AN: Er, yes. So. For whatever reason, this chapter was replaced with chapter 5. I noticed that randomly. It's a good thing I keep the chapters on my computer.

Magyarország -Hungary (Hungarian)

He let himself in, the room was slightly darkened and a thick sent of cigarette (or was it incense?) hanging in the air. He took a few steps inside, closing the door behind him and straightening his collar, hoping he looked presentable. First impressions were always important, after all.

"Excuse me! Is there anyone here?" He was greeted by silence. Cursed, the only time he dared to enter, and nobody was here. "Excuse me?" he repeated, a little louder this time.

After his second call, he heard rapid footsteps and if he was right, they were coming in his direction. He looked around, before he saw a girl peek out from the door that probably led to a kitchen, or something like that. She then jumped into the room, her white dress floating around her and her tanned skin making her incredibly beautiful. He wondered how old she was, and what a girl like her could possibly do in a place like that.

"Yes sir? Do you need something?"

"Excuse me... Are you the owner of this place? I was wondering if I could work here..."

"Oh, sorry! Wait a second, I'll call the boss immediately!" He gulped. The boss? Who was this person supposed to be? Vash had told him the owner was a very sweet and caring person. He had also added 'When she is in a good mood, that is' afterwards, come to think of it...

The girl jumped out of the room, demonstrating once again how full of energy she was. He heard her call for someone, and then another person walked down the stairs. A soft voice murmured from the other room, before a low chuckle was heard. She came into the room.

"Good morning, sir. I am sorry but I have to inform you that we are closed at this hour of the day." She said, smiling while she brushed a strand of her long hair behind her ear.

"I do not mind, but maybe could you help me in another way." She looked surprised. "I am looking for work, and a friend..." He paused a second. Vash and friend? Hell would freeze over before that would happen. "An acquittance of mine told me that you might have something for me."

"Well..." she looked at him, and he noticed the little girl from before staring at him from behind the curtain hanging against the wall. "I have been looking for a musician for some time now. The last pianist we had ran away with his boyfriend." She seemed sour for a second, but the little girl behind her murmured something about 'nice photos', and she smiled widely. It was almost scary. "Anyway, what kind of music, if any, do you play, mister..." she trailed off, waiting for him to fill in the silence.

He immediately did. "Edelstein. Roderich Edelstein, madam." he said, bowing down slightly. He wondered for an instant if he hadn't overdone it, but she just chuckled, so he deemed it okay.

"My name is Erzsébet Héderváry, but people usually call me Elisabeth, or Eli, because they never pronounce it right." She smiled and glanced at the young girl behind her. "Serena, come over here, please." The girl in her white dress bounced over to the two of them. "This is Serena Pin, she works here as a waitress, most of the time. She also plays the violin."

The girl slid both her arms behind her back and rocked slowly from side to side. "By the way, you're looking at me as if I were a kid. Just so you know, mister Edelstein, I'm twenty!" She said, perfectly honest smile on her face and with great enthusiasm. Maybe this place wasn't so bad after all. It was nice to be surrounded by honest people once again.

Roderich turned his attention back to the older woman. "To answer your question, miss Héderváry, I play the piano." He hoped he had pronounced the name right. "I have been since I was six. I hope it is enough to be qualified."

"I think it would be okay, you'll play a piano piece for us later, if you don't mind. But I must ask you a few questions first." She walked behind the counter and took a notepad and a pencil. "Do you write 'Edelstein' with an E or with an A?"

"With an E."

"Okay. Your age?"

"Twenty-seven."

"Have you ever worked in a bar or something similar before?"

"No." She raised an eyebrow at his answer. "I have been living with friends for the past years and did little jobs in between."

"Is... that so." she wrote it down on her notebook. "Anyway. Next question." He nodded. "Are you gay?"

"… Pardon me? I think I misheard..."

"Are you attracted to people sharing the same gender as you?"

Had Roderich not been a gentleman and Erzsébet not so pretty, he might have stood up and walked out. Unfortunately, they both were, so he just looked at her in a dumbfounded silence. The woman looked up.

