Rivals and Regrets //Countryhumans AU [ON HOLD]

Seven

7:05 February 16, 1942 - Tokyo, Japan

Australia woke up with a headache, he wasn't exactly sure why, but it wasn't bad enough for him to bother bringing it up. He sat up and gazed towards the other end of the room, at the kitchen bench. Japanese Empire was there, facing away, probably making breakfast. Australia sat silently, still waking up, while trying to shake off the headache. He wasn't really paying attention when Japanese Empire turned around and saw him.

"Is something wrong?" Japanese Empire asked. "You have your pouty face on."

Australia rubbed his eyes before responding. "Nah, not really... just have a bit of a headache."

"Aw, that's too bad. Are you going to have a shower now? I'd prefer you smell at least a little nicer before breakfast. If you are, I left some clothes for you in my bathroom."

"Oh, yea, I'll do that," Australia said as he got off of the couch.

"Did you at least have a nice sleep?"

"I've had worse, your couch is certainly more comfortable than a hard wooden floor."

Japanese Empire chuckled. "I would assume so." His nose wrinkled. "Okay, now that you're closer to me, I can smell you. I should've made you bathe yourself last night."

"Wow, I've only been here for a day and you're already acting like you're my dad."

"Well, someone needs to act like they're your dad because Noah didn't act like he was your dad."

"Because he isn't my dad, you and I both know that."

"He claims to be your dad and yet he doesn't act remotely fatherly towards you, he's lucky that anyone believes him."

Australia rolled his eyes, feeling slightly more insulted every time Japanese Empire brought up his horrible 'family life'. "Right... I'll go have a shower now."

Japanese Empire nodded silently and went back to making breakfast. Australia walked out of the room and down the hall towards Japanese Empire's bedroom. He had a good look at the hallway as he walked down it, not much had changed about the house since he had last been there. Australia was beginning to wonder what possibly could have happened in the guest room which now made it off-limits, if the rest of the house was pretty much the same.

Australia stood outside of Japanese Empire's bedroom for a few moments before hesitantly opening the door and walking inside. The room was neat and clean, it almost looked like no one lived in it, aside from the slightly open wardrobe where clothes were visible. He walked to the bathroom, opening and closing the door behind him. Australia noticed that the door's lock did not work... that was okay, it was unlikely anyone would come in.

Australia caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror briefly, slightly startling himself. It had been a little while since he looked at his reflection. He only really looked in the mirror when he shaved his face or straighten his hair. Australia noticed that, sitting on the shelf next to a half-used shampoo bottle that was clearly Japanese Empire's, was an entirely full bottle of shampoo that was an entirely different type of shampoo. It was the type Australia used.

That's weird... Australia thought. Did I bring this over at some point and forget to take it home?

That was probably the answer, Australia did use to visit Japanese Empire a lot, staying the night in the aforementioned guest room, prior to cutting off contact with him. He felt a tinge of guilt... that Japanese Empire must've kept hold of this for at least nine or ten years. Australia was about to open it when he began having a lot of thoughts.

Does shampoo expire? Is it like food and it goes bad? What happens if it does expire and I use it? Will my hair fall out or will it just still be greasy?

To play it safe, Australia decided to not use that shampoo... he'd be alright to just borrow Japanese Empire's shampoo at least until he knew whether or not shampoo expires.

. . .

7:35 same day

Australia suddenly began feeling incredibly worried as he was drying his hair with the towel, he didn't want to look at himself and he didn't want anyone to look at him. The latter was inevitable... so he knew it would be better that he knew what he looked like before anyone else saw him. Australia slowly turned around to look in the mirror, and especially since it was just dried, very puffy, puffier than it usually would be.

Does Kosuke have a hairbrush I can borrow to get it to stick down a little bit?

Australia could probably ask Japanese Empire after he got dressed. He was honestly surprised at the fact that all the clothes Japanese Empire had given him actually fit, considering that Japanese Empire was a lot shorter than him. After Australia was done getting dressed, he looked in the mirror again. Did he need to shave or would it be alright for another day or two? He was sure that Japanese Empire would have a spare razor if he needed it. But he didn't need it right now.

Australia tried to get his hair to stick down a little bit with his hands, it kind of worked? It was still a bit puffy but not too puffy. It just looked like how New Zealand's hair looked all the time.

Alright, if Mahaka can have her hair like this all the time, I can have my hair like this for a little while. I won't be here too long, once my necklace is located I can go home. Kosuke already knows this is what my hair naturally looks like, it's okay... no one else other than him and his daughter are going to see.

Australia walked out of the bathroom, and out of Japanese Empire's room, closing the door behind him.

"What were you doing in Chichi's room?"

Australia was slightly startled, he turned around to see Japan coming around the corner. "Oh, I was just having a shower-"

"There's another bathroom, I can show you where it is."

"Oh, no, no, I know where it is, your dad asked me to use his bathroom because he didn't want me near the one you use."

"Why?"

"Uh..." Australia wasn't really sure he wanted to tell Japan the reason her father had given him. "I don't know."

Australia wasn't sure if Japan believed him but she just nodded and continued walking, Australia followed slowly, letting Japan leave him behind. He didn't want Japanese Empire to think anything happened if they came through the door at the same time.

A/N: kinda a nothing chapter... except w a few random things lol, was unsure whether or not to end the chapter here but the beginning of the next chapter will take place after a few days (19th of Feb if you remember what that date is, if you don't you can google it)

Thanks for reading -Axel

First published: 30/12/22