AN: Important note people! I changed my pen name from Sharly48625 to Shofina48625 (for my own personal reasons) but rest assured that I'm still the same person and not a hacker, lol. xD
Also, apologies on the slow update—now, onto the next chapter!
Russia's POV
The carnival was set in a local park, bigger than it actually looked like. Little kids ran around and the glowing stalls were surrounded by chattering people. It was though, without a doubt, an awful day in set it up. The sky was cloudy; the air was misty and chilly. It would probably start raining in a few short hours. Funny though, the sky was clear and the sun was warm just this morning. Many people looked up at the sky with worried glances, hugging their jackets closer to them.
I saw a few nations; Ukraine and Belarus who gave me a smug look but didn't say anything, Italy and Germany opened a food stall, and France who tried to open a kissing booth. Everyone was dressed up. Even Belarus ditched her usual dress for a lacier one. Maybe it was discussed in the meeting.
I walked in the shadows on the outskirts of the carnival.
"What?! Again aru!" The voice made me stop in my tracks. China and Japan were playing a booth. You had to shoot the balloon in the middle of the target to get a prize. Japan wore a dark red, dragon-print kimono. China wore a majestic purple colored mandarin collared shirt, fastened together with silver buttoning on one side. It suited him well.
"Come on Yao-nii, let's try another booth," Japan ushered.
"No, once more aru, please," China pleaded. He was eyeing a large overstuffed panda bear. I leaned against a tree, crossing my arms, cracking a small smile. He was so cute at times like this. The teenager running the stand accepted the money and handed him the plastic gun, reloaded with the darts. China missed all three times. The game was probably rigged, the balloon moved a little whenever China tried to shoot. Japan looked at him impatiently. China handed the teenager more money.
"This time you try aru," He ordered, looking at the bear anxiously. The teenager smirked. Japan missed all three times as well.
"Come on Yao-nii, Taiwan is probably looking for us," Japan said exasperated, tugging his brother who fingered the bear affectionately.
"Yea, okay aru," He said defeated, and unwillingly beginning to walk away. I stepped out of the shadows and walked up to the teenager.
"Three darts da," I asked politely. The teenager looked up at me surprised. I smiled widely. The teenager nodded, shakily refilling the dart gun, forgetting to ask for money. I saw China stop Japan from the corner of my eye. I raised it, aiming it at the balloon before asking, "This isn't rigged right? Kol kol?" I asked pleasantly.
"No- of course not-" He winced as I smiled a little more menacingly. He looked around anxiously and spoke in a low voice, "I can stop the-" He stopped himself from spilling the secret, "t-the rigged part but you have to shoot the balloon yourself sir," I nodded, before smiling again.
I aimed and shot, the balloon making a loud pop. There was a corny dinging noise and the teenager yelled in a shaky voice, "C-congratulations! We have a winner! Choose your prize!" I unhooked the panda bear. I nodded at him before turning.
China and Japan were still there; Japan looking at me with suspicion and warily, while China looking at me with suspicion and hope. I held out the bear to him wordlessly. His hands twitched at his sides.
"Take it da," I offered. Japan tugged China's arm in protest as they rose slightly. China bit his lip, looking at Japan who gave a slight indication of displeasure. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Why should I aru?" China retorted to me, though looking at the bear and not me.
"Because I don't want it," I smiled.
"Then why did you get it aru?"
"I wanted to play the game," I lied, "And this was the closet prize to my hand da,"
"So it's not like you played the game on purpose then aru?" He asked hopefully, "To give it to me?" He gestured at the bear.
"What are you doing Yao-nii?" Japan asked in a low voice.
"Of course not," I lied over Japan's voice. China nodded curtly, and pushed his eyebrows together in determination to not seem happy and grabbed the bear from me almost hungrily. Japan sighed heavily. China gave him an impish look, hugging the bear, mouthing the word 'sorry' to Japan.
"Taiwan is looking for us aru," China said weakly. Japan gave him an annoyed look and walked away into the crowd with China close on his heels, "W-wait Japan I'm sorry!" I heard him say before his voice got lost in the chatter of the crowd.
It was natural for Japan to get upset. And it was natural for China to feel guilty and chase after him to make amends. But it still made me upset. I glared at the sky, my fists clenching. The sky was blanketed think with clouds, barely allowing the stars to shine through. What was going on with me? Somewhere, thunder rumbled.
China's POV
"Japan, come on don't tell Belarus aru! Please!" I pleaded him, walking after him.
