Mayonaka no Kitsune
Warnings: Dark!Prankster!ChuNi, mythological horror, kitsune, Boss!China, Henchman!Japan, Halloween scare contest
Rating: T
Characters: China, Japan, various others
Categories: Horror, supernatural, some humor
Word count: 2,276
AN: Hey, everyone~! Welcome to my Hetalia holiday collection! It's basically exactly what it sounds like: a bunch of oneshots about various holidays. Only ones I personally celebrate, though, as I'm not comfortable with attempting celebrations I don't know much about. First up is Halloween, obviously, so enjoy~! Fair warning, though, I wrote this during a sleepover on about two hours of sleep, so I don't know how coherent it is.
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Silly nations… They think they can beat me? Of course they can't. They don't even know who I am~!
Fufufu… Good luck~!
Halloween.
Quite possibly the most disturbing holiday the West had ever thought of. After all, dressing up as monsters in order to get candy? Very strange.
Japan had never understood the concept. Weren't you supposed to fear monsters? And yet even America, who was terrified of ghosts, enjoyed the event. It just didn't make sense!
And yet here he was, wearing a ridiculous fake tail and fox ears.
Yes, he'd dressed up as a kitsune. It was the first thing that came to mind! As for why he was here? America had threatened him.
Well, not exactly. He'd shown up at Japan's house and told him he would be coming to the Halloween party this year, yes he would, and refusal would not be accepted, so when would he get to Washington? All with a smile on his face saying 'do as I say or else'.
Some hero.
So here he was, sitting in a corner with the single bottle of sake he'd managed to get through airport security, waiting for Germany and Italy to arrive, trying to find a position that didn't trap the tail awkwardly beneath him.
Ah, well. Japan absently reached into one of the deep pockets of his kimono and touched the mask he'd slipped into it on his way out the door, along with his precious steel fan; and his katana, of course, which was hidden among the folds of his clothes. He rarely went to any other country without it. Call it paranoia, but it had become a habit over the years.
"Having fun~aru?"
Japan glanced over at his elder brother, who, it appeared, hadn't bothered with a costume, wearing the same robes the black-haired nation remembered him wearing when they'd both been much younger. "Really? At least I made an effort."
China laughed, sitting next to him and handing him a bottle. "Thought you might want this. That sake won't last forever~aru."
Japan hummed his thanks, pouring two glasses for them. "I don't like this sort of thing…"
"You're so shy~aru," China teased. "C'mon, it's not that bad."
The younger nation sighed, running one hand through his hair, the other slipping down to brush against his precious katana's hilt. China caught the motion and smiled knowingly. "Do you ever not bring that thing with you~aru?"
"Usually. It's extra security. But at least I'm wearing a costume…"
"So am I~aru! But," he added, looking Japan's costume up and down, "yours is very nice." He touched the ears lightly. Japan blushed.
"Arigato."
"Hey, dudes!" America flopped down beside them, grinning. He appeared to be dressed as a cowboy, but… Japan could never be sure with him. "Nice costumes!"
The two Asian nations murmured soft thanks and attempted to go back to their conversation. America, however, was having none of it. "C'mon you guys, I invited you to party, not sit in a corner and mutter like old men all night!"
It was then, just as China was opening his mouth to retort to that (most likely with something along the lines of 'we are old men'), the lights went dead. Several nations yelped, asking what was happening, if this was planned.
There was the sound of breaking glass down one of the dark halls. America squeaked, ducking behind China. "Was that a gh-ghost?!"
"Don't be silly~aru," the older nation chided. "Ghosts aren't real. Demons, however," he added mischievously when America seemed to relax, "are very real~aru."
"EEEEK! I don't want to dieeee!"
"Calm down, America-san. Demons aren't real." Japan walked towards the hallway the sound had come from. "Something just fell off a shelf somewhere, I'm sure. I'll go check." His left hand went to his sword hilt as he moved into the darker area and vanished from sight.
