England. That's his name. For more than a year though, he thought his name was Arthur Kirkland.
Roughly two weeks ago, he had the misfortune to serve a loud, obnoxious American that grinded his nerves to dust.
On that day, England, or as he knew himself: Arthur had found the American's phone.
A week later he gave the phone back to the American. The American, called 'Alfred' pulled his sunglasses off without permission and Arthur gone him angry.
The next day, Alfred explained his behaviour to Arthur and he found out that he knew Alfred before whatever happened more than a year ago.
Two days ago, England had to swallow the concept of a nation.
One day ago or yesterday, England found out that his charge, Lilli, who turns out to be Liechtenstein, fell into a coma.
Arthur Kirkland, now referring to himself as England, thought that he'd been through a lot in the last two weeks. The week he was about to face however, proved him wrong. Very, very wrong.
England woke up slowly, noticing that he was leaning on a bed, his head resting in his arms. Slowly, his lids fluttered open, although there was no point seeing as he couldn't see anything. Sighing, he realised he'd fallen asleep at Liechtenstein's side.
He rubbed his eyes tiredly and started searching for his sunglasses, which seemed to have disappeared off his face. America probably took them off when he checked up on Liechtenstein at some point during night...
England yawned, finally finding the missing pair of glasses and propping them on his nose. Slowly, he got to his feet and gently put his hand in Liechtensteins, sqeezing it slightly. No reaction. Sighing, he stretched.
Lilli was probably in a coma and he had no idea why.
After sometime, he gave out a depressed sigh, as he wandered out of the room, having familiarised himself with America's home at long last.
"America?" England called out several times, adjusting his clothing a bit. He had slept in them and they felt hot and uncomfortable, clinging to his body like... Something clingy.
After not receiving a reply, England tapped to the bottom of the stairs.
It didn't take much brains to realise that America wasn't at home, especially after England had made a cup of coffee (which seemed to magically call America to it in the mornings... And yes, this was another thing England successfully didn't mess up... Too badly).
Sighing, the Brit decided to drink the coffee himself. Where was that git?
He tapped back up the stairs, feeling more awake after having taken in some caffeine. Now he needed a shower and a new set of clothes... And a cup of tea.
Well, two out of three was never that bad...
"America!"
"Spain!"
"... America!" Spain called out again happily, finally reaching the American and hugging him. America hugged back, happy to be embraced so warmly by someone. It felt like an eternity since anyone showed some kind of warmness* to America.
Too long.
Cursing almost immediately errupted from behind the Spaniard and America couldn't help but grin at a certain Italian's antics.
"Hello Romano!" He greeted, moving over to hug Romano, but he dodged him and quickly hid behind Spain.
"Get away from me, you burger bastard**!"
"Aw... You hug Spain though!" America whined playfully. He then grinned, seeing Romano turn a beautiful shade of tomato red.
"Shut up, damn it!" Romano hissed, looking away. Both America and Spain laughed at the flushed Italian, said nation facing them again to give them a unsatisfactory glare. The two taller nations started laughing harder, but calmed down when Romano launched himself into a rant made of mostly curses.
Ignoring Romano, America asked a question that had been bugging him since he'd spotted Spain at the airport. "Did you get anyone else round?"
"Si! Look, Germany!" Spain replied, pointing behind himself. "I almost got Ireland and China, but Ireland then fell ill because of the common cold and China somehow managed to avoid us!" Spain blabbed happily.
America smiled too. "What about the South Americans? I always got the impression you were on good terms..."
"Soon as I mentioned the Northern part of America, they said no..." Spain explained.
"Oh... Well, they'll just miss the party, won't they?"
"Si! ... So, what's the surprise?" Spain asked.
"Are you two delibrately shutting me out? Damn you both!" Romano suddenly said, disliking being ignored. Spain smiled at the shorter man and patted him (unintentionally) patronizingly on the head.
"You are so cute when you're annoyed."
"I'm not annoyed, I'm angry, damn it!"
"... That's nice Romano. Ah, um... Hi Germany!" America said to the slightly frustrated German, who only glared in response. Shrinking back a bit, America waved the others to follow him.
