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Footsteps lead the path for him. China climbed the hill, sweat soaking his uniform and the butt of his gun jabbing his hip as he moved. He needed this. Needed to see his brother before his eventual execution for the world to see. Republic of China stood alone atop the cliff, watching the ocean.
"弟弟" he said turning around to face his brother. "你做得太过分了。我做梦也没想到你会如此不遗余力地追杀我和你侄子。但他已经走了。你杀不了他。". Republic studied his brother. The flag was rippling, blue and red and white now shifting to a darker red and yellow. He knew the sign. He was going to die.
China's face turned a few emotions before he grit his teeth and spoke, "我从未想过要杀他。我只是想让他听从我的命令。他会成为我的傀儡。".
The wind blew past them, Republic's loose clothing fluttering in the wind. Neither brother moved. Neither wanted to disrupt the movement.
Republic slowly stepped backwards till he felt his foot slip over the edge. China's eyes widened and he ran to his brother. "哥哥!", he screamed, trying to stop his brother from falling. This wasn't suppose to happen, he was going to bring his brother in and Soviet would ruffle his hair and praise him. He was going to be the one to fire the trigger. But of course his stupid brother ruined it.
Before Republic hit the waves below, he whispered one more thing, "小弟弟，我会永远爱你。", before his body hit the waves and he sank, eyes shutting and his body crumpled.
China's scream could have shattered glass. His hands, now shifting into draconic talons clawed and tore at his hair, throat struggling as he screamed. His brother had sworn not to! Not after their father! Not after those nights stuck with that wretched woman who tortured them! Not after they watched the woman slit her stomach open to avoid death! His brother lied. His brother broke promises they had made.
He was going to make his brother regret.
But as he stared out to the sea, he knew what was going to happen. His brother's child would live and thrive with Western help.
He'll make the Westerners look up to him, he will become a country even that pig headed capitalist struggled against.
Behind him Soviet had made it up the hill. "你失败了。" Soviet spat out before backhanding the young country, "共产党人是不会犯错的。你这个没用的废物！你以为我投入这么多钱是为了让你把事情搞砸吗？". China's cheek stung but he didn't say anything to the Soviet.
Soviet was right.
He was a useless piece of garbage.