A/N: Hello, I am the co-writer for HDBA. My name is unimportant. Recently, I've noticed one of two people confused about the differences between me and Mel's writing style. Let me explain:
I write breezy. Not quite poetic-like, but softly detailed, and emotional. This kind of structure—chapters and what not—are not my normal forte`. That last full chapter I did was actually COMPLETELY different then my normal writing style and I am, frankly, quite unhappy with it. This chapter I don't mind much, but it is pretty 'meh' to me.

Also, someone said they were confused about how America ended up in 'Suicide Forest'.

Well, here, let me tell you my theory of Hetalia:
It's a paradox.

What do I mean?

I mean that, really, the world goes back and forth between being huge and being small. How can America and Japan even be friends when Japan is awake when America is supposed to be asleep? Not only that, but in one episode, England broke out of Italy with America's help, yet, in Catalia, ALL the cats basically live in the same neighborhood.

What I mean to say is: I don't think it's really important, the distance, but at least it helps with the mysteriousness that is Kiku.

Anyway, if any of you want to contact me or anything, look me up as Ms-Ginny-Snape on FF or SuffocatingRomano on dA.

Chow~

A week passed by with Arthur and Francis constantly near Alfred for everything. Work for all three of the men was left untouched the entire time, but both Arthur and Francis said it could wait. Alfred didn't mind—he didn't even like paper work to begin with.

"Like, hi America!" Poland and Lithuania were two of the people who came by. Poland was his usual flamboyant, Valley Girl self, while Lithuania sat in the back ground with a timid smile on his face, unsure of really what to do.

"Hey, Toris, like, we should totally give America that present we picked out!"
Lithuania, when he said that, stood up and hesitated, giving America a slim, small package and sitting back down. Inside was a card, 'Like, get well soon! XOXOX Poland, Lithuania.' and a really cool hero cape. After that, they had to leave, but America was so preoccupied with the cape he almost forgot to thank them until England smacked him over the head.

After that, Feliciano and Lovino, followed by Spain. Romano stayed pretty quite unless he was insulting Spain about something or other—which was, actually, less than normal.

"Americaaa~! I brought you some pasta," America blinked, surprised someone would bring him food—but it was on a small plate wrapped in foil. Italy smiled, and said, "I wanted to bring more, but Romano said it'd make your stomach upset, and I didn't want to do that, so he wrapped a small amount for you, with a roll and everything!"

Spain, in the background, smiled widely, "See, Romano really does care!"

"Fuck you, Spain."

America had fun laughing with everyone and eventually it was time for them to go, though it made America a bit sad, until Italy gave America a large hug, and promised to come back tomorrow.

Then, much to...everyone's surprise, Russia came.

America had been sitting there imagining what wicked cool things he'd do with that cape when he got better, when Ivan showed up. America almost made England and France make him go away, until Russia somehow ended up in the house. He walked over to the couch America laid on, and America forced a smile.

Russia was quiet for a second, before he said, "I don't like to see you hurt at anybody else's hand but mine, including yours. Get better Америка , da."

And then he just...left. It was the weirdest thing.

Eventually, things calmed down more. Fewer and fewer people crowed the living room to give Alfred space, and soon it was just him, France, and England again, all of whom were starting to act normal around each other again—I.E. Francis and Arthur bitching at each other, Alfred and Arthur fighting about whose language was better, and England almost killing Francis and Alfred with his cooking—so all was good.

It was odd, though, for Arthur, who still remembered Japan's promise to visit soon. Where was he now? Why hadn't he come? Nothing on the news talked about Japan as a country suddenly collapsing economically or anything, so obviously he was still alive, but it made England curious. More than twice, he caught himself ignoring his duties to think about it.

"What'cha doin', Iggy?" Alfred bumped rather obnoxiously into Arthur's shoulder to get his attention. The English gentlemen sniffed, scowling at the younger man.

"Nothing, America. Aren't you supposed to be lying down?"

