Author: @weirdowimpykid

Tags: #writingcontest

Description:

"@ilovereadingwriting9"

Link to OG: https://www.wattpad.com/1494756986-cac-writing-comp-a-broken-relationship

My comments at the end.

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This is my entry for @Ilovereadingwriting9 's Countryhumans writing competition. By the way, the parts in other languages are translated by Google Translate and I will write what they mean. Plus, for the little actual names mentioned, look at my story titled "Statehumans and Countryhumans headcanons".

. . .

*Insert heated argument*

. . .

What is that, you might ask? It's a tad bit of the average conversation between America and Japan. Not our regular Japan and America, no, this is back in the 1870s. You see, these two Countryhumans first met when the US forced Japan to trade in 1853. At first, Japan's father refused America's requests to use Japanese ports, and to that America took his katana from his sheath, and ended Japan's father's life with his own sword. Of course, Japan was traumatized, and being at the physical and mental age of 5, she was too afraid to say no to anything else America asked of. Japan hated America for this, but she just couldn't do anything about it.

Fast forward to World War 1, and America and Japan have a 'I'm-just-tolerating-you' relationship and a lot of tension because of taking control over German islands in the Pacific. However, due to the common wish to rid the Central Powers, they refrained from going to war. Japan, who is now the Japanese Empire (JE) is quickly trying to prove herself to her 'father', America, and create the most wonderful empire. And maybe, just maybe, overthrow him.

'Finally, that stupid war is done. Now I can start to expand my empire'

. . .

America and Japan have a back-and-forth between them; good relations, bad relations. But don't forget it, Japan and America as people hated each other. But now it's the 1930s, and Japan is loving it. Loving how the Americans she hated so dearly are suffering. Loving how the greedy people, such greedy people, are getting karma. 'But of course', she thought, 'It can't be all good.' That, not only did she think, she knew. Her islands had, basically, no natural resources and she had to import a ton of stuff like iron, oil, and steel. And she absolutely despised how she depended on America for so much stuff. Then she felt a tinge of guilt. Of sorrow. Of empathy. For Weimar, she had always felt that sense of comradery, like she was once in his shoes. Like, she too, was once too afraid of everything. Like she knows how it feels, being stuck with obligations from the moment you were assigned a role, big or small, in this cruel world.

Yeah. But him? Weimar? She felt sorry for him? She had been through way tougher stuff! She was the unfortunate soul who had her father killed in front of her! And he was so lucky! To be struck with debt was so much better than what she had! And him. He had the help of him. He was so kind to him, why not to her?! But she refused to look at the bigger picture, deciding to ignore the Germans. She did that until 1933. 1933. That's when Hitler took power, when the Nazis took control of Germany, when Nazi killed his brother Weimar. The one she so desperately wanted to be.

She decided to take advantage of the Americans' ignorance and subtle curiosity over this revelation. 4 years later, she thought, 'Enough is enough. I'm done relying on Americans. I'm expanding my territory.' And then she invaded Manchuria, China for materials. Sometime later, she gave her blessing to her ambassador to Germany, and then it was it. She was allied with the Germans. The Tripartite Pact was signed. She was on the side of -no- she was one of the Axis Powers. Deep down, she knew this was all wrong. I mean, she knew what the Germans were doing. She knew how terrible they were. Yet, she was blinded by rage. Too blinded to see that she was just as bad as them. Too blinded to see she was doing exactly as she swore to herself she wouldn't do.

But, oh well. She's got it amazingly, she's progressing through Asia and Oceania. Her empire is expanding. She thought she was untouchable. But then there was him. Oh, how she hated him. She was now reaching his waters, American waters. "I know a way." "Admiral?" "I know a way to weaken them." Then his idea struck her. Attack their boats beforehand. That was so simple, how could she have missed that?

. . .

"Sir! We're under attack!" Before America could react to this sudden statement, there were explosions. He took to weaponry, using it against the attackers. Hearing the screams of his men, he felt compelled to go and help them. But he knew it would be better to take out the planes first. 'Wait-' He froze, unable to move. 'Are thos-' "Sir, watch out!" They warned him, but it was too late.

