Hey all, natcat5 here.
This is a sidestory to ArixaBell's amazing story Second Chance. You should read the story before reading this one. You don't necessarily have to, but you might be shocked by the ending if you don't. Plus Second Chance is just an amazing story. I'm so glad Arixa-nee said I could write this sidestory for it!
For those who have read it, this story is about what happened to South Korea.
It will be a two-shot, so there will be another chapter after this one.
Korean Spirit
South Korea
War.
Despite what his carefree, somewhat juvenile nature might hint at, South Korea was no stranger to it. He had been in many wars, many of them bloody, most of them against his brothers. Japan before and during World War Two, North Korea, backed by China during the Korean War….it seemed that he was always fighting those that he loved. Perhaps that was why no one took him seriously, because despite his harsh history, he was still so silly, so happy and bubbly. What did they want him to do, mope about it? Wars happened, he'd forgiven his brothers (well….he was in the process of forgiving Japan) and life went on.
And now, war again.
But this war was something else.
Nations….nations were dying. They were dying at a scary rate. First was Ukraine….her death had been so sudden, so unexpected (nations could die just like that?), and so devastating to the two superpowers, America and Russia. It had shocked the entire world, and brought the war to a new level. Austria had been next, sending another shockwave through the nations. Since then, Hungary had been a force of nature in Europe, pushing armies back from her borders (and the ones that were once Austria's) with such ferocity that South Korea couldn't help but think she might have originated in his country (because that was some serious Korean spirit she was channeling, da ze~!)
Next, and perhaps the most shocking, had been Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The neutral nations. Believed to be permanently untouchable because of their 'shield of neutrality'. They'd been caught and beaten to death.
By this time, the nations were beginning to realize that this was no ordinary war, and that the rulebook ought to be thrown out the window.
But still, realizing in horror that the last of the enemy troops had marched past the flaming remains of Seoul and the majority of them were now less than a mile away from the refugee camp set up along the South Korea and North Korea border, the young Asian nation suddenly wondered if anyone would be surprised if he was suddenly killed. His brothers and sisters were all focused on protecting their own countries, or in China's case, protecting his own country and making sure the war never reached Japan (as it hadn't hit the island nation yet.) South Korea's twin, North Korea, hadn't given him a second thought. Their relationship was strained, true, what with North Korea having tried to take South Korea over and North Korea's citizens having this nasty habit of fleeing the North for the South, but South Korea still wished there was someone.
Anyone.
Feeling the enemy soldiers clamber over his land, with the sensation of them crawling all over his skin like fire ants, the fires from his burnt capital still burning within him, the taste of the blood of all his murdered citizens still strong in his mouth…South Korea had never felt more alone.
But now was not the time for that.
South Korea leapt up from his perch, sitting on a rock outside of a small military camp set up on the outskirts of the refugee camp. The young nation winced in pain, his whole body sore; a reflection of the severe beating his country had taken. In truth, he had barely been able to stand up since Seoul had burned down. But this, the enemy was coming…..
The man beside him, a young soldier assigned to be the nation's bodyguard (without knowing just who his teenage ward was) started in surprise, rising to attention and turning to the apparently younger boy warily.
"Sir!" he said, somewhat hesitantly, probably wondering just why he had to call a fifteen year old wearing an incorrect, out-of-date, and oversized hanbok sir. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes!" squealed South Korea, running/hobbling away from the military base, much to his guard's alarm. "Yes there is a problem! The enemy is coming! Get everybody ready, contact the Generals and tell them I said that the enemy is approaching quickly. Hurry! Fast defense maneuvers totally originated in Korea!"
The young soldier looking flustered, began running after the teenager. "Wait! You can't just run off!"
"Go!" shouted South Korea, turning his head to face the soldier. "Hurry! We have to get everybody out! Go tell the Generals we are under attack! That's an order!"
The soldier recoiled as if he had been slapped and then straightened up, giving a stiff bow before running off towards the main military barracks.
Augh, that was so not cool. Ordering people around is not the South Korean spirit! Thought South Korea glumly as he resumed running. But….ugh, they're all over me….they're coming! And I can't let those rotten bojis anywhere near my people. Family comes first! I hope Goo Ji Pyo gets to the Generals quickly! We've got to protect our land and people. And if they get me, than they've got passage to North, China and even Japan! I can't let them near my family, I've got to stop them here! Awesome heroic bad-guy stopping originated in Korea, da ze~!
