Thank you all so much for the fabulous reviews! ...I, therefore, shall write once again! *pulls out pen and waves it around*
England: Uh...you use the computer...
Me: Whatever. By the way, I wasn't too satisfied with this chapter, but oh well. And I might not update tomorrow (T.T) because it's Sunday and I have to spend time with my family...the family that calls me "seclusive" because I'm always on the computer and lock my doors and everything...*sighs*
Chapter 7: Reasons and Revelations
America and Canada walked back into the conference room through separate doors, America entering from the right, and Canada entering from the left. Though nobody noticed Canada (aside from France, who fidgeted in his seat as the Canadian took his seat, uncomfortably, next to him), everyone acknowledged America.
As per usual he was all smiles and happiness, but it was very hard to miss his red and puffy eyes, although most of it was concealed behind Texas. The American, mock-cheerfully, slid into the seat next to England, trying with all of his might not to break down and cry right then and there.
For once, the United States of America did not want to be noticed at a World Conference. The meeting droned on and on, everyone was fighting, no one was agreeing, everything was supposedly normal— and yet, everything felt so wrong, because America was being quiet. No words. No ranting. No nothing. Trying to slide down into his seat and become invisible like Canada, even.
Everyone felt it. The meeting was going exactly the same as it usually did.
And yet it was different on so many levels.
~GuessingGame~
America trudged back to the hotel exhausted. He hadn't even stopped by McDonald's for a hamburger, let alone a milkshake. He hadn't eaten since this morning, but surprisingly, the American didn't care. Shoving open the door to the hotel, he swiftly pressed the up button on the elevator controls and waited sullenly. I seriously can't breathe, America thought as the elevator doors hissed open and he stepped inside. Once the doors hissed open again, he stepped out and ran to his room, unlocking it and stepping inside.
America was just about to slump over to the bed when he noticed he wasn't alone.
"Are you all right, America-san?" Japan asked, sipping tea casually on the couch. Hungary was beside him, taking a bite out of some sort of muffin and drinking tea as well.
"Of course he is well," the Hungarian woman replied to the stoic Japanese man. "I mean...why wouldn't he be, hmm?"
America sat staring. "HOW THE HELL DID YOU TWO GET INTO MY HOTEL ROOM! AND WHY ARE YOU SITTING THERE ACTING LIKE IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL?" The American screamed, sinking down into a nearby seat. Hungary and Japan raised an eyebrow at the blue-eyed nation.
"We came in through the window. You forgot to lock it once again, America-san," Japan explained in a scarily calm manner.
"You seem to be a little...on edge today, don't you think?" Hungary asked, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. America caught his breath and calmed down, looking at the floor.
"Am...am I?" he asked, desperately wishing he had a hamburger in his hands at that moment.
Japan nodded. "Well, you did just yell at us. It's not normal. For you, I mean." The black-haired man took another sip of his tea and sighed. "Do you plan on seeing England-san today?" Don't be too forward...give it time...America-san is a type of tsundere, too, so just be careful...
America blinked and raised his head to look at Japan. Then he laughed. It was meant to sound genuine, but even a fly could tell that it was heavily forced. "Why would I see that old man today? I mean...we were just at a conference, and...we aren't exactly friends..ah ha ha..." The American scratched the back of his head, chuckling.
Japan felt a vein popping out of his neck. Tsunderes...why is it that I always try to help tsunderes? "Really? I thought you two were friends, considering how you always seem to enjoy each other's company," the Japanese man stated calmly, though he was growing impatient. Hungary nodded in agreement.
America's breath hitched in his throat. "Well, I...er...Japan, I..."
The Japanese man raised an eyebrow once again at the younger nation. Say it already, baka tsundere. Hungary cut in.
"So you have no feelings towards England at all?" she asked, taking another bite out of her cake. Japan inwardly panicked. Too forward, Hungary-san...! Much too forward! America blinked, opened his mouth, closed it, smiled, and then frowned.
"I...," the American began, and Japan was taking aback as he saw the tears cascading down the younger country's face. The American sniffled and forced a smile. "Oh, no...I...um...sorry." America wiped his face with his sleeve, still trying to smile. "Uh, I...Sorry to cause you any trouble, you guys..I'm just...oh, God, what's...," America's voice cracked here, "...what's wrong with me?"
Japan nodded in understanding. He turned to Hungary and mouthed, 'Initiate Phase Seven'. The Hungarian woman nodded and left the room, leaving the two male countries alone. The Japanese man sighed and ran a hand through his black locks.
"You're in love with him, aren't you, America?" Japan asked calmly, his eyes boring into America's, seeing right through him. America blinked, then failed at choking back a sob.
