Hi guys, I'm late, I know, but this chapter was hard to write, I got all emotional because -I probably should've warned you last chapter- this is it. This one is the last chapter. I hope you all enjoy it.
I want to offer a big thank you to thecrazeyone for favoriting and Zophia33 for following and favoriting, you guys rock!
I also want to thank every follower, favoriter, reviewer and viewer, everyone who made this fic possible for me. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I don't own guys, enjoy!
Chapter 15: Pink Carnation
"Nice night out, isn't it?" Russia asked lightly, leaning against the railing China was leaning on, the same one Kuro had occupied for most of last night.
"It is," agreed Yao, tilting her head back to study the night sky and the stars twinkling in it, it was funny, she reflected, something she had noticed in her old age; things changed, it was inevitable, but some things always remained the same.
Her fingers drummed on the railing as she waited, Sure enough, "Yao, we're friends, da?" Asked Russia after a while.
She smiled and nodded, "the best of friends," she said sincerely. No matter what, that would always be true. Russia was the best friend she had ever had in her life, her constant companion and the one person she had always known would always be by her side. She took a deep breath, this was going to be hard.
"I spoke with Japan last night," said China lightly, still drumming her fingers against the rails, "he…said he loved me. I love him to. At first I was afraid, too afraid to believe that this, what I wanted the most, could be real." The tempo of her fingers got faster and faster, "but I do believe it. I love him, he loves me." A slight pause, "and this feeling, this joy, it is everything I hoped it would be. And more."
Russia nodded, "I know," he reached out and gently placed his hand over hers, stilling her dancing fingers, "but, we'll still be best friends, right?" He sounded hesitant, unsure, Yao winced, Russia should never sound like that.
Yao smiled sadly, fighting back tears, "of course we will," she said, voice slightly choked. She turned her hand and laced her slender, darker, longer-nailed fingers with his broader, whiter, short-nailed ones and squeezed, "no matter what."
Sensing that the time for talking was over China turned to leave, Russia caught her sleeve, "did I ever have a chance?" He asked softly.
China froze; did he ever have a chance? She had loved him, in her own way, but…had that love ever stood a chance against her love for Japan?
"I…don't know," she said honestly, "I'd like…to think…you did," her calm gaze became forlorn, "but I honestly don't know."
Her sleeve slipped through his fingers, tears rolling down her face, China left.
"France? Francis? I need to talk to you," said England, following her male companion down the lavish hall in his house.
France smiled, "I think I know what you're going to say Cherie," he said, he didn't want to hear it but always knew he would have to. He wasn't stupid, he'd seen what England's feelings for America were the moment she developed them and later seen America's feelings for her the moment he'd developed them.
But I loved you first, he thought unhappily with a mental sigh and a philosophical shrug, he'd long since gotten used to the idea that she would never love him back.
England stopped and pulled out her phone as either Alfred or Jean finally texted he back. It was America.
Whoops, Soz hun, Jon & I took the wrong train, well meet u at France's house in 30mins! :)
England raised an eyebrow but couldn't help but smile, Alfred had been to the country of France hundreds of times and Jean was the personification of a France identical to this one, there was no way the two of them had gotten lost. They'd 'accidentally' taken the wrong train to give her some time to get to Francis's house first and speak to him alone and for that she was grateful.
England looked up from her phone and her green eyes landed on a tapestry covered in Latin writing framed on France's wall, "what's that? I've never seen that before." She moved closer and started to read, a funny feeling came over her and chills shot up and down her spine as she read the inscription.
"Oh that?" Francis moved forwards, "I found it in one of my back rooms and hung it up here; to be honest I'd completely forgotten about it."
England gave a hollow laugh, she fisted her suddenly shaking hands in her skirt to try and stop their tremors and laughed again as she re-read the inscription, her green eyes were trembling and there was a funny look on her face.
"Angleterra?" France questioned softly.
England laughed for a third time and dragged a shaking hand across her pale face, "I just think it's funny. I spent so much time searching and searching for the right spell to send the others home at my place and it was here on your wall this whole time!" She buried her face in her hand.
Looking disturbed France gently gripped her arm and lead her into his study, he gently pushed her into a beige armchair that she had occupied countless times before and hurried off to make her a cup of tea which he then pressed into her slightly more steady hands.
"Cherie, are you alright?" Francis asked worriedly, kneeling down by the chair to peer into her green eyes.
England gave another hollow laugh, cupping her hands around the tea cup, "sometimes I wonder," she muttered. She gave a deep sigh and shut her eyes, "I'm fine France, thank you. But I'll admit, though I do enjoy the company of Olivia and the others, I won't be too devastated to see them leave."
A small scowl marred her features and France breathed a silent sigh of relief, this was the little social recluse he knew and loved. He wouldn't be telling the truth if he said he hadn't been worried about her recently. His amour had yelled at him before, yes, hundreds, thousands, if not more times in their lives together but after he had gotten over the unexpected hurt her words had caused him he had been forced to acknowledge, this time; she had not been herself.
"I'm sorry amour, you've been dealing with this all on your own, then I ran off and left you when you needed me the most because my feelings got a little hurt," he gave his usual 'honhonhonhon,' laugh but there was no real effort in it. "You thought you had to do this all alone, but you didn't." He wrapped his slender fingers around hers, "you can lean on me cherie, you can lean on all of us, a lot more than you do now, there's nothing wrong with letting those around you, those who care about you, help you when you need it."
