So...my computer's word processing options aren't compatible with FFN. So updates will be extremely slow...Erm, this is kind of a break from the main storyline. It's basically about how China deals with things.
And no, I don't own Hetalia.
Sometimes, when things got really bad, China played pretend. With what he had had for emperors, it was one of the things that he was better at. He pretended that all those countries gnawing at the life of his own land were actually there because they cared about him as a person. He pretended that when Russia had offered his help, he truly wanted to help him. He pretended that England had just childishly requested to play house, and that Hong Kong was only staying the night.
And he pretended that Japan was actually trying to defend his country from the foreigners, not turn himself into an Empire.
When things got really bad, China would close his eyes and imagine that it was New Years. He had generously invited all of the nations to come to the celebration, and the reason he was alone in an empty room was because his siblings had insisted on taking care of everything. Taiwan and Vietnam were out buying decorations, or maybe hanging them, he had heard the door slam. Japan was in the kitchen with Thailand and Hong Kong, between the three of them, they had agreed to include at least one dish from every Asian country.
Tibet was painting scrolls, and Mongolia was taking a nap after ingredients shopping. Korea had been sent on as many pointless errands as his siblings could think up, no one could ever forget the year he had "helped" with the celebrations. China had needed to rebuild his entire kitchen.
He pretended that the doors slamming and the shouts were just guests arriving. That all of the screams were caused by Hong Kong's pranks and Korea's antics. He convinced himself that when he heard that cold voice, it was only because someone had insulted Japan's cooking.
He pretended that soon enough, someone would call him to eat, and that when someone did, they did it in his own language. He pretended that the meager food given to him was home-cooked by his beloved siblings. He pretended that he didn't eat alone.
And when he looked up into the frozen gaze of his younger brother, he pretend that the slash on his back had never been made in the first place.