Author's Notes: this part is a good deal longer and contains hints of Russia/China. You can take that either as an actual pairing, or you can take it as Russia just being manipulative and making something out of nothing. Either way's fine with me.

Disclaimer: still don't own 'em.

***

Come Not Between

Chapter Three

"You and I are friends, Chaojing. Perhaps someday you will come to visit me, da? And I will show you my house, and all the many facets of my country." Long gloved fingers laced through his slender ones. "And then, perhaps, one day... you and I shall be one?"

***

Chaojing glanced up at the last statement. "I-I'm not sure I understand," he admitted. "Do you mean a commonwealth, like Poland and Lithuania had?"

"Nyet," Ivan said with a trace of scorn. "Better than that. We will be friends, only much closer. We share our cultures, our strengths - we share ourselves with each other."

"Ah." Chaojing pulled his hand away, twiddling his thumbs nervously and staring at them in an attempt to keep his mind where it should be. It was... enticing, yes, but he had just regained freedom. Independence still tasted too sweet to give it up so easily. "I... I will have to think about it."

"Yao and I were one, back then," Ivan added distantly. "It was nice to have someone to confide in, to share with. And when politics was too frustrating, it was very helpful to have someone willing to help relieve that stress." Lilac eyes sparkled with something close to mischief. "He was skilled at it, too; especially when - "

"All right," Chaojing gasped, rocketing to his feet as a blush surged to his cheeks. S-so improper... "It is far too soon to make a definitive decision. I will have to think it over and discuss it with aniki before I can give you an answer."

"Why?"

He blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

Ivan tilted his head again. "Why do you need Yao's permission? You are no longer a child. You can make decisions for yourself, can you not?"

"Well, y-yes, but... technically I am still a territory of China." Ordinarily the admission would gall him, but now he took refuge in it. "I couldn't just go off and do something without even telling aniki."

One large gloved hand shot out to grasp his wrist, forestalling any escape attempts. "I thought you and I were to be friends, Chaojing," Ivan said plaintively. "You said you would not abandon me. Why are you trying to leave?"

His heart rammed its way from his chest to his throat. Fear surged up in him, a thousand times more vicious than the dread he felt as a child when he had disobeyed and Arthur had reached for a switch. The dragon was still alive, but deathly afraid; muzzled for too many years by fine silks and etiquette lessons, it only cowered in the knot deep in his gut.

The bones in his wrist creaked painfully under Ivan's grip. "Chaojing, you promised."

"Ivan!"

The sharp voice startled both of them, and they turned to see Yao heading for them full-tilt, changsan fluttering like scarlet-and-gold wings. Ivan loosened his grip in surprise, leaving Chaojing to wrench free and flee to his older sibling's side. He pressed his face into China's shoulder, screwing his eyes shut against the tears of hurt and confusion, not even caring that it went against all the rules of propriety he'd ever learned.

Yao clung to him, glaring lividly at the Russian getting to his feet. "What the hell were you doing, aru?" he snapped.

"Nothing," the Russian shrugged. "Chaojing and I were just discussing the future of our diplomatic relations. Isn't that right, Chaojing?"

The utterly bewildered Asian Nation could not even form a proper response. Yes, they had been, but there was more than that, much more; but he couldn't really tell Yao that with Ivan standing right there, and why was Ivan's mood changing so quickly?

Yao saved him by jumping in again, normally soft brown eyes snapping in anger. "You stay away from him, aru. Understand? He is not yours for the taking."

Dark amethyst swirled in the depths of Russian's eyes. "How appropriate; that is what you said about yourself when we first met, is it not?"

***

Arthur and Kiku came careening around the corner of the house, skidding to a stop a few yards away. "I think - I think we're too late," Arthur panted, hands on his knees. He briefly wondered how in blazes they were going to explain to their bosses that sorry, the Olympic ceremonies had to be postponed because China and Russia had unexpectedly started World War Three in Yao's backyard; then he decided that it would largely be irrelevant by that point.

Kiku, on the other hand, was not even winded (damn him), and he took a moment to sedately adjust his kimono before speaking. "Perhaps not," he said quietly. "They haven't actually exchanged blows. Look."

Arthur saw everything in a few moments: Ivan looking quietly, Yao practically spitting in fury, and Hong Kong seeming very lost and frightened between them. The last set Arthur off more than anything else, and sent the old protective instincts surging up again. He took a step forward and was halted by Kiku's hand on his arm. "Hey - "

The Japanese man shook his head. "The dragon and his wrath, Arthur. Leave them be."

Arthur blinked at him, startled by the old reference; then he glanced at the trio, considered the parties involved, and stepped back.

Whatever Ivan had just said, it had Yao monumentally pissed off. "That is neither here nor there, aru," the Chinaman ground out, face pale save two angry red spots standing out on his cheeks. "Regardless of what passed between us, Chaojing is not yours."

"So because you have governmental authority over him, no one else may be his friend?" Ivan said acidly, flicking a glance towards the newcomers. "I'm sure you know how well that turned out the last time someone tried it."

Arthur went hot and cold by turns, felt his self-control disintegrating piece by piece. Kiku's hand tightened on his sleeve, and he touched the back of it lightly to reassure Kiku and to ground himself. Stay out of it, stay out of it... He wondered if this poison was what drove Yao away years ago, what had him frightened so badly now.

Yao recognized the barb for what it was but still bared his teeth at Ivan like some wild thing. "This isn't like that and you know it," he hissed. "Chaojing has almost complete autonomy, aru."

"Then let him make his own decisions."