China turned to grin at the others. "Ah, there's nothing to be worried about~aru! Japan-di will be-"
He was cut off by a sharp thud and a startled yelp. The older nation frowned. "What happened, Japan-di~aru? Did you trip over something?"
No answer. China couldn't help the flash of fear that crossed his mind. "Japan-di?"
"Yes," came the response. "It was just a plate. Nothing to worry about, like I said."
America sighed, running over to wrap an arm around the smaller nation's shoulders as he stepped back into the main room, better lit now, as England and France set about lighting some candles. "Dude, why didn't you reply? We were worried!"
Japan's response was lost as China frowned. Something was different- "Oh no."
"What is it?" England asked.
"Japan's costume~aru," China murmured. "What color were the ears and tail?"
"Red. Why?"
"Because now they're gold."
England looked at the 'costume'. "Oh no. Wasn't there a Japanese myth…?"
"Kitsune~aru," China whispered, eyes widening. "America, come here. Now~aru!"
"Uh, okay…" The younger nation began to move toward them-
"Fu…fu…fu…" 'Japan' lifted a hand to cover his mouth. "Fufufu… You can't leave… I mean, why would you want to?" He looked up through his long lashes, eyes going wider than China had seen in a long time. "Y-you wouldn't leave me all alone, would you?" America gulped.
"Well, no… Of course I wouldn't-"
China interrupted. "Yes, we are going to leave it alone~aru. America, that's not Japan-di! It's a kitsune!"
The creature pretending to be his little brother pouted. "Awww… you guessed. Fufufu- At least I don't have to use this form anymore…" Another tail slid from the kitsune's back, then another, and another-
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.
Not just a kitsune, then. An old one. Very old. Yao stepped forward, shifting into a fighting stance. "What did you do with Japan-di?"
The kitsune laughed again. "I didn't kill him, if that's what you're worried about. I just… got him out of the way. He's fine, I'm sure." Here the creature smiled, revealing sharp teeth that looked wrong on Japan's face. "He's not the one you should be worried about anyway." Its nails grew long and sharp and it lunged, scraping the claws along America's side; not enough to even break the skin, but enough to hurt, and the shock of this… creature attacking him with Japan's face was horrifying.
The kitsune smiled wickedly, brushing claws along China's jawline. "Fun, isn't it, China-nii? I can practically taste their fear… Fufufu…"
"Only one person," China hissed, "is allowed to call me that. And it sure as hell isn't you~aru!"
"You sure about that~?" As the nations watched, the tails disappeared one by one, and the kitsune's face returned to that of a human, of Japan, of Kiku, his baby brother- "Are you absolutely sure?" He leaned forward, pressing against China's chest, sweet and delicate, like Japan used to when he was a child. "I could be such a good brother," the kitsune purred. "Better than he ever was. I promise~! Fufufufu~"
China growled and went to punch the little bastard in the face. But suddenly he was gone, and in his place was a golden fox, nine tails waving cheerily behind it. Its tails flickered in the direction of the hallway and it trotted off. The older nation frowned and followed. America yelped. "Dude, don't follow it!"
"I have to follow it~aru. If it did something to Japan-di, I have to find out!"
England and France glanced at each other, then nodded in agreement. "He's right. If you'd been captured by a crazy Japanese spirit I'd do the same."
"Oui, if a crazy spirit captured Mathieu, I would do the same as well."
America gulped. "But… haven't you watched the horror movies?! Following the demon is never a good idea!"
China simply shrugged, walking after the kitsune (which was technically not a demon). All nine of its tails wagged happily as it led the way, through the dark halls to a room none of them cared to enter: the torture chamber (what? Getting rid of it would've been expensive. And just because it was there didn't mean it was ever used).
They all shared awkward glances. While each nation had at least one torture chamber somewhere that they had access to, it was never a pleasant experience. The kitsune paused by the door, looking up at them expectantly. When no one moved, it rolled its eyes—was it even possible for a fox to do that?—and transformed once more, this time with a mask covering its face. "What?" it giggled when they stared at it. "I don't want you knowing what I really look like, fufufu."
