Chapter Two:
North Korea knew the truth. Yes, he knew it very well. He knew that he wasn't allowed to visit his siblings. He knew doing this would get him severely punished if he was caught. Not to mention the fact that it would also get who ever was involved in trouble too. So yes, he knew better than this, he knew better than to break the rules. But nevertheless, his brother somehow hacked into his email account, and even more amazing talked him into visiting him and Japan. Im Hyung Soo rationalized that if Korea went so far as to hack into his government's system (an already severe offense) that it must be very important.
The communist nation was no fool, he knew why he wasn't allowed to visit, well, anybody. It was to protect himself. He knew that his country was doing better than any other in the world. He had the lowest crime rate, his land was full natural resources, he had a strong military, and his people loved his boss very much. Communism had lead him to all the way to the top, and his was in the best condition he'd had ever been.
Which is why his boss wouldn't allow him to visit anybody. The other countries envied him, and spread horrible lies about his country. They said that his people were treated in 1984 style government. Now he didn't remember that year being so terrible as the other countries made it sound, that was actually a pretty good year for him. They lied that his people were starving, when that was clearly untrue. They weren't obese like that capitalist pig America's people. No he had one of the smallest number of obese people in the world. To his knowledge no one was very fat in his country, but no one was very thin. Everyone was happy and healthy. Everyone was perfect.
His loving boss Kim Jong-il told him not to believe any of these horrible lies. He said that he should stay away from other countries, even his own siblings to keep himself safe. Envy was a powerful thing and could turn even the most cherished friends against each other. And North Korea believed him. Why should he not have? His boss was very wise, and so was he. Anything and everything that anyone said to him that was not positive was just a lie. They were all just jealous.
Well then, if he was so smart, than why was he standing in front of his brother Japan's house, even though he knew he shouldn't? That was question that kept on nagging at him as he walked up to the door, and proceeded to knock. Should he be nervous? A chill went down his spine into his stomach. Should he be excited? After all this was the first time in a long time that he would be seeing his brother. No. His muddy gaze harden again, feeling more confident with the fact that he had a pistol hidden his boot holster concealed by his trousers. No reason to be nervous or excited at all.
There were footsteps, stuck somewhere between tremblingly slow, like a doomed animal forced to crawl out of hiding, and anxiously fast, like your running to someone you love. What a pity. There was no love here, Im Hyung Soo knew that for sure. Just jealousy and lies.
The sliding door opened, and there appeared his brother, Korea. 'He hasn't changed at, in appearance at least.' That was the only though Im Hyung Soo had. Nothing else. But to his brother, North Korea had changed. "Brother..." He said softly.
North Korea had changed, for the worse. He didn't look healthy at all. His military suit was still as crisp and clean as ever, and not a hair on his head was out-of-place, but it didn't fool him. His brother was horribly skinny, Korea didn't even want to think about what it looked like with the covering of his clothes. He was sickly pale, like he hadn't been outside in a long time. 'And he probably hasn't,' Korea thought bitterly. He had dark circles under his eyes that looked like they would never go away, even with a few good nights rests. Only his eyes remained the same; hard, unwavering, and serious.
"South Korea." Came his brother's blunt reply. Im Yong Soo winced at the hardness of his voice. No warmth or love present in it. That was it wasn't it? He wouldn't even call him brother, or by his human name. It hurt Korea feelings much more than he ever expected it to.
He swallowed and said "Come in," And so he did.
Hetalia~!
Sitting around the table didn't ease the tension at all. Especially with North Korea and Japan staring daggers at each other. That didn't help at all. So much in fact that China and Korea expected one of the two angry nations to leap across the table started a fist fight with the other. Thankfully that didn't for North Korea broke the silence, and his words were not directed at Kiku.
"China, why are you here?"
His emphasis on the word 'you' was somewhat insulting, but Yao didn't seem to bothered. Instead he politely said, "I heard you visiting Japan and Korea, so I thought I'd stop by, aru,"
Im Hyung Soo narrowed his dark brown eyes suspiciously. The tension grew thicker and this time Suki or even Japan's other pets Tama or Pochi weren't there to lighten it. Korea shuffled uncomfortably in his seat as he felt his brother's eyes fall onto him. It was silent for a few more minutes before this happened.
