Return To The East

The following event was put in motion by China: Korea's involvement in the assistance of Vietnam.

It was not the first thing to come to China's mind, of course. India knew that very well. China was doing his best not to think about the living brother as if ignoring him might possibly mean the dead one was no longer dead. The shock of the events which occurred out of nowhere in the east had left marks on China – marks China refused to see.

India watched them with amusement and concern for his greatest friend and enemy.

"Vietnam is being stubborn again!" China exclaimed to him, throwing his hands up in the air to display how fed up he was. Then, thinking better of that, he folded his arms across his chest to keep himself from doing so again.

"You would be the best judge." India grinned before sipping at his tea. China scowled at him.

"She needs help, but she will not accept me! She threw a wok at my face, aru!" Sitting down, China slid one of his arms out of his sleeves, propping up his chin with his hand and staring at the empty tea cup in the centre of the table.

"I envy her," India responded, gaining yet another glare from the Chinese Nation. "Surely she is accepting help?"

"Not enough," China grumbled. "I could help, you know. I don't see why she wouldn't want my help!" Which was just like him. Most of the rest of the world knew why Vietnam did not want China's help. It was like how Japan had not wanted China's help, or plenty of other people, though thankfully on a much smaller scale.

India might not have been in the group of people China had screwed over a great deal, not too much over the years, but it was not as if he had not noticed.

"You could send someone in that she could not turn down help from," India suggested.

"'Send someone in'?" China scoffed. "What do you expect me to do, tell Hong Kong to go and spend some money like he's capable of any outward responsibility? That might be a bit difficult, aru."

China's long way of saying 'no'. "I was not talking about him," India pointed out. "I said someone. Someone that would help as much as be helped by the experience. Come on, Yao, I know that you have a brain somewhere in that head. Use it."

Once again, China glared at him. But after a moment he knew that Yao was thinking. Before India could suggest anything else China finally seemed to lit upon an idea. "一箭雙雕."

"Oh?"

"Don't be so dense, Muhammad," China rolled his eyes as he rose back to his feet. He strode away from the table and over to the window, pulling out his cell phone as he did so. India watched as China dialled and placed the hand-held up to his ear. "Germany, I am sorry for bothering you. Not so? Still, I will be brief, aru."

Despite himself, India found his eyebrows shooting up far on his forehead. China had not required as much pushing as he had originally thought.

"I have an idea for Korea's training, if you are interested."

It also proved that China had been paying more attention to Germany's reports on Korea's condition than he would ever have admitted. Watching as China moved out of the room (glaring back at India as if India was trying to eavesdrop – which he was), India settled with pouring himself some more tea. Part of him wanted to raid China's fridge while he was here, but he knew better than that. China would notice far too quickly.

By the time China returned to the room, he had finished his conversation, phone nowhere in sight. India chuckled. "Now that you have put your foot in that, are you going to go see Russia now?"

"Don't push it, aru."

It seemed that despite everything, recovery was not going to show up for anyone any time soon. India just hoped that recovery would continue to be a shallow incline. The last thing they needed was another World War so soon after the last.

It tended to be the trend, after all.

"Are you joking? Germany makes the best board games! He's always getting awards for them~!"

That had started their day of gaming. Dragging Germany into it had not taken any effort at all and Italy was enthused by the fact that with his and Korea's convincing combined, they could distract Germany into doing something fun whenever they wanted to. Which left Italy to have to convince Korea sometimes that it was okay to take a break, which did not always work, but for the most part it meant Italy was not left out of the loop as much as he had previously been.

And for today, today was playtime.

"Seven again?" Korea exclaimed, staring with irritation at all of the cards in his hand. "How are you supposed to make any of this work?"

"Use it before you loose it," Germany responded, placing a marker onto the board.

"My bricks? Again?" Italy pouted, hoping it would convince Germany to put the robber piece somewhere else.

"Italy, everyvhere else vould be blocking my own resources. Of course it's your bricks."

"Just accept it, yo," Korea muttered, continuing to glare at his cards.

Well, it was either to be him or Korea and Korea was loosing all of those cards, so Italy decided not to continue to complain out loud. Just continue to look up at Germany like it might make him decide not to be as competitive in this game. Like that would ever happen.

Then Germany's cell phone rang. Germany swiped Italy's only sheep from his hands before putting his cards down and pulling it out of his pocket. "Tell them to call back later!" Italy quickly hissed. Germany shoved his face away from the phone.

"Hallo? No, it's fine. Dank you, vhat is it you need?"

