"Hey nii-san, let's go catch fish!"

The small boy dashed excitedly from the other side of the bamboo thicket. His wooden clogs were slightly bigger than his feet and made satisfying clanks with every step he took.

A long-robed east Asian man smiled and narrowed his eyes in amusement, "Slow down, little Kiku. Don't fall."

"But I'm so excited! Nii-san you finally came to visit!"

Kiku Honda finally came to a halt in front of Yao Wang. Yao extended his arms and enfolded the boy in a warm embrace.

"As long as you're a good boy, I'll come visit all the time," Yao Wang grinned as he rested a hand on the child's hair, gently patting, "Hey you've grown taller again!"

As Kiku Honda listened to his older brother's gentle and steady voice, he couldn't help but bury his face into Yao's long and elegant robes. As he took a deep breath, he smelled the familiar fragrance of peonies.

As long as my little Kiku is a good boy, I'll always come visit, he said.

He always kept his word.

After that, Yao would always slowly stride towards Kiku's home with his umbrella made of twisting and swivelling bamboo. Sometimes he would bring a long sash scarf made of smooth glistening silk, sometimes he might even bring a calligraphy brush for Kiku. He face was always dusted in a peaceful, gentle smile.

"Kiku, I made some rice cakes for you."

"Kiku, I'll teach you how to write."

Year after year.

"Kiku," he gazed at Honda who was dipping his toes into the refreshing water in the pond, and asked, "Why did you chop down all those bamboo on the way here?"

"Because I want to plant sakura trees." the delicate brows slightly knitted together,

"Letting them grow would only serve to get in my way, it's better to get rid of them."

Yao Wang caught a glimpse of a complicated flash in the other nation's onyx eyes. He wasn't sure of what that look meant, so he dismissed it with a bright smile.

"Perhaps you don't like what I have done, brother?" Kiku asked.

"…It's not that I don't like it, it's just—well, they're all suddenly chopped down, what's going to happen to all those bamboos?"

"I'll use what can be of use."

"What about those that you can't use?"

"I'll burn it." Kiku answered calmly.

With zenith comes the decline of a curse in the Japanese soul, the cruelty well concealed and hidden under the warm and mild mask. Only many years after, Yao Wang will be staggering in front of Kiku Honda, covered in his own gushing blood, regretting how he hadn't realized and fathomed out the hints of the sharp teeth bared at him.

In consequence, he'd be treated the same fate as the fallen bamboos.

"Nii-san, I dislike that man." Kiku was idly peeling at the bark of a flower tree.

"Hm? Who do you dislike, Kiku?"

Nails dug into the trunk of the tree, soft liquid came drizzling out, carrying a bitter yet sweet scent.

Kiku softly parted his lips, his eyes were like two pools of unreadable stagnant water.

"…Braginski."

Snap!

Yao accidentally snapped the twig he was toying with in half.

"…Kiku, what did you hear?"

"You won the battle, why did you still have to give territory to him?"

Yao did not answer.

"Why?" Kiku gripped the tree trunk, his voice distressed, "It was yours."

"Nii-san, you're being too good to him. What did he ever give you?"

What did he ever give you?

"Ivan, Kiku told me that I'm being too good to you." Yao said to the other man laying close to him.

Ivan Braginski paused for a moment, his violet eyes narrowing into a smile, "What do you think?"

"….I don't know," He sighed, putting a hand to his forehead, "I don't know, Ivan."

The Soviet Union lowered his head and kissed the other nation's neck, his warm breath tickling Yao's skin. He smelt so sweet.

"Is this really a good idea for us to be together?" Yao asked, trying to push the larger nation away.

Ivan just snuggled closer.

"Yao," the pale blonde man grumbled, "Focus more, I don't like it when you're always talking about someone else when you're with me."

With that, he gently nuzzled his face into the crook of Yao's neck.

"You're only allowed to think about me." he grunted, "Or else I'll get jealous, you know how I am. I'm a selfish person."

Yao just scoffed in response.

"Kiku is just a child, his words don't mean anything." Ivan whispered in Yao's ear.

Yao smiled, "Ivan, you're also just a child compared to me."

Ivan didn't argue, he just decided to kiss Yao, covering up all the words that he didn't want to hear.

