A Headstrong China Ch. 8

Chills ran down Yao's arms and he suddenly froze like the very guilty child he was. He put his hands behind his back and squirmed where he stood rubbing one toe against the floor.

"I…It was an accident." He tried to convince Hughes, not really wanting this to happen, not now. Not when all the bigger countries were here. Hughes looked over to the other nations, and then back at China.  

"Little Master you know better...accident or not, I hardly think those words should ever be used...come over here to me please." He then cleared his throat and made his attention to the other nations. "If you would all excuse the two of us. Master Kirkland, I believe all your guests are here, and that time is wasting, you should go ahead and start your meeting, while I attend to Master Yao." He watched as England looked down at the boy with a slight frown.

"Um...alright then Hughes...uh..." He turned to the others. "Alright lads...let's go to the conference room, and let these two alone." China looked up at Hughes with a gasp.

"But I!" China was about to protest, he wanted to join in the meeting too, but realized now that he was in serious trouble with Hughes. Instead of trying to argue to get his way, he figured it was not going to work. He quietly and with a red face of  shame, walked over head tucked down to the butler.

Looking up as the nations left in silence down the hall towards the meeting room, Hughes then looked to the boy coming towards him. The butler knew that the child should have known better, and perhaps he was just tired, but this was no excuse. He held out a hand to China, and cleared his throat.  

"Come now little one...I simply am appalled at your naughty little mouth. To the kitchen with you lad."

"But…but Hughes! England had no right to say that in public! In front of Japan!" He mumbled looking down again at his own feet. It had really hurt his little pride to have that said to his younger brother. "I was upset!" He admitted out loud.

Holding the child's hand, and having the boy plead was not making the situation any easier. He walked out, and once they arrived into the kitchen, he let go of the boy's hand. He looked back, and just nodded his head in despair.

"Whether you were upset or not, you know better than that. While I am sure England had not meant to release that information about you, surly it would have come out eventually. And if you wanted to stay small forever, I am sure your own brother would have found out. Now then..."  

He walked over to the sink basin, and picked up the bar of soap sitting there. Turning on the faucet, he ran his finger under the stream of water, and then rubbed it against the soap working up a later. Once that was done, he walked over to the boy, knelt down, and held out his finger, to the child's mouth.

"Open up little Master..."

In truth, China had supposed Hughes was just washing his hands in preparation for another spanking, so when he came over with the soapy fingers, China nearly opened his mouth to gasp in outrage. However Yao caught himself and jerked his face away trying to keep his lisp tightly pressed.

"Mmph mmm." He shook his head, this was not a common practice in his home but he had heard of it, besides that someone with soapy fingers wanting you to open your mouth didn't seem like a good thing.

"Master Yao...you will open your little mouth right now. I am not going to tell you again."

He reached out a hand, and held the boy firmly by his waist. This was not something that Hughes had wanted at all. The relationship the past couple of days was really blossoming, but in truth, the boy was behaving a little irrational, and truth be told, as a boy, he was going to do things like he wasn't supposed to. Hughes waited...he was only going to give the boy one more chance until he was prepared to force the child's mouth open.

China shook his head no a few tears forming. He didn't want the nasty soap in his mouth and he didn't want Hughes to punish him like this. He whimpered and tried to twist round in the grasp of the butlers trying to find some way of keeping the soap out of his mouth. Wiping his finger to his side, Hughes sighed.

"You have left me with no choice then little one, I did not want it to come to this, but your behavior and defiance is not acceptable right now."

Hughes grabbed the child up into his arms.  Not wanting to carry out punishment in broad view of the kitchen, he held the boy firmly against him, in his arms, and walked briskly down to England's study. Once there, he walked over to the nation's desk, pulled open the drawer, and pulled out Arthur's slipper. Grasping it in his hand, he then went over to the couch, sat down, and placed the little nation over his knee.  

"I gave you a warning little one...you have made it that much more difficult." He raised China's little jacket tunic, and then pulled down the boy's pants. "I am giving you a firm reminder little one, not to use naughty language." He raised the slipper in the air, and it came down on China's little backside with a solid smack.

