A Very Asian New Year
He taped the small Chinese lantern on the lining, next to a whole brotherhood of crimson lanterns. Korea wanted the lining to be exceptionally long- hence, Chinese lanterns were now dangling from tree to tree, from bush to bush and from wooden column to column- yet China wanted it to be traditional- so they were all completely red- but Hong Kong wanted it westernized- so they had captions written all across the paper- and Taiwan wanted it to be cute- Panda ears jutted out of the lamps- and all Japan could do was try to put the whole thing together.
"Da-ze! The house looks alive!" laughed Korea.
He was standing far out in the distance beside some large tree he had excessively decorated with Chinese lanterns, looping them around until one was fit like some star on a Christmas tree at the very top.
"Korea-san, I'm not sure Chinese lanterns were meant to go on trees like that…"
"What did you say?" screamed Korea, cupping a hand around his ear, "I can't hear you! Do you want to tape more lanterns?"
"No!"
His fingers were bleeding from papercuts and Hong Kong had thought it funny to stick double-sided sticky tape in his hair when he wasn't looking. He wasn't going to go on a lantern spree!
"Yes we will! Aniki will be over-joyed thanks to me- because joy originated in Korea!" Korea stuck his hands to his hips, letting out a hearty laugh, "Hey! Let's decorate that tree over there- hey! Japan! Where are you going?"
Japan set down the duct tape and scissors. If Korea wanted to tape more lanterns, he could very well do it himself.
"Someone's not in the New Year spirit."
Japan internally grimaced. Hong Kong decided to make an appearance, blocking off his exit, with a blank- yet somehow conceited- look on his face.
"Hong Kong-san, if you'll excuse me-"
"What if I don't excuse you, what'll you do then?" Hong Kong titled his head as he crossed his arms, cocking a brow.
Japan kept his gaze, his eyes not wavering from the teen. He could easily shut the boy up with a very snarky remark- he could keep the teen as far away as possible from him- but Japan trained himself to keep control. He wasn't going to lose it because some teenager had some hormonal imbalance.
"Come on, Nihon," Hong Kong took a step closer to him-
Japan pushed past him with a loud, irritated sigh, slamming the door behind him as soon as he got in. Shudders ran up his spine- he hated it when someone invaded his personal space- just hated it. He gave another shudder, shaking his head, trying to clear the buzzing in his mind.
"Japan-aru!"
Why couldn't anyone leave him alone?
"China-san," Japan gave a small, curt nod.
China, a wide smile on his face, dashed towards him, radiating pure, gleeful energy.
"How's your back? I hope it's not too painful."
"Oh, it's nothing!" China waved him off, "how about we go to the kitchen for some tea? You look quite worn out-aru."
"I've spent the whole afternoon with Korea-san."
"Ah," an uncharacteristically gloomy expression washed over China's face, "of course. I understand." But then, he quickly perked up, "off to the kitchen! I've made strong herbal tree that'll calm all your nerves- with secret Chinese ingredient-aru!"
Japan felt China's small, thin fingers grip his shoulders and push him in the direction of the kitchen and decided to go along with it. At this point, tea sounded nice and with Korea outside- with Hong Kong, thank goodness- that meant the house was bound to be peaceful. At last.
As China brought the kettle over to the table- steaming from the spout- and poured the dark tea into their small cups, Japan tightened the blanket he draped around himself from the cold. The windows showed the wide plane of fresh white and the pale skies of blue-grey, while the coldness felt welcoming as long as he felt warm enough under the wool. It felt… quite nice.
He felt a small smile on his lips and brushed his fingers against it.
China sat opposite him with his own cup, blanket and signature panda, positively glowing.
"China-san, do you mind if I ask a personal question?"
"You're finally seeking advice from me?" China stood, "of course, Japan! As the older brother, I have experience in almost everything you want to know. Don't be embarrassed-aru! We're all family!"
All initial serenity trickled away and he fought hard to keep the small smile on his face.
"It's… It's nothing."
China's face fell and he slowly lowered himself back into his chair.