"Hurry!" he said under his breath, his voice rising as the urgency within him rose as well, "Hurry!"
The young Asian ran, faster than people would expect looking at him, and even fast as a nation, rippling muscles hidden underneath his large hanbok, thanks to years in the military. South Korea covered the distance between the military base and the center of the large camp quickly, ignoring the painful burns that covered his chest and the wounds and inflictions that mirrored the bomb craters and destroyed areas of his nation. South Korea had a mission. He couldn't let pain stop him.
For now, leave the fighting to his army. He had to get his people out of here.
South Korea's heart twisted painfully as he ran into the refugee camp. Seeing his people hurt, huddled together pitifully among the few belongings they had managed to scrape together before their home went up in flames. Injuries and sickness abundant, sorrow and wretchedness that the young Asian nation felt in his very core. And now, the enemy troops were closing in, ready to destroy every last one of them. Destroy the last of their home, the last of their hope, the last of their Korean spirit, the last of his Korean spirit.
No freaking way!
He refused to let anymore of his people die.
"Attack!" he yelled loudly, flapping his arms up and down as he ran through the refugee camp. "There's an attack coming!"
About four hundred weary faces looked up at him, surprised, shocked, panicked, disbelieving. No one moved, a few people began pulled their children closer to them, casting wary glances at him. South Korea huffed and pouted, slamming his hands onto his hips and wincing at the pain it brought. "Come on! Why are you just sitting there! We've got to get all the children and women and old people and sick people and drama actors out of here!" he cried.
"Why should we," said a man, defeated and sullen, with sunken cheeks and empty eyes. "Where are we supposed to run? We're right on the border of North Korea. Sandwiched between an oppressive communist country of murderers and an enemy army bent on completely destroying us. I'm tried of running. My wife is dead. My kids are dead. Everything I have is gone. I'm staying here."
There were murmurs of agreement from the sad, defeated people gathered there, and South Korea's heart sank. Where was the Korean spirit? Where was the great 'Hooray for our land!' that made South Koreans so awesome? Who said it was okay for them to give up like this?
"Hey!" he cried out, silencing the murmurings with a loud voice that surprised the tired people. "Giving up so totally did not originate in Korea! Seriously, where's your Korean spirit, da ze~?" South Korea pouted, crossing his arms and staring angrily at his people. "It's not over yet! We're all alive right? So there's hope! Koreans don't lie down and die just because their precious things got torched by a bunch of non-Korean losers! Nu-uh! You know why? Because surviving and coming back more awesome than before originated in Korea, da ze~! So did hope, and faith, and courage, and…and….not dying! Not sitting here and dying! That also totally originated in Korea! So get up!"
The Korean people began to stand, hope rising quickly within them unexplainably. Being in their nation's presence, even if they did not know it was him, revitalized them and…gave them hope.
"Sir," South Korea turned slightly as he saw Ji Pyo approaching him again, looking flustered and out of breath.
"Hey, I was in the middle of a speech, da ze~!" pouted South Korea, wheezing slightly as his smoke damaged lungs complained at their recent abuse.
"Sorry sir," said the young soldier, giving a small bow. "But the generals are planning a counter measure to stop the approaching troops and defend the last bit of Korean land, and they need the troops that remained here, as well as any able-bodied man who can fight," finished the soldier, looking about as if to pick out any potential soldiers right then and there.
South Korea froze.
To fight….
The young Asian nation looked around the camp. These, these were all that were left of his people. These and the people in the other nearby camps. All together, numbering just over thirteen thousand. The rest had been captured, or were scattered so far away across such great distances that they could never cross the captured territory to the refugee camp. So many had been lost in the burning of Seoul. All because the majority of those living in the country and smaller towns had fled to the major city for food and water when their crops and irrigation systems were burned and destroyed and their roads and supplies cut off. When the capital had been obliterated, it had taken most of South Korea's population with it.
It still burned. Deep in his chest, Seoul was still burning.
This was all that was left of his people, of his population of 50 million. About half of that number had fled to China or Japan when the attacks on South Korea got bad, but of the other 25 million...This was all that was left. This, and the pitiful army about to march to their deaths in an attempt to stop the advancing enemy. To protect their land. To protect him.
