I Have made changes in chapter 2-4. Those changes affect the event that will follow. If you are interested, check it out. I plan to finish this story! so, thank you for the support! If there is question for example the horrible typos, i would be glad to answer.

Cry in the Snow

By: Strange and curious things

Chapter 7: You Cannot Punch Ghosts

It was night when they arrived back to the hotel. All this running had tired the nations. They were assigned one room which they would share for discretion purposes. It was a room with a single bed, so Alasie simply pushed the bed to the side and placed the sleeping bags in a circle shape. It was a cozy atmosphere, the hotel room smelled like lavender and the floor was a carpet so it at the least it wouldn't be too bad for their back the next morning.

Alasie had left with her brother to the public bathroom down the hall from their room. Leaving the countries to prepare for bed in semi-privacy. None were thrilled to be grouped together in such small space but, the way Alasie had taken care of placing the mats made the simple action seem almost personal and familiar. They did not have the heart to complain. So, they were seven grown men bumbling about and occasionally bumping into one another as they changed to their pajamas and brushed their teeth.

"Only a beautiful lady can convince me to share a room with men, not that I have any problems with men, of course."

"Francis, there is no chance I would sleep in the same room as you besides in a strict platonic situation." Said Alfred his mouth full of toothpaste.

"Don't talk your mouth full, Alfred." Scolded Arthur as he folded his clothes.

"Well, Alfred I am sure many ladies would jump at the chance to touch that body of yours" teased Francis.

"You mean that pudgy belly. Get out, who want to see that." Snorted China, as he brushed his hair.

"Hey! I know what you're saying there!"

"Because you are meant to. Eating burgers and drinking soda will not help you Alfred. How many times do I have to remind you?" the English man. Added as he passed across the room to put his day clothes back in his suitcase.

"Anyway, I would like to bring back the issue we were discussing earlier at the restaurant before our hosts come back." Ludwig crossed his arms as he spoke to the other nations, creating a sense of authority.

"We have gathered that Alasie plans to bring us to her homeland." Said Kiku

"You mean Yukon; the land in the far north of Canada." Wondered Francis "isn't this area barren? As I remember it only contained ice and snow. I wonder why they would bring us there."

"You think they would bring us there to eliminate us" question Yao "in the past nations like us have gone directly gone against one another but even then, our death can only be possible if our people and overall culture were to disappear. As long as we have one person with our flag we will live. It is common knowledge."

They all nodded.

"Alasie said that we would help Mattie." Said Alfred, ready to defend his brother. "Plus, weren't you there when she started a deep monologue about how dangerous the world can be whatever the country is? I mean if that isn't looking after our safety, I don't know what else it could be."

"But that is what we worry about Alfred-san." the Japanese man tried reason knowing full well how his American ally could be stubborn. "Those provinces keep warning us of danger when they know well, we have lived long enough to know how to defend ourselves. Secondly, do you remember when we were met Daniel? He said that he could feel us coming through the borders which is plausible, but he could not have known exactly where we would be in his territory."

"Which would mean that Canada must have had an eye on us for a while." Supplied the German, "Also, these points are enforced by the fact in a matter of hours they were able to convince our governments and layout a plan in which they refuse to reveal to us."

"You guys sure prepared your argument in advance," sighed Alfred. Even if he wanted to, it was hard to deny the evidence that had been put down. The young man wanted to believe that his brother had nothing to do with all this suspicion, but those provinces were part of him. They were not other parts of him, but him separated into pieces. Like a machine that needs gears to function, Alasie and her siblings made Mathew and the latter being the result of all of them combined. Alfred could relate, he himself had smaller personifications of his country, all fifty states. They were part of him, without them it would feel like a leg was missing. There was also a catch in this system since these kinds of personifications was part of the main nation, they can get greatly influenced by it. It took great effort to impose such influence, and the greater gravity of the influence the harder it is. Example, once he had craved a burger after months of fighting along with his men and accidentally this desire affected his states back home. This incident resulted in his states to also crave burgers and tantrums by the less mature of the states which had to be managed by governmental staff/ babysitters.

"Excuse us, Alfred-san. We know that you, Francis-san and Arthur-san has a particular bond with Mathew-san but this situation is becoming quite strange.

"If that is true then what do you suggest we do?" asked the Brit.

"Arthur! Do you really think Mathieu could do this?" exclaimed the French man.

"This is not about Mathew you idiot! This is about politics. We already know Canada's government is compromised and if we don't do anything it will affect the rest of the world. Isn't this why we're here to start with?" wild forest eyes glared at the sky-blue irises, challenging him to put him in the wrong. In return, the sky closed, and the shorter blond threw his head away, crossing his arms.

"Such suspicions in the center of a family, this would not happen if everyone would join Mother Russia" crept in a voice from behind.

"Don't get started about family you communist!" glared Alfred, an eye involuntarily twitched "it's been hundreds of years since we have stopped being a family. So, don't even think your little world domination plan will change anything!"

For a moment, it was like the window had been opened and the freezing wind had made itself home.

"Why don't we ask Mathew directly?" said softly Feliciano. How he hated those times when his friends became so serious that even the colours seem to fade. "Maybe he will tell us what is happening."

