Kindergarten Angst Ch. 6

Germany stared with his cold blue eyes at his older brother. The look radiated throughout Prussia's body, and even though he was older, he could not let himself get brave at the moment to defend himself. Smiling nervously and biting back his lip he stayed a fair distance away from the prying hands of Germany.

Germany looked over at the children playing quietly. He had not wanted to raise his voice because they were so content, and anything with raised voices might set them into hysterics. Glaring at Prussia still, he extended a finger, and made a come hither motion. Prussia waltzed over to him, and stood by the table…safely across the table.

"So…you are aware of this…this powder? Tell me…where did it come from dearest Bruder of Mein?"

Nervously clasping his hands together. His red eyes looked everywhere except for Germany's. His voice cracked and he eventually responded.

"It was a long time ago Ludwig…I found it at some gypsies' cart way back when. I hadn't even thought about it and put it in my pocket. About a month ago when I came over here, I must have stashed it in the cupboard and forgot."

This confused Germany. He looked at his brother strangely. It did not answer his question. Getting slightly more angry, he cleared his throat. This made Italy and Japan look up, and they stopped playing, and just stared.

"None of this makes any sense. You went ahead and bought some silly magical power, not sure of what exactly it did, other than the fact that it is marked "Kindergarten" and then, you stash it here, amongst my belongings, and then simply state…you forgot?"

"Uh…yeah that seems about right…I suppose I did not think clearly…oh well, there wasn't much harm in it right?"

This seemed to set Germany over the edge. Prussia was always absentminded when they were growing up. It probably was the reason why Gilbert got into so much trouble with Vati, and why he was always the target of well deserved spanking.

"No harm? NO HARM?" Germany started to get very upset now, and moved forward, around the table to Prussia, who at this point was making his way backwards towards the door to maybe escape. Italy and Japan got up and became frightened. Germany stopped and looked at them both. "Oh…oh Feliciano…Honda…oh I am sorry for scaring you I…" He looked up and saw that Prussia quickly hurried to the door, and before he could say anything more, left without looking back.

Pounding a slight fist to the table, he could not do anything about Prussia leaving, and walked back to the kitchen. Grumbling under his breath, he would get even with his brother. He took a spatula to the patties and served them up on a plate as they were done cooking. He smiled over to the children, and placed them on the table.

"Come boys…the food is ready. Let's wash your hands, and then you can eat." He watched as both boys walked over. Lifting Italy up, he leaned him over the sink basin, and ran water and soap over his hand. The child scrubbed, and then when he was done, he did the same for Japan. "Okay…go over to the table, and I will serve the two of you."

The boys ran to the table and sat down. Both grinning and awaiting. Ludwig served up patties for both boys, and watched as they both began to consume. This made Germany feel slightly better. He walked back over to the front door and stood by it. So many things on his mind. He had to deal with his brother, and it was not going to be easy because the nation was a coward. He wasn't sure when he would be back, or at all, but he would be ready. Looking back to the boys, he saw that Italy had finished his patty had some grease on his face. Japan had finished too, but made slightly less of a mess. Once dinner was over, Germany leaned over to the two.

"Okay…dinner is finished…and you both are in need of a bath. Come…into the washroom."

He had the boy's walk down to the room, and he followed after. Arriving inside, Italy was stripped of his clothing, and he was set into the tub. The water was ran, and it was a delightfully perfect temperature. Japan was next to be undressed, and he too was placed in the water, next to Italy. Taking some soap, he washed Feliciano's hair, and the boy laughed. Then taking it to Japan's, the boy too made a gleeful noise. The children were in such a silly mood. Rinsing out the soap from Japan's eyes, he rubbed at them, and then watched as Germany did the same for Italy. Some of the soap however got into the little Italian's eyes. He started stamping his feet as the feeling was painfully irritating.

"Doitsu! My eyes…they burn, ouchie, ouch…Get it out, get it out!" The boy continued to frail about and this started to upset Japan. He got closer to his friend, and was in the way. Italy wouldn't stop.

