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chapter 2

~flashback~

The fierce flurries of snow bit and nipped on Russia's pale skin. Numbed by the cold and the repetitive trudging through the thick carpet of snow, his muscular legs seemed to move unconsciously against the lashing wind. Despite being the victim of the most violent beatings this season had to offer, he still wore a permanent smile proudly on his face.

He was physically (and maybe emotionally) numb.

Until, of course, he laid his eyes upon the curled-up figure partially buried in pure white snow, with a fresh trail of footprints leading up to him. His face was concealed by his fine, black gloves and lustrous blonde hair that seemed to cling onto his scalp for dear life against the unforgiving wind. He was neatly folded over his crouching legs, quaking beneath the confused thoughts that swam around his head like a school of tuna.

He seems vaguely familiar... hopefully I won't scare him if I walk over there...

He smiled gleefully as if he saw the summer sun emerge from the thick gray clouds that painted the sky.
Maybe he'll become my friend..!

His lilac eyes sparkling with blinding optimism, he trudged over to the shivering figure, his bright smile still prominent on his face.

A sudden pressure planted on Canada's shoulder, tugging him out of his disorganized thoughts.

"Exuse me, do I know you?" Questioned the prodigious man, who was knelt mere centimetres from him, speaking in his resplendent russian accent.

Failing to surmount his confusion and misdirection, Canada, still burying his face in the stiff leather of his gloves, simply chimed a small hum, indicating that he couldn't hear the concerned russian man facing him.

His glossy blue eyes snapped open in surprise as his shivering hands where prized away from his flushed red face,revealing Russia's features to him. Immediately, the startled Canadian examined his face: from the seas of magnificent purple within his childish-looking eyes, the flawless, surprisingly pale skin that perfectly accentuated the vivid colour of his lips, the youthful, honest smile...

"Um... are you alright there?"

Finally returning to reality, Canada resumed his normal, calm composure and politely replied with a simple,"I'm fine, thank you."

"That's a lie, isn't it?" Russia replied, only trying to receive Canada's genuine response, but ending up sounding curt, by accident.

Fortunately, Canada could tell that Russia wasn't really as callous as one could easily presume. He recognised him from the world meetings he attended so often, unbeknownst by the rest of the countries. Like a gost, he hovered around the sidelines, just watching the hubbub of the other, more vociferous countries, politely holding his tongue. But, from Canada's observations, Russia never seemed to fit the mould for the rest of the world, just like him. And this wasn't where the similarities ended.

From the first time Canada met him, he seemed to become more intrigued by his aesthetics, personality, culture and who knows what else; everything new discovered about him felt like finding buried treasure. But they where separated by a wall built by nervousness that Canada couldn't surmount. To make things worse, be wasn't even sure if Russia acknowledged his existence! But finally, after all these years, he sensed a glint of opportunity. A long awaited chance to speak to this enchanting, complex man.

"T-the thing is, I was trying to find the way to m-my hotel," Canada stuttered. Russia nodded earnestly, becoming him to continue,"a-and I lost kumajiro here be-because he wandered off th-the bus at the wrong s-s-stop..."

Russia smiled sweetly at said polar bear, who was currently kneading a mound of fresh snow near his master's side bashfully.

"I-I had to f-find a taxi to drive me back to where h-he hopped of t-the bus, a-a-and I found a trail of his f-footprints leading a-away from the city... w-when I found h-him, he was on t-this dirt track p-pretty far away from all th-the buildings," his former serenity was forgotten as he began to loose his composure once again,"and I just followed it, and then the storm hit, and then, a-and-"

"Calm down, Canada, please," spoke a soothing, vigorously accentuated voice, like a net fishing him out of a spiral of negativity.

Wait, he knows my name?

In an attempt to calm him down, Russia began to rub Canada's back reassuringly,"Since you can't find your hotel, you can always stay with me, my home isn't too far from here, too."

Russia's warm breath still lingered on Canada's face as the blonde' s inner monologue went into a worrying frenzy.
Is he trying to insinuate something? What if he tries to rob me? Or kill me? What if I never make it out of there alive?

"Sure, if that's not too much trouble," Oh maple, there's no getting out of it now!

Despite his apparent compatibility with him, Russia never failed to intimidate him sometimes.

Russia, pleased that they had reached a consensus, displayed his trademark, closed-eyes smile, finally managing to make the quiet Canadian grin with him.

Amiably offering his hand out to him, Russia stated, "I don't think we've been properly introduced," he beamed, "you can call me Russia!"

"I'm Canada, p-pleased to meet you," he replied, ignoring his forgetful pet's call of 'who are you?', and using the kind- hearted russian' s assistance to help him onto his feet.

Reassured that Russia wasn't a serial killer, Canada twisted around to brush some clusters of snow off his trousers whilst he mumbled, "so which way is it to your house, Mr. Russia? Mr. Russia, where did you go?"

But his words where swallowed by the relentless wind, his newfound companion gone, as if he never existed in the first place.

A once concealed feeling pricked at his heart, then spread around him like the blood in his veins, whispering to him, reminding him of the solitude he faced once again in the strident blizzard enveloping him.
Could he have been a dream? A hallucination, perhaps...?

"Who are you?" Kumajiro piped up.

"I-I'm Canada..."