Disclaimer: AilateH nwo t'nod eW!
A/N: POLLUX! Hey, I warned you. I ran out of ideas, so now I'm writing the disclaimer backward.
He, everyone! Yeah . . . this is a kidnapping story. Believe it or not. But we've taken your advice into consideration and we're going to try out hardest! Let us know if you have any other ideas for us! We gave Dala a request, since she got us up to 96 reviews. Which is our most yet!
Enjoy! Please review!
The Vietnam War
1955 - 1975
America and Allies VS. Vietcong
Poland giggled when Zima leapt up at her in an attempt to get at the food her owner had. Serce and Klejnot followed in a more sedate nature. All three German Shepherds had been an engagement gift from Germany. The dogs had proven to be more than loyal. Acting playful and friendly one moment then fierce and protective the next.
Poland collapsed onto the couch, pushing Zima away when the dog tried to hop up onto the couch.
"Nie, Zima," Poland scolded. "Germany so doesn't want you on the couches and you totally know it."
Zima snorted, walked in a circle, and then resigned herself to sitting beside the couch and staring hopefully up at her mistress.
"Oh." Poland took a piece of chicken off her plate and gave it to Zima. "You silly dog." Zima snatched the food and swallowed it before the other two dogs had the chance to try and steal it.
Poalnd couldn't help but giggle when Klejnot hopped lightly onto the couch and laid down, one pay hanging over the edge. He made a point not to stare at Poland even though he licked his chops in hopes of some food. Serce simply laid beside the couch and sighed, preparing for a nap.
The sound of the front door opening and closing echoed through the house.
"Germany?" Poland sat up hopefully. Her fiancé had left earlier in the day to deal with Switzerland's complaints about Luxemburg. All three German Shepherds stared at the door in anticipation. Zima eventually rose, her hackles rising and lips drawing back in a snarl.
A figure stepped into the doorway. His long brown hair had been pulled back in a low ponytail. He stared at Poland with shocked black eyes.
"Po?" he asked softly in a hopeful voice.
"Liet?" Poland rose from the couch and placed her plate on the coffee table. "What are you, like, doing here?" The food was ignored by the dogs. Zima and Serce stood beside Poland while Klejnot stood on the couch, forepaws on the arms. All three dogs snarled at their new visitor.
"I came to see you," Lithuania said, stepping forward and offering his hand out.
"What's, like, wrong with your eyes?" Poland asked as she took a step back. "They're totally uncool."
"You don't like my eye color?" Fury flashed in Lithuania's eyes before it suddenly vanished. "That's okay," he laughed. "I don't mind contacts. Anything for you, Po."
"Co?" Poland cocked her head in confusion. "You're totally acting strange, Liet."
"Am I?" Lithuania mirrored Poland's action. "I suppose I am. Normally I would have broken something by now. I guess you're a good influence on me."
"Co?" Poland took several steps back at those words. "What do you, like, mean?"
"You think I'm Lithuania, don't you?" Lithuania asked, fury raging behind his eyes. "My name is Lietuva. I am nothing like that wimpy bastard you call a friend." His eyes cleared and he blushed. "Aš atsiprašau. (I'm sorry.) That was rude of me."
"Zime. Serce. Klejnot," Poland said softly, backing up until she hit a wall. "Ataku."
All three German Shepherds snarled, leaping forward and snapping at Lietuva. Zima managed to close her jaws around the intruder's ankle and Klejnot snapped at a wrist.
"Gah!" Lietuva fell backward onto the floor, kicking out at Zima. "Let go of me! Velanis!" Serce growled, leaping on top to reach Lietuva's throat. "Po!" Lietuva screeched. He rammed his free hand into Serece's head, knocking the dog off himself. "Call them off!"
"Zwolnić, (Release,)" Poland commanded. The three German Shepherds released their prey and fell back, still glaring at Lietuva. "Like, who are you?"
