| IMPORTANT NOTES |
○ This is set between the tenth and eleventh books(Into the Gauntlet and Vespers Rising, respectively) of the 39 Clues, not including the certain flashbacks○
○ I do not own either of the series. The 39 Clues belongs to Rick Riordan and Axis Powers Hetalia belongs to Himaruya Hidekazu ○
"NO! I won't!" she shrieked.
"Come on, Natalie!" her brother urged her. "We have to!"
"I said, NO!" she repeated. "No in hell's way, Ian! There is no way I'm going into a bargain store!"
"For Christ's sake, Natalie! Just go in with me already!"
People on the street were staring at the boy pulling his younger sister into a bargain store. She was shrieking and looked like she was on the verge of tears, but her brother was determined to get her inside. They pitied the girl, but some felt more sorry for the brother. The girl was a pompous brat, and the brother was merciless.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the street was a shiny, black Land Rover LRX parked right across the bargain store. Inside were five Asians, all looking at the brother-and-sister scene.
"Don't they remind you of us and Yao?" Taiwan asked the other four.
Everyone else nodded in agreement. Well, at least three of them did.
"B-but...I love oppa!" South Korea cried out, defending his affection for his older brother and former caretaker. "That's just you guys, daze~!"
Vietnam hit him on the head with her oar. "Shut up."
"Hm, should we would go in now?" Hong Kong asked them as he zoomed in with his binoculars.
"No, not yet," Vietnam said. "We must wait a bit more..."
Thailand rummaged his backpack and drew out five earphones. He distributed them amongst the group and put one into his ear. "Everyone, please put them on. We'll be able to communicate easily with these."
"They're in," Hong Kong said and put away his binoculars.
"Alright." Vietnam put on her own earphone and addressed the group. "Let's move out."
"This is embarrassing..." Natalie groaned as Ian picked out clothes on a rack. "Humiliating..."
"Oh, be quiet," the older sibling told her off. He took a red sweater from the rack and held it up in front of himself. He turned to his sister and asked her, "What do you think about this one?"
"It looks like you took it right out of a bargain store," Natalie told him smugly.
"But I did take this out of a bargain store," Ian replied in a matter-of-fact way, wiping off the smile on his sister's face. "Why don't you go and find some clothes for yourself?"
She looked at him as he just told to her to jump off a cliff. "Are you kidding me?"
He looked at her with a dead serious expression, and she went off to the ladies' section.
Natalie just walked circles around the store, not even daring to touch a single clothing article. It was until she came upon a shelf with a simple cream-colored scarf on the very top shelf. She couldn't reach it even when she was on her toes. Natalie didn't want to ask help from Ian or anyone; she didn't want anyone to know that Natalie Kabra had any interest in a simpleton's cloth.
So, she took a wobbly stool and stood on top of it to reach the scarf on the top shelf. Natalie reached for the scarf, but she still couldn't grab it. She got on her toes and reached farther.
"J-just...a little...more...AH!"
Natalie slipped and fell off the stool. She was ready to take in the humiliation of falling on the floor and Ian laughing at her, but that didn't happen. Someone had caught her just in time.
The Kabra girl opened her eyes to see a young Chinese boy looking down at her.
"Are you alright, miss?" the boy asked her.
Natalie's face felt hot, and she stuttered. "I-I..."
"Natalie!"
Ian ran over to them, breathing heavily and wearing a face of horror. "Natalie, are you alright?"
"Y-yes..." She got to her feet and looked down, not wanting her brother to see her flushed face.
"What in the bloody hell were you doing?" he yelled at her. "I was worried sick!"
"She was trying to get this, daze~!"
The Kabras turned to see a tall Korean boy reaching for the scarf Natalia was after. He handed it to the girl and grinned.
"There ya go, miss!"
"I-I didn't want this!" Natalie denied out loud.
The Korean cocked his head to the side and raised a brow at her. "Eh? But that scarf's the only thing on the top shelf. And Lee and I just saw you trying to get it a few moments ago."
"N-no I wasn't!" she cried out.