One moment, he was getting attacked. His men were being slaughtered while he was shooting guns that did barely anything to those planes. And the betrayal. He had recognized those circles. That familiar red shape with a white outline, Japanese. Then the next moment, he was in a hospital bed, and his vision had narrowed. 'Wait- why am I here? Why has my vision narrowed?' A nurse walks in, practically jumping in excitement at the sight of his status of simply being awake. "M- Miss, why am I here? Are my men okay?" "Sir, please sit back down." "Miss, please tell me what happened." He heard a sigh. Then he saw the nurse sit down. "Miss?" "Do you want to know right now?" "Yes ma'am." "The naval base, at Pearl Harbour, was attacked. During the attack, many men died. But you, you had a piece of metal sent flying towards your face. We did the best we could, but you may lose your eyesight in your left eye." "I don't want to hear about me, what happened to the soldiers?"

. . .

big time skip

. . .

"Mr. America, President Truman, should we use the bombs now?"

"Yes."

. . .

Japan felt a strong pain and began coughing. A burning sensation, that stung like hell. Immediately, Emperor Hirohito ran to her. Admittedly, he didn't know much about war or what the military was doing on the front lines. But, what he did know was that whenever a personification acted like this, it was bad news. "Okasan?" 'Oh.' That little girl, the same age as her mother when her grandfather died, was now watching as her mom looked sick and deathly pale and the emperor of her mom's empire was panicking.

. . .

September 2nd, 1945. Japan is, ironically, in the same position as Japan. A little girl, too afraid to say no, was now signing that she surrendered. She didn't even know what she was surrendering from. But then, she saw him. He was also singing that paper, but on a different side almost. She looked at him and suddenly felt weird. At ease. Uneasy. Comfortable. Uncomfortable. "Come here." She turned her head sideways. What was he saying? It all sounded like gibberish to her. "Hey, can I get a translator here?" Another man came up and they started whispering before the new man came up to her, "Misu Nihon, koko wa Amerika. Kare ga anata o sodaterudeshou. Kare to issho ni ikimashou." (Miss Japan, this is America. He will raise you. Please go with him.) 'Oh, that's who he is? Okay, he seems nice, I guess.'

. . .

Sometime later; Japan, previously Japanese Empire, is now healthy and searching for her beloved daughter, who is also named Japan and I'll just call Japan, JE to avoid confusion.

(Pretend they're speaking Japanese)

"Where am I!?"

"Miss! You're awake!"

"Where am I?! Where's my daughter!?"

"..."

"Miss, she's in the US."

"WHAT?!?!"

"Why is she in there?!"

"Miss, Mr. Rogers took her there."

You could hear a pin drop, it was so silent.

"What?"

"...We can take you there as soon as possible."

"Now. I have to see my daughter."

"But, miss! You have to recover!"

"Did I stutter?"

'Here I am, so hypocritical. I hate that wretched place, yet why do I so desperately want to go back? But, this is for her. Only her, nothing else. She is the only reason I'm going back.' She tried to justify to herself, even though she knew that deep down there was another reason. A small, lowly reason. A reason that was tiny compared to the reason that is her daughter, but still a reason.

. . .

(Back to English)

"Sir! We have a message for you."

"From who?"

"Japan."

"Japan? As in my daughter? Why isn't she coming to me then?"

"Uh- it's Japan. From-"

"Wait- Japan, as in-"

"Yes, sir."

"Tell me it. Tell me it now."

"She wants to, uhh, come here. To meet with you and 'her daughter'."

"..."

"Not to budge, but, what does she mean 'her daughter'?"

"I took Japan from Japan (JE)."

"But, uh, we should probably get to scheduling that meeting. She has the right to see her daughter no matter what she did."

"Yes, of course, sir."

