Wow, all of you are so nice! I'm really glad you like this story so much.
Oh, and I'm taking suggestions on which countries you'd like to appear. Please limit it to countries that appear in the Axis Powers series; I'm searching for the other episodes without success, and I'm too impatient to read the manga. Heheheh… this author is laaaay-zee. Forgive me!
Disclaimer: No, I don't own any countries. Be sure that I intend to someday, but for now I'm limited to terrorizing my peers and being terrorized by second graders. I swear, those things are rabid.
Japan stared at Kagome, her solemn blue eyes wide and searching. What do I say what do I say WHAT DO I SAY!
"Perhaps I should be asking you the same question, Kagome-san."
She immediately flushed and narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you saying I'm not human, Kiku-kun?"
"What? No!" Japan paused, surprised and a little embarrassed by his own fervor. Judging by her expression, Kagome was, as well. "A-ano, that is to say…"
"It's fine, Kiku-kun. I'm sorry for acting like not being human is a bad thing," she said. "Speaking of which, what are you?"
And they were right back where they started.
Kuso! "J-just because I was alive back then doesn't mean I'm not human, Kagome-san. Perhaps I just used the well to come here and have zany adventures, like in all those stupid American movies," Japan rambled, watching his feet as if they were a TV playing said idiotic movies.
"Only people with inhuman or spiritual power can use the well," Kagome chided. Japan could tell she was fighting back a smile. "You know that very well, Kiku-kun."
"But, according to you, I'm not human," Japan pointed out.
She blinked up at him, stammering, "Um… er… but you wouldn't have to use the well if you weren't human!"
"N-not necessarily!"
Kagome was quiet for a moment, before starting to giggle.
Japan gazed at her bent head, and was struck by how much taller he was than her. When they'd last met, he had been an inch or so shorter than the miko. He felt vaguely pleased that she'd view him as a man now, not a child.
The view was better, too, but he'd never think of something so lecherous.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Kagome sighed, her eyes dancing with cheerfulness. "I was being so pushy, but you're really cute when you're flustered, Kiku-kun."
Japan started and blushed, and felt a curious mixture of elation and disappointment. So she still thinks of me as a child…
Who cares? She thinks I'm cute!
Kagome herself was turning bashful, as if suddenly realizing that she'd just said that to a boy that was a year or so older than her, not the kid that she remembered. "W-well, I won't bother you anymore."
"Do you have your hotel address? I'd be honored to give you a ride, Kagome-san," Japan offered politely.
Kagome bit her bottom lip guiltily. "I'd hate to be a burden, but I have no idea how to get back."
Japan offered her a small smile. "It's no trouble at all, Kagome-san."
The drive back was largely silent, and Japan was painfully aware of the woman sitting next to him. She'd always been beautiful, but he'd never entertained thoughts about actually acting on his attraction. But to suddenly have it very possible, and with a slight chance of Kagome reacting positively… That just wasn't fair. He was a man living in the twenty-first century, dammit!
All awkwardness aside, Japan was still disappointed when they pulled up outside of the hotel.
"I guess this is goodbye, Kiku-kun," Kagome murmured. Was that a hint of sadness in her voice? "I won't bother you again."
Japan really, really wanted to be bothered again.
"Kagome-san…!" he blurted, trying and failing to meet her gaze. "Could we possibly meet up again?"
Kagome turned pink. "Um…" The color in her cheeks faded. "Oh! You mean you'll tell me what you are? Great!" She grinned at him, seemingly oblivious to the horror on his face. "I'll be free tomorrow, okay? Come over whenever you want! Bye!"
"Wait—"
Slam!
Japan was sorely tempted to bang his head against the steering wheel as she jogged away.
))0((
Kagome flopped onto her bed. Thankfully, her room key had been in her skirt pocket, not her purse.
It was so great to see Kiku-kun again!
Happiness aside, it was hard to connect the boy that she had met in the feudal era with the man she'd seen today.
"Aren't you going to speak with your friends again, Kagome-san?"
"No, Kiku-kun. I love them all, but I've never truly belonged in this time. I've done what I set out to do; I should be content."
"Are you, Kagome-san?"
"No… but Inuyasha is. That's all that matters."
She frowned. No. If I think of that, I'll just be sad again.
The miko shut her eyes, resolving to focus on how lucky she was, not on how happy she could have been.