21st Century Breakdown [3/18]
Disclaimer: If Axis Powers Hetalia were mine, I wouldn’t need to write fanfics. If any of these songs were mine, I wouldn’t be writing fanfics.
Background music: Track 3 - Know Your Enemy - Green Day
Minimal fluff 09!
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Three - Know Your Enemy
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Do you know your enemy?
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It was unbecoming. It was utterly horrific that a nation such as him was in this position. There had been no warning, as there never was, and China stared ashen-faced at the ground, willing himself not to believe he was in his state, not today, not now. This wasn’t happening. It was just a dream, a long nightmare he couldn’t awaken from.
But it wasn’t a dream. Just like the past centuries had not been a dream. He had lived through eons of heartbreak; he had lost what he once had. But he was still a proud nation. He had much left and had no reason to crawl away and die. He had his people to protect.
“You disgust me.” It wasn’t Japan talking; it wasn’t the little nation he had raised, wasn’t one of his beloved family that just dealt him a sharp blow with the sheath of his katana. The slap against the side of his face was almost numbing.
Everyone loved to pick on the old.
England had been one of the ones who hit first and drew blood. Those from the West were never good news. They brought with them strange words and strange things; they were greedy and stole things from him. They knocked him about until he was dizzy and disoriented and his people with him. They were the ones to contend with.
Not his family. Not his beloved family.
“If you’d just agreed to the Demands, this wouldn’t have happened.” When did Japan’s tongue get so sharp? They cut into him like a steel trap. There was so much contempt; he never raised his children like that. “Are you listening to me?” There was another blow, much more forceful than the previous, and China was knocked sideways onto the ground, struggling to remain sitting.
“You were weak,” Japan continued, his eyes narrowing. “You were weak, and you think I would just sit by and watch? I’m only an island, aniki, and in times like these, land is money.”
The tears came of their own accord, clear drops against his muddy face. “We’re family,” China whispered, pushing himself up again. “But even if we’re family, you can’t just take what’s not yours. Manchuria was always mine, I had to…”
“Shut up!” The sheath swung at him again and China accepted the blow, thrown backward quite a bit with Japan’s force. “You lost it fair and square! You are weak, and you had to run to the others to get them to save you. Ha! You needed saving against poor, little me!” Sarcasm was deadly at Japan’s lips. China closed his eyes and willed the tears to stop. “Even a bully knows when to stop when the big people tell him to. But now not even your stupid League of Nations can stop me now.”
China opened his eyes again, wondering himself delusional when for a moment, he saw the image of an old, smiling Japan looking down at him. With a blink, this illusion was wiped away and a furious nation stood before him, ice in his eyes and venom in his mouth. The scar from Japan’s first fight throbbed painfully on his back.
“Japan…” Stop. Stop. This was not what he wanted. He wanted them all to get along again. Couldn’t they get along anymore? Were they all destined to be fragmented, Taiwan at Japan’s house, Korea on his own, Hong Kong with England? “You don’t have to do this…”
“I don’t? No, I do. You won’t understand if I didn’t. You never understood. You were always blinded by your stupid delusions.” Japan took a step forward, his shadow casting over China’s shivering form. “You always thought we would be one big, happy family. But you would be the head. I’m only saying no. You can’t control me. I won’t let you.”
China closed his eyes again and he saw his people suffering. The dead shot into a pit, the screams of women, the smell of burning houses…it was overwhelming. And now to be cornered by Japan in his own home…he’d lost his control on everything.
“Remember…” China said suddenly, a small smile on his face. He was foolish to be remembering, but it came back suddenly. Japan stopped, startled. “Remember when we were young and I took you out to see the full moon? You really liked it…”
“You crazy old man,” Japan whispered, pulling the katana out of the sheath slowly so the sound of blade could be heard in the room. “You crazy, stupid, old man.”
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Italy sat outside, staring up at the clouds, where his head also was. It was fun playing with Germany; he made him do all sorts of training that Il Duce always wanted them to do. Although it was really hard, he always felt like he was doing something, something other than fighting. It seemed they liked to fight all the time. He didn’t like fighting too much.
Romano didn’t like Germany.
Italy suspected it was because he was spending so much with Germany and not as much time with his brother.
Italy suspected it was because Germany approached him, seeing him as an able-bodied nation, instead of Romano.
Italy suspected Romano was jealous that Italy had a friend.
No matter what the reason, Romano didn’t like Germany.
Today, Russia had come over. The big-boned nation had complained of the western European powers plotting against him. He had wished to offer a sign of peace, that no matter what happened, they would remain friendly. Germany’s boss had agreed; after all, no one wanted to deal with an upset Russia. And with Russia pacified, Germany could do as he pleased.
