A Very Asian New Year


Hong Kong's phone vibrated and he immediately pulled it out, scowling at the screen.

"Is it China-san?" Japan asked as pulled his suitcase along the car park.

His flight to Beijing, China, had been Korean-free, hence, there was a lack of suspicious security guards and flustered stewardesses. The seats were limited and Japan knew they were more than lucky to even find tickets on the fully-booked plane that was brimming with excitement for the Chinese New Year.

He was on a plane back to Beijing when he had just come back from it.

This was probably the most illogical thing that he had ever done. But somehow… this illogical turn of events seemed completely logical.

"It's Korea," Hong Kong replied before bringing the phone to his ears, "Hey."

"Where are you da-ze?! You said you were going for a walk not a marathon to the Antartic! Aniki thinks you were hit by a bus filled with those weird western tourists!"

Korea's voice had the inane ability to wave its way through the crowds.

"I'm on my way back, alright? I just bumped into some annoying old man who thought he was a ninja," Hong Kong shot him a conceited smirk, "bloody illusioned he was."

"Ninja?! You mean from Ninja Assassin- not fair-"

"Give me a few minutes, ok?"

"It's late, Xiang- aniki's hyperventilating! Vietnam's going to smash his brains out with the paddle if you don't come before midnight da-ze!"

"Midnight's an hour away, I'll be there-"

"But it's traffic! You won't make it- we're going to have to prepare a funeral now! Ugh, funerals did not originate in Korea, because we would've made it super cool revival ceremonies where people are rebirthed from fire to get reunited with lost lovers-"

"I see originality didn't originate in Korea, did it?"

"Wha-? Oh, think you're a smart saekki? Well- NO VIETNAM! DON'T KILL ANIKI-"

The line sung dead and Hong Kong pocketed it with an exasperated sigh, "well, get in the car."

"They think you're talking a walk?" Japan blinked.

"Do you think they'll let me out the house if I tell them I'm going to take a plane to Japan and grab his sorry ass all the way back here even though I don't really like him that much? Pfft, I thought you were smart. Apparently it originated in Korea then, didn't it?"

Had Hong Kong said that three days ago when he first picked him up from the airport, Japan would've pursed his lips and stiffly replied with a few short, curt words while his mind buzzed with irritancy. However, this time, he couldn't help but crack a small smile.

"Come on!" Hong Kong huffed, "get in the car before China kills himself."


It was impossible, thought Japan, completely impossible to get to China's flat in Beijing in less than an hour. But with the speed at which Hong Kong was driving- no, flying at- Japan started to severely doubt every single law in physics.

And the Chinese traffic laws.

And England's parenting skills.

And Hong Kong's sanity.

Hong Kong slammed his car next to a subway station and pulled out Japan's suitcase from the back before grabbing the car-sick Japanese out into the station. He raced down the aisles, pushing between the people for tickets, arguing with the policemen like a rogue, fingering far off guards, expertly shifting between trains while Japan felt his own soul leave his body from exhaustion, stress and sheer, raw panic.

"Gramps is so going to pay me for what I'm doing," Hong Kong muttered as he threw Japan's suitcase out of the metro and into the crowd of furious people, "come on, Nihon!"

Japan stumbled out of the metro, his stomach twisting and churning, his hand firmly over his mouth.

He was not going to vomit. He was not going to-

He ducked into a trashcan, spilling out all the tea he had drunk a few hours ago.

"God, you're all bloody old men!" Hong Kong shook his head with disapproval, "get a move on- new year is in fifteen minutes!"

"I-I'm on my-"

Japan wretched again, gripping his throbbing head dismally. Hong Kong grabbed his arm the minute he straightened from his crouch to the bin, and sprinted between the hoards of people collected in the subway, ducking under lavish decorations and pushing past policemen too occupied by lost children and sobbing mothers.

The cold air whipped him across his face, making him feel more nauseous that he already was. His stomach tightened and Japan wanted nothing more than to sit under his kotatsu in a small fetal position and not leave the house in days.

People were everywhere- everywhere- and he felt everything close in on him.

