Sorry for the late update! I posted my plot bunny, Frugal Money Schemes, and I got…distracted updating it. *guilty as charged*
The theme for this story: no matter how smart you are (or think you are), you can still make (stupid) mistakes and run into trouble, even if you're a country. That's life and it's a bitch.
After writing Lichtenstein's name so many times, I don't need to copy and paste it anymore. xD
Now here's Japan's chapter. (Finally.) I kept editing this chapter. I worked really hard to get his personality right. :)
Atlantis couldn't wait to return to her and Lichtenstein's hotel room. She's exhausted as hell. Her body is sore, her clothes are wet, and she's starving. As she trudges down the hallway, she grimaces at last night's events.
She managed to elude the police and his backup. She had to hide under the bridge in the park where she and Lichtenstein visited earlier. Atlantis surrounded herself in a ball of ice underwater. Atlantis, unfortunately, had to stay in a fetal position for an hour so she could make the ball as small as possible.
She wishes she has the ability to breathe underwater. Posoiden knows she needs it.
The police toke their sweet time on the bridge eating dangos. Damn dango break. Atlantis was running out of air to breathe because of them.
Atlantis pauses to see Switzerland standing outside the door, glaring at her. Atlantis inwardly groans. She completely forgot about the Host club/Black Ops problem.
Atlantis awkwardly greets, "H-Hello Switzerland. How are you-"
Switzerland shoves Atlantis' bags into her arms. "Here's your bags, now leave."
Atlantis' eyes widen. She protests, "But-" Switzerland's heated glares cause her to falter.
"I don't want you anywhere near Lichtenstein." Switzerland narrows his eyes. "Ever." Great, her and Lichtenstein are not allowed to see each other ever again because of her overprotective brother.
Atlantis stutters, "I-Is this about the Black Ops thing? It's not that bad….." It's not like she introduced Lichtenstein to Alice: Madness Returns or anything of the like. That would've mentally scared her for life.
Atlantis desperately wants to escape from Switzerland's wrath. He's very intimidating when it comes to Lichtenstein's protection.
Switzerland hisses, "Not that bad? Because of you, Lichtenstein is obsessed with that game. She glares at me whenever I interrupt when she's playing!" Okay, maybe that wasn't Atlantis' brightest comment. She needs to be careful of what she says to Switzerland. One wrong word and he'll be chasing her around with his gun.
Lichtenstein actually glared at someone? That is a very bad omen. Atlantis shudders. No wonder Switzerland is so furious at her.
"Atlantis, is that you?" whispers Lichtenstein from the inside of the room. Atlantis tries to peek over Switzerland shoulders, but he keeps blocking her attempts.
Switzerland looks over his shoulder and says, "What did I draw on the chalkboard?"
Lichtenstein mumbles, "….Atlantis is a bad person….." Atlantis stares in shock. Switzerland is brainwashing Lichtenstein to think she's a bad person. Okay, maybe she's a bit of a bad influence, but she's not a menace to society.
Switzerland cocks his gun at Atlantis' face. "Correct. Get off my property, now." Technically, the hotel owners own this property, but she's not going to tell that to Switzerland. Atlantis is not going to correct someone with a gun to her face.
It's becoming a daily occurrence in their encounters. She still can't believe he would point a gun at a woman.
Switzerland lowers the gun to his side and holds out his other hand. "Hand over my gun first."
Atlantis glares at him. "So you did frame me." She knew it. He wanted to get her arrested.
A small smirk darkens on Switzerland's face for a few seconds before it disapears. "No, I misplaced it."
"How could you have misplaced it in my pocket? Or better yet, you left it there in your attempt to grope me." Yes, she couldn't resist the you-groped-me-you-pervert line woman pull when a man touches a woman, intentionally or not.
"Who gropes someone with a gun in their hand?"
Switzerland and Atlantis continue their glaring match, until Switzerland points the gun in her face, again. "5…4…"
Atlantis sprints down the hallway to get out of his shooting range. She's not taking any chances whether he'll actually shoot in a hotel or not. She's not paying for those damages.
Switzerland smiles in satisfaction. No one taints Lichtenstein and gets away with it. He's going to enjoy scaring Atlantis half to death from now on.
Atlantis is on a semi crowded beach in Taiji. She walks through the water, looking for her beloved pet.
