Perfect Lines!
China knew that in only two hours, the world meeting was going to commence. He knew that this was one of Japan's first meetings and that Japan would know how to make an appearance but wouldn't know how to be warm towards the allied nations.
Japan was in his own room getting ready for the meeting. He looked in the mirror for the fifth time that hour and made sure that he was flawlessly dressed in formal attire. He would speak on his own behalf that day instead of letting China do the work this time. As he finally felt some contentment with his appearance, he turned to see if China was ready to leave.
But he felt edgy as he went to China's sliding doors. He knew that China wasn't an immediate threat to him, so why was it that when China opened his door and met Japan's eyes, that he felt his skin crawl?
"Ah, Japan, how formal you look! I love it when you dress up nicely. Let's be on our way."
As Japan silently complied with China's wishes to leave, he could swear that there was a perfect line following him to the meeting of nations. The hairs on his neck stood up as China started to hum to himself in order to pass the time. After a couple of hours of simply waiting for the line to invade him, Japan was ready to cry out. But he knew that upon entering the meeting, he had to keep his calm.
He tried to remember the day China taught him how to do calligraphy.
The memory calmed him for the time being, and the straight line seemed manageable. As China led Japan into the meeting, he felt the eyes of the nations upon him. Japan heard a whispering among the nations, and he knew that they were commenting on how he had grown.
Over the past few centuries, Japan had several countries take an interest in him. England approached him with a smile on his face.
"Hello, Japan! Tell us, how goes the learning? You've grown quite a bit..."
As Japan attempted to be polite and listen to England's praises and questions, he started to shiver. The line was preying upon his territory, and he knew it. But he answered England and attempted to ward off the ant lines by scratching his wrist.
"You see, England, I have had an excellent tutor. China is the eldest of us, after all."
England, noticing how restless Japan seemed despite his formalities, decided to lighten the tension by making jest of what Japan was doing.
"If China is the eldest, then you are the antsy of the bunch," England smiled.
China overheard this bit and approached the two other nations, checking in on little brother. Normally, Japan could have kept calm and lied smoothly. But this afternoon was different.
"Japan, are you alright?"
Instead of answering right away, Japan focused on backing away from the perfect rows of marching ants. He then realized that to do so would be foolish; the ants moved forward when he moved back. So, he decided to employ a new plan.
"Let's see if you little vermin can outsmart me this time!"
"Oh, no, Japan..."
China sighed. The meeting was about to begin, and this was the last thing that China needed; a hysterical Japan shouting in his own language at his own ants.
"There, now, Japan, just breathe. It's going to be alright."
China attempted to reassure Japan, but soon found that this wouldn't be possible; Japan had a smirk on his face and was moving in zigzags to his own seat at the conference table.
"I've outsmarted you bastards for once! Haha..."
China looked to everybody else in the room to find that they were rather confused by Japan's mannerisms and movements. He decided to come up with an age-old explanation that made Japan impervious to further questioning.
"Oh, he's just having a mild flashback from his days in the wilderness. He's not going to make any trouble."
Every nation except one nodded understandingly; the one nation that had been mute for years was finally speaking, but his inner wounds had yet to heal. One nation was not so quick to believe China's excuse and challenged Japan. Germany crossed his arms and cleared his throat.
"So, if Japan really is having a flashback, then he should be coming out of it soon so that we can start the meeting, right?
"Filthy little ants...I have the greatest navy in the world! Invading my borders again, are we?"
China forced a smile and nodded, elbowing Japan lightly. Japan snapped back to reality and folded his hands politely, waiting for the meeting to commence. Germany had the floor and was leading the meeting, as usual.
The discussion of possibly trading with Japan came up, and it was essential for Japan to advocate for himself at this time. For the most part, he was able to agree to trading, but as the ants started to bite his ankles, he shifted in his seat and became a bit obsessive about what the trading rules were.
"Now, Japan," Korea began, folding his hands, "Do you think that it would be possible for us to start an overseas trade? It would be most convenient if we could start using your skills of mechanics to start mass producing in my land."
Japan shook his head vigorously and started to speak with an edge to his voice, one that China knew well.
"If you are to suddenly take advantage of me by starting trouble in my land with your trading merchants-off! then I suggest that I create some regulations. No more than a few hundred of your traders at any given time in my borders-stop biting me-will be allowed. And another thing that I suggest to any other country here that wants to start imports to my harbors. I don't want to see any violence or killing of my men. Unfortunately, many others have tried to take advantage of me for my size-Not too far! Get off!"
The other nations watched in awe, and China watched in a disturbed silence, as Japan stood up and backed away from the table in a zigzag. Germany, who was patient up until now, snapped at the antsy Japan.
"OK, that's it! If you can't sit down and be calm for this meeting, then you are obviously unable to make the decisions vital to your trading policies, Japan! Either you get out now or you stay and remain silent!"
But at this point, Japan was lost to the world around him; he was screaming in his own language. This time, for some reason, China understood half of what he was saying.
"Straight lines! Always straight! Up and down! Always in perfect rows! Straight lines!"
China's eyes grew wide as he started to think.
If Japan is screaming something about lines, then the ants must be plaguing him again! I have to get him out of here!
"Vermin, all of you vermin! I'll build up my military and their straight lines will devour you!"
Germany and Korea couldn't help the smirks that crossed their faces. Korea didn't really like Japan to begin with, and Germany had just proven a point to the world congress meeting: Japan was still an incompetent nation.
Japan was now in his own raving state and looked at the other countries as though they were causing the oncoming sea of ants.
"All of you will be just like the ants! I won't let any of you in! Nobody gets in!"
England, however, was sympathetic towards the younger nation, but trusted China to take care of his younger brother.
Just as China was about to approach the unnerved Japan, however, his younger brother turned on his heel and bolted out of the room, leaving a startled China to find him.
