Day 2- Beach Day!

I didn't say this in the last chapter, but I decided to take on kimchi71399's challenge, and so here we go!

I don't own Hetalia, or S.E.O.U.L., a song that SNSD and Super Junior worked on together.

xixixixiBeachixiDay!ixixixixix

China had taken all of the East Asian nations out to a beach as a treat. Delighted, Korea had hugged his mentor... and refused to let go of him.

"Korea! Let go of me aru!" The Chinese nation tried to pry the younger one off of him. Korea grins at him, then lets go in favor of running towards the sea.

Japan watches the sea quietly. He's always been enchanted by it, and he was afraid of it. He'd been enchanted by it's rolling waves and blue depths, the mysteries and the beauties that it had presented him. Japan was an island nation, and the sea charmed him.

But the ocean also terrified him. The tsunami had petrified him. He'd never forget the seizures, the fits he'd had as the earthquake rocked the plates near his home. He'd never forget that sensation of drowning as thousands of his people died from the destructive waves that had crushed it. Japan was an island, and the sea scared him with its power.

But there was a bright side to that memory, he reflected. Korea, who had held him in wariness and dislike for so long had the first to come see if he was alright. Yong-Soo's rescue teams had reached his people first. And this warmed his heart.

He's quiet as he watches Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan all romp about in the waves, splashing each other, pushing each other over, and revelling in the sensation of the water. He wishes that he could do it with such a carefree heart- but the waves would remind him too much of the tsunami, and the fears that someday he would disappear under the ocean's depths.

xixixixiBeachixiDay!ixixixixix

Korea sings S.E.O.U.L. cheerfully as he fills up his (made in Korea) watergun. He's still humming as he blasts Taiwan in the back with it. Mei-Mei shrieks and chases him around, screaming about her hair. He laughs, and blasts Hong Kond with it too. Xiang joins the irate nation in chasing Korea around the beach.

They finally manage to catch him, and they dunk him into the water- and even Hong Kong is laughing a little.

They split up to pursue various activities- Hong Kong in pursuit of food, Taiwan in search of a towel, and Korea decides to join Japan.

"Ilbon (Japan)?" Yong-Soo pokes the side of his head. "Are you in there, da ze?"

Japan looks startled, then nods with a careful almost-smile.

"What're you thinking about?" Korea sits down, and stares at the sea, too.

"The sea, Kankoku-san. (South Korea-san)" Japan answers, shifting a little.

"I... Do you like the sea, Ilbon?" Korea both hates and loves the sea. But he is not afraid of it.

"I do." The quiet affirmation is hesitant, though. Korea cocks his head curiously.

"I hate and love the sea. It's beautiful and powerful, mysterious and charming. But it used to hold so much fear for me. So I hate its cold, heartless depths as well. But I've never been scared of it." He says honestly, smiling at Japan.

Japan flushes a little at the attention, but presses a question on him. "Why?"

"...You know how Hyung-nim didn't want to come today? (Older brother)" Korea asks after a short pause.

"Yes. North-"

"Yong-buk has always held me tight, so I won't seperate from him because of the sea. We hold hands tightly, because, no matter what, he's my brother. And China-hyung holds Yong-buk tight because me and Hyung-nim both are his precious little brothers. Because both of my hyung-nims hold me tightly by the hand, both in way of land, and in a figurative way, I'm not afraid of the sea." He realizes that he's babbling, and stops talking. "And you, Ilbon?"

"...I...have no one to hold me like that. Not in a land sense, and not figuratively, either." Japan appreciates the fact that Korea confided in him, and returns the favor. "So I am afraid of it."

He's suddenly enveloped in a hug, and he blinks, surprised. "See, Ilbon?" Korea's voice is cheerful somewhere above his head. "I'm going to hold you tight, and I'm not ever going to let the sea have you!"

Japan blushes a little at that, but he can't deny that this makes him happy. He smiles a little, and he tells Korea:

"I'm glad, Kankoku-san. I'm not afraid any more."

xixixixiBeachixiDay!ixixixixix

It's sooo shoooort. *dies* And I'm already behind, noooo!

Obsessed-Language-Freak: Thank you for reviewing! Yes, I finally got my lazy self in gear and started the challenge I should have started ages ago. Hope you like it! XD

Thank you everyone who alerted me- it means a ton.

I had so much trouble with this chapter, OTL. I rewrote it 5 times until I decided on this, and I scrapped 4 other plots. X_X

And yes, I'm aware that Yao, Mei-Mei, and Xiang suddenly disappeared. They... uh... went to buy drinks! ^_^