A/N: I am lazy, excuses excuses, blah blah. I'm also not giving this up, but I'm not making updating promises. P.S: GO CHECK OUT 'A New Life' ON MY ACCOUNT, I COMPLETELY CHANGED THE FIRST CHAPTER. Anyways, this chapter is based off of real history. The empress was a real woman, and yes, she really was assassinated by the Japanese, and she encouraged Korea & Russia relations, AND she disliked balls, parties, etc. but she was married, and not as young as I'm portraying her to be.

Korea knew that Myeongseong, or Min, as he'd taken to calling her, was /far/ from the traditional empress from the day she was crowned. For one thing, his flirting seemed to have no effect! How weird? She didn't like tea parties or balls! And she (politely) denied his bouquet of flowers! After several well-placed winks, and a shower of compliments, most women were all blushes and a-fluttering lashes.

But not Min. She sat at the humongous conference table, arms propped up, dark eyebrows pulled together in a thoughtful half-frown. She focused on politics, and the economy, which was intriguing for some reason to her.

It was only when she shoved him into a lake that Korea realized he'd met his true love. He spent endless hours pouring over books he for some reason owned, and learned as much as he could to impress her. The old cracked leather covers felt as if they were about to crumble beneath his fingers, but he (quite valiantly) trekked on. China visited his home, and if he hadn't been so engrossed within the admittedly boring pages, he might've laughed at the look of blatant shock on the typically cool and composed features of his wldest brother.

"Aiyaa! What are you- I have never seen you... Are you actually taking an interest in your country's policies, aru?" China gaped, scarlet red hanfu barely touching the disgusting floor.

Korea had been inside for days, and now hastily eaten rice caked the expensive wooden slats, along with dark ink smattered, not unlike blood, in an singular area, only definable if you looked carefully, which China was doing. Not hiding his clear disdain for the unsightly surroundings, he nudged a clump of rice with his foot. Korea broke away his tired, yet eager eyes away from the yellowed pages (it definitely wasn't him that got a tea stain on the pages, hah, no way!) and looked up at China's amber eyes, which were studying him with a reserved amount of concern and pity.

"Are you here on business, Gēgē? Is there something I can help you with? I am working, da-ze..." Korea murmured listlessly.

China, after lecturing rather harshly about taking care of oneself, left his home. Korea would have to remember to thank him for the plant he placed in the latter's room, in an attempt to freshen up the place.

China's lecture had struck true. Korea assumed he'd learned enough to wow the beautiful Myeongseong, he decided to sleep long enough to convince his housekeeper he was dead, or at least in a coma. (It had happened before) Korea began to clean himself up. He bathed, put on fresh robes that didn't look as if they'd been through Hell, and combed his hair. Deciding that he looked sufficiently gorgeous, Korea strode out of his house, and to the palace.

Min was going to love this!

~Time Skip brought to you by Toto, Thailand's elephant ~

Myeongseong didn't love it. For one thing, when attempting to lean casually on a tree, he slipped and fell into the pond. When he emerged, soaked from the waste down, she seemed more interested in shoving him away.

Whatever. He'd try again.

~Time Skip brought to you by the small white dog Japan carries around~

This time, Min spoke to him! And not because she was forced to! They actually got to converse about politics, which due to his obsessive studying he actually understood. She wanted to speak with him again! She wanted to- oh...oh...

She wanted to talk to him during a meeting with Russia.

Just great.

~Time Skip brought to you by Japan's previously adopted panda~

Russia was huge. That was Korea's first impression of the man with the tan overcoat and the pink scarf. Of course, the two had 'met' before. Well, if you counted meeting as Korea getting the heebie jeebies from looking at the boulder of a man from across the table.

The topic of the meeting was one that held great influence over the nation: Preventing Japan from invading more. Getting invaded wasn't much fun, Korea knew that from experience.

Russia proposed his ideas, all the while maintaining a serene smile (Which Korea totally was not creeped out by, thank you very much!) Myeongseong was diplomatic and courteous, and Korea interjected his opinions with fancy words, only some of which he knew the meaning of.

Finally, they'd made plans for some sort pf meet to improve relations between the two nations. Min sat, looking rather stumped, arms crossed as she dove into thought. Russia made no contributions, just gently tugging on his faded pink scarf. Momentarily, Korea wondered how old the relic was.

Glancing between his two (reluctantly in the case of Russia) adversaries, he was surprised that neither seemed to have a clue as to what to do. It seemed rather obvious to Korea!

"Da-ze! A ball! We throw a party, right?" He stammered slightly, sliding away from Russia.

"You know, we invite all the important people, and wear fancy clothes, and... and..." The 16 year old shifted uncomfortably.

Russia slid his chair back, the wooden feet scraping against marble tile, and stood up. "I have no objections! I will see you all on October 10th, da? Goodbye, friends."

The man's smile grew more genuine, and he departed the room, and any room for argument left with him. Myeongseong waved briefly to the strangely attired man, before turning to Korea, red lips drawn into a scowl.

"I hate parties." She murmured

"Hey, you can't possibly hate a party if I'm there, right? " Korea grinned.

"No one ever told you that humbleness is attractive, have they?" Min raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly with the effort of trying not to laugh.

"Nope! Well, maybe, but I probably just ignored them, da-ze!"

"Goodbye, Yong Soo." Myeongseong smirked, and strolled out of his line of vision, laughing softly.

Korea's grin stretched wider than ever.