"Feliciano…calm down, its just a little soap. Stop it, you are going to get water all over the place! Calm down!" The boy continued to frolic in the water, and he hadn't noticed what he was doing, and waving his arms, managed to smack Japan right in the face. This was not good.

Germany looked over with a raised eyebrow, and watched as Honda's eye's widened and he was starting to get upset.

"Oh no…no…no, Honda…calm down…"

He grimaced as the child tilted his head back and tears flowed out of him. He could not stop crying, and this also didn't stop Italy from whining as well. Putting an arm around Japan, Germany took him out of the basin, and wrapped him in a towel, hushing his sobs, but the boy did not want to comply. He just sat in a pile, on the tile, and tears streamed down his face. Looking back to Italy Germany grabbed a cloth and went to wipe the soap, but Feliciano was not having it. He slapped the cloth out of Ludwig's hand, and continued throwing his little fit.

"Feli…calm down, I am only trying to help. Now, you are going to make it worse…stop…let me just…"

"Nooo, it hurts too much Germany…"

"Italy, you hurt Honda…you have got to stop moving around, I need to…" Germany was interrupted by Italy taking his little hand and slapping Germany as well. "Unacceptable…"

Germany reached out an arm, held the little boy tightly and smacked his wet little bottom hard. Italy cried out, and tried to fight his way out of Germany's grip, but the man relented. He gave the child a couple more firm slaps, and then released him. The boy trudged his feet again in the water, and bawled loudly. He was taken swiftly out of the tub, and put in a towel. Holding the boy in his arms, he held out a hand to Honda, and the child took it.

They walked up to Italy's room first, and while the boy cried, Germany spoke to him softly, and walked over to the wardrobe. He took out a nightshirt and put it on the boy. Feliciano was persistent with his sobbing, and as he got into bed, he reached out to Germany. The man leaned down, and Italy grabbed him, and embraced his neck.

"Doitsu, Doitsu I am sorry!" The child whined, and then looked over to Japan who was standing by the bed, with tear stained cheeks. "Honda…sorry…I didn't mean to hurt you. I am sorry…"

Japan did not respond, but nodded his head. This was meant as the little nation forgiving his friend. Germany looked over and smiled, and then back at Italy.

"You see…its alright. Now get into bed little one, and have a good night's sleep." He adjusted the covers, and tucked the boy into bed.

Once that was accomplished, he stood up, and held out his hand again. Japan took it, and the two walked out of the room, and Germany shut the lights. He walked the other little nation down the steps, and they arrived in Japan's room. The boy too was dressed in a shirt to sleep in, and put in bed. Japan watched the German walk away, and flopped his head on the pillow. Sleep came quickly for Honda. Leaving the room, Germany walked back out and noticed that the air was different. He looked around and walked towards the kitchen, but there was nothing.

Something was going on, but he was not sure. Just as he was about to turn back and head to his room, he heard a clearing of one's throat. It sounded familiar and he smirked slightly. Looking into the living room, he saw none other than Prussia, and he was sitting on one of the couches smoking a cigar. Walking over, placing his hands over his chest, Germany just stared at him.

"Nowhere else to go huh? You have a lot of nerve showing your face here again."

Prussia looked up and took a puff of the cigar, and then responded. He had a calmness in his voice, slightly different from before when he was avoiding confrontation from Germany. It was apparent that he might have had some alcohol in his system, but Ludwig could not be sure.

"I felt bad…and thought I should come back…maybe see if I could be of any assistance. After all, with out my awesome help you might be lost."

"Without your awesome help? With your foolish disaster, I am in the biggest conundrum ever Gilbert!" Germany began to raise his voice, but Prussia put a finger to his own mouth.

"Careful…might wake up the kiddies. Besides…I will help as I see fit. I will go into town, and see about finding that cart…okay?"

"Um…fine, fine…I suppose." Germany held his hand to his head. Oh god, he thought, another episode…and this one did not feel good at all. He slammed a fist onto the counter and leaned over slightly groaned out in pain. "Arggghhhh!"

