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JapanxReader
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Chapter Two: Its Good To Hear Your Voice
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Staring out of your small window, you watched the snow that was falling outside. The pure white snow covering everything outside, making it a winter wonderland, sort of like the ones that one see's when they are children in the picture books that they make. Smiling you placed your hand on the window, your warm breath creating fog on the window, you felt compelled to draw a small heart on the window.

While drawing the heart, your thoughts were all of Kiku and Yao. Kiku…the mere thought of the kind man brought tears into your eyes, why, because it felt as if you should have just sided with your feelings and not with your country. You often found yourself signing a message to Kiku while talking with Yao, the Chinese man not looking to thrilled at all about being the messenger. But, nevertheless he always passed along your messages to Kiku, along with a small letter with his reply.

Which was the usual, 'I'm okay' or 'how are you doing?' or an 'are you feeling alright'? Kiku hasn't once asked if you'd like to return to Japan, or has he ever said 'yes' to coming to visit you. Leaving you to guess that Kiku hates you, the very though caused you pain. Maybe your choices in the past have caused Kiku to hate you…just a little bit. It would be nice if he would tell you if he hates you or not, it would make your fairly mute life easier.

Then again, Kiku has had six years to be angry with you. But…maybe this whole he may hate you thing may not be his own fault, after all it is a bit of your own fault as well. For you have not summoned the courage to ask Alfred if he would take you to go and visit Kiku, hell you didn't even have the courage to ask Yao if he would take you to see him, because if Kiku hates you, then Yao probably does as well, since their brothers and everything.

Casting those thoughts from your mind, you slapped your face a little bit; walking towards your closet you made a mad grab for a warm pair of clothes. Slipping a warm hat that Francis had given you, a scarf from Ivan, a pair of boots and gloves from Matthew, and knee high socks from Alfred, and a warm dress like outfit from Arthur.

Jogging down the stairs of Alfred's house from your room on the second floor, you jumped off the third stair from the bottom. Picking up the house phone, you started to call the first number in your mind. Which was Alfred's who else would you call it's not like anyone else lives here with you and Alfred. One ring, two ring…after the third ring Alfred's happy-go –lucky voice was heard.

"Yo~ what are you calling me for (y_n)? If you want to go out or something just text me and tell me where I can find you if I need to get to you quickly." Smiling you tapped your nail against the phones receiver to let Alfred know that's what you wanted and also that you were happy.
If you were in the same room with Alfred, then you would have been able to see that he was happy for guessing it right. Telling you to be careful, and to watch your surroundings since you tend to become a little bit spacey when you're out adventuring on your own, tapping the phones receiver again you let Alfred know that you would be okay, and he has no need to worry about you.

Because in the six years you've been away from Kiku, your small little state has grown very strong. Though your people are indeed stubborn, they are very loving and loyal to you. Which has helped the Allies out on more than one occasion, leaving the house, you made sure to lock it all up.

Walking away from the huge almost Victorian style home the designs made your mind wander back to when Alfred lived with Arthur, the living representation of The United Kingdom of Great Britain. You guessed that even though Alfred is now a free country, his living under Arthur's care for so long still has a bit of influence on him.  

Well, time to go and do some meandering around the winter wonderland that you are now calling your small little town. The stores and streets were packed, for the enjoyment of the holidays. Parents were able to get the day off to take their children to the parks, so they could enjoy the things that are only possible in winter. Seeing families spend time together like this always brings a smile to your face.

Meandering around here and there, being stopped by a few who do not know their ways around the town you were kind of forced to get help from others to tell the people what you were signing. A sigh of relief passed through your lips as you stood in the park, the sun had fallen a few hours ago, you called Alfred telling him that you wanted to stay out a little bit later to watch the city be light up at night, almost like a big Christmas tree.

