ENGAGED, FINALLY! [RoChu]

[China]

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Even though for he himself it was just a normal day, he still considered this day to be the holiest day of the year. Looking out the window as pure white flecks fell to penetrate the darkness of the night. This day...It was going to be made important, thinking it be the opportune time. Taking a deep breath, his hand clenching in his pocket. He knew what he wanted to do wasn't anything extravagent or anything...He...Wanted to keep everything simple and not condolude the actual moment.

ChugokuARU: Suddenly remembering what this day was supposed to be for the westerners, he finished up what he was currently doing (which was paperwork, as Christmas wasn't really a holiday he celebrated) and got up from the chair, stretching and yawning mightily as it had been a long day. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen the other all day. Thinking that he should at least greet the Russian, he went down the hallway and opened the familiar door to the office smally, peeking inside to see if he was in. "Ivan, aru? I just wanted to greet you a Merry Christmas, aru." He smiled sweetly, before venturing in and closing the door behind him quietly.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Hearing the door creaking open and closing, he took a quiet breath at the familiar voice filling his ears. "Ahh...Da, da o-of course. I don't necessarily celebrate Christmas though, my day for celebration is January seventh, though...I appreciate the sentiment." Turning to look over his shoulder at the other with a small smile, he felt his body give a tremble, fingers clutching all the more tightly at something in his pocket.

ChugokuARU: Head tilting to the side in question, he blinked a few times as he laughed sheepishly. "Is that so, aru? I thought all westerners celebrated Christmas on this day, aru... Well, I don't celebrate Christmas at all, so I wouldn't know, aru. But I'll keep it in mind, aru." He took a seat at the couch in the room, looking up at the other with a smile. "Hard at work today then, aru? I'm sorry I wasn't able to talk to you all day, I was doing my own work, aru." He didn't seem to have noticed the slight tremble the Russian gave.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Giving a dismissive wave in return, he turned around fully with a nervous chuckle of his own. "A-Ahhhh, I know you don't though it's good to know you got some of your work done, I really didn't get any of my own work finished, I had other things on my mind and...I'm....Rambling, aren't I?" He asked as a sheepish smile pulled at his lips, his free fingers lightly running along the fabric of his scarf.

ChugokuARU: Blinking even more, confused this time, he shook his head slowly as he raised a brow in question. "You're... not rambling, but I can tell that something's bothering you, aru." Frowning a bit, he moved over to the taller man and tiptoed to reach the other's forehead. "Are you sick or anything, aru? Or are you nervous about something, aru?"

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: "N-N-Niet there's nothing wr--I'm not si--..." Letting out a quiet sigh, he gently removed the other's hand from his forehead and brought it back down to his lips as his thumb brushed against his knuckles. planting a light kiss to the back of his hand. "I'm fine Yao, I can at the very least promise you that much. I must ask you however, you do realize how much I love and care about you...Da? I...Don't believe that I say it enough."

ChugokuARU: His cheeks flushing a light pink as his hand was kissed, he peered up at Russia with loving, but curious eyes. What was going on? Why the sudden... flood of sentiment? "Of course I do, and even if it is true that you don't /say/ it enough, you /show/ it more than enough, aru. Why, what's the matter, aru?" Inexplicably, butterflies are forming in his stomach at this very moment. What was happening here? Why was his own heartbeat getting faster?

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: "N-Nothing's the matter Yao, it's just..." He felt the nerves immediately rise up in his stomach, butterflies feeling as though they were flying upward from his stomach up to his throat as if in an effort to keep him from saying what he desperately wanted to say. The things that he had been wanting to say for close to a century. "I should say it more, as well as I know I should say it more. The truth of the matter is...There's only one way to show just how much that can say it louder than anything I could potentially do." His body was in a full tremble now, releasing his hand and cupping one side of Yao's cheek with the cool palm of his own hand.

