"Russia aru!"

Russia looked around, no one. It must've been his imagination.

Russia walked through the path of snow, he looked up. The sky looked so calm, so warm. Why is it that down here it's so cold?
He could imagine all the sunflowers blooming around him, all so pretty and tall. Below them were chamomiles, the nation's national flower. That's his perfect world since he was small. But now he realized, his perfect world is missing something, no, someone.
That long ebony-haired nation with those beautiful amber eyes of his. Even if General Winter stopped attacking Russia, even if the land was entirely filled with sunflowers and chamomiles, even if he was loved by all of the nations, and they all became one with him, if he didn't have China, he wouldn't, rather he'll never be fully satisfied.

That's how much he loved Yao. He just hoped, if he'll ever see him again.

"Nii-san."

Russia jerked as he felt his little sister put her small, chilly hands on his spine.

"B-Belarus- d-don't scare me like that-"

Belarus nodded in reply,
"Ukraine's calling us for dinner."
"ah- okay-" Russia took one last glance at the sky, then followed his sister back home.

In the Soviet house, everyone was prepared for dinner, the sky got darker, the temperature got lower.

"I made some borscht~" Ukraine passed the large bowl to the Soviets, the Baltics passed it first to the Russian, since, well, you know why. /tremble/

After getting ΒΌ (?) of the soup, Russia passed it to Belarus, and started to dine.
He remembers, those times when he'd visit China, and eat supper with his family.
"Aniki pass me the jiaozi!"
"No pass it to me Gege."
"O-one at the time aru!"
"Hey give it to me!"
Russia just innocently smiled while the siblings fought over the food.
"I'm very sorry Russia-san, this must be- err- very disturbing to you." Japan sweatdropped, Russia shook his head, "It's alright, anyway~ the scene is very entertaining~"
Kiku shuddered when he felt chills run down his back when he heard Ivan's kolkol.

"-sigh- hey are you okay over there aru? I'm sorry you must be hungry-" China walked over to take a seat, which was beside the Russian's. "It's fine. Family comes first, da?"
China blushed at the Russian's accent, he nodded- "That's true aru."

At last Russia got the bowl of dumplings, well, dumpling, and placed it on his plate. More bowls of oriental food were passed around, and after, they said their blessings and began to eat. Everyone used chopsticks, except for Ivan, he was having a hard time using it. Yao giggled a bit, and he finally asked, "Want me to help?" Russia pouted like an unruly child, China laughed again. He stood up, went behind the larger man's chair and held his hand.

After they ate, the young siblings went to their rooms, while Russia and China were left in the kitchen.
Russia helped China do the dishes, cleaned up the table, and all the other housework the southern nation was left to do. At 10pm, Russia went to the door, behind him China followed. They both stopped, in between the inside and the outside.

"Spasiba, I really enjoyed my stay."
"Bu keqi- but I'm sorry about my siblings aru.."
"No- no it's okay- I mean- err-"
China smiled, Russia looked so cute when he didn't know how to put his words right, "well- umm- let's just say that as long as you're with me I'm happy da."

Russia hated being alone, even if it was for a minute. Ever since China became a part of his life, Russia felt some warmth. Especially those times when, well, you get the point.
China nodded,
"I'll see you soon then aru."
"I'll see you soon China-kun"

Russia leaned in for a kiss, and only when they're alone- China wrapped his arms around Russia, and locked the kiss.
The larger man broke the kiss, saying "I love you" right after.
"woh ai ni" China cupped the sides of the northern nation's face with his hands, tiptoed to reach his forehead. He kissed the Russian's forehead lovingly, Ivan pouted,
"I'm not a child anymore Yao. Don't treat me like one."
"I'm sorry aru- you still remind me of that small boy I met and took care of a long time ago."
Ivan carried the smaller man in his arms,
"But this boy grew up, and now is so much bigger than you da?"
China struggled, Russia laughed at the southern nation. "Get me down aru!"
He let go, Yao fixed his shirt and caught his breathe. Ivan put on a worried face,"Are you okay China-kun?"

"I-it's okay aru- anyway you should get going."
Russia nodded, "I'll see you soon Yao."
"See you soon aru."
"I love you Wang Yao"
"Woh ai ni aru"
"Nyet- not in Chinese. In English."
"-sigh- I love you too aru- happy?"

Russia gave that innocent smile and nodded, the Russian finally walked out of China's house, yet, he still kept turning around to take glimpses of his beloved waving goodbye.

Russia took off his scarf, his trench coat and his boots, put on his pajamas and climbed up his bed.
His bedroom had the essence of sunflower, peony, and sweet honey all together, and maybe a tint of vodka. Russia looked out, the snow poured harder that night. he looked at his side- the side of the bed that was usually occupied by the southern nation, was empty. Russia missed the warmth beside him, that sweet warmth that made him survive through the night.

"Yao...Yao..Yao...Where are you when I need you..? God I miss you..."

The next morning, Ivan woke up from his sleep- well- he didn't get much sleep at all. he went downstairs, and straight to the kitchen. There he saw Ukraine making breakfast.

"Onee-san.." Ivan called out his sister, Ukraine turned, "yes?"
Russia's eyes started to tear up.
"R-Russia-chan! What's wrong?" Ukraine opened her arms, Russia ran to his sister and buried his face in her ch- err- yeah.

She didn't mind Russia not answering the question; what he needed now was comfort from his sister. Russia was crying for the very first time. Although his childhood life was very horrid, very tragic, he never did cry. Other nations always doubted that Russia would cry for emotional reasons, they always thought of Russia as a sadist, a yandere. Little did they know that even if he was possessive over China, he did have that sweet, loving affectionate side.

Ukraine repeatedly patted her little brother's back, saying "It's alright" and "Everything's going to be okay". It took about a few minutes until Russia's tears were wiped away, he sniffled, and sat down on a chair. Ukraine gave a handkerchief, and Ivan blew his nose.

"I'm sorry if I'm being rude- but- this is about China-chan isn't it?"

Russia nodded, and assured her that it was okay to ask .
"His boss told me that China was getting too dependent of me- he always relied on me...that he was beginning to love me more than his country..he was turning human. Yao was forced not to see me anymore- well- for 30 years at least-..."
"How harsh of his boss! We nations have rights too! We have rights to love! No one can forbid it!" Ukraine demanded to call China's boss, but Russia insisted not to- it might get matters worse.
"but- China's boss is right- our relationship is becoming too much- and it will definitely distract us from our world affairs."
"This is Russia talking right? I know Ivan Braginsky disagrees! I know he'd fight- for he loves Yao and he'll do anything to get him back!"
Russia stood still silently, he has never heard his sister like this.

"Love comes first before everything else right Ivan? Maybe if he'd become one with you maybe then-"
"But that means me and Yao against the whole world- and plus Onee-san you're thinking too much out of the ordinary- Even if it was a crisis like this, yao wouldn't allow it."
Ivan noticed, he was just debating with his sister, this was going nowhere. Silence filled the kitchen- and Ukraine left Russia alone to think.

The Russian took a deep breath, he knew another waterfall of tears were gonna shed.

No. Don't cry Ivan. Stay strong. Don't cry again- you're the biggest, strongest nation- don't-

and there- it snapped.

TBC