"Are you sure-aru? I'm sure I can help."
"No, it's alright," Japan shook his head.
The room felt colder and the walls unwelcoming, all previous warmth dissipated and nonexistent. But he'd make use of the solitude, he thought as he gripped the tea cup between his cold fingers, he'd make use of the peace. He was so used to meditating throughout his empty house, enjoying the silence and watching as both people and nature would go on through the day. He was so used to the lack of noise, lack of people and lack of activity in his house.
So used to the loneliness…?
Japan's grip tightened. He bit at his lip.
Why was he thinking like this? Usually, these thoughts never crossed his mind. In a few days, things would go back to normal- including his path of thoughts.
"AIEEEEEEEE!"
A high-pitched screech made him grate his teeth. His ears began to ring and his shoulders tensed. Why couldn't anything be quiet-
"I missed you so much! You'll never guess who's here as well!" Taiwan's voice would've reached the cities by now.
The sound of the door slamming shut and footsteps coming into the house were overpowered by Taiwan's rambling. Japan rubbed his forehead and China muttered about adding more tea leaves. By the doorway stood a stern looking Vietnam and a calm, happy looking Macau. Japan immediately stood up in respect for his older sister and gave her a curt bow.
"Vietnam-san."
"Hey Japan," she nodded back with a slight wave, "lookin' well. So, China, where's my room?"
Why exactly did she bring her paddle?
Macau came to him as well, shaking his hand firmly and smiling softly as he exchanged calm words. It felt good to finally have someone sane and normal in the house- someone with interests that were actually valid and didn't include fireworks, cosplays, breasts and tea leaves.
"It's nice to have everything coated in snow," Macau said as he looked at the window, "makes it feel like a new beginning is just underneath, certo?"
"Yes," Japan agreed as he lowered himself back into his seat, "it's a good thought."
As China bustled out of the kitchen with Vietnam, her face as unamused and as stern as it always was, Japan turned to face the Chinese man.
"Thailand didn't come with you?"
"Thailand? Not really," Macau shook his head, "he said he might but he most probably won't. Toto rampaged and destroyed half his house so all his energy's devoted to fixing it up before the new year."
Ah… Toto. Thailand's pet elephant. The Thai was incredibly infatuated with it and had a ridiculous habit of bringing him along wherever he went.
"Leon? Not going to welcome seu irmão?" Macau smiled.
Hong Kong stopped right as he was about to pass the doorway to the kitchen, his neutral expression slightly broken with slight surprise. A fond, genuine smile lit up the teen's face- something Japan never noted seeing in his life. He gripped the taller teen in a strong embrace, mumbling in a mixture of thickly accented Chinese and English. Macua squeezed his brother just as tightly, replying in his own mixture of Portuguese and Chinese.
He felt completely awkward, just sitting there while the two of them stood, completely unaware of him. The display of... affection, could he call it? Whatever it was, it felt quite foreign to him. China was his own older brother, yet he would never walk up to him and grip him in a tight, joyous hug or have his face split into a smile the moment he saw him. Whether it was for a day to twenty years... he'd never welcome China in that way.
Was something wrong with him?
"You're bunking with me, yeah? Where's your luggage? I'll grab it for you..."
Japan twiddled his thumbs yet felt Macau's eyes lingering on his questioningly. However, the moment he looked back up he faced the vacant, empty kitchen. He ran his fingers over the rim of his tea cup that was now cold, before setting it down and sitting heavily against the chair.
It was quiet and he was alone- just the way he liked it.
Right?
"Why do I have a feeling you've been teasing Japan a bit too maliciously these days?"
Hong Kong innocently looked up from where he had placed his brother's luggage by the foot of the bed they were going to share.
"What do you mean?"
"We may have lived apart, but I know you through and through," Macau said, a knowing, secret smile on his face as he moved towards the window.
Small flakes, like salt grains, started to flutter from the skies to the cold ground. He could see Hong Kong standing behind him from the reflection on the mirror, his eyes downcast as he was going through some really quick thinking.
"Who drove?"