Suddenly, a door was slammed shut and the sound of an elevator running between the walls was all he heard. He didn't know he had his eyes shut nor did he know that his arms shielded his face, but when he opened them and uncurled from his standing fetal position, he noticed that they were in the lobby of a building.

"We're… we're here?"

"Lucky gramps lives close to the subway, right?" Hong Kong said as he watched the numbers on the screen above the elevator doors. He quickly checked his watch and gave Japan a small triumphant smile, "New year in seven minutes."

Ding.

Japan was thrown into the elevator from the sleeve of his shirt, his suitcase close behind, before Hong Kong punched in a number and the elevator started to rise. Japan tightened his arms across his chest, tugging at the collar of his coat. Well, this was going to be unbelievably awkward, walking back in… what was he thinking, going back to his family that he very well humiliated himself in front of?

He remembered China's betrayed face, Taiwan's tears and Macau's disappointment as he was pulled behind the Chinese teen to the apartment doors. Why was he continuously making the same stupid mistake, coming back every single time-

"Japan-aru?!"

Japan snapped out of his thoughts. A mere inch away was China's surprised face, his eyes widened and his mouth hanging open.

"China-san-" Japan clamped his mouth shut before lowly bowing, "I apologize for all the inconvenience I caused-"

Suddenly, he felt himself pulled into a tight embrace, the Chinese man holding him so tight Japan was sure his bones were going to merge. He expected panic to flare through his veins- he expected his heart to jitter in his chest making him burst away from his tightened self-control… but he didn't. For the first time in so many years, he threw his arms back against his own brother and pulled the man towards him. Maybe it was the chaotic turn of events, maybe it was the plane pressure that reached his brain, maybe it was nauseous feeling in his stomach… but it felt right.

He pulled away in time to see Macau smiling as he pulled away from an awkward looking Hong Kong and Taiwan run down the corridor, her smile so wide and so bright he found himself laughing in spite of it all.

"Japan!" Korea burst through the kitchen door in his usual whirlwind of energy. "So, Xiang got you in time, da-ze! I never thought he'd actually do it! I was ready for aniki to spend the night with me!"

"Don't say things like that aru!" China flushed.

"We're all happy that Japan decided to come along, but I think you're going to miss your 'celebration' if you hang around the door like puppies," Vietnam casually stated from where she stood by the kitchen, her paddle slung over her shoulder. "Good you came along, though," she said, sending him a firm, approving nod.

Japan tried to bite down his smile before he caught Hong Kong smirking at him from where he stood by his brother. That smirk didn't seem as annoying as he once thought it'd be…

"New Years starts in two minutes aru!" China exclaimed.

"THE FIREWORKS, DA-ZE!" Korea cried out. "To the balcony aniki!"

He grabbed the shorter man ecstatically, ignoring the waving arms and struggles of the Chinese, and proceeded to pull him manically to the open balcony by the dinner table that held an assortment of celebratory foods. Japan noticed a few traditional Chinese dishes meant for New Year, some Korean Tteokguk and Vietnamese Bánh chưngalong with a small box full of Osechi Ryori.

Japan bit his lip.

He didn't know what to say.

"Kiku!" Taiwan called from the balcony where all of them were standing by, "less than a minute left, come on!"

He didn't care about confining his emotions, he didn't care about propriety and privacy. Because no matter what he did and no matter what he had done… they loved him. And he… he knew that somewhere, deep inside of him, he loved them more than he could ever admit. It would take time, he thought as he quickly made his way to the balcony, it would take a long time before he would openly show them how much he cared… but at least his first step was now firmly planted and he could start this new year- though it was different from his own- with difference.

He was happy.

"Ten seconds!" Taiwan squealed.

China's face, glowing as he looked at each of his siblings, made him grip the man strongly from the shoulder. China's hand firmly came on his own.

"Five!"

Hong Kong's eyes searched the skies and Macau stood by him, his arm perched around his brother.

"Four!"

Korea was hastily scrolling through his phone, his eyes running from side to side in lightning speed.

"Three!"

Vietnam heaved a relaxed sigh as she leaned over the banister, her paddle behind her, the corners of her lips slightly rising.

"Two!"

China's fingers never weakened from their grip on his.

BLAST.

