This chapter was really hard for me to write. I don't know why I'm so iffy about it. I hope you all enjoy it though!
Disclaimer: Hima pls don't sue me this is your anime not mine.
"So what is it that you propose for him?" Malaysia closed the door when America had stepped inside, eyeing the American cautiously. "Is it about nuclear weapons?"
"Why does everyone always assume it's about that?" He scratched his head confusedly. "Though it is troubling for my president and future president to handle. So maybe try and help me with this too?" America chuckled nervously. The 'I-don't-care' look she gave him told him immediately she didn't want to deal with that situation.
He took off his shoes and made his way towards the kitchen, sitting on a chair and sighing with a deep breath. He tapped his hand on the table, signaling her to sit next to him. She strolled over to her seat and sat on it promptly, then folded her hands on her lap.
"Do you get along with South Korea well?" America asked.
She nodded. "Of course. He's one of my role models you know." Malaysia begun to remember the early days of her independence when her boss told her to learn from Japan and South Korea. She was a little iffy about trusting the duo, but loosened her guard on them over the years. It was kind of hard to stay serious around South Korea, he's the life of a party.
Japan is a different story.
"Perfect!" America exclaimed. He clapped his hands and rubbed them against each other. "That will work out just fine." He licked his lips. Then America's eyes wandered over to the bowl of fruit lying on the table. His hand slowly went towards it.
Malaysia slapped the hand instantly when she noticed he wanted a fruit. She bought those for herself and no one else. She wasn't going to be courteous of someone who didn't tell her they were coming first. Malaysia began to think about kicking the American out of her house.
"Sorry," America sheepishly rubbed the back out his neck. He put a hand on his cheek and sighed. "Well. You know how I feel incredibly horrible about the way I treated him. I can't really make it up to him... but I want to try. Even if this seems impossible." His eyes became dead serious. "So I want to reunite North and South Korea."
If Malaysia was drinking tea right now, she would immediately spit the liquid all over his face.
But right now she didn't have any drink, so only her face was filled with pure shock.
"Y-you're gonna what now?" Malaysia stuttered anxiously. America chuckled, and retold his plan.
"Look. We all know how in the meeting room it's an unspoken rule to never make the two Koreas talk to each other since it would end in a gun show. But maybe that's the problem... maybe since they don't talk things out, they can't get along." America glanced at his side, still smiling softly. "It's better to talk it out then just bottle it up inside, or one day it'll explode."
Even though she believed the sincerity in his voice, Malaysia just stared at him oddly. "But when they do talk to each other, it all ends with China breaking up the fight. I don't see how any of this would help at all."
"Well believe me. They're issues with each other is because of a series of misunderstandings. If they just talk things out, maybe they'll finally understand one another. I want them to be brothers again!"
"How do you know?" Malaysia asked, crossing her arms and giving the American an ice cold glare. He pretended not to notice her unfriendly atmosphere, and clasped his hands together. His glasses reflected the light as he slowly looked up at her.
America inhaled before responding. "I'm... part of the reason why Korea split up in the first place."
"Yeah. We all know that." Malaysia bluntly put out. She knew how the story went. "After Japan surrendered Korea, you and the Soviet Union decided it would be best if it was split up to manage them easier." America shook his head and gulped.
"No... I made them split up permanently." America looked over her with a worried gaze. "I did some things I don't like admitting." Malaysia raised an eye brow. "You can ask me about that later. North should be able to tell you his side of the story first. But really... I need to help them. We need to help them resolve their issues."
"But how?" She questioned once more. Malaysia was really confused. What could she do to help them? "Why did you chose me and not China or something? I can't do anything special."
"You and South Korea are on good terms. And North is like your bestie! He trusts you the most! It's better to have someone who gets along with them on both sides. Plus China wouldn't take me seriously." Malaysia nodded at his statement in mutual agreement. China wouldn't go along with such an insane plan that America came up with. Even if it meant bringing his family together. "Maybe you can help me coax the two of them into talking to each other. Your calm and poise nature will help lure them! Or we could go with plan B and lock them into a closet together." America leaned in closer to her face, with their noses barely touching. "You gonna help me or not?"
Malaysia cringed at how near he was to her, and lightly pushed his face farther away. She sighed, giving in to his crazy idea. "Alright. But I'm only doing this for my friend, and not so you could be released from your sins." America had stars in his eyes when she agreed to cooperate with him. He got up from his chair and started jumping up and down in excitement.
"ALRIGHT!" He pumped his fist into the air. "THAT WAS EASY!" America pointed a finger at her. "Remember to make North feel guilty for not talking to his brother, okay?!" Malaysia widened her eyes.
"You want me to manipulate him?!"