"So, who wants to drive? I mean, I know you guys won't let me, so..."
"I will drive." Germany said firmly, not giving anyone room to complain. The four nations exited the airport after doing all the trivial things a nation had to do at an airport, such as passing through security, picking up luggage, going for a pee that someone for unexplainable reasons had been holding for roughly five hours, tearing America away from the airport McDonalds, etc.
The four nations settled down in America's car, Germany and America in the front and Spain and Romano in the back. They entered the motorway, most of the trip being silent, other than America occasionally complaining about the speed Germany was driving at and giving directions, that often lead to a McDonalds, instead of America's home.
After a long, long time of driving in circles, the nations reached America's house. For some strange reason, America had become nervous, adjusting his glasses every five seconds and occasionally running his hand through his hair.
"OK guys, we're here!" America announced happily after Germany parked on his driveway. "I'll just go unlock the door, so that you can just enter!" America then added, rushing out of the car. What was he so nervous about?
Romano didn't really care, Spain didn't really notice, but it didn't escape Germany. He frowned as he watched America quickly enter his home, disappearing out of sight. Eventually he sighed and got out of the car.
The other two exited the car also, pulling out their luggage. For reasons beyond them, America had actually invited them to stay at his place.
And for reasons unknown to themselves, they agreed. Were they crazy? Well it is more than likely, with the nation-nap mystery and everything...
Germany took out his bag and walked up to America, who had long entered. "America!" He called out, looking around for the obnoxious idiot as several nations once upon a time called him.
"'m here! Just go into the living room! I want to show you the surprise before anything else!" Germany frowned then turned around to see Spain and Romano finally coming over too. He called out to them.
"America wants us to wait for him in the living room."
"Ah, OK!" Spain replied, although Romano just muttered a complaint about not being shown to his room immediately.
The three nations bustled into the living room, which was surprisingly neat and tidy, as in comparison to the usual mess they'd find it in.
Don't get it wrong, America's place was tidy, but often a few magazines would be found lying on the table, surrounded by coffeemugs and burger wrappers and a few other things would be put out of place, maybe a few books, the TV remote, etc.
Currently, everything was where it belonged and there wasn't a single mug or wrapper on the table...
Strangely also, there was a lack of burger and cola smell in the air. It had been replaced by... They couldn't tell. But something deffintely was different to the last of many times they had visited America.
They all jerked their heads up when they heard a loud crash emit from upstairs, followed by scuffling.
"What was that?" Romano asked. Spain and Germany looked at each other, both sharing a grim face.
Without even speaking, both nations raced upstairs, fearing the worst. What the remaining nations don't know, is that both of them had been around when a nation they knew was kidnapped (With Germany, it was Prussia, with Spain: Portugal) and now they feared that it was happening again.
"Amerika?" Germany shouted, smashing the door open that lead to the room the crash had sounded from.
Germany and Spain (and Romano, who raced after them) had been expecting several things. They had been expecting an empty room with a smashed open window, America no where in sight. They had also expected America to be struggling and yelling for whoever was holding him or threatening him to stop it or something.
However, on bothsides they were wrong. He was not in the process of being kidnapped, neither had he disappeared without trace.
No, something far more shocking was in front of them. An angry England was standing at one end of the room, America in the other, holding a pair of sunglasses, fear written on his face as he pressed his back against the wall.
Spain and Germany (and Romano! Damn it, don't forget him!) stood there in silence as they observed the nation who's anger faded away when he heard America's name being called out in German.
America looked between Germany and Spain (And Romano; will you stop forgetting him?) and England, not sure on what to do. The three nations that had entered the room looked more shocked than ever and weren't in any state to talk.
They stared at the Brit looking him over, all of them noting his slightly clouded eyes.* Was... Was this that guy that had served him two weeks ago?
Finally, someone broke the silence. To everyone's subconcious surprise though, it wasn't America.
"... I-I assume you guys must be the nations America was telling me about...?"
"... Arthur-san... Quit? Just like that?" Kiku asked surprised after he got to work that morning.
"Well... No. I'm not sure. Either Arthur left or got fired, the boss isn't giving any details. Probably fired, since he's been skipping work for the last few days..." Beatrice replied from her computer.
