In a rather posh, classy street there was a modern and yet also old-fashioned mansion. Large. Spacious. Garden everywhere you looked.
It had a nice iron gate surrounding it, the garden was well tended to, with a sportscar parked on the driveway. A few birds flew by peacefully as the sun beamed down brightly. Any passerby would think that anyone who owned such a nice place must have a truly wonderful, relaxed and satisfied life. Someone who owned such a place had to be sensible, kind, patient...
However, if this person was a nation they would be well aware that this owner was anything but sensible and patient and lead a life anything but relaxed and 'wonderful' in the sense from earlier.
And, if this nation had been spying on the owner of the house, they would also be well aware that the grounds weren't as peaceful as they looked.
"Bloody wanker, I have to go to work! What time is it? Where the heck am I?" An angry Brit yelled down the stairs. The cheerful American quickly ran up to him, a painfully bright smile on his face (if England could see at that point, he'd wish he couldn't).
"Hey Iggy! I was wondering when you'd wake up!" The American greeted in a singsong voice, already happy to call England by his nickname again.
"How the heck did you come up with 'Iggy'? Alfred, tell me what the damn time is!"
"Oh, it's eleven. Ish."
"... What?" England asked in disbelief, his anger faltering. Really? That late? "... I slept through the morning shift?... Where am I?"
"At my place. We were originally going to have the 'talk' here, but we had it on the way here instead and by the time we got here, you were already asleep. I woke up about half an hour ago at eleven-"
"I thought you said it's eleven right now!"
"I said it's elevenish."
"Half past eleven is NOT Elevenish!" England snapped, whacking America on the head using his white cane. America flinched, holding his head in pain.
"Ow! That hurt Iggy!"
"You deserve it. And stop calling me Iggy." England replied, folding his arms. "Damn, I missed the morning shift and am missing the lunch shift..." He sighed and rubbed his temples, as he considered how his day was going. First, he had to go through what America had told him at three in the morning.
Could he really resume normal life with that issue in mind? No, certainly not. He'd be acting worse than he was on Monday.
"Iggy?" America asked after a while, wondering why the Brit had fallen silent.
"...Look, just bring lunch up to this room." He tapped on the bedroom he'd woken up (and gotten lost) in. "I'll be... familiarising myself with your home." America didn't immediately reply, staring at England curiously.
Was England really asking America to bring him lunch? Not really caring all that much, America put on his thousand-watt grin.
"OK, whatever you say Iggy!"
"Stop calling me Iggy!" England snapped, as America dashed down the stairs laughing happily.
Lilli's eyes were bigger than usual, as she looked helplessly at the receptionist. Arthur hadn't been home when she woke up (and his alarm clock had been left ringing).
Jack and Maria assumed he'd just left early. Today she had a short school day, so she went to Arthur's workplace in search of her guardian.
So Arthur isn't here? She wrote on a piece of paper. The receptionist shook her head. "I'm sorry Lilli, he hasn't come in all day. We did get a phone call from him earlier. He said he was ill and couldn't come to work."
But he wasn't home when I left or when I came back! Lilli wrote.
"... I'm sorry, I really don't know what to say. Are you sure he wasn't home? Maybe in bed?" Lilli frowned in reply. The receptionist didn't believe her. Why would the woman? Lilli was, after all, just a teenager that might enjoy playing pranks.
She had guessed correctly that Arthur didn't talk about his private life at all, which meant that no one had a clue who she was. It had taken her forever to prove that she was Arthur's (supposed) sister. And she was not going to bother with getting the receptionist to believe that Arthur was missing.
Can I talk to Feliciano Vargas, Kiku Honda and Matthew Williams* please? She wrote. The receptionist took a look.
"Sure you can. They're finishing their shift just now." The receptionist replied. "Do you want me to show you where to go?"
Yes.
"Well, follow me." The two then exited the reception area, entering the long hallway, with rooms to either side. At the end was the kitchen, which blind or sight-impaired people were entering and exiting frequently.
The two entered the not-quite-so-busy kitchen, wandering over to a room labelled 'Staff room'. Once they entered, the receptionist told Lilli to wait in there, the three men probably getting changed into their casual attires.
Lilli nodded and sat down, fiddling with the rim of her dress. Where are you Arthur? What are you doing? Lilli wondered nervously. She waited their five minutes, her thoughts circling around a certain blind blond (no, it's not Mattie).
She perked up when she heard a familiar chattering in the distance. It was a deep debate on which foodtype was better. Pizza or Pancakes with Maple Syrup. Currenlty, the Maple Syrup was winning. She quickly ran over to the trio as they exited the room, waving at them frantically.
"Lilli! We weren't expecting you here!" Feliciano greeted, a smile on his face. She smiled back nervously, pulling out a notpad in which her previously asked question was written.