America laughed. He made a grab for her food on the table before she could process what he was doing. He waved her a sheepish goodbye before sprinting out the door. Malaysia cursed to herself, since he took all her good quality fruits.
She blew a strand of her hair that had fallen in front of her face, and started to think of the possibilities. Would making him get along with his brother really make him happy? She knew he really missed South Korea, but does the other feel the same? Malaysia didn't know, but she was going to try and figure this out.
"Oh my Allah," She muttered to herself. "I can't believe I'm doing this.
Around four am, she heard a light buzz come off from her cell phone. She yawned, trying to reach out for the phone with a lazy hand. She successfully made contact with it, and without looking at the caller ID she answered the ring.
"H-hello?"
"Wait Damia, were you sleeping?" A concerned voice asked. "Sorry I'll call back later."
Malaysia recognized the speaker was none other then her friend, North Korea. She suddenly burst with a new found energy, and tucked the phone in her neck to hold onto it. "No, no it's fine. What do you need?"
"It's obvious you're really tired. You should sleep."
"You need to take responsibility for your actions Hwan Soo," She said, sitting up from the bed and sat against backboard. "What's up?" Malaysia would usually politely tell the other person on the line to tell her in the morning, because she probably wouldn't take something they said literally because of her exhaustion. But for some reason, she wouldn't want to miss any opportunity with North Korea ever.
It's just because he's a good friend.
Over the phone, she heard him sigh softly. "Well um... can't sleep because I'm overthinking?" She tilted her head in confusion.
"What are you overthinking?" Malaysia heard a him take in deep breaths before answering.
"I-i'm thinking about South Korea again." He stuttered out uneasily. Malaysia found this to be her chance to go along with America's plan. She coughed to clear her voice, and listened to the small whimpers on the phone.
"Please tell me more." She encouraged. North Korea's voice croaked as he began to hyperventilate.
"H-he meant so much to me, but it's t-to pathetic for me to think of him anymore." Malaysia never heard something so fragile and heart-wrenching in someone's tone. Her stomach curled in almost guilt. "But he's n-not here anymore and he fucking hates me... w-why do I even b-bother?" She began to pay attention to his voice, oh his voice. It's like hearing someone strangling themself.
"You can let it all out," She gently spoke. "You can yell at me too. It's not healthy to bottle things up inside... or one day they'll explode." Malaysia widened her eyes at the sentence, remembering those were the same exact words America had given to her earlier.
"... You really don't want to hear me yell," He darkly muttered.
"I do." She said to him.
"I'm so fucking angry at everything right now. All because I saw a South Korean ad and I thought of him. Well that's just so stupid of me. It really is." He took in a deep breath. "Someone important to me forgot I existed. I'm just a problem for him to handle. But at least he'll notice me that way," He started laughing, but to her it was more like sobbing.
Malaysia heard a crash and it all went downhill from there.
"I can't take it anymore!" Something broke in North Korea's side of the line. "I NEED TO CUT!" Her heart skipped a beat when the words came out of his mouth. "I feel so horrible and disgusting I need something to make me feel better."
She shook her head, almost as if she was talking to him in person. "No please don't cut it's gonna be all right."
The phone on the other line sounded with a thud. North had probably dropped the phone over the other end. All she could do was hear his cries and the things he began to break. Probably a vase, or some chairs. She was panicking, trying to figure out what to do with her friend.
With a trembling voice, she held the phone close to her mouth. "I think you're really pretty Hwan Soo."
A long period of silence was held. Malaysia heard North Korea slowly pick up his phone, and questioned her with a shaky breath. "You... w-what?"
I can't believe I said that out loud...' "Your hair is soft yet smooth, and your eyes seem to have specs of golden amber in them. And your voice is alluring to listen to. It's not just physical aspects but your personality. You're proud of your accomplishments, you stand up for yourself when needed to, and once I got close to you I saw that you were calming to be around. I admire everything about you."
"That's a joke... right?" She could barely hear him.
"No. It isn't. Nothing about you is ever a joke to me." And she meant every word of it.
A small cough. "Thank you..." He spluttered out. "I'm sorry-"
"Stop apologizing please. You have nothing to be sorry for." Malaysia said. "You're a wonderful person no matter what you think. Even if you or anybody else says that you're garbage, you'll always be more than that to me." North Korea hiccuped. "I always thought you were this egotistic asshole because of how you would present yourself at the meetings." He laughed at her comment. She felt her stomach flutter, feeling happy that she got him to grin at least once.
"But I am-"
"You didn't let me finish. Honestly you're someone who's just really lonely and drowns in self-hatred. I can see why, I don't blame you. At the meeting it seems like everyone thinks you're the bad guy. I don't really see that in you at all."
