the circumstances Matthew smiled. Kumajirou didn't mean it, Matthew didn't mean it either, it was a little game both him and his bear played. He'd call the bear by the wrong name, and Kumajirou would ask who he was, pretending to have forgotten.

"I'm Canada," Matthew replied with a sarcastic grin.

Matthew was about to finish packing the last box when his phone interrupted him.

"Bonjour, que-est que c'est?" He asked, while rubbing at his eyes in annoyance.

'Why does France always call at terrible times!' He thought. Despite the agressive sentence, there wasn't any real anger behind it.

Just pathetic frustration.

He hadn't slept in at least two days, perhaps even longer.. The Canadian was terrified that he'd go to sleep, and never wake up..

He couldn't help but think that he'd completely vanish like the Roman Empire did.

After all, what good was he for if he wasn't a nation anymore?

"WhoAA what's with the French, dude? You practically never use that stuff anymore? Especially with me!"

Matthew's eyes widened and he hastily apologised, "Sorry Al, force of habit, I've been talking with France lately and I thought you were him, and you know how he prefers me speaking French-"

"Anyways!" America cut Matthew off suddenly, "You know how every year I have that Christmas party right!"

Matthew nodded, and then realised Alfred couldn't see him, "Y-Yeah?"

"Well dude guess what! It's literally in a couple of days I'm so excited! You probably forgot again didn't you?"

For once America wasn't wrong.

Matthew's face instantly flushed a bright red and he felt ashamed at having been called out.

"N-Nah I knew, a-anyway's who are you inviting this time?" He asked trying to quickly change the subject.

It worked perfectly and the American got even louder with excitement, "EVERYONE!" He shouted before quickly rambling out a list of names.

Matthew held the phone away and rubbed at his ears, 'And here comes the headache,' he thought a bit bitterly as he listened to the American's yelling.

He wasn't going to say anything about the unbearable volume though, especially since his brother was in such a good mood.

America happily told him how he was able to convince every country to come, and how he was most proud of convincing Switzerland and Austria. From what Matthew could piece together it sounded more like his brother had bribed them with- wait did he say cheese? But hold on, another thing was bothering the Canadian, there was one name America didn't mention?

"Wait? You didn't mention Russia? Is he not coming this time?" He asked while simultaneously pacing around the room idly.

Matthew received an awkward pause and heard America cough briefly, "Uhh yeah um he.. He didn't want to come! He's super busy!"

It was obvious that America was lying.. But Matthew didn't have the strength of mind to ask why.

Plus he had a general idea since his brother and Russia were in a bit of a disagreement at the moment, but was that really a reason to leave him out of a party that everyone would be at?

I mean sure he might be having problems with Russia, but does that mean he has problems with Ivan?

Just trying to analyse the American's actions gave Matthew a migraine.

"Okay Al, but I don't really feel up to a party right now.." Matthew said quietly, his eyes stung once again and he covered them with a sigh. 'Curse sleep deprivation!' He mentally yelled and made a quiet promise to try going to bed early.

"But you've got to go!! Every country will be here!!"

Matthew winced as though he'd been struck. He still hadn't told America that he wasn't technically a nation anymore, or that his country basically threw him away.. Thankfully all the countries had secret human names for when they wanted to do something inside their country, or be more friendly with one another without it being related to politics, so that was one issue out of the way..

But he still hated that America referred to him as a country. It was like a slap in the face every time.

"Al, I really have to tell you somet-"

"Oh shoot! Sorry Mattie gotta go! I just forgot I'm suppose to pick England up from the airport! He's going to be so mad at me!" America's loud laughter drowned out everything he was trying to say.

Matthew smiled wistfully, "Okay Al, bye, good luck with England," He said softly and ended the call.

'Why did that phone call feel so pointless?' Matthew asked himself sadly.

'And why couldn't it have lasted longer?'

His brother's laughter echoed in his head making him painfully aware at just how quiet his empty house was.

There were a couple of boxes, yes, but other than that.. Nothing.. No more furniture, nothing on the walls, no rugs, it was as though the house had been stripped of everything that made it, well.. To say simply. Home..

Matthew's gaze stopped abruptly at a small scrape on the floor, it wasn't very large, in fact it was roughly about the size of his pinkie, but he smiled thinking back to how the jagged line got there.

It was the only time that he had people over and they actually saw him.