The room looked at the Feliciano and mentally hit themselves to not have thought of that before.

"That is a good idea Feli" praised Ludwig and patted his longtime friend on the shoulder. The Italian slightly blushed at the comment.

"I'll do it!" announced Alfred seeming to have recovered from the awkward atmosphere. He ran across the room to his suitcase and grabbed his phone.

Then suddenly, before Alfred could look through his contact list, a familiar voice could be heard outside in the hallway. A creaking sound sounded like an old green door opened for the first time in ages.

"Liar"

"W-w-what was that?" stuttered Alfred "don't tell me it's a ghost!"

"I think it's a ghost." Supplied the Russian. From behind making his rival jump.

"Not helping Ivan," scolded Yao" it is probably child trying to prank his neighboring rooms."

"You're finally home …!"

"Ok, now this is weird." Frowned Arthur as he took a step towards the door, but a hand stopped him.

"Arty you can't go. There is no way to hit a ghost, we won't be able to save you is they kidnap you."

"Don't be silly Alfred. Ghosts don't exist." His voiced soften as he said this too familiar phrase. For a moment he found himself back in the 17th century, in that old wooden house which creaked when the wind complained. He would be working at his oaken desk until a small child would rush from the shadows and into his laps, seeking comfort from him.

"Let's just check it out and get this over with." Declared Ludwig. He grabbed the doorknob and turned it. He felt seven sets of eyes behind his back as he slowly opened the door.

Behind the door was a living room. The nations had to rub their eyes before even thinking of believing what was in front of them. Instead of a hallway was a cozy living room with a crackling fireplace at the end of the room. There, sitting on the various cushioned seats were two children, a boy and a girl. They seemed to be waiting patiently, hands on their laps, for something or someone.

"What the hell is that!" exclaimed Alfred, "dudes, this is totally like 'A Night Before Christmas' story."

"Shut up Alfred!" the rest of his allies hushed him. Even then the children did not seem to hear them.

Before them,the scene continued.

"Didn't he say he would be back soon?" said a familiar girl with feathers in her hair.

"Yeah, but with the snow, it's not a surprise he is late" answered a familiar boy with square glasses.

"I hope he is ok"

"I wouldn't worry, Winter would never hurt him at least not directly."

To that, the sound of a door opening could be heard. Both children turned their head toward the creaking.

"I'm home!" called out a voice

"Mathew!"

The group's eyes widened as before them, entered Mathew. He is the nation of Canada and the whole reason why they were here. It was like it had been years since they had seen him. His strawberry blond hair was blown in all directions from the wind, his lips were curled in the happiest of smiles, and his lavender eyes twinkled as he looked at the children who had run to greet him.

The watchers, somewhat understanding what was happening, concluded that if Mathew was there this meant that these children were his provinces. Namely, Daniel and Alasie.

"Welcome home!' they cried as the nation put his bag aside and gathered them in his arms. Behind him, a small-sized polar bear trudged inside and closed the door before scratching his master's legs, calling for food.

Mathew laughed. "Not that I am not happy to see you mes amours but, it is late. You should be in bed."

"And you were gone much longer than you said you would." Reprimanded little Daniel while still clinging to the eldest.

"Liar." Added Alasie as she held onto to his shoulder.

"I am sorry I made you worry. The General was being difficult this time. He even threatened the Prime Minister."

"You should have just let him have his fun, Mathieu. You don't even like the Prime Minister." Said little Daniel

"True. I may not like him as Mathieu but as Canada, I am loyal as a dog. Now to bed with you two."

"Did you see the queen Mathieu," Asked little Alasie as she yawned.

"No, not this time, love. But, when I do, I'll make sure to tell her about you and how you dream to dance for her."

"promise"

"Promise, now to bed."

"Will you sing us your lullaby?"

"Of course."

The scene faded out with a soft voice humming a gentle tune.

"No one can deny that ghost doesn't exist because that was proof," said Alfred breaking the moment of shock that had captured the nations.

"It would be proof if that apparition had been of dead people. but that was not the case." Observed Arthur.

"It seemed to have been a memory. It was Alasie-chan and Daniel-kun but much younger." Added Kiku." Even Mathew-san looks slightly younger."

"I think people are forgetting that us seeing whatever that was, it is not normal." Commented Alfred

"This isn't as abnormal as you would think. If my assumptions are right, I can say that it is not the first time I have seen such apparition." Said Yao. Being old had its perks. He had lived through many things which helped him in managing certain unstable situations. After all, history repeated itself.

"Really what was it then?"

"I wouldn't want to say so too quickly. If ever it is what I am thinking. Then, it is better if it was based on facts."

"Should we be worried?" asked the German.

"Worried about what?"

Alasie and her brother had come back from the bathroom. Their entrance had the group jump. How they made the sound of a creaking door undetectable was a mystery.

"Is everyone ready for bed?" She asked the group.

"Yeah, totally. Right dudes." They all nodded while stealing glances at each other. They would not address what they had seen. At the least, not this soon. The nation had to know what the provinces were hiding, and these memories could very well be the key to solving the problem at hand.

End.