"Why are we here?" North Vietnam asked bitterly. He didn't bother to look at France. He just looked at the large building in front of him.

"Don't you see what this is?" France asked. North Vietnam shrugged.

"All I see is a building."

"It's the Hanoi University!" France stated cheerfully. "It's the school where you will be going to from now on," France told him. North Vietnam furrowed his eyebrows.

"Why should I go to school? I'm a country!" North Vietnam said angrily. France sighed.

"Education is need for all," France said. Plus, only people who would remain loyal to me will be educated only… "North, I'm hoping you'll see the world in a whole new perspective and see what I'm doing is for the best." France looked him solemnly in the eyes.

"Is Nam going here too…?" North Vietnam asked quietly. North Vietnam missed his younger sister terribly and was very worried about her. North Vietnam hasn't seen South Vietnam ever since they've been separated by France. With each day he worried for her even more, being alone without his protection, being along with France.

France cracked a smile. "I'll be teaching her personally," France said grinning. North Vietnam reaction was simply stunning to France. You could see the fear in North Vietnam's eyes for South Vietnam. The pensive look North Vietnam had, assured France that North Vietnam will be obedient for his sister's safety.

"You're taking good care of her right…?" North Vietnam asked. France nodded and pushed North Vietnam's back.

"Every time you're behaving, yes," France said smiling. "Now off to school you go!" France commanded. North Vietnam could feel his blood boil being forced to walk inside this school, but if it assured his sister's safety he would bear with it.

Once North Vietnam entered the school, France left off going back home, back to his home in France, where South Vietnam was now staying.

South Vietnam was sitting down on France's couch. She stared blankly at the floor. She's been alone for the past few days. Whenever France left to see North Vietnam back in her home, she wasn't allowed to leave France's home at all.

She wasn't completely alone. A few of France's people were there, but they weren't her own people. She missed her people, she missed the warmth of the sun, she missed the feel of dirt when planting and plucking rice, she missed her conical hat and rice paddle, the list of what she missed could go on forever. What she missed the most was her older brother North Vietnam.

"Miss South Vietnam," One of France's people said.

South Vietnam lifelessly brought her head up to see the ordinary French person.

"Is there anything you would like to eat?" She asked.

South Vietnam sighed and shook her head. The French woman frowned at her.

"I know it isn't necessary for you to eat, but my dear, your land is going to plummeting horribly if you keep doing this."

South Vietnam looked at the French woman with cold eyes. She knew she was right. She could feel stuff rotting within her, her people was going to suffer greatly if she kept this up. Her people depended on her fertile land.

Still South Vietnam refused and just shook her head.

The last meal she had was with France. Though she now despised him, South Vietnam was only willing to eat around another country.

"How about this?" The French woman bended her knees and placed her arm on South Vietnam's shoulder. She was at eye level to South Vietnam. "I'll let you wear your normal outfit if you just eat a simple bowl of soup," She offered.

South Vietnam thought about it for a second, she slowly nodded. The French woman smiled lightly.

"I'll be right back."

The French woman left her alone. South Vietnam got off the couch and walked toward the mirror that was within the room.

She stared long and hard at herself. She was wearing a short green maid dress, with a white head piece and a white apron on; her hair was still tied up, but that was the only thing she recognized about herself. She hated this dress, she hated these long socks, and she hated these brown shoes. She hated France.

"Here we go!" The French woman chirped. She walked in with a piping bowl of soup. For a second, South Vietnam thought she saw North Vietnam smiling walking towards her with a bowl of phở. "Potage et Ragout!" She said cheerfully.

South Vietnam sighed. Of course it was just an illusion…

The French woman placed the soup on the coffee table in front of the couch and left South Vietnam again. South Vietnam sat down on the floor between the couch and table.

She grabbed hold of the spoon and began to taste the soup slowly. It felt warm. She felt life slowly growing. The soup tasted well, but she couldn't help feeling disappointed. She missed the taste of her nation's food.

Just a minute after she had finished her soup the French woman had returned. What she held in her hands made South Vietnam leap up with joy. It was her green Áo Dài dress with her white pants, and her black shoes. She happily took the clothes out of the French woman's hand and hugged them like they were a stuff animal.

The French woman smiled and patted her head. South Vietnam looked at the woman confused.

"Why are so nice to me?" South Vietnam asked curiously. It was her first time to actually speak to France's people.

"You should change while you still have the chance," She said, clearly avoiding the question. "France prefers you in the other outfit." She gave South Vietnam one last smile and left the room.

South Vietnam stood there for a while. "Thank you…" She said softly. Though the woman was now gone she just wanted to say it.

South Vietnam quickly changed into her clothes. She looked at herself in the mirror and wore the biggest smile she had in a long time.

It feels like home… She imagined herself back home with North Vietnam, the good old days with China, the peacefulness of her people.

The smile soon disappeared. It's gone… EVERYTHING IS GONE. South Vietnam started to tremble, she fell down to her knees. Tears broke out as she felt her heart sank. She realized the old days were gone. South Vietnam didn't want to be here. She didn't want to be labeled as French territory; she just wanted to be South Vietnam, the country, but was that all she wanted?

She noticed something sticking out behind the mirror. She took it, to see it was a picture. It was a picture of two other countries. She recognized them immediately. It was England and America. Once her eyes laid on America something unexpected happened in her head.

"Independent…" South Vietnam uttered softly.

Independent… It was the first word to appear in her head that didn't overcome her with sadness. Oh, how she craved to be independent. How she craved to become like America.

Is this how North Vietnam felt when we were under China's control…? South Vietnam wondered. She finally understood what North Vietnam meant about it. She had never cared much about it before. Being independent with her brother… She took it for granted. She pounded her fist against the floor.

