I still don't own Hetalia. Blame America, he said throwing papers from my desk into the air makes for good target practice. Note to self: check for important files BEFORE using for target practice.
If you had asked Japan how he felt at that moment, he would have replied, in a manner reminiscent of Latvia, that his left side was numb. Breathe, Japan, breathe. Only half an hour left. Breathe. To his left was China.
At this moment in time, China was doing an amazing imitation of a human ice cube. Of course, the second someone spoke to him, he would immediately become animated, and joke and laugh along with the person in question.
Across the table, America and England exchanged worried glances. Although the two brothers had been on good terms when Japan was in the hospital, whenever someone had mentioned "Japan" and not "Kiku", China had immediately left the conversation.
America, despite the fact that China had now reached a level of terror-inducement second only to Russia, decided to intervene. "Um, s-so, I think we can finish up early, y-yeah, England?"
"R-right." Thankful, England stood, and the rest of the nations copied him, filing out with brief murmurs. Japan barely managed a dignified escape, making it out the door before the rest of his siblings, and hurrying down to England's car. In one of my own palaces! I felt so…threatened. No. Calm down. Breathe.
He slumped back against the wall and tried to replay what had happened in his mind. Had he said something impolite to Yao? What happened?
"Japan!" England was approaching. "Are you alright? What happened back there?"
"I-I am not sure, England-san. May I return home? I am not feeling well…"
"Oh, right, of course!" He opened the door for Japan, and the smaller country entered the car once more. England turned the key in the ignition, and the car roared to life. "Japan, don't let what happened back there bother you. I'm sure whatever was upsetting China was not your fault."
"Do not worry, England-san. I will go speak with China-san myself, tomorrow, when I am feeling better."
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" England chanced a quick glance at Kiku, only to see the stubborn set to his face that he had so often seen on America's.
"Yes." They had reached his house, and Japan opened the door of the car, pausing only to say goodbye to England. "Thank you very much, England-san. I hope to see you soon."
"Right." England watched Japan go, worried about the male's decision. "God, why do I get so bloody caught up in these things?"
***
Japan had chosen to wear his blue hakama and brown outer kimono. After much debate, he had decided on blue for his naga-juban.[1] Wearing white would feel too militaristic, it reminded Japan too much of his recent uniform, and might do the same for China.
In…out…in…out. You can do this. It's just Yao. "Yao-nii!" China was balancing precariously on a stool, picking fruit, and his panda was using the same stool to lean against and Japan did NOT like the angle the stool was at.
"Kiku!" China hopped down from the chair and practically skipped up to him. "I'm so happy you came to visit, aru!" He grabbed the Asian nation by the hand and dragged him into the house. "I've made some food, you have very good timing, aru!"
"E-eh?" Still stunned from the greeting, Japan let himself be dragged into the house.
"I decided to make chunbing today, to celebrate Lichun!"[2] China was almost humming, he seemed completely delighted by the visit.
"Ano, Yao-nii, were you feeling all right yesterday?" Japan silently congratulated himself on not stuttering over anything.
"Huh?" China looked up at him, confused. "Why wouldn't I have been, aru?"
"O-oh, must have been my imagination…" A plate of spring pancakes was placed in front of him.
"I got the meat from Tianfuhao." He joined Japan at the table, and poured him a cup of chrysanthemum tea. "England gave me some of his "English Breakfast Tea". It tastes like crap, aru."
"Yao-nii! That's really very rude!" Japan looked at him in shock. "Didn't you reprimand me for rudeness when we first met?"
China laughed. "I can't believe you still remember that, aru! At any rate, you haven't tasted this tea. I won't subject you to it, aru."
Japan sighed. China could be quite stubborn sometimes. Both sipped their tea in silence. "Itadakimasu." Between the two of them, the chunbing was finished at almost record speed. "Yao-nii, these are a little different than usual…"
"Ah, well, I wanted to try using the spices a little differently, aru." China looked at him, worried. "Does it taste bad?"
"Oh no, it's very good! Thank you, Yao-nii." At this, China smiled happily, and picked up the dishes. "I should help you wash up."
"There's no need to, aru!" Japan tugged some of the dishes out of his hands.
"It is the least I can do to thank you for the meal." Laughing, China grabbed the remaining dishes and they both headed for the kitchen.
"You'll have to cook for me sometime, Nihon." The two were up to their elbows in suds. "How much salt do you use exactly, aru?"
"The right amount." Japan paused in the midst of his dish-washing. "Although, Germany-san did attempt to cut the amount of salt in my diet." He shuddered, the memories of that horrible time still fresh.
China attempted to reign in his laughter. "O-of course." He flicked some of the soapy water at Japan, getting mostly his arms. Japan attempted to look dignified by not retaliating. "There's a soap bubble on your nose, aru." He failed miserably. China giggled.
"I do not wish to start a bubble war, Yao-nii. That would be too much mess to expect you to clean up."
"Oh, I wouldn't be on my own!" Japan raised a questioning eyebrow. "I'd make you help too, aru!" Grinning broadly, China pulled the last dish out of the water and began to dry it.
Japan sighed. "I should have expected as much."
China laughed. Then stopped. "Oh, I almost forgot, aru. Why did you skip the meeting yesterday? Isn't the demilitarization important? Or were you unwell, aru?" China was suddenly anxious.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Japan was shocked. "Of course I was there!"
"No…you weren't there, Nihon." China was staring at him, almost as if there was something he had missed. "Japan was."
Cliffhanger and short chapter. I'm sorry. *head+desk* Right so, this is where everything really starts. And it's also really confusing. As for the short part, my other attempts felt like I was stalling, and anything longer in the end area was EXTREMELY boring. I've also decided I'm never going to let China have a conversation with only one person. So. Many. Arus.
[1] A hakama is basically pleated pants, that are extremely loose and easy to move around in, as long as you don't trip. It's used for multiple things, including martial arts and graduations, and is basically traditional wear. And it looks like a skirt. Kimono, as in the masculine kimono. As for naga-juban, that's the under-kimono, and was the only word I could find for it, so sorry if I'm wrong!
[2] Chunbing are "spring pancakes", and they're basically flat pancakes that you roll meat and vegetables inside, then eat. They're eaten during Lichun, which is the beginning of spring for the Chinese. Oh, and (according to Wikipedia), "the pork used to cook spring pancakes is usually bought from a store in Beijing named Tianfuhao, which has been in business for over 270 years."
Thank you for reading!