North Korea responded her a hoarse whisper, but Malaysia could tell he was smiling. "I-i have a hard time believing you. You used to be scared of me."
"It's not like you really make a friendly approach at people," She chuckled, rolling her eyes. "I was honestly just intimidated by the scary aura. You build a tough wall around you to not let people in. But... you let me in. And I'm so glad you did otherwise you would've never had someone to help you like this." Malaysia sighed, but grinned to herself. "I really care about you."
"... I don't know how to respond. I-i mean I like what you said b-but I... ugh." She snickered to herself.
"It's okay. Do you-" Malaysia stopped herself by yawning. She was visibly exhausted. "want me to stay up with you?"
"No, no it's okay. I can go to sleep easier now. Just get back to bed, shoo." North Korea pressed on urgently.
Malaysia yawned again and wiped her eye, "Alright. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." And he hung up the phone after that.
The woman set the phone aside on her night stand then hugged her knees. 'I'm really glad I stopped him from doing anything so harsh... wait I forgot to go over America's plan!' She remembered, face palming at her recent actions. She cursed to herself. Muttering at how forgetful she was, she slipped into her covers and drifted off into a deep slumber. 'Now he'll never be happy!' Her last thought shouted mentally.
At his own home, North Korea was squealing to himself, face planting into one of his pillows. He gripped onto the fabric as he shrieked, his voice being muffled into the sheet under him.
'She's the nicest person on earth, I don't deserve her as my friend!'
In the morning, she arrived fairly quickly to check up on her friend. She made a 'tch' sound to herself whiling looking at a small watch clasped onto her wrist. Malaysia glanced back at the train schedule, which reported the next train they usually went on would appear. 'Where is he?' She pondered, looking around her surroundings one more time before turning her eyes towards her watch. 'He should be here right now-'
A finger tapped her shoulder.
She jolted in surprise and turned around. North Korea held a monotone expression as he set his hand aside. "Hello."
"Ah Hwan Soo you scared me," She said, fanning herself from the heat coming up her cheeks. "I was thinking that you weren't going to show up." He scoffed and crossed his arms.
"No way I could miss a meeting. I don't want to get yelled at for another reason other than my nation's internal problems," She nodded in agreement. Suddenly, her face went dark and grim. Malaysia placed her hand out in front of him creepily. North Korea looked back at her puzzledly. "What are you doing?"
She gave him a cold, hard stare. "Can I see your wrists?" He gulped.
"S-sure..." He put his hand down on her own. Malaysia lightly pulled up the sleeve up to his elbow. Her face immediately lit up when she found that the only cuts on his arms were just scars that were healing.
"You didn't do it, I'm so proud of you!" She gushed. He stared off to the side mortified.
"It's not a big deal... I didn't cut because you didn't want me to."
"You're strong and getting better! I'm happy for you!" North Korea had tears prickling at the corner of his eyes, but he wiped them away quickly with his other free arm. Malaysia hugged him, making the Korean get alarmed. "I'm so glad you didn't do it! What changed your mind?"
He pushed her away defensively and blushed madly. "Well when someone like you tells me how great of a person I am, it just makes me feel better about myself." Then he smirked sinisterly. "I didn't know how highly you thought of me."
It was Malaysia's turn to feel awkward and flustered. "B-be quiet! You probably feel the same way about me. I only told you that because it was the middle of the night and I wanted to fill your ego." North Korea snickered at her as she pointed out his flaws. They were both too busy making fun of each other to notice the train cart already stopped at their station. When they finally turned around, they noticed the doors were starting to close.
They both made a run towards it, Malaysia pushing North Korea into the train cart while he pulled on her sleeve. They both got in successfully, but the fabric of her dress almost got caught in the automatic door. She tugged onto the cloth and it fell out. From the amount of force she used, she tripped. North Korea's quick reflexes reacted fast enough to hold her by her torso before she touched the ground.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yes." She muttered embarrassingly in their position. Malaysia being held in his arms...
He let go of her and she stood still, a bit static from North Korea's recent action. She thought to herself, if it was any other person like America or something then North would've let them fall to the ground. However, he helped her up... America...
She slammed her hand against her forehead once more. 'Crap I forgot the plan to make him remember all the good times he had with South!' Malaysia didn't know how she could handle the task a world super power entrusted her with. She was just a simple woman, who made really good food and loved a friendly atmosphere (except in politics). How could she deal with such a devious task?
North Korea noticed her irritability, and asked if she was fine. Malaysia made the palm of her hand leave her face and reassured him. "I'm fine! I was just thinking of some stuff... nothing too important."
"I was thinking too..." Her ears perked up at his sentence at she looked at him with a clueless gaze.
"Thinking of what?"