The golden ornament carved into a beast stood attached to the side of the bed, glistening in the dim candle light. The worries that could never be told were left tangling into the warm mist of the night.

The smooth, white feet repeated a fine dainty motion with every step. The wooden clog slipped from one foot, and fell on the stone steps. Then, another person made his way towards the fallen shoe. He bent over, with one hand keeping his long sleeve in place, the other picking the shoe up. His lashes were a perfect curve as he looked down. He gently helped Kiku put his wooden clog back on his bare foot again.

"Wear your shoes properly, Kiku, we're going into autumn now. It's getting chilly." he gently chastised, and then tilted his body to sit on the stone slab. The stone was decorated with various thin lines of moss.

The red maples on the island country were swaying in such a scarlet hue, it was as if it was drawing blood from the earth.

Kiku Honda pursed his lips but didn't reply, he rolled on his tummy and rested his hand on Yao's legs, dark eyes narrowing playfully.

Yao raised a brow and suddenly laughed out loud.

"Kiku, it's been all these years, why haven't you grown up yet?" he joked.

The youth stayed silent, pretending to be asleep.

Yao gently combed his pale fingers into Kiku's pitch black hair, smoothing it with every stroke. The refreshing ocean breeze making their long sleeves flutter in the air, carrying the distinct fragrance of autumn. Kiku tugged on his clothing and scooted nearer, then he finally spoke, "Big brother, could you please come visit more often?"

His voice was crisp and clear, like a new fresh bamboo sliced in half, the pristine juice leaking out.

Of course Yao agreed. He wasn't one to refuse requests.

When he left to return home that day, his long robes floating like smoke in the breeze, he lowered his gaze to meet Kiku's. He glanced at Kiku's feet, a delicate curve, obvious bone structure, and the wooden clogs that were a few sizes too big. Clank, clank, clank.

A warm smile eased onto his face as he said, "When these shoes fit, you can come ask me for an award for your coming of age."

The teen stared for a moment, then blossomed into a sweet smile.

"I can ask for anything?"

"Anything." he effortlessly made a promise. He's just a child, what more can he ask for? Then he bent over and gently pinched Kiku's cheek, "As long as you wish for it, I can give you anything."

Yao hadn't worried much about it at that time, he was the Celestial Empire, he had the world in his hands. A child's wishes hadn't troubled him. He had golden palaces, coral pearl trees, magical healing medicines, he had everything. What couldn't he give to his beloved little brother?

Not long after a few years, he had forgotten all about it.

But it was different for Kiku. For this promise, he worked so hard he almost went mad. Razor-sharp blades, shining katana, explosive cannons, silver and gold jewelry…The graceful features of Yao Wang moulded itself in Kiku's heart like an old wine that stung, the sweetness grated his senses and urged him to move forward, never stopping.

Then, not long after, he heard the message of China sealing his door, locking himself away from the whole world. Yao had always kept his promises, but this time, after leaving the island of Kiku, he disappeared behind his thick walls and long doors. He left Japan waiting for a long, long time.

Kiku felt an abrupt hatred. But he concealed it under a clam facade. He poured himself a cup of traditional tea, and he continued to grow.

Compared to Ivan who straight up showed the overbearing insensitivity, Kiku was a reserved and quiet nation who always sealed his concerns in his heart and kept to himself. Japan was just as much petrifying as the reckless Soviet Union.

China only discovered these dangerous personalities when it was way too late.

If he'd realized what Japan was really capable of, maybe he wouldn't have so carelessly promised Kiku his gift.

When the shoes fit.

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TO BE CONTINUED
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A/N~
Hello everyone, thank you so much for reading! This will be my first chapter story on and I'm reallyyy excited for this :D

There won't be too much Rochu at first, but I promise, there will be tons once we get deeper into the story. When The Shoes Fit will contain some pretty sensitive perspectives and point of views since we are talking about wars here! But please know that I have no purpose on insulting anyone or any ideology. I'm just another Hetalia fangirl! :))

Please follow along any feel free to give any *gentle* feedbacks :P

Credits to 昔年烟沙 who was the original author of this fan fiction. I have just translated the story from Chinese to English. I thought that the story was simply amazing, and that more of the Hetalia fans all over the world should be able to read and appreciate it. No plagiarizing purposes intended.

Thanks again!

Lieor

((I don't own Hetalia...