ChugokuARU: Blinking up at Russia, even more confused this time, he could do nothing but stare in those sweet eyes that belonged to the person he loved the most, and he knew felt the same. Though... what was going on here? Why was he so nervous? He could feel the other's hand tremble as it touched his cheek, the touch cold against his warm cheeks. In a fairly unexpected move, he moved to hug the other romantically, his face buried in the taller man's chest as he hugged him tightly. "And in what possible way is that, aru? Whenever I'm in your presence, I always feel so spoiled and loved, aru." He giggled a bit as he moved to look up at the other, letting big, warm brown orbs meet sweet, loving violet ones.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Warm violet eyes stared back into the large brown ones that he loved so much, the gaze that he craved though not more so than the warm touch; the touch that promised a future. The touch that told him that he would never be left alone again, only promises of days and nights of pure companion and comradeship. Promises of pure love and devotion for now and forever. Removing his hand from his pocket and reaching behind his back, his own hands unclasped China's own and pulled them back infront of them, holding them tightly in his own. "You are spoiled and loved, I want nothing more than to continue to spoil you...To love you and continue to show how much for now and forever.""

ChugokuARU: Yes, he was basking in pure sentiment and love right now. China is high up in cloud nine at the moment, feeling pure bliss at this moment in time. However... he couldn't help but feel weirded out, though not in a bad way, at how much the Russian was showing AND saying his feelings. What was going on here? "Like I said... I won't be going anywhere, aru. I've lived for four thousand years, what's another thousand more, aru? But I know one thing for sure... Those next thousand years, if spent with you, will be much more joyful and desirable than the four thousand I've already spent in this world, aru." This he accented with a sweet smile, before he tiptoed and planted a short but loving kiss on the Russian's lips.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Rapid flutters immediately rose up in the pit of his stomach, his already pale cheeks flushing into a dark, burning red at his words. Feeling his eyes flutter closed for just a moment when he felt those sweet lips against his own, letting his words surround and take a moment to sink in. He wasn't sure if Yao realized just how much those words meant to him. Those words that he waited for so long to hear. Now...Now was the perfect time. Though first...He had one more question. "Yao...I must ask this now and please be honest. What are your true feelings for me? Please...Answer me truthfully." His voice was no louder than a whisper as he cupped the Asian's cheeks in his cool hands, forehead resting and nuzzling almost desperately against his own.

ChugokuARU: He looked straight at the Russian's eyes, confidently, surely, lovingly. He was basking in this moment of pure closeness to the other, moments that he truly cherished no matter how short or long they may be. As he felt the other's cool hands against his cheeks, and his forehead leaned against his, he dared not move an inch as he took a deep breath to answer, the straight gaze never breaking. "I raised you, aru. From the moment I found you, and the moments that I spent raising you from when you were a child, I've always held a special place in my heart for you, aru. And while it is true that we have gone through a rocky history, had a relationship that was almost destroyed, but thankfully brought back... And while I wish that I could bring back time and correct the wrong decisions I have made, in order to make decisions that wouldn't have jeopardized you, us... At the end of the day, I could ask for nothing more but to be with you, aru. And the fact that that wish is fulfilled in itself is my one and only joy in this world, aru. You ask me of my real feelings, aru? I love you, Ivan Braginski, always have... always will."

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Letting the words just surround him, he hung and clung onto each and every word as his own eyes stared back into the Asian's. Each word...Each and every one were what he had been wanting and waiting for so long to hear. Feeling a lone, warm tear fall from the corner of his eye and roll down his cheek, he leaned down to press a small, yet pure and sincere kiss against his lips. Removing his lips again, he leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "I regret so much...I regret ever hurting you like I have, nearly ruining the relationship that we had but have since regained. If I could go back and change it...I would faster than my own heart is beating right now. My only wish for so long was to hear from you those three words, those three special words that you have always shown through your actions but never said outloud. Even before I realized it...I felt as though I was drawn to you, it was a pull that I tried to get away from for fear that I would be...Hurt again like all the others. It felt as though it were all nothing more than a dream, one that I thought I would wake up to and you wouldn't be by my side. You've become my drug, one that I have always craved. One that I wish to continually be intoxicated by. I may have ripped your wings before, but...You've come back, you have stayed with me even through my darkest hours. For that, I must thank you...Nothing will ever be able to show you how much, save for one thing. I must ask you this now, Yao..." Reaching into his pocket carefully and removing a small red box from within, he held his love's hand in his free hand as he dropped down on one knee and opened the box with one finger and speaking in fumbled, shaking, and slightly broken Chinese. "Yao, will you marry me?"

