A/N: The extremely late (I'm sooo sorry) final installment of Secret to the Bamboo Grove.

I lounged in the plushy chair. It was a little short, so my legs were sprawled out on the straw mat floor which was out of place in the otherwise Western style room. I blew my bangs away from my forehead and drummed my fingers on the arm of the chair. Yao had said the meeting was urgent, but if it was so important, why was he late?

As if on cue, the door suddenly swung open and a guard entered followed by Yao. The Chinese man looked exhausted with his long hair threatening to escape its ponytail and his once bright, warm amber eyes were dull and defeated. He waved at his guard. "Leave us."

With a deep bow, the other man left leaving Yao and I alone. I tried for a smile.

"Hey, Yao! Not looking so good, huh?"

He managed to smile back and bowed, "I apologize for being late aru."

"Don't sweat it." I gestured to the seat in front of me, encouraging him to sit down. After taking his seat, Yao's shoulders seemed to sag as though relieving a great burden from his back.

"You're probably wondering why I asked you to come all of a sudden."

"Um, yeah. I kinda have a war I gotta fight right now," I tried to keep my tone light. That was the best way to deal with a war when your opponent was someone you once thought was your best friend.

"We all do aru," Yao fingered the cuffs of his uniform, not meeting my eyes. "I hear the war with… with Japan is going well."

"We're getting ready for an invasion this October."

He nodded, finally raising his head. "There is something I think you should know aru. It is a secret much of Asia has kept hidden for centuries." I leaned forward despite myself, my curiosity piqued. "Have you ever wondered why there seems to be two completely different Japans? In the world meetings he is calm and reserved, yet in war he is cruel and ruthless?"

I nodded. I hadn't met Kiku in battle yet, but I'd heard the stories. Yao seemed to take a mental breath before continuing. "That's because there are two Japans aru. Kiku has a twin brother. I raised them both."

I stared at him, then broke into nervous laughter. "You're joking right?"

He glared at me irritably, "Do I look like I have time to be joking?"

"No it's just…" I trailed off, trying to think of something lighthearted to say, but nothing was forthcoming. I slumped back. This was definitely not cool. "Why did you keep it secret all this time?"

"There was no reason to tell you, or anyone else, in the beginning. When you forced Japan to open up its trading ports, Takeshi came to the Asian countries and made us all swear not to reveal his identity. Japan was not a strong country then, but they feared Takeshi and I was too weak to oppose him. I didn't see the harm in it at the time, but I see now I was too naive to see Takeshi's true intent. We all kept our word, and Kiku never brought it up. He was always like that- so willing to follow his brother.

"So… you're telling me I have to defeat his brother too?"

"If you want to win this war, yes. But Takeshi won't go down without a fight aru," Yao's normally cheery amber eyes darkened.

"None of us will," I said with a grim smile. I started to rise from the chair. "If that's all then I really need to get on back."

"One last thing." He stood with me, that intense look still in his eyes. "I have a favor to ask you aru."

"Sure," I shrugged, readjusting my bomber jacket.

"Just… end the war quickly. Kiku doesn't deserve all of… all of this." He gestured vaguely. "Neither of them do. No matter what they've done, they're still my brothers aru."

I hesitated, my mind wandering back to the secret project back at home. Yao didn't know about it did he? Looking at his face though, I saw only a man trying to save his brothers from suffering. I clapped him on the shoulder causing him to stumble slightly. "I'll do what I can," I said sincerely, then gave him the best grin I could manage. "Besides, I'm the hero aren't I?"

"Sir, Taiwan's on the line."

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. Wasn't Taiwan China's little sister? The one who was Japan's colony? I couldn't remember ever talking to her outside of meetings. Shrugging, I scooted my rolling chair (which is totally awesome by the way) over to the phone and picked it up.

"This is the milkman, bringing dairy daily how may I help you?"

There was a pause on the other end. "What?"

I sighed. Everyone was so uptight nowadays. "My bad, that was an awful pun wasn't it? Hmm, I'll have to think of another one."

"Oh! Sorry Mr. Jones I thought they'd given me the wrong number." The girl on the other end of the line let out a little laugh, but it was hollow and forced. I felt sorry for her. She'd always been so cheerful and bright from what I remember.

"Call me Alfred. Anyway, what's up? The hero is always here to help! " I twirled the phone cord absentmindedly. My secretary would probably scold me again if she caught me. Last time I'd gotten the line horribly tangled and they'd had to get me a new one.

"Well…" There was another pause. "It's about… About Japan." Her voice grew fainter on the phone. I furrowed my brow again.

"What about him?"

"I just… I want to know what will happen to me after the war." I had a feeling that wasn't her real question, but I let it go.

"I guess that depends on China, but I can assure you Japan won't hurt you anymore," I smiled out of habit into the phone, but I still felt my stomach twist uncomfortably. Although my nation's rage at the Japanese army was understandable, I was still reluctant to declare Japan my enemy.

"Japan didn't hurt me." I blinked in surprise at her defensive tone and she quickly added. "At least, Kiku didn't."

"Takeshi?"

"How did you know about him?"

"Yao talked with me." I waved my hand even though she couldn't see me. "Don't worry Taiwan, I'm taking care of it. The war will be over soon." I found myself repeating the president's words to me. As much as I wanted to believe him, I wasn't sure if I did. When the silence stretched on I fidgeted. I didn't like silence. I said reassuringly, "You'll be back with your brother before you know it."

