Good evening! It's 12:06 here, but I couldn't help but post the next chapter :)

Again, many thanks to my Beta and to my reviewers! You all give me strength in my writing.

Disclaimer: Axis Powers Hetalia does not belong to me.

"Kim! Where have you been?" Mei asked happily as Pochi sat at her feet like a good little dog, wagging its tail.

She had rented a room in The Peninsula Hotel in Ginza, Tokyo's famous fashion street. Mei had always been one for shopping.

"Oh, I'm still at home. Sorry, my family's been really busy lately."

"It's alright. I hope you're alright! Maybe if you have some spare time you can visit me in Ginza!" On the other side of the line, Kim shivered.

"I'll see what I can do, but I can't make any promises." Mei smiled.

"Ok, I'll see you later!"

"Bye, Mei." The phone line ended, but Kim held on to the cellular phone for a minute before putting it down.

...And stay safe.

"You're going to Tokyo?" Liu frowned as she watched her teenage son gather things and dropping them into a rather large red travel case. She had arrived home from shooting a scene in Nepal, and had hoped to watch a movie with him or something. It had been a while since they spent time together as a family, which she immensely regretted.

"Yeah. There's like, a convention there. Not just anime, but video games too." She sighed. Xiang must be bored, always waiting for her to come home and constantly looking for things to do.

"Well, if there's anything you need, you can always-"

"Mom, there's something I have to ask you."

"Yes?"

"...What would you do if I didn't come home one day?" Immediately her golden brown orbs saddened, her elegant features creased.
"You know that it would kill me, Xiang." He paused, about to drop a manga into the bag. Frankly, he never thought much of her feelings. He didn't spend an outrageous amount of money like a stereotypical rich kid did, though he did spend a lot. When he first learned that he was illegitimate, he thought that she kept taking care of him because of her position, and that she didn't want to taint her reputation as an actress. All her words of tenderness had been a lie to him.

But the way she said that, she sounded almost strained.

"Sorry for asking." He changed the subject, returning to his packing. Liu smiled wearily, clearly on the verge of tears. Her job as an actress was really getting to her emotions.

"It's alright. I hardly hear you speak about things like that. Just remember, that there are people who care about you, and who you are." Cliché. He rolled his eyes behind her back. Those movie scripts were getting to her mind.

Still, it was nice to hear words like that every once in a while.

"I'm off, Mom." Slinging a stuffed backpack behind his back, he grabbed hold of the travel case handle and bolted down the stairs.

Liu stared off into the distance, gazing at the starlit night outside the window. She didn't look back, even when the door closed.

"How did it go, ana~?" The smiling Thai man stood at the sight of his Vietnamese girlfriend descending from the metallic stairs. Even though she was clearly frowning about something , Kiet (Wongsawat )still believed she was a goddess descending from her throne.

She was just that pretty, and he wouldn't deny it!

"You know Kiku. Threatening, and verbally manipulative."

"But at least he kept his deal! Mei is such a charming girl." The girl had said her greetings to him before leaving the building.
Kim frowned. A charming girl who could be easily naive if given what she desired. Like he had said before, that was her main weakness, which he took advantage of. Even a young girl such as her-

"Anyway, I heard about a really nice restaurant not very far from here! What do you say? I'll pay for everything, ana~!" Kiet's eyes brightened from behind his glasses. The Vietnamese's expression softened, but her eyebrows were still arched. It would be a while until things cooled down back home, so the safest way would be to remain here for a while.

"You don't have to pay yourself-"

"It's a gentleman's honor to pay for a lady as pretty as you!" She blushed furiously. A group of teenage women, which she recognized as one of the many members of the Honda family, giggled while gesturing to her upbeat partner.

"...Fine. Just this once." Crossing her arms, she briskly moved past him and made her way to the door. Kiet chased after her, a grin still on his face.

"Wait~!"

Mei re-read her text over and over again. It was addressed to Kiku's private number, as not to interrupt his work phone. See? She could be reasonable, even if she was bothersome.

She was bothersome. That was something she understood well, from the fake smiles that hid exasperated sighs that she saw on the Honda family's faces. She was a troublesome girl who got in the way of their business, especially Kiku's. And it didn't make the situation easier that her boyfriend was the chief executive.

The family head, Honda Akira, lived somewhere else in Japan, but not in Tokyo. She had enough sense not to meddle with anything that concerned him. From the way everyone else spoke of it, he wasn't a man to be dealt with childishly. The fact that the Honda family had been successful in business, political relations, and sturdy since the country was still of warring states...was all due to him.
Mei hadn't met all the members of the family. There were far too many to count, and already some didn't act too fondly of her presence. The ones she had met earlier in the main lobby were Honda Daisuke and Honda Homare. Daisuke, she liked. He was friendly, and enjoyed cooking and baking things, even bringing some to work and giving her a taste. He didn't resemble Kiku at all, with his ever present smile and liveliness. Homare appeared more like Kiku, but didn't necessarily match his personality. While Kiku was quiet and restrained, Homare was stern and strongly spoken. If there was something that annoyed him, he wouldn't hesitate to point it out. His loyalty was strongly tied to his family, and to Akira.
That was a trait most of his relatives shared.