Natalie could hear Ian snickering behind her. "What's so funny?"
"I don't know what's funnier," he told her. "You stammering or the fact that you wanted that scarf!"
"Shut it, Ian!" Natalie told him off. "You were the one who told me to pick something for myself!"
"...um, so...we'll be going now," the Chinese boy said as he grabbed the Korean's wrist and began to walk away.
"Ah! Wait!"
Natalie caught up to them before they could exit the store. She was looking the other direction while she talked to them. "Erm...I...I just wanted to thank you for helping me."
The Korean smiled broadly and laughed, and the Chinese smirked.
"All in a day's work, miss!" the taller one beamed at Natalie.
"Uh-hum," the Chinese boy said.
They both smiled and waved on the way out, leaving Natalie with a lighter mood than earlier.
"Is it just me," Ian said, startling Natalie. He had crept behind her whilst she wasn't looking. "or do you seem to fancy that Chinese boy?"
Natalie's cheeks turned bright red. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Oh, so it's the Korean one then?"
"SNOG OFF!"
The Kabra siblings went out of the bargain store after purchasing Ian's sweater and Natalie's scarf. A little while later, Natalie's stomach grumbled.
"I'm famished, Ian," she told him. "Feed me."
"Quit your whining. The next diner is just a few blocks away."
"Diner? A few blocks?"
It was hard for someone like Natalie Kabra to get used to this way of life.
"Is there a shortcut of some sort we can take instead?" she asked him, full of hope.
"Hm, we can take this alleyway over here." Ian pointed at the alleyway a few steps ahead.
Natalie's face lit up. She grabbed her brother and quickly ran down the alleyway.
Suddenly, three men blocked their way. They had malicious expressions on their faces, and all three held a knife in one hand.
"Well, what do we have here?" said the one who appeared to be the leader of the trio. "A laddie and a lassie in our alleyway?"
Ian and Natalie swallowed hard. The younger one greatly regretted ever taking her brother's suggestion into account.
"Natalie, get behind me," Ian told her in a low whisper. It wasn't a request but an order, and she immediately retreated behind her brother.
"Listen up, you squirts." The leader pointed his knife at Ian's throat, and gave the boy a devilish smirk. "If you give us all your money, we'll let you out of our alleyway alive."
"B-but we don't have any money!" Natalie cried out.
"Oh really?" The leader now pointed the knife at Ian's wrist, where he wore a shining, golden watch. "Then explain this."
Ian's heartbeat hastened. Maybe if he really did just hand over his watch, they will surely leave him and Natalie alone. But he's learned a lot more than to simply trust someone like that.
"How can we be sure that you won't hurt either of us once I give you my watch?" Ian bravely asked the men.
The leader was a more brutal than he had expected. The man took no hesitation into slashing his knife at Ian, who quickly stepped back to avoid it. Unfortunately, the blade left a light scratch on Ian's cheek.
Ian moved a hand to his scratch. He saw fresh blood on his hand, and he swore loudly. Natalie screamed and her eyes were starting to get puffy and red.
"If neither of you shut your traps right now," the leader threatened them. "I will NOT regret killing you on the spot."
THEN SUDDENLY, THERE WAS AN ANNOYING, EAR-PIERCING WAR CRY.
"HANGUG-EO TAIGEO KIG! KOREAN TIGER KICK, DAZE~!"
And South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand fell down from the sky and landed on the three men.
Natalie and Ian stumbled backwards and screamed in surprise. They watched as the newcomers began to pummel the three-man gang. Later, two other girls walked into the scene.
A Chinese brunette ran over to the Kabras and helped them up to their feet. "Are you two okay?"
Neither one was able to answer in any way other than from stammering.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'."
Meanwhile, the Asian boys were still beating the hell out of the gang. South Korea was riding on the leader's back while pulling the man's hair; Hong Kong rapidly threw small explosives at another man; and Thailand went all Muay Thai on the last guy.
The other woman who arrived, who was much taller and older than the younger-looking Chinese girl, came up to the Asian boys and spoke in a stern voice. "I think you've dealt enough damage, boys."