"Ahh! Ow Ow Ow!" Instantly, China started to cry and kick his legs. The slipper was worse, so much more worse than the hand, and now he didn't care if his mouth was wide open. The sobs had to come out. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Stop, please stop!" He sobbed harder and kicked his legs even faster.

Hughes had the slipper land hard on the boy's bare little bottom. He was not impressed with the child's quick apology. He spoke with a gentle tone, while dishing out the chastisement.  

"Now, now little one...one can not be so quick to apologize. You must learn your lesson, and so far...I am not happy. You will get five smacks." he had already delivered two hard slaps, and was now on the third. "Perhaps after this, you will apologize to America."

"Ahha ow ow ow yes yes I will I will I'm sorry I will!!" China cried loudly his legs not kicking as hard but his hands were gripping at Hughes as if to plead for the punishments hasty finish. He had no idea the slipper was so stingy, nor had had he realized that soap in ones mouth was not so bad in comparison. Course he remembered that England had used the slipper on him, but it felt so much worse with Hughes, because the boy had a special place for the butler.

"Hmmm...alright then little one, just two more." Hughes raised the slipper, and had it land down on the boy's backside. A fine hue of pink was forming on the boy's cheeks. Hughes had felt bad, but hearing the child's subdued cries, he knew that the child was indeed sorry. As the last smack fell, Hughes set aside the slipper, and fixed the boy's clothing, and raised the child up and embraced him tightly.  "Alright then...that's enough of that. Come here poppet...dry your tears...that's a good lad."

He held a hanker chief to the boy, and had him blow his nose. China rubbed at his backside, and whimpered to the butler.

"It stings." He whined, after blowing his nose. He was grateful that it was finally finished and he never wanted to have the slipper ever again. "I'm sorry I made you mad." He whispered hugging Hughes neck, wrapping his short arms around him.

Kissing the boy's forehead, and embracing him tighter, he stood up, and held the child in his arms.

"I know it does little one. The sting will fade, and you will be okay in a little while. And I accept your apology, but we do need to get you down to the meeting room, as I do know that Master Arthur wanted you to be present, and...you must apologize to America." He took a moment for the child to absorb, and waited for an answer.

"I wish I didn't have to apologize to him." He sighed and hugged Hughes again pulling himself back closer to the butler. "But I'll do it!" He mumbled, "But only because you say so." He then looked up and planted a quick hasty kiss on the butlers cheek.

"I know this little one..." He smiled at the kiss, and replied more. "It is not in good manners to simply not apologize. You are better than that." Hughes set the child down, and then holding out a hand, he waited.  "Alright then...we are going to walk down to the conference room. Once we arrive, you are to be on your best behavior." Grasping the child's small hand, the two walked out of the study, and headed down to the room where the nations were meeting.

"Alright." China agreed, but as Hughes led him in hand to the meeting room the more Yao felt shy about having to face everyone after his tantrum in the hall. This caused Wang to start walking slower and trying to hide behind Hughes legs.

Hughes held the boys hand, and as they walked he sensed a little lag and noticed the child was now walking behind him rather than beside him. Stopping midway down the hall, the man faced the boy and gave him a look of concern.

"Young Master? Whatever is the meaning of this halting?"

"They're going to laugh at me Aru!" He mumbled rubbing one hand behind his back at his sore bottom. He knew he couldn't get out of this but it was becoming increasingly hard to move forward.

Hughes let go of the child's hand and knelt down on one knee, patting the one that was bent. He brought the boy over to him, and sat the child down.

"Little one...no one is going to laugh at you, you mark my words...if any of the nations make a jeer towards you, I will personally spank them myself. You have been through enough, and you don't need to be embarrassed anymore." The butler let the boy up and stood out, holding out his hand. "Shall we now?"

"You promise to spank them?" China asked as he took a firmer grip on the butlers hand preparing to enter the meeting room. He knew Hughes would take care of it he trusted the man who had never given him reason to doubt his word. Still he wanted a promise.