There were females in the Honda family too. She had already met Miyako and Hagina, who were both friendly to her. Miyako was upbeat and wild, but had a pretty face. She was strange in the kitchen, which worried Daisuke. Her personality reached its climax whenever it was time for a festival or holiday, and would happily declare decoration ideas for the building during meetings, which were usually rejected anyway. Hagina was still in high school, and didn't meet the family traits at all. Instead, she was foolish enough to waste away her money on useless things, couldn't do a thing right, and was terrified whenever someone who she thought of as scary passed by. Hardly anyone listened to her, or even paid her any attention. Some did, like Miyako. Mei also decided to befriend her. But when Homare saw the three of them together, she saw his frown deepen and he walked away. Protecting the weak can have its disadvantages his eyes seemed to speak. Even if that was true, Mei felt in her heart that it was the right thing to do.

Unlike many people she had met, Mei listened to herself and did what she felt like she needed to do, which wasn't always what they expected her to do. Still, as a child they still viewed whatever she did as perfection.

She sighed, looking around the room. Luxurious, from the spacious bathroom to the plump bed sheets. Not everyone had a privilege to stay in a place like this. It was a very weird thing to think about, how normal people, who didn't have as much money, who didn't hold so much of a social status, who gained a moderate salary, lived. As a little girl, she viewed herself as the beautiful princess who would one day marry the handsome prince who rode on a white horse. Her family was royalty, and their friends nobility. But the rest were all commoners.

As she grew older, she realized what the real fate was. Princesses married princes, who were indeed the same status as them, but that didn't mean that they were in love.

It may be the dating sim and fangirl side that was speaking, but that was just something she couldn't handle. Living your whole life, with someone who didn't love you? The very idea sounded wrong. So they say in all the books and movies, 'Good things come to those who wait.' Well, she certainly felt like the wait was long enough! No one back home was the one for her. Heh, no one even qualified! That's what brought her here. Well, not really. She was an otaku who couldn't stand the wait for things to be translated into her language to get them. And going to Akihabara brought her happiness...in the fan way. Before, Mei strongly regretted bringing all those bags, filled with doujinshi, key chains, wall scrolls, manga, and whatnot all by herself. She didn't know how grateful she would be when Kiku showed up.

It was her fault that he bumped into her. He had helped her gather everything that had fallen on the ground. But that was what brought them together, so she was grateful.

She knew it felt strange, but...ever since he called her a week ago that he would be busy, that last I love you sounded...off.

She mentally slapped herself, rising from the bed.

What was she thinking? Their love was earnest, pure, and unbreakable. Nothing could get in the way. Like in those shojo manga she had bought in Akihabara, love wasn't always easy.
Bending down, she unzipped her travel case, grabbing the bag of doggy treats as Pochi, in turn, yipped happily.

Kiku let her take care of Pochi, right? At the beginning he was a little hesitant about it, but now she had earned his trust.
Taking care of a dog, waiting at home for him to return, or even pulling the trigger on someone's head...

She would do anything for him.

"Aiyaaa! It's good to be outside!" Yao announced joyously as she stretched her arms. At the moment, she and her partner were waiting outside for the ride that had been planned beforehand by Vash. As her arms returned to her sides, Yao looked at Natalya from the corner of her eye.
Luggage in one hand, phone in the other, the Belorussian woman acted as if the conversation on the plane hadn't even occurred. It was a failed attempt to bond with her more, she admitted sadly in her mind.

But she couldn't give up hope. All it would take was a little time, and Natalya would become amiable again.

All she had to do was wait...

"Finally." Her cold voice broke her thoughts. Yao greeted the driver in Japanese, who then took their luggage and placed it in the trunk.
Natalya took the front seat, leaving Yao behind in the back, who was now checking her phone. From the exasperated look on her face, she guessed that it must have been another text from him.

But Yao still smiled, pressing the buttons on her phone.
Natalya averted her gaze from the petite woman and grimaced, watching the reflection of bright lights and crowds on the window to her right.

She could have killed her from the start.

But she couldn't.

Since he met her, his smile had grown as big, maybe, daresay it, bigger than when they were young.

She couldn't let his reason for happiness be destroyed.

"Natalya, I have to use the restroom. Do you mind if you go to the front desk?" Yao smiled anxiously while her partner merely nodded, taking both of their luggage and gracefully strode in line.

The hotel was five star, located in Ginza. The facilities of this hotel group was said to be legendary, with spas, dining, venues, accommodation, and of course, service.

She was caught up by the spacious and grand design of the hall, when she heard a dog's bark.

"Good boy! I'll give you another treat when we get back." A sweet, young voice came from the girl, who was crouched on the floor, patting the dog's head.
Her hair was long and wavy, flowing to her hips, and her skin like porcelain. Her large eyes were golden brown and innocent, a strange, long curl dangling in front her face, which resembled a peach blossom. A tea-length, baby pink dress and white heels reflected her youth, with two (how surprising)peach blossoms on each side of her head.

The girl was awfully pretty, but something about her was reminiscent.

In a bad way.

The girl's head jerked up, just in time to see her turn away and enter the restroom.

Xiang pulled on his headphones, tired eyes watching the city lights grow farther, and farther away.

Goodbye, Hong Kong. It was great living in you, really.
But this is something I have to do.

His sight keep turning from dark to light. Finally, he gave up after a few minutes passed, and slumped in his seat, not bothering to turn his ipod off.

Something about this made a spark of excitement ignite in his chest.

Thank you for reading, and please review!
Good night, everyone (^^)"