"Why do you think he's never noticed?" Egypt turned to the Chinese boy seated across from him casually, or at least as casual as Hong Kong could be while lying on the coach. The two of them were sprawled across what was known as the map room, for obvious reason. It was the most barely visited room in the whole of the conference building and perfect for the two stoic nations residing in there.

To say they were friends would be a massive overstatement. They were not, frankly they couldn't stand each other namely because of the same reason they were ever even in the same room.

Canada, Matthew Williams, the great white north, blah blah blah, nationalistic pride, something about peace keeping and cuddly animals that are great barbecued over an open fire. Anyway, back on topic, it was more of a friend of a friend sort of situation. Both liked the Canadian, found him interesting and his mannerisms more than a little endearing and for that reason neither could stand to leave the nation alone with the other for an extended period.

This all led to the mismatched piece of a social situation that was what could be called their friendship. It was also due to this strange companionship that they sat in the map room, as they were waiting for the third of their trio to arrive.

He was late, but they were not surprised as America had likely latched onto him. Normally they would wait in silence until he arrived, and yet Hong Kong had broken their silent pact and unwritten rule. Egypt was intrigued as to the reasoning behind the young Asian nations breaking of this tradition and so raised his eyebrow to indicate that he was paying attention but needed clarification.

"Why do you think no one remembers Canada?" Hong Kong reiterated. Egypt deposited the book he had been idly reading and stared at the other stoic nation, after some thought he shrugged his shoulders. Who knows?

"Where are you going with this?" Egypt found himself asking, much to his chagrin. Hong Kong looked towards him, his amber eyes glinting with an idea.

"What could we do to help him?" Ah, so that was his game, Egypt thought. Though he would loathe assisting the Chinese boy in any manner, it was for Canada. If it was to help his friend, he would aid his silent nemesis, for now or until they found a lake he could inconspicuously push him into.

"You have an idea?" Egypt asked the boy, knowing the answer. Hong Kong shrugged indifferently at the question as they both knew it was obvious that he did, Egypt asking only so that Hong Kong would be prompted to vocalize it. Of course, the silent insult within was that he doubted Hong Kong had a good idea, but such was the way they played their game of superiority.

"A few." Hong Kong said nonchalantly. Egypt merely raised an eyebrow in curiosity, or mocking surprise, it could go either way.

"He could wear a Canadian flag on him somewhere." Egypt stared at Hong Kong, his green eyes unblinking before shaking his head and tapping his forehead, reminding his younger companion of the event involving America and the rubber stamp.

"Maybe we could convince him to wear something different." Egypt sat a little straighter in his chair at the suggestion and reached into one of his pockets, Hong Kong watching somewhat warily. Egypt soon pulled out his spare keffiyeh, holding the hat out before him triumphantly.

"No." Hong Kong said definitively. Egypt shrugged and returned the hat to his pocket. One day Canada, one day soon he would wear that hat again. "Any ideas on your part?" Hong Kong asked. Egypt brought his hand to his chin and tapped it contemplatively before shrugging.

"No." He stated bluntly, almost embarrassed by the lack of ideas. Hong Kong sighed, more to show him that he believed it was up to him to come up with all the good ideas rather than an actual expression of irritation. Of course, the sheer fact he had bothered to express himself in any way tipped the other nation off to the hidden meaning.

"How are the others recognized?" Hong Kong mused, albeit in a monotone but that was beside the point he was making. Egypt closed his eyes in thought and leaned back into the chair.

He supposed that he and Hong Kong were recognized by their natures as stoic, but while he was silent most of the time Hong Kong was simply blunt. They were also recognized by their shared history in important affairs with other nations, Hong Kong being owned by England and China while Egypt had oil and such.

America was recognized because he was strong and brash, as well as often idiotic. Russia was recognized as he was another superpower though he was cold and often cruel and sadistic.

France was recognized by his tendency to flirt with anything and everyone and fighting with England frequently, while England was recognized by fighting with France and by having been a former superpower along with France.

But of course, the before mentioned nations frequently meddled largely in affairs of other nations, so were recognized. Perhaps that was why they remembered the mostly silent nation, as he had played minor roles in most world events, themselves excluded.

So perhaps that was all that was needed! They merely needed to take Canada around and re-introduce him to the other nations of the world to have them recognize him on sight if they had more concrete memories.

Green eyes snapped open and he regarded the Chinese boy, still lost in thought. "Introduce him to the others again." Hong Kong raised a single of his prominent eyebrows in interest of his idea.

"How?" Hong Kong asked, hating the fact that he had to. He figured that Egypt was merely being short with him for revenge for earlier. Egypt stood and walked over to the giant map splayed across the wall. Pausing before it, he tapped his chin contemplatively before pointing at the map.