Getting back down on one knee, the man put his arm to his chest, and bowed down to the little boy and said with a firm expression.

"It is my duty to obey any Master's of the house, be it small or large nation. You have my promise and my word little one." Standing back up he extended his hand and waited until the child was ready.

Yao's grin was very wide. Hughes had never done that before, and China almost wished to ask him to do it again, but knew it wouldn't feel as special a second time, and so eagerly took hold of the butler's hand this time.

"I need to build a shrine for you." He smiled feeling much more confident about having to go to the meeting. Hughes nodded down at the boy, and taking his hand, he smirked with a little laugh.

"Oh Young Master, that would be very kind of you, and I mean no disrespect, but that is not necessary. All I ask is that you stay confident, and well...be a good little lad."

"Yes Hughes." Yao said trying very hard in his mind to remember to be good.

The two walked down and approached the room. Not needing to knock, Hughes pulled open the double doors and taking Yao's hand, the two waltzed in. America, England, Japan, and France all looked in, knowing well they would be interrupted. England looked over with a grin.

"Hello Yao...very good to see you young man. Please...go ahead and take a seat, we have not covered much since you were gone." He held a hand out, and pointed to the seat in between America and Japan. America looked at the nation and gave him a little grin.

Entering the meeting room Yao gave a polite not to England and with all the dignity he could must he took his seat which had a nice pile of books there for him . Once in place, Yao kept his eyes straight ahead, trying to ignore any uncomfortable looks before he spoke softly to America, still not looking at him.  Hughes watched the boy walk over to his seat, and stood waiting with a smile. England looked over to his butler and nodded.

"Thank you Hughes...perhaps maybe some refreshments?" The butler nodded and proceeded to walk down the hall, but something made him stay close by. China spoke to America in a simple tone.

"My apologies Mr. America for earlier."

America sitting in his seat, somewhat slouched in his posture looked at the boy, and the moment the child apologized, he simply shook his head with a scoff.

"Gee thanks little tyke! Bout time I got some respect! By the way, how is your backside? Sore I HOPE! Hahahahaahha!"

China did not look directly at America, but he slit his eyes at him and decided if he actually didn't hurt America or maim him then Hughes would not be mad. There for chibi China leaned forward a little in his seat and reach for the letter opener on the meeting table and moving with a surprising amount of speed Held the make-shift weapon at America's throat. All the while Yao did not look at America.

"I would appreciate if you continued to treat me as any country as old as myself deserves Mr. America."

England, France, and Japan all stood up and backed away. Japan gasped at his older brother's reaction to America and his idiotic remarks. Shaking his head, he knew this was wrong of him to come to Arthur's mansion. He looked over at the boy, and leaned over to him, braving himself, so he would not get poked.

"Ouyou...what are you doing? Big brother...you are being most irrational right now!" He stood standing, and then looked up at England and France, trying to usher them over to help. America was trying to back away as well, but the little boy had a scariness in his eyes.

"Hey! Get away from me China, get your grubby little hands away" His eyes went over to England, and he started to yell out. "Britain come on...do something! Get this little kid away...come on man!" England as shocked as he was, semi smiled. Though he did not think China would actually go ahead and respond like this, he felt like America deserved it.

"Little brother, while I can't say I am not amused, you very well deserve every..." England was cut off by Hughes walking back in, and he looked very unhappy.

"MASTER YAO...AND MASTER ALFRED...STOP THIS AT ONCE!" He walked over to the two, pushing America aside, and firmly taking the letter opener out of China's hands.

Yao had not responded to anyone, yet simply smiling a little and planning to put his weapon down now that he had gotten America to stop, but Hughes had caught him in the act and apparently deemed this, bad behavior.

"Eh but, I wasn't going to hurt him! I was just trying to prove a point. I'm still a powerful country and he should not pick on me!" China hurried to communicate a whine catching in his voice. He didn't feel as he had merited more punishment at all.

