Another day, another chapter… *sighs*

Disclaimed.

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Day 18: Doing something together

"I-I don't know, Lukas-kun…"

"It'll be fun, kjære," Lukas cajoled. "You'll enjoy it, I know you will." He passed Kiku the skates, smirking internally when the Japanese took them. He led the raven haired nation to the side of the pond, sitting him down on a conveniently placed log off to one side and kneeling in front of him, taking the skates and unlacing Kiku's boots. He didn't look up until the skates were laced on, sitting on the log beside his boyfriend and lacing up his own skates.

"Ready?"

"No," Kiku complained, accepting the other's hand and rising to his feet, wobbling slightly. He accepted Lukas' assistance to the pond and stepped onto the ice.

His feet instantly slid out from under him.

"Woah!" Lukas caught him by the waist and propped him up again, not quite letting go, just in case.

"A-arigato," Kiku murmured, blushing. "I told you this was a bad idea…" He straightened up and pulled away, instantly slipping again and grabbing Lukas' shoulders.

"Slow down a little, kjære," Lukas chuckled. "Here." He took Kiku's hands and skated backwards, pulling the Japanese after him. "There, that's it. Just push off the ice… left foot… right foot… Yes, exactly like that."

Kiku clung to his hands desperately, biting his lip as he focused intently on his feet. Lukas carefully extricated his hands, skating away a few feet. Kiku yelped, hands stretched out to either side of him for balance, staring at the Norwegian with wide, pleading eyes. "Lukas-kun, help!"

"You're a ninja, Kiku. You can skate three feet." He raised an eyebrow, laughing softly.

"But-" Kiku shifted his weight, trying to find a comfortable way to balance. His feet slipped, and he barely managed to catch himself. "Woah! Lukas-kun, please!"

"Three feet," he encouraged. "Come on, you can do it…"

"No I can't!" Kiku protested. "Besides, I haven't been a ninja in a very long time; there aren't many opportunities to practice," he added as an afterthought.

Lukas sighed. "You worry too much. Just do it, don't think." He held out his hands. "I'll catch you if you fall, I promise."

"I- Okay." Kiku took a deep breath, sliding forwards, feet wobbling beneath him as he fought to retain his balance.

He almost made it, losing his balance at the last minute and falling forward into his boyfriend's chest. Lukas, unprepared for the additional weight, fell backwards and landed on the ice with a thud. Kiku let out a startled laugh, tangling their legs together.

Lukas shoved him. "Cold," he complained, pushing the raven haired nation off of him and sitting up. Kiku did likewise, still smiling. He stood, pulling the blond to his feet.

The Norwegian frowned at this display of impeccable balance. "Kiku, did you already know how to skate?"

The Japanese blushed. "I… may have asked Canada-san to teach me when I found out you liked skating…"

"You learned how to skate just because I liked it?" Lukas asked, flattered. A thought struck him. "So why did you pretend you didn't know how?"

Kiku smiled shyly. "I wanted you to teach me?" he asked more than said.

Lukas smiled back. "Well then. Lesson number two; how not to send us both flying."

The raven haired nation took his hands. "Let's get started."

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Kiku strikes me as the type who would pretend not to know how to do something just so someone else could 'teach' him.

Next up: In formal wear.

See ya~!

-Bird