Do you know where Arthur is? Feliciano read it out loud, so that the two blind waiters could also hear what Lilli wanted to say.
"He should be at home, right?" Mattie suggested, adjusting his sunglasses with mild worry.
Having guessed that this would be asked, Lilli just tapped underneath the question, where the answer to Mattie's question was written. Again, the cheery Italian read it out loud.
No, he hasn't been home all day. When I checked on him this morning, his bedroom was empty, the alarm was stil ringing and the window was open. His dressing gown and slippers were no where to be seen. I'm not sure about his pyjamas, I was in a rush.
"... That is odd, Lilli-tan.**"
"Maybe you should wait until he comes back?" Mattie suggested. Lilli nodded slowly, fiddling with her dress, wondering if waiting was a good idea.
"Aw... Don't look so sad!" Feliciano exlaimed, bending over to the short blond. "I'm sure he's fine."
"We could drop you back home...?" Mattie then suggested. Giving out a silent sigh, Lilli nodded, Feliciano informing his friends of the girl's decision.
She let Arthur's friends take her home, as her mind continued to worry about Arthur.
"It's still a lot to wrap my mind around..." England muttered, his arms, as usual, folded across his chest, a frown touching his face. The two were currently sitting in one of America's many cars* on the way back to Arthur's home.
"Yeah, I guess it is." America replied. "But I had to wrap my mind around the idea you don't act like a nation any more."
"... ... Would you like to repeat that last part please?" England asked slowly, refraining himself from saying another sharp "What?". He had asked that question way too many times in the last few days. Time to stop being so predictable.
"Oh... Ahaha, I... Let that out too easily again, haven't I?" America asked nervously. England had been asking plenty of questions about himself and other nations over the course of the day (well, afternoon would describe it better, since the Brit got up at eleven thirty) and usually, America let things that should go under 'touchy subject' out far to bluntly.
It had caused the blind nation to turn a permanant colour of red.
"Yes. Yes you did." England responded.
"Well... Usually, a nation can sense another nation. They can tell if another nation is in their country you see. If they're in a country that isn't their own, such as me being in... I dunno, Germany for example, then I'd be able to sense a nation from a certain distance. Now, it doesn't matter what happens, this... communication, I suppose, always works. Even when we're unconcious or close to death, other nations will be able to sense us."
"... Go on."
"With you, I couldn't sense you at all. That's why we should have realised sooner that you couldn't be England, although you are England, which leads us to wondering why I can't sense you, since this sense is kinda like a sixth sense, you know?"
"..."
"Well, I guess you don't know then."
"This whole thing doesn't make sense. I mean, it obviously does, since I believe you, but... The nation-nap mystery doesn't. And I'm your only clue..." England moaned.
"Actually, Lilli's also a nation."
"What?" England winced at the reusage of the word. He shook his head lightly and asked "Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
"Oh... I... Kinda forgot."
"... So? Which country is she?"
"She's Liechtenstein."
"She's what?"
"It's a little country between Austria and Switzerland?"
"... Yeah, I think I remember."
"You don't have a clue, do you?"
"... No." America suddenly burst out laughing, swerving the car dangerously. Panicked, England grabbed the steering wheel, taking control of the car.
"Careful git! I don't know about you, but I still think a car crash would be pretty damn painful!" Finally, America calmed down from his laughter and continued driving, a smirk placed on his face. He pulled off the mainstreet into the street Arthur lived in.
"Sorry dude, but you used to bite my head off for not knowing another country. The idea that you yourself don't even know... It's ironic!" He grinned at England, who just scowled in reply, then looked away, out the window.
A silence started nestling itself in the car, America pulling over to the side of the road once seeing England's current home. The two sat there momentairily, as if time had stopped, before England finally found something to say.
"... So..."
"Hm?"
"... When are you going to introduce me to the others?"
"What?" America asked in surprise. "But we don't have enough proof! If I just turn up and say 'Hey, this guy's actually England', they won't believe me. You know how nations heal (I explained it in the afternoon, remember?) and that we're able to sense one another!"
"America, if we continue this way, we'll never have any proof. I don't remember anything, I don't even feel my bloody country!*** You already said it yourself, I don't act like a nation should!"
"... Fine. I'll try and round them up to meet you." America finally said, deciding that England had a point.
"Good. Just come round if you need me." England announced, opening the door to exit the car.
"Wait, England?"
"Yeah?"
"... Can you also explain the situation to Liechten- I mean Lilli?"
"What? Why do I have to?" England tried to demand. Sadly, his voice came out as more of a whine.
"You're her guardian. She's more likely to believe you, right? Oh, and don't tell this to Maria and Jack. In general, humans aren't supposed to know about us. That's why we have fake names."
"... Fine." England responded disgruntled. He exited the car, giving a goodbye, as he walked up the path to the porch. To his surprise though, he never made it to the front door. Instead, a large object threw itself at him, making both him and the object lose balance and topple over into the deep snow surrounding them.