England would have stepped in, but seeing as his butler could handle the situation, he saw Hughes doing a fine job. He stood back, standing next to France, and just watched. The butler on the other hand just gazed at both nations. In his eyes, a misbehaved nation whether they were large or small did not matter to him. He cleared his throat, casting aside the mail opener on the table, and spoke to the boy.

"You weren't going to hurt him now? How does that look to everyone sitting at this table? You did not just think on your actions, and what everyone saw just now, was pure predetermined revenge." He then looked over to America. "Master Alfred...I gave Master Wang some information, and when he came back, if anyone was to make fun of him for his punishment, or give him any grief, I would personally punish them myself." The man just shook his head. "However did I know it was going to be you." He turned back around, and winked at England, and then turning back to the two, he firmly grabbed America by the ear, and took his other free hand firmly into China's and pulled them along. "Come with me...both of you."

"But Hughes!" China tried to whine and bargain, he had just got to the table and already he was being pulled away. That stupid America just got under his skin with that cocky attitude of his. "I will be good now I will apologize to everyone!" He tried his best to get the butler to see reason.

Hughes knew better than to be pulled in by the boy's behavior. He had seen it all too well with when England and America were younger...it was not going to happen. Releasing America's ear, but having the nation stay...cause Alfred would not dare move, Hughes knelt down to the child.

"I am very disappointed in you little one...you told me you were going to behave, and naughty little nations do not threaten anyone, no matter how big of a pest they are." Said the butler as he looked up at America, and then back at China. "Now then..." He whispered to the boy, as to not let everyone hear. "Unless you want to be spanked in front of everyone here, you will come back down to the study, and we will get this over with."

China wanted to burst out crying right then and there, maybe it was the curse, or maybe it was because he hated to see Hughes look at him that way and tell him how disappointed he was in him.  

"I-I'm sorry." He whimpered and took a step closer to Hughes not about to disobey any more than he already had. Maybe it was just having all the attention of bigger nations that made him want to act up, or maybe it was just America.

"Sorry as you are...I am not pleased. Come Master Yao...take my hand, and we will head down right now." He then looked over at America, and gave him a glare. "Oh and I mustn't forget about you lad." He grabbed hold of the nation's ear again. America called out in protest.

"Come on old man! You have got to be kidding me...you think I am going to be punished like that little squirt? Oh bullshit Hughes! I am a freaking Hero, there is no way..."  

The nation yelled out, and England went to intervene, but Hughes was much to quick, he released China's hand, pulled out a chair from the table, and with quickness and grace, pulled the naughty America over his lap, and pulled down his pants. America suddenly got stark white and wiggled.

"No, no, no, no ,no Hughes, please, don't please!"

"Hmmm...on second thought China...let me take care of something first." He raised his palm in the air and it came down with a heavy smack on Alfred's backside.

"OOOWWWWWWW!"

China was now more than willing to take Hughes hand and be out of site of Japan his younger brother was probably very ashamed and embarrassed as he was feeling. However America seemed to need tending, and although China wanted to smirk and laugh he did not and just nodded at Hughes and crouched down beside the butlers chair enjoying quietly in his own way, America getting what he was due.

England shook with laughter seeing his little brother is a very compromising position. He did managed to put a hand over his mouth, because Hughes was likely to scowl at the nation, and then he would be in trouble. Japan and France looked on, watching with slight fright, and confusion. This meeting was beginning to be very useless.  As Hughes hand fell, America cried out, and it did not take long for the nation to come out in full on sobs, as Hughes had a very hard hand, and a wave of emotions came through from his naughty childhood.  

"Hughes.....HUGHES please...please....I won't make fun of any nation again, I promise, please.....PLEASE STOP!" Hughes smirked, and gave the nation three more slaps, and then set Alfred on his feet, fixing his pants, an pointing over to a corner.  

"Over there Master Alfred." He waited as he saw the look on the nation's face.

"WHAT? No...please Hughes...I...I..."

"Go now Alfred Jones..." Said England, as he stepped in. Turning around, America just pouted, and walked to the corner. Hughes then turned to China.  

"And now for you. You either take your punishment here, or we go back down to the study?"