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"Little boys who play with fire deserved to get burned." Vati's hand came up and landed with a sound smack onto Gilbert's backside. The boy shouted out and held on the man's knee. Next to him on the floor, sat the little blond haired nation. Ludwig was wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Vati…we didn't mean to do anything. We were just playing!" Cried out Gilbert as the spanking he was receiving commenced.

"I do not approve of disobedience…and when I say to keep away from fire, I MEAN it!" His hand landed down again on the boy's bottom. If Gilbert thought getting singed with flames hurt, he forgot that a spanking was worse. "Fire is not to be played with, and the next time I have to warn either of you again, you will get the switch."

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The sequence seemed to end as soon as it had started. Germany put a finger to his temple, and looked up. Prussia who was watching him with a curious look, spoke up.

"Hey! What the hell is going on with you?"

Germany did not respond, but took a glass out of the cabinet, alongside a bottle of gin. He poured himself a glass, and then looked over at his brother. Gilbert's eyes widened.

"Uh…can I have a glass?" He asked in such a pathetic tone, that Germany had no choice. Nodding he took down a second glass. He then thought for a moment about something.

"Where is the aspirin?" He smiled, and waited for a response. Looking over, Prussia nonchalantly yawned and pointed to the spot exactly where Germany was standing.

"Oh, I put it in the cabinet…and uh…make Mein drink a double will you bro?" He huffed and went back to looking out the window, and smoking. Germany glared, but then narrowed his eyes.

He reached in and looked for the headache relief, but then saw the bottle of the troubled green powder. Making sure Prussia was preoccupied, he quickly grabbed the bottle took off the cap, and poured a little into Gilbert's glass. He then took the gin and sloshed it in, making the powder disappear. Putting it back quickly, he then took two of the aspirins and gulped them down, rubbing his throat to make them easier to swallow. He took the two glasses, holding onto his own tightly, and walked to the couch. Prussia looked up, and held out a hand. Taking his glass, he smiled, and just when he was about to take a sip, Germany spoke up.

"Do you want to know what the hell is going on?"

"Eh…I mean it seems like you are freaking out…what is that all about?"

Germany walked over to the couch across from his brother and sat down. He swirled his glass, and held it in two hands. Looking up, he continued.

"I have been having these thoughts of Vati…bad memories…like usually the ones where you or I are in trouble with him." Shaking his head, he laughed. "I believe you were the worst behaved child ever…and you usually got the brunt end of punishments."

"I…I wasn't that bad! I mean…I was awesome…and liked to think of myself as adventurous. But come on…it wasn't that bad right?"

"Gilbert…are you serious? You found yourself over Vati's knee more times than I can ever count. And honestly with what you have caused lately…I am almost sorry he is not around today to deal with your antics the same way."

Prussia stayed quiet and then took another puff. He just simply scoffed and put one leg over the other.

"Oh yeah Ludwig? Well as nothing can happen now that I am grown, and able to take care of myself, I think you should just stop worrying about the past. With him gone, haha…Vati can never spank me again!" He took his drink in his hand and downed it all in one gulp. He then set the glass down and went to stand up, but something happened.

Germany just watched, seeing if this power was going to work, and he hoped it would. Clasping his hands together, he stood up. Prussia looked at him with worried eyes and put his hands to his throat. It was the same feeling the two other nations had experienced. His voice began to get higher, and his body began to shrink. He panicked and could not move quick enough to the door, because Germany suddenly stood in his way.

"What's…what's happening to me Ludie? Ahhhhhh!" Prussia shouted and in a matter of minutes, the silver haired arrogant nation was reduced to nothing but a child of five.  He looked up to his brother with worried eyes. Germany stepped forward to him. Taking a sip of his drink, and then setting it down.

"So dear Bruder…while you stated before that Vati can't spank you ever again…I have some disappointing information for you…" He grabbed the child by the arm and spoke gently. "I very well can indeed."