But….he didn't want that.
"No," said South Korea, grabbing Ji Pyo by the wrist. The soldier's eyes widened and his gaze flickered down to the hand on his arm, clearly surprised at the teenager's strength. "S-sir?" stuttered the soldier.
"No. Uh-uh," said South Korea. "None of that. I changed my mind. No defensive maneuvers."
"What?" gasped the soldier. "I don't think-,"
"Radio the generals or whatever," continued South Korea, ignoring the interruption. "Tell them to get here and escort all the survivors across the border to North Korea. Make sure they lower their weapons so that Hyung-so that the North Koreans know that they're peaceful. Make sure the entire army goes. I want every single free South Korean to cross that border. Understand?"
The young soldier stared at his 'superior', shock clearly written on his face. But slowly, the shock gave way to a harder, more stubborn look.
"Sir," he said sternly, yanking his wrist away as the teenager released it. "I don't know who you are to have received the security clearances, respect, and authority that you have. But I don't believe you can make such a decision! You are asking us to relinquish and not defend the last scrap of our land. You're asking us to abandon our home and run away like rats. Worse, you're asking us to run and beg for help from that Communist filth upstream. I cannot, in good faith, accept that decision." Ji Pyo looked nervous, but then satisfied with his speech and turned back to the people of the camp, who were no staring at the two military men with uncertainty, unsure what they were supposed to be doing or feeling.
A slow clap started behind the young soldier, and he turned around irritably.
"Wow!" exclaimed the Asian teen, his hands making a soft whump sound as he clapped them through the fabric of his over-sized sleeves. "That was such an awesome speech, da ze~! You so totally originated from Korea. That was awesome. Hyung is proud of you Ji Pyo-shi!" cooed the Korean with a wide smile, before his face softened and a more serious look graced it. "I'm glad you feel so strongly for our land. For…for South Korea. But at this time…" the Asian nation lifted his gaze to all of the people who had gathered close to hear the exchange, staring at him with scared, tired, but somewhat hopeful eyes.
"At this time, I have to ask you to leave it. Do not think for a second you are abandoning South Korea. Because you are not abandoning South Korea. You could only abandon South Korea if you-," the young teen slid his gaze towards the man who had spoken before. "-gave up on your Korean spirit. That is not cool, da ze~. Korean spirit is what makes us South Koreans. Because we have the drive, and the spirit, and the awesomeness, we are a people more full of spirit and life then…then North Koreans."
South Korea looked up at Ji Pyo, a small pout on his lips. "But Hyung-, I mean, North Korea isn't that bad. He's-They've just lost a bit of their Korean spirit is all. And you know, South Korea and North Korea, even after all they've been through, they're brother countries, right? We were once the same. So, in this time of war, to want to protect South Korea is fine, but to go and to stay in North Korea for a little bit, that is fine too."
Looking at the listening, but skeptical faces of his people, South Korea rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Okay, maybe not quite all that da ze~, but really. South Korea….this South Korea that you wish to protect….it is just land. The real South Korea-,"
The teen made a fist and pounded it towards his chest. "Is here. In the Korean spirit. And the Korean spirit lives in the Korean people. So to stay and fight, to defend land that is not South Korea, to die and lose the Korean spirit to death, that is not okay. That is not protecting South Korea, da ze~. To protect South Korea is to live."
South Korea gazed at all of his people, his eyes looking much older than his body. "For all of you," he said softly. "To live."
Silence fell on the camp, as the 'beaten' South Koreans took in the youth's words. They looked to one another, looked to the direction of the North Korean border, or looked into the distance, where rolling hills blocked the view of an enemy army that was surely approaching. The man who had spoken earlier looked ashamed, his gaze directed towards the ground.
Goo Ji Pyo swallowed thickly, seemingly unsure of how to respond correctly to such a speech. "So….Sir….Then…."
"What I said before," said South Korea firmly, "Retract the troops, bring them back here to escort these people to the Korean border, da ze~. Make sure every single person makes it across. Those are my…orders."
As the young soldier nodded and bowed respectively, South Korea grimaced inwardly.