Korea's head hit the table, seven cards put back into their respective draw piles. Italy continued to prod at Germany. After all, it was his turn! He could wait to talk until after he was done!

"Vhat are you suggesting?"

Feliciano sighed, looking over at Korea. "We need to team up against him. He's annihilating us."

"Then stop trading with him when he asks you to," Yong Soo retorted.

"You do it too!" he protested.

"Quiet!" Germany hissed at the both of them. Italy watched as Korea's mouth shut instantly, his following a few more moments after he realized he had not had the same instantaneous reaction. Sighing, he turned as much in his chair as he could and tried to call over Blackie, who lay on the ground and watched him do so.

"That's not how you do it," Korea whispered.

"Huh?"

"You have to be more forceful, I think."

"What do you mean?" Feliciano asked, blinking.

"I've been thinking about it," Yong Soo responded, glancing from Germany to Blackie to Feliciano, "and I think I understand how Germany gets people to listen to him. After all, he really isn't that charismatic."

Feliciano frowned. "O~kay... so how?"

"He always demands," Yong Soo proclaimed, pleased with his own realization. "There is no question. It isn't, 'do you want to come over?', it's 'get here right now!', you get it?"

It made sense, but as Feliciano could not help but point out: "That doesn't always work." Not even for Germany.

"Yeah it does," Korea insisted. "Watch. Blackie! Come!"

Italy looked over to the Great Dane. Korea definitely had her attention, but that was about it. "I think she heard a question."

Korea frowned.

"...I have been vaiting for dis opportunity. Can you send me de information? Good. I vill call you back later. Vill dat vork for you? Good." He hung up the phone, glancing over at the both of them. "Korea, you should have discarded eight cards."

"Whu–" Korea picked up his cards once more. "You're right, imnida!"

"Who was on the phone, Germany?" Italy asked, settling back into his chair. Germany stayed quiet for a few moments before turning his attention on to Korea.

"It vas our next step in your training, Korea," he informed them. "You vill be going to the Indochinese peninsula and assisting Vietnam with coping from her latest natural disasters."

The suddenness of it all felt like a slap in the face. Korea looked genuinely confused. "I'm... I'm to head back... east?"

"How's that supposed to be the next step in training?" Italy asked, unable to make the connection. Germany raised his cards off the table, scanning them intently.

"You can only preach so long at someone before having to let dem display understanding of vhat ve have discussed."

Korea continued to gape for a few moments before he recovered himself. "Question?"

"Yes?"

"When will I be going, sir?"

Italy realized, after all of that time of wanting Korea gone or to be of less importance to Germany, he did not really feel happy about hearing that he was going to leave.

Are you really sure I'm ready?

Korea could not bring himself to ask the question. Not after trying so hard to be ready to move on to the next step. This brought him closer to home, both figuratively and literally. Germany thought he was ready, he would not be making Korea do this if he did not believe one hundred percent that Korea was capable of doing things independently from him. They had been working on this, slowly but surely. Now doing so where Germany could not drop in whenever he felt like, to truly have to leave it to Korea's judgement...

Germany finally thought he was ready to progress.

And now Korea finally thought that he was not. He was not ready to go back when he was not actually going to be arriving home.

None of this stopped him from standing here at the airport. This time he was getting to fly peacefully – no handcuffs or police officers to watch him. He just had to promise that if he got bored and started to try and talk to people he was not to mention the last war or anything about warfare. He was also not to mention politics of any sort, though Korea was a little less certain why that was.

"Can Berlitz come with me?" he asked quickly, the thought of the dog accompanying him lifting his spirits. He buried his bare, oh so bare, hands into his pockets as if it would make a difference.

"Vhat?" Germany sounded unsure if he had heard Korea correctly. "No."

Gloom set upon him once more. Any minute now he would enter the plane. Any minute now. It really had been a long time since he had seen Vietnam. After the apology for his part in the Vietnamese War, after their comprehensive partnership, he had not seen as much of her as he had originally intended to. Taiwan had once commented on that.

Korea was not certain what had happened. Time got away from him, he supposed. It all became e-mails and their government's issues while they did other things.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to do this... with me so far away?" Korea added the last part in quickly, looking over at Germany.

"You von't be so far avay," Germany said, voice light.

He re-established the facts in his head that yes, Vietnam was quite a distance from Germany. From an earth-standpoint. Before he could try and think of a better way to phrase that to Germany, he found a small box being handed over to him. Taking it, he waited for Germany's next words.

