China and I
Chapter X - Your Playing Pieces

I
choose

this
one.

"Kiku. You finished with arru chores yet?"
The lazed back older brother scratched his belly, still resting in his futon with riceball crumbs scattered about everywhere.
"N-neary, onii-chan."
"Stop carring me that. Sugoku kimou (it's super gross)." Dikku rose from his lying position to glare at the tiny form hastily wiping away a stain on the tatami mat.
"..! G-gomenasai! (Sorry)" The little one known as Kiku bowed very low and then returned to scrubbing.
"Mattaku (Goodness sake)...Why weru you even born?"

Kiku Honda was used to being treated like this. Every day of his life revolved around his older brother. Come morning he would go wake him up and then proceed to do both his and his brother's share of chores. Dikku would hit him from time to time, but no where that would show through his long sleeved clothes. Kiku bore with it, having been told from a young age that he was an 'accident' and that he was 'lucky to be alive'. His brother was in charge of him as his parents were too busy to take care of him.
He was told to always be content with what he was given.
He was never to complain.
Everything that happened was according to kami's (God's) plans.
After finally removing the stain Dikku had made only minutes earlier, he cautiously pushed a plate of porridge to him.
"H-here's youru asagohan (breakfast), onii-san."
"Finarry. Took you forever." Dikku grabbed it from his little brother's tiny offering hands and shovelled it down, smacking his lips loudly. "Not bad."
"Arigatou (thank you), you are too kind." Kiku bowed low again and exited the room quietly.
As soon as he reached his room, he fell onto his knees, the bruise on his back still hurting from where Dikku had hit him.

"Make this stop... ret it end..." He prayed silently, his teeth gritted, forcing his tears back whilst his small body shivered.
Kiku Honda wiped his brown eyes and engraved into his heart this message:

"All older siblings are good for nothing and will face you with ulterior motives."

This
one.

"Hey, move aside, stupid."
"You need to do what I asked you an hour ago. You're so slow."
"Christ, Arthur. Are you really going to remain this useless for the rest of your life?"
The little boy escaped to the forest, panting as he ran, and stumbling every now and then.
"Those gits...if only they would just appreciate who I am...the way I am." He finally reached a clearing and planted himself there, tiny body spread out.
It was a quiet forest, silence except for birdsong. Some rabbits crept up to their familiar friend and nestled in his lap.
"You're the only ones I can turn to. Unlike them, you actually care about me. Thank goodness you're here." Arthur Kirkland smiled and hugged them to his chest, his green eyes warm.
He was sick of being ordered around by every member in the large family he was from and often ran out to the forest, finding solace with his woodland friends.
Arthur spent his free time doodling in the dirt. He had a huge imagination that no one appreciated except his animal friends, and he could spend hours just jotting down stories to tell them, and illustrating the ideas that poured forth. He was often teased in school for being a "know it all" who didn't have any friends but those "bloody imaginations".
Comfortable with the soft breeze and the warmth of the rabbit's fur, Arthur Kirkland fell asleep murmuring softly:

If reality does not appreciate me for who I am, I will fixate myself to fiction.

And
this
one.

"Alfred, dear, don't go too far now! Mummy and Daddy are going to talk a bit with these nice people."
"Okay~" He happily called back and ran to the babbling brook, looking into it to see his own reflection. His blue eyes were almost the same colour and he giggled. He was easily amused.
"I wonder where I should explore today? Everyone here is so nice~ Maybe I should go visit the big brothers in that house? They might give me some cake again!"
Alfred Jones skipped excitedly to the said location and wandered around the front of the house for a bit after discovering no one was home.
He was an only child, and dearly loved by all. His parents were often scolded for spoiling him too much but they wanted nothing more than to see him smile. Because of this, Alfred put a lot of trust even in strangers he had never met before. He was a very open and cheerful boy, and loved to spend his days running around the field, exploring new places, and pretending to claim certain places his 'own'. The only thing he feared was being alone. That was the one thing Alfred Jones could not stand, so his parents made sure that never happened. Whenever he was scared and felt alone, he would tell himself that he would conquer his inner fears and be his own hero.
Having run fully around the house, pretending to dodge made up baddies, he ran up the hill and came to a rest at the top with a satisfied huff. Quickly looking around to make sure nobody else was within earshot, Alfred Jones shouted out on impulse:

"It doesn't matter if there is evil in the world, I will be the hero to protect both myself and the people I love!"

They will all find salvation very soon.
Don't you worry.
A human life is a waste to these children.
Their names are not befitting of them.
We will give them new ones.
They will prosper much better in this selected life.
Kiku Honda.
You will hence forth be known as 'Japan'.
Arthur Kirkland.
You are now named 'Britain'.
Alfred Jones.
We wil call you 'America'.
Now...isn't that so much better?
You do not need those people you call 'family'.
We will wipe them from existence.
Come forth into this new life.
You will surely be happy.
Forever and ever.

This is all wrong.
They are hurting and I must help them.
I don't care if it's against the rules.
I am entering this world.
I need a name...
I suppose the one I currently have won't do.

Yes, I know the procedure will be painful.
Who do you think I am?
...Right. But don't call me that for the time being.
Please address me as 'Shanghai' from now on.
It blends in so much better.