"I told you." Lietuva stood, wincing at the pain in his ankle. "I am Lietuva."
"No, you're not," Poland snapped. "Lietuva is, like, Liet. And Liet is my friend. I totally don't know you."
"Then we're friends too," Lietuva said with a small smile. "I am, after all, Lietuva."
"No, you're not." Poland inched along the wall in hopes of escape. "I, like, don't know you."
"Yes, I am!" Lietvua slammed a fist into the wall and cracks spidered away from it. He breathed hard through his nose. "I am Lietuva. I am him."
"Nie!" Poland darted around the corner, yanking the back door open.
"Ne!" There was the pounding of footsteps and a body collided with Poland's, pinning her to the ground.
"Zima!" Poland shrieked. She heard the German Shepherd's furious bark from behind the closed back door.
"Shut it." Lietuva grabbed a fistful of Poland's hair and slammed her head into the ground once. "Or I'll shoot them."
Poland whimpered, struggling against Lietuva. "Nie."
"Taip." Lietuva leaned down to whisper in Poland's ear. "You are mine, Širdis. (Heart.)"
"Nie!" Poland drove her elbow in Lietuva's stomach, causing him to grunt and fall back. She wriggled out from under him, scrambling to get to her feet.
"Taip!" Lietuva seized Poland's ankle and dragged her to the ground again. A stone slammed into the ground an inch from Poland's head. The fury drained from Lietuva's eyes in seconds and he looked horrified. "I'm sorry, Po. That could have hit you." Poland stared at Lietuva, paralyzed in fear. She whimpered at the words and tried to shrink away from her attacker.
"It's alright," Lietuva cooed. He released the stone and caressed Poland's cheek. "I won't hurt you. I would never hurt my Širdis."
"Don't, like, touch me." Poland grabbed Lietuva's wrist.
Lietuva's eyes flashed and he seized Poland by the hair once more. "Don't you ever tell me what to do," he snarled. "Or that stone will not miss next time." This time, the fury didn't leave his eyes.
Poland let out a small cry and tugged at Lietuva's hand. "Let go!"
"Ne, you are mine." Lietuva stood, throwing Poland over his shoulder.
"Nie!" Poland pounded on Lietuva's back helplessly. She could hear Zima, Klejnot, and Serce barking through the kitchen window.
"Knock it off, Po." Lietuva pinched Poland's calf. "I am stronger than you are, so stop fighting."
"Nie!" Poland kicked Lietuva in the chest to get back at him for pinching her. "What do you, like, want?"
"You, my love," Lietuva said over his shoulder. "Ever since we first met. My heart has only been for you."
"Co?" Poland froze for a split second before she resumed her frantic struggling. "You're totally crazy!"
"For you." Lietuva smirked as he made his way around the house. There was a black van waiting for him at the curb. A man leaned against the van, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
"I still don't understand what you find so interesting about her," the man said.
"You never will," Lietuva snapped. He laid Poland in the back of the van and grabbed a length of rope from the floor.
"Nie!" Poland kicked out at Lietuva. "I, like, don't even like you!"
Belarus glared at Lietuva from where she lay on the floor. She had been screaming curses at the imposter nations for the first few hours, hence the gag in her mouth.
"You will, Širdis." Lietuva caught Poland's ankle and laid it down beside the other, binding them together tightly. He moved on to tier her wrists behind her back.
"Like, let me go!" Poland jerked away from Lietuva after he released her.
"Ne." Lietuva tied a handkerchief in Poland's mouth. "I love you too much to lose you." Poland made garbled noises at Lietuva, presumably curses.
"So." Eesti followed his brother around the van to climb into the driver's seat. "Belarus to the cells, and Poland . . ." He trailed off, quirking an eyebrow at Lietuva.
"She can stay in my room." Lietuva buckled himself into the seat. "I'm sure she won't mind."
"Shall I call for reassurance?" Eesti asked casually.
"If you want to," Lietuva sighed.
