The Dark And Hollow Pastas

Chapter Seven

"Have you seen Papa France around since the Zombies started?" Canada asked as he hammered a nail into the side of the fence they were building.
"I haven't heard from France since the night of our last meeting." Britain admitted.
"Oh." Canada sighed.
"You sure do that a lot, don't you?"
"Do what?"
"Sigh."
Canada looked down at the hammer in his hands sombrely. "Yeah. It's just a habit, I guess." He shrugged. "So what was he doing? Papa, I mean."
"He was out drinking with the Bad Touch Trio and left a few alarming messages in my mobile." Britain's face turned red as he remembered the bloody frog's drunken voice slurring about how he was "In love with the Black Sheep of Europe."
"I sure hope they find their way here." Canada's voice was soft. Even for him.
"Me too." Britain put down his hammer and sat down on the stack of wood they had ready for the fence. "Come, sit down."
"Oh...Uh...Okay." The younger country dropped his tools next to the half finished fence and headed in the elder's direction.
The former empire noticed how the boy winced as he sat down.
"Are you hurt, Canada?" He asked.
"Oh...No. It's nothing."
"You were wincing just now." Britain insisted.
"Yeah, well, I cut myself on some chicken wire earlier."
"Is it bad?"
"No. No, it's fine."
"But you're a country. You should have healed by now."
"I...uh-"
"Wait a second."
Canada's face paled.
"Didn't you have a little pet bear?" England remembered a little kid always following Alfred around when he was younger. That could only be...
"Yes. Um...Kumajiro."
"Kumajiro. I remember now. You used to split your food with him and wouldn't let anybody touch him."
Canada nodded.
"So where is the little rascal?"
Canada's eyes widened and he pursed his lips. "Kuma is...Kuma's not with us anymore."
"Oh. I'm so sorry Canada. I had no idea."
"It's okay."
"Do you mind telling me what happened to him?"
Canada shook his head, tears escaping his eyes. "I'm going to lie down. Tell Germany to wake me up when it's my watch eh?"
Britain nodded and watched the country walk away, wondering what nerve he struck this time.