China, being an old nation, had a deep-rooted idea of respect and loyalty. Thusly, he seldom spoke unwell of his allies. This wasn't to say he wouldn't complain to them or insult them - when they had it coming, he was one of the first to do so. Nonetheless, he certainly wouldn't dwell on the things they couldn't prove.
Like England and America's possible but not proven relationship.
Or Southern Italys possible but not proven secret stash of sappy romantic comedy movies.
Or France's sexuality.
China didn't normally like to talk about people that way. He didn't gossip. He didn't like gossip, he never liked gossip, and he never would like gossip.
And yet everyone continuously insisted on gossiping to him about Russia.
It wasn't completely unfounded. Russia was feared and talked about for a reason; he could be rather scary. Nonetheless, China, being the lover of the aforementioned nation, didn't want to hear what he already knew and didn't care about.
Especially not from France and England.
"All we're asking is that you help us out a little." The amorous country prayed, walking next to China who paid him no mind. When would they learn just to leave him be? "I know he's your ally, partner, boyfriend, whatever you two have together, but please, find a way to control him."
"I've known him for a long time-aru..." China sighed. "A few centuries. Don't you think I would have by now if I knew how-aru?"
"There has to be something." England said from the other side. "Russia scares things into going his way and it has to stop."
"He does not-aru!" The Asian protested.
...
"Only most of the time." He corrected under his breath a few seconds later. "Also, you both know this is his front gate, right?"
The two other countries quickly backed up as China began to open the gate.
"You know the stories." France begged. "You know him."
"The stories aren't true." He said. Normally he would just be irritated by this point, but right now, he really didn't want to hear it. "And I do know him which is why they aren't-aru."
"Even when the evidence is right in front of your face?" France implored. "Remember what happened after the Sino-Japanese war?"
"Well-"
"The first one."
...Oh.
That....did make him look bad.....
---
China watched his brother warily.
"Think of it as...compensation." He raised an eyebrow at that. Something was off here... "Your country doesn't have the...monetary means to pay us back...so..."
Japan looked over China's shoulder.
Silent were the two blondes, one toying with his hair, the other looking stoic as always. But the fear and pressure in japans heart came from the tallest, the insurmountable giant of Russia.
He could hear the vocal death knell, quiet as he might have been trying to be, from his seat (KolKolKolKol).
And even worse, it was all with a simple smile on Russia's 'innocent' face.
"But the entire peninsula?" China asked. "That's actually rather generous of you-aru."
"Well, as I said before, we do still have a financial issue between us, right? Port Arthur would be a good way of stimulating the economy. But, that's just my opinion."
Japan really didn't feel comfortable. (KolKolKolKol) He stood up.
"I should be on my way now. Good-bye, I'll see you soon." He turned and made his way to the door.
"Kiku!"
And with that he was gone.
China turned to the trio behind him.
"What did you do to him-aru?" he asked. "The Intervention was one thing..."
Russia smiled. Smiled like he always did.
China sighed.
---
"I did something about that!" China protested. "What do you take me for-aru?" Russia indeed hadn't gotten away scot-free for terrorizing his brother, if that was indeed what happened.
Not that he'd gotten anything out of him anyway. Which meant he did something he knew was wrong and if he said it, he'd be in trouble.
It was like talking to a child sometimes.
A full-grown, mentally-unwell-at-times, but in the end, lovable child.
"Besides, if I recall, you were apart of that-aru." France laughed uneasily, eyes darting around the blanket of snow for something to stare at.
"Um, well, you see..."
"Korea." England pressed the issue forward.
China swallowed, his feet glued to their place at the mere mention of...that.
Ivan was scary in Korea.
Truth be told, Korea was unpleasant period by itself, but Ivan during Korea.....
No.
No way. Don't think about it. Forget Korea. The war, not his brother. China didn't want to remember the war. There were wars, there was abuse unto his family and then there was THE KOREAN WAR and China was not about to relive that in any way shape or form.
.....
Somehow there was this feeling, a feeling of an omnipresent Russia looking down on them all as they spoke of this - three poor, silly nations - and kolkolkol'ing away without a care in the world.
"Remember KOREA? I remember KOREA."
"Who doesn't remember Korea?"
"I'd like to not remember Korea."
"Enough-aru!" China shuddered.
Like he'd said, just like a child. And like a child, being told 'no' didn't guarantee anything...
....Odd thought, that.
"Okay...that was bad...." He confessed. "But he's never bothered anyone when he wasn't involved."
Oh, thank God, the door.
"Just please, while you're in there, try to talk some sense into him." France tried one final time.
"Oh? You mean you two won't be coming in?" His voice was laced with the sting of frustration.
The two other nations jumped back.
"I-I-I have some paperwork that needs doing..."
"Today is my...my beard-trimming day. Feel it. It's too long."
If you're so afraid of him, maybe you shouldn't be talking so big.
"Too bad. He might've enjoyed the extra company-aru." China waved them off, taking the spare key from the spot by the door and unlocked it. "I'll see you two at the next meeting."