"Don't vait on de plane taking off, open it," Germany demanded.

"Right! Sorry, imnida," Korea said hurriedly, opening it. Inside was a cell phone, pristine and new. Korea ran his thumb over the characters on the back of the cover.

"Japan's newest model," Germany cleared his throat. "He sent it over as soon as he could."

Japan. Japan had sent this for him? Or did he send it for Germany and Germany was still giving it to him? Korea's mind swam with the possibilities, because in the end either of them meant that he had been given this. Despite everything, he had been given this. His own point of contact to the outside world. The world he was about to be sent into. Once again, he would have the freedom he had lost because of taking care of his brother.

Yong Soo did not remember freedom feeling exactly like this.

"I'm not done vith you yet," Germany went on to say, clearing his throat once more as he stared over towards the gate. Korea continued to scan through the phone's options, realizing someone had already put information into it. "I expect regular reports. Ant if you are not sure vhat to do vith someding, anyding, you are to call me. I vould rather you ask a question dan fumbling around, making dings vorse on your own."

There was Germany's phone number.

"Flugnummer KV 038 ist Internat."

"Good luck, Korea."

Putting the phone into his pocket, Korea turned toward the Nation who had become his mentor. "Thanks. For everything. I really, really..."

Germany looked at him oddly, then put out his hand. Korea stared down at it for a moment before taking it and participating in the firm handshake. "Remember, call. Don't guess if it is about someding important."

"Yes, sir!"

Germany paused, the both of them standing there, still clasping his hand. "It's Germany, Korea."

And Korea smiled. "Yes, Germany."

With that, he picked up his carry-on and entered the aeroplane. Sitting down in his respective seat, he waited. He was off, returning to Asia. So much closer to home. Going to accomplish more, but this time without someone watching his back. If he did this right... if he made Germany proud of him...

Panicking, Korea pulled out his phone.

"H–"

"What should I say to her?" Korea asked.

He was not certain what Germany's silence on the other side of the phone meant.

She was in agony.

It was not an impossible pain. It was quite manageable. But there was nothing to do to relieve herself, nothing to dull the senses to it, nothing for a long time. She would lie there, unable to sleep, cursing the boss who told her to go home and rest when she should have been continuing to work. This pain was not impossible; she could work. She should work. There was no sleep to be had here.

But for the off-chance that sleep was a possible state, Vietnam lay in bed, feeling the attempts at rebuilding like prickles over all of her skin.

She should be out there, doing. Not waiting, doing.

The doorbell rang. It was two o'clock in the morning and there was someone at the door. She continued to lay there, considering that. Someone at the door? Were they insane?

Depending on who it was, they certainly needed a lesson in understanding time. One she did not mind giving. Anything to keep her mind off of the pain. If anything, she should be glad for the distraction, even if the distraction was by someone who was not supposed to be here right now. Getting up, Vietnam dressed herself to a certain extent before going to answer the door.

"Hello, daze~!" Korea said cheerfully.

Vietnam slammed the door shut, locked the door, then returned to bed to try and get some sleep.

There was no reason for her to listen to him. Despite the fact she had not been expecting Korea of all people or Nations, it did not mean she did not know why he was here. Why anyone would be here. There were a few people of whom she would except help from right now and none of them were in the condition to help her. Which left her with everyone else.

She would not be put into debt to someone else. Not to someone she did not trust, not by someone who had recently completely demolished another Nation. He had been over in Europe, had he not? What the hell was Korea doing over here without his babysitter?

For some reason she wanted to blame China for this, though she knew better than to do so. Why would China have anything to do with Korea? Yeah right. Not that she would stop being angry at China for any reason, but she knew better than to place blame from whence it obviously could never be.

Vietnam lay back in bed and waited for sleep.

Four hours later she got up and got ready for work, only to find that Korea was already there.

"What are you doing?" she hissed, sloshing through the water, some of it splattering up and into her galoshes. Not that it mattered, she still felt utterly damp anyway, whether water was there or not.

"Hey, good morning!" Korea said, turning around to smile at her. The action made resentment bubble up in her stomache. "I was going to tell you earlier, but I came to help out! You seemed a bit tired, so I just decided to get an early start! I think I have anti-jet lag, 'cause I'm not tired yet."

"I don't need your help," she assured him forcefully, taking the sandbag from his arms without touching him. It was heavy and she nearly dropped it, her mind cursing the fact he had been holding it so easily. "Please, go somewhere else. I do not want you here."

