Another puff of smoke filled the room just as before. The nations all started coughing, waving their hands to clear the smoke.
"China?" America called between coughs, squinting to try and see said nation through the clearing smoke. There sat China in front of him, still coughing a bit and back to his former self.
"Aiyah..." China groaned, shaking his head.
"China!" America shouted.
"He's back!" France happily cried, stating the obvious.
"Yay!" Russia cheered.
"Nii-San!" Japan got back down on his knees, hugging his brother. "Thank goodness."
"Aiyah, get off aru!" the 4000-year-old nation growled, shaking Japan off. Normally he would love his Japanese brother's rare hugs, but he was extremely irritated by all that happened that day.
Japan did as told, quickly pulling away from China as the older nation struggled with the ropes holding him down.
"Untie me, morons!" he sharply snapped.
Before anyone moved to untie China, they heard a tired voice. "Gege." The nations flinched, turning to where the voice was coming from, seeing Hong Kong on the floor. He was making his way to his tied up brother, crawling on his stomach like an inchworm.
"Hong Kong!" China yelped. Japan and Russia were instantly by the younger Chinese nation's side, pulling him up and helping him out of his bindings.
"That's weird," England inquired with a contemplating look. "He should still be asleep."
The moment Hong Kong was free, the young nation was by China's side, freeing him from his bonds as well. China thanked him, rubbing his wrist. He went to pull back a stray hair from his face to the back of his ear, instantly realizing the shortness of his hair.
China screamed. "What did you brats do ahen!?" he shouted. The look of distress was plastered on his face as he ran his fingers through his short hair.
"T-technically, you did that yourself," France bravely stuttered. The others gave him horrified looks before leaping away from the chair China threw at them.
"Get out! All of you ahen!" he roared. America, England, France, and Russia did not hesitate to dash out the room with their lives. Japan stayed back for a moment. China glared at him, causing the Japanese nation to gulp. He was out the door with the others not a second later.
"Aiyah, my head hurts aru," China complained, sitting on his bed and holding his head. "Hong Kong, could you make me some tea please?"
"Yes, Gege," Hong Kong answered, heating up his brother's tea kettle.
China looked around the room, groaning at the mess. "If you want," he started, picking something up, "you can have this aru." Hong Kong turned around, seeing what China was talking about: a skateboard.
China then laid back down on his bed, growing tired. Being young took a lot of energy. With a sigh, China's eyelids drooped closed. The ancient nation was fast asleep before he had a chance to drink tea.
Not even three days have passed since the incident. England rose from his seat; another meeting had just ended. The English nation made his way out the door, ignoring the whispers about a certain Chinese nation.
"I still can't believe he cut it all of a sudden."
"After all these years..."
"Even with his hair short, dude still looks kinda like a girl, huh? Kesesesese~"
"Why'd he cut it again?"
"I just can't get used to it, man!"
Finally alone in the hallway, England released a relieving sigh. Though he'd done no such thing to cause the mess, he still felt at fault. "Ai." England jumped at the sudden voice, startled. He turned around seeing the nation who was the center of unwanted attention for the past few days.
"China?" The Chinese nation slowed his walk to a stop, standing before England. His cheeks were somewhat pink as his eyes looked away, avoiding the other's gaze.
China sighed. "I was putting up off until the end ahen," he mutter to himself before looking back up at England. England raised a thick brow. What was China up to?
With other deep breath, he started. "I just wanted to apologize for my behavior as a senseless teenager aru." China began turning brighter as he continued. "I also wanted to thank you for turning me back. I appreciate it aru."
England hid a smile behind his hand, holding down his chuckling. Seeing China embarrassed and forcing himself to say these things was very amusing. He could only imagine what it was like for him doing the same thing to France.
"You said it yourself," China continued, regaining England's attention, "you could've just left me. But you didn't aru."
"I-I was just cleaning up America's mess," England stuttered an excuse, crossing his arms and turning his gaze away. He was turning pink himself.
"Even so aru. Thank you, England."
England instantly turned back to China, unbelieving what he just heard. Did China just call him by his name and not that godforsaken nickname? Before he could ask, China had already dashed away.
"Wait!" England called, but China ignored him and continued running. He didn't stop until he reached his hotel room.
'Damn it, England...' China inwardly cursed, catching his breath. The Chinese nation just reached his room, slamming the door behind him.
Moments had passed before China finally caught his breath. Finally calm again, he went to make some tea for himself. Though, he hadn't done much before a knock on the door pulled his attention away. With a huff, China went back to the door, opening it and seeing America on the other side.
"Hey, bro," America bashfully greeted. China gave him a skeptical look, though did not slam the door in the other's face. "Just wanted to stop by and apologize. Again."
"America, we've been through this; it's fine aru," China said. "It was an accident."
"But it caused you so much trouble!" America argued.
"Yes, but it caused some fun and freedom aru." China smiled. "America, I am thankful for that brief period of youth, really. Don't beat yourself up about it aru."
America smiled softly as China's grew wider. "Well, I still got you something for the trouble I caused."
"What did I just say‒"
"I know, I know," America cut into China, holding a hand up. "Even so." He pulled his other hand out from behind his back, revealing a bomber jacket similar to his own. "Check it out!"
America pulled the jacket around China's shoulders. China's eyes were slightly wider. When the American nation placed it on his shoulders, his smile had brighten. The other shrugged, properly putting on the gift.
"So, what do you think?" America asked once China was wearing the jacket.
"It's pretty nice aru," China answered, genuinely surprised. "Thank you."
America's smile was back to its full glory. He picked up the other with a large hug, China yelping from the sudden action. "I like this old and wise you a whole lot more then the young and jerky you," he admitted. China shocked expression turned into a sincere one after hearing America.
America set China back down and the ancient nation invited him in for tea. Though he did not favor it, America gladly accepted China's offer.
Hahaha! Did not take half a year to complete this chapter! Hope you enjoyed 4000 to 15! Now to focus on Family Visits and Sleeping Knights, which would appreciate some views (hinthint~). Thank you for the many favorites and follows and those who reviews! I love you guys! If you don't know what bomber jacket China looks like, google short haired China...
Reviews are Loved, Please Excuse Spelling, Grammar, and/or Language
(c)Hetalia - Himaruya Hidekaz