The Caretaker Becomes the Caretakey

Story by Roxas-Chan ((AKA A.R.C. Fangirl 0w0v))

Disclaimers: Hetalia - Hidekaz Himaruya

Chapter 18 ~ East Side

After the craziness, Yao went to bed and Hong left to the meeting, leaving Kiku, Mei, and Yong Soo to take care of the little Chinese boy. They were a bit unsure as to what to do because it was mostly Hong looking over him, but the Chinese nation assured them that Yao would be asleep most of the time. Sadly, that wasn't exactly the case at the moment.

"Where's Hong-Ge...?" Yao asked, entering the living room. All eyes were on him.

"Hong's dealing with some firework issues down by the docks..." Mei finally answered nervously.

"Didn't you say you were going to bed, Yao-Kun?" Kiku asked just as nervous. Yao only giggled and ran back towards his room.

"Yes I did aru!" echoed a cute little voice, followed by a closing door. Once they all heard the door to Yao's room close, all three nations let out a heavy sigh.

"How're we gonna take care of him if he comes back while Hong's away da ze?" Yong Soo sighed.

"Shhhh! We don't want Yao-San coming back!" Kiku said, reassuring the Korean.

"Can't we just lock him in his room? I mean seriously!" Mei suggested.

"Yao-Hyeong is our brother, Mei!"

As the three nations argued (or just Yong Soo and Mei, Kiku wasn't feeling so good), Yao was already fast asleep...

~()*()*()*()~*~()*()*()*()~

"What're you doing up so late, Japan?" China asked his younger brother. Japan was silent, walking closer and closer to China, his hand on the sheath of this katana, "J-Japan... What're you‒" Japan suddenly attacked him but China was able to pull out his wok just in time to block Japan's katana, "Ai! Kiku!?"

"You brought this on yourself, China... You kept holding me back..." Slash! Shing! Japan continued to attack, China unable to fight back. Unable to fight his little brother whom he raised and cared so much for. "I'm not your little brother anymore... In fact..." Japan said before attacking once again, sending China's only shield far behinds them, "...don't even consider us siblings anymore..." As quickly as he could, China tried to stand up but, he just couldn't. Instead, he sat on the cold ground, his back facing Japan, preparing for the worst.

Japan raised his blade, and with one flawless motion, sliced China's back, leaving a trail of blood behind. There were no yells or cries coming from the Chinese country, just heavy breathing that still showed the pain he was in.

He turned to Japan, looking at him with disappointment and shame, only to have him hold his katana centimeters from his face. The air seemed heavy and silence surrounded them, until finally, Japan returned his katana back to his sheath, turned and walked away, leaving his former 'brother'. "Goodbye... Kiku..."

"Mmph... Kiku..." Yao said in his sleep, light tears building up as he slept.

"You just gave me away!? You can't do that; I'm my own nation!" Taiwan yelled furiously at China. "Actually, no! I'm glad I'm now under Japan's rule!" She added to the verbal abuse. "It's probably a lot better!"

"Taiwan, you aren't listening aru. That's not the ca‒"

"No! I refuse to listen to you anymore!" Taiwan interrupted, "I'm done here and I will stand on my own in the future! I'm not your little sister anymore! In fact, don't ever consider us as siblings anymore!"

"Taiwa-!" BANG! Taiwan had already slammed that door shut before China could even finish a word, leaving him just as hurt as when Japan had left. China wanted, ever so badly to go after her, but he knew he couldn't, just as before. "Goodbye... Mei..."

"M-Mei..." Still asleep, Yao's light tears began to slowly stream down his cheeks.

"Could it wait a little, Korea?" China asked, tired from his trip. Korea shook his head, enthusiastic as ever.

"Please, China-Hyeong!" Korea looked at him with pleading eyes. China sighed, he couldn't say no. "Yay! So, China-Hyeong, um, I was thinking... Do you think I could live on my own now da ze!" He asked proudly. Korea's enthusiasm was really draining China's energy, but it didn't stop him from becoming shocked.

"K-Korea..."

"Don't worry about a thing, China-Hyeong! I know everything! Language, culture, agriculture, government, everything da ze!"

"Korea‒"

"I know I can fight off anyone who tries to take over! Strength and military combat originated in Korea da ze!"

"Korea!" China's call for attention had shaken Korea silent. "Korea, can we talk about this later aru..." China finally said, not knowing he had crushed his little brother's spirit. The Korean only continued to smile, not wanting to show his disappointment.