"Aw, Beteunam-noona!" Korea whined, who had the gang leader in a headlock. "I'm not done yet!"
Hong Kong threw his last stick of dynamite into a dumpster. The man hiding inside screamed, and failed to escape before the explosive blew off. Hong Kong turned to Vietnam and flashed her his signature horns sign with one hand.
"Wish," he said.
Thailand was too caught up on his part, that before he realized what Vietnam had said he had already grabbed his victim's skull and slammed it into a brick wall.
"Eh? What did you say, ana?" he asked innocently. He couldn't pull it off, obviously. Not with all the blood in his hand.
Vietnam sighed and rolled her eyes. "Boys."
"We're going to take you somewhere safe, alright?" Taiwan told Ian and Natalie with a warm smile.
Without having to wait for an answer, she took them by their wrists and headed out of the alleyway. They were joined by the other four Asians soon after.
[I'm too lazy to use those long dashes the site provides, so there's only one more thing to do!]
[MAGICAL TIMESKIP! Wheeeee~]
Somewhere in London, in an underground opium den...
"YOUCH!"
"Please, hold still!"
Natalie watched as her brother was being treated by Taiwan. On another side of the room were South Korea and Hong Kong smoking opium. Thailand stood beside Natalie, merely smiling and watching the scene as if it were a day-to-day thing.
"Hàn Quốc! Hương Cảng!" Vietnam yelled at the two youngest boys. "Put the opium down!"
"But — "
"NOW!"
"Y-yes ma'am!"
"Are they always like this?" Natalie asked the Thai beside her.
"As a matter of fact, yes," he replied, smiling. "Though the situation changes when we are not in the opium den."
After yet another yelp from Ian, Taiwan had finished fixing him up.
"Jesus, that Chinese medicine you used really did a number on me," Ian said as he rubbed his cheek.
"Well, you're welcome," Taiwan told him irritably.
Ian stood up and scanned the room. "This is very impressive."
"Xièxiè," Taiwan and Hong Kong said unison.
"But," Ian began. "an underground Chinese opium den beneath the streets of London? How did it manage to survive all these years...?"
"We Chinese have our ways," Hong Kong said in a domineering way. "This particular den is very special. It is reinforced with strong barriers, thus making it a good hideout and bomb shelter. It was very much a big help for the Chinese staying in London during the Second World War."
"Hey! Hey! Everyone!" South Korea said while frantically waving his floppy, over-sized sleeves in the air. "Opium dens originated from Korea, daze~!"
Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam snapped at him. "Stop making false claims, Yong Soo!"
"Ah~ Everyone's so lively today, ana~" Thailand said dreamily, watching his siblings bicker again.
"Marry me~!"
Hong Kong smacked South Korea with a fish. A SMELLY FISH HE JUST FISHED OUT OF THE RIVER.
Natalie didn't know what to react to first: the sudden, awkward marriage proposal from the Korean, or the Chinese smacking the Korean with a smelly fish.
"Sorry about that miss," Hong Kong apologized to Natalie."What Yong Soo meant to say was..."
South Korea regain his composure and grinned at the Kabra girl. He took her hand and looked at her endearingly. "Please go with us to the World Summit!"
Natalie flushed a bit, then relied with an "...Eh...?".
Ian decided to cut in. "The World Summit? Who do you think you're kidding?
"The World Summit is a very important meeting where only the most important and powerful leaders of each country are invited. Why on earth would people such as you be going there?"
"Maybe it's because we're important?" Taiwan explained curtly. "And trust me, we're just as important as the leaders of the world."
Ian "hmph"-ed and crossed his arms. "Arrogant, aren't we?"
"Oh, I'm the one who's arrogant!"
Hong Kong and South Korea had to hold back Taiwan before she could do any damage to Ian.
"Let me at him! Let me at him, dammit!"
Natalie spoke up this time. "And besides, what makes you think we'll come with you?"
"Well, for one," Vietnam began. "We saved your lives."