Atlantis makes clinking sounds with her mouth, trying to call him to her. The tourists stare at her in bewilderment. Children point and mock Atlantis, screaming, "Mom, there's a crazy woman on the beach." She shrugs off their stares and nasty words. All that matters is finding Marco.
"My plane to Spain doesn't take off until tomorrow night. I might as well explore," She thinks. Atlantis recalls the police incident. "It was a good idea I left to another city." The police might still be looking for her and she doesn't want to take any chances of being arrested.
The Atlantean swears she has gotten into more trouble with law enforcement in centuries since she started attending world meetings. Maybe the mysterious ghost who haunts the meetings cursed her.
Splashing nearby catches her attention. Atlantis smiles warmly when she sees Marco, her pet dolphin, swimming in circles around her. Atlantis bends down and hugs Marco. 'Marco, you swam all the way to Japan to see me?'
Marco squeaks back, 'Of course! You're my favorite owner.' Marco has been with her since her body aged to a young adult. Just like other countries animals, Marco is immortal just like them. Atlantis and Marco have a strong bond. She loves Marco as if he was her child. It helps fill the void.
Their love fest is interrupted. "Konnichiwa, Mu-san." (1)
Atlantis looks up to see Japan standing there awkwardly. "Oh, he must have heard me talking in dolphin."
"Hello Japan. I don't wish to be rude but…..Mu is a continent…..," corrects Atlantis.
Japan, embarrassed, quickly replies, "Sorry, Atlantis-san. It's a habit." Besides, Atlantis is located in the Mediterranean Sea, not the Pacific Ocean.
Atlantis tries to smile. "It's alright Japan. There's no harm done." A socially awkward silence descends upon them. This always happens to Atlantis when she's around young men outside of her country. She feels so strange, not ordering men around to do her bidding.
Japan asks, "I know this is sudden, but, if you have time, I would like to welcome you to my country since you're already here, Atlantis-san." It sounds like a good idea. Atlantis and Japan haven't talked much lately.
Japan is the perfect tour guide for his country. He'll know where all the local events and best restaurants are. Who is she to turn down his hospitality? That would be rude.
"I would love to see your country, Japan," Atlantis says, politely.
"Alright tourists, remember not to harm or harass any of the dolphins," says a young Japanese woman in a black wetsuit. Japan, Atlantis, and a few other tourists are in a pool with dolphins circling them. They were separated by groups of two. Atlantis and Japan stayed together.
The two countries are at the local aquarium to see the sea life. Atlantis spotted a program where people have the opportunity to interact with dolphins. It took a lot of convincing, but Atlantis finally convinced Japan to join.
Okay, maybe she was a little pushy. She really wanted to see how the Taiji dolphins are like compared to the dolphins in Atlantis. Maybe the full body wetsuit finally convinced him. She knows Japan wouldn't be comfortable to go in the pool shirtless in front of others.
Atlantis reassures, "It'll be fun Japan."
Japan quietly says, "If you say so, Atlantis-san." Japan looks uncomfortable with a dolphin nudging his side. Atlantis sees this and decides to intervene. It's the least she could do. She did drag him into this.
Atlantis lowers her head to the dolphin and speaks in dolphin, 'Do you mind not staying so close to him? He likes his personal space.'
'Ah, he's one of those personal space issue Japanese guys?' asks the dolphin. Atlantis assumes the dolphins are used to playing with several Japanese citizens.
'Yes,' Atlantis replies. The dolphin squeaks to the other dolphins to back off Japan. They comply and surround Atlantis. They play with her hands; nudge her back and sides, in excitement that a 'human' (technically a country) can understand them.
Japan looks at her a little surprised. "How did you do that, Atlantis-san?"
"I speak dolphin. It's a second language in Atlantis." It's a requirement in Atlantis to learn how to speak dolphin. Her citizens use dolphins as transportation, especially when they are traveling outside of Atlantis.
Atlantis pets the nozzle of the female dolphin in front of her. 'Do you want me to hatch an escape plan so everyone can escape to the beach?' Atlantis strongly believes dolphins do not belong in aquariums. She's going to bust out the dolphins, no matter what.
All the dolphins in the pool fall silent. They stop playing with the humans. The dolphins not surrounding Atlantis listen in on their conversation.
