My Dark Heart (3/?)
Ch. 3 Everything’s Changing
The ocean was calm and quiet in the autumn evening save for the motor of the ship. Moonlight shined dully on the still water, a pale light on the dark surface that went on for miles in every direction. Japan stood alone at the bow of his ship and let the salty breeze sweep over him. It was chilly, but he enjoyed it nonetheless as he gazed upward.
He did not often get to see the night sky so clearly. Tokyo, where he spent most of his time, was a sleepless city full of lights even in the latest of night. The stars were almost nonexistent in the busiest districts where business flashed their wares with giant TV screen and special midnight releases for the latest popular video game were a regular event. Not that Japan minded these things, not at all. He loved his busy streets and their care-free atmosphere. Watching the younger generation go about enjoying their lives gave him a sense of fulfillment, proof that he was doing a good job as a nation.
Sometimes though, he missed the quiet days if only for moments like these. To be by himself without any more problems to look after. To be able to just stare into the heavens in wonder after the days work had been accomplished left a feeling of satisfaction that the modern era did not quite provide. The rabbit in the moon stared at him as if saying, “Where have you been?”
“Busy.” Japan said quietly, “The world is changing everyday and I have to be there to guide it.”
And today the world changed in a way he had not been expecting. Taiwan was officially her own nation now. A seat in the United Nation, an official embassy, soon to have membership in all the important international organization, everything for real! The girl who had once been a part of China and once been just one of his colonies was now recognized as Japan’s equal.
“I have to be ready for the future,” he said to the moon. “I am sorry I cannot spend as much time with you as I would like to.”
The moon was silently forgiving. It’s understanding of the world below making it accepting of Japan’s reasoning. Japan allowed himself to break into a small smile
“I promise, I will try to see you more often.” he vowed.
He would have gladly started making good on that promise at that very moment. Just then though, his pocket starting vibrating. Pulling out his phone, Japan saw America’s name flashing on the screen. Of course, who else would call so late at night?
“Hello?”
“Hey, Japan! It’s me!” a cheerful voice rang through the phone
“I know, America. You are with Korea right now?” Japan inquired.
America laughed sheepishly. “Yeah - well, no. Not really.” No doubt sensing Japan’s frown he quickly explained, “I kinda sorta stayed with Taiwan longer than I had planned too. My ship just left like, twenty minutes ago.”
“So you’re not going to make it tonight?”
“Of course I am!” America insisted.
“How? Your ship is not that fast.”
“Who said I was on the ship?” America replied, “I’m flying to the rest of the fleet on a chopper and getting a jet from there. That’s why I called you; I need you to do something for me.”
Japan knew that tone in America’s voice. It was a subtle shift that Japan doubted few save for those who knew America really well ever picked up on. Japan had known America long enough to realize that this was the tone he used when he was on the verge of saying something incredulous.
“How may I help you?” Japan said slowly. He hoped he was making it clear in his voice he did not think whatever America was about to do was a good idea.
America, naturally, didn’t catch on.
“I made a bet with Korea, see?” America started excitedly. “I told him I could parachute from a moving chopper and land on any of my ships below! He didn’t believe me and so he dared me to do it. I said sure, piece of cake but then he said he wanted me to do it at night and that if I failed he got first dibs on any of my latest satellite tech! I was like, still no problem but if I do it then he has to draw all my cartoons for free for a year!”
If Japan was England he was certain he could have come up with a better response than the one he did come up with. Japan looked at his phone as if it had turned into a toy. He brought it back up to his ear to say: “Wait, you are going to - ”
“I’m going to be there in about half an hour. I’ll be landing on the Washington. I need you to take pictures of me landing so I can show Korea. Thanks, bye!” He hung up before Japan could get another word in.
Japan sighed and put away his phone, knowing it would be fruitless to try and reach America again. He looked up to the moon, wondering if it would offer him any guidance.
“Sorry, you’re on your own.”
Was that really a surprise?
Japan turned left, looking for the USS George Washington which was sailing alongside the frigate Japan was on, barely 200 meters off port. Rather, it was supposed to be sailing right along side him. Japan leaned over the railing and squinted. The ship was not there. It was dark and Japan could not make out the name of the ship that was sailing beside his own but he knew the outline of an aircraft carrier and the ship closest to him was not the same one he and America had taken to Taiwan.
That’s odd. No one told me the formation was changing.
Using the moonlight, Japan managed to identify ships that had taken up different positions, all of them American. Notably he could see several cruisers had moved up ahead of him, which they must have done while he was stargazing. He wondered if this would affect America’s jump and for a moment was afraid the energetic nation would get confused and miss his ship entirely. Almost half of the 7th fleet was with Japan and his ships, the rest just leaving Taiwan or left behind at Yokosuka. Could America get confused in the dark of the night and jump for the wrong ship? Japan thought about it then he dismissed the thought. America would surely radio the Washington before he arrived and fly to the correct zone. Even if he did not the sky so clear he could spot the huge ship easily and adjust himself accordingly.