Opened it, stepped inside and slammed it shut.
...
An eerie chill settled over the two countries. They decided it was the perfect moment to leave as quickly as possible, a wise decision on their part.
---
"Ivan~!" He called "I'm here!" China removed his thick winter jacket (courtesy of one Ivan Braginski himself) and hung it up before making his way towards the kitchen.
"Yao-Yao!" Happy. Hoarse and cracked, but happy.
"Don't yell-aru! You'll strain your voice!" He walked into the room, spotting the pot. "Looks like Belarus made something for him before she left."
Thank God Belarus left, thank God Belarus left. And the others thought Ivan was scary.
Clumsy footsteps alerted China to the presence making his way towards him. China turned and rolled his eyes at the dazed-with-sickness Ivan who had gotten out of bed.
"Go back to your room-aru. You're not feeling well." Ivan just smiled, his cheeks flushed and the rest of his shown skin looking pale.
Ivan was still big - even in just his nightwear - that was certain. But he looked almost naked without his scarf and jacket and other winter clothes. And it certainly made him look smaller.
"Da, but I-" he was cut off by a guttural, throat-scratching cough-fit, as painful for China to hear as it was for Russia to feel. His large hands clasped themselves over his mouth as he hacked and wheezed.
"Ivan," he sighed at his lover, moving to the skink to set the water. "Here, wash your hands-aru. What did Belarus make in the pot?"
"A borscht, I think." He rasped, moving to the sink in careful steps, slower than his normal stride.
"Dizzy-aru?" The tall one nodded, leaning slightly against the counter as he washed his hands off. "When was the last time you took a shower? And is the borscht still hot-aru?" He checked the temperature on the stove. "It should be-aru. Where did she put the bread? And did you.....what?" he asked, seeing a grin on his partners clammy face.
"You sound like a worried mother." Ivan chuckled, provoking a small cough. China flushed red.
"I-I do not-aru!"
"You do, da~." Ivan smiled up at him. "I like that, though." China could do nothing but roll his eyes and press his lips to Russia's forehead.
"You still feel clammy-aru. And warm. Did you shower today?"
"Nyet."
"It might help you feel better-aru. A hot shower. You'll get your borscht after-aru."
China wasn't expecting the big arm to wrap around him but that didn't mean it wasn't welcome. Ivan leaned the side of his head against China's torso, a small content smile on his face.
"Yao-Yao~." He purred into Yao's shirt, kissing his stomach through the cloth. "Love you."
"Be careful. I don't want to get sick either-aru!"
The fearsome Russia, ladies and gentlemen.
---
Digi12 fails at RoChu. Fails so hard it's not even FUNNY.
It was supposed to be written for Ivan/Russia's birthday on December 30th.....I obviously did not make the due date.
On a side note I'm officially 18 as of January 2nd! *Dances* Yes, ladies and.....more ladies, soon you'll be seeing my published novels on the market!
....Buut before I get ahead of myself, I just published ass-work so let's not assume they're going to be best-sellers.
Ugh. I'm thinking of writing a second chapter just to see if I can SOMEHOW save this.
In the meantime, my USUK fic is ON THE WAY.
---
All historical references are excerpted from Wikipedia. I don't own time or Wikipedia. Also, don't judge me.
All direct Wikipedia quotations are fully italicized.
1894-1895 - First Sino-Japanese War - Era of the Qing Dynasty
This was the first of the two Sino-Japanese wars, and was primarily over control over Korea. Victory went to Japan, partially due to China becoming weakened (in both pride and prestige) in the previous century, a majority of that weakness being a result of the Opium Wars.
Port Arthur: Although Japan had achieved what it had set out to accomplish, namely to end Chinese influence over Korea, Japan reluctantly had been forced to relinquish the Liaodong Peninsula (Port Arthur)in exchange for an increased financial indemnity. The European powers (Russia especially), while having no objection to the other clauses of the treaty, did feel that Japan should not gain Port Arthur, for they had their own ambitions in that part of the world. Russia persuaded Germany and France to join her in applying diplomatic pressure on the Japanese, resulting in the Triple Intervention of 23 April 1895
1950-Present Day - Korean War
The Korean War was again, a war fought primarily for control of Korea. However, this time it was a civil war o. Between the years of 1950 and 1953, there were drastic changes in territorial control. In September 1950, first year of the war, North Korea had control of about 90-95% (My personal guestimate based on maps) of all of Korea. In November of the same year, South Korea has about the same percentage of control. This was a war no one was going to win. The drastic territorial control changes would flip-flop like this until 1953 when a ceasefire was signed and North and South Korea were split into the two halves they are now. Technically, the Korean War continues to this day.
I should also like to add the two sides in the Korean War and how drastic it was.
South Korea, a presidential republic, was allied with the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey.
North Korea was and still is a single-party communist state, a dictatorship whose only allies were China and Russia.
DAMN.
Even with the population count of both countries versus all the countries on South Koreas side, that's still.....damn.
Digi12 owns nothing.