'Y-You mean Taiji beach?'
Atlantis replies, 'Yes' Hell breaks loose at yes. The dolphins screech and dash around the pool, squeaking, 'No! I'm lucky to live here!' 'I don't want to die!' 'You'll never take me alive!'
Atlantis and Japan looks upon the scene in shock. The dolphin trainer is trying to calm down the dolphins, but she's failing. The dolphins smack whoever is in their range with their tail. One of them splashes the dolphin trainer in the face. The tourists waddle to the edge of the pool, fighting who gets to climb the ladder first.
Japan urgently says, "Atlantis, what did you tell them to make them panic like this?"
Atlantis hastily replies, "I mentioned Taiji beach and the dolphins went insane! I've never seen dolphins go berserk like this before." Japan nervously looks away, a small glimmer of shame crossing his face.
Atlantis is suspicious. She wants to know the connection with Japan's reaction and the dolphins. She wants to solve this mystery and bring a peace of mind to the dolphins. Dolphins are prized animals in Atlantis; she will not stand to see them in such pain.
Atlantis suggests, "I heard about the Taiji Whale Festival on my way here. How about we go there?"
Japan drives on the road with the beaches in view. Atlantis sits in the front with Japan. There's tension in the air. Only someone who cannot read the atmosphere can be oblivious to it. Atlantis is keeping a sharp eye on the beaches. She's wondering which beach is causing so much fear among the dolphins. As well as what's causing it.
Atlantis cautiously asks, "Japan, do you know why the dolphins panicked when I mentioned Taiji beach?" She's sure Japan knows the reason. His reaction tells her so.
Japan looks at her from the corner of his eye. "Atlantis-san, do you love dolphins?"
"I love them as if they were my own citizens."
Japan flinches. His grip tightens on the wheel. Atlantis is getting a little worried. Japan is not answering her directly. Something must be wrong.
The car hitches to a halt. Japan tries turning on the engine, but it won't start. Japan quickly says, "I'll go check on the tires, please wait here." Japan hurries out of the car and slams the door.
Japan is trying to avoid the conversation. He slammed a door, for heaven's sake! When does he ever do anything like that? Just what is making him so nervous that he's relieved for anything to interrupt it? Atlantis hears squeaks in pain in the distance. Atlantis realizes it's coming from the beach. Atlantis' eyes widen. "It's the dolphins. They need me," her mind screams.
Atlantis disobeys Japan's orders and barges out of the car, slamming the car door shut. Atlantis uses her burst of speed to the direction of the cries. Japan, startled, calls out for Atlantis. "Atlantis-san, please don't go over there. It's off limits."
His plea is not heard by Atlantis for she is too far away to hear it.
Atlantis feels tears in her eyes as she witnesses dolphins being speared in their heads by fisherman. She knows people are cruel, but not this cruel. She cries her heart out when she hears Marco's cry.
Her fists tighten at her sides. Atlantis is furious. Atlantis sprints for an occupied boat on the shore. The fishermen inside it shout, "Intruder! Someone restrain her." The fishermen leap for her, only to be violently shoved to the side by Atlantis' hands. Atlantis lifts up each man, one at a time, and hits a pressure point harshly on their neck.
"No one stops me from rescuing Marco."
The fishermen's body slump on the sand. Atlantis hijacks the speed boat and makes the engine roar to life. She puts the boat at high-speed, rushing towards the two boats holding Marco. She navigates around dying dolphins, her eyes set on her target.
The fishermen in the boats spot Atlantis speeding towards them. "What are you doing here? This is a restricted area-" The fishermen in one of the boats jump out and into the water to avoid the oncoming collision.
Atlantis leaps out of her boat and lands in the fisherman's boat holding Marco. Atlantis' boat makes impact with the other boat, causing a small explosion.
The lone fisherman holds out his bloodied spear. "S-Stand back you crazy woman." Atlantis angrily kicks the spear to the side with her left leg, sending the spear flying into a cliff. She glares at him with all her fury. She bluntly says, "Swim to shore before I snap your neck in half." The helpless fisherman leaps to the safety of the water.
Atlantis turns her attention to a bleeding Marco next to the boat. Atlantis falls to her knees and pulls Marco into a tight hug. "Oh Marco, if only I knew about the fishermen around here. I wouldn't have let you come near here."
