A Small Collection Of Nations

by Phoenix Hoshika

The Rabbit and the Chrysanthemum

Sighing Yong Soo folded the last piece of laundry and placed on the pile that had grown past his thigh in the basket at his feet. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to carry something that impaired your vision, but he wanted to get the chore done with as soon as possible. Yong Soo couldn't see a thing in front of him as he walked. He definitely did not notice the Hetanoid that was a few inches shorter than himself nor was he aware that he had almost walked into him. Kiku could tell Yong Soo couldn't see him which made what he was going to do all the more amusing to himself. Sticking his foot out he tripped the taller Hetanoid. Yong Soo and the laundry fell to the floor.

There were plenty of ways he could have responded to what Kiku had done, but he simply picked himself up and told Kiku to put the laundry away himself. Denied the inward amusement he hoped to obtain by tripping Yong Soo, Kiku glared at him. Unfazed by the intense stare Yong Soo gave the short Hetanoid one of his own. In an instant they were locked in a battle of wills. Who was going to pick up the laundry? Hoeng was on his way to the kitchen for a glass of milk. He stopped dead in his tracks and texting when he saw the cloths all over the floor and the two other Hetanoids exchanging stares. The tension between them was almost tangible. Whatever was going on between them he didn't want to get caught in it.

"Hoeng-san." Kiku said a split second before the Chinese Hetanoid could move.

"Yeah?" Hoeng answered even though his first thought was to ignore him.

"Me and Yong Soo are in disagreement about something and your opinion might help us settle the matter.

"Like you don't say." Hoeng thought it being obvious the two were in some kind of conflict. "Maybe. It like depends."

"Yong Soo wants to keep something around that is obviously broken, however, it can't be fixed and I think it should be gotten rid of."

"It seriously doesn't make sense to hold on to something you can't fix, but I suppose if it has sentimental value there is no harm in keeping it around." Hoeng cautiously answered. He didn't know what they were arguing about but he wasn't about to take sides.

"Ah, thank you. That's a good point." Kiku said then turned his attention back to Yong Soo.

Hoping his response hadn't put him on either side of their argument Hoeng made himself scarce.

"I suppose if it has sentimental value it isn't really trash. Do you think Nix would agree?"

"Who knows." Yong Soo said with a sigh then started picking up the laundry. Nix barely knew him. If it weren't for the fact he was a Hetanoid Yong Soo was certain there was no way the young woman would have invited a man she hardly knew into her home. Even if their relationship was platonic he could tell there was a certain familiarity between Nix and Kiku he had no reason to believe was extended to himself. From the beginning he felt she took him out of pity. He was defective after all and he really couldn't expect anything more than that from a prospective owner. Before he believed it didn't matter and that it would be better than the alternative, but accepting it left a bitter taste in his mouth that wouldn't go away. He didn't want to die nor accept Nix's pity any longer. More than he was willing to admit the Korean Hetanoid was starting to feel very disgruntled. Even more than that the feelings of self-loathing had begun ebbing away at him as well. He wanted to go back to the days when he was blissfully oblivious to the world around him, back to when he understood very little. He may have been ignorant but at least he was happy then. He thought he could regain a bit of that happiness if he had an owner, but the joy he longed for still eluded him. Nix seemed so open to him, but now he wasn't sure anymore. How could he be with someone like Kiku around? He regretted ever speaking to her. Pity may have allowed him to survive, but it didn't allow him to live. So, why was he still hopping whenever Kiku told him to jump? A question that made him long even more for those sweet days of ignorance when such complex oxymoronic behavior would have never occurred to him.

Once he was done with task master Kiku's list of chores Yong Soo went to his room and collapsed on his bed exhausted. Rolling over he looked at the PC he was in the slow process of upgrading. He mentally went over the things he was ordered to do that day twice before he could accept that he had somehow actually finished them all. He was tired, but maybe fixing his computer, which was currently in pieces on the floor, would help get his mind off of things. Getting off of the bed Yong Soo begin disrobing. Walking over to where the dismantled computer lay he sat down and grounded himself before he started working on it, but found the task impossible as his vision started to blur. Giving up on the idea of reassembling his computer any time soon he got up and flopped back down on the bed. Usually he didn't go to sleep wearing nothing except his undershorts because it just felt weird, but he was too tired to care. Closing his eyes he fell asleep almost immediately.

