Author's Note: It's alive~! Just kidding. Sorry about taking so long, it's just life.
Disclaimer (Dark Side of the Moon): If I owned Hetalia, I think France would be having a lot more fun than usual...
Kiku blinked. And blinked again. Then again.
"What…?" He tried moving again, but failed after a few minutes. Eventually his mind cleared enough to tell that he wasn't alone. He looked down to the large arm wrapped around his torso and slowly followed it upwards.
Arm, shoulder, scarf… Oh.
Oh.
"It's Russia-san, isn't it?" Kiku sighed. "Why is he here?" Kiku shifted again. "Russia-san… Russia-san?"
The great northern nation didn't budge. "… He's asleep; it'd be rude of me to wake up a guest."
Japan had no clue what to do. On one hand, he could wait it out and see what was going on; on the other hand, he could try and get out of bed, possibly waking up his guest and make an apology breakfast…
His stomach rumbled.
"Apology breakfast it is…"
"Oh! That's why you wanted to get up- you're hungry," the nation snuggling him teased, putting a hand up to the shyer one's forehead.
"Y-You were awake?" Kiku shuddered.
"Mm-hm…" Russia nodded. "You still have a fever… I'll go ask Yao-Yao to get you some breakfast."
"China-san is here?" Japan asked in shock. "Fever? What's going on?"
"You don't remember?" the Russian asked in surprise. "You collapsed two days ago after running into Matvey. You've been sick ever since. Yao-Yao and I have been taking care of you."
Japan twitched. "You… saw me… sick?"
"Da, it was actually pretty cute. You were so cuddly!" the childish man cheered.
Kiku began to panic. "I-I'm so sorry! I-I don't u-usually act like th-that! It's just that whenever I g-get sick…"
The Russian smiled in front of him. "Don't worry, I think you should show your feelings more often- it was… nice seeing you be happy."
"O-okay…?" Kiku gave a small smile of his own. "So, Yao-san and you have been taking care of me?"
"Da," Ivan answered. "Yao-Yao's probably in the kitchen by now…"
As if on cue, a heavenly scent came drifting into the room, signaling that China was making them breakfast.
Kiku inhaled deeply. "Hmm… I think he's making eggs… and sausage?" He stopped smelling the air, "Why is Yao-san making a western breakfast?"
"You asked for one yesterday," Russia responded. "You said something along the lines of a… 'Breakfast buffet'? Naturally, Yao-Yao couldn't resist your puppy eyes, so he agreed to make one today."
"I can use puppy eyes?" Japan questioned, pointing towards himself.
"Da, and it's probably the cutest thing I've ever seen," Ivan answered bluntly. "You could probably use them as a weapon."
"Ano… Thank you?" Kiku mumbled, beginning to feel self-conscious. "I'm not really sure how I should reply to that…" the Japanese started to turn red. "Did he just call me cute…? No, he called my 'puppy eyes' cute…"
His thoughts were interrupted as the Russian put his hand on his forehead again. "Hmm… You're fever seems to be going up…"
"A-ah, I'm fine, Russia-san," Kiku muttered, standing up quickly to get away from the other's hand.
"Are you sure?"
"Hai… I'm going to have to ask you to step out of my room for a little while as I get ready for the day. Yao might want some help in the kitchen so…" Kiku trailed off, gesturing to the door.
"Alright, alright," Russia chuckled. "He won't let me help- that much I know for sure… But I'll go tell Yao-Yao how you're doing."
The Great Northern Nation lumbered out of the room slowly. At the door, he turned and faced the Japanese. "Oh, and Kiku?"
Kiku stiffened. "H-Hai?"
"Can you call me Ivan-chan from now on?" the blonde asked.
"… Why?" Kiku wasn't expecting that.
Russia looked hurt for the briefest of moments after Kiku's question.
Fearing that he might've insulted the other in some way Kiku gave a small smile. "Ano… You know what? I can. Now got to Yao-san, please?" Kiku told him. "… Ivan-chan…"
"Yay~!" Russia cheered softly. "I'll see you in a few minutes, Kiku."
"Hai," Kiku nodded as the door closed. "Hmm… I wonder what happened while I was sick… Hopefully nothing too embarrassing or I'll have to go into isolation again…"
Russia smiled. He was glad that his friend was better, but still slightly disappointed. Now, instead of being the cute, cuddly person that snuggled with him for the last few days, Kiku returned to being as hard-to-read as ever.
"But I'm glad he's better," Russia thought. "I want him to feel good~!"
Instantly, an image of a blushing Kiku begging for more came into Russia's mind. The Russian turned bright red. "Why am I thinking like that…? He's a friend, da, but not… We're not… together…" Those thoughts didn't comfort the tall man as he walked into the kitchen.
"Hello, Russia, aru," Yao greeted him. "Aiyah, where's Kiku? I swear, if you left him alone like that, I'll whoop your-"
"He's getting ready for the day. He says he's feeling better," Russia said smiling creepily so the other would leave him to his thoughts.
"O-Oh…" Yao muttered a few more words as he turned to the stove, which was crowded with different pots and pans.
After a few minutes of silence Russia got up from his seat at the counter. "Hey, Yao-Yao, Japan didn't remember what happened these last few days… Why is that?"
China almost dropped the spatula he was holding. "Aiyah, you westerners… So nosey… No respect for other people's business, aru. But, if you must know, I don't really know," China shook his head. "I think it has something to do with expressing so much more than he's used to and that the emotional exhaustion makes him forget… It's not a good thing that he tends to hide his emotions, aru. It almost makes me want to smack some sense into him…"
Russia's interest was piqued. "So how do you think we could get him to control himself better when he's sick?"
"No clue," China said, turning his attention to the stove once more, leaving Russia to his thoughts again. "Aiyah! The eggs!"
"Hmm… I wonder if I can even help my friend out…"
Meanwhile, in an English manor, a man with thick eyebrows paced.
"Just what is going on between Japan and Russia of all people?" He asked himself.
Normally, if his crush wanted to be with someone else, Arthur would bite his tongue and let him be happy… But, because this was Russia…
He still remembered when the Asian nation had run up to him on that hill, late at night with the stars twinkling. He was desperate to get away from Russia… Had times changed enough to make his crush want to be with that psychopath? He didn't think so… Surely, the Russian must've done something to his friend. Then the Englishman recalled another time, where he and Russia were discussing black magic and Russia cursed his crush just by looking at him.
"That's it," England's eyebrows furrowed. "I have to keep Kiku from that- that crazy Russian. He's absolutely nutburgers!"
Oh~! Somebody's jealous~!
Sorry- I just had to do it!
~Dark Side of the Moon