Ugh, that's such an icky word, he pouted inwardly. Orders. That sounds like something my Hyung would say….both of them. I can't believe I'm starting to sound like Old man China and stick-up-his-ass North Korea. Stupid war.
"I'll help."
South Korea was jolted out of his thoughts and he turned towards the voice that had spoken. It was the man from before. The one who had seemed so beaten.
"Oh, da ze~?" said South Korea, hiding a smile. "You've changed your mind about running?" The man still looked ashamed, but there was now a fire burning in his sunken eyes.
"Yes," he said firmly. "I wish to protect my people as well. You are right. Our spirit is what makes us different from those…Northerners up there. So if following our spirit means going to stay with them….then so be it. I….I will help the South Korean spirit not die. I will help this soldier to round up the people."
"Awesome, ajusshi" smiled South Korea. He then turned to Ji Pyo, his face serious again. "Private Goo Ji Pyo," he said sternly, "No more dallying. Radio the generals immediately and tell them to bring the troops back here. We have got to get these people across the border. The army included."
This time, Ji Pyo nodded and pulled out a walkie-talkie from a holster at his hip, speaking into it fast and urgently. Satisfied, South Korea turned his gaze back to the people at the camp, and then up to the man who had decided to help.
"Alright, so Kim T'ang Gong, I need you to run over to the camps over the hill and start telling people to gather their things," he said, his speech quickening as he felt the burning itches over his skin increase in pain. The young nation looked over his shoulder nervously, missing the confused glanced that T'ang Gong gave him.
"How do you know-," began the Korean Man, "No time! Hurry!" hissed South Korea, clutching his chest with one hand. Not waiting to see if T'ang Gong followed his instructions, he began walking around the camp. Helping people gather their belongings, stirring the elderly out of their rest, aiding mothers in locating their children, and getting the autographs of any Drama actors he noticed. (All of the F4 from Boys over Flowers were here!). As the South Koreans began getting to their feet and assembling, helping one another to gather their belongings, caring for the injured or weak, or just genuinely leaning on one another for support, South Korea felt pride surge through him. These were his people. Banding together like this. Rallying up their spirit to help one another and save themselves. They weren't going to sit here and die, they were going to live.
He was going to live.
His earlier fears of possibly meeting his end today were diminishing. After all, he was South Korea right? Everything originated from him. He was the eldest of all the Asian nations (China was a liar. And South Korea only called him and North Aniki or Hyung to make them happy) and he was the most awesome out of all of them. There was now way he was going to die! Again, stupid North Korea, all of his citizens that had escaped to South Korea must have been affecting the Southern nation's mentality. Since when did he get so morbid?
South Korea turned his attention to the people that were walking over nearby hills and across fields from other refugee camps.
Wow, T'ang Gong is fast, he thought with a whistle. I didn't even notice him leave!
He didn't notice that the people were running, not walking.
Not until he felt a sudden explosion of pain in his right shoulder, causing him to gasp in pain and crumple to the ground.
What….
South Korea clutched at his head with his left arm, his ears suddenly echoing with the screams of his people. Behind his closed eyes he could see tents aflame, smoke everywhere, gunshots and blood flying….And his people….his people strewn about the ground. Bodies bullet-ridden…the children killed….the woman taken forcefully…..all of them….
Ah~ No! No! Not now! Please, don't take these people from me now!
South Korea tasted something coppery in his mouth and felt bile rise up in his throat. He coughed violently, hearing an intense ringing in his ears as he tried to right himself.
"-ir! Sir! The refugee camp to the north has been attacked!
No.
Hearing Ji Pyo's voice, and hearing his horrible message. South Korea lifted his arms from the ground and pushed himself upwards. Blood falling from his mouth onto the grass. The Asian nation opened his eyes, his vision blurry.
"Sir! What's wrong! Is this camp under attack? Did you get hit?" asked Ji Pyo, staring in horror at his charge, who had suddenly and unexpectedly collapsed and started spitting out blood.
South Korea gave his head a shake, trying to clear his vision and think past the haze of pain.
"Uhn…d'army? Where's Generals…," he mumbled, swallowing thickly and lurching to his feet.
Ji Pyo looked distraught, catching the teen's arm as he wobbled. "The Generals did not get the message in time….the army is engaged with troops farther South. There is no one to protect the people!" he exclaimed, his voice on the edge of complete panic.