So this was how he wanted to play?
"I did," he turned, his usual smile on his face, "If Vietnam drove we would've run over entire towns."
"As if you're any better," muttered Hong Kong.
Hong Kong pulled out his phone, his fingers scrolling on the screen. Though it may look like a casual gesture to any passerby, Macau knew differently. The way his brother's lower lip hung, the crease on the brow and the sulking eyes were too hard for him to miss.
"Leon-"
"Am I Leon or Xiang?" Hong Kong's voice felt misplaced, yet Macau could now remember that little boy, too small to be taken worlds away. "Because you call me Leon, but Korea and Gramps call me Xiang and I bet Japan calls me Gyaru-o hanjian or plain old Ianfu-"
"Hong Kong-!"
Hong Kong snapped his mouth shut and turned his face away, his eyes dangerously narrowed and his mouth quivering. This was supposed to be a new years celebration, yet old wounds did not want to be healed, did they? Old
"You understand, right? What I mean."
He knew his brother held a grudge- they all did- but there was something else that Hong Kong was pointing at, wasn't he? Something else he wanted him to understand. Looking at how unhappy his twin was, he didn't have the heart to tell him no.
"I've bought you snacks from Koi Kei Bakery," Macau said as he tugged open his luggage on the floor, grinning as his brother's face brightened slightly. "Apparently there's two open in your house now."
"Bloody lie that is, else I would've know-"
The door burst open and Hong Kong immediately shut the trunk, clasping it's lock in a speed that would've made burglar's cry. Korea flew out of the doorway, in his usual cheers and nonsensical blathering, throwing himself onto Macau and squeezing him ever so tightly, swinging the man- more like swaying him- from side to side.
"Your breasts got firmer, eh? What's your secret? Tell us so aniki can take care of those sagging sacks of his!"
"Im Yong Soo, good to see you too," Macau gently pushed off the fingers that poked at his chest, calmly stepping to the side.
"You bought from Koi Kei Bakery?!" Korea gasped, pushing Macau aside and dashing towards the trunk on the floor.
Hong Kong shielded it, crossing his arms and shaking his head, "you finished my whole batch of egg rolls, so, you can like, totally forget it."
"That was only four times, da-ze!" Korea stomped. "And you have the stupid bakery in your city as well!"
"I think I know my country more than you do, and I know I don't-"
"I bet Macau got me a share as well, right?"
Macau blinked before quickly nodding, "of course I did."
Korea fist-pumped but Hong Kong continued with his blank stare. "He's lying because he's too nice to tell you otherwise."
"He was not!"
"Yes he was."
"Was not!"
"Yes, he was."
"Was not, da-ze! You wait, one day, when Hyung-Soo will-"
Korea froze from where he was posed, his hand limply fallen to his side, his eyes ever so wide and ever so dry, yet unseeing. He then jaggedly straightened up- all angular and all stiff- and pressed his lips together in a tight, tight line while his eyes remained rooted to that spot on the floor.
Hong Kong slowly stood up-
"I've got Black Ops in my room," Korea suddenly beamed, "want to play?"
Hong Kong sent him a sharp look before looking back at the Korean and nodding, leaving the locked luggage behind him as he made his way out the door.
"Not coming, Macau?"
"It's alright, I have to unpack," he replied.
"Suit yourself, da-ze!" Korea's laugh was louder than usual, yet definitely cracked.
As he shut the door behind them, a sad smile lifted the corners of his lips.
What a happy occasion this was, wasn't it?
Korea's mood worsened considerably after that day. He confined himself to his room with cups of instant noodles as his speakers screamed out gunfire and splattering organs.
Japan paced across the front of the room, debating with himself as to whether he should go in and call him out or not. China tried to go in before him and resulted in a the door being slammed in his face and Hong Kong lazily challenged Japan to get the moping Korean himself as a measure of his Asian manliness- much to the disapproval of Macau. So, here he was, trying to convince himself that he was not under the influence of a silly, teenage jibe and because he wanted to look out for the wellbeing of his younger brother.
