The Good Son
Part Eight


To say America was upset would be an understatement. The truth was, he'd been willing to pass the first two incidents off as accidents. Australia had been harder for him to ignore, but there was still the chance it had been a mistake - the other nation had always been a dare devil. But with Canada's disappearance - and, yes, it was a disappearance, he could feel a familiar sense of paranoia creeping through him. He didn't care about reports, fireworks, or drugs - there was no way Canada had hurt anyone. He knew his neighbor and brother, he told himself. Admittedly, not as well as he probably should, but better than others. Most of them couldn't have told you his name before, but now they were throwing it around like a hot potato.

He needed to talk to someone who'd be sensible about this! And if there was one person he could always count on to be sensible, it was England. There'd been no answer at his room, which was what had led him to the hospital. He'd just reached the wing where the three nations were under observation, when he heard the voice he was looking for.

"...someone to talk to." England was saying.

"But...Shifu?" Hong Kong stood next to him, gazing quietly at the older nation.

England seemed slightly embarrassed by the question. "It's something you have to be old enough to understand. Someday, maybe-"

"Who says I can't understand?" Hong Kong's voice got harsher. "Shifu?"

England offered him a weary smile. "I'm not saying you wouldn't have been a sympathetic ear. But you've never had a colony, Hong Kong. We've had our differences, but this is something he can understand in a way another can't."

"Another? Or just me?"

Something in the way Hong Kong was speaking bothered him. Though he'd usually break right into the conversation - after all he had something important to talk to England about! - America found himself hesitating in the doorway, watching.

"Any of the younger nations, I'm not singling you out." England patted his shoulder gently. "Especially now, with Canada missing..."

"Canada is the one to blame though, why does he count?" Hong Kong's face darkened even more.

When his ex-caretaker hesitated, America couldn't stay silent anymore. "Hey! You can't prove that!"

England looked startled to see him, but Hong Kong's look was downright venomous. It bothered him, like the tone he'd used earlier. He found himself watching the other nation suspiciously. "America, when did you get here?" England asked him, but he ignored him - marching up to Hong Kong determinedly.

"You can't prove Canada did anything. Saying he did is slander unless you can back it up!"

Even though he was towering over the other, Hong Kong didn't back down. "The evidence speaks for itself."

"The evidence is circumstantial! So he had those things, it doesn't mean he used them on the others!"

"With what's happened, the other nations certainly aren't simply dismissing it. And suddenly disappearing certainly seems suspicious."

"He's innocent until he's proven guilty." America growled.

"And who is the judge of that? You?" Hong Kong folded his arms together in his sleeves. "Your people have a lot of drug problems, how do we know you're not in this with him?"

"You-!"

"Enough!" England broke in. "Both of you stop, this isn't helping anyone. America, there is evidence against Canada - you can't deny that. But it isn't positive proof, Hong Kong. Right now nobody knows the truth."

Something flashed in Hong Kong's eyes. "You didn't hear him the other day when he was in here."

"Who?"

"Canada." Hong Kong replied. "I heard him say something about all the attention the others' were getting. And how nobody ever paid attention to him." The words seemed to disturb England, and the older nation looked away. America shot a glare at Hong Kong, but the other was smirking at him. "That certainly sounds suspicious, don't you think?"

"Nobody said he was an angel. Everybody thinks something selfish now and again-" America began.

"But not everybody says it, especially about someone who's been so badly injured. It sounds guilty."

"You're lying." He growled, positive it was the truth. Something about the way the other was acting. How his words seemed aimed at adding to England's doubts about Canada.

"Enough!" For the second time England broke in. "If Hong Kong says he said that, then I believe him."

The smug look Hong Kong shot him was like nails down a chalkboard. "But, England-!"

"I'm not saying I believe Canada is guilty, but..." The other closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening them again. "We don't know he's innocent either. Now, I'm going to sit with Australia for awhile. Did either of you want to join me?"

"There's something I need to do." Hong Kong excused himself. He stepped inbetween England and him, though, and America was certain it was on purpose. "England, I...if you want someone to talk to, please think of me."

"That's kind of you, Hong Kong, really. But I think I'll be fine now."

