Protecting Him

by Jaiyi

"You said he would be safe." It's the beginning of 1942, and the second world war rages on. In China, Yao struggles to find his sanity in the midst of both a war with Japan, and a civil war within himself. When he hears of Hong Kong's capture by Japan, he is enraged. And when his ally, England, joins the battle, Yao is ready to unleash his anger. Oneshot drabble.

It was all very clear - all the edges were as sharp as the shrapnel that showered on his soldiers in the war. A war not only against the Japanese, but also within his own country. He was disoriented and confused, but one thing was crystal clear: this was war.

Arthur was here? Oh, that bastard of an ally.

The moment Arthur stepped into Yao's office and closed the door behind him, Yao raced over, a knife in his hand, pressing its sharp edge into his ally's throat, knocking them backward into the door.

"How dare you let this happen. You said you would protect him. You said he would be safe." Yao hissed at his former enemy, pressing the knife harder, his other hand holding Arthur's shirt in a fist.

"How kind of you to place such faith in me," Arthur coolly replied, an eyebrow raised, unimpressed. "China, you are politically bound to be my ally. I suggest you lower your weapon."

"Only until this war is over." Yao lifted the pressure from the blade a slight bit, but traced its tip up to Arthur's chin. "If you do not free him, I will make sure you will regret it."

"What do you think? He is part of my empire. I will not allow leave him captured in such a manner. My troops are perfectly capable of taking on the Japanese." A mocking tone laced into Arthur's voice – As much as he was tired, he was nowhere as battered and weak as China. How pathetic.

Yao narrowed his eyes, but did not lift the knife anymore. Not even when he felt a gun being pressed against his head.

"Drop your weapon, China. We have a meeting to commence, and this is a terrible way of treating your guests, is it not?" Arthur drawled, his hand lazily holding onto the gun.

"Kill me a hundred times over, but I will still revive and come after you if you do not take Hong Kong back from Japan." Yao whispered his threat, allowing the knife to cut into Arthur's cheek before removing it, flinging some of the blood onto the floor. "Now that that is clear, why don't we start the meeting – I'm sure there are others waiting for us."

He pushed Arthur to the side, unafraid of the pistol still pointed at his head, and opened the door, slamming it behind him as he left his office.