While Yong Soo slept Kiku was busy trying to figure out what other odd chore he could give him to do. Cursing the fact the house didn't have a chimney he had to give the next list of tasks too much thought. He had already made Yong Soo do every conceivable task he could think of. He even made them more difficult than they needed to be; a cup of instant coffee spilled on the kitchen floor that Yong Soo had just finished mopping and waxing, a handful of crushed chips on an area of carpet Yong Soo had vacuumed only seconds before... Although he kept a straight face he couldn't help but laugh on the inside at the other Hetaloid's dismay when he did those kind of things. Although it started out of spite Kiku had begun to enjoy systematically bossing around and harassing Yong Soo. This enjoyment Is also what lead Kiku to escalate in his abrasive behavior toward him; tossing the kimchi Yong Soo was trying to make into the trash can while he preoccupied with his daily chores, pulling his laundry off the clothes line and dropping them ground making it so he'd have to wash them again, and various other things. Unable to come up with any other chores settled on trying to embarrass him. He was going to have Yong Soo go into the city to buy hentai manga. The bookstore he was going to send him to had a 'bring your own bag' policy which supposedly kept their prices low. They also sold reusable bags with handles that broke after a few uses. Kiku had planned to give him just enough money for the smutty manga. He smiled at the idea of young girls seeing him holding the books and keeping their distance from him and maybe even whispering to each other calling him a pervert. While he was at it why not have him pick up a long list of snacks he wanted?

Going back upstairs Kiku went straight to Yong Soo's room. When he entered he was upset to find the Korean splayed out on his bed face down wearing nothing but his underpants. Yong Soo had a well toned muscular physique which made Kiku feel self-conscious as his was very slender in comparison. At first he was just going to wake him up, but seeing the haunted strand of hair mirroring Yong Soo's sleeping face set him off.

Carefully he climbed into Yong Soo's bed. The more Kiku watched it the more irritated by it he became. Having decided to yank the annoying strand of hair from his head Kiku reached down and grabbed it.

Yong Soo woke up with a start. In an effort to keep him from getting up before he ripped the hair out Kiku jumped onto his back.

"What's going on?! I can't breath!" Yong Soo thought panicking as he thrashed around under Kiku's body. "Someone's pulling on Jeongsin! Who?!" He wondered, but soon realized it was Kiku.

Kiku had given the odd strand of hair a few good yanks that should have pulled it out ,but the hair wouldn't move and Yong Soo seemed to be gasping for air. "Am I really that heavy?" Kiku wondered then dismissed the thought. He was certain there was no way his body was heavy enough to suffocate the muscular Hetanoid. Looking down at the piece of hair in his clenched fist he decided to test his theory and let it go. He watched as Yong Soo panted for air then Grabbed the curl again. Kiku wrapped it around his index finger as he repeated tugged on it. Yong Soo cried out in pain.

Hoeng, who was in his room when he heard Yong Soo scream, nearly dropped his phone. He knew something like this would happen one day; a group of people living in a rural community suddenly murdered by a chain saw toting assailant in a hockey mask, but the roar of the motor and smell of gasoline a chainsaw would give off were absent. Maybe the movie he watched before bed the previous night scared him more than he realized, however, screaming was never a sign of anything good. Hoeng ran to see what was the matter. Clutching his cell he raised his arm as he opened the door to Yong Soo's room ready to throw it at whoever was attacking his housemate. Instead he saw Kiku on top of Yong Soo who appeared to be completely naked. The excessive amount of cloth of Kiku's haori and Kimono were draped over Yong Soo's body leaving only his bare shoulders and calves visible. Kiku had let go of the curl just as Hoeng opened the door leaving him to jump to a conclusion worthy of a BL manga.

"Like I had no idea. I seriously thought something was wrong, so I just came in. Like I'm sorry to have barged in you, but you should have locked the door. Seriously, if you're going to be that loud could you like make sure no one else is at home or go to a hotel or something? Maybe I should just take a walk and like try not to come back until around dinner. So, like I hope you two are done by then." Hoeng said then closed the door back.

Kiku's face had turned bright red from embarrassment as he hurriedly climbed off of Yong Soo who lied in the bed quivering. Tears were coming from the Hetanoid's eyes as he sat up trying to wipe away the unyielding stream. Kiku opened his mouth to say something, but stopped short and instead made a beeline out of his room straight to Nix's where he closed and locked the door once inside. "It's his own fault for being so cocky." Kiku repeatedly told himself as he tried to shrug off the feeling of guilt that was already eating him up inside.

At dinner it wasn't unusual not to see Kiku at the table, but Yong Soo being absent was odd.

"Is Yong Soo sick?" Sasha asked. His lively chatter made the meals she ate with the Hetanoids a little less awkward.

"He's probably just embarrassed because I walked in on him and Kiku." Hoeng said.

Sasha nearly choked on the food she had just put in her mouth.

"You okay?" Hoeng asked concerned although his expression didn't show it.

"Yes, I'm fine." Sasha said coughing a few times. "I just wasn't expecting what you said."

"They were pretty loud. I thought someone was being murdered." Hoeng continued.

"You don't have to tell me anymore." Sasha said worried about what he might say next.

"Really? I thought you'd totally be into guy on guy stuff."

"What could have given you that idea?!" Sasha asked shocked.

"Nothing, really. I just missed taking a picture of your face when I said I walked in on them."

Sasha's gaze lowered from his face to see he had been holding his cellphone the whole time. Her face contorted again and the almost unnoticeable flash on the cell flickered. Gasping the Russian-American rose from her seat. "You...! Give me that right now!"

