The two brothers were seated inside of the traditional tatami room. Sunlight was pouring in from the windows and the sound of birds chirping nearby could be heard.

Yao faced his younger brother Kiku, who was pouring green tea into small cups. He was anxiously waiting to know what Kiku has called him to talk about, but he kept a straight face.

Kiku passed one of the cups filled with tea over to his brother, and they each took a moment to sip their tea.

Not wanting to beat around the bush any longer, Yao gingerly placed his cup back on the table.

"So. You do realize that you were the one who insisted I came here in person to talk to you…Mind telling me what was so important," Yao asked calmly.

Kiku set his cup back on the table as well and folded his hands.

"Yao-san, I understand that I have no business in your personal life…I mean, it's not my place to say anything…But I would like to address your relationship with _-chan."

Yao's stare hardened. He had a feeling this would be brought up soon enough…He just didn't think it would be Kiku…Japan, who would be the one to say anything. He was normally reserved about everything and not into placing his nose in someone else's personal life.

Why does even he care?

"Yes, and what about my relationship, Kiku," Yao asked calmly.

Kiku gave his brother a questioning look.

"Uh um…Surely you have already realized…"

"Realized…?"

"Yao-san. You're a country. More specifically, you represent a country. Just as I do…We both are country incarnations. In other words, we aren't exactly humans," Kiku trailed off, keeping eye contact with Yao.

Yao began to fidget in his seat.

"And because of that…we are immortal. We outlive everyone around us."

"You're one of the wisest nations…Surely you already know that…Well to put it simply, you will outlive _-chan as well."

Yao stood up suddenly, making Kiku jump.

He took a deep breath, brought one of his hands to his face, and began pacing around the room.

Kiku remained seated.

"I…I know that. I have known that since the moment I fell in love with her. But over time…She made me forget," Yao spoke softly, stopping his pacing.

Kiku gave his brother a sympathetic look. Though, he wasn't exactly convinced; Yao was just so…wise and experienced. How could one girl do that to him when he had over 5,000 of living? All of the people he has met before…why was one able to do this to him, and why now?

"I know it sounds stupid…But I just don't know how it happened. I met that lost girl a few years ago…She makes me feel human."

So that was it.

For one reason or another, this girl in particular was able to do something like that to his brother.

"…Have you told her? Keeping a secret like this…and for so long now," Kiku whispered.

Yao flinched. No. No he had not. How could he? There were so many things that could go wrong…

Kiku took his silence as a no and shook his head.

"Yao-san…She needs to know. For her sake and yours."

Selfish.

How selfish Yao must feel.

When you think about it, he knew about his immortality this whole time. He knew that engaging in such a relationship with a human could be considered almost taboo. Something that doesn't make sense.

Why put yourself in a position where you could end up hurting yourself and someone close to you.

"If I tell her…Won't she hate me? Hate me for not being honest with her, for getting her hopes up, for what I am?"

Kiku looked down, no longer facing his distraught brother.

"…That is not a question I can answer. This is a difficult situation to fix. But, you know _-chan better than anyone else does. At least try to talk to her about it."

The two went silent for a moment, both lost in thought.

"Why are you telling me this? Why do you care, all of a sudden," Yao spoke up, breaking the silence.

Kiku, uncertain of why himself, remained silent.

He hadn't been exactly close with his brother recently, due to not seeing him as much. He was now rethinking calling Yao over like this. But perhaps a small part of him did not want to have to see someone relatively close to him suffer over something like this.

Kiku didn't like to see people suffer in general.

"Why? Well…I'm not sure. I was worried that you were going to carry on like this…watching her grow old while you stayed the way you are."

"Wouldn't you be in pain, seeing something like that?"

"…So, are you saying that I should just end my relationship with her, just like that," Yao asked, looking at his younger brother, pain laced in his voice.

It was Kiku's turn to fidget where he sat.

Deciding a more comforting approach would be best at this point; he stood up and gingerly placed a hand on Yao's shoulder.

"Not exactly…Or not right away at least. I think you should talk to her," Kiku replied with a slight smile.

"You should stay the night. Think things over and just try to decide what will be best for the both of you."

Yao said nothing, but nodded his head.

"I'll go set up the bath; you look like you could use some relaxation time," with that being said, Kiku went to go do just that, leaving Yao alone in the room.

i'…Human. It's something I'll never be. Something I can never be.'

'I wonder if…she could ever become immortal. But this isn't a fairy tale. I'm only fooling myself.'/i

Yao returned to his seat and finished hi tea, trying to clear his clouded mind.

…

Later that night, Yao was trying to fall asleep in the futon Kiku had prepared for him.

What a life he could have had.

One where he wouldn't have to see certain people close to him outlive him.

For someone who doesn't dream often anymore, he managed to dream of a life where he lived as a human. With you.

Growing old together.

That's all he wanted.