Alfred said that it was okay, and asked what park you were in, (i_n) after telling him what park you were at he texted back, 'kay, make sure to stay right there' texting back that you would wait right here in this park. It was probably because he was going to pick you up after he was done with all of his work. But…alas your want to explore the area around you returned with a vengeance. Standing up from your place on the bench, you wandered around the park.

Walking towards the lake, you stared at your reflection, there's nothing special about you at all. You're just a normal plain faced person, but….you couldn't help but think back to how much love and affection Kiku showed you while he took care of you before Alfred was finally able to take you back home. Titling your head to the side, you tried to find something that made your face look like eye candy, but alas you couldn't find anything that you haven't already searched for. Francis said that you were perfect and beautiful the way you are.

But you highly doubted that, after all Francis is a bit of a pervert….but you love him all the same. He's a nice guy once you get around his extravagant personality. Sighing, you reached for a small pebble that happened to be nearby; taking it into your hand you tossed the small pebble into the lake watching the ripples that it created. You couldn't help but stare at the ripples created by the pebble, for such a small thing to create something so big…that alone has always amazed you.

You continued to throw pebbles into the lake, thinking about how you were kind of like a pebble in Kiku's life and him in yours. Staring at the ripples, you could have sworn that you'd seen something behind you, but you ignored it and continued to throw pebbles into the lake, then a voice said.

"Still throwing pebbles into a lake (y_n)? If I remember right, that's what you used to do to disturbed my koi fish was it not?" the familiarity of the voice caused you to freeze, another small handful of pebbles in your hand you slowly turned around and looked at the very person you've wanted to see for six years.

Standing up on your own two feet you could not believe what you were seeing. Was this all real? Were you dreaming? Did you fall into the lake, or hit your head this morning? Was everything you've done today a dream? If so…then please, please body, please do not wake up was all you could do, begging your mind to not wake up while Kiku was so close.

The Japanese man looked slightly confused, why had you not said anything to him. Why were you not firing off into you usual crazy frenzy of hand signs? Walking closer to you, Kiku reached for you, startling you causing your foot to loose its footing. Sliding down the hill into the lake, Kiku reached for your hand, wrapping your small, startled form in his body. Both of you underwater, Kiku pulled the both of you back up onto land, coughing a bit Kiku stared at you, while you did the same.

Laughter reached your ears, Kiku was laughing. Laughing from his heart…yes, yes this is how Kiku sounds when he's expressing his emotions. Reaching out to ruffle your hair with his hand, you jumped only slightly before your relaxed, enjoying the familiar warm comfort of his hand. You felt tears forming in your eyes, causing Kiku to worry as he reached to wipe those tears away.

"So….y….mis…ou." a broken and cracking voice emanated from your throat, causing Kiku to stare at you in wonder, from what Alfred had told him you were said to be permanently mute, yet here you are talking to him with your broken, and underused voice. Wrapping you up in a tight hug, Kiku rested his chin atop of your head as he said.

"I'm happy…to finally be able to see you again (y_n). I've waited a while for this moment…I wasn't sure when it would be best for me to see you again…so I waited until my country was stronger again; vowing that once my people were back on their feet, I would come and see you." Looking into your beautiful (e_c) orbs, glittering with tears he kissed you on the forehead as he mumbled.

"And I'm happy that I'm the first one to hear your voice after all this time." You couldn't help but force the next few words out of your mouth, ignoring the pain from the lack of using your voice over these past few years you managed to croak out the words that you've wanted to say the most.

"Lo..e…ou." Kiku stared at you, telling you that you didn't have to force yourself to speak, shaking your head no you signed that you wanted to say this.

"I..ve y…u."

"Love…o…."

"I love you…K-Kku!" finally after forcing your thoughts into words, Kiku stared at you in awe, a bit shocked by your words, he couldn't stop the smile on his face from growing even wider. Placing his lips next to your ears he mumbled.

"And I love you as well…(y_n)…I'm so happy to hear you say that." Placing a chaste kiss on your lips, you sent Kiku a warm smile, signing that you are happy to know that he feels the same way as well.

|Fin|