Hey, hey! So please check out my other story 'Matchmaker', I've just updated it so please review it too!

Thank you a billion times for everyone who reviewed last chapter: AngelLove'sAnime, InvaderPey (loved your little story btw, ha-ha!), ElliMacaroni and Iggymochi.

Forty-Eight: Other Half

He pulled himself onto the kitchen stool, watching his brother whisking a bowl of pancake batter. "Hey, bro?" he began, and his expression must have spoken of rare seriousness, because the whisk froze mid-stir.

"Yes, America?"

"How did you know that Prussia was your other half?"

His brother paused, blank for a moment, before sucking in a long breath as if in preparation for a very, very long story. But then he said, quite simply, "Oh-I just knew."

America cupped his face in both hands, waiting for France to drop one of the eggs he was juggling so he could speak to him. But he'd been practicing, and a dropped egg did not seem to be soon forthcoming. "France?"

"Oui?"

His eyes trace the white orbs through the air. "How did you know that Emily was your soul mate?"

Splat. Splat. Splat.

America glanced down to see the mess of yoke and shell on the floor. He peered up at France, but he was staring into space, half-smiling. "Well..." he said, rubbing his slight beard. "I'm not sure. I guess I just knew."

America nodded in understanding. "Sorry about the eggs."

He shrugged, glancing down at his mess. "Maybe I should start practicing with lemons."

America wrapped his jacket around himself as tight as he could as he walked with his friend through her bustling capital. Isn't it meant to be summer here? But Northern Ireland didn't seem to mind the weather as she walked quickly, hands carrying numerous ingredients for her dinner with her family that evening.

America rolled his eyes skyward, blowing softly into his hands. "Northern Ireland?"

Northern Ireland didn't look at up as she hurried along. "Yeah?"

"How did you know that you and France were two halves of the same soul?"

Surprise flashed over Northern Ireland's face, and then bloomed into a red-hot blush.

"What's gotten into you; asking weird questions like that?"

America twiddled his thumbs. "I just wanted to know."

Giggling slightly at America's confusing nature, she gave a small shrug and finally looked up at him, her chocolate eyes sparkling. "I guess I just knew."

America stretched out in the grass, hands on his stomach, and watched the cotton-ball clouds drift by. Japan, beside him, was reading a book the size of his head, eyes fixed on the book.

"It sure is a shame," said America, "that England has to be so mean to me all the time."

Japan made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded. "Yes. You would think a nation of his age and intelligence would not feel the need to act so immature around you, a nation of your…um..." He flushed and began apologising profusely for inadvertently insulting his friend.

"Oh, I don't care about that," said America, waving a hand through the air. "It's just...he's going to feel so horrible when he realises that we're soul mates."

Japan's head snapped up. "Soul mates?"

"Oh yeah. Didn't you know?"

Jaw agape, Japan slowly shook his head. "Are you serious?"

"Mmhmm." A cloud in the shape of a toy soldier skittered by.

"Are you sure?"

"Oh yes. I know it seems far-fetched, but...well...I just know. And I intend to give him the biggest guilt-trip in the history of apologies when he figures it out too."

Ha-ha! Just a wee cute story today! Hope you liked! Thanks, LucyMoon1992 x