"A trip." He said, moving his pointed finger across the map from one end to the other. Hong Kong slowly cocked his head a fraction and considered the idea.

"Where will we start?" Hong Kong finally asked with a hint of curiosity. Egypt rolled his eyes while his face was still hidden from his companion.

"Canada, then..." It was then that they both realized the problem. Depending on which ocean they took to, as Canada sat snugly between the two, would depend on which of their nations they would visit first. Hong Kong evidently realized the same problem as Gupta could feel the younger nations eyes burn a hole in the map.

"How do we decide?" Hong Kong finally asked evenly, not betraying anything aside from his earnest to forego their usual staring competition in favour of a more direct manner to solve their dispute. He would never admit that their contests were fruitless, far from it, they just haven't actually finished one as of yet.

Gupta turned and slowly scanned the room, searching for some form of inspiration to solve his problem. His answer lay on a small table near an empty chair. A small bowl sat on the table filled with darts, the picture put up on the wall opposite depicting a rough caricature of a smiling America with the word git written in bold letters and several darts sticking from his face leaving little doubt to him as to whom had done so.

Plucking one of the darts out of the bowl he turned to Hong Kong and held up the dart, indicating the massive map flanked by two windows. "Chance." Gupta stated, pointing the dart towards the map with clear meaning. Surprisingly, Hong Kong said nothing to dissuade him; rather he nodded in the affirmative.

Egypt hid his surprise at the lack of argument before turning to the map, quick to act before the Chinese boy changed his mind. Lining up his shot carefully (aiming for Egypt, or maybe Turkey and Greece) he stuck his tongue out slightly in concentration, failing to notice the small red object that Hong Kong was setting alight. Right as he was about to throw the small dart Hong Kong tossed the firecracker near Egypt's foot.

Bang.

Egypt gave a slight jump at the tiny explosion near him, the dart flying wildly out of his hand and toward the map. Both nations watched in awe as the dart sped onward, seemingly in slow motion to the two stoic nation's eyes.

The dart flew close, closer, closer, missed...

Wait missed!

Both nations' eyes were now slightly wider as they watched the dart fly through one of the windows flanking the massive map, disappearing past the edge and falling into the great beyond to destination unknown.

"Ow, what the hell was that?" Gupta and Hong Kong glanced at each other before, calmly, rushing to the window and peeking out, staring at the nation on the ground level and holding the dart, rubbing his head in pain while he glanced around in confusion as his dreadlocks flew about with the motions of his head.

Cuba! Well, on the bright side at least they found their first stop, though in an unorthodox and likely painful way.

"What are you staring at?" A whisper like voice sounded from behind the two oddly calm nations, whose calm had just been shattered by the hammer of extreme embarrassment. They both whipped their heads around as soon as their blushes had died down to observe a curious wavy blonde haired Canadian with violet eyes and glasses perched precariously on his nose in a business suit standing behind them.

Canada.

They both stared at the curious nation as he approached them, peering at the window. "What's out there?" Gently working past them he glanced out the window to see a furious Cuba glancing around. "Huh, what's Cuba doing?" Canada mused to himself as the tanned nation continued to look around; until he brought his gaze up to the window the three nations were standing at.

"America!" He shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the window. Canada sighed lightly at his friends mix up.

"Cuba, I told you I'm no-." Canada was cut off as a tanned hand in white robes clamped itself around his mouth and yanked him back into the room, another hand grabbing his arm and assisting in the act.

As Egypt and Hong Kong dragged Canada backwards and away from the window they listened to the profanities from the Cuban below fade away until ceasing with the slamming of the ground floor door. Egypt removed his hand from Canada's mouth while Hong Kong pulled his hand back from his arm.

"What just happened?" Canada asked, confusion written on his face while he idly stroked his chin near where Egypt's hand had been as though reassuring himself that it was gone. The pair of stoic nations glanced at each other before turning their eyes back to him.

"Nothing important." Hong Kong said in his monotone. The blonde stared at them with a curious look before shrugging in dismissal of the event.

As Hong Kong had said, it probably wasn't important.

()()()

"A trip?" Canada asked the two stoic nations before him as he examined the ticket in front of him, turning it over in his hands as though it would reveal some hidden information like a puzzle box if he moved it the right way. The pair before him gave him a curt nod at the question. "Not to be rude, but why?" Canada queried, still examining the ticket. It was a plane ticket, from Canada to England, with a stopover in Cuba and then Iceland before departing 'across the pond' as it were. The three of them were standing in Canada's home, Egypt and Hong Kong having sprung the idea unexpectedly during one of their visits, which were becoming quite frequent for the three nations. Hong Kong and Egypt exchanged a quick glance; fortunately they had expected the question as a possibility and were prepared.

