Fandom : Hetalia Axis Powers
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Disclaimer : I don't own Hetalia nor it's characters.
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Summary : In a Dynasty era, little Japan falls ill and his big brother China takes care of him.
all this served to bring them closer and make the shy Japan open up more.
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A/N : English is not my mother language , this author sucks at English.
well! since I am a fan of the Chinese palace drama, I tried to incorporate some of the Dynasties etiquette and aesthetics. I think it might be a poor attempt but I enjoyed writing it nonetheless.
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Story Title : We get closer with a crisis
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it was in the morning, the sun was in full view and it was past the wake-up time. China was in his room and fully-drowned in writing with his elegant brush handling and his practiced wrist.
China was copying "The scrolls of the temple's Nun" book for the empress dowager. the empress dowager was sick recently so China decided to gift her a much-larger-sized-texted copy of the said book when he go pay respect to her next time.
China remembered that the empress dowager many times expressed her disappointment with her aged and weakened vision that rendered her unable to read the said book on her own. the extremely-old book's text was noticeably much smaller than all of the other books.
China wanted to show his consideration and decided to copy the whole book with a text that's multiple-times bigger than the original one so even the empress dowager herself could read it easily without any trouble.
larger texts means longer brush strokes and it was an exhausting task and required skills and delicateness since every long stroke requires a steady wrist and speed.
China began working on copying the book since almost three weeks ago and he's going to finish it by the end of the current writing session.
"Nii-san! can I come in!", a voice called from behind the sliding door.
"you can come in Ki'Er", China replied, he calls Kiku as 'Ki'Er' affectionately.
little Japan entered the room and closed the door behind him quietly.
"I bow in respect to Yao-gege and wish him a thousand years of health, prosperity and piece" Japan said after he lowered himself to his knees and then pressed his forehead to the floor.
"what are you doing! I have told you hundred times to stop with such excessive formalities", China said flustered but Japan didn't budge and kept on pressing his forehead to the floor.
"I won't dare! you are the holy personification of this great country and I should treat you like the imperial bloodline", Japan muttered to the floor and could feel the heat of his breath hitting him back on the face.
China sighed in defeat and knew full-well that his overly-polite little brother doesn't take it easy when it comes to etiquette. it was already stated since early dynasties that each emperor issues an imperial degree for Yao to be treated same as royalty since he was the holy personification of China.
"you may rise", China said begrudgingly and stretched his hand to Japan.
Japan slowly rose to his feet and stretched his arm to China. Japan was pressing the edge of his long sleeve under his clutched fingers.
China gently gripped the middle of Japan's arm and pulled him towards him and let him sit on his knee.
Japan squirmed a little on him being sitting on China's knee like a small kid despite truly being a small kid.
"I know that you prefer to call me 'Nii-san' rather than 'Gege', you can just call me 'Nii-san' if you want. there's no need for such formalities between us and you are a small child, so call me 'Nii-chan' instead of 'Nii-san'", China said to the boy. China knew that Japan loves to use Japanese honorifics when he calls him.
"I can't. when I greet an imperial family member I should address him with the required title", Japan said shyly.
China sighed at his little brother who wasn't act like a little kid at all. Japan was to responsible and serious for a little kid.
"fine! then call me 'Nii-chan' when casual", China said.
"Nii-chan", Japan said shyly, deciding to savor his new favorite word and buried his face on China's neck to hide his face.
China smiled seeing the blush and small smile on his baby brother's face and decided to act as if he couldn't see it.
China just thought of how his little serious brother who seems so matured for his age could act like the child he's sometimes.
"I knew that I have been so busy with writing these days and haven't been spending enough time with you. but I promise you that today I will finish with this book and we will have so much fun together after that", China said and Japan looked at him.
"hey Ki'Er! your eyes looks red and a bit puffy. did you just woke up or what", China said.
Japan nodded and China wondered what reason made his early-risen brother wake up so late.
"anyway! how about you grind the ink's stick for me so I can finish faster! you know how to grind ink right!", China suggested happily. China was trying to make his little brother help him so the little boy would feel satisfied and proud to help his big brother. and he also wanted Japan to help him so China can mention Japan's merit to the empress dowager in helping in copying the book. he can already see that a big reward would be bestowed on the boy by the empress dowager.
Japan nodded and was relieved to find a reason to jump from his brother's knee. Japan held the ink stick and began to grind it on the ink stone slowly and silently.