No….bemoaned South Korea….How can this be happening?
"Help d'em…," muttered South Korea, "The people, from d'other camp….an' get the people…get them movin'. Have to get t'North Korea…Hyung….Hyung'll help. 'e's a mean bastard, an' 'e acts like 'e 'as a salty potato chip h'up 'is ass, but North cannelp..." South Korea coughed again.
Ji Pyo looked confused by his charge's garbled words, but he understood the gist of it. Still holding onto the teen's arm, Ji Pyo lowered South Korea to the ground slowly before standing up sharply and quickly dealing out instructions. T'ang Gong, who never got to leave, would be in charge of making sure everybody in this camp was accounted for and ready to leave. Five other able-bodied men would go to the other camps, the ones who hadn't been attacked, and start getting the people ready to move. If they moved swiftly, all the surviving South Koreans should be able to make it to the North Korean border.
Clutching his shoulder with gritted teeth, South Korea heard all of this, and noticed that Ji Pyo had neglected an important thing.
What about the South Koreans in the camp that had been attacked?
And what about the South Koreans in the army that were being slaughtered (he could feel it) in a hopeless defensive maneuver? (Which, now that he thought about it, hadn't originated in Korea after all)
You don't get it…he moaned inwardly, forcing himself to his feet with a groan, everyone has to get out…..everyone….All I have left is my people…I can't lose any of those that are left….I can't lose anymore of them….I can't…
South Korea stumbled away, forcing himself into a run as he raced past the refugee camp now bursting with activity as they prepared to leave, and towards the refugee camp towards the North. He could see where it was clearly, the smoke that rose from it an unwelcome beacon.
I can't get to the army in time….and then I'd be too far away from the civilians….they need my help more. Damn it! Why can't I save all my people, da ze~….why do I have to choose...
Tears ran down South Korea's face and he wiped them away quickly with his over-long sleeve.
S-stupid. Stop that! Crying over stupid things like this is not part of the Korean spirit, da ze~! I'll save all the people I can, and I'll get them across the border into North Korea!
South Korea jerked himself upwards, biting back a cry of pain, and continued forward, forcing his battered body to go at a faster pace. He continued forward for awhile, struggling up a hill as he held his sleeve against the smoke that was blowing in from the attacked refugee camp. He coughed bitterly, noting in surprise that the smoke curling out of the corners of his mouth didn't seem to be a result of that particular fire. Neither did the feeling he was getting of being repeatedly punched, blows hitting his body from all angles.
Shit. He thought as more blood pooled in his mouth and started trickling down his shirt. I'm being bombed. Shit! I'm being bombed!
South Korea lurched on his feet, a spray of blood spurting out of his mouth as more of the red substance soaked through his hanbok from his chest. A bomb had just been dropped on the military base to the south, where the remains of his army were operating from. He leaned over, coughing up the blood that had suddenly filled his lungs, one hand clutching his bleeding chest.
N-no…my men….
He lurched again, his hands over his ears as the screams of South Koreans who were perishing at the base echoed in them.
NO! No more! No more will die!
South Korea continued forward, his eyes tearing as the smoke burned them, blood trickling out of the corners of his mouth and covering his front. The young nation reached the top of the hill, peering over it at the remains of the camp below.
His eyes narrowed, and tears formed that weren't caused by smoke.
It was a smoldering mess. The tents and any other make shift shelters had all been burnt down, as had the majority of the refugees' belongings, if the large campfire in the center of the large camp, with clothing, backpacks, coats, books, and other things still visible through the flames, was anything to go by. The South Koreans, about three hundred of them, were huddled together at one end of the camp. Women, children and elderly all smoke scoured and blackened, clothes torn and bodies bleeding as they stared in sadness and horror at the remains of their camp. Towards the center of the camp, about threescore men had been rounded up and forced onto their knees with their hands on their heads. They were surrounded by jeering enemy soldiers, who seemed to take great delight in poking the men with their bayonets. Some of the younger women had also been rounded up, moved to the corner of the camp, with a few soldiers watching them. The looks that these soldiers, and the other ones, gave them, spoke volumes of their eventual fate.
And all throughout the camp, strewn between the burnt remains of camps, piled up in corners against the blackened stumps of trees, rolled carelessly to the side or stacked on top of one another by a ready made fire…
Were bodies.
