Chapter Twenty

A/N I know I shouldn't be making promises literally the second week of school, I really hope to keep posting once every week… and then I look at my plan for this fic and realize that it could literally take me years at this rate… so.

When I have breaks or a chance I'm going to be writing multiple chapters and trying to post twice a week when possible. Just a hope though. A/N over.

More time has passed. Three weeks, perhaps a month, since the aforementioned meeting. In this time China and Russia have gotten along surprisingly well, something America's government was clearly less-than-thrilled about. (Not that either of the allies cared.)

Russia has talked with Japan a few times, every America once or twice, but was still getting the feeling that he was being ignored. He was okay with this, the project was his in the first place, but it was still a rough blow when he first felt it. When he had proposed the idea to Japan he hadn't cared about the outcome for China. Now, as they got along well instead of reasonably, he was having second thoughts about it.

He probably wouldn't fully care if something bad happened, but there was now that twinge of guilt in the back of his mind, and it stung.

"Oh really? We've been getting along great aru!" China smiled pointedly, nearly running into the counter in his rush to bring Japan tea, "Why do you not like that?"

Japan accepted the drink with a nod of thanks, but put in back down on the table immediately, sighing. "I'm not annoyed at your friendship, I don't have any reason to say or think such a thing. However, I think you should be careful, Russia can be dangerous…"

"Dangerous? So can you aru," China smirked, firing back the argument as soon as he plopped down next to the smaller country, "and so can I, if he wants to hurt me I'll hit him right back,"

"He has bombs Yao, hydrogen bombs, atomic bombs, nuclear bombs," Japan rubbed his eyes, "you don't want to feel one of those, especially because apparently humans found a way to make them worse…"

China frowned, "I regret that that happened to you, but it wasn't Russia who did that, it was America. Don't you get along with him?"

Japan groaned, "that isn't the point! I was just saying that Russia can be dangerous!"

"He can, I'll agree with that," China nodded sympathetically, "but as I said, if he finds it amusing to hurt me I can and will start another war,"

"But that's the thing," Japan grumbled, "we don't want another war so quickly, there has been too much death, too much destruction..."

"And that's unfortunate aru," China nodded, "so that's why I'm not going to reject him,"

Japan shook his head, "How will that help? If you stop getting along then a war will start. It's inevitable!"

"As will one if you and that kid stop being agreeable, he could easily destroy you, and I correct aru?" By 'that kid' he was referring to the American personification, who was much younger than anyone else mentioned in the conversation.

"Yes, but that will take time!" Japan tried to argue.

"And Russia and myself will take a while to hate one another as well! If I just stop talking to him, or for fucks sake, ignore him in the first place. There's no way he is going to like that aru!" China shook his head, "Besides, I don't see the problem with being nice if both of us are enjoying it,"

Letting out a deep sigh, Japan nodded, "Okay," he sighed again, shoulders sinking, "Okay sure, that's valid."

"Thank you aru," China rolled his eyes, "didn't think I would ever have an argument about whether or not I can talk to someone I've known for thousands of years…" Japan raised an eyebrow and China's upper lip twitched, "other than with humans I mean, that happens plenty aru."

"Thanks for the clarification," Japan nodded, "I understand."

There was a bitter discomfort between the two now, but that was expected. That was alright, even if their accumulated conversational aggression had heightened significantly. China stared into Japan's eyes, though the shorter nation refused to return the gaze.

"Kiku," he whispered, but Japan turned away further. If China were more naive he might have thought his companion was crying.

The shorter of the two was forcibly playing a game of keep-away with his eyes, keeping just out of his former ally's reach. He looked sad, that was for certain (or perhaps it was angry, China wasn't the best with specific emotions), but that didn't mean he was going to cry. It took a lot to make one of them cry. Death of loved ones, extreme pain (emotional or physical), even stress, but it wouldn't happen suddenly.

"Oh come on aru," China tried to smile, leaning over the table just far enough to grab hold of his friend's hand, "I'll be fine, if that's what you're worried about. This is just like England being around France and making up, but less-" he paused, fumbling with words, before giving up, "...sexual aru,"

They made eye contact as China trailed off, Japan's face still rested in his palm. It was silent for just a second, the calm wiring of an electrical fan in a far away room, the chirping of a songbird outside a window. China smiled slightly, as if cautiously, both of their hands still clasped together over the table.