He crossed her arms and looked at his side. "I was never this happy unless I was in the streets of Pyongyang. Which is an astounding city by the way. It's not horrific and poor as America described it." He sneered to himself. For a brief moment he was angry. Then his face turned calm, "No one ever really made me happy like you did." Malaysia smiled brightly. "Don't think I'm filling your ego, cause I'm not!" He took a deep breath then exhaled. "The point I'm trying to make is... you're a truly wonderful person. But sometimes when I'm around you, I don't even want to see you..."
Malaysia felt her heart wrench. "W-why don't you?" He looked back at her sorrowful.
"You just remind me of South Korea took much." North Korea answered. His eyes glistened for a moment. "You both made my life worth something. Even if you're just my friend for a short period of time, I'm glad you were my friend in the first place."
"H-how could you say something like that?" She questioned. "I'm going to be here for you, no matter what you think. What kind of person do you think I am?"
"A naive, good-hearted person that will one day get sick of me for being too clingy."
Malaysia resisted the urge to slap him, but clenched her fist instead. "I'm sorry if I remind you about a something tragic from the past, and that it hurts you inside. But I'm not South Korea. I'm Malaysia." She put both her hands on his shoulders and stared at him authoritatively. "No matter how horrible your experiences with him were, it's not going to repeat with me. You learn from those experiences. I-"
The train cart stopped harshly. The doors opened, signaling Malaysia to take her hands off North Korea. They walked out of the train together, strolling their way to the meeting building. The atmosphere was thick and uncomfortable. The woman sighed and put her hands in her pockets and stopped in front of a market place. North Korea turned around to see her gaze.
"I won't hurt you like he did." Malaysia finished. "Even if we grow apart some day, or rumors about you spread even more, I still won't think of you any less then what I think of you now, you insecure butt-head!"
North Korea let his bangs cast over his eyes. "But-"
"No buts! I won't leave you like he did. Got it?" He nodded slowly. "Good."
He sighed, "I'm sorry I compared you to him. I think about him all the time, and I'm worried I might do the same things from back then that will drive you away like it did to him. I miss what we had."
"... Would you like to tell me what you had with him?" She smiled. "It might make you feel better."
North Korea flushed, "Are you sure you want to hear it? I um, don't know."
"Isn't it nice to talk about your childhood? I surely miss mine, and I think you miss yours. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I don't want to pressure you." She said reassuringly. "But it's not good to bottle up your feelings. It's okay to be nostalgic once in a while. Maybe we can avoid those outbursts you have if you just talk about it."
"You think it would really help?"
"Of course I do. Do you take me as some kind of liar? It's okay if you don't want to talk about it though."
North Korea inhaled, and a small smile appeared on his lips. "No. I think I would like that a lot." Malaysia grinned back at him. "Well when we were younger, I as the overprotective calm one. And he was the energetic loud twin. We matched each others personality's perfectly."
While he told her a tale of two Koreas, she thought to herself she did a good job of making him miss his brother. America would be proud of her.
Hey everyone, I'm back. And shit's going down with the characters, huh?
If no one understood why North Korea overreacted in such a way, let me tell you something. He was enraged over the fact that his brother got so far up without him. He saw an ad from South Korea and started thinking, and thinking, and thinking until all that rage just exploded. He was so mad because he felt like South forgot all about him and thought of him as a nuisance, which killed him inside because deep down, he still loves him. This happened to me with one person and it was heart-breaking. It actually happens.
Well now time to respond to the reviews.
NekoRyuuKo: Haha I'm actually pretty excited to reveal North and South's past too! :D
Understudy Of Becky Two Shoes: YOU'RE TOO KIND TO ME! Thank you that meant a lot. Chapter 5 was defiantly my favorite chapter honestly. It was fun to write and read.
xXTheLeaderOfTheInsanestClanXx: Woah I misspelled it two times. Jesus Christ thank you for pointing that out.
totallyignorable: Yeah characterization is something I struggle with, but improving on slowly. I did a lot of research for NK (All those days of reading about NK citizens really paid off) but I might have messed up a thing or two. I like his relationship with South to be something bittersweet. The Taiwan thing was something I thought of myself, even though they both barely have any real life relations. I thought they would've grown up together since they were both living with China. My mistake there. I rushed the story line because I didn't think anyone would actually read it. Well I can't change the past. Hope you still read it, because a big reveal on the Korea's are going to happen later.
BellaKamaruddin: This pair is something I made up myself lmao. I was like "Malaysia has great food and North Korea loves food. What if they became friends?" and what started off as a joke turned into something more. If you do make fanart I will cry tears of joy :D Also Singapore and Malaysia are kind of cute to me in some way, and I might ship it.
The big reveal on North and South Korea's past will be revealed later. Not next chapter though because I'm evil that way. Review if you like and see you next Wednesday for more!