Japan hated the rain. So dark, so cold, stirring up memories that he tried so hard to suppress…

Lightning flashed outside, revealing his shaking figure for a split second. He was curled up in a fetal position, trembling so much…

All because of a foolish video game. But that was ridiculous. He was thousands of years old. How could such simple things; a game, a thunderstorm, the dark; scare him?

Thunder boomed. So small in the large scale of things, yet it shook Japan for some reason, carrying with it memories of crying children and warm hands caressing his cheek. It awoke a desire for companionship, for comfort.

Perhaps it was only a silly video game, yet it somehow carried so much more. Had it been said before that stories reflect truth? For that game had reflected too many truths in his life.

"Maybe," Japan thought, "America's offer for to stay together still holds. In any case, I should go see…"

Japan rose from his futon and slipped on his slippers. Pausing for a moment to pet a sleeping Pochi on the head, Japan left his room. The hallways was dark and cold, reminding him of the halls of his imperial home, a place where grandeur and pride disguised the blood and tears.

As Japan reached America's door, he stopped suddenly, eyes flying wide open at a rather peculiar sight. The door had a human-shaped hole in it, splinters jutting out from the uneven edges.

"It seems," Japan reflected, "America was quite terrified."

But a question remained: where was he to go now? He could go to Italy, but he did not wish to incur Romano's wrath. Though it might seem surprising to some, Romano was quite protective of his younger brother, as China had been to him…

"Aiya, Japan, what are you doing up at this hour? And what has happened to the door?"

Speak of the Devil. It was China.

The Chinese man was wearing a red robe, and his expression was one of shock and confusion. His eyes were wide open, and his jaw slack. His eyebrows were furrowed, and in his hand was a coffee mug.

"I was going to the bathroom," Japan lied hurriedly.

China raised an eyebrow. "Okay. Now, what were you really doing?"

Japan winced. He had almost forgotten that China was like a lie detector- unsurprising, considering that he had 4,000 years of practice. The only time China had failed to notice he was being deceived was on that fateful night, when rain was pouring and blood and tears were shed.

"I was looking for America-san," Japan muttered.

Not dishonest, but not the whole truth either.

"Why?"

Of course he would prod. It was to be expected of China.

"A business deal-"

"In the middle of the night?"

"I was working-"

"No, you weren't."

"I just remembered and-"

China looked frustrated. "Will you stop it? Just tell me the truth. It's not like I could use it to gain control of those disputed islands or something."

"I wanted to share this new doujinshi I drew with America-san-"

"Will you stop lying to me?" China snapped, switching over to Chinese. There was an anger in his eyes that caused Japan to flinch. "I'm not five! I've raised six kids, yourself included. Spit it out!"

"I was scared," Japan blurted out, quashing down his pride. "America-san, Germany-san, and I had played this extremely terrifying video game, and I was unable to sleep so I decided to come find America-san. As you can tell, he has already vacated his room…"

China developed a rather strange, unreadable expression. Japan would have been tempted to label it has exasperation or amusement, yet his heart told him that it was affection and nostalgia.

"You can come stay with me."

Ah.

That had been unexpected, yet it felt almost normal, another remnant of that childhood Japan so wanted to forget. Perhaps it was that childhood, the memory of fireworks and warm aromas in the kitchen, that prompted Japan to agree.

Mutely, Japan followed China to his room. Nostalgia stabbed him when he realized it was similar to the bedroom from China's house- the one he and all his siblings had laughed and slept in.

True, there was an electrical light now, but still essentially the same. The light was turned on, and the desk was cluttered with papers. Apparently, China had been pulling an all-nighter, which would explain the coffee. China loathed coffee, and would only drink it if desperate.

China let out a sigh, before making his way to the bed. He sat down, taking a few deep breaths. Then he seemed to notice that Japan was still at the door, standing.

"What are you doing?" China demanded, then patted the space next to him. "Come."

Nervously, Japan walked over to the bed, and sat down next to China on the very edge of the bed, his back straight and hands folded in his lap.

"What are you sitting so straight for?" China once again demanded, "This isn't some meeting with those stuffy politicians. Lie down. You're going to bed."

Japan blinked. "But-"

"I thought you couldn't sleep. I'm going to help you sleep."

Japan considered leaving. But something stopped him, that child within him that wanted China to tell him a bedtime story in a soothing voice and kiss him goodnight. Apprehensively, he laid down.

He felt the soft, warm blanket settle over him, pulled by China's small hands.

"Now," China said, his voice softer. "Bedtime story or a song?"

"A-a story, I suppose," Japan muttered, still unable to shake the nervousness.

"Very well then." China's soft voice filled the room, chasing away the dark thoughts that crept into Japan's mind. "Once upon a time, there lived a boy and his family. They were all very happy together, so very happy. They loved each other dearly, more than anything else in the whole, wide world."

Japan swallowed. If there was one thing he could not bear, it was things that reminded him of family.

"One day, the boy began to dream about becoming strong and powerful. His big brother was very proud of him, and couldn't wait to brag to everyone about just how great his little brother was."

China used to brag about Japan all the time. Every time someone visited his house, they would have to listen for at least an hour about how amazing Japan was.

"As time passed and the world shifted, that boy began to walk a dark path, a cruel path. He decided to leave his family behind to seek a glorious future for himself. But you see, that future was drenched in tears and pain."

An empire may be great, but it was built upon the suffering and oppression of others. Japan was now beginning to recognize this story as his own.

"The boy and his family grew apart, separated by oceans of tears and stubbornness. Even so, all wounds will someday heal, tears cannot flow forever, and the boy and his family will someday be reunited."

China smiled softly and wistfully as he finished the story. In his amber eyes, there were a trace of tears.

"Nii-san…" Japan whispered, reaching out of the covers to grab China's hand.

China looked alarmed. "Y-you called me-"

"Nii-san." Japan gave a weak smile.

China looked like he could not believe that what was happening was. His eyes filled with tears, and a wide smile graced his face.

"Di-di…" China murmured, clinging on tightly to Japan's hand.

If tomorrow the fights were to continue, at least they would have this one night, and a future full of hope.