"Bắc," She croaked. She felt pain in her hand from the impact, but she didn't care. She wasn't crying for the pain, but for her brother and people.

North Vietnam found himself surprisingly interested at this school. He was mainly intrigued by his history class. The teacher was discussing about the Russian Revolution that had occurred in 1924. North Vietnam found himself absorbed into learning more about history. How ironic since he himself is a part of history.

He made friends with an interesting classmate. The citizen was name Ho Chi Minh. He too was intrigued by the Russian Revolution. Ho Chi Minh explained to North Vietnam that he planned to go to the Soviet Union.

Hearing this North Vietnam shouldn't have allowed him. However, he didn't want to force his new friend to stay; besides Ho didn't realize that he was speaking to North Vietnam this whole time. North Vietnam just looked like a typical student. If he had known he would have never mentioned anything.

North Vietnam wished Ho Chi Minh lucked with his plans.

He found himself upset when history class had ended for him. The others were alright, but he liked history the best. The Russian Revolution had intrigued him the most.

Soon the day was over and he retreated home. Before his hand could even reach the door knob, the door opened.

"North Vietnam!" A girl greeted cheerfully. Her long hair brushed against North Vietnam's face as she hugged him tightly.

"Er, Laos…" North Vietnam said struggling, trying to release himself from the hug.

"Yes?" She asked innocently. She had a sweet smile placed across her face.

"Would you let go…?" North Vietnam gasped. She frowned and stopped hugging him.

"Welcome home North Vietnam," Cambodia said from behind Laos. Laos jumped and turned to Cambodia.

"Cambodia!" She yelled angrily. "You scared me!"

Cambodia just snickered. "It's not my fault you're such a little baby." Laos pouted and hugged North Vietnam.

"Wah! Cambodia is bullying me!" Laos cried. North Vietnam sighed and patted her head. Laos looked up at North Vietnam's face and smiled. "Whenever you're not here it's always sad."

"Jeez, you're so sweet to him," Cambodia said. Laos just stuck her tongue out at him. Cambodia's blood began to boil.

"You little brat!"

"Wah! See how mean he is!"

"Guys! Why can't we all just get along?" He lightly pulled away Laos hug and placed his hand on her shoulder. "We are all countries now let's act civilized."

"North Vietnam~" Laos said all bubbly. Cambodia just lightly hit her head.

"Idiot, quit drooling," Cambodia said irritated. "If it weren't for us being Indochina then we wouldn't need to get along."

"France…" They all grumbled with hatred.

"Have you heard anything about your sister…?" Laos asked North Vietnam softly.

Cambodia calmed down his anger hearing the mention of North Vietnam's sister. In all truth, Laos and Cambodia have only met South Vietnam once when they were all much younger countries. Cambodia fell for her at first sight. There was something about her that made Cambodia felt like he has never felt before. She is kind, sweet, and childish, but a lovely country none the less. Every time he tried to see her again North Vietnam would always be against it. North Vietnam didn't like other countries to be around South Vietnam.

"France has told me nothing," North Vietnam said calmly. You could sense his anger however by looking at his hands. He was clenching his fists. One day I will have save Nam! North Vietnam thought determined. Something was brewing inside of him. Slowly it was becoming bigger. The Vietminh were forming.

France finally made it home. After a long while he finally reached his house. There were still things he needed to deal with.

Germany had invaded Paris his "vital regions," as he so called it. Germany really needs to hang out with Prussia less…

For now he wouldn't worry about that. He could finally see South Vietnam again. He smiled happily as he opened the door to his house. That smile soon disappeared as he soon saw who was behind that door.

"Japan…?" He asked. Japan bowed politely.

"Hello France," He said. France raised his eyebrow.

"What brings you to my home Japan?"

In an instant Japan pulled out his sword and pointed it in front of France's face.

"I want all of Indochina if you don't mind," Japan said.

"Where's South Vietnam?" France asked urgently.

"May I have Indochina?"

France stared solemnly at Japan's eyes. There was still the issue with Germany being in Paris. France felt a twinge of pain. France knew he didn't have time to get into a war with Japan. Still he didn't wish to part with South Vietnam. However he knew he had no choice.

"Take them then…" France said unwillingly. Japan smiled and bowed his head.

"Thank you for being reasonable France," Japan said. "South Vietnam, didn't I tell you?"

South Vietnam slowly came out from behind Japan.

"Vietnam…" France said softly. Vietnam quickly avoided France's gaze. France could still see in South Vietnam's eyes how hurt she was. She grabbed a hold of Japan's hand and kept her eyes down looking at the floor. Japan smiled softly and patted South Vietnam's head.

"Let us go home," Japan said kindly. "Home to your brother." South Vietnam looked up at Japan and nodded. Then stunningly she smiled brightly. It caught Japan and France by surprise.
"I miss Bắc," South Vietnam said. France's heart fell at the sound of her voice. Those were the last words he heard from her on that day. Japan and South Vietnam brushed passed France and left the country standing there alone. France never looked back. He was afraid. Afraid of how pitiful he would look if were to take just one last simple glance at her.

Laos, Cambodia, and Japan have made an appearance! :D Woot. I finally completed chapter 5. ^-^ So… In 1902 the Hanoi University was created in North Vietnam. The purpose of this school was to educate people who would remain loyal to the French Empire. One of those students was Ho Chi Minh. Inspired by the Russian Revolution he went to Russia in 1924. He wrote to a friend claiming it was their duty to break away from France. Ho was aware that he was in danger of being arrested if he were to return to Vietnam so he decided to live in China on the Vietnam border. Here he helped organized other exiled nationalist into the Vietnam Revolutionary League otherwise known as the Vietminh. In 1940 Japan was given Indochina by France to not cause any war between the two countries. France already had his hands tied with Germany invading Paris.