"North Korea," Japan began as the Korea twins turned to him. "Do you know why you are here?"
Im Yong Soo would of flinched at Kiku's tone. The way he said was like how a very strict parent would ask their disobedient child why they were sent they had gotten detention before proceeding to spank them.
His brother however didn't appear to be afraid of Kiku at all. No, he looked him right in the eye, and said the following in a clear, calm, and somewhat casual way, "Well, I figured if South Korea went to such great lengths as to hack into my email account," He glanced angrily at his brother who looked down at the table, "than I figured it must of been pretty important."
"It is very important," Japan replied coldly, "Are you aware of what happened on the twelfth of this month?" Korea held his breath.
"Why yes, I do," North Korea declared in a matter-of-fact way, "My government tried launch a satellite. Unfortunately, there was an error with the launching and the satellite fail to make it into orbit."
There was a moment of shock, and Japan would have laughed at his brother's attempt to make up such a ridiculous lie if the lives of his people hadn't been threaten. "That's where you're wrong," He muttered icily. North Korea raised an eyebrow. "You didn't launch a satellite; you fired a missile. At me."
The tension snapped. "That is not true!" Im Hyung Soo protested indignantly, his eyes flashing furiously. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing?" Japan almost rolled his eyes. "Come now, North Korea. For once in your life will you just tell the truth?"
"For once will you stop lying to yourself, Nihon?" North Korea shot back.
Kiku growled as Im Hyung Soo's hand twitched down to his gun, but luckily he didn't draw it. It was quiet again for a few more moments a the all crushing tension invaded into the room again. Korea let out his breath mutely, his lungs burning from holding it for so long. He glanced over at China, wondering why his older brother had not intervened yet. Yao just sat, observing the conflict.
Just then Japan thought of something. "North Korea," He said calmly. "Were you present at the launch of your 'satellite'?"
Im Hyung Soo didn't even blink, "No, but my boss informed about what had happened, and promised I could be present at the next launching,"
Japan inwardly winced. The next launching? How many missiles were they going to try to hit him with? "I see," He whispered, his bangs hiding his brown eyes. He lifted his head, "Your boss is lying to you."
That possibly infuriated North Korea even more than being accused of what was practically attempted murder. "How dare you? My boss would never lie to me!"
Korea flinched, and wanted to hide underneath the table, but if things continued this way the table would probably get destroyed, and more than likely he would get destroyed too.
Remaining as polite as ever, Japan said, "Oh really?"
The enraged nation eyes flashed again, "Really! Now I see why he wouldn't allow me to visit you!"
Japan raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"
"Because you all say horrible lies!" He snarled. "You spread lies about me!"
"They are not lies, North Korea," Kiku said slowly. "What your boss says to you are lies."
North Korea fumed. "They are not! I'll have you know that my boss would never lie to me! I don't have to take this," Im Hyung Soo started to rose from the table, and started to turn around. "My boss must be very worried abo-" His sentence cut off sharply.
A gray fog filled his suddenly aching eyes. He staggered another step. He felt his limbs suddenly go numb like they had been out uncovered in the dead of winter. He thought he heard his twin say his name, but it was so far away. A ferocious darkness grasped his mind as his vision went black and his feet slipped out from under him. He would fell on his face, if Korea hadn't suddenly rose from his seat, and caught him under his arms.
There was more shuffling as China and Japan rushed to his side. "Anniki!" Korea cried as he shook his now unconscious brother. "Anniki...oh anniki..."
"He'll be okay, aru," Yao comforted. "He just fainted."
A freezing stone of dread and realization fell into his stomach. Through his brother's clothes, he could fell every bone potruding from his skin. Korea felt his eyes burn. "Yeah," He mumbled sadly. "And I think I know why."
Hetalia~!
Why did he have to be so difficult? That was what North Korea was thinking as he searched the woods for his brother? "Im Yong Soo!" He called, hoping for a response. He sighed. Why couldn't his brother be more serious like he was. Why did he have to be so rambunctious? Why couldn't he sit still for more than five seconds?
"Im Yong Soo!" He yelled again, this time getting a response. "Anniki!"
