Finding Love (China x Female Reader x Japan)

The Moonlight Doesn't Lie

The rest of the day went by with the countries looking after me and catering to all my needs. A little too much, actually.

"(Y/n), would you like some water?" Antonio peeked in, smiling.
"Oh, I'm okay. Thank you very much," I refused with a smile.

10 seconds later...

"Mademoiselle, do you need more blankets?" Francis came in with three blankets in his arms.
"Umm, don't worry, Francis. I'm alright," I sweatdropped while refusing with a smile.

20 seconds later...

"(Y/n)~ Do you want me to massage your back, da~" Ivan cheerfully offered.
I sighed. "Thank you, Ivan. But I'm okay," I refused with a tired smile.

Thus, I spent the whole day resting while getting taken care of by them. A big smile came to my lips thinking how generous they were.

"I hope I can give them something in return," I thought.

After dinner, everyone headed back to their rooms. I laid down on my bedding and waited to fall asleep. But even after shifting sides and pulling the covers over my head, I still couldn't fall asleep.

I finally got up.

"Maybe I should drink some water," I decided.

Quietly stepping out of my room, I walked through the dark corridor with careful steps so that the wooden floor wouldn't creak. On my way, I suddenly noticed the sliding door of the living room slightly open.

Did Kiku forget to close it?

I went up to the door to close it when my eyes fell on a man sitting at the backyard corridor.

"Yao?" I slid the door open.

"Aiyah!" He looked back, startled. "(Y-Y/n)?"

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. "What are you doing here?" I asked, walking towards him.

"I couldn't sleep, aru. So I was just looking at the moon here," he said, facing me. The pale moonlight fell on his sharp features, highlighting every detail of his charmingly smiling face.

"I see," I said, gazing at his peaceful form with a smile.

"What about you, aru?" he asked.

"I couldn't sleep either. So, I thought I should drink some water," I told him.

Yao gave a cute grin. "Alright. But be sure to rest well, okay, aru?"
I nodded. "Umm, Yao?"

"Yes, aru?"

"I wanted to thank you," I looked down, trying to hide my face that started feeling warm.

Yao's smiling expression changed to that of a confused one. "What for, aru?"

I still kept my gaze down, unable to meet his eyes in embarrassment. "You went to such an extent to save me...you even tried to protect me with your own body. I don't know if I deserve your kindness. I wish I had enough words to thank you, Yao..." I poured my entire heart out to him.

Yao didn't say anything.

Suddenly, he stood up and faced me. "(Y/n)."

I looked up at him, surprised.

He reached out for my hands and gently took them in his own warm hands. Looking straight into my eyes, he gave the most affectionate smile I had ever seen.

"Don't ever say that you don't deserve this, aru. You deserve all the happiness I could give you. I'm ready to fight everything in my way just for you. So, don't ever say that again, aru. Promise?" He gently squeezed my hands in his.

I could feel my heart beating tremendously fast. My cheeks were burning hot too. His tender gaze was too much for my heart to handle anymore.

Blushing hard, I looked down again and stammered. "Y-Yes, I pro- "

My eyes widened when I noticed bandages on his hands.

"Yao, this..."

Yao looked at me, confused, then he followed my gaze. When he realized what I was pointing at, he immediately withdrew his hands and hid them behind him.

"T-Those were nothing, aru," he nervously laughed.

"Yao, please show me," I looked at him in concern.

"I told you they were - "
"Please, Yao!"

Yao looked taken aback. He hesitated at first, but then slowly he brought out his hands while looking away. I touched the bandages that covered his entire arms under the sleeves. Both his arms were covered in fresh bruises.

"Did you...get them during the fight?" I looked up at him, pained to see him in that condition.

"Aiyah! No, I actually got them from training this morn- "

"Stop lying!!"

Yao's expression filled with shock from my sudden outburst.

I put my hands on his bandaged ones and lowered my head. "You got them...during the fight...didn't you...?" A single tear rolled down my cheek.

"(Y/n)..."

"Y-You got hurt...because of me. If I hadn't gotten kidnapped...I-If I wasn't so weak...then you wouldn't have gotten hurt like this..." I silently let my tears wash away the guilt I felt. But even then, I couldn't stop feeling like a big weight was on my heart.

"(Y/n)," Yao came closer and cupped his hand on my cheek. He gently lifted my face up and wiped my tears with his other hand. "(Y/n), please don't cry, aru," he looked at me, worried.

My sobs came out with small chokes. "No matter how much I try...t-to help others...I-I still end up hurting the people important to me...If only I wasn't weak..."

"You're not weak, aru!" Yao urged.

He pulled me closer into his arms till there was barely any distance between us, and tucked a loose strand of hair falling on my face behind my ear.

In a soft voice, he whispered. "You're not weak, (Y/n). You're the strongest and bravest girl I've ever met, aru. Even when you were in danger, you didn't leave my side. That is something only a strong person can do," he smiled.

"B-But...you got hurt..." I looked at him, my eyes still moist with tears.

"And I'm willing to get hurt a thousand times just for you, aru," Yao winked.

A blush crept on my cheeks on hearing that. I averted my teary eyes with a shy smile.

"That's not fair, Yao..." I said.

"What isn't, aru?" he playfully glanced at me.

"You made me promise to never say anything bad about myself again, but you didn't promise me that you'll never do anything reckless like that again," I told him.

A bright smile crossed Yao's face as he slowly leaned forward till our faces were inches apart. My breath almost got caught in my throat seeing him so close.

"I promise, aru. Under this moonlight. The moonlight doesn't lie," he whispered and touched his forehead with mine.

His warm breath on my skin made me feel the same way I did when we first got this close. A feeling that I want to cherish in my heart forever. A feeling that I still couldn't give a name to but soon I would.

I closed my eyes and leaned against Yao, his warmth still giving me comfort.

The radiant moonlight reflected the inner desires of countless people on earth. One of them being a white yukata-clad Japanese man who quietly slid the door shut on the two people and walked back to his room with various desires burning in his heart.

The moon will soon wane.