Eesti nodded and dialed a number, handing the cellphone back to Latvijas. "You know what to do."
Latvijas nodded and held the phone to his ear. "Sveiki, Mr. Sverige."
The van shuddered as it roared to life and Eesti pulled away from the house, heading for their headquarters.
o)O(o
There was no greater joy in Italy's life than swimming. Except pasta. Pasta was delicious. Italy loved the way water glided down her body like a seal's slipstream. She could breathe freely under the surface and even communicate with occasional sea animal. She still wasn't overly fond of Denmark's frigid waters, but she was getting used to them.
A giggle burst from Italy's lips when a creature brushed past her. It stopped to stare at her, whiskers twitching as though it was sniffing her. The sea lion swam a circle around Italy before disappearing in a burst of bubbles.
"Tornate qui! (Come back here!)" Italy called happily. The words came out as a stream of bubbles. With a kick of her silvery tail, she propelled herself forward through the sea.
The sea lion stopped, staring at Italy in wonder. It had obviously never seen anything like her before. There was a pod of beluga whales used to seeing Italy. They even waited for her excitedly to play and sing with her. Even the orca whales adored Italy.
"Ciao, Mr. Sea Lion," Italy said happily. Using her tail, she stopped herself before the sea creature. "I've never seen something like you around here before."
The sea lion cocked its head before darting for the surface.
"Oh." Italy watched the creature rise to the surface. The rippling water distorted the afternoon sun high above Italy.
There was a deep splash and bubbles as somebody dove into the water.
"Cosa?" Italy turned in the water, worried. Denmark had told her to avoid the inhabited areas so she wouldn't start rumors like she had in Iceland. She scanned the water, slowly flicking her tail to maneuver herself in the opposite direction.
A hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Italy by the shoulder, dragging her to the surface.
"No!" Italy swung her tail in an upward direction like the orcas had taught her and slapped her attacker with it hard. When the hand released her, she dove in the opposite direction as quickly as she could.
"Dammit!" a familiar voice swore. "What the hell, Veneziano!"
"Romano?" Italy turned in the water, the fear draining from her body. She surfaced to see her older brother. "You scared me, fratello." Romano was not two feet away from her treading water.
"Yeah, yeah," Romano grumbled. "Just get out of the damn water." Over his shoulder, Italy could see a boat. Iceland was perched on the edge and Australia was reclined in a chair.
Italy frowned and sank into the water until it brushed her chin. "But I want to keep swimming," she whined. "Denny was going to come get me for dinner."
"Who gives a damn about Denmark?" Romano spat. "He's an ass anyway."
"Ass?" Italy repeated, cocking her head. "Romano, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
"Just get in the damn boat!" Romano roared. He slapped the water hard in his fury, splashing Italy in the face.
Italy jumped in surprise and propelled herself further back. "Fratello," she said. "What are you doing up here? You hate coming this far north if you don't have to."
"Oz!" Romano roared.
"Aye, Roma." Oz nimbly leapt from the edge of the boat and surfaced beside Italy, grabbing her arm.
Italy gave a great screech and rolled over in the water like a crocodile. The move effectively dislodged the surprised 'Oz' and Italy dove for the ocean floor. She was surprised when strong arms wrapped around her torso. Oz easily pulled her back to the surface and, before Italy could react, Iceland and Roma had dragged her aboard the boat.
"No!" Italy kicked her tail, trying to knock Roma away from herself. "Let me go!"
Oz helped to pin Italy down while Roma wrapped towels around her lower section. Iceland bound Italy's hand behind her back before Romano wrapped around towel around her shoulders.
"Denny," Italy whimpered, trying to wriggle out of the towels. She only succeeded in knotting them up around herself.
"Would you shut up about that ass?" Roma slapped Italy across the face. "He doesn't give a damn about you anyway!" Italy froze at both the action and the words. Tears filled her eyes as she slowly shook her head.
"Cosa?" Roma demanded.
