Hetalia Axis Powers © Hidekaz Himaruya
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

VIII

Tokyo, Japan – Modern Time

Kagome kept her eyes trained on her lap as her family sat opposite her and the two Nations on either side of her—Buyo's purring was the only thing heard in the living room. The calico cat was pawing at her arm and staring up at her, craving attention from her. The miko could feel the questionable stares from her family, the worry she could feel from her mother made her feel terrible for not trying to contact them about her whereabouts.

'What ever happened to you Kirara? What happened to Sesshoumaru?'

The albino Nation blinked at the old man that went between eyeing him suspiciously and looking at his granddaughter for her to start talking – explaining. Gilbird was still perched atop his head, away from the purring feline craving the black-blue-haired eighteen-year-old's attention. Gilbert used the hand he kept around the girl's waist to poke and prod her, making her squirm in her seat, "Hey, wann dürfen wir Sie zu sprechen beginnen?" ("Hey, when are you going to start talking?")

The sixteen-year-old boy turned his attention to him when he spoke, "What did you just say?"

The Prussian stared at the kid, not really understanding him, before he looked to Japan for a translation. Brown eyes looked at the red of the albino's, not sure how to translate what was said – if he couldn't understand the teenager, what made him think that he could understand… oh, right. They're nations.

Sighing, Honda gave Prussia a quick translation, to which he also told them their ethnicities. The old man left worrying over his granddaughter completely to stare at the silver-haired male who had his arm around Kagome's waist currently. Gilbert turned his eyes to those of the old man, staring him down as they sat there. Gilbird atop his head made a small sound, but was otherwise silent.

The woman in the middle of the sixteen year old and elder looked at her daughter in worry, "Where have you been Kagome? We were so worried about you, especially when you didn't contact us for a long while."

Taking a deep breath, the blue-gray eyed miko looked into the hazel of her mother's, "I… I've been living in Russia."

"Russia? How'd you get to Russia, onee-san?" Souta looked to his older sister, in curious wonder and shock. Kagome bit her bottom lip – where was her eleven year brother that she knew? Had that much time passed while she was fighting in Sengoku Jidai?

Oh right… he grew up without her…

"After the final battle, I left Japan… I was in Siberia for a bit before…"

"Before what dear?" Kagome's mother gently coaxed, having the patience of a saint.

"Before I came to live with Ivan."

Her grandfather broke off the staring contest, having listened to the conversation, "What? You lived with a man? My granddaughter?"

"Yeah… I-I was fine! Honestly! Okay, his sisters may be a bit weird, but there were other people living with him for a time that became my friends!"

Why was she so defensive about Ivan?

Prussia frowned more, his grip slightly tightened on Kagome's waist as he looked down at the blue-black-haired female – there she went, protecting the damned Popov. Japan looked at Kagome with sympathetic brown eyes, just how far did her loyalty to him go? For Ivan?

"Как далеко вы готовы пойти, чтобы убедиться, что я счастлив, Duscha?" ("How far are you willing to go to make sure I'm happy, Duscha?")

The undertone to what he said to her, it made goosebumps erupt over her skin as her mouth worked without her thinking – her treacherous mouth.

"Я стану ненавидят эту землю!" ("I'll become hated by this earth!")

The ever present smile grew dark as his eyes lost their child-like light that they usually had, and it was only then that the usual terror that would grip her heart was absent. That frightened her more, however.

"I have been to America, though, and the United Kingdom. As well as a good portion of Europe with Ivan."

Honda Kiku frowned, how could he not see it before? He could see out of his peripheral vision that Gilbert shared the same face as him – maybe even the same thinking process.

"You have sis? What was it like?"

-:-:-

Gilbert had a sour look on his face as the three of them sat in a WacDonalds near the shrine Kagome's family resided at – the miko had the distinct feeling that it was due to the fact that Alfred just about ate nothing but McDonalds and or hamburgers. Kiku said nothing as he sat next to the black-haired female in the booth, the albino ex-Nation sitting across from them watched as Kagome ate her fries.

"Oh my god! Kagome?"

"It's Kagome!"

Kagome paused, the end of a French fry just barely in her mouth as her head and the hand holding the fry moved to allow her to look over her shoulder, Japan and Prussia looking with her. The blue-gray-eyed miko wanted at that moment to be able to sink into the booth seat or ground to avoid her friends – don't get her wrong, she loved her friends, it's just that… she wasn't who she used to be.

Two of the usual trio came up to her booth, both girl – Eri and Yuka – looked between Kiku and Gilbert, their eyes lingered a bit longer on the unusual appearance of the albino Prussian than they did on Honda Kiku. Kagome shoved the rest of the fry into her mouth as she waited for the two to turn their inevitable gaze to her person.

"May we talk to you Kagome?" Yuka looked at the two males with their friend, "Alone?"

As tempting as it was, Kagome shook her head to the second question, "They don't mind if you talk about them in their presence. What did you wish to talk to me about?"