North Korea looked around. "Korea!" He cried as he walked through some bushes towards the sound. "Where are you?"
"Up here, da-ze~."
Im Hyung Soo looked up. There his brother was, still grinning like an idiot, hanging upside down from a tree by a rope around his ankle. North Korea stared at him puzzled, and annoyed. "How'd you get up there?"
"Well I was chasing a frog," His brown eyes as happy as ever. "When this rope got caught around my ankle, see?" He waved the entangled leg, "And I got pulled up here, da-ze~,"
His less than thrilled brother stared at him with narrowed eyes before closing them, and sighing. North Korea pinched the bridge of his nose. "How long have you been up there?"
Korea looked around. "Oh, about an hour or so, da-ze~,"
His brother sighed again. Oh why did he have to be such an idiot? "Alright," Im Hyung Soo said at last. "I'll get you down,"
"Yay~ Thanks anniki!" Korea cheered. His brother just sighed again as he started to cut the rope with his knife.
"Hey anniki,"
"Yeah?"
"Where'd you get the knife?"
"From the kitchen."
"Yao-nii let you have one?"
"No, he doesn't know that I have this,"
"If he did, you'd be in so much trouble, da-ze~,"
"I know."
"Why do you have it anyway?"
"Well in case I was ever in some compromising decision, I thought it would be best to have something useful with me,"
"Oh. Hey anniki, can you be careful, and let me down easi-AHHHH!"
Rope cut.
THUD!
The little nation had fallen mid-sentence, but luckily not on his head. His back however was a different story. "WAAAH! Anniki! That hurt!" The normally happy nation cried, tears bubbling at the corners of his chocolate brown eyes. His back throbbed something horrible.
North Korea just stared boredly. "What did you expect?" He said dryly. "You fell. You should have been more careful to begin with,"
Korea tried to get up, his tiny arms shaking. He felt nausua, and everything look like it was spinning. He plopped back down. "Anniki, I'm dizzy!" He whined.
North Korea just rolled his eyes. "Again, what did you expect? You've been upside down for over an hour."
The fallen nation sniffed. "Why you gotta be so mean, da-ze~?" He blubbered, rubbing his eye. Honestly, it's like his brother didn't even care.
"Now quiet," The more serious twin said as he pushed the knife back into his pocket and stalked over to him. "I'm not trying to be mean, but you must be more careful," He reached out at hand to the sad nation. Korea looked up, giving his brother a puppy dog eyed look, and let him pull him up. He stumbled almost as soon he was on his feet. Still dizzy, but not nearly as nausea. unbalanced and wobbling he clutched his brother's arm in an attempt to steady himself. "E-Everything's spinning, da-ze~..." He mumbled.
"For third time, what did you expect? You've been hanging from a tree by you ankle for an hour." North Korea deadpanned. "Now come on, let's go home. China's probably wondering where we are."
"Okay," Korea muttered. His balance was starting to return and things were starting to focus. Hand-in-hand they started to walk home.
"Anniki?"
"What?"
"Can I have a hug?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Then your boobs belong to me, da-ze~!" Korea suddenly cried as he ripped his hand free and groped his brother's chest.
His brother instantly blushed red and smacked down his brother's hands as Im Yong Soo ran in front of him. North Korea shot out a hand to grab him, but his brother just tapped it and laughed, "Tag! You're it!" before scampering off.
"Get back here!" The somewhat embarrassed nation shouted as he ran after his perverted brother. Korea just kept laughing, and Im Hyung Soo couldn't help but feel slightly amused too.
What had happened? Why had the grown apart? They used to be so close, inseparable. Where had they gone wrong? Why weren't they friends anymore? The war. The Korean War had split them apart. It started when he had found out about communism. It had seemed like a good idea, in fact it was a good idea. It was so simple, everyone would be treated fairly. Everyone was equal. When he had told his brother about it, Korea didn't like it. He thought that capitalism was better. Why? Why would he think everyone being treated unfairly was better than being treated equally? Why should he think that the hard-working should live in poverty, and that the lazy should be rich?
America.