"Y-You're wrong," Italy choked out, a tear running down her cheek. "Denny loves me."
"Like he does," Roma sneered and rose to start the boat, turning it around and heading away from the smallest Nordic nation. "He probably won't even come looking for you."
Italy looked back at her husband's land helplessly. She tried once more to twist out of the towels but it was hopeless with her hands bound.
Oz dragged Italy up and propped her against his shoulder.
"Relax, sheila," he said with a grin. "We've got you now."
Italy tried to jerk away from the 'nation', shaking her head. "W-Who are you?"
"I'm Oz. That's Roma." Oz jerked a hand at the southern half of Italy. "And there is Ísland." He wrapped an arm around the island nation who proceeded to bite him. "Damn thing," Oz muttered and pulled his arm back.
"B-But." Italy looked around at the 'nations'. "It happened," she said softly.
"What did?" Oz cocked his head while Ísland made a face at the taste of the other 'nation'.
"Germany was right," Italy said before breaking down into tears.
"Great," Roma growled. "Now you've got her crying."
"It's not my fault," Oz snapped back. "The sheila is naturally a crybaby. Her profile even said so."
Italy stopped crying at that. "P-Profile?" she squeaked out.
"You didn't really expect us to just do this randomly, did you?" Oz grinned down at the captured mermaid-nation. "We're not that dumb."
"Speak for yourself," Roma grumbled.
"W-What are you going to do with me?" Italy asked. She wondered for a brief moment if she could possibly flop her way over the side. She didn't need her arms to swim.
"We're going to keep you." Oz cuddled against Italy. "You are pretty cute." Italy broke down into tears again.
"Would you shut her up?" Roma roared over his shoulder.
"Don't mind him, sheila," Oz said with a smirk. "He's just mad I can actually get a sheila."
"I'm going to come back there and kill you!" Roma spat.
"I want to go home!" Italy sobbed. "Denny!"
Roma growled and Oz laughed, pulling another towel over Italy.
"Get used to it, Italy, you'll be staying a long time."
o)O(o
Morocco placed the tray of treats and coffee down on the coffee table. To anyone else it would have appeared be a family get together. But any nation would recognize a meeting of the New World Magicians.
America wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders when she sat beside him. Ukraine sat in a chair beside Ukraine. New Prussia was on the floor at her parents' feet, playing with Kumajirou. Greenland was perched on a stone bench before the fireplace. South sat beside America's legs, Saxony-Anhalt in her lap. The states, as their tradition had become, had dubbed the one year old 'Anhalt'. Brandenburg was upset when he learned he had gained another sister, declaring they were going to take over the household and ruin his life.
Prussia was sprawled out on the couch tossing grapes into the air and catching them in his mouth. He chewed each one slowly, keeping an eye on Aster, who he had been asked to watch by Germany.
"So . . ." America looked around at his siblings. Canada leaned down to scratch Kumajirou behind the ears. "What do we want to talk about?" America asked.
"What does England talk about during her meetings?" Canada wondered aloud.
"Probably how lame she is," Prussia said, throwing another grape into the air. Canada made a face at him but New Prussia giggled at the words.
"I believe she simply speaks about the problems occurring in the Old World," Morocco said as she leaned forward to take a cinnamon roll from the plate. She held another out to South who took it gratefully. The ex-nation looked exhausted by the infant in her lap.
"We don't have problems," Greenland pointed out. She played with a braid, studying her two younger brothers. "The caribou returned late this year."
"They're doing fine." Canada waved a hand dismissively. "Kuma and I checked on them earlier and we didn't find anything wrong."
"You wouldn't let me eat one," Kuma pouted, eating the maple cookie New Prussia gave him.
"That's because you couldn't eat a whole caribou!" Canada exclaimed. Greenland's face was a mask of horror at the conversation. As if she were recalling her pet caribou at home.
"Don't worry, sis," America said, patting Greenland's shoulder soothingly. "Canada wouldn't kill a caribou unless he didn't have to."