There were three taps. Lilli.
"... Oh... Oh, hey Lilli?" England asked nervously. He felt a hard slap on his arm, as Lilli stopped hugging the older man and sat up.
"What did I do?" He asked, his hand brushing through his snow-covered hair.
"Arthur!" Who? Oh yes, it was Mattie. "Where have you been?" A Canadian voice demanded, coming closer with a constant tapping sound.
"I... Uh..." Was all he brought out. He then pointed behind himself. "Is there a car still behind me?"
"Feli saw you get out of one. Once you were out, the driver took off." Kiku explained, also tapping over to Arthur.
"Seriously, where were you?"
"I... Was with a friend?"
"Ve~ Arthur! Lilli was so worried about you! You're room was empty and everything! She thought you'd been kidnapped!" A cheery, yet worried, Italian said, hugging the blind blond.
"... Sorry, I was in a rush... I was going to leave a note..." Arthur explained to Lilli, who silently huffed.
"And what's with calling in ill?" Mattie asked, folding his arms. "I mean, you obviously aren't. What have you been up to today?"
"... I..." In general, humans aren't supposed to know about us. Arthur bit his lip softly, trying to come up with an excuse. He couldn't really say he spent his whole day with a friend... Well he could, but not without being asked questions, to which he'd have to make up more lies.
"... I Need tea." Arthur finally finished lamely.
"Arthur-san obviously doesn't want to tell us about his day." Kiku whispered to Mattie, Feliciano and Lilli. England could hear them, but pretended he didn't as he finally got out of the snow.
"Ve~ Did you go shopping?" Feliciano asked curiously, now looking at Arthur properly. The Brit was wearing different clothing. A pair of jeans and a shirt, both of which were far too big for him. Also, he hand a bundle of clothing tucked into one of his arms, that suspiciouly looked like the missing pyjamas, slippers and dressing gown.
It was now also more noticeable that the man was shivering in the cold, much like they were. Obviously they'd forgotten about how cold it was outside during the excitement.
"I'll go indoors and make tea and pasta." Feliciano announced, trying to subtily get his friends in doors before they caught a cold. The blindmen nodded, as they started to make their way over to the house. Lilli tailed behind Arthur, a scowl on her face.
She did not like people keeping secrets from her.
Especially not Arthur.
After the other blindmen left, assured that Arthur was home, from wherever he'd been, safely, Lilli made her way to his room.
He had, yet again, hid himself in his room, much like he did on Monday evening. She knew that he usually did this when he needed to think, but she knew he was up to something and it was something big.
Without knocking, she entered.
"Huh? Who's there? Maria? Jack?" Three taps. "Oh, good. I... need to talk to you Lilli." Arthur announced, putting his book down. Lilli straigtened, when the blond added "... I need to talk to you about what I've been doing and found out in the last few days. Close the door."
Obediently, Lilli closed the door, then sat down on his bed. He turned to her from his chair- he was sitting in one- his hands clasped together, as if they were about to have a serious discussion, which they were.
The older blond gave out a deep sigh, brushing through his hair again.
"You remember last week, when I came home annoyed about an American customer we had?"
Two taps.
"Yes, well, when I dropped off his phone, which by the way belonged to him, we had coffee. It turns out he knows who we are, before we both came around in hospital. The guy's from our past Lilli."
Lilli sat silently (well, she always does for obvious reasons, but that's besides the point!) Arthur continued after another deep sigh.
"He told me what my real name is... You see, I never told you, but... Arthur Kirkland... It just doesn't feel right. It's like, I know it's my name, but... It's also not my real one. Kinda like a nickname I guess... It's complicated... Anyway, as I was saying, he told me what my real name was, to which I... Overreacted. I kicked him out in hopes he wouldn't come back..."
Another pause, which let Lilli comtemplate what her guardian was saying.
"He then came round earlier today and we talked things over. So, I now know who we are... Listen Lilli, this is going to sound crazy, but it'll make sense, I promise."
"..."
"I'm England and you're Liechtenstein."
*Those are all the correct human names for Japan, Canada and N. Italy, right? I could check myself, but I'm just a tad too lazy. :S
** I read somewhere that the Japanese suffix for children is -tan (you know, since the suffix for adults is -san). 'm not sure, so if it's wrong, just tip me off on it.
*I dunno, I'm pretty sure that Countries should have more than one car. It make sense to me.
*** Countries have a connection to their landmass and people, that's how they can fall ill if a majority of their population is suffering from... I dunno, the Black Death?
I know, I know, this chapter isn't as good as the previous chapters, but it didn't want to be written! So sorry. :S
Well, one more of the (known) missing nation is now aware that she's a nation, sorta. Next chapter will be on Tueday at the latest.