Pen Pals - Japan (Ch. 1)

You got Japan!

You pick up the red folder with 'Japan' written on it. You smile; Japan had always had a place in your heart. It had been very secluded so no one really knows when Japan was founded. You had been fascinated by their history, culture, and obviously their anime.

"Ah~ Japan! Good choice (Name)! It was blocked off from the rest of the world until the very First World War, so be careful to not mention any wars to your pen pal." Mr. Moe suggested, making you twitch.

'No offence Mr. Moe, but the only offensive thing I would of asked my pan pal would be if he were a ninja. Which would be awesome~!' You slightly laugh at yourself as you walk back to your desk. Once you're situated you open the folder and begin to read.

'So~ His name is Kiku Honda, which he would write it Honda Kiku. Really Mr. Moe? I already knew that. He likes green tea, drawing/writing manga, small animals, Sakura trees, and training with his katana. Katana?! So he can be a ninja after all! I knew it.'

You smirk, nodding your head, only to stop when a hand slaps it. You sigh, knowing who did it. You turn, seeing your best friend, Nikolai, staring at you. You stare back, only slightly petrified by his stare. You've grown slightly immune to it, having been his friend since he moved from Belarus in middle school.

"Yes Nikolai? Something you need?" You asked, watching as he slowly nods, extending his hand.

"Let me see your pen pal's folder." He demanded, glaring slightly at you. You turn around and pick it up, noticing you were finished reading it, handing it to Nikolai, who immediately begins scanning it.

You face forward again, used to his antics, and grab a piece of paper from your (Color) binder. You hear Nikolai growl, making you feel worried. He's always been protective of you ever since you became his friend. You wouldn't put it past him that he would hurt your pen pal, regardless of the distance.

You turn your upper half to the side, looking at Nikolai from the corner of your eyes. He hands you back the folder, not breathing a word to you. As if he's contemplating something. Turning around yet again you begin to write to Kiku.

'Dear Kiku,
My name is (Name) (Last Name). I come from (Place), but am living in America for the time being. My parents had said the schooling was better here but, I don't really think so. Anyway, I had chosen your country out of the others because I absolutely love Japan! Everything about it is so fascinating, especially your language. Although Kanji was quite hard to grasp I think I've gotten the hang of it. Just don't ask me to write anything in Kanji… It looks like a 2 year old had done it, very pathetic... But back to something interesting, I like watching Anime, cooking sweets, reading classic books, drinking hot tea, and playing with my dog, she's a long coated Akita, all black with only one exception, a white mask. I had named her Kage, which you know means shadow in Japanese, since she was mostly black and is a Japanese breed. Do you have any pets? I guess you would since you love small animals. Oh! I have to turn this in now. Well, I hope you're having a good day Kiku~!
                   
                                                                                                                          Sincerely Yours: (Name) (Last Name)'

You hand the letter to Mr. Moe, who cheerfully takes it and moves onto Nikolai's while singing some love song.

You laugh at your teachers antics and begin to place everything in your bag, including the red folder with Kiku's introduction. You stand as the bell rings, signaling the end of the school day. You gasp and move to the wall as kids begin to run out of the class like rampaging elephants.

"(Name), are you okay?" You open your eyes, watching as Nikolai walks towards you, his face still void of emotion although his eyes show a hint of concern.

"Uh, yeah, I think so, teens are just very anxious to get away from the school." You nervously laugh, rubbing your arm.

Nikolai examines you, making sure you're not hurt in any way. He nods, finding nothing before grabbing your hand and dragging you out the door.

Your surprised look fades into one of comfort, knowing he's just overly protective of you and doesn't want to lose you in the crowd.

He takes you to the parking lot of the school and lets go of your hand. After unlocking his black 2012 Camaro ZL1 he had gotten for his birthday, he opens your door and closes it behind you.

You smile as you see him take his time to get to the driver's side. After placing both yours and his backpacks in the back seat, he starts the engine and races off to your house.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~Le Time Skip~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Since you two happened to live right next to each other, he parks in his drive way and decides he's going to stay the night at your house.

Once you two get inside your greeted by your mother, who's taking some cupcakes out of the oven. "Hello (Name)! Hello Nikolai! How was school today?" She places the cupcakes on the counter beside the stove.

"It was fine mom; in English we had started writing to our new pen pals." You smile and get two (Fav/Drink)'s out of the fridge, handing one to Nikolai.

"Really?! That's great! Who'd you get?" Your mother spins around, facing you and reaches forward, grabbing your hands.

"Oh, well, I had gotten a boy from Japan. His name is Kiku." You explained, looking at your mother quizzically, wondering what she was going to say.

"Ah~ That's nice. Have I ever told you that's how your father and I had met?" She asks, making Nikolai choke on his drink.

"(Name), I refuse for you to talk to Kiku anymore." He glares at you, dead serious. You sigh, turning to your mother and smiling.

"Mom, Nikolai and I are going to my room to study, okay?" She nods, going back to her previous task of baking the cupcakes. You grab Nikolai's hand and bring him to your room.

Once there, you grab his backpack and place his on the floor beside your desk, carelessly dropping yours next to his.

"Nikolai-" you start only to be interrupted by him. "No (Name). I am serious. You will not be allowed to talk to this Kiku. You are to marry me."

You sigh, walking up to your Belarusian friend. You place your hands around his neck, laying your head on his chest. You feel his arms wrap around your waist.

"Nikolai, just because something happened to my parents does not mean it will happen to me. You know I would never abandon you like that." You close your eyes, listening to his heartbeat.

"You're my best friend; you know how I feel about marriage right now. Besides I haven't really talked to Kiku yet. I've just sent him a letter. Who knows, maybe it'll fall out into the ocean, never to be found." You look up at him, seeing his eyes closed in thought.

You smile, moving a hand to brush his fringe out of his face. He slowly opens his eyes, gazing at you with an unknown emotion in them. He leans down and presses his forehead against yours.

"I'm sorry (Name). I just don't want to lose you." He closes his eyes, hugging you closer to him. You look at him, sympathy in your eyes.

"I know Nikolai, I know. I would never think about leaving you." You were told 2 years ago about what had happened to Nikolai's family. His parents were killed in a massacre, leaving him with his two older brothers, Ivan and Yuri.

Since they were all so young, Yuri had decided to move in with their aunt who had lived in America. Because of what had happened, Nikolai was very hesitant to get close to somebody ever again.

For some reason, you had been able to make him feel happy, granted he's never really smiled before, but you could see it in his eyes. And that's all you needed.

Ever since then, you vowed you would never leave Nikolai's side, knowing it would tear him apart. To get close to somebody, much less a girl was a miracle.

Yuri had told you the story, warning you not to feel threatened by him and what he does. He's just overly protective of things now, afraid to lose them again.

"(Name), Nikolai~! Cupcakes are ready~!" Gosh, you were going to strangle that woman…