Then, the hamburger-lover nodded. "I didn't realize it until today. I'm...," he sniffled and paused, "...sorry to cause you so much trouble, Japan." America took off his bomber jacket and used it to wipe his nose and face.
"It's no trouble at all, America-san," Japan said, crossing the room to sit next to America, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Everyone needs someone beside them when treating a broken heart, right?" America looked at the Japanese man, who smiled sadly.
"Thank you, Japan," America said, once again forcing a smile.
The two sat there in a companionable silence before Japan heard a tiny crackle in his ear. He pressed the tiny, almost invisible communication device in his ear with his middle finger and pointer finger, and waited for the response.
"Scene for Phase Seven complete, Japan," Hungary said, and Japan nodded, turning off the device. He turned to America.
"Ne, America," Japan said. The American craned his neck to look at him.
"Y-Yeah?"
"Come with me," the Japanese man said softly, though there was a bit of a demanding tone in his voice. "There's something I want you to see."
~GuessingGame~
Hungary stared down England in his hotel room, who raised a bushy eyebrow at her in return.
"What do you want?" the Englishman asked, taking a sip of his tea and taking a seat on his couch.
"I want to talk to you about America," Hungary stated coolly, and she watched in satisfaction as the Brit's calm demeanor vanished and was quickly replaced by a strong sense of uneasiness.
~GuessingGame~
Kumajirou glared daggers (if that was possible for a polar bear) at the Frenchman, who was twitching in his seat and trying to focus on folding his laundry. The blonde man had no idea how the hell Canada's bear got into his hotel room, but he was seriously starting to creep him out...
"K-Kumakichi...what do you want?"
"My name," the white bear stated, walking up to the sitting Frenchman and shoving a paw in his face, "is fucking Kumajirou, you fucking asshole!" France blinked and stared at the white bear, whose eyes were glowing with an evil glow.
"Okay...Kumajirou..uh, what is it you want, mon ami?" France attempted to smile, despite how terrified he was. Kumajirou glared even harder.
"I ain't your friend, you French pervert!" the polar bear hissed, and France let out a squeak of terror. "I came to talk to you about something."
The Frenchman twitched and set his laundry aside. "W-w-what about...?"
Kumajirou smirked heavily. "...You broke my Master's heart, you damn twat! Now I want to hear why!"
~GuessingGame~
England continued sipping his tea, trying to keep his composure in front of the Hungarian woman currently folding her arms and tapping her foot.
"There is nothing to discuss about America," the Brit responded icily, setting his teacup on its small plate and placing it on the coffee table in front of him. Hungary frowned.
"I think there is," she replied, just as coldly. "I just want to know one thing."
England turned to her and, not getting up from his spot on the couch, met her gaze with exactly the same amount of danger. "I cannot guarantee that I will answer your question, but you may ask," he said, taking out his handkerchief and dabbing at certain areas around his mouth.
Hungary crossed the room to sit in the chair across from the Brit and fixed him with a venomous stare. "I want to know exactly how you feel about America."
~GuessingGame~
France stared at the little bear, who had his arms crossed and was currently staring him down. France immediately gritted his teeth.
"What do you mean, broke his heart? I don't even...," the blonde paused, the polar bear's words registering in his mind. "Wait, you mean...Canada actually...loves me?" France widened his eyes. This comment was met with a hit upside the head using a random book that had appeared in Kumajirou's paws.
"Of course, he's in love with you! How dense can you be? Some King of Love!" the white bear scoffed and France rubbed the back of his head.
"I didn't...mean..."
Kumajirou hit the Frenchman's head again. "What, do you enjoy playing at my master's heart? Do you know how many times he thought he had you, and how many times he was shot down?" The bear huffed angrily, and France stared at it, rubbing the back of his head with his hand.
"Just how do you feel about my master, you damned Frenchman?" Kumajirou yelled, tossing the book to the floor and glaring at him. "And you better not lie, you frog!"
~GuessingGame~
England glared at her. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I think you do," Hungary retorted. "How long have you been in denial?"
The Brit scowled and furrowed his bushy eyebrows. Then he pressed his fingers to his temples in order to ward off the threatening headache. "I'm not in denial. I'm telling the truth."
"Judging by the pink stained on your cheeks, I am led to believe that you are not," the Hungarian woman replied, snickering. England blinked.
"Whatever!" he hissed. "I don't see why I need to tell you; you, of all people should know how I feel!" Hungary nodded.
"You're right; I do know how you feel about America. I just want to hear you say it out loud," she stated, grabbing a cup of tea. Tsundere.
The Brit twitched. "Why should I do that? If you already know, then it is not absolutely necessary-"
"He left you," Hungary said, feeling a slight pang of regret as the Brit's face faltered. He's a tsundere, she thought. I...have to go deep.
England struggled to find words. "W...wha..."
