Eyes of an examerican[remake]

chapter 18

"Wh- what do you mean he's dead? You're Alfred... right?" Canada asks, reaching forward to make sure that this man in front of him his real but the illusion stands and backs away.

"No, he was alive... But not all the time..." He mumbles. Suddenly the not-Alfred stiffens and his eyes lose what's left of their focus.

"A-Alfred?" Canada, but now he's Matthew, cries, once again trying to touch the illusion that was but wasn't his former brother.

To his surprise he is held back, and to his shock it's China's arm that blocks his path.

"China? What are you-"

"Watch."

The command his simple and the eyes hold the uncountable years of wisdom so he obeys despite the emotional turmoil inside him. He watches as his former brother's stature shortens and his hair darkens to chocolaty brown and his eyes become hazel. And suddenly the illusion isn't his brother any more.

The new boy's face is a happy one, so different from the vacancy his previous form carried.

"Hello, Misters!" This new boy speaks cheerfully in a slight, indefinable accent, evidently unaware of the moroseness in the atmosphere, "You all do seem familiar, have we ever met before?"

China locks eyes with Germany and a strange understanding passes between them.

"Alfred, I'm your-" Canada is cut off by Germany who quickly and almost roughly pulls him aside while China answers.

"No, I do not believe we have met. What's your name, boy?" China questions in a soft and friendly voice, kneeling to the boy's level.

"My name is Dexter Valdov, sir! May I ask yours?" The boy, Dexter he calls himself, grins at China.

China smiles softly back, a look of understanding on his face, "I see, my name is Wang Yao, Dexter, or rather Yao Wang in you Western tongue. This is my brother Kiku and my... friends... Matthew, Arthur, Ludwig, Feliciano, and Francis. Do they sound familiar to you?"

The boy smiles apologetically, shaking his head, "I am very sorry Mr. Yao, I don't think recognize any of you, actually. I had thought so for a second."

"Alfred- what do you-"

"Lad, don't you-"

Matthew and England are cut off by Ger- Ludwig and Francis respectively. For the moment they are all human, but that holds little meaning to a country. Yet they are not countries for this moment in time.

"Let Yao speak," Kiku casts them a sidelong glance.

"How strange," Yao continues as if nothing had happened, "I seem to remember you from some time ago. Do you live around here, Dexter?"

Dexter shakes his head, "I'm from Nevada, or rather the Nevadian Province. We could not have met before, sir. Excuse me, but I have to see Mr. Robert very soon. It was nice meeting you, Misters!"

"It was indeed," Yao's look become distant as he already fades from the conversation.

Dexter salutes Boy Scout style to the true nations before running off. Matthew and Arthur are forcibly restrained by Francis and Ludwig. Only after the boy is out of sight do they release the two other blonds. Matthew immediately spins around and punches Ludwig with all the force he could muster. Though not often used, the Canadian had formidable strength, as shown when the distinct cracking noise of the German's shoulder fills the silence left by the immortal and the shape shifter.

Now the immortal turns to the rest of the nations, focus returning to the old eyes, "You shouldn't have hit him."

"What?" Matthew sputters, rage flaring the violet eyes, "He- he- That was my- And you just-"