"B-but... I know I can do it!" he replied, trying to regain his spirit.

"Korea..." China pleaded, not yet ready to let go his youngest sibling. He was also worried with Japan gaining power; the Japanese nation may attack Korea as well. China turned away, not wanting to reveal his sorrow to Korea, and sighed. Silenced filled the air once again and Korea couldn't take it.

"I'll prove it to you, China-Hyeong! I will! You'll see da ze!" Korea yelled with the same high spirit in his voice, only heartbroken inside. "I won't be your little brother anymore! In fact, don't even consider us as siblings at all!" This definitely grabbed China's attention. He could see right through Korea's happy act now. China quickly turned back to Korea, about to stop all of this, "I'll stand on my own and you won't need to help me in any way! I promise da ze!" Korea finished, starting to head out in a hurry.

"Korea!"

"I promise, China-Hyeong!" And then, he was gone. China was left alone, once again, heart aching. He knew he couldn't hold onto each and every one of his siblings, but it hurt him so bad. Hurt him that they all left hating him and denying that they were once family. It hurt him that he couldn't stop any of them from leaving unhappy. "G-goodbye... Yong Soo..."

"Y-Yong... S-Soo..." Yao was really crying now and suddenly woke up. Woke up covered in cold sweat. "Kiku-Ge... Mei-Jie... Yong Soo-Ge..." He cried silently to himself. Yao finally decided to get out of bed and walk to his older siblings, confused about his dreams and scared by them. But first, he grabbed the plush Kiku had given him, hoping his siblings were still awake. It was only 1 in the morning. He continued walking towards the living room and, strangely enough, there they were, arguing.

"Will you two please stop arguing!?" Yao heard someone yell. He sat next to the door waiting and holding his plush close, not wanting to disturb his siblings right then...

~()*()*()*()~*~()*()*()*()~

"Will you two please stop arguing!?" Kiku yelled, finally snapping. Yong Soo and Mei were speechless at their soft older brother's outburst. Mei then walk over and clung herself around Kiku's arm.

"I'm sorry, Kiku-Kun." She said, becoming real close to Kiku. Not being much of a fan of close contact, Kiku tried to nudge her away while stepping aside, but Mei, being smitten with Kiku, wouldn't budge. "But really; why should we take care of Yao? He's asleep and now that I think about it, wasn't really that great when taking care of us." Mei said, facing towards Yong Soo but still clinging to Kiku.

"Yao-Hyeong was a loving big brother..." Yong Soo replied sadly, then stuck his tongue out.

"Nu-uh!"

"He's right, Mei-San..." Kiku said, looking down. He finally pulled Mei off and away. "Yao-Nii-San treated us greatly, teaching us right from wrong and helped us find our own way. And how do we repay him..." No matter how much she wanted to, Mei couldn't deny that fact. Yao did treat and raise them all wonderfully.

"We all scarred him..." she finally said. Thug! Suddenly, all three nations turned and saw Yao at the doorway, his Hello Kitty plush had fallen on the floor.

"K-Kiku-Ge... M-Mei-Jie... Y-Yong Soo-Ge..." Yao went pale, his eyes watering, tears running down his cheeks. The older siblings were shocked and silent, also becoming pale.

"Y-Yao... How much did you hear..." Kiku asked, breaking the silence between them but Yao just ignored his question.

"I-I had a bad dream... Y-you all hated me and... and left me alone aru... B-but it's just a dream right... Right!?" Yao cried, tears running down like waterfalls. Soon followed Mei, then Yong Soo and eventually Kiku, all unable to control their tears. They couldn't lie about what happened.

"W-why!? H-Hong-Ge... Where's Hong-Ge!?" Yao screamed. Hong was the only one he didn't dream about. Yao started to run. He ran towards the door and all three followed, trying to catch him but Yao was too fast.

"Yao!" they all called, "P-please stop!" But it was too late; Yao was already out the door and had ran into the bamboo forest. "Yao!" they all called in search for their brother.

Was this how you felt, Yao-Nii-San... Was this how you felt long ago when we all suddenly left with hatred and sadness...

~()*()*()*()~End Chapter 18~()*()*()*()~

~A/N~

Ugh, I wrote this chapter a LOOONNNGGG time ago... What was I thinking?! I had to tweak everything! aw well... Hope it still turned out fine. My writing's changed... Sorry for historical inaccuracy. I'm pretty sure they aren't that great in accuracy...

~End A/N~