South Korea had to hold his mouth to stop himself from throwing up, the taste of bile mixing with that of blood in his mouth. He bit back a sob, and crammed his fist into his mouth to stop himself from screaming and cussing in anger.
How dare they?
These were his people!
He would not stand for this. This would not stand. He would not let these people die. He would not let his Korean Spirit die!
Well, they were about to find out just why you did not fuck with South Koreans.
His military mind in overdrive, South Korea quickly assessed the positions of all the enemy soldiers in the camp. There were only about fifty of them, but they were all seasoned veterans, no young guys here, armed to the teeth and with weapons already bloody from previous Korean battles. They had probably been quick and efficient in their attacking of the camp. Assessing their military strength and prowess from the distance, South Korea marveled at how any of the people of this camp had managed to escape at all. A chill ran up the Asian nation's spine as he realized this probably wasn't the entire force sent to take the camps, and that more of them had probably been deployed to attack the others.
But I haven't felt anything…thought South Korea with a small thrill of relief, So I guess Ji Pyo and the others managed to get them in time. Good. Awesome. But to be expected, because awesome rescues and fast evacuation originated in Korea da ze~!
South Korea narrowed his eyes and peered down at the camp below, still feeling a deep ache in his heart.
But there are still more to be rescued….I cannot leave anyone behind.
South Korea moved swiftly to the other side of the hill, travelling down it as softly as he could and trying to stop his oversized hanbok from swishing in the grass and alerting the enemy to his position. He slid down just behind where the men were being guarded. With swift efficiency, he crawled over to them and scurried past the guards quickly, squeezing his way into the crowd of men. They looked at him in surprise, as surprised by his sudden arrival as they were by his appearance.
"Hey!" whispered South Korea, going down onto his knees like the rest of the men were. "Guess what? We're all going to escape to North Korea, da ze~!" he said with a smile. He was met with silence from the men, who merely stared at him in confusion and…defeat. That same defeated look that he had seen in the other camp was on these men's faces too.
South Korea was getting really tired of that look.
"Oh stop that," he growled, "Just stop giving me that stupid miserable look, da ze~! You are all going to escape, alright? It's a simple fact. Don't give me that look. You guys are South Koreans, full of Korean spirit. And with that spirit, you can do anything. Including knocking those non-Korean losers on their asses and saving all the true Koreans. I'm South Korea da ze~, and I say that everyone in this camp is going to escape over the border to North Korea! So stop looking so miserable and defeated and sorry for yourselves, because we're all going to get out of here. And we are not going to let the Korean spirit die. So just….just listen to what I say! " he snapped, a little tired and cranky after being bombed and invaded and having his people killed and dammit! He hadn't groped China in months!
He didn't want to see anymore of his people killed. He wanted everyone in this camp to escape. He wanted to save them. But for some reason, it seemed to take some convincing to get his people to want to be saved.
If he had to give another Korean spirit speech when his people were under attack then so help him Go-
"What do you want us to do?" said one of the men quietly, startling the Asian nation out of his inner lamentations. South Korea blinked in surprise and then grinned.
"Just get the rest of the refugees and head towards the border," he said happily. "If you go slightly to the east instead of straight north, and move quickly, then you should run into the rest of the refugees. You can all make it together," he smiled. All of you will make it together.
"And what about the soldiers?" hissed another man.
"Don't worry about it," said South Korea off-handedly. "I'll take care of them."
Without a second thought he stood up, moving his way through the crowd of men to stand in front of them, in an empty space. His movement was immediately detected, and a dozen guns were suddenly trained on him.
"Halt!" said one soldier, in a thick accent. "Don't move!"
The Korean teen smiled, a sinister smile that most of the other nations probably didn't even realize was capable of being on his face.
"Actually, I think I will move," hissed South Korea, continuing towards him. "I'm South fucking Korea, and you better get your un-Korean assess away from my people." With that, South Korea leapt across the camp, moving faster than the average human as he dealt a swift punch directly to the gut of one of the soldiers. The soldiers coughed up blood and doubled over, and South Korea quickly leapt over him, dealing a deadly spinning kick that took out three other soldiers behind the first one.