It tugged open the door and stepped in, leaving the wood propped open. "Well? Are you coming?"
They followed; what else could they do?
The kitsune had made itself comfortable on a steel table that still bore traces of bloodstains. It had pulled a knife from somewhere in its kimono and was fiddling with it happily. "So, this room. Not a nice place. I don't like it."
"Then why bring us here, dude?!" America whined. "Why not take us out to McDonald's or- or something?"
"Ambience," the creature explained. "It makes you more uncomfortable being in a place like this. Besides, I don't like large groups of people."
"A shy kitsune~aru?" China asked. "Never heard that one before."
It shrugged, putting the knife away, nails lengthening into claws once more. "I'm sure you want to know why you're here?"
"Well, yeah," England muttered. "And what have you done with Japan?"
"Here we go again with the Japan thing. I told you, he's fine."
"Forgive us for not believing you. Why are we here?"
"Isn't it obvious~?" The kitsune moved forward, nuzzling at the Brit's neck. "So I can have some fun. And I couldn't have Japan-san interfering, now could I?"
It let its claws trail along the veins in Arthur's neck, then backing away to wander over to France. One tail swept up to brush against his cheek, the other eight flickering into flames that didn't burn. "He wouldn't like what I was doing… so I had to tie him up, keep him out of my way. You know how it is~!"
America jumped forward. "Enough! Where's Japan?"
"Safe. That's all you need to know-" It was cut off by a loud crack as America's fist hit its mask. It staggered back, whining, cradling its face as the damaged mask clattered on the floor. The kitsune changed forms again. The fox growled, and leapt.
It caught Alfred's wrist in its jaws and shook hard. The crack of bone was clearly audible throughout the room, and England fired off a quick spell as the creature fled. There was a high yelp, then nothing.
China looked around. "Is that it?"
"I guess so. Let's find Japan."
Just then there was a muffled cry from one of the closets against the wall. The four nations in the room shared a glance and ran to open the door. Japan tumbled out, muffled complaints spilling from under the gag hiding his mouth. China undid it.
"You see? This is why I do not celebrate Halloween."
China smiled. "It could've been a lot worse~aru."
"That is true," France remarked. "Now, how about some wine to celebrate?"
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Kiku yawned as he entered the room he and Yao shared, suppressing a wince. His shoulder hurt where England had caught him with a spell, and his bloodied nose stung from getting punched in the face. He whimpered, curling up on the bed with his hands over his face.
"Kiku-di?" Yao sat beside him on the bed, the younger nation shifting to rest his head on the elder's lap. "Are you all right?"
He nodded slightly. "Hurts. But I'm fine."
Yao gently picked up a damp cloth that had been soaking in a bowl, pushing Kiku's hands out of the way and beginning to wipe away the blood. "Did Opium catch you with that spell~aru?"
"Mmhmm." Kiku whined as Yao began to clean the wound on his shoulder where the spell had hit him. "But it was worth it to see the looks on their faces. Prussia-san did a good job with the lights and the plate; we'll have to thank him later."
"And I bet we won that little game England and America play. I mean, that's gotta be the best Halloween prank ever~aru!"
Kiku hummed in agreement. "But I wish I'd gotten to play with them a little longer."
Yao chuckled, scratching between his lover's ears. One tail twitched happily at the attention, and Kiku sat up to curl against his chest. "You're warm," he murmured, eyes flickering shut. "…'m sleepy…"
"Sleep then~aru," Yao offered, curling the tails around so they weren't trapped between the two nations.
The kitsune obeyed his suggestion instantly.
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I don't know what I just wrote. But Kitsune Kiku is either adorable or terrifying. Or both. I'm really really tired right now, so I'll cut this short: next up is Christmas, if you've got any suggestions let me know, don't forget to review.
Happy Halloween~!
-Bird