Heartfelt Competition
Chapter One

After years and years of war, famine, and destruction, Yao Wang, better known as China, was ready to take a rest and settle down with his Asian family: Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and he. Yao acted as an older brother to the four, taking care of them under one roof. He never did imagine who would arrive in their lives some time later...Someone who he had competed with for so long, in the worst of condition.

"Hyong, wake up! Mei and Kiku already made breakfast for all of us!" Yao woke up to the voice of Yong Soo, rubbing his eyes groggily and combing a few wisps of hair back with his hand. "It's not like you to sleep in so late, da-ze!" His tone changed to one of sarcasm, "Were you telling all of your deepest secrets to your Panda?"

"Shut up, aru! You should work hard like them instead of being annoying! Aiyah! I didn't realize it was this late!" Acting like a normal family, going to school and managing the house hadn't seemed like such difficult tasks when Yao had made the decision to do so. He leaped up and glanced down at Yong Soo,

"Aren't you ready for school yet? And why is your honbak wrinkled, aru? Is all of your assigned work done, aru? Have you combed your hair, aru?"

Instantly Yong Soo realized that Yao was no longer sleepy; He was in his "picky-older-brother" mode and that certainly wasn't good.

"I-I'll fix it now, okay? Please just come down for breakfast, da-ze!" Yao nodded and turned to get himself ready. Was he really that intimidating?

Ten minutes later, he made his way to the dining room where most of his younger siblings had already finished their meal. Kiku smiled kindly and gestured to a place setting with chopsticks on the kotatsu. "China-san, I am just heating your food because it became cold. You have to go to work soon, right? The bicycle is-" He was interrupted by Yao leaping on him.

"You look so cute, aru!"

Hong and Mei only shook their heads. "I told him not to wear the Japanese housewife clothes, but did he listen? No."

"Get off of him, China! You're acting like a doting parent!" Hearing those words, Kiku pushed Yao away with all of his strength, embarrassed beyond belief. He then went and brought a bowl full of noodles and presented it to his brother. Seeing the Chinese boy's pouting face, Kiku's brow furrowed.

"I'm almost the same age as you, and even though we may have settled down, all of us are still nations! I beg you to stop treating me like a child!" It was strange to hear the usually calm person speak almost...angrily?

"Well, time to go! I want to see what we will be drawing with Sensei in Art Class!" Yong Soo ran into the room, honbak fixed and bag in hand. Mei, Hong, and Kiku followed his example, the last one throwing his apron behind him. Yao was left alone, wondering what exactly he had done wrong. Sighing, he finished his noodles, then went out after locking the doors to his home.

As Yao rode his bicycle to the clinic he worked at, he noticed a newspaper with a strange headline being marketed. "Jewel Of The British Crown Rebelling" it read, with images of the British government trying to manage whichever country it was. He racked his brain for a moment; Which country had Britain been boasting about a few decades ago? Was it the Philippines? No. America? Of course not. Suddenly, the name hit him just as he parked his bike in front of his workplace.

India. The name left a bad taste in his mouth.

Why would such a news story be in a Chinese newspaper? He ignored any thought about it as he greeted his coworkers at the clinic. He noticed another one of the newspapers, held in the hands of an old man. Already, there was a waiting list for about fifteen patients, so he got to work. "Hello, I am Doctor Wang, and how may I be of service to you today, aru?" His first patient was a young boy, only four years old or so. The child looked so much like Kiku with his innocent smile-If only the real one would grin like him.

At eight in the evening, Yao trudged out of the clinic, only to be soaked by a sudden downpour. While pedaling home on the quiet streets, he couldn't help but replay Kiku's words in his mind. Yes, he knew they were still nations, but why would they take part in the squabbles of other nations now that World War Two was over and they were a happy family. Why not live like normal citizens until they actually needed to come out of their shell? Nearing his home, he noticed the silhouette of Kiku in one window, hunched over with a book. Always the studious one, he fondly thought. What were the other three doing? Mei, hopefully, along with Hong, would be able to manage troublesome Yong Soo.

With eyes almost closed from sleepiness and chilled to the bone, he walked like some sort of zombie that America had once mentioned to the front door. Yao knocked lightly on the wood, barely noticing Mei's gasp at seeing his condition, Hong restraining Yong Soo from pouncing on him in sympathy. What he did notice though, was Kiku's absence as a towel was thrown upon him. "I knew they were overworking you! Yao Wang, what have you gotten yourself into?" His younger sister's frenzied cries only made Yao feel even more tired.

"Please, aru, can I just sleep aru?" So...tired...aru... Out of his blurry sight, he saw Kiku hurrying down from the top of the stairs and to the front door. "Kiku, where are you going?" Yao trailed off sleepily.

"I heard a knock at the door. It would be rude to keep anyone waiting at the door in such weather-What happened to you, Ani?" An expression of worry crossed his cute face. Finally he notices, China thought bitterly, sitting up to get a better view as Kiku opened the door. "Hello?" He called out to the seemingly empty pouring rain. "Is there anyone here?" Yao rose and walked to stand behind Kiku. "Kami!" Kiku was looking down at an almost lifeless figure, a girl who looked to be the same age as China, with the same hair color and loose braid thrown over her right shoulder like his ponytail. Countless scars marred her olive colored skin, dirt coating her clothes and face.

For the second time in one day, the word he so despised was mentioned. "India! Are you all right?" Yao couldn't help but feel jealous as Kiku tried to carry the so-called India. "You're so light! What happened to you, India?" The same phrase that had been uttered to Yao was endearingly said to the girl.
"Japan...Namaste to you and China..." A few words were spoken in her frail voice before she lost consciousness.

Hello and thank you for reading this fanfiction story. ~Kolkolkol~

hyong-older brother (korean)
honbak-traditional korean clothing, like a kimono
ani-older brother (japanese) - alternative is onee-sa
namaste-hello (hindi)

I apologize for any disregard towards Chinese history-This story focuses mostly on Indian history (and of course, Kiku, Yao, and India). Does anyone have a suggestion for India's human name? Please tell me in a review!