ChugokuARU: For a brief moment, it seemed as though time stopped still, and they were the only ones moving in the room. Driven into pure shock for a few moments, China could do nothing but stare. Stare at Ivan, then at the small box, then at the ring inside, then back at Ivan. He was flabbergasted, in a pure 'is this really happening?!' state as his mind refused to work. He opened his mouth to say anything, but he couldn't. Really?! This was REALLY happening?! "I.... I...." What he couldn't believe, though, was that Ivan actually took the time to learn and ask him in Chinese, which completely blew his mind away, feeling the pure love that emanated from the effort of the Russian to at least learn how to ask him in his language. This was the moment he had been waiting for all this time, the moment that had finally come. And, in one swift moment, he burst into tears, warm, happy, elated tears, as he threw himself onto the Russian, clinging as if there was no tomorrow, shouting his answer for all the world to hear, in between tears. "DA! DA, ARU!" He laughed and cried at the same time, not believing that this moment... is real, and true, and that he was lucky enough to actually be experiencing it.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: He felt his whole body shaking as he stared up into those wide brown eyes, trembling violent as he waited for an answer. Did he...Did he say it wrong and offend him? Eyes immediately widened when the tears began to fall, heart sinking. He did, didn't he? Even when he himself was about to cry about a potential, heartbreaking rejection, he let out a loud yelp when Yao practically pounced on him to take him back to the floor; the box flying out of his hand, closing on the floor, and sliding underneath the nearby dresser. When the answer filled his ears, he honestly couldn't believe what he was hearing. "D-D-..." Unable to get out his sentence fully, his arms immediately wrapped tightly around his waist into a firm hug as tears rolled down his own cheeks. Sitting up slightly to take his lips in his own, his eyes squeezed shut. He...He couldn't believe it. If it was a dream...He never wanted to wake up.

ChugokuARU: Taken a bit aback by the kiss, more tears of happiness flowed down his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around the other's neck tighter, dipping in for the kiss. He pulled away after a few moments, though, laughing and crying still as he buried his face in Russia's neck, mumbling. "Ivan... you... you don't know how much I.. I'm just.. I'm so lucky... I'm so happy... You've made me the happiest man in the world right now, I'm so... I don't even..." He couldn't quite form coherent sentences yet as he tried to say how he felt about this occasion in between hiccups and laughs. But he couldn't, though. He was in a state of pure bliss, as if he was living in the most perfect world, and he could ask for nothing more. He giggled, though, as he realized that the ring had gotten under the dresser. Wiping his tears and composing himself a bit, he couldn't, however, find the heart to let go of the Russian just yet. "S-sorry for p-pouncing on you, aru... I made you lose the ring."

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Being taken slightly aback by the sudden, deep return of the kiss as arms slipped around his neck, he returned with a wreckless sense of abandon as the tears continued to fall from his cheeks. He couldn't remember the last time he was this happy, he had never in his life felt this strong, pure contentment. Pure, unadultered bliss. Head giving a small shake in return, he leaned up and gave a small nibble at the lobe of his ear before whispering with a shaky quietness. "Yao...You...You have no idea just how happy you have made me. You have truly made me the happiest man potentially in all of eternity, I...Never thought in my wildest dreams that you would say yes. Though I hope that this isn't nothing more than a dream....A-Ahhh? The ring's gone?"

ChugokuARU: Still potentially sitting on top of the other, he giggled as he finally got his full sense back, albeit with a little bit of hiccuping, still. "I can assure you that it isn't a dream, aru... Though, I /do/ need something on my finger to flaunt, aru." This he said with a teasing tone before getting off of him, standing up and dusting himself before holding out a hand to the other to assist him up. "I'm sure it's somewhere around here, aru. I remember seeing the box roll under that dresser over there, aru." He pointed to the dresser where the ring had rolled under, a smile seemingly permanently plastered on his face.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: D-Da...I think I need a little proof that this isn't a dream, I-I-I still c-can't believe-- You really--..." Deciding to cut himself from his train of thought at his words, he couldn't help the warm smile that pulled at his lips and the laugh that came along with it. Not taking his hand, he nodded and turned back around and crawled toward the dresser to reach under it despite it being a tight fit; hand fumbling for the velvety box.