The Hungarian woman found the strength to look at him again. "He left you, didn't he? How must that have felt for you? How long have you been in denial?" She winced, never knowing she could be so...harsh. It's for the greater good.
The Englishman's face lost its confidence and was replaced by a look of sheer hurt.
"Maybe that's why he left you, hm?" Hungary took a sip of her tea and fixed her gaze on the green-eyed nation once again. "Always denying things, even the simplest things...like love?"
"Sh-shut up!"
~GuessingGame~
France met the tiny polar bear's gaze with an equal amount of venom now.
"Why should I tell you?" the Frenchman spat. Kumajirou narrowed his eyes even more.
"'Cause I'm going to beat the goddamn crap out of you if you don't!" the polar bear shouted, pointing another paw in the Frenchman's face. France closed his eyes and sighed.
"...I didn't...want to break his heart, Kumajirou," the blonde nation's voice was barely above a whisper.
Kumajirou scoffed. "Well, sorry to tell you this, Francis, but you already did." France winced at the polar bear's statement.
When a heavy silence fell over them, the polar bear snorted and placed his paws on his hips. "Well, is that your answer?" France looked up and stared at the bear in confusion. Kumajirou's face twisted into a frown.
"You don't love Canada? Ha! What am I saying? Of course you don't," Kumajirou spat harshly, not caring what he was saying anymore. "After all, he's only the boy you raised. He's only the boy that's always been there for you, cared for you, worried about you twenty-four-fucking-seven!" The polar bear laughed coldly.
"Yeah," he said, "all that, and you don't love him! No, wait, I don't think you ever loved Canada!"
"Shut up, you fucking polar bear!"
~GuessingGame~
England breathed heavily. If he hadn't been so pissed off, he would have refrained from yelling at a woman, but Hungary had just crossed the line.
"You don't know anything! I never wanted him to leave! Ever! Every single time that American idiot walks out a door, I get terrified because it always feels like he's gone! Like I'm never going to see him again!" England didn't notice that he had stood up, that he was crying. In fact, the Brit could care less.
"I...he...when he left, I..I died inside. There was nothing I could say, nor do. I swore," here, England's voice cracked, "..I swore that I would hold no feelings towards him. And I tried. I really did. But...ah, God...damn it!"
The Brit sank down into the couch and held his head in his hands. His shoulders shook from crying. Hungary looked on in pity, feeling bad that she had let loose such a thing.
"I didn't mean to, Hungary, really!" the Englishman cried, wiping his face with his handkerchief. "I didn't mean...to get so deeply involved...and I didn't mean to expect his presence day in and day out, and get lonely when he wasn't around to bother me. I...I didn't mean to start noticing every little thing about him, I..." England sniffled and blushed.
"I didn't mean to fall in love with that American git!"
~GuessingGame~
Something in France snapped. The blonde had already had enough of all of this.
"What do you know?" the Frenchman snapped. "I have been in denial for fucking years! And you think I don't love Canada? If he was in danger, I would give up my status as a nation if it meant keeping him safe! Canada is more important to me than my own life, goddammit!" France shouted in the stoic polar bear's face.
"You know what?" The blonde Frenchman announced, throwing his hands up in the air and standing. "I don't care anymore! I don't need you to bring me out of my denial, and guess why?" France sucked in his breath.
"I. Love. Canada," he burst out, then folded his arms, grinning smugly. Kumajirou looked up at the Frenchman, and, for the first time, smiled.
"Finally," the polar bear muttered.
~GuessingGame~
England panted by the time he had finished his rant. A smile played on Hungary's lips. The Englishman raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, Japan," the Hungarian woman called, "what's his face look like? I wanna see it."
The Brit gasped as the door to his hotel room creaked open, revealing Japan, smiling calmly, and America, who was staring at him, looking absolutely dumbfounded.
And for once, both America and England were at a loss for words.
~GuessingGame~
Kumajirou smirked heavily. "Hey, Canada! I hope you haven't already fainted out there."
France widened his eyes, then let out a tiny squeak of surprise as said Canadian slowly pushed the door open, eyes shaking slightly. Canada was looking at France as if he had just told him that the Earth was actually in the shape of a unicorn.
"M-merde."
~GuessingGame~
CLIIIFHANGER, HANGING FROM A CLIIIIF! AND THAT'S WHY HE'S CALLED CLIFFHANGER! *shot*
Ow! That hurt. ^^ Anyway, this chapter was okay-ish...I'm kind of afraid, cuz the next chapter could very well be the last, and if so, I'm sad, because this story was oodles of fun to write.
But there might be a bonus chapter...maybe...perhaps...
Oh, btw, "Merde" means "shit"...I think...
America: Waah! I wanted to see how it ends!
Me: You already know how it ends...*sigh*
Reviews are love? *hopeful look*