"I see..." Hong Kong's tone seemed flat. "I'll be going then." He glanced back once more at America before heading for the door.

"Did you plan on staying?" England asked him, and America realized he'd been watching Hong Kong's departing form.

Something was bothering him about how the asian island had acted. Badly. He forced a smile, though, as he turned to England. "Actually, I just remembered - there's something I really need to do right now! But I'll definitely be by later! And if anybody needs a Hero - you have my number!" He gave him a thumbs up.

England seemed to only shake his head in resignation. "Don't know why you came here to begin with, then, you git." He muttered before he turned to enter Australia's hospital room.

America refrained from answering, turning instead to follow Hong Kong's path out the door. Something about the entire conversation wasn't adding up, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.


China sighed as he studied the computer in front of him. With the meeting post-poned at least, and canceled at most, there was little for him to do. True, he could catch up on some of the work already piling back home. But the meetings usually provided a welcome reprieve from that, even if they'd all deny it and would usually complain how useless the meetings were. That's what they should be doing right now. Sitting around the conference table complaining about nothing getting done.

The door opened, and he glanced back with a frown that eased when he saw Hong Kong enter the room. He'd given the other a spare key in case he needed anything during the conference. He'd seemed to take it that meant he could use his room for a store room, and had several containers, including boxes of firecrackers, piled in the corner.

"Good morning, Shifu." He greeted, before going over to the containers. Apparently more interested in what he had in them than the room's other occupants.

China resisted the urge to groan over the lack of respect that showed. He had the urge to call England to complain about it, and found himself smiling. Despite the situation that had led them there, he found himself enjoying the time he was spending with the older nation.

"You left the conference with England last night."

China wasn't sure if he was fully surprised by the words, but something about Hong Kong's tone sounded tense. "I asked Russia to tell you I would, aru. Did you spend the evening with him, aru?"

"Russia? Of course not. He's your friend, not mine."

China frowned again, glancing at the younger nation, but he still seemed engrossed in whatever he was doing. "I suppose you don't know each other very well, aru."

"What did you talk about?"

"Aiyah, don't be nosey, aru." China turned back to his computer.

"He spent all night here...with you...do you suppose these walls are sound proof?"

China didn't glance over his shoulder. "England needed company last night, aru. And why-" His sentence was cut off by a loud bang, which made him jump to his feet. But Hong Kong had only set off a small firework in the corner of the room. "Don't do that, aru! The hotel made us pay for the carpet last time, aru!"

"It's too light to see them." Ignoring him, Hong Kong wandered over to the drapes, drawing one after another shut - sending the room into darkness.

"Aiyah! Kids, aru!" China picked up his hotel room phone when it rang. "Ni hao, C-" He cut off when the person on the line overroad him, wincing slightly. "It is nothing to be concerned about, aru. Just...a test of something for the conference, aru." The person spoke some more, and the older nation sighed. "I'm sure there won't be damages, aru." He winced when another bang came from the corner of the room, followed by a flash of light. "We won't test long, aru...any damages, aru. Xie-xie." He hung up the phone with a scowl. "Hong Kong!"

The phone exploded next to him when a firework hit it. China hissed as he was thrown to the ground, small pieces of debris hitting him, small flames making slight scorches on his robes. "Hong Kong- aiyah!" Pain exploded in his leg, and with a start he recognized the cold feeling of a knife as it sliced through skin and muscle. He kicked with his good leg, and hurt a grunt as his attacker was thrown back. He rolled to the side, gaining his feet, expecting some stranger to be in the room.

The sight of a stranger, he decided, would have been welcome. Instead Hong Kong was gaining his feet, blood dripping from the knife in his hand. "Hong Kong, aru?"


The hospital room was too quiet. England usually liked quiet, but the fact was he never acquainted Australia with quiet. Though he knew from experience the nation could be, but it wasn't what he considered normal. And at that moment he wanted normal. He wanted nothing more than Sealand to come storming down the hall, proclaiming he was a nation, while Seychelles drew fish all over the margins of the notes he'd carefully copied for her. And Australia's booming laugh should have been there, accompanying the whole mess.

