This fic was inspired by a picture I had seen somewhere in the world wide web, but unfortunately, I can't link. I don't own Hetalia, or that pic.
Enjoy!
Spring
Spring is where new things begin. It is the season of Easter, when children would hand around Easter eggs as a symbol of starting anew and afresh. It is the season of new beginnings. Though the doors of times past close and seal their memories, new opportunities open up and second chances present themselves to us—even in ways which we do not see or those that take us completely by surprise.
The young man exhaustingly walked through the forest; it was his only way home. Today had not been particularly lenient on the man. His boss again scolded him for things that the man could not prevent and those which he had no hand in, but blame was put on him anyway.
This was the personification of China, or Zhongguo, as he was known back then. This era was known as the Warring States period, and it had certainly taken its toll on Yao. Some of his friends would call him by this human name.
"Aii-ya," Yao groaned, feeling the pain of the warring states upon his back. "When will they stop, aru? Have they not had enough of tearing at each other's throats and clawing at one another's faces" he complained to no one in particular, feeling another long scar forming on his already-wounded back. This is the way it is for national personifications—every revolution, every uprising and every bit of damage done by another country to the land would present themselves as inflictions on the personification's being.
"The peach blossoms are so beautiful, aru," Yao said to himself as he admired the flowers he passed by. "It must be spring already….but I wonder why it doesn't look like it, aru…" he wondered aloud.
He then saw a familiar landmark. "Just a few more steps, aru…And I'll finally be ho-"
His speech was stopped by a peculiar sight: a young boy, no older than three, was standing at a grove of thick bamboo stalks, face stoic but eyes betraying the feeling of fear.
Moved by the boy's appearance, Yao approached him and said, "Ni hao, aru~ I am China. You can call me Yao. It must have been very difficult for you to be born in such an area. If you want, you can come home with me, so you'll have a safe place to stay, aru. What's your name, by the way?"
The child looked at Yao with his expressionless brown eyes and said, "Hello, China-of-where-the-sun-sets. I am Japan, of-where-the-sun-rises. And yes, I would like to come with you…it is very cold here. Do you have food at your home?"
At the boy's introduction, Yao was shocked. "Such an impolite child, aru!"
As impolite as his greeting was, though, it was a start.