China smiled and took his brush again, "fine! let us begin Ki'Er", China yelled challenging-ly and began to draw characters with renewed passion.
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it was quite sometime before they finally finished copying the book.
China held the last page to his eyes level to inspect it with relief.
"look Ki'Er, this is the result of our combined works", China declared happily and tilt the page to show it to Japan.
China blow at the page with his mouth then gently lay it on top of the other papers. China slapped his hand many times over the massive stack of papers. "look how larger the book has became since increasing the text size! I don't think a one volume could hold all these papers and provide a comfortable reading experience. I guess I should split it on two volumes! don't you think that Ki'Er!", China said.
a reply never came and China turned to look at his little brother who was swaying dangerously.
little Japan was happy with helping big brother in finishing his work when suddenly he felt lightheaded and the edge of his vision began to darken.
"Ki'Er are you alright!", China said panicked and bolted up to his feet.
Japan began to fell to his side but China caught him before he came into contact with the floor.
"Ki'Er! Ki'Er! Kiku-chan! please answer me!", China called out to Japan.
"Nii-chan!", Japan said weakly and fisted his small hand on China's sleeve.
"Someone! someone come immediately", China barked as he stood to full height with little Japan on his arms.
immediately a maid and an Eunuch entered and squatted down on one knee, posing for their Master's order.
"Ki'Er is so sick, call out the physician immediately", China said.
the maid gasped when noticing the sick young master and ran to call the physician.
China pressed his neck against Japan's hot forehead and cursed himself for not noticing the fever his little brother was suffering from.
China gently deposited the unconscious little Japan into the eunuch's arms and instructed him to take Japan to his bed.
China held his brush again and began to write a message to ask for an imperial physician. once he finished he used his special seal on it and send it with a maid to the imperial infirmary.
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"I can feel that his qi level is weaker than normal", the physician said while putting his index and middle finger on the vein on Japan's wrist to sense him.
"for now I will write a prescription for him. my knowledge is nothing compared to an imperial physician's knowledge. that's why you must understand that the final diagnosis will be the one performed by the imperial physician once he arrive. for now this prescription will do", the physician said before he bowed and then took his kit and left.
China sighed before he flopped on the wooden seat near Japan's bed.
China sensed Japan's feverish forehead, "forgive your ignorant big brother Ki'Er", China said sadly.
Japan was always a too-mature child who's shy about expressing his feelings and always act strong. seeing him in such a vulnerable state only made China's heart bleed in pain.
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a few minutes later, a maid entered the room with a tray on her hands.
she knelt and presented the tray to China, "the medicine is ready master", she said.
China took the tray and put it on the nearby table. "you may leave now", he said and the maid bowed then left.
China took the bowel of herbal tonic from the tray and filled the big porcelain spoon with the medicine.
China gently blew at the steaming tonic, shaking his head from side to side to cool it equally.
China consumed the spoonful and grimaced with closed eyes at the bitterness of the medicine while exhaling deeply.
China knew that his brother was so obedient that he will consume the awful tonic without a fight --or with little fight maybe-- but nonetheless he was somewhat relieved that Japan wasn't conscious to endure such an awful taste.
China propped Japan's head with the round pillow. he took a spoonful of the steaming tonic and blew at it before he put the spoon between the seam of Japan's lips and watched as the brown liquid drained inside.
China took a handkerchief and dabbed at the excessive tonic on the edges of Japan's mouth.
China kept spoon-feeding the tonic to Japan until it finished.
once China finished with the tonic he pressed a cup of water to Japan's lips to wash the awful taste of the tonic from Japan's mouth.
"someone!", China called and a maid came in. China silently ushered her to take the tray and leave.
after that China sighed and sat on Japan's study.
it was sometime before the imperial physician arrive so China decided to wait while making good use of his time.
China neatly arranged the papers of the book he was copying and took a big needle and pierced it through the fat stack of paper. he was going to sew the paper together as to make it attached to each other as in a book then he would sew the thick cover afterwards. he decided to split it into two volumes since the amount of paper was too much to be collected into a one single book.
after he finished with the book he began to copy Buddha Sutra to pray for little Japan's health to be restored. it will calm him down from over-worrying about little Japan.
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China winced as he saw the blood coming out from his baby brother's thumb after the imperial physician pierced it with a needle.
