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The sun's rays warm the stones of the Great Wall, and Russia reveled in the heat, rolling up the sleeves of his long jacket, exposing pale skin, as he was usually accustomed to the biting cold of his country.

"This is an amazing view, da?" Ivan commented conversationally, looking over the side of the wall at the industrial-styled buildings, market, and mortal civilians. In the far reaches of the horizon lay the countryside, and the Russian could see the tell-tale greenery of the rice plants and fields, sunlight making everything look fresh and vibrant.

It was truly an amazing sight.

"China's beautiful, Yao-Yao," the could country finally summed up, but he wasn't looking at the land anymore, instead, switching his violet gaze onto the elder nation standing beside him, his words holding a double meaning. 'You are beautiful.'

China took no heed of the larger nation's hidden, lovingly spoken compliment, face thoughtful as brown eyes stared off in the distance. A breeze came up, blowing some of the Chinese man's dark hair astray, and Ivan drew up a bare arm, long-fingered hand smoothing his lover's locks back in place, before sliding down, cupping a slightly sun-kissed cheek.

"I wonder what it would be like if I had more land-aru…" Yao mused, leaning into the Russian's touch.

The cold nation stiffened at the smaller country's words. He began to draw his hand back, but China quickly grabbed it and held it to his cheek, turning his head to stare into the taller lover's eyes.

"Ivan…" Yao cocked his head to the side, drawing circles into the larger hand cupping his face. "Do you love me?"

"Da," Ivan answered immediately, but for some reason, he felt…an ominous feeling creeping up his spine. He ignored it. "Wo ai ni."

The Chinese man smiled. "Will you follow me wherever I go-aru?"

Ivan nodded. "Da."

Yao leaned closer, letting go of the large hand, his own limb trailing up the Russian's broad shoulders. "Will you obey what I say?" He whispered, pulling the taller close.

Slight hesitation, but a clear reply nonetheless. "…Da."

"Then, let's have an alliance-aru," China replied, a strange expression that Ivan didn't like taking over his face.

Russia forced a slight chuckle. "Silly Yao~! We already have an alliance—"

"No," Yao interjected, shaking his head in an almost amused way. "I mean a nation alliance-aru. Where if I go to war, you help my side, and vice versa…a marriage alliance."

Ivan felt his eyes widen imperceptibly. "Yao…are you…are you considering in creating a…?"

Yao just gaze back at him knowingly.

"Yao-Yao," Russia said, a minute hint of uncharacteristic panic in his voice. "This- this is strange- we-what about our governments?"

Yao continued to smile. "What about them-aru?" he lightly asked, tone soft…dangerous. "Won't you join me, Ivan?"

The cold nation stared back uncertainly. But…

"YA lyublyu tebya," China whispered, both hands holding his pale ones gently.

And Ivan knew his fate was sealed.

"I will join…" Russia finally agreed, squeezing the smaller ones in turn.

Yao's strange expression melted into something sweeter, Ivan's familiar Yao.

"Then let's seal our alliance with a kiss-aru," China laughed, and the cold nation felt comforted by the beautiful sound, felt happy at the Chinese man's smile…

Yet his heart felt heavy as somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered why Yao's lips were so cold.

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