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Disclaimer: I do not own Axis Powers Hetalia.

Crane of Japan

Chapter Four

A spring breeze rustled the green leaves. They swayed to and fro, a soft glow of sunshine streaming through the gaps of the branches. Standing beneath the tree was a handsome youth, admiring the colourfulness and vitality of the garden. The flowers were just blooming, some still blossoms waiting to open up their pearl-like petals to the world around them. The youth touched an orange blossom, feeling the slight moisture at its' stem.

"Xiaodan!" A voice called.

Withdrawing his hand from the flower, he turned to the direction the voice was coming from. It was Yao, rapidly closing the distance between them as he rushed toward the garden.

"There you are-aru," the Chinese prince smiled, placing a hand on the other's shoulder.

"Ge-ge, take a look at the garden. It's lovely."

Yao turned and overlooked the garden, breathing in the sweet aroma of the trees and flowers. "Ah yes, it is beautiful-aru!"

Kiku nodded, standing alongside Yao to observe the scenery together. Many seasons had passed by; dark winters, sweltering summers, tender autumns and now spring had come again.

"Xiaodan," Yao said, still gazing onto the view. "You said before you were born in the spring-aru, right?"

"Yes," Kiku replied.

"In all these years, I'd never asked you-aru," Yao mused, glancing toward Kiku. "How old are you?"

"I have turned seventeen this spring," Kiku replied meekly, returning Yao's gaze.

"Already-aru?" Yao laughed, turning to face Kiku. Come to think of it, Kiku, the boy who had once only reached up to his waist now came close to his chin. He had lost much of the roundness in his face making the cheekbones more prominent, but traces of the childhood innocence still remained in his eyes and his smile.

"The day I entered the palace seems like a distant memory now," commented Kiku with a wistful look.

"Really?" Yao returned, memories of Kiku as a child filling his eyes. "I remember those days as though it were just yesterday-aru."

Kiku stole a look at Yao's kind, joyful eyes. They were the same eyes from the first day they met each other. Yao was still just as proud, just as admirable and just as kind-hearted. Over the years, they had spent most of their days together but surprisingly never grew bored of each other. In fact, the time they shared only made them the more closer. Kiku could not think of anyone he felt more comfortable with than Yao.

"Oh yes Ge-ge, were you after something?" Kiku asked, wondering what had brought Yao out in search of him.

"Ah, yes-aru!" He clapped his hand, Kiku's prompt reminding him that he had come baring news. "I received word that my cousin will be staying here at the palace for a while."

Kiku raised an eyebrow. "Your cousin?"

Yao nodded. "And, he'll be arriving tonight!"

"Tonight?" Kiku repeated in disbelief. "That is very abrupt."

"I know-aru!" Yao agreed with a broad grin. "Isn't it exciting-aru? I haven't seen my cousin for many, many moons now."

"I will get to the preparations to welcome him immediately," said Kiku, already running through the tasks for the preparations in his head.

There was a lot that had to be done and little time to spare.

-)-)-)

A few hours later, Kiku dropped to his knees at the entrance with the other servants, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. After much instructing and organising—rushing from one end of the palace to the other—and overall exerting a sheer amount of frustration, the preparations to welcome Yao's cousin was accomplished. It was a rare event for guests of such importance to visit with this short a notice. But Kiku was determined not to disappoint Yao, especially keeping in mind how much Yao was looking forward to re-uniting with his cousin.

"His Royal Highness, Prince Wang Hongkong..."

Hearing the loud voice announcing the arrival, Kiku straightened up. He then bowed to the floor as the doors opened, Prince Hongkong entering the building with his escorts. Kiku heard Yao get up onto his feet beside him and take a step forward.

"Hong! You've really come all the way-aru!" His happiness rang in his voice, a smile spread from cheek to cheek. "It's so good to see you-aru!"

A muffling of material sounded as the two cousins embraced.

"Like, it kinda really hasn't been that long, sort of."

"Yes it has-aru! Look, you're almost as tall as me now-aru! But other than that, you haven't changed at all-aru," Yao laughed.

"Cut it out Ge-ge..."

Suddenly, Kiku's heart skipped a beat. He felt a choking pain in his chest. Raising his head slightly, Kiku stared at the two cousins.

Ge-ge? He had never heard anyone else call Yao Ge-ge. Only he called him that...

Feeling Kiku's eyes on them, Yao and Hongkong turned toward him. A split second of thick tension arose when Yao met eyes with Kiku. The usual fondness in the younger boy's face had been replaced with a look of betrayal. Yao lost his words for a moment, confused and surprised by what he saw. Then, quickly Yao spoke again, soothing out the tension.

"A-Ah, Hong. Let me introduce you," Yao said, going to stand beside Kiku. "This is Xiaodan-aru."

"Your Highness, I am honoured to be in your divine presence," Kiku said, bowing low again. "My name is Xiaodan. If you require anything during your stay, please allow me to be of any service."

Hearing no response, Kiku peered up at Hongkong. The slightly older man was staring long and hard at him, as though he were a rarity that came across strange in the prince's eyes.