"Don't you know the particularity of the Hungary?" Roderich shook his head, still rather shocked by the question. "Oh, your friend didn't tell you... Well! You'll find out soon!" She turned around once, "Serena, you should show him the main room, and the piano." then, back to Roderich. "I am sorry, we haven't used the piano in a long time, you might have to tune it."

In the end, Roderich just knew that he was going to regret his decision. Really regret it.

He sat down in front of the piano nonetheless.

(- -)

While he was playing, a little voice in the back of his mind told him that it was a good thing the piano was still tuned, but another was being annoying and he just had to ask. Roderich paused. Erzsébet looked up when she noticed the change in his attitude, and interrupted her current dust removal. "Excuse me, miss Héderváry. What time do you intend to open... this bar?"

She turned around to glance at the clock behind Roderich. "In about... OH NO!" She ran to the door, feather duster lying forgotten on the ground and leaving Roderich alone, sighing. So the sign at the door was indeed correct. He would have to work up to five in the morning. As he was about to continue playing, he felt someone tap at his right shoulder, and he turned around, to see nobody. He frowned and turned back to the piano, where he met Serena's smiling face.

"You know, mister Edelstein," she started "you play very well! Maybe will you allow me to accompany you with my violin, one day?"

He smiled. "Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know. The people who come over here are usually very strange. So if you're here, you're probably like that too. Although you are the most normal person I've met here so far." That was a compliment, right? "You don't have to be afraid for your first time here. It'll be pretty awkward." She started to laugh at the comment she was about to make. "Especially if you see those three guys who don't look anything alike at all making a drinking contest." It looked as if she was remembering a scene that had happened some time ago, then she continued. "Okay, actually it's more two of them, the third usually ends up laying on the ground after a few rounds. They often come here for every kind of stuff. Drink or just meet new people and lovers, and so!"

Roderich flinched ; what was that? "Excuse me, Serena... Miss Héderváry said something about this bar being... particular. Maybe can you tell me more about it?"

"Of course! Eli doesn't look like it, but she has some weird fetishes." Serena didn't even feel bad for what she said, Erzsébet had never made it a secret. Furthermore, she didn't mind if someone advertised for the Hungary. "I wouldn't call it a gay bar, but the place is divided in two parts. The actual bar, and the cuddle corner. Isn't that cute?"

Roderich now officially regretted everything he had done to ever get here. He was going to make Vash regret it.

"Hey, hey! It's not going to kill you, you know? If you tell a few guys off at the beginning, they shouldn't bother you too much." She paused. "That is, if you don't count Francis. He's a special case. Eli usually throws him out, but he keeps on coming back anyway." She pointed proudly towards herself with her thumb, flashing a wide smile. "I actually live with him, you know? He doesn't make moves on me though, I've threatened him enough."

They were interrupted when Erzsébet came back into the room, a calm smile stretching her lips. Roderich checked his watch again ; it was seven in the evening. Serena whispered the last words. "I'm sure Eli has something to do with that too, by the way. Did you know that we don't even need a bouncer, here?"

The young girl moved away from him, and added, this time louder. "Shall I go get my violin, mister Edelstein? Maybe could we try it out right now!"

"Do as you please, Serena. I won't mind."

From behind the counter, Erzsébet smiled.

She took her notebook out of the pocket of her white apron, and next to the words Roderich Edelstein, added 'hired'.

Roderich Edelstein [27] is a broke pianist who's been playing music for quite a few years now ; he works at the Hungary so far.

Erzsébet 'Elisabeth' Héderváry [29] is the owner of the gay bar 'Hungary'. She was born in Hungary but was forced to move for a certain reason I'll explain in a further chapter or a side story. She is a bit protective toward her girls (Belgium, Seychelles and Liechtenstein).

Serena Pin [20] is a young girl who's been playing the violin for a long time. She started working for Erzsébet when she couldn't finance her studies anymore. She's generally cheerful and is often seen with a camera. She represents Seychelles.

AN : Indeed, the introduction of the so famous Hungary has finally been done. I also changed Elizabeta into Erzsébet because I simply prefer it, and it's the Hungarian form of Elisabeth. Elisabeta is actually Romanian, and Elisaveta is Bulgarian and Macedonian. So let's just stick to the Hungarian form, 'kay? :)