"We," Hong Kong gestured between himself and Egypt, "have noticed that you seem unusually melancholy of late and have decided that you needed a vacation. Hence, we have arranged a trip for the three of us." Ok, so the plan they used to convince the other nation wasn't a terrific one if the expression of scepticism Matthew was sporting indicated anything but, sadly, it was the best and most realistic one they had been able to cobble together. The alternative was between 'I read around the world in 80 days and wanted to emulate it' or 'Gupta's jackal is lost, he was last seen in England, let's go find him'.

Suffice to say, if that was plan A, plan B would be most uncomfortable for any involved if needed to be deployed.

"Well, I guess I could, not like I have anyone visiting." Canada said a tad morosely. Hong Kong and Egypt brightened, the perfect opportunity had just presented itself for them and they were not planning on wasting it.

"Our point precisely. You should get out more, it couldn't possibly hurt. Besides, we'll be with you the entire time." Hong Kong reassured his brother stoically. Matthews's brow furrowed in contemplation but the pair before him knew his resolve was weakening; he just needed one last push.

"The plane carries real maple syrup." Egypt put in helpfully, though in his own slightly deeper monotone than Hong Kong's. That did it; Canada's face brightened and all traces of doubt vanished with it.

"Well, all right. Just let me reset my answering machine and pack some stuff." He said, smiling widely as he quickly moved further into the house to deal with said machine and gather some items for his journey. Gupta and Hong Kong stood there silently for a few moments until they were sure that he was gone before speaking.

"That went well." Hong Kong said in his monotone.

Nod.

"Do you think anyone will try to contact him while were gone?"

Shrug.

"I did an excellent job of convincing him." Hong Kong stated. Though no pride was evident in his inflection, Egypt knew it was there nevertheless.

"I sealed the deal." Egypt stated firmly. Hong Kong glared at his rival, who returned it with equal strength, both forgetting that their intent was to work together for the time being.

"Um, Hong Kong, Egypt. Do either of you know where all my pants went?" Canada shouted from upstairs or at least for him as it came out as though he was merely speaking in a normal tone, in order to garner the attention of the two stoic nations waiting in the hall though he was quite embarrassed to ask. Hong Kong and Egypt glanced in the direction of the voice, and then exchanged a look. Egypt quickly turned about and swiftly strode towards the hall closet.

Plan B was no longer necessary anyway.

()()()

"S-so, here we are, I guess." Canada said timidly, staring at the large stairway leading to the plane as though it was a tongue that led to the gullet of a ravenous ocean beast waiting to devour him.

He was wearing the god awful Hawaiian shirt with the pineapples on it he had bought for tropical locales he occasionally frequented such as when visiting Cuba. Egypt had reluctantly returned it to him, even though he had offered the pair of robes the Canadian had purchased when he had visited Egypt. Both Hong Kong and Egypt wore their habitual dress of red shirt and black pants and white robes respectively as the heat they were currently subjected to be nothing compared to what they were used to.

Matthew ever so slowly started to take a step back when two arms flanked him, clamping his arms to his sides and quick marching him forward towards the entrance of the plane, ignoring the fact that the Canadian was dragging his feet somewhat, the passive aggressive thing they supposed. They finally reached the entrance and propelled the Canadian inside before a stewardess closed the entranceway with a resounding clang.

Still holding the Canadian, they marched towards a trio of seats on the private plane, dropping the Canadian into the on in the middle and sitting on either side of the northern nation. Matthew fidgeted nervously in his chair, wondering if maybe he had been a bit rash in accepting the offer of the two stoic nations. Then again, he was only going to Cuba, Iceland then England after all.

What's the worst that could happen?

()()()

Brrrring,

Brrrring,

brrrring,

Click.

"H-hi, this is Matthew Williams, or Canada. I've gone on a trip to England with a stopover in Cuba and Iceland with Egypt and Hong Kong so leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Beep.

"Oh my god, Mattie say it isn't so! You went on a trip without me, your favourite twin brother? And with a communist going to another communists country? Don't worry, I'll save you. Just hang in there, the hero is on his way."

Beep.

So, here it is. I had been planning this fic for awhile and finally feel confident in writing it out and submitting it. I haven't decided on all the pairings yet, but I do have some in mind for Canada but nothing is decided definitively yet (aside from having neither Egypt nor Hong Kong with Canada).

I'm writing this after finishing my other fic, Brothers found, and that is kind of a prequel. You don't have to read it to understand the story but some of the things I mention in here will make some more sense if you read it.

Just to get this out of the way now, I don't own Hetalia, the characters but I do own the plot. This statement holds true for the rest of the story.

Anyway, please Review, I would like to know your opinions regarding this idea and whether you think I need to change anything.