China fidgeted nervously as the physician was putting his stuff back into his wooden box.
"the tonic from the physician earlier helped to stabilize the young Master's qi level. it's now just the fever and I will write a new prescription to cure it along with one herbal bath and he will be fine", the doctor said.
China received the herbs and the prescription and send off the imperial doctor himself.
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it was late in the afternoon and Japan hasn't regained consciousness yet and China was dying with worry.
"ayaaaa! I can't wait anymore", China yelled with his hands on his head.
China forcefully threw the blanket away from over Japan and carried little Japan in his arms.
he was walking briskly to the bathhouse with a maid and an eunuch in the follow.
once China entered the bathhouse, he turned to his servants, "go stand outside! I will call you when needed", China said sharply.
the eunuch --who was bestowed on China by the emperor decree-- knelt on one knee, "master! please let me do this in your place as a servant should do", the eunuch begged his master to be the one to carry the child inside the herbal bath.
"you are not sick and the emperor won't spare me if you caught a cold or an illness while in contact with those strong herbs", the eunuch added.
"don't worry, the emperor won't know anything about this", China replied.
"but master! you might get sick", the eunuch said.
"just go away and don't come in unless I call for you", China said impatiently.
"I understand", the eunuch said fearfully and exited with the maid behind him.
China carried Japan to the adjacent room and laid him on the bed. China took off his own clothes, he took off all the clothes on his torso and shoes until his chest became bare and clad in nothing but his pants.
China removed all of little Japan's clothes until he laid completely naked in front of him.
China knew how Japan was so shy about his body and China wouldn't let any of inconveniences to happen to his little brother even if said little brother was unconscious.
China carried the burning naked little Japan to the edge of the large square bath.
there were hundreds of pink flowers petals and herbal leaves on the surface of the water.
China inhaled deeply before he stepped into his reflection on the warm water.
he stood in the middle of the bath while carrying the naked little Japan with an angle to let Japan's head over the water level while the rest of his body under the water.
he was careful as to keep Japan's head non-wetted because the last thing he wanted was for Japan to catch a cold because of a wet scalp.
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after sometime, China was sitting by the edge of the bath with Japan sitting over his lap and his head on China's bare chest.
China was drifting in and out of consciousness before woke up at the feeling of a movement.
Japan opened his eyes to found his head against his brother's bare chest. he looked down to see himself naked and sitting over his brother's lap under water.
little Japan blushed furiously, "Nii-chaaan!", he shrieked.
China jumped at the shriek and put his hands over Japan's shoulder to look at him.
"is something wrong Ki'Er!", China said while inspecting the boy.
"my clothes!", Japan said embarrassed and tried to wriggle free from his brother's grasp.
"hold on. the physician said you should have a bath and you were unconscious all this time, that's why I had to do this", China tried to reason.
Japan calmed down and tears began to well up on his eyes. "p-put Nii-chan might fall sick", Japan said before he exploded with crying. he buried his face on China's chest and fisted his fingers on his brother's long hair. Japan felt so overwhelmed and he was so sad because he caused a trouble to his big brother.
China was surprised by little Japan's outburst. little Japan who doesn't show much emotion besides being shy and self-blaming.
"I am sorry Yao no Oni-chan for causing a trouble for you", Japan said with a small voice.
China smiled and but an arm around Kiku to press him tighter against him.
"you don't apologize for a mistake that you haven't made Kiku-chan. worrying yourself with trivial matters will only make your big brother worry. you are just a little boy and you should be carefree and let us the adults worry for you. one day you will become an adult and you will have enough things to worry about. you should enjoy your childhood Ki'Er", China said and kissed the top of Japan's head.
China was really worried sometimes by his little brother's over-maturity and his self-blameness. the boy was always worrying about being an inconvenience and can't be carefree like other kids.
China exited from the bath while carrying Japan and he helped him into new clothes.
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Japan took one spoon of the tonic and couldn't repeat the act again. he didn't want to trouble big brother but he couldn't force himself to take another spoon of the awful tonic.
China smiled a little, he knew that even the most obedient kids won't be willing to taste such a bad-tasting medicine for a second time.
"come on Kiku-chan! open your mouth wide", China said and shoved the spoon at Japan's face.
Japan's eyebrows furrowed comically and he turned his head away from the spoon.
"come on Kiku-chaaan! come on Ki'Er", China singsong playfully and neared the spoon to Japan's turned face.
