How long had it been?
Years-No.
Centuries.
Centuries since he had first met the personification of the United States of America.
Their first meeting had been nothing less of diplomatic, but Japan himself had been nothing but a nervous wreck inside because he had heard much about America and had felt threatened. Even as he swung his "big stick" around in the form of warships, unlike Japan had ever seen before, he couldn't help but feel mildly impressed. Especially when the young boy had introduced him to charts and maps that had been made. Ones ranging from geography to biology and Japan had been fascinated.
What had also intrigued Japan was the way the personification acted. He was very...physical. From wanting to shake hands and also his loud booming voice and boisterous personality that Japan found both obnoxious and annoying, but alluring at the same time. He hadn't come across such a person before. He acted as if they were best friends even though they had never meant before. Not even with Netherlands had he had experienced this.
Japan had been receptive to the American, so much that he offered him to show him around the raw beauty of his own country. An offer that the American had responded with a 'Hell yeah!'
He wondered if that was the norm of society in his nation.
Nonetheless, the American had questioned everything. From the government system of his country to the strange clothes everyone seemed to be wearing.
It took nearly an hour for Japan to explain that the T-shaped, straight-lined robes worn so that the hem falls to the ankle, with attached collars and long, wide sleeves were actually called Kimono. An everyday wear that wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right and was secured by a sash called an obi, which was tied at the back.
The American had been confused with the style of wear but had commented that it looked 'cool' especially with the footwear, in which Japan had to further explain saying it was called zōri and other forms called geta and the split-toed socks that were worn with them were called tabi.
Japan had a feeling that it probably had passed right over the American but Japan didn't hold it against him. He knew how cultural differences could be. After all, America wasn't the first western nation he had encountered.
From there, America was due to leave but as a symbol of friendship Japan had given him a small farewell party in the form of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The elaborate and refined Japanese tea ceremony was meant to demonstrate respect through grace and good etiquette. Good etiquette to America and also a show of respect to the nation.
Japan wasn't sure if America understood this but in simpler terms, Japan had addressed him as an equal. As both a being and also a nation.
The Japanese man had saw the American off with a simple 'tomodachi'. He was certain that he hadn't understood what it meant giving how he had looked at him strangely, but Japan knew that in time he would learn the meaning.
Upon his meeting with America though Japan's world quickly broadened. He realized that he was up against every nation out there, and in order to survive he had to imperialize, to grow in strength and prosper. He felt suffocated by how fast his country had to change, to westernize but he had been able except the change and so did his people.
But it always seemed like America was there to help him.
A perfect example being the Russo Japanese war. It was fought between himself and the Russian Empire over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea. It was one of his first true wars with a nation but the Empire of Japan had been victorious. He had been victorious.
But of course it had put Japan on the verge of complete bankruptcy and he had had felt desperate.
It was because of this he had sent a message to the only person he could think of. That he could trust.
America.
He had asked for him to help. Asking for something because he knew he needed it.
And America had come armed with his boss, Theodore Roosevelt.
He had helped both him and Russia make a treaty, one to soothe both nations so that they could both get the land they wished for but of course there was some losses. Despite that, everything had worked out quite well and the treaty soon became known as the Treaty of Portsmouth.
And because of Theodore's assistance, America's president won a nobel peace prize.
Following the treaty, his and Russia's relations actually improved and Japan was content. So when America finally went to leave once again Japan had saw him off with a simple 'shin'yuu'. The American that time had actually smiled.
Five years passed and the thought of the nation never seemed to be able to leave Japan's mind. The personification's glistening smile, and golden hair that seemed to do nothing but shimmer in the sunlight, and of course that loud booming voice that made him the center of attention, constantly plagued his mind.
He didn't know why but the mere thought of the American was...he didn't know.
But what he did know was that America was a dear friend of his. And so that same year Japan sent two-thousand Japanese cherry blossom trees to Washington D.C. as a symbol of friendship between his and America's own country. It was his national flower, and the tree was something that meant quite a lot to him.
The transience of the blossoms, the exquisite beauty and volatility, had often been associated with mortality and grace and readily acceptance of destiny and karma. For this reason, the precious tree was richly symbolic to his people and culture. To his very land.
The cherry blossom represented the fragility and the beauty of life. A constant reminder that life is overwhelmingly beautiful but also tragically short, as the blooms of the flower bring life and color to the tree itself but also fade as quickly as they come.
A reminder that even though he was a nation, even one day he would meet his end.
It was beyond nostalgic but it was precious to him. So upon hearing that the Cherry Blossoms he had sent to America had actually become diseased on their trip, in 1912, he had sent three thousand more.
It made him beyond happy to hear that they had been planted along the Potomac River's Tidal Basin in a formal ceremony and most of the trees were planted along the basin, in East Potomac Park, and on the White House grounds.
It made him extremely joyful, feeling complete bliss, his heart hammering in his chest, and that was when Japan finally knew why the American was always plaguing his mind. Why the mere thought of him made his heart pound, and even his cheeks flush gently, turning into the color of cherry blossoms. It was because of one simple thing.
Even if America wasn't here, a new name of endearment slipped past his lips fading into the open air losing itself in the wind and fading with the cheery blossoms that gracefully whirled through the air like a blizzard full of snow.
"America-chan."
I hope you enjoyed this one-shot! Also, I would like to add that the cherry blossoms that webbed through his words symbolized his ever changing emotions as a nation. Afterall they will be against each other in WW2 but like cherry blossoms they fade but also return. Until next time my dearies. Bye, bye!- Admin
