Kiku Honda sat in his room as always. His small, pale figure was hidden underneath the cloth of his kimono, which made him look even smaller. He gazed out a small window, the only source of light. From it, he could see his garden, looking the same as it had the day before.
This was how he spent his time when he wasn't signing papers. All day, everyday, he simply gazed at the same plants and streams.
Sometimes he wondered what the rest of the world was like. What kinds of people there were. He had seen some odd people talking in his garden before. Men with chocolate colored skin, or with peach colored skin and big eyes. He had wondered who these people were, and where they were from, but when he asked, his people always told him, "It is not for you to bother yourself with."
Kiku was a personified country. Japan. An island nation, blocked out from the rest of the world. He knew there were other countries as well, though the only one he could remember was "America." He had overheard some of the guards talking about this place.
He sighed and went back to signing papers.
III
Kiku listened closely. His guards were speaking to eachother, about a person wanting to see him. Not just any person, but a country. He could only hear snippets, but he was sure he heard the word, "America." America coming to see him? How interesting!
Now another voice joined in. This one sounded strange, his grammar was odd and his accent even odder. The voices raised, and footsteps thumped down the hallway. He heard the guards shout, and then fell back in surprise as the door to his room was flung open and a young man with peach skin, big blue eyes, and sunlight colored hair exclaimed,
"The hero is here for you!"