Japan shook his head in denial and China laughed at his baby brother finally acting naughty like little kids.
"fine then, I have some idea and I am going to try it", China said before he ran outside.
"sorry Yao no Oni-chan", little Japan said miserably.
after a couple of minutes China comeback with a bowl full of purple grapes. the fruit was sliced in the middle and the seed was removed.
"since the medicine is so bitter then we can balanced it with something so sweet", China winked at Japan while putting a grape on his mouth.
Japan looked at China, not convinced and afraid of the tonic.
"come on Ki'Er, you will take a spoonful then you will chew a grape afterwards. it will wash off the bitter taste from your mouth", China encouraged. China gave the bowl of grapes to Japan who shyly held it over his lap since he was sitting straight on the bed.
it was sometime now and the tonic cooled down so China doesn't have to blow at it.
"come on Ki'Er", China said and raised a spoon of tonic to Japan's mouth.
"ready! go", China announced and Japan sipped the tonic in one quick motion. Japan was closing his eyes at the bad taste and quickly grabbed a grape and chew it. his eyebrows softened and he opened his mouth as the great taste of the grape removed the lingering bitterness from the tonic.
"see! it worked Kiku-chan", China chirped happily and Japan gave a small smile.
"now let's continue to do this", China said.
and they continued with the tonic-grape combination till there was no more tonic.
China clapped his hands and a maid came in and took the dishes.
"see! you were so brave! my little brother is learning to be a strong-resolved man", China chirped while ruffling Japan's hair.
Japan blushed and looked to the side with a smile.
"now! it's getting late and I should go back to my place and let you rest", China said and turned to leave before something tugged at his sleeve and made him stop.
China looked at Japan's little hand grabbing his sleeve then looked at Japan who was red like a tomato.
"c-could you stay the night with me this time Nii-chan!", Japan said in a small voice then let go of China's sleeve. he was anticipating a refusal from his elder brother.
China's heart fluttered at little Japan's request. this was the first time that his baby brother --who's usually uncomfortable with receiving affection-- asks him to cuddle with him. China couldn't help but to think that this illness of Japan opened him more. China just wished that this open-ness would be permanent and not a sentiment caused by a high fever.
little Japan was biting his lower lip and felt like crying when he didn't receive a reply. he felt ashamed of himself for allowing himself to ask such a childish thing from his big brother.
"oh my Kiku-chan", China said and carried Japan from under his armpits.
Japan felt surprised at the sudden floating sensation before China twirled them and hugged him tightly.
"let's sleep together aru", China said happily and little Japan just buried his face in his brother's neck.
China laid Japan on the bed and lied next to him. China felt Japan's little fingers wrapping around two of his fingers and snuggling closer to him.
"sleep well Kiku-chan", China said and kissed Japan on his feverish forehead.
China watched as Japan finally drifted off with a smile then he let himself follow.
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the next day passed quickly and with no problem. Japan was sleep most of the day and that allowed the newly-sick China to rest himself. China fall sick as an effect of the herbal bath and the physician gave him a medicine for countering the effect of the herbs in the bath. he wasn't sick and hence getting into contact with the herbs while holding Kiku in the bath only had toxic effect on his body. China didn't tell little Japan about his illness that day.
the next day Japan was back to his feet and feeling good.
a sick China was laying on his bed and he can hear a small footsteps running towards his room.
"Nii-chan I will come in", Japan announced and entered.
"I bow in respect to Yao-gege", Japan said while kneeling on one knee to give a simple greeting then he ran to China.
"Nii-chan! why haven't you told me that you were sick", Japan said. he knew that his big brother became ill because of him and he wanted to cry but was fighting himself not to cry because he didn't want to trouble sick big brother with consoling him.
"you will already sick and I didn't want you to worry about me", China said with a tired smile.
"Nii-san, I will help you with everything I can. just order me whatever you wish", little Japan said with determination.
"very well", China said tiredly and grabbed Japan's little hand with his bigger hand.
"I love seeing you like this Kiku! I love to see you so warm and opened. please stay like this Kiku", China muttered in his fever.
"Nii-chan I love you", Japan said with a small blush and didn't feel as awkward as always.
"you are finally saying it! I love you too baby Kiku", China said with a wide and tired smile.
"Nii-chan, I will be here today to take care of you", little Japan said with a small smile.