"I-no!" England shook her head, gripping France's hands tightly in her own smaller, slightly more tanned ones, "don't you dare make this your fault, I snapped at you for absolutely no reason. And I wasn't doing anything on my own; you helped me, more than I can say. And I still snapped at you, I'm sorry France."
The words felt strange as they left her lips, she wasn't and had never been above apologizing to France when she was genuinely in the wrong and knew it, he knew her too well for her stubborn pride to be an issue, but apologizing to him still wasn't something she was used to doing.
France hugged her tightly, England hugged him back, this was unusual too, they weren't very physical people towards each other, at least when it came to affection but France felt warm and safe and familiar, even more so than America, and England's heart burned with guilt as she pulled away. Because she hadn't just come here to apologize and make up with France, she was here to, (as unbelievable as she still found the concept of France being in love with her) break his heart.
"I love you Francis," she said honestly, "I always have but-"
"I know cherie," he interrupted gently; "I've always known how you felt about him. And I saw how he felt about you a long time ago. If this is what makes you happy, then it's for the best."
Tears clung to the end of England's eyelashes, how could she be happy if she was hurting her best friend this way?
She hugged him again, "I love you France," she said sincerely.
"I love you England," he whispered quietly.
When America showed up with his brooding other self ten minutes later, France watched the woman he loved run into the younger country's arms and swallowed thickly. Showing an uncharacteristic maturity, America simply wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her close, not saying a word. Maybe he did realize how lucky he was? The thought comforted France immensely and he allowed himself a small, brief smile.
When the three countries and Jean called and asked Jake and Olivia to meet them at Russia's house where apparently both Russias were staying with both Chinas and both Japans, all of the 'other selves' were curious as to why.
When they were told that Arthurine had found the right spell to send them all home even Jean's eyes lit up, they had all grown fond of their other selves and how calm and peaceful this world was, but they were ready to go home, they missed their own world.
As they bunched together, waiting for the portal to open Yue Chung hugged Yao tightly, startling her brunette self and then leaned down to hug Kiku and leaned upwards to kiss Ivan's cheek whispering 'thank you,' to the violet eyed male. Ivan turned slightly pink and touched the spot where Yue had kissed him with gloved fingers.
Kuro nodded to Ivan, bowed politely to his other self and even allowed Yao to pull him into a tight, motherly hug before he moved to stand beside his older sister and her boyfriend. Yue whooped happily and leapt into Vadim's arms, chuckling slightly he swung her around in a circle before kissing her quickly and passionately. Yue reached down from Vadim's arms to ruffle Kuro's inky hair, he shot her a surprised but pleased look and she grinned back. They'd work it all out, they were family, all three of them, no matter what.
Jake clapped Alfred on the shoulder so hard he stumbled and jokingly shoved his other self back, the two Americas engaged in a wrestling match until Arthurine nudged them apart with her toe. Jake then jumped up and mockingly kissed Arthurine's hand which she pulled free and used to whack him over the head with, the same way she did Alfred.
Jake then sauntered off to wait with Vadim and the two Asians while Olivia and Jean said their goodbyes.
Jean and his other self shook hands he offered a quick goodbye to Alfred and even allowed Arthurine to kiss his cheek before moving to stand by Jake (but not too close, he was a baseball-wielding maniac after all).
Olivia began to cry as she and Francis kissed each other's cheeks and she and Alfred hugged each other tightly, "take care of yourself Amelia," Alfred told her.
The pinkette chuckled and dabbed at her eyes with a powder-blue handkerchief that she kept up her sleeve, "it's Olivia," she told him again.
But it was when she reached Arthurine that Olivia broke down and truly began to bawl, "I'll never forget you," she wept, throwing herself on the blonde's shoulder, Arthurine sighed and rolled her green eyes patting Olivia on the back.
"There there," she sighed, "I miss you too Liv, I'll come and visit sometime."
"Really?!" Olivia brightened instantly and her head jerked up, "yay! I'll see you then!" She skipped off and went to stand by Jean and Jake.
"I'll never happen," England promised France, who shook his blond head vigorously.
Then England chanted the spell that opened the portal and allowed them all to head home, America watched her, the greenish light from her magic bathing her face in a subtle glow and thought about how lucky he was. Standing beside him, Japan was having similar thoughts about Yao as he stared at China, who had her arm around him in silent wonder.
Calling out their goodbyes their other selves stepped through the portal. Just before it was their turn to enter their own world Olivia glanced up at her blond companion, "Jean," she began.
Her companion took her hand, he initiated contact, "I don't love you," he told her blankly.
Olivia's face broke out into a wide smile, "I know," she beamed, "but you will, in case you haven't noticed Jean, I can be very hard to ignore." She swung off his arm and grinned, it was just the two of them again, just like it should be.
Saying goodbye to the others, they stepped through the portal and were gone, the portal shut between them. Then there was silence for a while.
"Well," England dusted off her skirt briskly, "that's over with."
America rushed forwards and scooped her into his arms, "not completely blondie!" He yelled as she shrieked at him and demanded to be put down.
He raced off, laughing madly, "I can do that too!" Yelled China immaturely, picking up Japan and racing after them. The poor island country could do nothing more than yelp and cover his face in mortification.
"Put me down!" He yelled, his girlfriend laughed manically and refused to do so.
"That's what you get for being so short!" She yelled.
Sighing, Russia and France walked after the darker-haired countries, "women," Russia sighed.
"Tell me about it," said Francis, rolling his eyes.
The End.
There we go! Tell me what you think! It's finally all over!
One last thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, followed and/or favorited this fic!
I named it 'Pink Carnation' because it means 'I'll never forget about you.'
Sode no Shirayuki1411 out!