Hetalia | Time-Cut

| Prologue |

The Ex-Nation was suffocating.

Dust and debris fluttered around him, surrounding the young male with pale brown smoke. Clouds rolled over each other towards the male's feet, before tumbling into a halt against his ankles. His red-and-white hanbok was covered in the dirty brown waves. The Ex-Nation's nose stung as he drew in a sharp breath, making him wince at the prick of pain. His hanbok tried to dance with the wind, however it was halted by its host. "Hyung..?" A cough ran out into the air, breaking to the surface of the dust ocean that surrounded them. Im Hyung Soo turned around, his pale cheeks covered in mud. He had a small braid that ran down along his back, and stopped around his waist. The braid was a dark brown, and had knots and stray hairs that slipped free from the rubber band that held the braid together. His brown eyes were dull and broken, with bits of sadness inside them. Hyung's skin was sickly pale, and his cheek bones were sunken in slightly from the treatment of the Japanese torture. His brother laid in the dust, coughing. The male was shorter, and wore a blue-and-white hanbok. He had ruffled light brown hair with golden brown eyes. His skin was just as pale as his brother's, and his body trembled with fear.

"Shh." Hyung got down onto one knee, wincing when he had to move his sore body to kneel down next to his weak brother. "We are safe. Close your eyes and rest." I hope. Hyung thought, pursing his lips as he looked around. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to make out shapes of humans coming towards the twins. However, he saw none in the distance.

"Where.. where is Japan?" His twin's voice shook with terror when he mentioned his brother. Hyung winced, licking his dry lips when he remembered Japan's brutal approach. China, their oldest brother, had taken care of them along with their second oldest brother, Japan. Japan's real name is Honda Kiku, but the nations usually did not use their human names unless they were speaking to each other in front of humans. Hyung and his twin brother represented Korea, or the former shell of it. Japan had captured Korea, and used it as land for their soldiers. Japan forbid them from doing their religion, culture, and even speaking their own language.

Hyung felt his shoulder get shaken, and he looked down to see his brother quivering. "What happened to Japan?" His twin asked again shakily, gripping the ground until his fingers sunk into the soils. Hyung felt a twinge of fear. What had happened? He looked around, trying to peer into the dust cloud. However, the sea of brown was too thick for Hyung to see anything. Hyung turned his head back, realizing his brother was watching him with golden brown eyes, waiting for the explanation.

Hyung pursed his lips, unsure how to respond to the Korean. Yong Soo knew that Hyung was just as confused as he was, and his golden brown eyes flicked to the side. "We need to find shelter." Hyung said instead, his voice raspy because of the dust that got into his throat.

Yong Soo nodded, shakily standing up before stumbling. However, his brother caught him, pulling his arm over his shoulder and taking some of the weight off his twin. Hyung grits his teeth, feeling his body ache from pain. He turned his head, peering into the dusty distance. I can't drag him all the way to the nearest ship. Hyung realized, his voice caught in his throat. The ports must be shut down because of this storm.

At least, he hoped it was a storm.

The Korean took a step, and a shot of pain speared through his back, as if a sword impaled his stomach. Hyung clenched his jaw, keeping back a yelp of pain. We can't get far if we are both weak. We need rest. Hyung pushed himself forward, ignoring the pain that flared through his body. Yong Soo suddenly gasped in pain, before sinking to the ground with a low moan. Hyung turned sharply, his eyes widened as he watched his brother fall. "Yong Soo! We need to leave this country!" Hyung pleaded, his voice tight with desperation.