Don't own Hetalia.

Crowds and Trinities

The World Meeting had just ended, but Canada didn't even bother getting up, knowing he was likely to be run over if he got near the door. Not that anyone would notice; sometimes he hated his invisibility. Resting his head on the table, he let the sea of conversation wash over him, when he heard the intimidating nation, Russia, speak up.

"Yao, can we get ice cream, da?" Matthew heard the soft shift of fabric by his and Russia's chair, followed by a soft chuckling.

"Of course, Ivan; I would be happy to take you for ice cream, aru. What flavor would you like?" China's calm voice seemed to rise above the den of noises around the three and Matthew had little trouble hearing it. He felt the area around him grow darker, and could almost imagine Russia's frightening smile in his head.

"Let's get chocolate, da!" With these words the sound of screeching chairs reached Matthew's ears as the two got up. However, there seem to be a pause and Canada nearly jumped out of his own skin when he felt a small hand rest on his head. He heard China's voice, closer than before, and blinked when he realized China was talking to him and not mistaking him for Alfred.

"Hey, are you okay aru? Canada, would you like to get ice cream with us as well aru?" Looking up, Matthew saw the nation's gold-brown eyes looking at him in worry while Russia seemed content with hugging the smaller nation from behind, and was resting his head on the Asian's with a frighteningly childish smile on his face. Matthew stuttered to form a response, and Russia started to scowl at the other's nervousness. Seeing this, Canada grew even more fearful, but China seemed to sense the tension. Raising the hand that wasn't on Canada's head, the Chinese man rested the raised hand on Russia's head, easing the taller man and leaving him smiling at the slight attention China gave him.

China looked at Matthew again and repeated himself. "Canada, would you like to go eat ice cream with us aru?" Smiling at the other man's patience (he nothing like Alfred or Arthur: they would have ignored him by now), Canada nodded happily and stood up, barely containing his surprise when he realized he was slightly taller than the older man. Despite hiding his surprise well, China seemed to see it and smiled slightly.

"Do not be too surprised. The children of the dragon tend to not be very physically imposing." Canada blushed embarrassed, but China did not seem offended. As they began to walk to the exit, which had finally cleared from the stampede of nations, Russia released China from his hold but still walked closely behind the older nation. China didn't seem to mind and began talking to Canada casually.

"I noticed that a number of people don't seem to notice you, Canada. Why is that? You were a great asset during World War II, and you seem to be progressing well aru." China was looking at Matthew the entire time he talked, and had placed his hands in his sleeves in a calm motion. Canada thought about what China said and sighed.

"I think it's because I was raised with Alfred, and I never wanted to stand out. So now, while Alfred grabs everyone's attention, I seem to fade away like air." Though this may have sounded odd to anyone else, China narrowed his eyes in thought and nodded. Whatever he was about to say was interrupted, however, as they reached an ice cream store.

Once they got their ice cream "on the house" (China didn't seem to notice, but Canada had a great view of Russia smiling at the cashier the entire time), the trio began walking toward Canada's house instead of the hotel (the meeting took place in Canada, and Matthew invited Yao and Ivan over to his house). While walking, China spoke up again.

"Don't worry, Matthew; you will not fade aru. I myself have felt the threat of being destroyed by my very people. It was at the beginning of the Three Kingdoms Era. The three kingdoms, Shu, Wei, and Wu, fought constantly over the right to conquer China. Their fighting nearly tore my body to shreds, but I persevered, as should you." At Canada's shocked look, Yao laughed slightly. "Young Matthew, I am 5000 years old, and I can tell you I have not lived that long in a world of rainbows and sunshine aru. I must be like the tortoise, and withstand all obstacles."

Canada looked confused, and turned to China confused. "Why do you say stuff like that? 'The children of the dragon' and 'be like the tortoise'; what do those mean, eh?" The trio had finally reached Canada's house, and Matthew opened the door without pause, crossing the doorway to the living room. As he passed Kumajirou, he pet the small polar bear, ignoring the soft "who?" that passed the bear's lips. China followed him and Russia brought up the rear, closing the door behind him. As Canada took the right side of the couch, China took center and wrapped his arm around the young nation, pulling him closer to China.

"Well little one, there are four celestial guardians that protect China. They correspond to the cardinal directions aru. To the north is the Tortoise, symbolizing winter, water, perseverance, stubbornness, and strong-will. The west is home to the White Tiger, the representation of fall, metal, passion, anger, and solitude. From the south rises the Phoenix, who commands summer, fire, compassion, martyrdom, and love. And finally, to the east dwells the Dragon, which embodies spring, wood, honor, war, and the protection of the young. To live a good life, one must strive to be like the heavenly guardians. But we must not be too much like them, or we will be corrupt, aru." Here China takes a breath and looks straight into Matthew's eyes before continuing. "As a personification of my land and my people, I must be like all four of them. I must balance all of their attributes equally inside me, or I will fall aru."

