His head was hurting. Oh my, China has really done it now. Why on earth did he say so much to Russia? It didn`t help talking to him from the time he drowned his sorrows about Japan becoming a nation and it didn`t help now either. Or... maybe talking about it actually helped somehow. His heart felt a bit...lighter? But his blubbering was most probably a temporary aid. Like the alcohol that was now making his head pound, the good feeling in his heart would disappear along with the hangover. China put a hand to his forehead and covered himself up comletely with a blanket.
"Aiya... As soon as this fucking holiday has gone by, I promise to never make fun of England whenever he is drunk..." With that he passed out before he had the chance to lay down.
China heard knocking. He knew his head was killing him, but was it possible to hear knocking if it was painful enough?
Knock, knock. There it was again as well as other sounds.
"China?"
Oh no... Did he start hearing voices in his head too?! Something was shaking him, seemed like someone physically shaking him.
The shaking did not stop, China decided to take the blanket off in order to face whatever imagination that was bothering him.
"It was about time for you to wake up!"
China was dumbfounded, in front of him there he stood again.
"Russia?! Why can`t you just leave me alone?!"
"The door wasn`t locked this time..." Russia said innocently.
China covered himself up with the blanket again.
"Of course not, you broke the lock, remember?! Just answer me. What do you want? I have nothing more to tell you!"
"Come with me" Russia said and outstretched his hand even though he knew China wouldn`t be able to see it.
China curled himself to a ball. He was mumbling for Russia to go away, but Russia remained standing where he was. After a while he picked up the ball that was the Chinese nation and tossed it on his shoulder.
"What are you doing? Put me down, Russia!"
China`s exclaims were muffled, Russia made sure to hold China tight and be sure the blanket China was underneath was bounding him very well so he would not get the chance to physically resist...and also to suffocate him a bit.
"He can breathe when we arrive..." Russia mumbled to himself and did not respond to China`s cries.
"
China was practically smashed to the floor when Russia finally stopped walking. His walk had been pretty slow, why did he walk so slowly? He knew he wasn`t heavy and that Russia was pretty strong, as the matter of fact, he was nothing compared to the many things Russia used to carry! Was he maybe using the time for his own behalf? That sick bastard...
"That hurt, you know! Were you trying to kill me and then carry me to a grave?!"
It was silent and he felt... warm. China still had the blanket on him, he could not see were he was now. He knew Russia did carry him outside, he felt the bitter winter wind blowing through the blanket. He did not know for how long he was carried, he fainted after a while due the lack of oxygen. He expected to still be outside, but he wasn`t. The ground was hard and well heated. Was this a wooden floor inside a building? China struggled to get the blanket off him but he found a way eventually.
"Merry Christmas!"
China was astonished and somehow shocked as well. In front of him stood the rest of the Allies and the Axis without Japan. China threw the blanket away and got up furiously.
"What is this?! Where am I? Where have you taken me Russia and what are you all doing here?!" China wailed.
"It must be remaining alcohol..." England said quietly.
He went off for a second and came back with a glass of water. He handed the glass to China, there was no way he would let America "be the hero" again. As England stepped back, Italy stepped forward.
"I asked Russia to bring you here, he told us what you told him. I am so sorry it happened to you, China... And during Christmas time! " Italy said.
China wasn`t sure what to think. Sure it wasn`t good to find out he wasn`t speaking to a friend when he deep down knew he needed one, but it was somehow also unexpected to find out Russia didn`t tell the others so they could make fun of him. China didn`t say anything, he was downing his drink. Italy reached out and took the empty glass from him.
"You shouldn`t drink so fast, you know... Stay where you are, I have something for you!"
And with that Italy went off with glee. Like England, Italy quickly came back. With him he had a big package in his hands. He handed it to China.
"I have brought you a present, hope you like it. Merry Christmas!"
China took the package and then just stood still.
"What are you waiting for? Open it up, dude!" America said enthusiastically.