ChugokuARU: "I assure you, it's not a dream, aru. Last time I checked, I am very tangible, aru." Giggling a bit, he moved over where the Russian had crawled and leaned over the back, trying to see if he could locate the box. "I don't see it, aru... Do you want me to try and grab it, aru?"

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Shaking his head no and giving a slight dismissive wave with his free hand, his smile remained ever present now. "Da...I hope that it isn't, I wouldn't be able to stand it if it wasn't. Nyet, I'll get it." Scooting forward even more, his fingers brushed against the box as his brow raised. "A-Ahhhh nearly have it."

ChugokuARU: He giggled even more as he pondered on how ridiculous this situation must have looked like: a Russian trying to reach under the deepest recesses of the dresser, while a Chinese stood by watching. "A-are you sure you don't want me to get it instead, aru? I don't want you getting stuck in there, aru." This he said in a joking, teasing tone, giggling even more as he said so.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Nodding in return with a soft chuckle of his own, he chewed on the inside of his cheek moreso out of frustration than anything as he reached. Finally getting a good grip on the box, his smile grew., "Ahh! Got i--!" He cut himself off when he tried to pull his arm from underneath the dresser, only to find that he was...Stuck.

ChugokuARU: "..." Staring at the Russian for a few moments in shock, he burst out laughing a few moments after as he realized the situation, almost rolling on the floor out of amusement as tears ran down his eyes. "Wh-what did I tell you, aru?!" He couldn't quite stop laughing, even when he wanted to, as he took one look at the stuck Russian, and laughed uncontrollably.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: "........." Despite the situation and the uncontrollable laughter from his now fiancee, he couldn't help but laugh himself. He knew how ridiculous he must have looked, struggling to pull his arm from underneath the low wood with his ass raised and wriggling as he tried to pull himself free. "Yao will you stop laughing like a madman and help me?"

ChugokuARU: Still laughing and giggling, he tried to contain himself, but one look at the Russian and he kept bursting into uncontrollable fits of laughter. "O-okay, j-just straighten..." He couldn't even quite contain his laughter enough to give the other instructions, but after a few long, grueling minutes, he took a deep breath and spat out instructions. "Straighten your legs out, and I'll try pulling you, aru. If that doesn't work, I'll... cut your arm off, aru." Of course, the last option was a joke, but he couldn't help but say it.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: "........" Rolling his eyes when the other continued with the uncontrollable fits of laughter, he laughed himself with a nod as he did as he was told and straightened out his legs. At his final comment, he looked back toward China with a coy grin. "Though if you do that, you know which hand is attached to this arm Yao."

ChugokuARU: "Oh, it's alright, aru. I'll still love you even if you were armless~" This he said in a singsong voice, though with a hint of seriousness to it, as he did really mean that statement. Grabbing both of his legs, he pulled as hard as he can. "Are you unstuck yet, aru?" He asked with some difficulty, though still managing to fit a little giggle here and there.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Feeling China grab and pull at his legs, he did what he could to help get himself out as he gave several firm shimmies as after several minutes of pulling, his arm pulled unstuck from under the dresser with his fingers clutching tightly at the box. "Ah, there we go...I...Looked pretty ridiculous, didn't I?" He asked with a nervous chuckle, pushing himself up as he spoke.

ChugokuARU: "..." Leaning down to plant a kiss on the other's nose, he sat down next to the other on the floor and cuddled. "Even if you did, that doesn't make me love you any less, aru. Now, are we going through the formalities~?" This he asked with a bright smile as he held out his hand to the other, obviously waiting for the ring.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Crossing his eyes when the tip of his nose was kissed, his lips curled into an usually bright smile as his arms wrapped around the Asian's waist for a brief second. Chuckling when his hand was held out in waiting for the one band that made everything official. Opening the box and removing the ring from the red velvet, turning it thoughtfully in his fingers for a moment. Taking his left hand in his own as his thumb ran along the line of his knuckles, he slid the ring onto his finger before bending down to give a small kiss to the stone inlay.