Marco weakly says, 'I'd still come for you.' Atlantis cries harder. Marco's devotion to her will bring him nothing but pain. She can't handle knowing he will knowingly put himself in danger to see her.
"Atlantis-san…..I'm sorry…."
Atlantis glares at Japan, who's in his own boat. Atlantis turns her emotional turmoil on Japan. "You knew about this and you didn't do anything about it!" This explains why the dolphins were so afraid of Taiji beach. They didn't want to be scared to death before they died.
Japan awkwardly says, "It's my country's culture to eat dolphins."
Atlantis harshly says, "Oh, do your people eat sharks and whales, too?"
Japan whispers, "Yes." Atlantis becomes shocked. Not them too! Atlantis' rational side is warning her to stop herself before she says something she'll regret. She ignores it. The Atlantean is too angry at Japan to listen.
"Your people are the reason my citizens are close to extinction!" By citizens, Atlantis is referring to the sea animals, not her actual people. No wonder she doesn't see as many whales, sharks, and dolphins anymore. And here she thought it was because of competition for food.
Japan narrows his eyes. "The fault does not entirely lie on my people. Eating whales is my people's culture."
Atlantis and Japan have a stare down before leaving for shore. It's a very awkward ride back to her hotel. They decide to not go to the Taiji Whale Festival anymore. "Why should I? They're probably going to celebrate how many of my citizens they're eating," Atlantis angrily thinks.
Atlantis sighs as she reaches her office. She pauses at his door. She feels terrible for taking out her frustration on Japan. She doesn't know how to make it up to him. He didn't deserve to be yelled at. She was a horrible guest.
Atlantis doesn't even know how she's going to explain the Switzerland and Japan incident to her boss. She's bringing nothing but bad news. Atlantis wonders if it's okay to be enemies with a neutral country. It's not like Switzerland is going to declare war on them.
Then again, her country will never be able to do trade with Switzerland and Lichtenstein, ever. She knows Switzerland will keep on his promise of keeping Lichtenstein from having anything to do with her, even trade.
Atlantis opens the door to see a strange sight. Her boss is hiding under his desk, shivering in fear. King Cyril scrambles from his desk and glomps her. Atlantis is wondering what the hell is wrong with him.
"Where the hell were you Atlantis?! Why didn't you answer the phone? I thought they got you too!" Atlantis shoves King Cyril from her person. Atlantis wonders why her boss thought something happened to her.
Atlantis asks, "What are you talking about, mortal?" King Cyril weeps, "After I passed the Anti-American law, my citizens have been trying to assassinate me. Even my wife tried to kill me!" Atlantis knew this was a bad idea in the first place. Her boss rarely listens to her.
"Your wife? Are you sure? She's nice and loves you very much." It's true. His wife always gives her tasty seaweed cookies.
"She poisoned my wine! My taste tester died after drinking it." It looks like this situation is very serious. She's going to have to clean this mess herself.
Atlantis lost three possible allies in only a few days. She wishes things will get better soon. But first, she has to deal with a very paranoid boss.
(1) The lost continent of Mu is a myth. It is not Atlantis, although it sometimes mistaken as the same country, even though Mu is a continent. Mu is rumored to have sunk in the Pacific Ocean. Atlantis' one of many possible sunken sites is in the Mediterranean Sea.
Don't worry, the humor will be back next chapter. It involves Sealand and Prussia. The fun and chaos those two will bring...
Taiji is a town located in the Higashimuro District, Wakayama, Japan. It is a whaling town. Fisherman would go out on their boats and force dolphins into secluded waters. Once trapped, they wait for the dolphins to calm down. Only a lucky few dolphins are sent to an aquarium in Japan or a different country. The others are killed.
The annual autumn festival is the Taiji Kujira Matsuri ("Taiji Whale Festival"), is held on the first Sunday of November.
It's been said that mermaids trained dolphins in ancient times to work together with them to hunt fish. I thought it would be natural for the citizens of Atlantis to learn how to communicate with them.
There are mermaids and sirens in Atlantis. Before anyone asks, no, Atlantis is not a siren or a mermaid. I was going to make her one, but I changed my mind. I thought it would make her mary sue-ish. She is already a water elemental, why should she have more talents?