"You're soft, Birdie," Prussia commented. He yelped when a small polar bear, thrown by its owner, knocked him off the couch.
"Bastard!" Smokey, who had wandered into the room, charged Kumajirou.
"You again!" Kumajirou reared up. "I thought the moose had finally gotten you."
"Not again." Canada's head hit the table with a loud thump.
"They're kind of weird," America commented, cocking his head to one side. "I like them."
"Lame bears," Prussia muttered. He stood and moved to sit in the armchair. Smokey froze in the action of chewing Kumajirou's ear. The two bears looked to each other before seeming to come to a truce and leaping at Prussia.
"Gah!" Prussia fell back trying to shove the bears off him.
America laughed before turning back to the table. "So," he said. "South and I are having a bit of trouble with the ghosts of Gettysburg again. They're getting a bit riled up."
"Just exorcise them already." Greenland rolled her eyes. "It's not like they have a life anymore." South puffed her cheeks out at the comment.
"I don't know." America scratched the back of his head. "They're not doing anyone that much harm. But they've shut down an entire highway system."
"How did they do that?" Canada asked in shock.
America shrugged. "People see them at night and get too scared to drive that way again."
"They're grump," South mumbled. She finished her cinnamon roll and picked up Anhalt's doll, shaking it in front of the baby. Anhalt giggled and reached for the doll.
"Maybe you could get Georgia to help you," Canada suggested. "Could she think something up?"
"That's a good idea," America said. "I'll call her and see what she says."
South pouted, tossing the doll at Prussia's head. Anhalt screeched in fury at the action. The two bears stopped their assault on Prussia and turned to stare at the one year old. Several of America's children had made comments to their father that Smokey had been appearing in their homes to curl up in a corner and sleep. It seemed Anhalt was quite the wild child and kept everyone up with her screams.
"She's loud," Kumajirou commented. "How do you put up with her?"
"By going back to bed," Smokey grumbled before hurrying out of the room.
"Damn bears and their lame attitudes," Prussia muttered as he sat up. He had claw marks down his face from being attacked by the two creatures. Taking the doll, he tossed it back to Anhalt.
Anhalt squealed in delight and wriggled out of her mother's arms. She hit the ground began to army crawl. She screamed in fury when one particular move left her with her arms trapped beneath her.
"Anhalt," Prussia sighed. "You're a big girl. You can take care of yourself."
South covered her ears and made a face when Anhalt's screams rose in volume. Morocco sighed and stood, taking the German state in her arms.
"I believe your sister as met her match," Morocco commented to her husband.
"Darn tootin'," South snapped. "The ankle biter does nothin' but scream!"
"South," America said, rising from his seat. "You can't blame them. They're just babies."
"The rest just slept," South argued. "This one has got somethin' against us. Or she's his." She glared at Prussia accusingly.
"She's his," America said.
"Hey!" Prussia shouted, but America ignored him.
"Believe me," America continued. "I have experienced everything there is to see by having fifty children."
"I'm still wondering how you did that." Canada looked at New Prussia nervously. "She's hyper and won't listen to us."
New Prussia, now laying on the floor, looked up at her father innocently.
"Yeah . . . I'm starting to get the feeling Prussia's rubbed off on her," America said.
"Kesesese!" Prussia cackled. "Awesome!" He threw his hands into the air.
"Eh?" Anhalt froze from chewing on her doll. She stared at her father intently.
"Spectacular!" New Prussia squealed. She hopped to her feet, her silver hair swinging about her waist. Canada and Ukraine had tried to convince her to cut it but she refused.
"He! (Hey!)" Anhalt snapped.
"Hey!" New Prussia snapped back.
"New Prussia," Canada moaned. "Please don't start anything."
"I didn't," New Prussia whined. "Anhalt did it!"
"He!"
South covered her ears and fell over, closing her eyes tightly. "I'm goin' back to bed and I ain't comin' out until the next sunrise."