His mind at ease, Japan turned to go below deck to fetch his digital camera.
*******************
“Did you get the pictures?” America asked eagerly.
“How did you miss the carrier?” Japan asked incredulously.
“Did you get the pictures?” America asked again
“Yes, I did. But didn’t you radio the Washington so you would know where to land?”
“No.”
“Didn’t you even try and find the ship before you jumped?” Japan pressed.
“It was supposed to be here. I checked the formation before I left!” America said defensively.
“But,” Japan stopped to gather his thoughts. Leave it to America to defy his expectations. They were standing on Japan’s frigate, Japan in his maritime self-defense force uniform and America in his normal attire plus a parachute.
“America, the Washington was supposed to be over there.” He said exasperatedly and pointed to the space in the ocean where the huge ship had previously been earlier that day. “So how could you possibly have landed on my ship instead?”
America frowned and looked out to the sea. “I could have sworn it was supposed to be here.” He looked on for a moment before shrugging and turning back around to face Japan. “Whatever, this works just as well.”
“What do you mean?”
America did not answer. He merely smiled and pulled out his phone. Japan gave him a quizzical look but the blonde nation ignored him as he pushed buttons and held the phone to his ear. He started talking.
Japan did not know that tone in America’s voice. It was a subtle shift that Japan could not recall ever hearing before. And for Japan who had known America long enough to recognize every realize tone he used this was unusual.
“Admiral? Change of plans. I’ve already apprehended my target. Radio our boys in the land of the rising sun and give them the go ahead, then proceed with your operation. Remember, don’t fire unless fired upon.”
Hanging up, America looked to Japan and extended his hand. “Can I see your camera?” he asked.
“What was that all about? What operation?” Japan questioned even as he handed the device over to America.
Japan was suddenly blinded as if the sun had just sprung up from the horizon. He turned his head away and held up his arm to shield his eyes.
“Japanese Maritime vessels! Cut off your engines immediately and prepare to be boarded! Do not resist or we will open fire! Japanese Maritime vessels! Cut off your engines immediately and prepare to be boarded! Do not resist or we will open fire!”
The words blaring from all over the place were in Japanese but with an American accent. Japan squinted and looked into the direction of the light. It was coming from a line of floodlights along the side of the American naval vessels nearest to him. The soft moonlight had been swept aside in a new atmosphere of harsh brightness that illuminated the area surrounding the fleet. More specifically, the lights were aimed at the Japanese vessels within the fleet, which Japan realized just now were surrounded on all sides.
“America! What is going on?” he cried out trying in vain to see the other nation who had been swallowed up in the light..
“Change.” America replied simply.
Just as suddenly as he had been blinded Japan’s world went dark as a fist slammed into his stomach and his consciousness was lost.
*******************
“Let me out! I said let me out!”
America could hear his room before he could see it. He stopped in the hall and moved to the side as more marines went up to on deck to board the Japanese ships. Ignoring the odd looks he received thanks to Japan being propped up on his shoulder, America smiled encouragingly to them and waited for them to pass.
“You can’t do this, America! I demand to be released.” Taiwan was shouting, having finally regained her wits. “I will not be treated like this! I am a free nation!”
America wondered how long she had been banging on the door. No doubt she had bruised her hands by now. Shifting his shoulders to hold up Japan’s weight better America slowly came to the metal door of his room. He took out the key and slid it into the knob. Taiwan was too busy shouting to notice.
“Let me out! Do you hear me America? I am the free Republic of Taiwan! I am the Free - ”
She stopped in mid-shout as the door swung open. Her hands were both still in the air. Her eyes widened and she took a step back as America moved up closer to her.
“Taiwan,” America grinned, “Just the person I wanted to see. Here ya go.”
Before she could react, America ducked out from under Japan’s shoulder and pushed the unconscious nation into Taiwan’s arms. The girl’s legs buckled under the dead weight and she ended up falling to her knees again trying to regain her balance while supporting Japan.
“Japan? What did you do to him?” she cried.
“Nothing.” America blatantly lied. “Just thought you could use some company.”
Taiwan stared up at him, at a complete loss for words. America kept on grinning.
“I’m going to be up all night so you two have the room to yourselves. Breakfast will be at seven. Hope you like waffles.”
With a lighthearted salute America retreated out of the room, shutting the door and locking it a second later. He waited for the shouting to resume. When it didn’t he breathed a sigh of relief and turned around and leaned back on the door.
So far so good. He thought. Just hope I can keep this momentum.
He ran a hand through his hair, already feeling tired. He forced himself to stand up and walk to the bridge. He had to keep moving. There were so many islands to be conquered and so little time before the rest of the world realized what he was doing.
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Well? So far so good?