"But he loves his job! Sure, he got frustrated over every single rude or annoying or whatever customer, but he'd never quit! Plus, our boss likes him! I mean... Arthur gets special treatment from Mr. Connors!" Matthew inturrupted.
"I'm sorry guys, but we don't have details. Arthur isn't a waiter at Blind Sense any more. Don't ask why."
"... But he needs the job!" Matthew insisted.
"As I said, we don't have any details. Besides, I never knew Arthur that well... So I wouldn't know if his disemployment was fishy or not." The receptionist replied, shrugging.
"... But... Where is Arthur-san then, if he is not here?" Kiku asked.
"Well I don't know. Why don't you just call him if you want to know so desperately?"
"Ve~ That's a good idea Beatrice!" Feliciano inturrupted, smiling at her. Beatrice smiled back, her smile brightening when Feli hurriedly shoved Matthew and Kiku away from the reception area.
"You guys know Beatrice didn't deserve that..." Feliciano scolded, although it was difficult to take the Italian seriously. Before Mattie or Kiku could respond to Feli's comment, he continued.
"Ve~ I think I have Arthur's home number on my phone! Wait a sec!" The two were silent, listening to Feli taking out his phone, quickly looking for the number.
"Ve! I have it!"
"Well what're you waiting for, eh**? Put it on loudspeakers!" Feli obeyed and the three hunched over the phone, listening to it beeping.
"Hello, Maria Dearer speaking?"
"Ve~! Hello Maria! It's me, Feliciano!"
"Oh! Hello Feliciano! It's great to hear from you!"
"Ve~ How're you doing?"
"Feli, concentrate..." Kiku whispered to the Italian, reminding the pasta-lover why he was calling.
"Never mind, hey Maria, I called you for a reason!"
"... That would be?"
"Is Arthur there? Cause he seems to have stopped working for no reason..."
"...Oh you called for him... Um... He... Uh... He... moved away..." (insert awkward pause)
"... Sorry, I don't think I quite caught that..." Feli finally said.
"He doesn't live here any more."
"... What do you mean...?"
"I'm sorry, I can't say more than that. Goodbye Feliciano."
"Wait, Maria-"
"beepbeepbeepbe..." Feliciano hung up with surprise.
"What was that about?" Matthew finally asked.
"... That was indeed strange."
"Doesn't it take a long time to move to places?" Feliciano asked.
"Yeah... It also takes a longer period of time to leave a job..."
"... So strange. "
"Ve~ I know! We can call Arthur over his cell!"
"... Feli.. Arthur-san does not have a phone."
"But... He couldn't have just moved without a moments notice!" Mattie continued, trying to sort his thoughts out. The three gave out a sigh.
"Vargas! Honda! Williams!" A deep voice suddenly called out. All three heads looked up, in the direction the voice had came from. Feliciano saw Mr. Connors standing in the hallway, as red as a tomato (from where had he heard that again? Never mind...) as always.
"I do not pay you to sit around all day! Get back to your feet, the first customers will be arriving soon!"
"Yes sir!" All three said, their thoughts rapidly forgetting Arthur Kirkland, as they rushed to their positions in the kitchens...
"... America?"
"... Yes England?"
"..."
"..."
"There were a lot of reactions I was expecting from them. Happiness. Sadness. Surprise. Rage even."
"... Yeah?"
"... ... I was not expecting Germany and Spain to faint or Romano to run away America."
"... ... Dude, I don't think anyone was expecting that."
Germany groaned. He had a headache. Meine Güte, what happened? ... Must of had one beer too many... he thought rubbing his head. Doesn't feel like a hangover though...
He soon realised that he had a cold, wet flannel on his head. What had happened? He paused and thought. The last thing he remembered was getting off a plane with Spain and Romano... No wait, he also remembered...
And then...
...And then...
England.
With a start, Germany's eyes shot open, immediately scanning the area. His eyes widened slightly when he saw England sitting on a couch, his hands darting back and fourth in a book he was holding... He was reading.