Japan snorted out a puff of air, his eyes rolling close before snapping open once more. Sitting up straighter he pulled his left arm away from the other's grasp, "Okay," he whispered, "I'll take it,"

China nodded, that soft smile still present on his face, "Hm," he hummed in agreement before shifting his weight and standing, silently asking Japan to follow him. Japan blinked at this, confused by his companion's actions. A short 'but you just got me tea' was all he had time to wonder out loud for.

China rolled his eyes, "and you haven't drank it yet aru, just follow me,"

So Japan sighed and stood up, off-handedly causing China to laugh in mild amusement as his knee loudly cracked. Japan blushed and pouted involuntarily, "Really?" he muttered, glancing at his friend, "you do that all the time…"

"I know aru, but…" China trailed off into another laugh when he saw Japan's pout, "why are you looking at me like that? You make fun of yourself for being old too!"

"Yeah but you are still older than me…" Japan lip twitched into a semi-smile.

"Yes aru, and I wear it like a badge of honor as I should," China nodded. Japan rolled his eyes as the other East Asian nation started to walk but followed anyway. Their banter continued as they traveled through the house until Japan finally asked the question that he was itching to know the answer to.

"If you don't mind Yao," Japan bit the inside of his cheek, "where are you taking me? It feels like we're going in circles, I know your how is bigger than mine but this feels excessive…"

"We were going in circles aru," China smirked, finally opening a door and slipping inside, raising his voice almost comically in an expression of humour before turning the light on, "I was seeing how long it would take you to notice!"

Japan blinked and stepped into the room as well, "...why though?"

"Why what?" China asked. Focusing on the piles of stuff that surrounded them, bending down on one knee and fishing through one pile in particular. They seemed to be in some sort of bedroom, or it could have been a bedroom at some point. Instead it was now being used as some sort of storage closet. Finally, as it seemed Japan hadn't heard him, China straighted his back and turned glanced over his shoulder, "...why what aru?"

"Uhm," Japan tried to remember why he had asked, now focused on the mess in the room, "I don't…"

Seeming to notice that he was preoccupied, and already guessing what by, China looked embarrassed, "Sorry, I should have warned you about the mess aru, I just haven't cleaned this room out yet…"

"Yeah…" Japan blushed, "it's fine, I just thought you liked cleaning and stuff…"

Snorting, China went back to searching through the pile, "Enjoying cleaning is a bit of an overstatement aru, I just like things to be clean…" he didn't see Japan nod but he continued anyway, "besides, this was Hong Kong's room,"

Japan blinked, "This was his room?"

"Did you think it was mine?" China rebutted almost emotionlessly. Japan blinked in surprise at the blankness of the statement but was quickly brought back to reality when China spoke again, "I'd never leave a mess like this in a room I use, that's disgusting aru!" brushing off the initial shock now that there was at least an octave change in the sentence, Japan rolled his eyes.

"He doesn't live here anymore though, does he? And this is your house, so I don't think he'd be so angry if you at least sorted it…"

It was quiet for a second, and Japan almost regretted his decision to mention such a soft subject. China finally sighed, "I know," standing up, now holding a bag in his arms, he continued, "But I'm still hanging onto the hope that he doesn't leave for good," resisting the urge to mention that it was partially his own fault that Hong Kong left, Japan tried to get a good look at the object China was holding as he passed by. There was nothing particularly distinctive about it, but he was sure that he knew it from somewhere.

So, flipping the light switch back off as he left, Japan followed his friend out the door. Their feet padding on the floor in succession, Japan tried to remember where the hell he knew the bag from, because it certainly wasn't from any recent time period. And, more worryingly, if it wasn't from recently then why in the world was it in Hong Kong's old room?

Silently, Japan wondered why he had even followed China if they were just going back to the kitchen but he continued on anyway. He was surprised when they continued into the living room. Though it was a pleasant surprise to be sure, he still stopped in the doorway, watching the older country sit down on the couch and turn the bag over in his hands.

When China glanced up at him, as if asking why he hadn't followed him into the living room, Japan nodded, "I was just…" he stuttered as his face reddened, "wondering if I should go get my tea or not…"

"Fine with me aru," China nodded simply, "If you want to drink it,"

Japan chewed the inside of his right cheek once more, unsure whether it would be more polite to get the tea or not. Finally he decided that he would get it later and stepped into the room, cautiously sitting on the couch next to China. It was then that it struck him, perhaps harder than before, that they were enemies. This behavior- this friendship- would not be appreciated by either of their bosses. Though it seemed unlikely that China's dragon boss would discourage it, unfortunately their outranking human leaders were much harder to convince that they weren't conspiring to overthrow either of their governments behind closed doors. (To this Japan rolled his eyes, it was ridiculous to think such a thing. If they were conspiring their people most likely would be too, so if their bosses were really looking for signs it would be much easier to study their fellow humans.)