Canada looked at the older country with wide eyes, obviously caught off guard by the blunt way China spoke of his own demise. Without saying anything, Canada looked into China's eyes and saw the wisdom and pain those 5000 years of watching others fade has created in the Chinese man's soul.

China smiled slightly again. "Besides, I know for a fact that a certain American state has yet to have stopped singing your praises aru." Canada smiled at the reference to his nephew.

"Ah; you're talking about Alaska." China nodded his smile widening.

"Yes; James truly seems to adore you." Canada looked at China again, suddenly confused.

"Wait. Why do you talk to James?"

China leaned forward and rested his head on his hands. "Alfred is still too young to realize that he plays favorites in a way that completely ostracizes both James and Noah aru. No one else has noticed it, but I visit both of them often. I do not want them growing up to resent what Alfred is too young and foolish to realize he is doing aru." Canada couldn't stop the smile that appeared on his face as he thought of both Alaska and Hawaii leaning against the oldest nation among them.

Suddenly, China began to lurch forward, grasping his head frantically. Ivan didn't hesitate to pull the Chinese man against his chest, trying to keep the convulsing nation from injuring himself. Canada jumped up in fear, not sure what was causing China to be in pain. After turning in unknown pain for a little longer, China finally stopped and relaxed into the hold. He then looked up and smiled reassuringly at Canada before speaking.

"Aiyaa, don't worry Canada. North Korea's economy just took a turn for the worst, and it pains me to know that it's happening aru. This statement is very literal for me." Canada turned his head in a confused gesture.

"Why do you feel another countries pain, eh? I thought after they left you they weren't your concern?" Canada couldn't stop a wince when he saw that the blunt words caused a pained grimace to cross China's face. Russia, who had placed his head on China's again, scowled at the shy nation, but China shook off the pain and smiled again.

"When you have a large amount of nations that you love, you can't help but give a piece of yourself to them. When the nations I loved and cared for broke from me, I cared too much for them to take the piece back. With this piece still inside them, I can feel when they are in trouble aru." China shook his head, his smile widening at Canada's dumbfounded expression. "Don't look so shocked, aru, there's another person that has this problem."

Canada jumped at the chance to learn more about another country and leaned forward eagerly. China watched in fond amusement as Canada got closer to him to learn more.

"It's Spain." At Canada's confused look, Yao elaborated. "Spain is the adopted father of several nations, many of which make up part of South America aru. Chile, Argentina, and Mexico are good examples. Then there's his brother Portugal, who was taken from him, and by extension Brazil, who is Portugal's charge. Antonio is one of the few people who truly understands the saying that to have loved and lost, is better than to have not loved at all. I enjoy talking with him, and we visit each other often aru."

Canada looked at him and nodded. "Okay. Can he come with us next time?" China looked at him.

"Of course." As they finished their conversation, the clicking of nails could be heard, and an Irish wolfhound appeared in the doorway before walking in. China looked at it as it approached and pet it on the head as it sat near the three. He then turned to Canada and raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you had a dog, aru." Canada blushed and smiled at the dog.

"When I was still a colony of England, I visited Ireland. He was the only one other than papa (France) who could always see me and he liked me more than America. He gave me Manus when he was a puppy. Since he's a nation's pet, he lives longer than normal I guess." China nodded at his words.

"That is the correct guess. I have Kunming shepherd named Yuan Chung and Spain has an Ibizan hound named Drina, while Ivan here has a Borzoi named Anastasia. While I'm not sure about the others, Chung has been with me for quite a while aru." Russia nodded, confirming all of Yao's words.

Suddenly, China seemed to come up with something, and he leaned forward with a smile more mischievous than his previous ones. "We should all go on a hunting trip together with our dogs one day. It would be fun aru."

While Matthew nodded in agreement to the idea, he tried to imagine how that day would go, with a hyperactive man, a terrifying yet childish man, a shy invisible young man, and a 5000 year old nation having to put up with all three.

That would certainly be an interesting day.

Notes: I imagine China, after thousands of years of living, would be fatherly at times. And I'm not making Ivan stalk Yao. I think if Ivan needed a parental figure, China would try to be a father to him. And since Canada was more or less ignored and forgotten as a child, he would like the attention Yao would give him. And i do believe China is 5000, not 4000. Sorry if anything seems too OOC.

While I did look up the information on the celestial guardians, the information only covered their direction, element, and season. The other stuff I made up based on the animals themselves on both their good and bad sides.

A lot of the stuff on the tearing apart of China came from Dynasty Warriors, so I tried to make it vague in case the game is really off.

The state stuff may not be true, but I can see America not remembering the two states that aren't very close to the rest of the nation. Both names come from popular baby name charts from their state.

And yes, I do think Spain is an adopted father of many nations. It's sad that no one writes fics on his family.

The title is slightly based on something I notice. I think when people are friends, it's easier if the group of friends interact in threes. It stops arguments from developing as quickly, but this is from my own experience.

Please review. I was thinking of making more "chapters" like this, but I'm not sure.

Ja ne!