Yo! Hikou no Kokoro back again! I missed last week's update, so I'll be posting up two chapters this week.

Special thanks to LordOfTheOverworld-LupitisCole for the review, fav, and alert! And special thanks to FiringShootingStar and Sabilandako for alert!

Disclaimer: I don't own Axis Powers: Hetalia. It rightfully belongs to Himaruya Hidekaz. I only own the AU plot. Additionally, I am not an art expert, and I don't know the experiences of the blind. Please take this fanfic as theoretical and speculative. Thank you.

Enjoy!

Nihilism

"They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea."
—Francis Bacon

Arthur glanced at Romulus, his green eyes screaming questions at the older man. Why was a blind man going to teach art? Drawing and painting weren't for the visually impaired, who could barely understand the ascetics of beauty in the first place. Unfortunately, Romulus only shrugged and grinned.

Hesitantly, Arthur shifted himself and shook Francis' hand. Arthur didn't bother smiling or conceal the look of sheer confusion on his face, since Francis couldn't see it anyway. "It's a pleasure to meet you too," Arthur said, pausing briefly before continuing, "I'm Arthur Kirkland."

"Ah, Arthur Kirkland—we're in the same department, correct? The music teacher? Although your voice seems a little rough and hoarse, I can see the appeal."

The corner of Arthur's mouth twitched slightly. His voice? Rough and hoarse? Did Francis just refer him to one of those phony song artists who smoked in order to sound "appealing"?

Arthur quickly said, "Excuse me for a second, Mr Bonnefoy," and tugged his hand away. However, Francis' hand didn't leave and Arthur had to carefully brush the strangely calloused fingers away. Instead of looking offended, Francis continued to smile, almost creeping Arthur out by the lack of awareness. Quickly, Arthur retreated, taking Romulus out of the room with him.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing, hiring somebody like him?" Arthur snapped in a hushed tone, leaning forward with a scowl on his face.

Romulus returned the action, but retained a small twinkle in his eyes even when his smile went flat. "What do you mean? Do you see anything wrong?"

"Of course I do!" Arthur threw his hands into the air, his hushed tone getting louder by the second. "Can't you? He's bloody blind! What sort of blind person can teach visual art? I can see him teaching—I don't know—creative writing or music, but that's my job, and he can't take them."

"I know, I know, calm down, Arthur." Romulus patted the air and glanced towards Francis to see if he could hear Arthur's rather offensive comments. Francis seemed to not have a clue, as he was patting the desk around and looking for a seat to sit in while waiting. Then Romulus looked back at Arthur. "Look, I know he's blind, and he isn't as adept at painting or sketching as the average artist. But since you and he will both be in the same department, I figured you can work together. He'll be your assistant in your classes; you'll be his assistant in his classes. You said you've always wanted someone to help you with the fine arts."

"But I want someone who can handle himself, without relying on me to do the menial tasks. If I'm spending my time with him, what will happen to my students?"

"Nothing. We won't be changing the schedule, and won't run the art and music classes simultaneously."

Arthur groaned, rolling his eyes. "Then there is no difference if he works here or not."

"Are you belittling the abilities of the blind? They're perfectly normal, competent individuals."

"No, no! I'm not! It's just…" Arthur looked at Francis. His hand pressed against his forehead as his eyebrows knitted together. "Then what are his credentials? Does he have an art degree?"

"No. But he's a certified teacher—got his education degree and everything."

Arthur scoffed. "Of course he does. He has to."

"Well, I've seen his drawings, and they're pretty good. Do you know how inspiring that'd be? A blind person drawing well; that's the epitome of showing students that obstacles shouldn't stop them."

"I don't care about how well he draws or how romanticised he can be! I want to know how well he can teach others to draw!"

"It's not like you're particularly proficient in teaching other people art theory either."

"I know, but that's not—"

Romulus grabbed Arthur's shoulders and stared straight into the green eyes. "Listen, Arthur, we need more fine arts teachers and more students interested in the curriculum, or else all the funding will disappear and your beloved classes will disappear."

Arthur scowled even deeper, brushing Romulus' hands off his shoulders. "Fine." Then he marches back into the office.

Francis perked up from his seat he found beside the principal's desk, his face lighting up immediately. "You're back! Are you done with your conversation?"

"Yeah." Arthur sighed, rubbing the side of his face. The year was definitely going to be terribly long. "Come with me. I'm going to show you the art room. School will start soon, and you need to be prepared for everything."

"Thank you." Francis stood up and followed closely behind Arthur out of the office and down the hallway, listening closely for Arthur's footstep. Eventually, he walked faster, tapping the ground with the stick quickly until the short hits sound like skidding, and reached out to hold onto Arthur's sleeve.

When Arthur looked back, Francis was still smiling.