Japan's Antsy!

Ever since he had found him in the bamboo forests of his land, China loved Japan as a father would his son. He found that the emotionally stifled child was just what he needed after years of knowing and trading with other countries. Japan was unique in every way, and even though the other countries were fed up with his silence, China was drawn closer to this mysterious country.

He had brought the strange child home, wrapped in a blanket and sleeping. China loved the way the small child would curl up in his arms and fall asleep without a fuss. Being a very old country himself, China was too used to the other countries being belligerent over small issues. China knew that he would have to take the small Japan under his wing for now, and he started to nurture him in the way any older brother would.

He started out with simple bonding. He realized that Japan was so emotionally awkward because he had never really had contact with other countries. In a way, Japan was emotionally neglected. China realized that he could help this child by showing him that other countries were not a threat to him. Although it had taken ages, China finally formed the loving bond with Japan that he had worked towards since day one.

Now, after years had passed, China finally concluded that it was time to start teaching Japan how to adapt to the Chinese culture. He would be an excellent tutor for Japan simply because Japan trusted him to some degree.

On this particular afternoon, China was determined to teach Japan his calligraphy. He knew that Japan had a tendency to be very creative and stood out as an individual, but in order for him to be successful in the centuries to come, he really had to stick with traditional Chinese calligraphy.

"Very good, Japan! You've completed the sentences that I've given you. Now, let's focus on some more complex figures…are you alright?"

China tapered off as he saw his much beloved kid brother staring with wide-eyed terror at the corner of the room. He would never tell China this, but he'd been having a problem with the small vermin that kept crawling into the room that he was in.

The vermin, he had learned by now, would slowly creep in a perfect line towards him. No matter how many times he had squirmed away before, the dreaded ants would start to crawl up his legs…and cause that confusion that he had whenever anybody wanted to get close.

"Oh, that's right…you're probably getting a flashback," China said sympathetically.

Japan did have a tendency to have the occasional flashback to the times before China had found him. He was a small child who had been forced to live in the wilderness, so it was more than understandable why Japan might have the occasional breakdown. He did have breakdowns as a child, so China had already learned how to calm his brother down. Recently, however, Japan was more sullen and backed away from physical contact.

"Come here."

China drew Japan into a gentle embrace and started to hum quietly. Normally, Japan would have been startled back to reality, but China started to grow concerned as Japan squirmed in his arms. He let go of his lost younger brother with sadness in his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Japan started to stammer- something he never did unless he was terrified. China watched the rather disturbing scene unfold before him. Japan curled up into a ball and started to tremble, then he started to gasp out questions in his own language.

A/N: The words spoken in Japanese will be in italics.

"W-What do you want? I-I g-gave you everything already! I-I don't have a-any more!"

China gasped as a paralyzed Japan began to rock and shake quickly, digging his nails into his legs and scratching madly. China knew that Japan was a bit odd, and he didn't blame the young country for his occasional anxiety, but this was most unsettling. He immediately went over to Japan and tried to shush him.

As he put a comforting hand on Japan and started to massage his back, China felt how terribly his younger brother was shaking. He tried to stay calm as Japan started to dig his nails into his legs.

"Shhh…Japan, I don't know what you're upset about, but I'm here. Nobody can hurt you."

"Oh, GOD, get away! I don't understand! Are you trying to attack me?"

"You're not speaking clearly, Japan, just calm down and tell me what's wrong…in Chinese. I can't speak your unique language quite well."

Japan got up and started to run, which left China dumbstruck. China was so shocked that he could only watch as Japan ran outside, jumped into the bath, and sighed in relief. He then calmly got out of the water, grabbed a towel, and dried himself off. He went back to the calligraphy lesson without another word, leaving a dumbstruck China to ask questions.

"Japan? Are you well?"

"Yes."

China raised a brow and pried.

"Now, Japan…what were you so desperate to get rid of? And please, use Chinese when you answer me."

As Japan calmly started to ink sentences across a fresh sheet of paper, he replied to China in a serene tone.

"You saw them, didn't you? The ants."

China's jaw dropped at Japan's sudden answer struck him. If there had really been ants, then China would have seen them, right? Maybe he was getting old…or maybe Japan was getting insane. Either way, he couldn't just sit there and watch as Japan made perfect strokes in his own language.

"OK, Japan, I think that you're done with calligraphy for the day. Let's just take a walk through the forest, OK? I'll cook you a nice dinner when we get back, and then you can have a nice rest!"

Without looking up from his calligraphy, Japan said one final thing before going along with what China had planned for the rest of the day.

"I will destroy all of those vermin for touching me…"

China began to perspire slightly as he asked Japan in a quavering voice,

"W-What was that, Japan?"

Japan put the ink and brush back in their proper places before putting on a forced smile and facing China.

"Oh, nothing, elder brother."