"S-so," Japan looked up, his eyes forcefully brightening, "what's with the bag?"

"Oh," China nodded, "You're wondering why my bag was in Hong Kong's room aru?"

"No-" Japan started before reconsidering, "Well," he continued, nodding once, "Yeah maybe, why did he have it?"

"He used to take my stuff a lot, but I'm not sure exactly why but he probably wanted to use some of it," China explained, "but anyway, what was your original question aru?" He rested his chin on his hand, turning and smiling softly at the smaller black haired country.

Blushing a light pink, Japan tightened his lips together, "I-I was wondering, what's with the bag Yao?"

"'What's with it'?" China smirked, "What do you mean? It's my medicine bag, I just found it a few days ago aru…" when Japan looked just as confused as before he blinked, "You don't recognize it aru? I'm sure you've seen it before,"

"Yeah, sorry I don't remember every moment of my life," Japan started to say, rolling his eyes. But then it struck him. He had seen this bag before, and it was exactly what China said, a medicine bag, or more accurately, a storage compartment for ingredients. "Oh wait," Japan breathed, leaning over his friend and placing a hand on the bag, rubbing his fingers over the faintly dyed embroidery. Using his other arm as balance, pushing on China's chest and forcing him to lie back against one of the arms of the couch, Japan squinted at the fabric. It was faded but it was the real thing, there were the same patterns, the same slightly stained black and red fabric.

Ignoring the smaller man's elbow digging into his stomach China handed the bag over, pushing against the other's arm until he was released. He sat up, "Yeah, this is the actual bag aru. I was really surprised it was still intact, I haven't seen it in centuries…"

"Well," Japan shrugged, "maybe you did but you didn't pay attention to it…" his eyes were trained on the patterns but when he found nothing of interest there he awkwardly made eye contact and opened the bag.

But as he peered inside China just laughed, "there's nothing in there, I already checked aru, only a couple of leaves that I can't identify,"

Japan nodded, mouth slightly open as he moistened his bottom lip, "So, uh," he murmured, handing the bag back, "he couldn't have hid it for that long right? He hasn't been here that long…"

"True…" China muttered, crossing his legs and tapping the bridge of his nose with one long index finger, "he did just recently leave aru…"

"And he just very recently became an official personification, we didn't know that he was going to stick around much longer not so far back, and we were convinced he was a micronation just a few years ago..." Japan rolled his eyes, "I think you lost this and he found it, there is no way he could have known,"

"I'm not saying that didn't happen aru, in fact, that's most likely," China lifted one shoulder, "but it's strange that he didn't tell me about finding it, huh?"

"He wouldn't have seen you use it, he probably just thought it was all-" Japan quickly forged a wide smile for the sake of a realistic impersonation, though his eyes remained rather dead, "hip and cool," the smile melted away again and formed his regular expression once more, "I don't think you could blame him, especially if you weren't using it,"

"True," China yawned, eyes rolling shut as he brought a hand up to cover his face, "Sorry," he blinked once he had finished yawning, "I'm really tired aru,"

"Why are you tired?" Japan tilted his head to one side comically, general curiosity painting his young features, "are you not sleeping well,"

"That's…" China shifted his lower jaw a bit and one eye twitched, "that's one way to put it aru,"

"Are things stressful?" Japan's eyebrows lowered with sincere worry, "what's wrong?"

"I can't say exactly aru," China sighed, eyes blurrily focused on the bag he was turning over and over in his hands. The bag wasn't a medicine pouch or anything, it wasn't traditional or used widely. He had just personally found it helpful in carrying plants and other things from place to place. Thinking about the past, it wasn't until Japan stuttered a confused, 'w-why…?' that he shrugged and explained his first statement as simply as possible, "legal reasons, and I haven't seen my boss in awhile,"

"The human?"

"No," China shook his head, looking slightly agitated, "I've seen him a lot, I haven't seen my regular boss in quite some time…"

"Oh." There was nothing that Japan could do to help with that, so silence continued as a member of their conversation for a bit longer. Finally, done with the awkward tension, he spoke up again, pressing further, "Is… is there anything else?"

