After Effect

My first  Hetalia: Axis Powers one-shot. Enjoy.

Kiku Honda, otherwise known as the nation of Japan, was kneeling on the scattered debris and rubble caused by the atomic bombs. There was a wound near his shoulder and gashes on his arms, chest and abdomen. His white uniform was stained and tattered with his own blood. Over the past four years, the war had taken its toll on him, as well as Italy and Germany, as well as everyone else who had participated in the damned war. Kiku had never experienced so much pain in his entire life and never so much in the past few centuries.

Kiku's wounds consisted of his people and land. Dead. Gone. Those who survived the atomic bombings were awfully dismembered and disfigured. Two of his cities... Blown up! All thanks to the United States of America. The first bomb caused terrible destruction to Hiroshima, hence the wound on Kiku's shoulder. Despite of it, Kiku did not back down so quickly. There had been enough suffering... Until three days later. The bomb dropped on Nagasaki was even worse, thereby the cause of the gashes on his torso and arms. Fresh blood spurted from the wound on Kiku's shoulder, and he felt the intense pain of himself and his people.

Clutching his wounds in vain from flowing, Kiku looked at the sky. Dark rain clouds covered the sky entirely, not a single patch of sunlight visible. He saw lightning amidst the clouds and thunder was heard but not a single raindrop had fallen. Tears streamed down his war-torn cheeks. He looked at the disturbed ground and closed his eyes.

He couldn't do this. He couldn't bring his people anymore suffering. Men and women had lost their families. Children had become orphans. Forever. 

Thunder rolled.

He could feel the presence of someone standing in front of him. Kiku slowly lifted his head to look at the person. He had to be hallucinating.

Another thunderclap, and there he was, Alfred F. Jones, standing in plain view. Clean, with no visible bruises, scars, or injuries, in his usual uniform underneath his bomber jacket.  His arms hung limp by his side and there was a trace of sorrow on his face.

Neither nation said a word. They stayed there, eye contact intact.

Finally, Alfred spoke.

"I am sorry, Honda," he said Kiku's surname with dead seriousness. "I had no choice."

Japan chuckled bitterly.

"Ironic, isn't it?" Kiku said, his voice a note deeper than usual. "Of all things that can happen in a war. I bombed you and you bombed me. We are even."

"No," Alfred replied calmly. "Do not think of this as retaliation."

Kiku couldn't help but scoff. He could hardly believe America's words.

 Alfred's frown remained. "I hate to reprimand you at a time like this. But you should've known better than to side with Germany and Italy. It did you no good. China is still grieving the fact that you betrayed him."

Japan looked away from America's blue-eyed gaze and his body shook with anger. Yes, he wanted expansion and he started with his older brother, Yao. But even before this war, he fought against China, Russia and even Korea to expand his empire.

America went on. "Japan, even before I entered the war with the Allies, you and I were not on good terms, and our negotiations for letting China to be free of your rule had failed. So it was either the hard way or the easy way. You chose the hard way. We fought each other based on hatred and anger. As part of the Axis Powers, you wanted conquest. My job as an Ally was to stop you. You even attacked colonies that were owned by the Allies. And as much as it pained me for me to do this to you, I had to find a way out of this mess. Germany and Italy have already surrendered. It's your turn."

"Spare me the lecture, America!" Kiku shouted with all the fury that was left in him. It wasn't like him to act this way but as to what had occurred; it just left his judgment blind with rage. "You attack me with powerful force and then you attack me with your words. Words that mean nothing! Haven't you caused enough pain already?!"

 America was a bit taken aback by Japan's surprising change in demeanor, but he didn't let it show on his face.  In fact, he remained composed.

 Japan couldn't help but accept the fact that America was right. The powerful young nation was more wise and mature than his usual idiotic self in times of war.

 "I won't ask you for forgiveness," America went on in a pitiful and sympathetic tone. "I had already forgiven you for what you did to me. And I hope that you will understand in time. Now I must ask you. Will you be willing to surrender?"

 Japan looked up at America incredulously. But then he thought back to his people. They were in no shape to keep fighting for what's worth it, and the thought of another atomic bomb would be twice as disastrous. It would even mean the end of the Japanese folk.

 "I am willing to recompense." For the first time, a smile crossed on America's saddened mien.

This time around, though, Japan looked at America with a look of doubt and wonder all at once. What was America saying?

 America leaned forward with his hands on his knees. "I will help in rebuilding. It won't be just me, but the other Allies as well. We don't have to be enemies anymore. We can learn from each other. However, there are some conditions you would to follow if you wish for your country to be back to its normal state."

 America's sad face had turned to that of a happy one with a grin as big as his cheeks could allow.

 He held out a hand. "So, what do you say?"

Japan stared at Alfred's outstretched hand. His first instinct was to swat it away but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to.

"I won't hurt you anymore. Let me help you and we can stop this fighting once and for all." He then stared at America's kind blue eyes. He didn't see any hint of deception behind them, so he might be telling the truth. Besides, what other choice did he have?

He didn't have strength for fighting anymore, and he couldn't risk any more casualties on his folk. It was about time to give in anyway. His superior would have to understand that by now. Maybe it was time to give in.

Reluctantly, he reached out and grabbed hold of America's hand. He felt a strange static shock when he touched it. Despite of the terrible battles and ordeals the two nations had fought against each other, he felt no hostility from America anymore. He had said he had forgiven him and also because of that ludicrous smile still showing, felt it necessary to go along with it.

America helped him to his feet, wobbling. Their hands were still linked and once more they stared into each other's eyes. America's eyes still had that trace of compassion while Japan's own dark ones still frowned. It wasn't like he didn't believe America, it just happens to be that there will be big changes to come. Slowly, their hands started to shake as if taking a like of their own. Once more, America's smile brightened and for the first time, Japan actually smiled in return.

 "Thank you for understanding...Kiku." America nodded.

 "All in honour and in death... Alfred-san."

Their human names replacing their nation ones for the time being, America didn't seem to get Japan's saying but chuckled as he continued to shake hands with his now former enemy.

Ehh, was it okay? 

~Queen of awkwardness