Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia Axis Powers. Copyrights go to Hidekaz Himaruya.
Thank YamiHeart for this story's crazy-amazing premise. :) It is because of her that this fic is even in existence.
I'm totally abusing the line break things since itachi-is-here told me how to use 'em. Merci! 8D
As always, reviews = love. They keep me writing.
Enjoy!~

The Yowling Cat

Trial One: Illness.

An ominous quilt of battleship and heather-gray storm clouds conquered the fathomless azure sky behind it, dimming the sun's powerful dandelion rays from caressing the frigid earth below. Greece and Japan sprawled out against the yellow-green side of a lolling hill, one with his fingers laced and cupping the back of his head while the other's gloved hands remained folded against his stomach. Though the wintry outdoor temperature loomed just a few degrees above the freezing point, Greece only bundled up in a thin, cream-colored hoodie adorned with an onyx paw print in the middle of his chest. They both seemed to sit up simultaneously as Japan turned toward his easygoing friend, abyssal sienna eyes locking with Greece's rather striking chartreuse, seeing as how his light eye color directly contrasted the sunkissed tan that colored his skin and his dark hair. "Are you sure you are not cold, Greece-san?"

Greece nodded, though an abnormal shade of rose haunted his cheeks. "I'm sure. Though I wish it were warmer out here."

Japan nodded, his lips pressing into a firm line before he replied, "Hai, I miss the warm months. At least they are only a few weeks away... this winter has been the coldest that I can remember."

The shadow of a smile ghosted across Greece's lips before he turned away from Japan to cover his mouth, descending into a rather vicious coughing fit. Worry overtook Japan's features as he watched his friend, standing to take a few steps closer before crouching beside Greece's doubled-over form. As the coughing subsided, he asked quickly, "Greece-san, may I feel your forehead? That cough sounded painful."

Greece nodded as Japan's hand flitted to his forehead, pressing its back to the other's tanned skin. He noticed in passing that miniscule beads of tears had formed in the corners of Greece's eyes as the skin almost burned underneath his hand. "You have a fever. Come with me to my house, please. We need to get out of this cold weather."

Sliding an arm around Greece's chest, Japan stood with the taller country as he began to shuffle toward his home. Greece looped an arm around the shorter country and whispered his thanks, though he did not allow himself to lean onto one of his closest friends.

Pitch blackness engulfed Greece in the nowhere that he found himself. Something strong and textureless bound his wrists, shackling him to whatever it was that rubbed against his back: the fibers of his cotton t-shirt stuck to the surface, an odd scratching sound emitting from behind him with each movement he tried to make. He stood on firm ground, noticing that his ankles were not bound as he had initially expected. It didn't seem to matter where he looked or in which direction he whipped his head around: all that surrounded him seemed to be a comforter of unyielding, endless darkness.

A tiny sliver of light pierced the darkness abruptly, punctuated by a faint creaking sound as if someone had opened a door that was in dire need of having its hinges greased. Greece's verdant gaze affixed to the light as it grew, expanding across the floor until the whole of the room had alighted, albeit dimly. He took notice of the human-shaped obstruction that stood in the way of the light through the newly-opened door- something about that shape struck him as strangely familiar, the way the body wore its muscular frame, the height...

"Oho! So you've finally come to, eh?" The silhouette called before crossing the room toward Greece, a hand extending toward his chin to nudge his face upward, seeing as how the newcomer stood a few inches taller than him. His voice was clear yet deep, undoubtedly masculine in nature. "The first trial, your illness, is complete."

"Illness?" Greece tried to question, though his voice never met his ears and had yet to break the silence that pervaded between him and whoever it was that stood in front of him.

Somehow his company seemed to understand him though he certainly knew that no voice transmitted his inquiry. "You'll find out later on, maybe in a few days... if you can survive! It's too soon right now. 'Ey, Ja-! Come here, I need you for something!"

Greece's eyebrows knitted together, trying to understand exactly why he didn't seem to comprehend the name that his captor had called. His eyes abandoned the midnight person in front of him as someone else, much shorter than the first and wearing an outfit that seemed to billow behind them when they walked, came to stand in the doorway.

The sound of a distant television and shuffling papers met Greece as he stirred from the languid slumber that he had no recollection of falling into. He sat up, one arm extended behind him for support as he peered around the empty, Oriental-style room: he had lain under an orange kotatsu table, the thermal heat from its blanket still prevalent upon his skin. The air in the room was much colder than he had expected, its chill cascading through him with each breath he took. A neatly folded washcloth had tumbled off of his forehead and into his lap when he had changed positions; he scooped it up and placed it in front of him upon the table in which a steaming cup of tea awaited him. The television set and rustling papers that had greeted him did not seem to be within the room that he had awoken in. A hand flitted up to his head as his fingers carded through his straight hair before he adjusted to sit cross-legged upon a cushion, gingerly taking the cylindrical teacup into his hands. "Ah! You're awake. I'm glad," an eloquent, slightly accented voice met Greece from the doorway behind him as Japan strode into the room and took a seat across the table from his friend, dressed now in the informal, slate-and-navy blue yukata that he enjoyed wearing at home. "What happened, Greece-san? You never told me you were sick... you've been asleep for a few hours now, between bouts of vomiting."

"I didn't know that I was sick... or that I got sick for that manner," Greece explained, for once taking notice of the abnormal cloying taste that engulfed his taste buds as he paused to steal a sip of the tepid green tea in his cup in an attempt to cleanse his palette. "I'm sorry if I worried you. I didn't feel sick, though..."

Japan nodded, though concern still tightened his umber eyes. "You need to take better care of yourself. Maybe you didn't know because you spend so much time outside?"

Greece merely shrugged, though inexplicable rage boiled the blood coursing through his veins, shading the apples of his cheeks a slight rouge. Why does he talk about your habits in that tone? As if he looks down upon them? The voice from his dream seemed to emit from the heart of his mind, inwardly startling the Mediterranean country seeing as how he had no control over it. "It could be that. But I have gotten sick being outside before and had known that I was sick. This time seems to be the only exception."

Japan nodded once again. "I hope that you will be alright, Greece-san. Please make yourself at home here. Let me know if you get hungry and I will cook for you. I would like for you to stay here until you recover from what appears to be the flu... but if you don't want to, I understand."

Greece shook his head swiftly, draining half of his tea in one go. "I would like to stay here. Thank you for your hospitality, Japan. I'll have to return the favor somehow."

The charcoal-haired country stood then, a tropical smile upturning the corners of his mouth as he replied, "There is no need, but thank you. I need to attend to some paperwork I have left undone, if you will excuse me. I will be in my bedroom if you need me."

"I'll come find you if I need you, but I think I'll go back to sleep. I'm still tired," Greece remarked, finishing off his tea and placing his cup back onto the table in front of him.

He grasped at Japan's hand, peridot eyes contacting enigmatic chestnut as the shorter country paced beside him, fingertips fumbling against the back of his hand. Japan stopped and clutched Greece's hand, giving an affectionate squeeze before he let go and continued to the doorway. "Have a good rest, Greece-san," he murmured, stealing a glance over his shoulder at the tanned country as he crossed the threshold into the hallway.

"Thank you... Kiku."

To be continued.