There was a cup of cold tea on the stand next to him, barely touched. Not that the hospital tea had tasted very good, or very like tea at all really, but he'd drunken it before, so the full cup said a lot for his state of mind. He ran his hands through his hair, and for a moment didn't pay any attention to the groan - thinking it had come from he himself. It was the second one that had his head snapping up.

One of Australia's hands had risen to his head, and he groaned again. England was on his feet beside him in an instant. "Australia!"

The other nation groaned. "England, I'm not deaf, mate..." His voice was rough from lack of moisture and groggy from the drugs. "I feel like hell. Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital, Australia."

"Explains the ceiling, I didn't think the hotel's was white." His voice cracked, and England grabbed up his tea cup.

"I have tea, do you want water?"

"Want anything wet." He tried to push himself up, but sank back down with a groan. "What hit me?"

England put an arm around his shoulders, helping the younger nation raise himself up enough to take a sip from his cup. "An entire bucket of fireworks, you idiot. What happened?"

Australia grimaced as he swallowed. "Nasty stuff. Definitely hospital fare. What do you mean a bucket of fireworks?" He stared blankly ahead for a moment, before groaning. "Hong Kong. Must have had one backwards or something. Everything seemed fine and then-"

"Hong Kong?" England interrupted.

"Yah, said he had some new fireworks to test...England?"

Fireworks. Opium. The argument earlier with America. England pressed the call button, rising to his feet. "I have to go, let the doctor's look you over. For once, don't raise a fuss!"

"England, mate, what's going on-?"

"Australia, it was no accident. Hong Kong set the fireworks off on purpose."

"B-but why the hell-?" Australia began.

"I'll have to ask him, won't I?" England returned, disappearing through the curtain.

"Hold on a minute, England. England!"

But the other nation was already gone.


China had a list. Not an official list of course, but it was still a list. He'd started it a few centuries ago when it seemed that a few of his family members had an avid interest in his life. And not in a good sense either. Various names had occupied the number one spot over the years. Not once had Hong Kong occupied it, though. It looked like his list was past due for revision. "Hong Kong, I really think you need to put down the knife aru." Despite the blood soaking his pant leg, he managed to dodge the explosion to his left. "And the firecrackers aru!"

"Firecrackers are so pretty, aren't they? All light, and noise, and sound. And then nothing. Have you ever wanted to be a firecracker, Shifu?"

The list definitely needed revised. And some fast thinking needed to be done. Who'd have thought that in a modern era of guns and weapons of mass destruction that his greatest threat would be a knife and a fistful of firecrackers? The irony was not lost on him. "I do not like firecrackers that much...Korea invented them after all, aru."

Hong Kong chuckled at the joke. "If he heard you say that, even in a jest, he'd be thrilled. But I'm not jesting."

The firecracker was too close, even though he dodged it the sparks burned his skin. "What are you trying to accomplish, aru?"

"It's really simple, Shifu. You should know, because you wrote it." When the other nation didn't respond, Hong Kong smiled a cold smile before elaborating. "Kill one to warn a hundred."

China dodged another firework, and nearly missed that it was a faint. He brought his arm up in time to block the blow to his chest, but the knife dug through skin and muscle until it hit bone. "Aru!" Tears of pain blurred his vision. Ignoring the pain in his leg he used it to kick blindly at his attacker. A grunt of pain told him the attack had not missed, though. He ripped his arm free of the knife, placing a safer distance between them as he blinked through the tears to clear his sight. "What exactly is my death a warning about, aru?"

The kick had not been his best, but he was pleased by the pained expression on Hong Kong's face as he snapped the kneecap back into position. "You were too close to him. You...I never thought you were who I had to worry about. But suddenly you were too close, and I won't allow it!" He pointed the knife forward again.

"Too close to who, aru?"

Hong Kong lit another firecracker, and in the darkness around them the sparking light of the flame as it ate it's way slowly down the wick made him look all the more malevolent. "England. Nobody's allowed to be that close to Daddy but me..."

And as the events of the past week suddenly made all too disturbing sense to him, China realized the likelihood of escaping this encounter had just gotten frighteningly low.

To Be Cotinued...


Author's Notes:And we're back to the beginning, but it's not over yet! Darn, it's always one shots or epics with me...

Than-you so much for all the reviews! They really make my day everytime I see one.!

Salmon