Title: Step by Step
Pairings: One-sided Taiwan/Japan, one-sided Russia/China, one-sided Rome/China, one-sided Latvia/Estonia
Summary: Step by step, they walk into the future. Thirty prompts, and one sentence for each one.
Disclaimer: This is written strictly for entertainment purposes. I do not profit off this piece in any fashion or form, and Axis Powers Hetalia is the property of Hidekaz Himaruya and its producers and publishers. Portrayals of the characters may or may not reflect upon my own beliefs.
1. Time
Except he's not a wizard and he just can't undo the untruths and truths woven into a spider-web of nothings by careless years.
2. Cherry Blossoms
Onii-san is so sweet, giving her everything she needs and a sweet sakura to tuck into her hair.
3. Story
He doesn't like having stories end on him - they should go on forever and ever and ever.
4. Rain
"I don't like my weather," China comments, watching the precious, precious water land on his bones and, clinging, slide off.
5. Sword
If there's one thing he's learned, it's only honorable to commit ritual sacrifice, not to surrender.
6. Lily
Fleur-de-lys is a resplendently dainty maiden, and France kisses her little white hand before whisking her off to dance in the mirrored hall with a thousand candles to serve as jury.
7. Bamboo
China is clever, taking the yoke upon himself rather than allowing anyone to bear the burden for him, but Russia finds the blisters worn into the slim shoulders by the bamboo yoke to be distasteful.
8. Moon
Le petite Canadienne is a young god, bathed into glowing silver light as he whirls and dances for France.
9. Shooting Star
"Make a wish!" his guardian whispers, so Nihon closes his eyes and wishes for power.
10. Rice
Rice is said to be watered by the sweat of the working people, but China can only ever taste tears.
11. Wind Chimes
Zephyr is given beautiful chiming shape, one to which Greece is content to close his eyes and listen.
12. Glass
In the factory on the branching-out little canal, Veneziano places his lips to the pipe and blows carefully, cradling the white-hot lump of glass with his artist's hands.
13. Far Away
"In a land far, far away," England reads to the inquisitive young lad with bright blue eyes and it's really quite true.
14. Butterfly
America has a breakfast of honey and toast while it flutters outside on ochre wings.
15. Wings
Broad white wings it had, and it let him mount his back - not that anyone believes it.
16. Past
England cannot let it go; it feels like a single gossamer thread in his scarred hands, apt to escape his grasp at any time should his grip loosen.
17. Snow
Pure and soft, it falls crimson at his feet.
18. Night
The darkness hides the defects she does not wish to see. There's only so much she can tolerate without breaking like a small china doll.
19. Day
The crimson streak punctuates the sky in one last attempt at daylight before it disappears forever under the rising tide, ravaged by the hungry earth; they watch silently, saying nothing simply because they are their own murderers.
20. Colour
"You git! You've misspelt it again!"
21. Note
He leaves a note taped on the 'fridge - Out grocery shopping, will be back soon - even though no one's there to see it.
22. Fire
It's a baptism by fire: Canada's never seen that much carnage all at once, but his hands never shake even a bit, whether he's gunning down the newest wave of Krauts or lighting England's cigarettes for him.
23. Path
He has a cottage among the redwoods and stays there when he can, living off mushrooms and berries.
24. Symbol
Nihon is afraid to wear jade because he is the devil.
25. Lightning
Norway doesn't like his hair because it looks like it had been left in the damp after getting eletrocuted very poorly, so he keeps it up with a barrette even though Denmark mocks him loudly for looking so girly and Iceland barely looks him in the eye anymore.
26. Silk
He covets it, the slide of silk between his fingers and the Oriental beauty sitting behind the loom with wary eyes.
27. Waterfall
"Can you cut through it with a pair of scissors?" he asks, to humor his oddly serious charge.
28. Memories
Five thousand years here and gone, and then some, like grains in an hourglass; he sits and ponders this over a cup of hemlock juice.
29. Sleep
They rarely sleep soundly anymore, tortured by screams and moans even though they're not even there anymore: It's a madhouse, see.
30. Chance
Should he, by chance, see Estonia in the streets, he might wave someday, shyly.