He grimaced.
Sighing, he knocked the door and waited. He knocked once more. Once more-
"DAMMIT! I WAS IN THE BOSS LEVEL YOU SCUM OF THE EARTH- I WAS WINNING- MY. CONCENTRATION. YOU. SAEKKI-"
Japan found himself face to face with a pink-faced Korean, panting as if he had run a marathon. He stank of instant noodles and Japan found a few bottles of Korean beer lying in the corners. He would question their origins later- Korean beer in the middle of the Chinese countryside?- and curtly bowed.
"I apologize for intruding, but-"
"THEN DON'T INTRUDE! DA-ZE!"
The door slammed and the house vibrated. Japan blinked for a few seconds, wondering how his nose didn't get fractured, before he turned to find Hong Kong smirking cheekily against the banister.
"Like, bur~rn," he snickered.
Ok, this kid was really asking for it now-!
"Maybe if we leave Korea alone for while, he'll eventually come down," Macau materialized, placing a hand on Japan's shoulder.
Though his face had its usual soft smile, his eyes were warning Japan to calm down. It's ok, they seemed to say, it's alright. Just let it pass.
But till when? Japan wanted to ask. Till when did he have to suffer through Hong Kong's snarky words, through the buttons purposely pushed to get him irritated, through the clear scorn that wasn't bothered to be hidden?
A little more than a day, to be honest, an inner voice seemed to reply. Just a little while and you won't have to see the teenaged nation again. Plus, he had to keep his relations with Hong Kong as steady as he could, or else his Boss would hold him up for a nice long lecture. Japan bit his lip.
Now family relations depended on business agreements? What if Hong Kong was as useful as an empty isle, what'd he do then?
A small memory- a dark, blood-stained memory- tried to creep up to the front of his mind before he backed to the wall and shook his head. He wouldn't think about it- this is what that kid wanted. He wanted him to remember, to break and then, to…
Japan gave each of them a curt nod and swerved his way around them to the staircase, descending it as fast as his socked feet could take him, wishing nothing more than to be back in his house by the bare cherry blossom trees, drinking warm tea under the kotatsu as the snow fell.
Korea had to be dragged down by an insistent China- I didn't cook all that food so I can throw it out the window-aru! If you get food poisoning from all that noodles then I'll have to suffer with your stupid whining-before he was sulkily thrown by the dinner table- all laden with food- with his arms crossed and his head turned.
He dressed in a really baggy tracksuit and his glasses were perched on the bridge of his nose which seemed to suit his eccentric personality. As Taiwan and Vietnam filed in- Taiwan excitedly yapping on some flower festival while Vietnam listened with the intensity of a military general- and Macau offered his seat to the youngest female Asian-who fluttered at the 'gentleman'- while China still set more dishes on the table.
China proudly looked over his feast, his panda apron smudged and stained with the hard work, sitting by Japan who wearily shifted away.
"Let's not forget to say thanks-aru!"
A jumble of different languages ran through Japan's ears before the clicking of chopsticks commenced. They were all so different… each and every one of them. He observed them: China adding more food to everyone's plates, Vietnam spooning a lot of rice onto her plate, Taiwan beaming at him from where she sat, Macau and Hong Kong as they served switched plates every so often and then Korea, languidly running his chopsticks across the stew.
It was a lot quieter and for once… Japan didn't like it.
It was this silence he felt when they were all in his larger house, the walls stained and the corridors dank, their mouths clasped shut to save their throats. A part of him- a very tiny, miniscule part of him- worried for the Korean. Another part, slightly larger, said that Korea would be fine in mere seconds anyway. A larger part of him- one which he tried to cover up as hard as he could- selfishly wanted to erase all the guilt stains from his chest.
"Korea, how about you tell us what's wrong?"
Hong Kong sharply looked at him.
Korea seemed surprised, never expecting Japan of all people to actually want to him hear him out. His chopsticks were hung midair and his mouth was slightly gaping. Before he could get a word out there was a clattering against the plate.
"Since when do you care?"