"Of course you don't want people here, yo," Korea shrugged. "Because you don't want to have this problem in the first place! But as you have it, you do need me here, so here I am!"

Vietnam's eyes narrowed. She tossed the sandbag at him, which he easily caught. Which was fine. Because it meant he could not block her fist heading toward his face. Which was supposed to make her feel better, but did not. It simply made her panic.

That wouldn't have hurt Cambodia, how do you expect to defend yourself when you can't even throw a punch?

"Don't pretend you know what I need," she snapped, turning away from him. She would throw herself into work. Rebuilding, resowing, re-everything. Then she would become strong again.

Once did she look over her shoulder to make sure Korea was gone. She did not see him. Because of that, Vietnam was able to make certain of her composure.

The pain continued to drum into her.

Germany had been trying to work when he decided taking a thirty minute break with Italy might make the other Nation back off for a few hours so he could actually accomplish something. It was so confusing, Germany had no idea how Italy could ever have so much free time. Maybe it was because he had his brother there as well?

No, that did not make any sense. When did Romano do anything?

And Germany once had his brother. That had never helped, not since he became one unified Germany, not since the differences between the West and the East became less sharp. Answering calls about conditions and situations and everything. His head ached. It ached because he was trying to make sense of what had happened still.

With Korea gone, Germany found himself thinking more about his own brother and loathing the fact he did so. Trying to make sense of Gilbert's actions was never something Ludwig had been good at. Now he was even worse.

"Just for a walk outside," Feliciano had convinced him. Walking for walking's sake had never hurt anyone. At least, not by itself.

"Den put your coat on," Germany told him for the second time, fishing it off of the lamp Italy had thrown it over when he had entered the room. "You're going to be de death of me, I svear."

"The death of boringness, maybe," Italy countered.

Germany's cell phone rang. Ignoring Italy's protests, Germany picked up the phone. "Dis is Ger–"

"Germany!" Korea exclaimed. "She doesn't even want to talk to me! I explained why I was here and she punched me in the face! I tried to offer up some sort of schedule and she had me removed by security, imnida. I don't understand why she doesn't want me to help!"

For a few moments, all Germany did was blink. He wondered whether Korea would recognize his sulky self who refused to want to do as Germany asked even though it was to help him of a few months ago if Germany could somehow conjure up an image for him now. It was almost amusing how the tables had turned.

"Explaining to someone who knows vhat is going wrong ant is frustrated because she can't stop it is not de vay of going about it, Korea."

"Then what do I say to her?" Korea asked desperately.

'What do I say to her' was not really one of those questions Germany thought he would ever be comfortable with answers. It still was not.

Grinding his teeth, his eyes glanced toward Italy. No, best not. He's not trying to woo her. And Feliciano's abilities in that area still bothered Ludwig immensely.

"Hold on for a second," Germany said into the receiver, before covering it and looking over at Italy. "I need to discuss someding important... I'll join you outside later."

"But it'll be raining later!" Italy protested.

"I'm sorry."

"Germany!"

"I'll make it up to you. Later," Germany insisted as Italy threw his arms around his torso (Germany had to move his arm before he accidentally dropped the phone). "Dis is important." And I am not quite certain what to say.

Feliciano looked truly hurt, but Ludwig felt truly hurt. He moved his hand from the receiver. "Explain to me everything that has happened," he told Korea.

It made him want to scream.

Not Vietnam's insistence to be difficult. That really did not bother him at all, except for the fact he knew it should and was trying to treat it with the same amount of gravity as someone who was bothered might. Which was why he kept calling Germany. Germany would know what to do. At least, Germany would know better than he would. None of this was what was bothering him though.

It was the fact she would hit him.

It did not hurt at all. She did not have the strength. She threw her punches as if she did have the strength, but currently it was lost. So none of that hurt. Korea had no idea why being hit bothered him so much. While he might not understand why she was doing it, it was not a problem for him.

Yet Yong Soo felt like screaming. Not retaliating, just screaming.

But he did not. And he did not even try to block her. Every time he felt like screaming, he wondered just how much she felt like screaming too.

He just kept wondering why every place he decided to help ended up being where she would end up on the same day. Otherwise he could simply help without her knowing. As it was, he seemed unable to keep under her radar.

"What's wrong with me helping?" he asked incredulously.

"The same thing that's wrong with you being here," she retorted, returning to building.

Still, it was ridiculous. After all of that rebuilding he had just done in Germany, he knew what he was doing. It was all in his head on a massive scale. Korea knew that he could do well here, if he was given the option.