"You said that about the Dakotas," America commented. South only hummed and rolled over onto her stomach.
"Then why don't we head back home?" Prussia rolled his shoulders to get the kinks out. "West said we can use his house in Berlin for a month if we want to."
"Awesome!" South leapt to her feet. Anhalt watched her parents before shrugging and resuming chewing on her doll. Morocco sighed and gently tugged it away from the baby.
"America and I will watch Anhalt," Morocco offered. "You said that the rest are with Asutria?"
"Ja, Specs' watching them." Prussia threw an arm around South's shoulders and headed for the door. "Danke, America, Morocco."
"No problem, dude." America waved after his family. "Enjoy Germany."
"He!"
o)O(o
Greece gave up on the conversation with Turkey and simply hung up with the other nation in mid sentence. She then tried to figure out why she hadn't done that when she had first answered the phone. The older nation had been demanded she come for a visit. Honestly, he was acting like an old man again. How old was he? Over a thousand? Maybe he had the right to act that way.
"I̱líthios, (Idiot,)" Greece muttered and stroked the cat laying on her chest. "Why can't he just leave me alone?"
"Because he's a loser who doesn't deserve ya." A hand clapped down on Greece's shoulder.
"Gah!" Greece jumped, accidentally dislodging the cat who hissed and scurried for cover. "What the hell are you doing he-." She whirled around and froze in mid-sentence when she saw who was standing behind her. "Oh, skatá."
"Merhaba, Greece," Turkey said, crossing his arms with a smirk.
"Geia sas, Turkey." Greece rested her chin on the armrest of the sofa. "But you're not really Turkey, are you?"
Turkey's grin grew. "Hayır," he said. "I'm Türkiye."
"Türkiye," Greece repeated. "And what are you doing here? Have you come to make my life a living hell for being a brat to you when you were raising me?"
"Hayır, what's done is done." Türkiye turned around and wandered about, picking up random items and placing them back down.
"Then what are you doing here?" Greece moved her chin to her hand and watched Türkiye carefully. "You're obviously not supposed to be here. And if symbolism means anything to you." She pointed at Türkiye's eyes.
"What's wrong with my eyes?" Türkiye frowned. "I think they look nice."
"They're black," Greece said dryly. "Black can mean many things. But the most common is . . ." She leaned forward to emphasize her words. "You're evil."
"Am I?" Türkiye grinned. "I suppose I can be. If ya want me ta be." He stalked up to the couch and leaned over Greece. "Is that what ya want, Greecey?"
Greece leaned back and scowled. She raised a foot and kicked Türkiye behind the legs.
"Óchi," she said.
"Gah!" Türkiye fell to his knees, clutching his lower belly. "Ya little brat." He glared up at Greece.
"I'm sorry." Greece brought her legs up and tucked them under herself. "Did I piss you off in some way?"
"Ya better watch it, brat!" Türkiye straighted up. "Or yer not goin' ta survive fer long."
"Survive what?" Greece quirked an eyebrow. "An old man who was taken out with one kick? I highly doubt I'm in danger."
"Ya little brat!" Türkiye lunged forward and wrapped a hand around Greece's throat, tightening it.
"Gah!" Greece kicked Türkiye again, this time in the stomach. Türkiye grunted but pinned Greece against the couch. He maneuvered himself to be sitting on her legs so she couldn't' kick him anymore.
"Let me go!" Greece wheezed, wrapping her hands around Türkiye's wrist.
"Not until ya stop tryin' ta hurt me," Türkiye growled. He increased the pressure on Greece's throat. Greece choked for breath for several seconds before she finally gave up. Allowing her hands to fall to her sides, she fell limp.
"There's a good little Greece." Türkiye grinned and gently released Greece's throat to caress her cheek. "I knew ya'd give in with the proper encouragement." Greece gave a hacking cough, reaching up to grab Türkiye's wrist.