China bit his lip, "You know those expressions that some Americans- or is it British people? I don't know aru- use? The 'someone walking on your grave' one?" He looked over at Japan for confirmation and when he nodded, China continued, "well recently I've felt like that aru, just the cold shivers and stuff…" as if on cue, he shuddered, "and I feel like I'm being watched all the freaking time, I hate it aru,"

Japan blushed. He knew at least partially why he felt like he was being watched, this was of course because he was being watched. Yet he resisted the urge to bring back their earlier argument and say 'are you sure it doesn't have to do with Russia?' or something equally as rash. "Do you… have you been ignoring those feelings or what?" he shifted his weight awkwardly, "is it Rome or something?"

China rolled his eyes, "It's not Rome, he died a long time ago. And, also, I haven't been ignoring them aru. Usually when I get these chills they mean something and I am NOT going to ignore my instincts, they've kept me alive this long, right aru?"

Again resisting the intense urge to throw Russia under the bus, Japan pressed on, "If it's been keeping you awake you really should at least try to ignore them…"

"Or I could search for why it's been bugging me aru," China rolled his eyes, "but either way I'm going to lose sleep over it, so why care?"

"Because you've been losing-!" But Japan deflated, leaning his head back and closing his eyes in defeat, refusing to blow up at such a useless thing. "...nevermind," he whispered, "but you should try to sleep,"

"I'm not that tired aru," China rolled his eyes, "you sound like how I must sound to you,"

"Probably."

Nodding, China gestured to the bag, "but it's good I've found this, I've been talking with Russia a lot recently, but he just went back to his capital yesterday for a meeting with his boss, so I probably won't see him much…"

If he had cat ears, Japan's would have flattened, "Russia again?"

"Yeah, why?" China seemed genuinely confused for a moment, but then recognition seemed to hit him. Groaning, he rubbed his temples, "I told you we've been talking and stuff, why in hell do you care so much?"

"Do you think he's a reason you haven't been sleeping well?" Japan blinked, truthfully asking, it could have been a possibility. Though he couldn't force the two apart, as a war would start against him whoever he shoved away first, it was still important to know.

Spluttering, China blushed bright red, "Russia aru?! Why would he be making me lose-"

"いやいやいやいやいや!" Japan shook his head frantically, waving his arm violently in surrender, "Not like that! I just mean…"

But as he trailed off China's blush reddened and he shot back quickly, "What in the world could you mean by that aru?"

"I…" Japan bit his lip, "I mean, maybe you have been talking too late at night?"

"And that would be my fault as much as his," China was still blushing, "even if he's curious about my medicine and stuff he still isn't' at fault!"

"He's what now?" Japan blinked, arms freezing next to his face. Medicine? Was it possible that Russia was making progress without the rest of their group? Had he possibly miss-heard?

"Interested in my medicine aru," China repeated, the pink tone of his cheeks softening but still clear, "did you think I was going to bore him to death? I'm not interesting enough to be his friend aru?"

"No not at all! I don't think you're boring, and I'm sure he doesn't eithe- wait what?"

"What what?" China frowned in return, "You aren't making much sense KIku,"

"Neither are you!" Japan argued, "So. you mean to say that he wants to know how it works, what you can do with it, etcetera?"

"Yes," China's frown shifted into a confused but rather blank stare, "are you surprised by that aru? It's insanely interesting if you put time into studying the subject…"

"I'm sure it is," Japan nodded, "So… you were looking for the bag so you could… practice or something?" He assumed this was the case. Even if the older country wasn't going to use the bag it could still be sentimentality inspiring. And surely practice would be necessary, Japan hadn't seen his past care-taker use the art-like magic in, well, centuries.

"Yes I was," China nodded, the blood in his cheeks having finally subsided though he still looked embarrassed and ever so slightly caught off guard. Japan took pleasure in his embarrassment. Even if he cared about the other there were still grudges being held, "he was curious so I wanted to show him how it worked, and embarrassing myself in the process didn't sound ideal."

That explanation made sense, but Japan couldn't help but to feel a twinge of guilt. He felt like he was leading the other down a dangerous path, even if Russia was the one orchestrating how their relationship was going.

Medicine that was used in place of magic, or, as England had crudely explained, "potions by a potions master who doesn't acknowledge magic". The only thing China lacked from the description was his belief in magic. He believed many things, ghost stories, folk tales, and many other similar things. Yet Japan had never seen him refer to his medicine as anything further.

He didn't seem to believe that he was capable of magic… but what if he was?

A/N I'm so sorry this was a day late! I usually have one chapter stocked up in case I can't write that week, but I still wrote this during second week in highschool (I was running late). Well, take 'in' school as a grain of salt. Anyway, have a nice day/night! A/N over.