One week went by. Korea started to realize he was going to have to carve out this option for himself. So he called Germany – for support.

"I feel bad about this... but I think it's the only shot I have left."

"Vhat is it?"

"Would it be bad if I just called her boss and tell him why I'm here, imnida? I don't know if he has a different agenda than her, but it could be worth a shot."

"Dat is an excellent plan. From vhat I hear, he vill likely jump at de opportunity. Don't vaste time."

"Yes!"

Why had he not thought of that earlier? The next day, he found himself inside Vietnam's house. It was so sudden, it seemed unreal. He gazed about the place in wonder, not completely oblivious of Vietnam's capped anger of which, though she did not try to hide, was now put on hold by order of her boss.

"What's for lunch?" he asked her cheerfully. Vietnam did not meet his gaze. Was that insensitive? He knew that it was not going to be a huge meal, he was not expecting that. He supposed he had just hoped she might loosen up if they ate together.

Stupid him, of course it was going to take a lot longer then just a meal.

"You can get it at the warehouse," Vietnam responded.

Right back to work. Of course. That made sense.

They spend the day salvaging not-wrecked food from wrecked warehouses. The work reminded him of what Germany had him doing. So many people around the world were having to rebuild from something. Korea thought of the land which had become his own, the people who were arrested who were now his citizens... everything he had gotten from North Korea. He should have been at home, making that place his. More than he already had. He should have been making the transition easier. Instead, he was always in another country.

Yet they worked on. The first day in which he felt like he could get things accomplished. While Vietnam never wanted to look at him, she utilized him aptly. He did know about water damages and reconstruction, after all.

Returning to the house, Vietnam waved him toward the shower without saying a word. If he was tired, she had to be exhausted. And remembering Germany's words, he decided not to comment on it. Not yet. He was not quite certain what else to say, now that he had made his way into practically forcing her to let him help. He had a feeling that he might not have cared too much at one point, but now... it was different.

Stepping out of the bathroom, he nearly walked right into her. Hair down, no longer wearing the work clothes he had been certain she had been sleeping in ever since his plane had touched down...

They stared at each other.

"Real... breasts."

Rule number two stated no touching. So he did not. Vietnam punched him in the face anyway. Not that he believed he deserved it. He was doing good!

Rubbing at his cheek, he averted his eyes. "So... what's for dinner, yo?"

"Food," she responded and went to the kitchen.

"Great! Love food," he responded cheerfully, following after. "Can I help? Do you need me to do anything?"

"Stay out of my way... And set the table, if you will."

Maybe she was just too tired to be difficult with his offers of assistance. Korea no longer felt like he made an underhanded move by asking. This was progress. "So, where will I be sleeping?" he asked as she brought a few things out to the table.

Setting the food down, arms folding across her chest, she jerked a finger over at the sofa. Korea stared at it for a few moments. It made him want to apologize to Germany for not appreciating the fact he had his own room at his house. Even if it had all been to make sure he did not run off. Okay.

Sitting down where she had served him, Korea got a total of one mouthful when he realized what the biggest problem was. Where Vietnam sat, her own bowl lay nearly empty in her hands, just as she had picked it up from the table. Was it because he was an idiot that he had not thought of that? No, that was not it. He had expected to be served after she had served herself, not the other way around. She was going without to feed him.

He chewed in thought, eating a little of everything. "That's great!" he exclaimed. "But I'm exhausted, so I'm going to bed now. Good night, Vietnam."

"...good night."

Quickly he left the table and went to the sofa. It was a nice enough sofa, comfortable. He lay there and listened to the movement from the table, as Vietnam practically scarfed down the food on his plate.

First things first, Korea thought, I need to do something about the stock of food in her kitchen.

"一箭雙雕" = the Chinese equivalent of "one stone, two birds" which is "one arrow, double eagles".

As we all know, China has been historically shown to prefer Korea's brother to him, siding with North Korea against the South during many events. It has been said lately that China is "North Korea's most important ally, biggest trading partner, and main source of food, arms, and fuel". "Pyongyang is economically dependent on China... since the early 1990s... has accounted for nearly 90 percent of the country's energy imports."

Another interesting fact is that France and Estonia do not recognize North Korea – they both give South Korea sovereignty over the entire peninsula. Which is no longer a problem in this story, of course. Still, North Korea's foreign relationships is a rather frightening read.

For anyone curious: yes Germany, Italy, and Korea are playing Settlers of Catan in this chapter.