Warnings for mental and physical abuse of a teenager.

Notes: Queen Min was the last Empress of Korea, succeeded by her son who was overthrown by the Japanese Empire. Traditionally pre-occupation Koreans weren't allowed to cut their hair; unmarried people wore theirs in a single braid, married women in a bun, and married men in a topknot. The government in the 1890s, who were trying to curry favour in Japan, introduced the Short Hair Act, forcing Koreans to cut their hair. It was much more important to them than it probably sounds to Westerners today, and spread anti-Japanese sentiment (as if the Japanese weren't doing that well enough themselves at the time - no offense, guys, everyone's ancestors kinda sucked at some point). I think it works here to have Japan himself cut Korea's braid off as a symbolic thing.

Korea pretended to practice his writing and waited for a safe moment, but he hadn't slept properly and his mind wandered. As his eyelids drooped, he found himself thinking back on when Japan had first brought him home. Immediately, they had clashed.

("NO! NONONO DON'T MAKE ME DO IT!"

"For goodness' sake, stop struggling! It's only your hair!"

"Yes, it's 'only' my hair, not 'only' your hair!"

"I'm not having my little brother walk around with his hair looking like a woman's! That stupid-looking rat-tail has to come off, right now. No more arguments! Now hold still or my scissors may slip. How'd you like it if I took your ear off as well?")

Korea had spent the first few days confused and abnormally quiet, unsure what to say. He tried to settle in; he obeyed Japan's instructions, did his chores, tried to learn about Japan's language, history, and culture. Soon, he had decided to try being friendly again.

("Oof! What the hell are you doing?"

"... Good-morning hugs?"

"Stop it! It's not dignified."

"Aww. Queen Min used to hug me every day!"

"Well, I'm not her."

"Don't I know it ... So I guess tickle-fights are off-limits too? Even if I let you win?"

"You so much as think about trying that and I'll pull your fingers off.")

Korea was sure Japan was joking, but even then he hadn't dared push his luck. Still, he kept his head up. Surely he'd make some new friends soon.

("... so I said to him- oh, look! See that boy raking the leaves in Honda-san's yard?"

"What? Oooh, I see. Heehee, he's cute! Don't you just want to poke that adorable little curl?"

"Ooh, let's go and talk to him! Nobody's around, come on, maybe he's lonely ... Hello, new boy! I'm Reiko and this is Yoko. Why don't you take a little break and introduce yourself?"

"Oh, hello, nice ladies! I pleased much meet you. My name Yong-Soo, I do working for Honda-san. You live near?"

"Oh."

"Oh? What? Wait, where you going?"

"I'm sorry, Yoko, I didn't realise he was Korean."

"Ewww."

"Hey! Wait, no, please not leave ..."

"What are you doing? Get back here right now!"

"Big brother! Um, nothing."

"You're chasing women down the street? Have you no shame?"

"You prefer I chase men?"

"Don't talk back! Come inside right now, I think you need a little reminder who the boss is here. Strip and face the wall."

"Ooh. Don't you think this is moving a bit fast?"

"Hilarious. Just stay still."

"W-wait, what are you doing with that stick?"

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you for a first offence ... hey, you come back here right now, you cowardly brat!")

It wasn't as bad as he'd been expecting, the first time. Rather like getting an injection, the fear was worse than the reality. Pain wasn't a big problem for him, this wasn't anything like as bad as being gutted or beheaded on a battlefield. Of course, he soon realised Japan actually had been going easy on him that time. Japan was small, but deceptively strong.

He'd been rather pleased when Japan announced he was leaving.

("We're going to the South Seas?"

"Correction. I am going. You are staying with Watanabe-san."

"What? No fair!"

"Speak properly. And don't worry, your people have plenty of opportunity to prove themselves in this war without you."

"... No offence, big brother sir, but that sounds less reassuring than you probably meant. I really think I should come along."

"Tough luck. If I can't trust you to stay in the house, I certainly can't trust you with weaponry.")

Of course Japan never did trust him with anything. Korea had tried to ask him for help, and rapidly been broken of that habit.

("Aahh-hh ... big brother sir? M-my stomach really hurts."

"I told you not to eat so much."

"No, not that. Something bad's happening back home. My people are hurt."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Storms? Floods? Forest fires?"

"No, this one feels like something someone else is doing to us. Them, I mean. Um, you said everything's going smoothly back home- I mean in Korea, right?"

"Why?"

"Well ... there's this, and I keep having nightmares. Someone's touching me and I can't stop them, or I'm trapped somewhere and hungry and in pain, or last night I had one where my tongue was cut out ... What's happening? Things can't be going so well. Are you ... doing something to them?"

"What? How dare you? Are you calling the Emperor himself a liar, boy? Or are you calling me a liar, perhaps?"

"What? I-I didn't mean-"

"Enough! Strip and put your hands on the wall."

"But-"

"Hands on the wall. Now!")

That time had left him bruised from neck to knees, unable to sleep on his back. He'd thought he'd get used to the beatings. Instead it seemed to get worse each time, even the briefer ones.

(WHACK!

"Aah! ... One ... I'm sorry!"

"Try not to squeak like that, it's unbecoming."

WHACK!

"Two! I-I'm sorry!"

"Better. So that's one for each word of Korean you've spoken today. Now one for swearing and one for talking back. Yes, I do know what those words mean."

WHACK!

"Three! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry ..."

"Do you need a moment?"

"... no."

"Good boy."

WHACK!

"F-four ... I'm sorry ..."

"And one to go on."

WHACK!

"Five! I'm sorry! Aahhh ..."

"Sh, sh, it's alright, it's over. No, don't cry now, you were doing so well, don't ruin it. Good boy. You know I don't enjoy this, little brother. I only do this because I love you and I want you to become the best you can be. Understand?"

"Mm."

"And what do you say?"

"... Thank you for my lesson, big brother sir. I love you too."

"Good. Now let's get some cold water on that, hm?")

Ah, yes, being forced to thank his torturer. The worst part about that was that Japan apparently really thought Korea meant it.

He wasn't sure when Balhae had shown up. He'd been so lonely he'd started talking to himself, and one day, someone had replied. He'd been half-awake the first time, unable to sleep, and crying hard, so he was grateful for even an imaginary friendship. He only had vague memories of his big sister Balhae; well, little sister now. He had aged, over the milennium, and she hadn't. She'd been very young when she passed, and he had been tiny. His name had been Hugoguryeo then. She had died, along with their younger brother Hubaekje and mother Silla, when he became United Korea. He still missed his close family, so when Balhae started speaking to him, he was overjoyed. She'd kept him sane and safe, at least up till now. He wasn't sure how much longer she could ...

Korea's eyes opened. The house was silent. Japan was either absorbed in his work or napping. Now or never.