Countryhumans Oneshots

Death of Unity

Death of the Korean Empire, requested by Violetsaredancing

August 22, 1910

"If you think I will be surprised by this, I am not," Korea said from his seat on the floor. He refused to die with dishonor or cowardice. Japan would be the one to kill him; he had known that for a long time, but he refused to let himself stoop to her level.

He refused to show her fear.

Japan had been killing his country for a long time. She was like a disease that infected and killed those around her, an insatiable hunger for power, leaving her ruthless and deranged.

She was a powerful enemy, but one with no sense of humanity.

Korea didn't know how things had gotten bad so quickly.

He had tried to be neutral, to stay out of world affairs. His neutrality was recognized by many countries, and Korea had foolishly assumed himself safe. Although he would not deny his close friendship with Russia, things had been good. He was working on reforms, on modernizing his country. He had been hopeful for the future.

Everything changed when Japan and Russia went to war. Japan, against all odds and expectations, won.

Then, there was no one to stop her from slowly taking over.

First, it was the Eulsa Treaty. Korea hated that treaty with every fiber of his being. It made him a protectorate of Japan and, more importantly, allowed Japan to start the process of isolating him from all of his friends and allies. Korea was no longer allowed to speak to other countries, to write letters, or do anything the likes of an independent country should do.

He was Japan's now, and it was Japan's job to take care of all that for him. Which, of course, meant he could no longer have any countryhuman friends and could only speak to Japan.

His people were not happy with the treaty either. Many of his politicians had committed suicide over it, and Emperor Gojong had helped to lead resistance. Korea had sent secret embassies to plead for his independence in other countries, while their cowardly governments began to pull out their embassies from Korea, leaving international matters in Japan's manipulative hands.

Nicholas II and Russia had given Korea and his emperor a bit of hope when they secretly invited them to the Hague Conference in 1907, but their emissaries were denied access, Korea was prevented from leaving his home by Japan, and the Japanese Korean Amry crushed any public dissonance.

And crucially, Emperor Gojong abdicated, leaving Emperor Sunjong to take the throne.

Things only got worse from there.

After that, Korea was forced into signing another treaty, with Japan practically holding her sword at his throat as he did so. This treaty of 1907 was even worse than the one that took away his nationhood, as it allowed Japanese officials to be employed in his government. And if that wasn't bad enough, any Japanese who served as advisors to his government were made a part of his central government.

Japan wasn't just controlling his external affairs, but his internal affairs as well.

Korea only felt weaker and sicker after that. Like he said, Japan was a disease, and the symptoms of her presence were only getting worse.

She garrisoned her focus in the palace and began disarming regiments of Korea's army, including his elite Pyeongyang Jinwidae.

"You don't need this silly army," Japan had said happily as she dragged him out to watch the disarming, leaving him helpless to assist his people and ashamed that he could not do more for them. "I am your protector from those European colonizers. I will keep you and your land safe. You don't need to worry."

Korea didn't believe her. Japan was one of those people who talked a lot about who she was and what she did, all while choosing to remain blind to her own faults. Korea would not believe her because he was no fool.

Japan soon began dissolving regiments of his army, leaving Korea with no way to defend himself from her. Even the handpicked guards who had watched over his home for years were dismissed and replaced by Japan's people.

Korea's people did not just take that lying down, however, and many began to fight back. But it was hopeless. They simply did not have the manpower or ability to fight off her army. They would not be able to win.

When Japan told him, a sick sweetness in her voice, that she had suppressed that last of the "rebellions," the last of the righteous armies fighting for his independence, Korea had begun preparations for his death. There was no one left to fight for him anymore, and Korea knew that it was only a matter of time before Japan's bloodlust called for his death.

He had gone back to his home in Seoul and prepared for his death.

He cleaned his home and set aside precious artifacts and personal items from his human home to his small place in the Land-In-Between, something for his descendants to one day find. He had passed along the message of their location to Russia, the only person he trusted, the only one who really tried to save him from Japan.

The one who lost the war.

"I will keep it safe," Russia said, gently taking the letter from him, a small smile on his usually emotionless face.

Then Korea went home, and he waited for the inevitable, which brought him back to the moment Japan entered his home.

"Chōsen, it is time for you to sign the new treaty between our countries. Our people are waiting," Japan said. Korea stood up and turned to face her.

"I will not sign your treaty. I will not sign away my life for you. If you want to take my kingdom and my people, if you want to force them into your country, then you will kill me yourself. You will look me in the eyes and see me die and live with that guilt forever." Korea said, voice even and steady as he looked Japan straight in the eyes, looking the killer disease that had haunted him for the past five years in the eyes and daring her to do what she had been attempting for years. Japan smirked viciously.

"Fine by me."

Then, there was a flash of a sword, and Korea knew no more.