"No way I'm transferring these to my cloud for later use." Hoeng said moving just out of arms' reach in case she decided to snatch the phone from him.

"What do you intend to use them for later?" Sasha asked moving closer to him.

"This and that." He answered.

"Don't you dare!" Sasha said then moved to grab the phone away from him. Tripping she collided with him and they both ended up on the floor.

"Sexual harassment!" Hoeng shouted.

"Nice try. Give me that phone!" Sasha said as she struggled with him for the device.

"Glad to see you two are getting along." Nix said. She had came in just as Sasha had pulled her family heirloom from hammer space.

"What's up?" Hoeng greeted as if nothing was the matter.

"I tripped." Sasha said standing up.

"Uh-huh..." Nix said eying the object that seemed to disappear into thin air when Sasha put it behind herself.

"We..." Hoeng started then stood up. "We were just talking about Yong Soo."

"Where is he?" Nix asked.

"Probably sulking in his room." Hoeng answered.

"What happened?"

Sasha gave Hoeng a 'You better not.' look just as he was about to speak. "Maybe you should ask him yourself." He said.

Carrying a tray of food Sasha had prepared for him Nix entered Yong Soo's room. The light was off. Balancing the tray on one hand Nix turned it on. Yong Soo was sitting on the floor in a corner with his head resting on his knees. When Nix turned on the light he lifted his head and glared at her. "Sorry, I was just bringing you something to eat."

Yong Soo gave a dismissive huff as he looked away from her. Nudging the door closed with her foot Nix walked over to Yong Soo and sat down beside him with the tray on the floor between them. "This isn't like you. What happened?"

"So you can pity me some more?"

"No, so I can help if I can."

"Just send me back to the lab."

"Why?! You know what will-

"It would be better than being here."

Nix fell silent. She had no idea he was so miserable and not a clue to why that could be. "I can just give you the emancipation papers. You wouldn't have t-

"And do what? I may have been locked away in a laboratory, but I know how it is for Hetanoids out here. Freedom means nothing."

"I don't understand. Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Because it's not enough that I'm only here out of your pity."

Nix felt a jolt go through her body at his words. It was true she did feel bad for him. She thought he was helping him escape his fate. She thought that was what he wanted. Looking at him her gaze traveled from his face to the usually perfectly curled string of gravity defying hair. It was crumpled and the spirit absent from it. "What happened?" Nix asked again.

Hearing the alarm in her voice Yong Soo looked up at her. "Your pet Kiku." He answered angrily.

"Did you two get into a fight?"

"You really have no clue do you? I guess it makes sense since we've both been hiding it. I'm just a fool for thinking it was for my benefit."

"Yong Soo what are you talking about?"

"From the moment I arrived here Kiku's been nothing but mean to me. Because I'm only here out of pity he threatened to convince you to send me back to Future if I didn't do everything he told me to do."

"So, the extra chores you've been doing?"

"Master Kiku said if I didn't do them you'd see how useless I am and send me back."

"I don't believe this." Nix said obviously upset. Standing up she turned her back to Yong Soo as she rubbed her forehead.

"Why not? Because it's coming from a defective Hetanoid like me?" Yong Soo asked standing as well.

"No!" Nix said then spun around. "It's because Honda is the one that's actually defective."

"What do you mean?" Yong Soo asked caught off guard by the unexpected information.

"Yes, I feel bad for you, but there is nothing honestly wrong with you."

Yong Soo pointed at the currently faceless crumpled curl on head.

"That is... well it's weird, but you're perfectly healthy physically and mentally." "The same can't really be said about Honda." Nix thought to herself.

"Tell me the truth is that je- is Kiku really defective?"

"Yes, he is. I haven't had the heart to tell him, but it's no excuse for him being an ass toward you."

"Are you going to tell him now?" Yong Soo asked anxious to see the stuck up Hetanoid taken down a peg or two.

"No."

"Why not?! It'd serve him right."

"Because, he needs to learn to respect others. It'd be too convenient to be forced to learn that lesson because you aren't what you thought you were."

"By not accepting others he would be hating himself."

"Exactly."

"I still think he needs to be told. It would at least put a cap on the bad attitude of his."

"It probably would, but the reason I haven't told him is because I'm worried it would only make things worse."

"So his pride will be wounded for a while. I'm sorry, but you can't expect me to feel sorry for him."

"It's not his pride I'm really worried about."

"Oh..." Yong Soo said finally starting to get an idea of how deep Kiku's defect actually was.

"I don't expect you to feel sorry for him, but please don't say anything about this to anyone."

"Fine."

"I'm serious please don't."

"I said I wouldn't." Yong Soo said feeling a bit irritated.

"Thanks." Nix said then walked over to him. Standing on the tips of her toes she kissed him on the cheek before leaving the room.

Yong Soo brought his hand to place on his face her lips had touched. He was happy that she kissed him, so why was he crying?

~*~ End Chapter ~*~