~Montage, like, brought to you by Hong Kong~

For the two months, Korea's happiness only grew and grew. First, it was the small smiles she gave him on occasion. Then the quick greetings they exchanged around town. He felt as if his heart was about to explode when she accepted his offer to walk through the town gardens with him. She talked diplomacy with him, and battle tactics were thrown right and left until they fired of that topic. They moved to each other's lives, discussing their past experiences (which Korea had plenty of) and they're families, or lack thereof in Min's case.

Both of them had seen the gardens before, so that wasn't what their main focus on, despite the beautiful flora around them. They weren't in love, despite the cliché garden walk. Not exactly, at least. They were friends, neighbors, rulers, but they had known each other for far too short a time to really fall for each other.

But, as Korea knew, a few months could be a lifetime.

~Time Skip brought to you by the lovely Taiwan, jewel of the Japanese Empire.~

The ballroom wasn't exactly what Korea planned. For one thing, it wasn't even a ballroom. It was a pavilion. He asked a few women (with the help of his killer smile) to decorate it with flowers, and had his head chef whip up some bipimbap, kimchi, and a few other dishes. His self control was waning by the minute as he salivated over his original - like everything, he had invented it! - dishes. Well, the original dishes of his people at least. Korea himself wasn't much of a cook.

He scanned the crowd of ladies, ambassadors, government officials, and rich folk to find Myeongseong. Ah, of course. She was sitting on a bench, evading the crowd.

"Min! Miiiiiiiiiiin!" Korea called, wavinn frantically.

She started, snapping out of her thoughts and staring quizzically at him. "Yong Soo. Are you... okay?"

"Hi... Want to... Dance?" He panted, out of breath with his hands propped up on his knees in an attempt to regulate his breathing.

Min bit her lip, stifling her almost condescending laughter at him. "There's no music."

"Don't care! We can just ask the band to play something."

"Why didn't you do that-"

Korea cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted to the currently relaxing troop of musicians. "Hey guys! Yeah, you! Can you play something slow? Yeah! Okay, thanks!"

The troop of musicians struck up a song, and the two clumsily spun on the overly green grass. Korea, thanks to China's insistence, had taken dance lessons when he was younger. He never actually attended them, though, so his dancing abilities were close to zero. Myeonseong, of course, had had lessons, so Korea wasn't quite sure where she'd went wrong.

Couples were spinning gracefully across the lawn, and those who were not dancing chatted amiably next to the food and drink. It was nice, Korea supposed, despite not being very interested in the whole 'ball' thing. Those were always more of Taiwan's favorite. The lamps produced a calm, warm glow that illuminated the dusky sky, stars like tiny gems scattered across the span of the heavens. Couples and singles alike wore beautiful gowns, suits, and extravagant dress that even Korea wouldn't testify to making. A slow waltz filled the air, and although it wasn't really his favorite music, he thought it appropriate for the situation.

Min and Yong Soo danced, if you could call it that, all the while making light conversation about the food, and the other aspects of the party. Korea, now more than ever, thought Myeongseong was beautiful.

And then the music slid to a screeching halt.

Horrified screams pierced the air, and Korea let go of Min so quickly that she stumbled back, tripping over the hem of her gown.

Men in black coats, some with gold in red markings, swarmed the area. All were armed with heavy curved swords, not even bothering to hide their weaponry. One mam in particular stood out - a man in a white outfit, embellished with gold buttons. Soulless brown eyes surveyed the now panicking clearing with shark-like brutality.

Honda Kiku. Japan. Nihon. His brother.

Korea breathed deeply, and not bothering for theatrics, shoved Min in the direction of the trees. "Run!" He snapped, voice cracking. The sixteen year old girl gave him a final glance before dashing off into the trees. To Korea's right a girl collapsed, blood staining her embroidered bodice. He'd seen her once before, a friend of the empress. Now she was dead.

A hand gripped his shoulder, and Korea twisted in the vice like grip, coming face to face with the man who was causing such pandemonium.

"Little brother. Where is-" Japan started, collected as ever, cut off by Korea's fist slamming into his face, causing a spray of blood to pour from his lip. His hand released Korea's shoulder in surprise, and the latter, in a moment of pure adrenaline, fury, and cowardice, fled into the crowd. He had to move, and quickly.

~Time Skip brought to you by my hatred of OC's and this chapter~

He paced the floor of his bedroom. Back and forth. Back, and forth. Had that scratch always been there? He didn't know. There was a bug on his ceiling. A tiny little spider. Korea hoped that it was enjoying itself.

No news. A day of waiting, and no news about Myeongseong. Her two friends were dead, courtesy of his 'brother'. As if a brother would really hurt their own brother that much.

The noise of a fist slamming into wood echoed throughout his home. A knock. And then another. Korea broke his constant walk and sprinted towards the door, bounding like an excited puppy. He flung open the door, and an outside observer would have seen the blizzard of emotions that passed over his face. Joy, then shock, then disbelief, and finally, despair.

The empress was dead, her ashes scattered in front of the pavilion they'd danced at the night before.

Oh, a trial would be held, of course. But not a fair one. Never a fair trial, you couldn't expect fairness of all things from Honda Kiku. And eventually the murderers would be acquitted, and the case brushed over until everyone forgot. Thus was the peril of immortality- having memories that no one else possesses, whether they be happy or not.

Korea would forget.

But Im Yong Soo would not.

A/N: I hate this chapter with every fiber of my being, I hate OC's, I hate this, and I was majorly tempted to actually make the empress Taiwan because I hate this so much.

Happy late rabbit day.

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