ChugokuARU: China could do nothing but stare at the simple splendor of the ring upon his finger. It was the perfect size, the perfect fit, and he was amused by the fact that the Russian seemed to know him too well. "It's... it's beautiful, aru." He whispered in a hushed voice, though the voice obviously emanated warmth and love. "I... feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world right now, aru. Thank you... for making my day amazing, like you always do, aru." He moved closer to the Russian and wrapped his arms around the other's neck, sighing in pure content and bliss.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Nodding slowly and giving a faint sigh out of relief at the very least that it fit, moreso that he liked it. Sliding his arms around his waist when he felt arms wrap around his neck, he gave a small nuzzle to the crook of his neck. "Yao, I don't believe that you have any idea how for the first time in my life...I am fully, completely content. You made that possible...I...Still don't understand how I can deserve someone like you."

ChugokuARU: Mumbling as he had his face buried in his fiancee's neck, he shook his head some. "Don't say that, aru. Never say that, and remove that thought from your mind, aru. You complete me, aru. Without you... I don't know how I can cope in this cruel world, aru. You're my one and only joy... You deserve me, and I deserve you." He pulled away a bit to look straight into the other's eyes, his own shining with pure emotion. "Da, aru?"

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Feeling his eyes fall closed at his words, he pulled him into a firm hug as if he never wanted to let go. As if none of this was real, mentally hoping and praying that it wasn't the case in the least. "Da...You're right." Speaking in a voice no louder than a whisper, his own cheek nuzzled into his. "You've..Always been that one who has been able to keep me together, the only one who has made me feel fully and truly complete. You're the only one that I've wanted for so long, it's almost unreal that I now truly do."

ChugokuARU: Chucking a bit, he let himself be hugged as he shook his head in mild amusement. "Well, you'd better get used to me, aru. I'll...be staying for a loooong while, and you might find that you won't like a few things about me, aru." This he said in a mild, affectionate teasing tone.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: "We will see Yao..." Chuckling quietly out of amusement of his own with a small shake of his head, rubbing gently at his lower back. "We will just have to get through it together somehow, da?"

ChugokuARU: "We will get through it together, aru. We will be together, for better or for worse." He was already quoting wedding vows as he giggled, before finally pulling away, albeit a bit reluctantly, and standing up from the floor. "Now... it would be best to get to bed, aru. We've... both got a lot of work to do tomorrow." He winced at the thought of deadlines and going back to paperwork. But he didn't really care, as he knew the Russian would be there to make enduring through it all totally worth it.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: "Wedding vows already?" He asked with a soft laugh, pushing himself up from the floor as well. He couldn't help but let out a quiet noise at the thought of paperwork and deadlines, they were tight enough as it is. "Da...We should, shouldn't we?"

ChugokuARU: "Yes, yes we should, aru." Letting out a little yawn, he rubbed at his eyes, feeling the sleep already coming on to him. He tiptoed to plant a small kiss on Russia's lips, before smiling widely. "Goodnight, and I love you, aru."

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: "You're coming with me." Bending down slightly and scooping China up into his arms with a soft hum, he walked out of the room toward the room that they both shared. "I love you too, I hope you realize just how much."

ChugokuARU: Letting out a little noise of surprise as he was scooped up, he instinctively clung to Russia's neck as he was scooped up. He'd been nothing but all smiles that evening as he giggled slightly. "Of course I do, aru."

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: "Da...Good..." He whispered mostly to himself, leaning forward slightly with half-lidded eyes as his lips brushed against his, just letting his feet follow the familiar path toward the bedroom. Once at the door, he pushed open the door with his foot and walked inside, pushing it closed again with his shoulder.

ChugokuARU: Yawning mightily now, he had ceased talking as he was too tired from doing paperwork all day, and worn out by the excitement as well. When they got into the bedroom, he was lulled to sleep by the comfortable way that Russia carried him as he fell completely asleep in the other's arms, snoring lightly with a smile on his face.

ISeeYouWhenYouSleep: Feeling the body going limp in his arms and glancing downward to see that he had fallen asleep in his arms, he gave a light shake of his head with a small chuckle. Walking up to the bed and laying the other down and tucking him in, he leaned down to press a light kiss to his forehead. "Good night, I love you..." Smiling gently, he straightened himself back up and walked back toward the door, flipping off the light switch.