生生世世，海枯石爛 （天命）[The Never Been Yours Mix] is a Hetalia: Axis Powers fanfic written by oultrepreu. The fic can be found on Archive of Our Own here
The fanfic focuses on China and Japan's relationship throughout millennia, through China's introspection as he relieves history, from the first time he met Japan to his betrayal to the present. It's an excellent character study of China's personality, history, and how he views Japan through his lenses.
生生世世，海枯石爛 （天命）[The Never Been Yours Mix] contains examples of :
- Affably Evil: 'Evil' is debatable, 'Affable' is definitely not. Despite betraying, injuring, and coercing China while keeping him captive and unable to leave, Japan remains as polite and hospitable as ever. If you ignore the fact that China is his unwilling prisoner, of course.
- Alas, Poor Villain: China feels pity for Japan's one-sided unrequited love despite all the atrocities Japan has committed to him.
- Big Brother Instinct: China sees Joseon and Taiwan as his little sisters, and wishes to become Japan’s big brother and teacher after their first meeting. He’s also easily charmed by Argentina and Brazil’s childish antics.
- Chained to a Bed: After falling unconscious during Wuhan’s fall, China wakes up chained to a bed in Japan’s house.
- Competing with a Corpse: Japan is in love with China and wishes for his affections. However, China internally muses that the only nation he’s ever loved is Rome, who is dead.
- Et Tu, Brute?: After teaching and treating Japan as a little brother, Japan's invasion of China is treated as a particularly harsh betrayal. China's reaction also has muted traces of this.
- Lie Back and Think of England: China doesn’t resist nor reciprocate when Japan propositions him, thinking that his body is a small price to pay for the chance of escape and freedom. He doesn’t seem particularly fazed either.
- Love Hurts: From Japan’s perspective, he’s in love within China who sees him only as a brother. He’s only thinking of China when his nation is defeated, and he tries his best to make Taiwan laugh simply because it reminds him of China’s laugh, which he can never hear again. China later laughs out loud during the Summit, with Argentina and Brazil simply because of their antics, which must rub salt into the wound for Japan who tried his best to make China laugh but failed.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: China notes that he has to retain some semblance of the flighty, slightly naïve nation he had appeared to be during the century of humiliation when in company of the western nations. He’s much sharper and colder than his outward appearance and actions would suggest.
- The Farmer and the Viper: To China, at least. China took in, raised, and taught Japan as a child, and Japan repays him by invading his lands, kidnapping, and raping him.
- Unexpected Kindness: China travels with some donated water to a Japan who has been ravaged by the nuclear disaster, citing that although he still doesn't forgive Japan, he has no justification for not helping, either. Japan is notably surprised at his offer of aid.