Italy stared through the front window and saw Germany and Russia’s bosses in tight discussion, while the nations themselves were watching each other. There was a careful apprehension that filled Germany’s face, while Russia looked as carefree and dangerous as usual. Italy shivered as Russia’s violet eyes shifted and fell to rest on him. The northern nation waved friendly and Italy scampered away from the window.
Did this mean Germany and Russia were friends?
What about him?
Italy wanted to cry.
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They were a gang of unruly nations. A trio of rebellious, violent, stubborn little nations. Japan, clear-eyed and lightly smiling, signed the Tripartite Pact as Italy dozed off under the kotatsu.
“I’ve signed,” the soft-spoken nation explained, as both his allies were lying contently on the floor.
“Eh. Leave it.”
Japan smiled onward. “Then please have an orange and relax.”
There was a satisfied sigh that seemed to come from all three of them when suddenly Italy shot up, knocking a cat that had been dozing on his chest off and mewling irritatedly. “Japan!” he said loudly. “I saw some pretty trees when we were coming in! Can we go see them together right now? I paint, you know, so I want to get a good look at them so I can paint them later!”
“You paint?” Japan regarded his new ally with amusement. “Alright. We can go look at the sakura together. Would Germany-san like to come too?”
Italy was already on his way next to Japan and was pulling the nation to his feet as Germany waved his hand dismissively, eyes still closed. “I’ll stay here,” the blonde nation said gruffly. “Just agree to his every whim. Italy’s easily satisfied.”
“See you later, Germany~!” Giggling, Italy pulled Japan through his own house into the courtyard, where a grove of sakura trees stood, the pink blossoms brightly blooming in the breeze. “So pretty!” Italy leapt from Japan’s side into the midst of the trees, twirling around and reaching to brush the petals with his hands. Squealing when some came off in his hands, Italy turned to find Japan again. “Ve, Japan, come over here!”
Italy was very much like a young child, Japan thought to himself, before berating himself for the thought. China once thought he was a child too. Italy looked so carefree that the thought came regardless, although Japan wondered if he had thought too fast; as he came closer, Italy’s smile seemed a bit forced, a bit too eager.
“So you’re friends with us now!” Italy chirped, the fake smile still on his face. “Me and Germany! How do you like it?”
“It is promising,” Japan agreed, nodding slightly and trying to decipher Italy’s face. “To have allies in your sphere is a good thing; to have influence with friends in higher places.”
“How about Germany? Do you like him?”
“Germany-san seems to be a very serious individual.”
“So? Do you like him?”
Japan cocked his head, his face blank. What was Italy trying to make him say? “Yes,” he said finally, choosing his words carefully, “and as much as I like you, Italy-san.”
“Good.” Italy reached over and gripped his hands. It must be a European thing, Japan reasoned, feeling awkward at the contact. Deal with it, it was to be expected with these nations. “Good. Because Germany and me are best friends! I mean, yes, Germany and Russia are friends too, I guess, but me and Germany are best friends.” Italy stared deep into Japan’s eyes.
Do not touch what is mine.
It was a startlingly clear message and Japan was slightly taken aback. There was an intensity that China lacked, the force that his old brother had not taken with him. Italy looked away, happy to dance with the fluttering petals again, but Japan stood where he was, watching his new ally in the sakura.
A smile played on Japan’s mouth. He may have had his doubts, but he was sure he was going to like his new friends now.
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Poland grinned to himself as he settled the porcelain pony on his mantle place. Now. There, it looked perfect! Oh so darling! It totally matched with the pink walls!
“Oh, my, darling,” Poland cooed, reaching out to stroke the pony with a finger. “Now you are the definition of, like, cute! Cutie patootie!”
There was a strange sound of what sounded like horse hooves. Poland, although he was a rather aimless sort, knew he was no longer imagining it. The heart burn he felt he could no longer blame due to breakfast. Smiling tensely, Poland focused on the porcelain horse until the hoof beats could no longer be ignored.
Crossing the room in silence, Poland glanced outside. From the west came an armored brigade, led by a lone blonde man. Poland clucked his tongue before crossing the room again to the other side and peering out the window to see another brigade from the east, led by his old foe, the old wintery white haired nation.
“Liet?” Poland called out tentatively. Good. There was no answer. He had not wanted his good friend to watch him at the time like this.
“Oh lordy,” Poland murmured, keeping his eyes trained on the advancing armies. There was a dramatic crackle in the clouds and Poland swore he saw a flash of lightning in Germany’s direction. “I’m in, like, big trouble.”
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…so rally up the demons of your soul.
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To be continued