"If you don't want me biting," she hissed weakly. "Then don't give me a reason to."
Türkiye was still for a moment before he roared with laughter. "Yer still as feisty as ever, Greecey."
"Don't. Call. Me. Greecey," Greece said through gritted teeth. "Or I may just bite you again."
"Ya'll get used ta it." Türkiye ruffled Greece's hair before flipping her over. "Don't worry. They all do." He pulled Greece's arms back and bound them tightly.
"No!" Greece jerked against the 'nation' pinning her down. "What the hell do you want with me?" she spat.
"Yer so pretty," Türkiye said, ruffling Greece's hair again. "I can't just leave ya sittin' around like ya always do. I want ta show ya off ta the world."
"What?" Greece looked over her shoulder at Türkiye like he was crazy. "What did you just say?"
"What did the United States call them?" Türkiye cocked his head, thinking, before he laughed. "Oh, yeah! Trophy wives!" Greece was silent before she let out a shriek to rival an angry cat's and kicked Türkiye in the stomach again. A fist collided with the back of her head hard.
"I told ya not ta do that."
Greece lay, limp, half on and half off the couch, panting. The blow had caused her to see stars and now her head hurt badly.
"Damn brat," Türkiye muttered as he stood, folding Greece over his shoulder. "I'll teach ya ta kick me again."
o)O(o
China jerked awake when he heard the door of the bedroom open and close quietly. His clothes were torn in places and his oily hair hung limp around his face. The ponytail had long since fallen out and he had been unable to fix it. Chains around the nation's wrists and ankles stopped him from escaping the corner he'd been confined to.
Nihon stepped around his bed and squatted down before China. He studied the beaten nation before him carefully before giving China a soft smile.
"Konnichiwa, China-kun," Nihon said, reaching out to move some of China's hair out of his face. "Are you feeling better?" China mumbled something under his breath the other 'nation' couldn't quite make out.
"What was that?" Nihon seized a fistful of hair and slammed China's head into the wall. "I didn't quite catch that." He leaned forward with his soft smile.
"W-Wǒ hěn hǎo, (I-I am fine,) aru," China croaked, flexing his sore fingers. Two weeks ago he had been captured by Japan and France's doppelgangers. He hadn't seen the light of day for some time now and he was starting to regret it isolation.
"Then you are not hungry?" Nihon reached behind himself and took the tray he'd set on the bed. It had a simple cup of water, bread, and stew. But to China it was ambrosia.
"Duì, aru," China whispered.
Nihon tipped China's chin up with a finger. "Then ask for it," he purred.
China swallowed hard and closed his eyes tightly. Nihon liked to play games. And no only that. He enjoyed making others feel inferior to him.
"Qǐng Rìběn, (Please, Japan,) aru," China said.
"That doesn't sound like begging." Nihon took a warning grip on China's hair. "Begu. (Beg.)"
China whimpered in the back of his throat. "Please, Japan," he said through a dry throat. "You have not fed me in a week. I am starving and parched. Please. Please give me the food, aru."
"I guess that will have to do," Nihon sighed. He picked up the bread and ripped a piece off. "Say 'ah'." He held the food up with a condescending smirk. China opened his mouth for Nihon, not making remarks or faces at the 'nation'. Nihon fed China the bread and looked around the room in boredom.
"What do you do all day?" he asked, holding another piece out. China didn't answer as he chewed the bread weakly. It was hard in his mouth and didn't help to settle his growling stomach.
"Perhaps you would like to sleep on a bed tonight?" Nihon asked with a quirked eyebrow. China looked up to him, wondering for a moment if he was too hopeful at the thought.
"Your face says it all," Nihon chuckled. He held out the rest of the bread to China. "Finish your meal and I will get the bed ready."
China took the bread a bit quicker than he had before, almost inhaling the food.
Nihon rose from the floor, leaving the stew and water for China to finish. Moving to the bed, he began to pull the sheets back.