"Shoot him!" barked one of the enemy soldiers angrily. South Korea spun around and leapt at the man who had spoken, grabbing him around the neck and spinning him around quickly to use as a shield against the bullets that had suddenly been fired in his direction. He grimaced as he felt the thud thud as each of the bullets hit the man's body, and he hoped most uncharacteristically that whatever sorry nation this man came from was feeling those bullets as well.
He pushed the man's body into the soldiers that had rushed at him, and catapulted over their backs, backflipping onto the ground and somersaulting away from the hail of bullets directed at him. South Korea rolled to the side and kicked the feet out from under a soldier, stealing his gun and yanking him to his feet to use as another human shield. South Korea fired the gun from over his captives shoulder and at the other men, his aim scarily good as he pulled the trigger again and again through his sleeve. As South Korea moved backwards, placing himself with his back against a tree and his captive in front, the enemy soldiers also began taking up positions behind rocks and such. The Korean men had already begun to move, attacking soldiers and overwhelming the guards with their sheer numbers despite their lack of weapons, which was soon rectified as they stole guns off fallen soldiers.
"The prisoners!" barked a soldier, he and several others leaving their spots behind burnt objects to rush at the Koreans, guns raised.
Big mistake. In less then a blink of an eye, South Korea had sniped them down, finally clearing a path for the Koreans to begin their escape. Joy rushed through the Asian nation, which quickly gave way to horror as he saw the route they would have to take to escape.
Shit! He swore inwardly. They would have to climb up the hill, being sitting ducks on the hillside for the enemy soldiers to shoot them down.
Without a second thought, South Korea threw himself at the remaining 30 or so soldiers, using the one he held captive as a battering ram to smash through their ranks.
"Run!" he screamed to his people, many of whom were old and were dawdling there way up the hill. "RUN!"
South Korea's shout turned into a scream of anguish as he was shot in the shoulder. He teetered on his feet for a moment, before rushing at his assailant, headbutting him straight up from under his chin and breaking his neck. He then ducked behind him just as the bullets came, a few slicing through his clothes and skin.
His people were less than half way up the hill.
And some of the soldiers had begun pursuing them.
Shit!
South Korea shoved the body of the last soldier he had killed at the others, leaping at them and kicking down two with sharp and deadly Tae Kwon Do moves. He flipped away, dealing a spinning kick that knocked a gun out of a soldier's hand just before he could fire, following it up with a swift punch to the stomach. He grabbed the soldier's shirt and flung him at the others, beginning to run towards the soldiers on the hill.
As he turned however, he was struck by an idea.
South Korea abruptly changed direction and he sprinted for the center of the camp, painfully aware of how close the soldiers were getting to his people on the hill. Bullets whizzed by him as the other soldiers fired at him and he dove down as he finally reached his destination: the fire.
South Korea quickly reached into the fire, ignoring the intense pain that engulfed his hands and the sickening smell of his own burning flesh. The teenager yanked out to large pieces of burning wood, looking up anxiously to see how his people were faring.
No.
The soldiers had caught up with the stragglers. They were forcing the elderly to the ground, kicking the injured into submission. Breaking them down again…
No!
South Korea bounded forward, jumping over the fire and directly in front of an approaching soldier. He stuck his leg in between the soldier's and twisted, causing the enemy to turn and fall over. South Korea jumped on that soldier's back, using it as a jumping board to launch himself at the soldiers who were pursuing his people, and inadvertently pushing the unlucky soldier into the flames. His screams burned South Korea's ears, and the young nation tried to stop tears coursing down his cheeks.
This is war.
South Korea landed just behind the soldiers pursuing his people, putting on a burst of speed that put him directly in front of one beating an old Korean lady. In a blink of an eye, he had dug his foot into the enemy's stomach, causing a cascade of blood to come from the man's mouth and him to crumple to the ground.
"Hurry!" said Korea to the old woman, just before rushing at the other five soldiers that had caught up with his people. As the soldiers saw him, all five of them turned abruptly, guns raised. Just before they fired, South Korea shouted for the people they had caught to run, before diving to the ground himself. The hailstorm of bullets flew over his head, and he dropped one of the fiery sticks, the dry grass catching fire immediately.
South Korea slid into the legs of two of the men, sending them crashing to the ground. One of the other soldiers turned immediately and fired, but he hit not only South Korea, in the side, but his own comrades in the confusion. South Korea then jumped up, slamming that soldier and another with his last burning torch and delivering a killing upward kick to the last.