"Tell me what?" A voice came behind us. We both flinched. She looked at us expectantly before Japan spoke up.
"Russia gave him this," Japan gestured at the bear, "China wanted it. We tried playing but couldn't win. Russia saw, played, won, and told China to take the bear, which he did"
"What?! You should have just told him off and walk away!" Belarus yelled at me. I looked down guiltily, hugging the bear closer. I rested my chin against it. So soft and fuzzy aru…
"But it's so cute aru," I said quietly, trying not to sound like a whiney child.
"You took it from Nii-san because it was cute?" She repeated. I took a step back.
"Belarus, it's okay, Yao-nii's always had a soft spot for cute things. He tried to tell him off but Russia knew he couldn't resist…" Japan trailed off. Belarus glared at me darkly for a minute before resigning.
"Yea, I guess everyone has soft spots," She looked away. I smiled at hesitantly.
"The next time you see Russia be mad at him," Japan suggested, "And I guess, um, be angry because you made me 'upset' or 'jealous'" Belarus nodded.
"Okay aru," I said.
"There you are Japan!" Taiwan cried out, pushing past a few people, "Japan, there is this really cool booth I want to show you I know you'll love! And Greece is looking for you" She added quietly, nudging him playfully. Japan blushed.
Belarus smirked at him, "Better hurry, the weather doesn't look so good," They both nodded as thunder rumbled.
"I'll see you in a bit Yao-nii,"
"I left Ukraine waiting at a booth when I saw you two, she's waiting for me," Belarus left abruptly.
Oh well aru, it has been a while since I had time to myself. I strolled around. The air was getting mistier; it was going to rain soon.
People started to round up their children, and people running stalls looked up at the sky anxiously, some taking down there merchandise. I wander around, and met a few nations, having a pleasant chat. They were all curious.
"Have you heard about what happened to America and Russia today?" Poland flipped his hair. My friendly smile left me.
"What about them aru?" I asked, my insides tightening. I hugged the bear tightly.
"They had a fight in the elevator, I was there, first-hand," His eyes gleamed and I relaxed a notch.
"Really aru?" I commented politely.
"Yep, America was trying to apologize and Russia like 'whatever,' and totally left him standing there! Personally, I totally get Russia. I mean who apologizes to their ex in the middle of a crowded elevator? That's sooo lame!" Poland said.
"Oh," I sighed. Something cold hit the top of my head. I looked up. Drops of water began falling from the darkened sky.
"My hair!" Poland squealed before running to cover.
The carnival suddenly turned to chaos. People were running, calling out names of their children, the people running stalls hurrying to pack up. The rain patter slowly increased. I swore as thunder rumbled. The weatherman; the only idiot who never gets fired for being wrong.
Russia's POV
From a distance I saw the carnival turn into a complete mess and disperse. The downpour was coming hard, numbing my ears. I stood against a tree, its dense canopy of leaves and branches thick enough to keep the base dry.
China chased after Japan to apologize for making him upset. The thought made my stomach churn. Lightning flashed through the sky, illuminating the park momentarily. Thunder rumbled, seeming to understand my angry mood.
"Fuck," A small figure ran under the tree, drenched to the bone. It was China, who hadn't noticed me. The streetlamps placed sporadically around the park gave me some light to see him. His violet top clung to his skin in an alluring way and he was shivering. I saw goose bumps on his pale skin. The panda I had won him was wet too, but it seemed as if China had attempted to keep it dry. He placed it on a patch of dry grass carefully.
He slid the wet elastic band from his limp hair. China muttered under his breath as he wrung out his hair. Despite the fact I was feeling angry I couldn't help but smile at him, feeling lighter by the fact Japan wasn't with him.
"Hey," I said softly. He froze, looking for the owner of the voice. I came out from the shadows as lightening flashed at the exact same time.
"Aiyaa!" He jumped and shrieked.
"Oh it's you aru," He placed a hand over his chest, breathing deeply, "You startled me aru," He relaxed.
"Da," I replied. His presence made my anger just slide away. I wonder why… His amber eyes glared out into the pounding rain.
"What a shitty night for a carnival aru!" He muttered. He didn't seem to remember the fact he was mad at me or giving me the cold shoulder.