At the meeting

'Now, where is Japan (JE)?' America thought, eager. "Sir, I don't get why you want to see her again. She's the personification of the former, oh God, Japanese Empire!" One of his trusted soldiers questioned. "Because she wasn't always that person, and I want to talk to her about that." Shortly after he finished, there was a knock on the door accompanied by a "Sir, she's here." "Ah! Come in!" America quickly responded. "Uh- I'll give you two some space. Holler if you need me."

The soldier promptly walked out of the room as she walked into the room. Shutting the door, she left the room empty with the exception of her, him, and the table and chairs. "Konichiwa, America." JE greeted, a tinge of sourness evident in her voice. "Japan," America sighed. "What brings you here?" "You took my daughter. You're probably ridding her of her childhood, like with me!" Accused JE angrily. (Man I can't find a single good way to write this💀) America gulped. "I.. suppose you may see her." He paused, "But very briefly."

America radioed for Japan, who only a couple minutes later came into the room with a stuffie. "Yes, dad?" She asked, only to notice immediately after that her mom, her Okasan, was there. She was there, in front of her, healthy. "Okasan!" She exclaimed running into her beloved mothers arms. "Okasan, where were you?!" Japan cried. "I was- um- that doesn't matter. Are you okay?" JE hurriedly responded, this was the first time in a long time that she saw her daughter, and she was with him.

Japan's mood increased slightly, "Yeah! Dad is really nice and he taught me a bunch of stuff. Have you met dad?" (Note: This is where the family tree gets complicated because adoptive dad to daughter and daughter's daughter) "Yes, dear I have. And I have to talk to him." JE responded sharply while stealing a glare towards America. "Hey, sweetheart, could you go to your room for a quick sec?" He asked kindly. Japan obliged and set out to her room, leaving the two in a palpable tension.

Once she left there was a moment of silence. And another. And another. 'Till he spoke up, head down in shame. "I'm sorry." 'What? W-what did he say? Sorry? Did he just apologize?' JE didn't know what to feel, or even what she was feeling. Was it pity and forgiveness, maybe rage and sadness, or even guilt and regret? "I- uh-" She stammered before he spoke again. "I'm sorry for how I treated you. I'm sorry for how I acted towards you.. And your people. I should not have done that." Before she realized, he was already doing dogeza, a Japanese tradition where a person kneels directly on the ground and bows while their head is touching the floor to show a deep apology.

"I should have treated you better, and I promise I'm treating her better. I promise I won't ever be so.." He paused as if he was having trouble finding the words. After a second of silence, he gave up on that, and quickly finished his sentence, "Bleh." Now, again she was conflicted with herself, about two things. Should she accept his apology? I mean, he does seem like he really means it. But.. She also felt the need to apologize. "I.. forgive you." And it seemed as if there was finally peace between not just the countryhumans, but the countries as well. And, sure, it was going to take some work to get their relationship to be good. But it looks like the future, one where they were friends.

"I.. uh.. Need to say sorry." 'For what?' he asked in his head. "I shouldn't have done what I did to-" She said as she was interrupted by America. "That is something I am not the one who needs to be apologized to. The people are China, Taiwan (Yes, I know the names aren't accurate to the time), Philippines, the Koreas, and others." (America said as calmly as master Ubuyashiki- I need to stop goofing off.) "Thank you, America." She said as the unfamiliarity of not scowling at the name, not even saying it in a bitter tone took over her. "I want you to know that I truly am sorry." He spoke.

"It's okay." She hesitated, "I need to apologize to the people I wronged, and to do my best to make it right." Smiles were sent from America, and returned from JE as she went out of the door. Later on, she would make peace with Taiwan and South Korea (Though never gaining their trust), become a good country that makes anime and manga (👍), and split the responsibility of being a countryhuman with her daughter.

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Notes from me:

First of, I want to apologize for the versonn I copied not having any italics or bolds. I couldn't get it to work for whatever reason.

That out of the way, nice job! Countryhuman family drama is always fun to read about when done right, and you definitely did it right. Pat yourself on the back!