The cheers of his family burst alongside the cheers of the people, loud and joyous and jubilant, as colours of red, blue, green and gold soared across the skies and burst amidst the stars. He could hear a variety of languages in greeting, a variety of voices laughing as well as different arms gripping him into tight embraces while his own smile was recklessly on his face. It was a short moment- labelled quick by joy- that he was sure he'd remember through the days time would pass. However, a sudden hush fell on them and Japan questioningly looked around.

Why the quiet-

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

"An nyoung ha seh yo?"

A voice he hadn't heard in over fifty years came from the speaker of Korea's Samsung. Said Korean was staring at the phone in his hands, his lip quivering from its wide, wide smile while his eyes, in complete contrast, were burning. His breaths were unstable, either from excitement, fear or disbelief, but he swallowed, straightened up and replied.

"Hyung Soo?"

The voice on the other line remained silent and for a moment, even the firecrackers ceased with tense anticipation.

"Im Yong Soo?"

Korea gave a small, disbelieving laugh, "I-It's Seol-Nal and… I wanted… I wanted to wish you good luck."

For a moment, Japan was too scared the person on the other line would either slam the phone shut or shout a raging insult.

"Hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh," North Korea replied. "Da-ze."

When the phone line went dead and Korea ended the call, Japan backed away as the rest of his siblings edged towards the Korean who had rivulets of silver running down his pale cheeks.

"Yong Soo?" Hong Kong softly placed a hand on the man's shoulder, peering up at him.

However, Korea immediately laughed aloud, throwing his head back as bursts of fireworks shot into the skies, pouring silver and gold across the opaque curtains of the night.

"Joy originated in Korea, da-ze!"

As China ushered them back inside the house and placed the finishing touches of food and drinks on the table- his legendary jiaozi, niangao and fish in huge proportions- and Macau answered a video call from a worn out Thailand who wanted to wish them all a good year (his elephant was right behind him, waving his trunk in the middle of a ruined living room). Japan sat by an ecstatic Korea and a smiling Vietnam, quickly replaying all that happened all that had become.

They may not be the most coordinated family… they may not be whole. But, with the way things were slowly turning out- this happiness in his chest- he prayed with all his heart, he thanked with very fibre in his body, for the blessing he had.

This year would be a good one.

China beamed at him, "more rice, aru?"

Yes, he agreed as he extended his bowl to be filled and took one of the dumplings offered to him from Macau, this year would be a good one.


AN: This is the first time I've ever finished a multi-chapter story! Anyway, I'd love to thank every single person who review, favourited and alerted my story- thank you so, so much! You may think they were small actions, but to me, they were unbelievable support! I hope this chapter fit and reached your expectations!

NEWS ALERT:This isn't the end! *sort of*. I'm going to be posting a 'sequel' soon (probably a week or two) under the name A Very Asian Vacation (name is still under consideration...). I think it will a bit tad bit lighter than this story- which took an unexpected twist to angst and tears that took me by surprise as well XD. If there's anything you'd like to see in my future Asian story(ies) or any ideas you'd like to share, then feel free to tell me :) It's fun to write about the Asian family- they're such a unique, lovable group filled with so much character and I absolutely adore them, so expect more Asian fics from me!

Translations:

An nyoung ha seh yo? (korean): Hello (i think it's a formal way of saying it)

Seol Nal (Korean): it's the Korean New Year, which is on the same day as the Chinese New Year since they both follow the lunar calender.

Hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh (Korean): "please receive many new year's blessings" or you can think of it as an equivalent to "Have a blessed New Year".

Tteokguk (Korean): rice-cakes which are usually eaten at new year

Bánh chưng (Vietnamese): A type of Vietnamese rice-cake eaten at new years

Osechi Ryor (Japanese): traditional Japanese new year foods

jiaozi (Chinese): it's usually made by the Northern Chinese and it looks like a shoe-shaped gold/silver ingot; Niangao (Chinese): Southern Chinese make them, it's basically New Year cakes. Since China's the whole nation's representation, I'm sure he'd have northern and southern cuisines at his table!

UPDATED ALERT: The official chapter of the sequel of this story, A Very Asian Vacation, has been uploaded!