Eri and Yuka looked to each other, able to sense that something about Kagome had changed since the last that they, Ayumi or Hojou had seen her. Eri bit her lip as she was thinking of how to word her questions for her friend. The girl who still had the shortest hair among the four of them took the initiative to start the questions following the headband-wearing girl's silence, "Where have you been? When any of us called your family, they said that you went somewhere for your illnesses."

Kagome gave a small laugh, "I was in Russia the majority of the time, but I've visited the United States and Kingdom during that time as well."

Prussia gave a twitch of the hand under the table of the booth; the girl across from him was starting to remind him of the Popov.

Yuka and Eri starred at the blue-black-haired in surprise, clearly not anticipating that answer, both talking at the same time in total unison, "You were in Russia?"

The miko gave a small twitch of her lower eye lid as a few people within the small establishment turned to look at the group in curiosity. Sighing, she rested her forehead on the heel of her palm, "Could you please try not to announce it to the whole world? I'd rather people not know about my business…"

"Gomen nasai, Kagome-chan." The two girls chimed in unison.

"Arigatou."

Gilbert stared at the blue-black-haired miko, one minute she's starting to act like Ivan, the next she wasn't. Crossing his arms, the albino smirked, "Sie müssen sich nicht darum kümmern, wenn Sie die awesome haben mich und meine fünf Metern!" ("You don't need to worry about them when you have the awesome me and my five metres!")

Kagome and her two friends stared at the Prussian in confusion of what he just said, but Kiku knew what it was that he said, looking cross, "Gilbert-san! I don't think that that is appropriate right now!"

Kagome looked at Japan, gently tugging on the black-haired male's sleeve, "Honda-san, what did he just say?"

Japan face-palmed and avoided the question his citizen was badgering him, "Kagome-san, you needn't concern yourself with what Gilbert-san just said. Gomen nasai. Just ignore him…"

The blue-black-haired miko pouted, but figured that she wouldn't be getting any information out of the personified Nation – letting it drop. She turned to her two friends standing by their table, "We were just about to leave, minna…"

The two girls startled, Yuka spoke up first, "We should be letting the three of you go."

Eri agree, "Yeah, but we want to hear all about your travels, Kagome-chan! Maybe we could get together for a girl's night out or something…"

"Yeah… maybe."

-:-:-

Russia's gloved hand stroked the round cheek of the ageless woman who was living with him, his violet eyes alit with a foreboding emotion that put shivers down her spine – goosebumps rapidly spread over her skin, it didn't go unnoticed by the childish man.

Kagome didn't dare shy away from the touch to her face, her arms stayed stationary by her sides, eyes clamping shut; her lips were pursed in a tense line as she could faintly feel the beige-haired male lean in closer to her much shorter frame.

The kiss he placed on her lips was surprisingly gentle, the corners of her mouth twitching as she contemplated whether or not to open her eyes, or maybe even to open her eyes. Either way, her blue-gray eyes shot open, "Почему ты не вернулся мой поцелуй, Duscha?" ("Why do you not return my kiss, Duscha?")

Kagome opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out of her mouth – she looked down at the ground through the small gap between their bodies. The hand on her cheek moved to the back of her neck, "Вы все еще болит после вчерашнего?" ("Are you still sore from last night?")

The miko looked up at Ivan from underneath her lashes; a deep flush decorated her upper cheeks as well as the bridge of her nose, "Нет ..." 'That's a total lie, but… does he really have to know?'

The taller Nation let his grin widen, "Хорошо. Тогда мы пойдем потом, потом, Duscha? Надо кормить регулярно." ("Good. Then shall we go then, then, Duscha? One must be fed regularly.")

The blush lightened as Kagome nodded her head, watching as Ivan turned away and winced once his back was turned, not letting the pain get to her as she jogged to catch up to the man, her stomach lightly grumbling at the promise of food for her to eat.

The sudden stop by the larger person had the blue-black-haired miko running into his broad back. She backed up a few steps, one hand having come up gingerly to rub at where her face hurt the most – though it didn't last as a larger hand took hold of her wrist—albeit uncharacteristically gently—a childish face taking its place to place a kiss one her nose, and then her shocked lips. When he pulled back, he smiled, "Лучше, намного лучше. Я говорил тебе, что ты бесценный спутник?" ("Better, much better. Have I told you that you are an invaluable companion?")

The female shook her head in a negative. The smile Russia wore seemed to be genuine, "Ну, вы находитесь." ("Well, you are.")

Stockholm Syndrome: a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express adulation and have positive feelings towards their captors that appear irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims. (from Wikipedia)

TBC

I'm sorry for the long delay. :/ Haven't been watching much Hetalia lately and internet has been scarce. James Gaffigan is a love child between Sweden and Elton John! God Sweden! Look up his jokes if you don't know what I'm talking about. :)