"If I didn't care, then I wouldn't have asked," Japan replied coolly, "Hong Kong-san."
"Oh," Hong Kong feigned question, "and all of a sudden you decided to care?"
The airs felt tenser and Japan forced his shoulders to relax. He wasn't going to give anyone the advantage of seeing him stiffen. Macau placed a warning hand on Hong Kong's shoulder and Japan felt China fidget uncomfortably next to him.
"I have cared for all of yo-"
His words sounded dead and tasteless in his mouth the moment they left him, and his eyes numbly looked over the plate of rice. Suddenly, there was the shearing of the chair as Hong Kong stood up and China's whipping voice commanded him to sit back down.
"We were fine before you came," Hong Kong said acidly, gripping the table with tight, trembling knuckles. "We were fine without you-"
Everything seemed colder and everything seemed grey.
"Hong Kong- sit down, aru! This is not the time-"
"We invited you because we knew you wouldn't come," Hong Kong pressed, "we didn't want you here. Why did you decide to come?"
Each word was forceful and each word stung.
"Come on, Nihon. Why the hell did you decide to make your way down here when we're not even worth it in your eyes?"
His accent was so thick it was whipping and Japan closed his eyes, trying to smoothen the words that were like knives in his ears. He wasn't going to lose it. He was Nihon-koku, no matter how much disdain it was uttered with on the teen's tongue. He was Nihon-koku, no matter what the other would think.
"Xiang," China stood, the air cold and rushing, "this is a time for family, so sit down-"
"Family?" scoffed Hong Kong, "what family? These secret hate treaties we have together? Let's stab each other's backs and then smile at each other's faces-?"
"Enough!"
"-let's sit down with the fucking war lord who slit our throats like dogs? Because I hate this so called damned family-"
Japan felt his blood run cold.
Though there was a clamouring chaos against his ears, though his palm was threatening to burst, though the cutlery crashed around his feet… all he could feel was something thick and cold and gruesome- something icy and viscous crawl up against his shoulders and cloak him in the night's darkness. A feeling that wasn't foreign. A feeling he hadn't experiences in more than sixty years ago.
A feeling that his control failed to push back.
"Just because you're England's lap dog doesn't make you superior on all of us," his veins felt cold, his heart felt cold, his air felt cold, his mind felt cold, his thoughts felt cold, "so know your place."
His eyes were hooded and glinting, his face angled. He remembered this feeling- he knew it too well. It was greed and power, it was eternity and servitude, and it was the greatness yet the failure of his old Imperial self.
Let the teen say one more word- let him utter a single fucking word- and Japan knew he wouldn't hold himself in. However, Hong Kong didn't hiss an insult from where his face had been snapped to the side, bulging and bleeding and red, nor did he utter the words of Japan's provocation. He merely looked up, brimming red eyes, and Japan felt his persona crack.
The clenched neck, the fallen shoulders and the slow breaking away of Hong Kong's self control made one thought echo through his mind.
What did I do?
There was a sudden rush of colour- Hong Kong storming out- China's horrorstricken face-Macau rushing after him- Vietnam's weary sigh- Taiwan's tears-
Silence.
Someone peeled the thick cloak of his shoulders and he, expecting his shoulders to feel much lighter, felt a heavy boulder settle across his chest and shoulders. His throat felt dry and clotted while his knuckles were slowly unclenching from the fists they had been curled into, blood dripping from his palms to the floor in unstable resonance.
Quick Translation notes:
Saekki: Korean for 'bastard'
certo: (Portuguese): right?
seu irmao: (Portuguese) your brother
Gyaru-o-hanijan: An insult. Gyaru-o is a japanese term for those youths who dye their hair, listen to euro-music and all that... Hima-papa claimed that Hong Kong had that type of a persona. However, Hanijan is a deregotary term that means 'race traitor' or someone who betrayed their Chinese nation.
Ianfu: Japanese for 'prostitute'. A majority of them were taken from all over Asia and were stationed throughout the Japanese occupied areas such as Macau, Hong Kong, China, Korea... basically all of them.