England had gotten drunk and tried to get him and America to do some dance they did as kids and attempted to sit down to watch, but ended up bumping into the coffee table making it fall, and then like a domino he fell back onto the couch making it fall too. Thankfully no one was hurt and everyone had a good laugh out of seeing England acting like such a klutz.

Matthew's smile faltered and his eyes took on a dull sullen look. Then the next morning no one saw him. Despite having laughed and joked with them all the night before, they still couldn't remember him. He even waved his hand right in front of his brother's face, only to get a blank stare..

Why was it that even the happy memories weren't fully happy? Why did he hav-

"Who are you?" Matthew's darkening thoughts were interrupted by a sudden Kumajirou tugging on his pant's leg.

For a second he looked at his friend with a mixture of sadness and thanks before shaking off his solemn mood.

"I'm Canada!" He forced a laugh and picked the little bear up.

"And as such I must take care of my people! So how about it Kumajito? Shall we get some dinner?" He asked while ruffling the bear's fur.

Kumajirou nodded his head vigorously making the Canadian smile.

'At least I'm still good for something,' He thought happily before going to the fridge to make some food.

Sadly there wasn't much to choose from: just a loaf of bread, some jam, and half a bottle of orange juice left. (Which Matthew was a good 80% sure had spoiled by now)

"Well Kumu it's either: A) Jam with bread, B) Bread with jam, or my personal favourite, C) Bread with a side of jam," Matthew grinned as he pulled out the fridge's only contents.

Kumajirou huffed making his fur stand on end for a brief second before begrudgingly grabbing for the bread and jam.

"Ah, I see you have chosen the bread with a side of jam~" Matthew chuckled, for this one moment he felt completely carefree. The past week never existed, sadness isn't a problem, loneliness? Never heard of such a word. For this tiny minuscule moment Matthew needed to just have a little fun, no matter how ridiculous it seemed.

"What a good choice monsieur, shall I open a bottle of our finest aged Châteaux Cheval Or-ange~" Matthew twirled an imaginary moustache and poured two small glasses of the stale smelling orange juice, pausing only to hand one over to Kumajirou and quickly downing the other.

Immediately Matthew erupted into a coughing fit that turned quickly into hysterical laughter, "Yeah please don't drink that Kumi," he chuckled again while throwing the spoiled drink in a trash bag.

"Whu-re-yuh," Kumajirou smacked as he spoke..

The little bear had made a not so little mess with the jam..

Jam stuck to his fur clumping it together in little purple patches, and the floor around him had been splotched with the stuff.

"Kumahiro! What have you done!" Matthew laughed, not even the slightest upset. "You know what this means!" He smirked giving the bear a maniacal look.

"A-"

"Nu! Dnt-saeh-t!" Kumajirou begged while looking around wildly for an exit. Matthew gave him a wide grin and his laughter echoed in the light of his eyes.

"You'll neeed A~"

"A Bath!" He shouted making grabs for Kumajirou, who had bolted towards the living room shouting, 'nu,' as he fled.

Matthew had chased Kumajirou for a full thirty minutes, the bear expertly dodged all of his attempts at capture. The only reason the Canadian was even able to catch him was because Kumajirou stopped to eat some more bread in the kitchen..

Matthew carried the struggling bear all the way to the bathroom where he proceeded to give the most excruciatingly long bath known to bear kind.

Meaning it was a full ten minutes..

"Awe Kumee don't you like bubbles?" Matthew asked Kumajirou while scooping some bubbles out of the bath and plopping them on the bear's head.

Matthew received only a glare in response.

Kumajirou took this as the perfect opportunity to escape, as quick as a bear who detests water could, he jumped out of the bath slinging water everywhere.

"Kumajeeji no!" Matthew shouted slipping on the floor while bolting after Kumajirou.

"Come here you naughty thing!" He shouted tackling the bear in a hug.

Matthew laughed as they both were sprawled out on the floor completely soaked, but for all things considered they were happy.

"It's not the greatest situation, but we'll manage won't we," Matthew smiled to Kumajirou.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Matthew," he replied before yawning and closing his eyes to rest a bit.

Thank you for reading chapter two! òwó

I felt like this chapter was a bit everywhere and I didn't like it too much tbh but don't worry I'll get it together! :D

Anyways that's all for now!~

Ciao! ~('･ω･')~

Words: 1790 (not including this bit uwu)

02/18/2019