Breathing heavily, South Korea looked up, smiling slightly as he saw the Koreans who had been recaptured escaping with the help of some of the survivors who had come back for them. By now, most of the people had made it up the hill.
But the remaining enemy soldiers were now all running up the hill, fast approaching.
South Korea snarled in anger, and quickly ran across the width of the hill, zigzagging to avoid bullets and dragging his last torch along the grass. A fiery line sprang up, separating the remaining soldiers from the escaping Koreans. One of the enemy soldiers swore angrily and fired his gun rapidly at South Korea. The young Asian nation dodged the bullets and jumped at the soldiers, crashing into six of them and sending them all tumbling to the ground. He rolled away from the jumbled mess of limbs and coughed painfully as one of the soldiers kicked him hard in the ribs. The Asian nation stood up blearily, feeling a sharp pain in his previously uninjured shoulder.
Uhn….
South Korea reached out blindly, eyes blurred with blood, sweat, and smoke.
Have to protect…
South Korea shoved himself forward, ignoring the pain coming from all over his body. He felt himself collide with something and shoved his fist down, hearing a satisfying scream of pain from underneath him. Something grabbed onto the collar of his hanbok and yanked him back, causing the teenager to slide through the grass. South Korea immediately leapt back up to his feet, wiping his eyes clear quickly.
A gun.
At that moment, all South Korea could see was the barrel of the gun, pointed point blank at his face. Dark. Ominous. A sweaty but firm hand on its handle and trigger.
He instinctively knew that he couldn't dodge it, that he wouldn't dodge it. He knew that this bullet would hit him. And he had the sneaking suspicion that it might end his life.
Just like that.
In that moment, that split moment that seemed to last forever, South Korea found himself thinking. Thinking about everything he could possibly think of. He thought about Japan and his animation, which was so popular in South Korea. He thought of his relationship with Japan, and how, maybe, he really shouldn't have held that grudge for so long. He thought of China, and how sorry that old man was going to be when he realized South Korea was gone, and how sorry South Korea himself was, for not getting the chance to properly convey his feelings for the man, in a way that wasn't just groping.
He thought of Kimchi, and flowers, and Boys Over Flowers, and Dragon Wars, and Super Junior and Wonder Girls, and the other things that were most definitely made in Korea. He thought of Gapyeong, one of his favourite Korean towns. So beautiful, so full of nature and mountains that he loved to ski on. And beautiful trees, and beautiful people. His beautiful people. He thought of his beaches, his beautiful, often quiet beaches. With their beautiful view and pale sand, and calming, but crashing, waves. He thought of Seoul. His dear, lost, capital. He loved Seoul. The city, and the song. He loved the lights, and the buildings. The shopping and the business. The people, rushing back and forth and the happiness, the joy, the bubbling of Korean spirit everywhere.
That was all gone now.
But. Thought South Korea, watching as the trigger on the gun was squeezed. Not all gone. My people escaped, they'll make it to North Korea and the Korean Spirit-
BANG
In a spray of blood and smoke, of torn sleeves, and a limp curl, of reaching hands and unconquerable spirit…
South Korea fell.
Ah~ That was sad to write...T_T
Anyways, people who have read Second Chance, did I do it justice? Was this alright? Did I do okay with South Korea's personality?
For people who haven't read it, sorry if the ending shocked you or anything, but, yeah, at the start of Second Chance, South Korea's already dead...
Hyung is big brother in Korean. I think it's also spelt Hyeong but I'm not sure which one is correct.
Um, apparently boji means pussy...(I needed an insult!)
Ajusshi is the Korean equivalent to oji-san (apparently)
Boys Over Flowers is a Korean drama. One that I enjoy immensely. Dragon Wars is a movie. Wonder Girls and Super Junior are Korean bands. Super Junior did a song with Girls Generation called S.E.O.U.L, so that's what South Korea is referring to when he sais he loves the city and the song.
Gapyeong is a place in South Korea
Like I said at the beginning, this is a two-shot, so there will be another chapter that will provide a little closure. It will be from someone else's POV and I'm kind of excited to try my hand at writing him...
Review please!
xoxo, natcat5 ;p