"Y-You're still here." Germany muttered out, quickly getting over his shock. England's head turned to him, his eyes not needing to dart over the page.
He sighed.
".. yes. Yes I am."
".. Why?"
".. What do you mean 'why'?"
"Why are you back?" He asked, sitting up. England sighed, putting his book down.
"If I'm honest... I don't know. I don't remember anything from more than a year ago, before I was found in a bin with no memory." He explained, shrugging.
"... That means you know about as much about the nation-nap mystery as the next nation?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so... But America insists I'm the first clue to finding them... Apart from Liechtenstein, we don't know who else... May have come back."
"Liechtenstein is back?"
"Yes. So far, we don't know if anyone else is around though, as said before..." England continued.
"... You're the waiter that served us at Blind Sense, aren't you?" England nodded, his hands picking up a pair of sunglasses lying on the table and putting them on.
"How is it possible for you to be unable to see?"
"We don't know. I'm starting to think that we, as countries, don't know much about how we work." England added, sighing.
"... Ja, that's true, but it never was that problematic in the past... Meine Güte, you're back." Germany muttered leaning back against the sofa, trying to swallow the idea. After so long, he never thought he'd ever see another nation outside of the remaining seventeen ever again.
Talk about shock.
"I understand how you feel. Can you imagine how I felt when I was told I wasn't human? That's a real shocker when you don't know about countries." England said, forcing a smile onto his face, which was supposed to be comforting.
Germany didn't respond.
"... Can I see Liechtenstein?" He finally asked after a long pause.
I don't want to remember. I just want to go home to Liechtenstein. I don't care whether I'm Liechtenstein or Lilli... I just want to go home, back to the mountains where I belong.
"I've got it!" Mattie suddenly said, after the three exited the restaurant, having finished the lunch shift (they went home early on thursdays).
"What have you got Mattie-san?"
"I know where Arthur must be! Remember yesterday, when we followed after him? He must have gone there! I mean, we know he's never been there before or at least, not often, since he was using his cane."
"Ve~ That sounds logical!" Feliciano replied happily.
"... It's a bit vague, isn't it?"
"What other choice do we have? Maria won't tell us where he went, Mr. Connors won't talk about him and the school Lilli attends doesn't know either!"
"Ve~ He has a point Kiku!"
"... I suppose. But we must go there thinking that Arthur isn't there, so that if he really isn't there..."
"..."
"Ve, how depressing."
"... Well let's hit the road guys! We've got a missing Brit to find!"
"... Are you sure this is Liechtenstein's room?"
"... Yes, why?"
"Es ist nur*... No one's in here..."
"What? But... But that's impossible! A-America!"
"What's up?"
"Hola Inglaterra! I can't believe you're still here, but I'm so glad you are!"
"America, please tell me you put Liechtenstein somewhere else!"
("Damn bastards, they're ignoring me! Again! Isn't this Canada's thing?")
"... No, I haven't entered her room since this morning."
"... But... If you haven't moved her... And she's deffinitely in a coma... Where is she?"
Lilli's eyes slowly opened, as she stared tiredly up into the blue, clear sky above her.
What happened? She asked herself quietly, the last thing she remembered being at school.
She thought about sitting up, but decided not to. No. She was feeling too exhausted for reasons beyond her...
Anyway, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt... Complete. She didn't know why, but it must be a coincidence.
Slowly, she leaned back again, closing her eyes, as she let the sun above her shine and warm her up comfortingly.
It's nice to be here again...
*Is that even a word? ... Yeeeaah. It is... Now.
** This was originally Capitalist Pig, but I'm glad to have found a more apropriate insult for America. (Thank you Blue Wallpaper and NONAMESWEREAVAILABLE)
*The clouded eyes are for movie effects. :3
** In some fanfictions Canada has a habit of saying eh... I'm not sure if it's Canadian but whatever...
* It's just that...
I just wanted to add that updates may become A LOT slower, due to school and doctor who(me be major fan), sorry.
Also, thanks for the reviews! Seriously, they make me happy (the 20th review especially ;) )
Yes! I have twenty reviews! I'm very, very happy!
Feel free to leave another encouraging and wonderful review~
Review plz?