Author's Note: I heard on the radio this morning about the tsunami and earthquake that hit Japan and Hawaii, later - this had a huge impact on me, because I wasn't able to write anything for the Chilean earthquake, or the Sichuan earthquake or the Haiti or New Zealand earthquakes... I really wanted to write a tribute to Japan. We're all with you!
Also, I haven't done much research as to how bad the damage was, so sorry if it's not too accurate. This is also my first Hetalia fan-fiction; hope you enjoy. Human-names used.
It was just so like Kiku to politely request just a handful of foreign aid teams.
Yet it was so like everyone else to cheerfully ignore that (Alfred especially – but Kiku didn't seem to mind, no – only looking a little embarrassed as he stood in his now-wet and ragged at-home clothes).
The water-logged city was rang with a certain sort of hollowness, a few cries for help here and there – each scream tearing at Kiku's proud heart as he instructed his task force while Arthur and Francis looked on, silently but carefully, opening their mouths as if to say something but only to close them again when Kiku fixed them with his steely stare.
At least Alfred kept his cheerful demeanor ("That bloody git, it's a serious situation here!" Arthur grumbled as he distributed first aid, keeping an eye on the hyper blonde nation), although he himself had suffered considerable damage. (Arthur hoped Alfred could not see his gaze over the American's cut cheeks and bruised arms.)
Even Vash pitched in, giving a short speech about being part of the UN. Even Ivan offered a 40-man team with three sniffer dogs (he gave Kiku a leery smile before marching off to Alfred, pointing out his injuries – Alfred laughed –). Feliks flipped his hair, inspected his nails, and quietly offered firefighters.
For the stoic island nation, it took all he had to swallow his emotion when he turned and saw Yong-soo flinging himself at Kiku, a sobbing Wang-Yao following up, and Xian lurking in the background. He could not blame Mei for wanting to help, although he wondered whether the disaster had affected her as well. The corners of his eyes stung as he watched her pull a sobbing child from the wreckage and embrace the little boy, burying her contorted face in the his trembling frame. In the end, he supposed, she really couldn't help dashing over to him to cry "Onii-chan, onii-chan" over and over into his chest while he patted her on the back delicately, giving a worn smile. She herself was really only a child.
Steve arrived a little while later, looking pale and shocked at the devastation ("Kiku, really," he said weakly, staring at the rather grey wreckage. "Why in the world did you ask someone like me for help when –" and Kiku merely stared at him, his gaze saying it all: Well, I trust you enough.)
"Arigato," was really all he said to them, so quietly that Yong-soo stopped yelling for more assistance to help a little girl, so quietly that Ivan used this as a pretense to lean in and sincerely offer Kiku apologies once more. "Arigato," Kiku repeated and turned away with a ghost of a smile on his features.
fin