"At least they didn't set up any rides da," I agreed, "That would have made it worse," He gave a curt nod, crossing his arms, still glaring angrily out in the rain. He was shivering, and it looked more like he was trying to stay warm than to stay cross with nature. Thunder rumbled as lightening flashed. A fierce wind blew past us. China's teeth started to chatter. He was not use to the cold. I should offer him my coat, da. He'd have to take off his clothes though, before wearing it though or else the coat would get damp and he would catch a cold. It would cover up to his ankles and was oversized, but it would warm him up.
"You should take off all your clothes da," I said suddenly.
"What the hell aru?" He jumped, taking a defensive position. He looked confused and furious at the same time.
"Um…I meant-" I felt my cheeks tint pink.
"I know what you meant aru," He said icily, straightening his back and crossing his arms again, though this time glaring at me. Another fierce wind blew past, and this time China didn't even shudder, "I think you stated it pretty clearly. But I have no interest in doing it aru," Lightening flashed again, plainly showing the fury on China's face. I looked down in embarrassment. His cold eyes stared down at me for a few moments before he turned away, staring out into the pounding rain.
"I'm sorry, da," I muttered and turned to face the downpour, though I wasn't sure he heard me against the loudness of the rain. His anger and irritation and regret for even choosing this tree to take shelter under radiated off of him. I swallowed a lump in my throat, abandoning the explanation to my words. A few moments passed and another question rose to my mind.
"Yao, do you love Japan, da?" I burst out. China didn't even flinch or move at my unexpected question.
"Yes aru," He spoke softly, still staring out into the rain.
"Why do you love him?" I pressed, demanding to know. China opened his mouth but then closed it again, frowning, pressing his lips in a tight line.
"That is none of your business aru," He replied slowly.
"It is my business da!" I replied feeling sparks of anger.
"No it isn't aru!" He broke out, lashing at me, "What is wrong with you? You shouldn't be asking me a question like that! It shouldn't matter to you who I love and who I don't aru! You should be glad you don't have me tailing after you, confusing you, loving you aru!" He stomped up towards me, closing the short distance between us, and pointed an angry finger at my chest, "Making you do all those things out of pity aru!" His fiery amber eyes were shining with angry tears.
I took an unintentional step backwards, flinching. Thunder crashed down, and another gust of wind stung my face. You hurt him da. I denied the thought, flicking it away, "That's not the reason kol kol," I retorted darkly. He remained unperturbed, seeming immune, though he trembled slightly. White lightening flashed the sky again.
"Why do you play with my head aru?" He said, suddenly sounding resigned, as if his outburst drained him. Even the rain seemed to quiet down it's pounding against the ground. His hand that still pointed to my chest went limply to his side and he started to tremble again, but not from fear, "You pull me closer, you push me away. I'm tired of this aru. I'm tired of playing your game aru,"
"I'm not playing ga-" I tried to deny what he said but he seemed to get the energy to fight again.
"See! You're doing it again aru!" He accused, "You're not the one confused aru! I am! This is why I love Japan aru! He doesn't send me flowers, kiss me, tells his sister he loves me, and then denies it in my face saying he mixed it up with pity aru! He doesn't play selfish games with me!"
"Yao I-" I tried to say again. The look on his face silenced me.
He opened his mouth. He spoke softly, whispering something at the same time a crash of thunder lit the sky with lightening. I didn't hear. He then picked up the panda bear from the patch of clean grass, shoving it against my chest.
"I don't want it anymore aru. Japan got mad at me because of you," I felt numb, not being able to move, though my hands reflexively grasped the bear from falling.
"Yao I-" I spoke mechanically but he turned to the hammering rain, disappearing into the darkness. I stood there numbly.
Feeling seeped into me again after a few moments and I stumbled out of the shelter of thick branches and leaves.
"China da?" I called out to nothing. The drops of water pelted down against me, seeping into the fibers of my scarf, wetting my hair. I tilted my face up, as the drops hit my face, almost hurting.
I blinked, my eyes feeling hot. Emotions caught up with me and I felt something inside my chest throb painfully against my ribs. My breath got caught in my throat which suddenly felt quite dry. I felt suddenly so vulnerable. And torn, like I was breaking into pieces despite the fact I was whole.
It was what I felt like when America left me. But this time it hurt twice as much. A drop of water ran down my left cheek, though warm unlike the others. My eyes seemed to burn. Tears, I realized. I squeezed my eyes together tightly. Despite how hard I tried to protect myself from you, you're hurting me, da.
AN: I felt I had a little more fun being evil to Russia in this chapter than I should have. =3=|||| Anyways, thanks for reading and please let me know what you think! I love all of your reviews!