"I saved yours twice," Hong Kong pointed out to Natalie, making her blush.
"Pft. We can save our own lives if we wanted to!" Ian said defiantly.
Vietnam crossed her arms and glared at the Kabra boy. "Well, if that's how it's going to be, then..." She turned her head to Thailand. "Danuwong, do you have them with you?"
The Thai shook his head, and pointed at South Korea instead.
Im Yong Soo threw his floppy, over-sized sleeves into the air in a 'bonzai!' manner and cheered. "Yey! Blackmail time!"
Ian and Natalie exchanged faces of horror and confusion. "Blackmail...?"
Meanwhile, South Korea rummaged his sling bag and took out a few pictures. "Here they are, daze~!"
Vietnam swiped them away from the Korean and waved them in front of the Kabras. "We have pictures of you in your most humiliating instances."
"Prove it," Ian tried to say without giving away his shaky voice.
The edge of Vietnam's lip curled into a devilish smile that sent shivers down the Kabra children's spines. She reached the pictures out for them to grab. "Seeing is believing, I say."
The latter quickly took the pictures from her and gaped at what they saw.
Natalie burst into a fit of laughter. "Ian! Those are the most ridiculous boxers I've ever seen in my entire life!"
Rather than to argue with his sister, he just stared at his embarrassing photo. Ian's hands shook as he recalled the scene from where this very same situation occurred.
"T-this...this was when we were still in Korea! At Uncle Alistair's house!" He looked at the five Asians. "How did you get this picture of me?"
"Oh, we have our sources," Taiwan said slyly as she eyed her Korean brother, who give the Kabras a double thumbs up and another one of his typical false claims (of which is actually right for the first time ever).
"That picture originated from Korea, daze~!"
Ian was shaking. "I-if I have one...then what about Natalie — "
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Natalie screamed so hard it could have ruptured Ian's eardrum. He peeked at her picture, and almost died of laughter upon seeing it.
"You look like a pig! BWAHAHAHA!"
"S-shut up!"
Natalie ripped the picture apart almost instantly. She was fuming and breathing heavily.
"HA! That humiliating picture of me is no more!" Natalie told the Asians.
"Little Miss Kabra," Vietnam said as she walked circles around the two children. "Have you ever heard of a photocopier?"
"Of course! Why do you — OH MY GOD, NO!"
"Oh my God, YES!" Taiwan exclaimed. "Show 'em, Yong Soo!"
Upon hearing her request, South Korea immediately flipped his sling bag upside down and emptied all its contents: numerous humiliating pictures — and photocopies of the those pictures — of Ian and Natalie Kabra.
"And not only that..." Taiwan took out her Acer laptop and showed them the very same pictures they saw earlier. "I've already uploaded all those photos into my laptop. They're all set for a trip into every single electrical device in the world, and all I need to do is press 'Send'."
The Asians looked smugly at the Kabras, very much content with their doing. Ian and Natalie had never been more scared in their life since the Clue Hunt.
So what did we learn here, kiddies? That's right...DON'T MESS WITH ASIA. ESPECIALLY YAO'S FRUKING BADASS FAMILY. And was anyone wondering what happened to the smelly fish Hong Kong used to smack Korea with? Well, he sent it back to his place, where his people shipped it to Africa, where the people ate it. AND THEY GOT DIARRHEA. Pft, and you all believe that they got it from the water. HELL TO THE NAH. They got it from HK's SMELLY FISH OF DOOM.
Omigod there's so much crack in here xDDD And I think I made Natalie too uke here, but MEH. It's all for the crack anyway.
If you noticed, I mentioned each country's specialty/significance here: Thailand and his Muay Thai, Hong Kong and his fireworks (NOT THE SMELLY FISH), South Korea being the final destination in Book Three, and Taiwan and her Acer computers. Oh, and Viet-chan makes excellent policemen and interrogators. \( ° u ○ )
BTW...HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY, HIMARUYA HIDEKAZU~! ( / ; ロ ; )/ \ ( = フ = \ )