What is... "Home?" (Hetalia Fanfic, W.A. '13 Finalist)

Chapter 82~!

Canada's POV~

"Oh, look! They've stopped to refill their supplies!" Kadi said, beckoning for me to join her by the pedestal. I walked over and looked down, seeing Rayn's ship beached on an island and all the crew busying themselves on the beach. It looked like the Captain was talking to someone, that someone being my girlfriend. Melina looked startled, and Rayn was looking at her like she was expecting an answer. Their mouths moved, but no sound came out.

"What are they saying?" I asked Aunt Kadi, who shrugged without looking away from the bowl.

"I couldn't tell you, I have no idea."

Melina's POV~

"J-Join your crew? Seriously?" I asked, and Rayn nodded. "But... why?"

"You are annoying, but also a bit... endearing, in a form of sorts, I suppose," Rayn admitted. "Besides, after we killed Baron, there's an empty spot onboard."

I shook my head quickly. "As much as I'd like to take up on your offer, I-I don't think I can. I have to go back home!"

"Forget home, lass! Just come aboard with us," Carvell said, showing strained cheeriness.

Rayn looked at him like he'd grown a third head. "What is wrong with your tone?"

"Just trying to be persuasive, Captain."

"Captain, I can't just forget about home. It's where I belong, after all," I said, glancing at the chibi countries that were gathered near each other as they watched the scene unfold. They couldn't have known what we were saying, but I would bet they could get the gist of it through our tones.

Rayn gave me a hard look. "Fine, but don't expect another offer. That was as generous as I'll ever be to you, girl."

~~~

Canada's POV~

"Y'know,  I have the strangest feeling that I should dress as a boy today," Kadi commented to herself from nearby.

I just looked at her. "Why?"

"I dunno..." Kadi admitted before going belowdeck for a moment. When she emerged, she got a few stares, to say the least.

"K-Kadi...? What happened to your... chest?" I stammered, surprised by the fact that she was now flat as a board and didn't have hips anymore.

"What? I just changed my appearance a bit with a glamour, that's all," Kadi replied, putting a cap on over her now boyishly short hair. Her voice was a tad deeper now, too.

"Where did it all go?" Alphonse asked, openly staring.

"I will hurt you, Alphonse," Kadi said warningly as she brushed past him and took her place by the helm.

"Aye, I know that, mon Captain," he said with a salute.

As she scanned the horizon, she did a doubletake and focused intently on a single spot in the ocean. Pulling out her spyglass, she put it up to her eye and gazed through it. I heard her curse under her breath in Basque before pocketing the visionary aide.

"Damn him, the Spanish bastard. That explains the feeling..."

"What's going on?" I asked her worriedly, standing on a couple steps up to the helm.

"Spain's coming this way," she reported with a sour look on her face.

"Eh?" was all I could say. "What's he doing here?"

"How should I know?"

"What are we going to do, then?"

"Not much, actually. He's my brother, he won't attack us."