"Mmm," Honkong hummed, continuing his staring, making Kiku shrink back a little.

Yao ran a hand through his hair. "Hong?"

Finally, Hongkong's eyes wandered away from Kiku. "...Whatever," he mumbled.

This man was a mystery, Kiku was thinking, unable to figure out quite what was going through the other's mind. He swallowed and hesitantly opened his mouth. "The, eh, journey must have been long and fatiguing. Could a meal interest you at all?"

"Food?" Hongkong said. "Yeah, food...I'm like, seriously hungry..." His voice sounded disinterested, but his eyes lit up at the thought of dinner.

"Yes, enough formalities-aru," Yao declared. "Lets go and celebrate now-aru. There's so much to catch up on-aru."

-)-)-)

Now, Hongkong was not the only new face around the palace. The other was also an unexpected appearance. To be exact, he was not a new face but a familiar one for Kiku, although it had been years since he last saw this face.

The sudden occurrence was in the early morning. Dawn hadn't broken yet, the palace calm and fresh for a new day. Kiku had just finished his morning sword practice—something he had taken up years ago, influenced by Yao's infamous combat skills—and was walking back to Yao's quarters to put his sword away, when suddenly he caught sight of a figure in the corner of his eyes.

Was it a fellow servant? Wait, no, he was...

Kiku froze.

The man who came into view wore labourers clothes and was pulling a large cart of supplies along behind him. Kiku looked more closely, doubting his eyes.

No, there was no mistaking this man. This man he remembered in his earliest memories. The one who had been his mentor. The one who had always been by his side. Always, even when he and his mother had fled to this foreign land. All the way through until thatnight. The night when he had parted with his mother and also with this man.

A strong emotion surged through Kiku's body. His mind was completely blank. With a shaky intake of air, Kiku's lips quivered. "M-Matsu...Matsunaga!"

The man dropped the cart's ropes, utter astonishment overcoming his features as his face turned towards Kiku. Within a single breath, the man was by Kiku's side and they joined hands. The familiar touch of skin, Matsunaga's unchanging warmth, was overwhelming.

"Oh, what a miracle," Matsunaga breathed. "A most marvellous miracle!"

"Yes, truly unbelievable," Kiku said. It felt strange for him to hear himself speaking Japanese again.

The two fell silent, unable to find any word that could express their feelings. They simply stood, sharing a dear moment.

The one to break the silence was Kiku. "Matsunaga, what has brought you here? To this palace?"

The older man nodded, Kiku noted grey hairs speckling the man's head that hadn't been there before. "I have been in search for you, for almost five years I have spent in China. I heard rumours of a person in the palace who sounded just like you. So, I have been using every way I know to get into the palace to try and meet with that person. And I see now that the rumours are true."

"What a long road it must have been for you," Kiku said graciously. "There is so much I want to..." Kiku abruptly trailed off mid-sentence.

"Your Majes—"

The youth waved a hand in front of his mouth, signalling for Matsunaga to be silent. This was because Kiku could hear voices in the distance, probably servants doing their morning routines.

"Quick, come this way," Kiku murmured, beginning to lead the way. "I will take us to a place we can talk in privacy."

The two walked in silence, the cart rattling its wheels against the footpath. Shortly, they arrived at a small building, one used for storing winter linens. Here, no-one would see them or listen in on their conversation.

Once inside, Kiku firmly closed the door and fetched two stools for them to sit on. There was little space in the musty room but they were able to get comfortable enough.

Looking Kiku up and down, Matsunaga released a long sigh. "How you've grown up to be a fine young man, despite everything you have suffered, Your Royal Majesty. I am most thrilled to learn the rumours about you were true, however," then Matsunaga's face twisted with sorrow, "if all I have heard are indeed the truth, it pains my very soul that you have been enslaved by the Wang House and forced to labour for the crown prince Wang Yao..."

"Matsunaga," Kiku said in a soothing tone. "I do not suffer, I merely see this as my fate, my role the Heavens have chosen for me. I assure you I am treated well. In all honesty, the prince is my saviour for he took me in and gave me a future when I was lost and alone. He has a kind heart."

Matsunaga bowed. "It is you, Your Majesty, who is kind hearted. And not only do you have a kind heart but also possess a willpower, so strong that the raging typhoons could not bend it." Then Matsunaga took a long look at Kiku again and said in a soft voice, "So strong, just like your dear mother. And, just as I had thought you would, you have grown up to look just like Her Royal Highness too..."

Matsunaga almost felt as though he saw the Empress herself reflected in Kiku's eyes. The way he held himself, the contours of his face, they were all just like hers...

"Matsunaga, do tell me about how everybody is doing," Kiku said eagerly. "How is Mother? And Father? Mother did return to Japan safely didn't she?"

The room suddenly grew quiet, Kiku's questions hanging in the air. A deep frown appeared on Matsunaga's face which Kiku took as a bad sign.

Kiku bit his lip as the silence continued. In his mind he was screaming for Mastunaga to just spit out the answer but there was another part of him that did not want to know the truth.

