Update: ARGH. SO MUCH STUDYING TO DO. To all my readers, people who have fav'd and reviewed, thank you so so so much for all of your feedback and encouragement. I haven't forgotten about War Bride, and I promise that when I can I will get working on the 4th chapter. Part of it is written, the rest is in my mind, it's just up to me and my schedule to let me sit down and write it all out. Once again, thank you to everyone who has shown interest in the story. I haven't forgotten about you, so please don't give up on me!
I do not claim ownership of Hetalia or any of the characters. The following is based on history but with my interpretation of the events. Constructive feedback is greatly appreciated, even if it is just to say that you didn't like the characterization and style of writing, and why. I'm new to writing fiction, and I feel lost as to whether or not this is good or bad characterization and plot pacing. 多謝！
Note: If you're looking for outright bashing about how horrible either Japan or China was, this is not the place for it. I will try my best to be true to events while showing the other side of it; good always comes with the bad. If you only want to read about how Japan was a heartless whore-monger or China was an abusive, possessive asshole, then please redirect yourself to such a fic. I am only trying to tell a story from the point of view from a flawed, naive young girl (later woman) who through harsh experiences is able to open her eyes.
"Mei mei," said the bandaged and limping man, interrupting the young girl who was trying to fish. She looked exactly the same as the last he'd seen her, whenever that was. She turned and politely pretended to be surprised and pleased at seeing her negligent older brother. He ordinarily would not be bothered, yet today it successfully tore to shreds what Japan had started. No, it had started even earlier than that; he hadn't though that Taiwan would be going the way of little Hong Kong so soon. "Mei, Japan and I had an argument. We've decided that you will now live in his house from now on, so please pack your things."
Taiwan shrugged it off without caring too much once she got word that China, that hulking, antiquated beast, had been felled by the upstart Japan. Supposedly one had taken a sword to the other's back, and left a permanent memento of their agreement to disagree. These were but hollow names to her, meaningless events that would not affect her in the slightest. Nothing ever did. Taiwan was a small island in the middle of nowhere that contributed nothing to anyone. The far off and strange-sounding countries that China had recently been plagued by probably did not even know she existed. She supposed China expected her to put on an elaborate display of fury, grief, and shame at being traded off to the victor as though she were a whore. Perhaps he wanted the young girl to throw tantrums and demand with her tears to be returned to the older brother she never really knew, never really interacted with enough to care about.
In fact, even China's own clumsy conquest and declaration of guardianship over her did not result in much. He had simply come to her country one day, and violently ejected the Dutch and Spanish traders. In the middle of his victorious gesturing, he had suddenly remembered about the little girl whose island he had just invaded. She had been standing quietly and watching from the edges of the rainforest. Her clear and powerful stare, that of an innocent's, evoked feelings of guilt and slight shame. Certainly, it was enough to make China content to leave her alone and let her figure out her own business. And so she had grown for 200 years with little aim and direction, making things happen solely by virtue of her fiery, feisty temper.
Even as the provisions of the Treaty of Shomonoseki was read aloud to her, Taiwan said nothing. Most likely, China had successfully forgotten about his impulse adoption until out of the blue, Japan decided to take over his role. And even then, Japan probably did it to spite him. As far as she was concerned, her aloof big brother had been replaced by one that would be as equally neglectful. After all, she thought to herself, she was no Hong Kong, who was valuable enough as a port for trading to be seized by the United Kingdom. Funny, she had almost been envious in a sick way that someone wanted to care for Hong Kong enough that he fought China for guardianship of the boy. She thought of the transfer as an adoption, though she would never dare to describe it that way to China.
Looking down at her bare, mud-caked, and calloused feet, she laughed at the nightmare she would be to her next benefactor. That is, if he could find her amongst the rainforested mountains that seemed to overcrowd her island.
China had asked for her to wash her face and bathe, comb her hair, and for goodness sake put on some shoes for the formal exchange ceremony. Of course, not only did Taiwan fail to do any of those, she had left him standing empty handed and without face in front of Japan. As though the brutal slash in his back did not pain him enough, another of his younger siblings had taken the chance to insult and humiliate him further through disobedience. He shifted on his feet as he struggled to explain away this embarrassment. The two men stood alone and apart, feeling empty without the girl present to complete the picture. There was no victorious gloating for Japan, nor a composed and mature resolution for China. At least, China thought, he would not have to endure the other's displays exacted at the cost of his own dignity.
Japan's thorough disapproval was palpable, even though his expression and manner were as prim and concise as always. His "Well yes, of course. I'll find her myself." hid his thoughts: How pathetic, to not even have enough authority to ask a little girl to be present. That was the way the interactions with the Asian countries had always been. Socially appropriate white lies and polite phrases existed to allow them keep up a pretense. It was civilized, it was the way proper individuals conducted themselves.
Neither knew that Taiwan had taken the chance of wording in the treaty to declare herself independent, and demanded that she be now known as the Taiwan Republic. It was with this high handed attitude that she greeted the weary Japan when he finally tracked her down through her splendid mountains and forests. The lack of roads and mountain tunnels greatly troubled him, and there was not much to be said about the public facilities. He had much to do with this new project, and yet inwardly he beamed with pride that he would have the chance to recreate his own Meiji Restoration. He smiled slightly when he saw the girl, no older than nine or ten standing with her feet apart, arms akimbo and wearing a fierce and proud expression on her face. What was it that Portugal had named her? 'Ilha Formosa'? Indeed he could see the untamed beauty in even her young features, unless Portugal had been referring to only her home.
He straightened out his starched naval uniform; it was the cleanest clothes Taiwan had yet to see. The uniform was almost blindingly white to her eyes, an actual cotton-white, not an off-white faded with age nor a gray tainted from sweat and field labor. It was almost sterile, and completely impractical. It was a wonder that his clothes had not withered in the oppressive tropical humidity. He did not see her smirk as he gave a polite bow, and launched into his formal welcome. "I am very pleased to meet you. My name is Kiku Honda, and I am now-"
"You can go to hell," the girl said. "China wasn't man enough to handle me, and I can tell just by looking at you that you don't even have any balls to try!"
The resounding slap was not so much brutal or vicious as stinging to her pride. The shocked and awed girl stood with her fingers touching her red cheek, her eyes wide with bewilderment. Now more of a cowering cub than the proud tigress she had imagined herself to be, she did not understand why fat tears were steaming their way down her face. She was even more confused by where the stiff man in white had conjured up the boldness and will to produce that slap. It was the first time anyone had done anything like that to her. Her first brother certainly didn't spank her. Taiwan could not form any words, much less thoughts as Kiku Honda continued.
"I am now your guardian and your new brother, and I am honored to have you as my first little sister. I hope that I can set the example for your progress and development, and that we will be able to understand and respect one another."
"Respect". Taiwan was not sure if she detected a wry tone in that word.
**Factoid: Although Taiwan was given over to Japan as a colony, the government actually had to send its army down and defeat the Taiwanese guerrilla forces before they could institute rule over the island.
This is ImperialismEra!Kiku, who hasn't been mellowed out yet by his terrible experiences in WW2. As such, he will be somewhat different from his normal portrayal in the series. Throughout this fic, I will preserve his canon personality, but also try to explore how he is different "now" from "back then." Would the Kiku "now" slap a little girl? Absolutely not. Would the militaristic Kiku "then" do that? He's done worse. Please keep that in mind.