"Would you like anything, China-kun?" the doppelganger asked over his shoulder. "I noticed there's not a lot to do during the day."
"I am fine, aru," China said as he set the empty bowl of stew aside. He felt he might have eaten it a bit quicker than he should have.
"Very well." Nihon shrugged and approached China, taking a key out of his pocket. "Give me your wrist." He held his hand out.
China weakly raised his right wrist. Nihon took it in a firm grip and unlocked the cuff, allowing it to fall to the ground. He 'tsked' at the sight of China's chafed and cut writs.
"How did this get so bad?" Nihon asked. "It looks as though you have been struggling." His eyes flicked up to China.
"No." China quickly ducked his head. "My wrists, they itch and I could not help myself, aru."
"Your wrists itch," Nihon hummed and unlocked the other wrist. "I will let it go. This time." He squeezed China's wrist in warning. China flinched and whimpered at the pain.
"D-Duì, aru," he said. The ancient nation waited patiently for Nihon to finish unlocking his ankles.
"Sit on the bed, and don't move," Nihon ordered before walking into the bathroom. China obeyed, staring at the wall before closing his eyes.
'Rome, Germania, Scandinavia,' he prayed. 'If any of you see me fit enough, please, send someone to rescue me. I beg of you.'
China opened his eyes when Nihon returned with a first-aid kit. The doppelganger carefully cared for each of China's wounds then wrapped then.
"Perhaps you can have a bath later," Nihon suggested. China couldn't be sure if he was teasing. The doppelganger had made many promises to him in the past two weeks and had broken over half of them.
"If you wish, aru," China said, ducking his head. This had been his response to Nihon with every false promise he'd been given.
"You sound like a genie," Nihon chuckled. He walked around the bed and laid down, patting the spot beside him. "Come on, then. I bet you're tired." China swallowed hard before laying down gingerly beside Nihon.
"I wonder what it's like," Nihon said softly. He brushed China's hair out of his face. "To be nation. It seems so much simpler than what I am." China didn't answer. He simply folder his hands on his stomach and stared at the ceiling.
"You are no fun," Nihon pouted. "Why don't you entertain me more?" China could hear the underlying threat in the words.
Closing his eye sand exhaling, China opened them again. "Being a nation is not simple," he said. "It takes a lot of work and it rips you apart. I have followed my boss's orders in the past. And in the process, I ripped apart what had once been my family. We are blamed when something does not go the humans' way and tossed aside when it does, aru."
"It sounds much like being a War," Nihon mused. "We are tossed aside when the battle is finished. We had been lonely for a long time before a war began again. But it was short and not as fun as the last ones."
"Wars are not very long anymore," China agreed. "As I recall, Ahen and France fought the Hundred Years' War, aru."
"Hai," Nihon said dryly. "Britain and Francia do not exactly get along. While Britain is bossy, Francia is tactical. I would not have been able to capture you without his help."
"You were lucky, aru," China said with a small shrug. He could feel sleep sneaking up on him just by laying on the comfortable bed.
"I was lucky?" Nihon quirked an eyebrow. "You call me lucky?" Chian could hear the venom leaking into the doppelganger's voice.
"You were lucky to catch me alone," China said quickly. "I do not believe you would have succeeded had any other nation been with me, aru." He shut his eyes tightly and groaned. He was only digging himself a deeper hole.
Nihon was silent before he sighed. "You may say on the bed for the night," he said. "But I will not hesitate to kick you off if you make another comment like that," he added quickly.
"Xièxiè, aru," China said softly.
"Oyasuminasai, (Good night.)" Nihon rolled over and, slowly, his breath evened out.
Chin stared at the ceiling above him. 'Wǎn'ān, Yìnní, (Goodnight, Indonesia,)' he thought as he fell asleep. 'Wǔ yuè nǐ de línghún guānkànle wǒ. (May your soul watch over me.)'
A/N: What do you think?
How many of you are feeling bad for China right now?