"Speak," Kiku finally whispered. "Mastunaga..."

All at once, Mastunaga bent foward, his head hanging low. "Your Royal Majesty," he exclaimed. "The Emperor and Empress, your father and mother, have deceased."

Kiku stared. What was he saying? What on Earth had he just said?

"Father and Mother have...they have...deceased?"

"Yes," The older man choked out. "Yes..."

All strength was leaving Kiku's body and he slowly began slumping forward. "But...how is that even possible...? It...it isn't...how..."

The world crumbled around him, darkness enveloping his soul. He tried to scream but only a weak sound passed through the knot in his throat. He began to moan, as though he were in pain. Tears streamed through his closed lids, staining his face and his clothes and his heart.

The next thing Kiku knew, Matsunaga was saying something to him, the older man blurry in his teary vision.

"Your mother passed the evening of that terrible storm," he was saying.

"You don't mean the night she told me to run?" Kiku asked in horror. "In the bamboo forest?"

A nod.

"What happened?" Kiku breathed tensely.

"It was her wish that I not tell anyone about her death," Mastunaga said apologetically.

Kiku was dumbfounded. He was not even allowed to know about the death of his own mother?

"However," Mastunaga said slowly. "As I look how you've grown, I believe it is only right to inform you of all of what has happened."

Kiku's hands shook as he held his breath for what he was about to hear.

"Your mother took her own life by seppuku, right in front of my eyes."

A look of shock crossed the young prince's face. Mastunaga clenched his fists and continued his story.

"She did not want you to witness her death, thus she sent you to run as far away as you could. She had asked that I cremate her remains and scatter her ashes in the seas. And so I did. She passed on with honour."

Kiku's throat felt dry and his voice came out raspy as he said, "Why did this have to happen?"

"As she mentioned to you, she saw it as her fate to bring you to a safe place. In order to leave no traces or clues of your whereabouts, she took her own life. It was crucial for no-one to find out you had crossed to China. I then returned to Japan where I spread word that both the Empress and her son were assassinated."

"By whom?"

"The rebel armed forces," Mastunaga replied.

"Rebels?" Kiku said in confusion.

"The Imperial Family was in a delicate position. Just after you escaped the Imperial Palace, our country was invaded by people from the west."

"Invasions?" Kiku said, everything so new to him.

"Yes, your father unfortunately had not succeeded in some negotiations that were taking place with the west. The westerners took this as a provocation, an insult and began attacks on our nation. It was a tragedy, many innocent lives lost. Angered citizens put the blame to your father and..."

"...executed him," Kiku finished.

"Since you were not there to take the seat as Emperor, your cousin Honda Kyonosuke stepped up to the position," Matsunaga explained.

"If I were there, I could have supported my father during the crisis, " Kiku said in remorse. "I could have protected my family..."

"But that is why your mother made the decision to bring you here," Matsunaga said. "She and your father had thought carefully about the crisis. In the worst case scenario in which something were to happen to your father, they thought it was dangerous for you to become Emperor."

"W-why?" Kiku stammered. Did they not trust in him? Did they not see him fitting of such a responsibility?

"Because of your young age at the time," elaborated Matsunaga. "There have been similar cases in the past and when an Emperor arises who is still not even close to coming of age, he is target for malicious manipulation. Those who are only interested in power and dominance 'uses' the young child for their own ambitions. So, until you were old enough, the late Emperor and Empress wished for you to remain hidden."

"I see..." Kiku finally said after taking a long breath. "Nothing had reached my ears of the crisis in Japan or about the deaths of my family...I believe I need to learn more about the details of the situation."

"Your Highness, I will inform you of everything that I can offer," Matsunaga said.

"Thank you," Kiku said gratefully. "However, we have spoken for too long. People would be wondering where I am. It won't be wise to start any suspicions."

"You are right," agreed Matsunaga.

"When will you be in the palace again?" Kiku asked.

"Yes, I am here every ten days in the mornings," Matsunaga replied.

"Then, we shall meet again in ten days time."

With that decided, the two wasted no more time in the storage. Matsunaga immediately went back to disguising himself as a labourer and Kiku became Xiaodan again.

As soon as Kiku returned to his room, he dropped to the floor, folding his body over his legs. He had felt dizzy the entire walk back to the building. He did not bother with drawing the drapes, even though the sun had already peaked over the mountains.

Bereaved, his emotions plummeted to the depths of grief. He was so consumed by sadness that not even Yao's voice reached his ears.

He then developed a fever. He was only vaguely aware of the doctor who laid him on his bedding and assessed his health. He heard Yao's voice, but it sounded too far away.

"Xia...an...Xi...n..."

Then, the voice was lost within the waves of Kiku's ocean of swimming thoughts.

As he lay grasped in the hands of sorrow, little did he know that the clockworks had already begun spinning.

-)-)-)

NOTE: Thank you for reading this chapter! And, the reviews were really great and helped me keep writing! Thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Apologies, but as always, please review!

Seppuku: In short, a traditional form of suicide in Japanese culture.