Operation Red Herring (Countryhumans Alternate History)

Chapter 16

TW: Sexism 

Japan was an extremely proud person. She knew she was extremely capable, and had the skill to put that knowledge to use. She was proud of her culture, both the traditional one and the one she had built to protect herself against the Europeans that were ravaging through Asia at the time.

But as she marched out of Third Reich's office, head held high despite the red hot shame that seemed to seep into her skull, she found herself pitifully reminded of the one thing she wasn't proud of.

She tried to mask it, of course. Japan spoke harshly, she walked with broad strokes, and she made a point to always keep her hair up (which was especially effective when she wore her military hat. When she donned that piece of uniform, people couldn't see her hair at all). She always wore a male uniform in battle. She didn't show sympathy to anyone she didn't trust, she didn't wear make-up anymore, and she never, ever cried. She tried to make others forget the one piece of herself she desperately wished society would ignore, the one that made men call her crazy, made China assume she was weak back in 1894, and made people hellbent on portraying her as...overly emotional.

God, what she wouldn't give for it to be less noticable. For her chest to be flatter, her eyelashes to be shorter, her hips to be less defined.

Of course, she had not always hated being a woman. She had loved it for centuries. Granted, she had never been grotesquely feminine, but she hadn't suppressed her love of cherry blossoms and other frivolous things the way she did now. But then things changed, and the Onna Daigaku was written, and she had suddenly found herself being forced to be quiet, be...submissive.             

She was not submissive. She never had been, and she refused to ever be.

Of course this was a problem with some of her people, which caused them to continue trying to force her to become what they envisioned a woman should be, until she loathed the very body that she had inhabited for centuries, as well as every label that was connected to it.

She had done well, stripping away every reason they gave for attempting to oppress her. Yet sometimes, like someone pouring ice water over her head, she was reminded of what she was...

...no.

What the world was desperate to see her as, and what she constantly had to fight to avoid being seen as.

Japan rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she stalked off to find America. Being a good ally and being emotional were two very distinct things. A good ally protects the wellbeing of the other, in exchange for her own well being being protected as well. It was simple. And even if America tended to border the line between ally and friend, Japan still wasn't so attached that she'd compromise the war effort.

She wasn't being hysterical...

Ugh! How did she even end up with America bordering that line in the first place? That shouldn't have happened.

She turned a corner, quickly stopping to avoid running into the country that was sitting on the floor.

"What the-" She groaned, "America, what is it with you and sitting on the floor?!"

The younger country blinked, seeming to snap out of her thoughts as she peered up at the empire. "Oh! Hi Japan! What are you up to?"

"Well, I was looking for you. What are you doing?"

"I'm waiting."

Japan stared at her for a moment. "...For what?"

America pointed at the window. "For the sunset. It happens around this time everyday."