Alfred grinned. "Francis fell asleep watching bad porn, so I snuck down here."

"He was watching porn with you?"

"Yeah. Why?"

'Iggy' rolled his eyes, and realized that, before he'd been thinking about Japan, he'd been making tea, "Nothing. Guess I shouldn't expect less from him, the frog," He poured milk in the tea, and arched an eyebrow at the matted hair Alfred had, and his inside-out shirt. He obviously had bathed in a few days—which disgusted England to no end when he did that, "Go take a shower, Alfred."

"Awwww, but I don't wanna!"
"Do it, Alfred."

America moaned, slumping his shoulders and dragging his feet, "But I don't liiiiiiike taking showeeeeeers," He complained up until he rounded the corner into the bathroom, closing the door.

Arthur shook his head, sighing in that parental way, stirring his tea. It's a wonder that Asian man could put up with him...

At the thought of Japan, his mind clouded again, he looked over at the phone, thinking about calling him like he always did, before, once again, deciding against it. He'll show up eventually.

At that precise moment, the door bell rang. England's head snapped towards it, and he walked over, looking into the key hole.

"Speak of the Devil..." England muttered as he unlocked the door and opened it, allowing the small Japanese man to enter, looking around.

"H-hello Kiku."
"Good afternoon, England."

England grabbed his tea from the kitchen, and leaded Kiku to the living room, sitting him down. He could faintly hear Alfred's shower still on and even fainter the sound of Alfred singing 'Take Me On' over it.

"I presume America is in the shower?"
"Y-yeah."

Silence. Arthur kept thinking about what to say, but everything he thought, he decided against. Japan appeared fine with the silence, but he could never really know, with him.

"...so you feel better about...earlier?"
"Yes, I do."

England mentally felt a lot better, even if he did know that Japan obviously did.

In the background, the shower turned off, and a few footsteps could be heard. Arthur turned and saw America come out in a red, white, and blue towel. He blinked, his eyes widening at his lack of apparel.

"Hey old man, d'ya think France would wake up if I-"

He stopped when he noticed the small man in the corner, who was looking away in modesty.

"...oh, hey Japan! Didn't see you there. Wait a few minutes, I'll go get clothes," America rushed out of the room, and a few minutes later came back in wearing pajamas which had Obama's smiling face plastered all over them, "What's up, Kiku?"

Kiku cleared his throat, and, with a slight redness in his face, said, "Good afternoon, America. I figured it was time for me to come over and give you my best wishes."

America grinned at him, plopping down on the couch next to him, grabbing a half-drunk glass of OJ (One of the 'ok' things on Francis's 'What-And What Not To-Eat' list).

"Well, thanks Kiku! I appreciate it, a lot! How are you?"

"Pleasant. I heard you didn't allow Russia over here?"
"Yeah, I still don't like him."

"Well, you shouldn't. I don't trust him either."
The rest of the conversation lasted like that. They'd dive into subjects Arthur knew nothing about—Video games, comics, cartoons, scary movies...most of the talking was done by America, but Japan would pitch in occasionally.

"...and so they ended Thunder Cats! Can you BELIEVE that?"

"That was done unjustly."

"Exactly! Thank you!"

America leaned back, stretching, "Man, I missed talking to you, Kiku, dude. Nobody else knows about this kinda stuff."

"It's a shame."
"Yeah!"

The clock now read 8:39 PM. Japan frowned. "I have to go," He said, standing up. America pouted, but once he looked at the time, nodded. "Yeah, you should get going. See ya again soon?"
"Of course."

On his way out, Kiku stopped by England—America was going to wake France up—and rested his hand on his shoulder.
"He'll be better soon," He said, with such solitude in his voice, it sounded like fact. Arthur smiled, and nodded, "Thank you."

Kiku nodded back, and turned, leaving. England watched him until the door shut, and sighed. Sometimes, Kiku really confused him.