America`s loud voice made China snap out of whatever trance made him stand still. He carefully untied the ribbon and ripped the paper off. Once he found out what was inside, China was brought back to a new trance. In his arms he was now holding a big Hello Kitty plush doll! The plush doll wore a red overall dress with a matching bow by its ear. It was big, bigger than a standard pillow and softer than one too. Most importantly: It did not have a mouth. As China was looking at it he made faces, his brows furrowing and his lips protruding.
"Italy, why on earth did you give a 4000 year old male nation such a girly toy?!" Germany angrily whispered to Italy.
"Yeah, look at his face. He hates it!" England added.
China looked up at Italy with teary eyes and a smile on his mouth. Before Italy could do anything else, he was tackled down by China and received a rib crushing hug.
"This is the cutest thing I have ever received, thank you so much, aru!"
Aru? Was China becoming more himself again now?
"You`re welcome, China. May you have the merriest Christmas ever!"
Italy hugged him back. Everybody knew how Italy liked to hug others, he must have felt as happy as China to get one. China loosened up the hug and looked around.
"So, where is Japan?" China asked.
America took his hand and towed him towards the TV.
"Come, this is something you must see!" America said.
China was dumped on the sofa, the others sat down next to him and stood around him. England turned on the worlds news and that channel now showed Japan sitting alone by a panel. Japan leaned towards the microphone.
"In 1937 the Nanking massacre began. The massacre was done by me, my people. Japanse soldiers commited such awful and barbaric crimes... People know about this, there are still survivors out here and I have been denying this ever happened, denying my people did this... It can never be forgiven, I know, but I am so sorry for everything. Sorry to have done this and sorry for denying. China, I am very sorry"
Then it was cut back to the reporters and before another case was brought up, someone turned off the TV.
It was quiet for a little while till China started sobbing.
"You better damn be, Japan!" China cried out and put his hands to his face.
Italy put his arms around China. At first nothing happened but eventually China sank into Italy and cried even harder. All the other countries looked at the two bewildered.
"Japan apologized to the whole world... Why is China crying?" America asked.
France put a hand on America`s shoulder.
"This is the final blow, mon ami. When there is no sad tears, there are only tears of happiness left" France said.
Italy put his hands on China`s shoulders and lifted him up.
"Do you feel relieved, China?" Italy asked China gently.
China nodded slowly. Now he was the one who put his hands on Italy`s shoulders in order to get himself up from the sofa. China was no longer sobbing, it was cut down to sniffles and he dried tears from his eyes.
"It was a war, but I should never have let this happen"
China turned around. It was Japan! Japan stood by the doorway afar from the others. China still had a sad face but that did not stop him from approaching Japan. As China was facing Japan, the two stood still looking at each other. Japan was carefully tilting his head left and right, probably waiting something would happen. China slowly raised his arms and got closer to Japan. Once he was close enough, he wrapped his arms carefully around Japan as if he was about to touch something fragile. Unlike China, Japan was not careful when he returned the gesture.
"I will never forget this have happened. But you are my little brother, Japan, no matter what you say or think. I hate what you have done towards me, but now I realize I have never hated you, I can only love you." China whispered in Japan`s ear.
Japan did not say anything, he only hugged China harder.
"And thank you" China said before he let go of Japan.
There were still no words coming out of Japan, one could only let his eyes speak. Teary eyes showing regret and mutual love towards his brother.
"Can we get this party started now?" America said.
China smiled.
"Indeed we can, aru. I really want to celebrate with all of you!"
And so they did. They gave each other presents, ate different types of Christmas food from each country, even Finland came by and wished them all a Merry Christmas. China still may not be religious, but his views about Christmas was now completely changed and he now celebrated Christmas every year either with his people or Japan and the rest of his Asia family.
The end.
My God, what a timing to finish a Christmas story... I wrote this as I got into the Nanking masscre and saw videos of survivors talking (pretty sad) as well as videos about the Nanking massacre. As of the year 2017, it will be the 80 year anniversary. Would have been more fitting to write it Christmas 2017, but I just could not wait a whole year to write it!