"It is not that simple, aru!"

"Why not?" Ivan shrugged lightly. "Why can't it be simple? It was not complicated when you and I were still friends." His eyes heated, darkened, thickened. "We did not need permission to become one; we did not even bother asking. If you recall, our bosses were quite angry when they found us that morning."

"Stop it," Yao replied, dangerously low; a tremor passed through his form.

"Perhaps that is why you are angry?" Ivan tilted his head. "Perhaps it is not Chaojing's involvement that upsets you, da? I think you are more jealous that I have found someone else to have as a friend."

"Stop it."

"Or maybe you are angry that I would consider taking another as - "

Coffee-colored eyes blazed golden, and a dragon's roar ripped out of Yao's throat.

Chaojing squeaked softly in surprise, burying his face in his older brother's chest to hide it. It had been a very long time since he'd witnessed China's full fury, and he found himself unenthusiastic about the prospect. Yao felt him flinch, tightened his arms protectively, and stilled a little. "Forget it, aru," he said icily. "Chaojing is neither mine nor yours, and for you to treat him like property is insulting. If you have no other business here, then I must ask you to leave. Now."

Ivan's eyes darkened even further at being dismissed so casually. "You cannot keep him forever, Wang Yao."

"Get out," China snarled. "Get out before I throw you out."

The Russian stared him down menacingly for a few breathless moments. His eyes passed briefly over Arthur and Kiku, coming to rest on Chaojing. The young Asian shied away from his gaze, and that seemed to decide things. "As you wish," Ivan said, a Siberian edge in his voice. He turned swiftly, coat flaring out, only glancing once over his shoulder at the little group behind him.

Chaojing shivered in his brother's arms as arctic amethyst brushed past him.

***

"I'm sorry," Chaojing said quietly, once they were back in the kitchen.

Yao glanced up from the bandage he was wrapping around Chaojing's sore wrist. "For what, aru?"

"For making you worry."

Scoffing a little, the Chinaman brushed his ward's bangs back. "It is not your fault, aru. Do not blame yourself for Ivan's actions." He snorted again. "He has some nerve, aru. Showing up here uninvited, causing a scene, trying to seduce you - "

Chaojing flushed despite himself. "You know it wouldn't have worked."

"Mmm." Yao tucked in the ends of the bandage carefully. "I would not take that chance, aru. Not with you."

"Aniki?"

"Hmm?"

The younger Asian bit his lip. "Why didn't you ever tell me about Ivan?" When Yao bowed his head silently, Chaojing blurted, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked; if you wanted to forget him then -"

"No," Yao interrupted gently. "It's not that, aru. Just... The pain of having to leave him and of the act itself overshadows the good memories at times, aru. Please don't worry about it."

Chaojing nodded, but his curiosity was not satisfied. "Then why -"

Yao laughed, shaking his head as he tapped Chaojing's nose. "Another time, aru. This is a happy day. And anyway, it is a long story, and we need to leave soon, aru. Go wait in the car; I'll be out in a minute."

Hong Kong wrinkled his nose a little in annoyance, but hopped down from the counter obediently. "Thank you," he said quietly, hugging Yao briefly before gliding out the door.

Later, they sat in a private box at the opening ceremonies with the other Nations and watched the brilliant fireworks show. Chaojing glanced over and saw Arthur with a melancholy look on his face, and somehow he knew that the older Nation was thinking of another night, with different fireworks. He slid quietly from his seat and padded beside the Englishman; Arthur started slightly when slender arms slipped around his shoulders and glanced up, taken aback. "What in -"

"I saw you today, outside aniki's house. Thank you for being there." Chaojing's lips quirked in the barest hint of a smile as the fireworks cast a stained-glass display over his ebony hair. "I haven't forgotten you, you know," he added quietly. "You did so much for me when I was young, and you were so kind. Even though I was a brat sometimes. A lot of the time." The words caught in his throat, and he squeezed Arthur tighter, resting his forehead on his shoulder. "I could never forget you," he whispered.

Arthur grasped his forearms lightly, caught Yao's approving glance from across the box and offered him a small nod. Hong Kong lifted his head, and together they watched the fireworks paint the night sky.

~Fin~

***

NOTES:

~The title and Kiku's reference are both taken from "Come not between the dragon and his wrath", a rather famous line from Shakespeare's play King Lear. I have a bit of a head-canon regarding the Asian nations being connected to/ identified with dragons (I mean, come on, China's boss actually is a dragon), and this ties into that a little. It's also alluding to "do not separate (come between) what has already been joined", but referring to familial rather than marital bonds.

~Kiku strikes me as someone who is fastidious with his appearance and possesses an innate grace and poise that we Westerners just can't get the hang of. *shrugs*

~I'm sure you know how well that turned out the last time someone tried it - I think everyone can figure out exactly which incident Ivan was referring to. Although it must be said, though Hong Kong is technically "owned" by the Chinese government, it is autonomous and unique in many ways, culturally and otherwise.

~...the pain...overshadows the good memories at times - I dated a wonderful guy for over a year not too long ago. Due to various reasons, our breakup ended up being messier than either of us wanted, and it's hard sometimes to look past that and remember that I actually really liked the guy. I guess that's where this line came from.

~...another night, with different fireworks - The political handing-over of Hong Kong from Britain to China was marked by fireworks over Victoria Harbor.

~A humongous hug to my beta CJBlackwing for putting up with this thing. ILU~

~Thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed! I hope you all enjoyed it, and I appreciate each and every one of your comments. See you soon!