Korea dropped his broom and scurried to answer the phone. "Hi, this is Japan's home, Korea speaking," he said, in poorly-pronounced Japanese. Japan always insisted he speak Japanese. Annoying, but it was part of being annexed, he guessed. Big brother Japan was difficult to live with. He was stiflingly dull, always insisting Korea behave perfectly at all times, grilling him endlessly on Japanese language and history and culture, changing the subject every time Korea tried to bring up his own homeland. He kept giving Korea all sorts of fun new toys, but never so much as smiled at him. Worse, Korea was now confined to the house, not even permitted to enter the garden unsupervised; considering the many attempts he'd made to run away, he'd brought that one on himself, but it still sucked.

"What the hell are you saying? Your Japanese is awful."

"China? What are you doing calling here? You're at war, you're not allowed!" Korea said, dropping into the nations' shared language.

"These are ... exceptional circumstances."

"Oh yeah, Japan said you got hurt. Are you okay?"

"Getting there. How much did he tell you?"

"Only that it was bad, and that I should talk to you about it."

"Yeah, well, it can wait. I don't want to discuss it over the phone."

"Okay." Korea's stomach cramped up again, and he groaned and massaged it. "'Scuse me. I think something really bad's going on back home, but Japan told me it's probably just muscle cramps. Well, that's what he used to tell me, but last week he went quiet and said he'd look into it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's been really weird. When he came home from talking with you he was even more quiet than usual, and I think I heard him crying, but then all of a sudden yesterday he's back to normal. North says he's just trying to trick us. She really hates him."

China sighed. "I've told you before, Korea. Balhae is dead. She's been dead for over a thousand years, she went out when Silla did. You're the only Korea now. I know you miss your family, but I think it's time to move on."

"Oh, I know all that," Korea said brightly. "But she's still around. Good thing too, if she wasn't I think I'd go crazy."

"Okay. Wow, just when I think I have things bad ... Um. Back to the topic, you said Japan was acting weird?"

"Yeah. First he said he'd look into what was going on back home, and he was sort of nice to me - said I could go back to speaking Korean if I wanted. Then yesterday I spoke Korean and he told me to stop, said he never gave me permission." Korea rubbed his back. Japan might have meant well in his own weird pushy way, and it was nothing he couldn't handle, but that caning had really stung.

Before China could reply, Japan looked into the room. "Who's on the phone?"

"It brother China, he want talk you," said Korea, again in bad Japanese, holding out the phone. He intentionally exaggerated his Korean accent. Annoying his brother in little ways got him through the day, and it made North laugh.

Japan scowled at him and took the handset. "Go finish your chores. Once I'm done I think we'll have another grammar lesson. I can't believe you've been here for nearly thirty years, I swear your Japanese is actually getting worse." As Korea scampered out of the room, broom in hand, Japan spoke to China. "What the hell are you doing calling me?"

"What? But you said you would call me! I got worried when you didn't!"

"What? Of course I didn't say that. Why would I call you? I'd just get in trouble."

"You said you'd call me when you'd gone over the files of everyone who was at Nanking."

"Why would you want to know that? Is this some kind of stupid joke? You're trying to get back at me for capturing your city with prank phone calls? Honestly, brother, I thought better of you. That's hardly respectful to your deceased. What are you, four thousand or fourteen?"

On the other end of the line, China gaped at the phone. What was going on? ... Oh. Oh. "Have you been speaking to your boss about the attack lately?"

"Of course. It's part of the job, why do you even need to ask me?"

"What exactly did you say to him?"

Japan's mouth opened and closed a few times in complete puzzlement. "... I don't recall my exact words! Just the usual boring strategy talk. If you're trying to spy on me there are more subtle ways, you know. I thought your capital was meant to be your heart, not your brain."

The ceramic stem of the opium pipe snapped in China's hand.

"Hello?"

China hung up, curled up on the bed, and pressed his face into his pillow. He wouldn't cry again, he wouldn't.

Dragon rested a claw on his back. "What happened?"

"Japan listened to his bosses. He doesn't recall us ever talking."

"Shit. Are you going to be okay?"

"Y-yeah. I'll be fine. I know how it works, I can get him to remember. Hell, Vietnam enjoys reminding me of the times she beat me up even though my humans won't admit it, I kind of like the idea of being on the other end of it this time." China laughed humourlessly. "It'll probably have to wait till the war's over and I can be near him unhindered. But it's okay. I'll try not to dwell on it, but I wouldn't forget if it took another four thousand years. I can wait."

Meanwhile, back at Japan's house, Korea quietly slipped out through the back gate and fled, again. He hadn't succeeded yet, but he was eternally optimistic. His cramps started up again, but he didn't let them slow him down. The Korean Spirit bobbed merrily above his head.

"C'mon, North", he whispered. "Let's see if we can make it to Pusan this time."