To Love A Monster

Ch. 8 A Promise

Japan was feeling just as bad the next day but had forced himself to at least sit at the table across from Britain, who was enjoying a nice cup of breakfast tea. Japan couldn't stomach anything at the moment but he watched the blond man closely. Britain didn't enjoy being watched but managed to ignore him all the same.

"Why is Russia watching me so much?" Japan asked bluntly. Britain looked at the Asian man, his brows together in his usual, angry, expression.

"It's his job."

Well that was simple enough. No beating around the bush, no unnecessary explination, no reasoning behind it. Japan liked that in Britain, that Arthur didn't try to push his buttons or talk down to him. Britain had went back to reading the morning paper.

"It's his job to watch me in my own house?" Japan asked, really just trying to keep the eery silence of his house at bay. Britain looked at him, analyzing whether Japan was trying to push his buttons or not.

"Yes." He said sharply, "That's his job."

"Is it arso his job to pursue Hokkaido?" Japan asked, placing his head in his hand. Britain sighed.

"Why don't you ask him yourself? He's right here, watching your every move, trying to find out why you don't like him." Britain waved his hand as if dismissing him. Japan looked from Britain to Russia, who was standing right at the corner in the doorway.

"But why does he think I don't rike him?"

"Because you practically jammed your finger through his chest yesterday." Britain said, holding back a chuckle. "You have no army. Hell, you're not even allowed to have one, and you still push Russia's buttons like you could honestly take him on," Britain looked at Japan who smiled in spite of himself. Britain let out a single laugh and resumed his paper.

Japan stood, walking over to Russia who just stared at him. "Why are you watching me?" Japan said bluntly.

"Because," Russia smiled, like a little kid who knew he'd done something wrong, "It's my job."

"I know that." Japan snapped, Russia laughed. "But why in my own house? Why don't you just check on me every once in awhire?"

"Because, I want to be here if you have questions, da." Russia said, an honest look in his eyes, "You've lost months of your memory. You have to have questions that you need to ask."

Japan looked at Britain, who wasn't paying attention at all, and motioned for Russia to follow him out of the door.

"Do you have him?" Britain asked, Russia found it amazing that Britain could still see everything from behind a newspaper, Japan didn't stop walking.

"Da." Russia called back, following Japan closely.

After they had found their way out of the wreckage Japan began to speak, still walking away from the city. "Why am I so angry at America?"

Russia thought about it for a moment. "You have been fighting America, and practically only America, for awhile. Then he bombs your country. Twice. Destroys two cities full of people and walks around smiling like the idiot he is. I'd be angry at him too."

"He destroyed two cities?" Japan asked, looking at Russia who nodded in response. Japan looked back at the ground. "Which ones?"

"Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Russia said quickly, "You're lucky he didn't bomb Tokyo."

"Why didn't he?" Japan said, there was an angrier tone in his voice. Russia thought about it for a moment, he even stopped walking so he could focus.

"Probably because of the clouds," Russia surmised, continuing on the path behind Japan, "There were a lot of clouds."

"He's a demon." Japan snarled, kicking a large rock in his path. Suddenly, he felt weak. It was the sickness getting to him again, from the radiation, or something. "Why am I so sick?"

"Because you suffered through two atomic bombs." Russia said softly. He still felt bad about telling Japan to go to Nagasaki. Even though his plan was to keep Kiku from the second explosion, America had tricked him, or changed his mind, and Japan had experienced the second explosion anyway. Russia shook his head, wishing he could forget those memories.

"Wirr you take me to see them?" Japan asked, stopping and looking at Russia.

"You don't want to see those places." Russia said sternly. Japan shook his head, grabbing Russia's hand. Russia nearly flinched, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I need to see them." Japan said softly, a tear dancing its way down his face. "I need to see what America has done to me..."

Russia pulled the Asian man close to him, holding him close. Japan sobbed, for the first time, right into Russia's chest. Right into the man who had broken him before, but was making him stronger now. Russia stroked Japan's hair. It was surprising how gentle he could be, despite how menacing he was made out to be. How monstrous he was portrayed.

"I promise you that when you stop being so sick, I will take you to see those towns." Russia murmured, "Who knows, maybe you will remember what happened afterwards, da?"

Japan looked up at him, his chocolate eyes meeting Ivan's violet ones. "Do you think so?"

"Maybe. Who knows. But it's worth trying, da?" Russia smiled, he was practically beaming. Somehow, it made Japan feel better despite the sadness building in his heart. "You should be careful. You'll fall to the kyoudatsu condition if you're not careful..."

Japan held back a smile, "Why do you care about me so much, all of a sudden?"

Russia shrugged. "I really don't know."

This time Japan smiled. Letting go of Russia's hand, he lazily walked back to the house. Something warm and soft grew inside his chest. Almost painful, but not quite. He looked back at Russia as he entered his home, a smile burst back onto his face. Britain looked at him curiously, Japan blushed in embarrassment. He slammed the door in Russia's face, regaining his control of the situation. Britain sighed, setting down his paper on the table.

"Nothing, huh?" Britain sighed.

"Not a thing." Japan said, rushing into his room. Russia opened the door, holding his face.

"Guess it was your turn." Britain said, standing. "Did he get your nose?"

"It's not hard to miss..." Russia said, almost angrily, as he walked over to the sink to wash the blood from his hands. "I think he broke it." With one swift movement he popped his nose back into place.

"Well, that's what you get for following him so closely. A couple more bops to your face and you'll keep your distance." Britain said, taking the last sip of his tea.

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A/N:

The Kyoudatsu Condition refers to the nation-wide depression and lost of hope that, naturally, came after loosing the war.