America had filled his head with lies; about communism and capitalism. He said that communism was inferior to capitalism. He said that it was a stupid idea, that it would never work. In truth North Korea knew that America didn't like it because it was different from his system of government. He didn't like it because it would mean he and his boss wouldn't be rich anymore.
America. Alfred Jones. Had torn apart his family. If it hadn't been for him, he and his brother would still be close. They would still be friends. They wouldn't hate each other. Hate each other...no, he didn't hate Korea. Deep down he loved Im Yong Soo, it's just...it was just...
"Well it turns out he was packing after all, aru. Found a gun in his boot holster." A voice faintly said. China.
"I knew he would be. Find anything else?" Another voice. Japan.
"No, aru." China again.
"Well that's good, right, da-ze~?" A third voice. Korea.
Slowly, his senses returned to him. He was sitting on something hard, probably a chair. He was hunched over or his head hanging. His military hat was gone. His siblings were talking about him. His body twitched on its own. Korea didn't fail to notice this.
"Anniki!" Rapid footsteps and his brother was by his side. There was a hand on his bony shoulder. "Are you alright, da-ze~?" With more effort than usual, his eyes squinted open. A bright light stung and he squeezed them shut.
"Leggoofme..." He slurred. God he sounded awful and his throat was as dry as hell.
"Huh?"
"I said 'get off'." He growled a bit, his words still slightly drunk. He feebly tried to throw back his shoulder, but his body wasn't even strong enough to do that.
"Kiku, go get him some water, aru." Yao ordered. Surprisingly, Japan did it. With Korea still trying to talk to him, Japan came back with a small glass.
"Thank you, aru." Yao told his brother as he took the cup from him. Pacing up to the sitting country, hr kneeled in front of him and pressed the cup to his brother's pale lips. "Drink, aru." Using his other hand he angled North Korea's head back by the chin, and tilted the glass. Somewhat surprisingly, he drank, not even considering that it might've been poisoned (don't worry it wasn't). The water soothed his parched throat, and chilled his empty stomach. How long had it been since he had a drink of well, anything?
China stared at his brother. He noticed something on Im Hyung Soo's scrawny throat. Right on the left side of his neck was a large greenish purple bruise. In an instant China knew. It was a choke bruise. And he knew where it had come from. Tilting the glass more, he said in a slightly firmer voice, "Drink all of it, aru."
With some of the water dripping out of the corner of his mouth, North Korea finished the drink. Yao withdrew the glass, and he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. China stood up and looked down at him, his amber eyes all knowing. "North Korea, do remember how you got into this room, aru?" He asked.
Not fully, but North Korea did have an idea. He could rationalize pretty well. "I was carried here." He stated confidently.
"Yes, you were, aru," China replied, eyes narrowing. "But do you know why you were carried here?"
Now that he didn't know. He remembered getting up from the table after he and Japan fought, but nothing after that. "I-"
"You fainted," The eldest nation finished. "From malnutrition, aru."
"I...that is not true. I am not malnourished. I am doing fine!" He protested. China, nor anyone else in the room, except for North Korea, was fooled.
"No, you are not, aru. You are far from fine." North Korea shook his head.
"No...no you are lying to me. It is not true. It is not true." He ran his hand through his hair. He felt something soft in it when he pulled it back. There in the palm of his bony hand, was a clump of his own hair. It went quiet. No one even appeared to breathe. The starving, trembling nation stared down at his hand wide eyed in horror and shock. '...Im...Impossible...'
The nation in front of him suddenly looked very sad. He let out a breath from his nose. "Im Hyung Soo," Yao said firmly as he reached his hand and easily plucked another tuft of hair from his brother's head. "Your hair is falling out."
A/N: Woo! That was a long one! Wow! Would of had this up earlier, but my friend came over for like four days and kept me distracted. I've been up all night again, as it's now 8:34 am here, but a writer's gotta do what a writer's gotta do. Remember, review please! I need to keep motivated! 8D
Special thanks to 3BFFs, Illusion Island, 0o The Lady Luna 0o, and Guest (even though your review doesn't show up on the review counter.)
Oh and the 1984 thing. 1984 is the name of a book, and in it the government is just the North Korean government. In fact, some people think that the government of North Korea was modeled after the government in the book.