"I'm not sure if I want to go back." She sounded as if she were talking more to herself than to me. I shifted uncomfortably. As much as I loved helping people, I wasn't good with all this feeling stuff.

"Hey," I tried to soften my voice- that's what Arthur used to do when he comforted me. "Everything's going to be okay."

There is a small smile in her voice when she replies, but it's still tinged with sadness. "Thanks, Mr. Jones."

"Call me Alfred."

When she hangs up, I have a feeling that she didn't say what she called to tell me.

Yao had been telling the truth. Kiku did have a twin brother. They stood side by side now, night and day. Kiku with his black hair falling neatly into place and white uniform crumpled and singed. His dark brown eyes looked as empty and grave as ever, his hands hanging limply at his sides. His brother, Takeshi, stood tensely with his katana gripped tightly in his left hand. His eyes, filled with fury and hatred, burned into my own while his mantle whipped violently in a gust of wind. Yao stood at my side, bayonet at hand- not that it was needed. He had offered to accompany me and, to be honest, I was grateful. Ivan still had yet to arrive (I was pretty sure the commie was just biding his time) and most of Europe, while willing to help, was mostly in shambles.

No one said a word as we faced each other. The silence was deafening and I itched to say something, anything, to make the situation less serious. But that was just it. There was nothing more serious than war. I didn't even have the satisfaction of feeling like a hero. Our new weapon, the pride of the USA, was in my hands, but I felt numb.

"You have a choice to surrender or face prompt and utter destruction." I was almost scared by how steady, how cold my voice is. The words dropped mechanically from my mouth.

"What talkie did you pull that line from?" The darker twin, Takeshi, sneered, but I saw his hand tighten on his katana's handle. I narrowed my eyes at him, my fear replaced by anger. He deserved this. He deserved this for all the lives he'd claimed. I was doing the right thing. Right?

"Brother," Kiku murmured quietly, shooting his twin a swift glance. "Perhaps we should consider his proposition-"

"No!" There was a hint of hysteria in Takeshi's voice, but he rounded on his brother in fury. "We are samurai, Kiku. It is our duty to protect the holy emperor."

"Do you really believe that?" His voice was so soft it was almost whisked away by the gathering wind. "The age of the samurai is no more. It ended long ago."

Time was slipping away. As much as I hated what they had done, I didn't want to have to fire at someone I'd called my friend. I silently willed Kiku to convince his brother, to not force me to do what I had to do.

"Have you forsaken your sacred duties as Japan?" Takeshi's voice raged with fervor, his eyes ablaze. I understood then where the tenacity of the Japanese soldiers came from. It was at the very core of their country. "We are no longer a nation, Kiku. We are an empire. A name to be feared in the East."

"Takeshi, please," a hint of desperation crept into the other brother's voice. "Our people are suffering. We've already lost."

My fingers moved on their own accord. I cocked the gun. "Time's up."

Kiku's pleas were drowned out by Takeshi's furious shout. He drew his katana, holding it aloft so that it gleamed in the sun. But the ancient warrior was no match for the new world's weapons. With a sharp bang the first shot rang out and he fell to his knees, his face contorting in pain. A normal gunshot would not have been enough to bring a nation down, but this was no ordinary gun. A strange tingling spread through me. This was the power of the atomic weapon. With enough force to send a nation to his knees in a single shot, this, the weapon I held, would be the ultimate tool in bringing about world peace. It was an enticing, exhilarating power. I felt sick.

Kiku's cry brought me back to the present. His eyes, so calm and unreadable, were wide with shock. He grasped his brother by the shoulders, his knuckles white, as the other struggled to remain upright.

"Takeshi!" I'd never seen him so panicked and I felt my heart constrict.

"Let go of me," Takeshi hissed, trying, but failing, to push his brother away. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes still simmered like burning embers. "This war isn't over yet."

"Last chance." My hand trembled, but my voice was cold and flat. I hated myself. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

"Takeshi, you have to let it go. You're hurting us. You're hurting them. Let me surrender."

"No!" He sounded frantic now and instead of pushing away his brother, he gripped his rumpled white uniform. "We do not surrender. That is not the Japanese way."

"We have to let go, Takeshi." There was something gentle, but final in Kiku's voice and he stood, pulling away from his brother's grip. He faced me with solemn resolve and spread his arms.

"No. Kiku, don't force me to do this." I shook my head, knowing what he wanted. I could no longer bring myself to see him as an enemy. This wasn't the revenge I'd wanted, but I couldn't put the gun down.

"Damn it, Kiku! What're you doing?! Don't be a coward!" Takeshi was on his hands and knees now. He coughed, dark blood spattering the ground, but his fingers dug fiercely into the earth.

"We've lost." The seconds ticked by.

"I won't surrender!" But his crimson gaze was torn. My finger tightened around the trigger.

I closed my eyes. It'd be impossible to miss. Someone pulled the trigger.

"Kiku, no!" Bang!

When I opened my eyes, it was not Kiku who stood in front of me, but Takeshi. The dark young man must've managed to struggle to his feet and knock his brother out of the way. His face was twisted into a grimace and his free hand clutched his side where a dark splotch bloomed just above the first wound. I could only stare, dumbfounded, as he crumpled and Yao rushed forward to catch him before he fell to the ground. Kiku, who'd been shoved to the ground, seemed to wake from his daze and scrambled to his brother's side. I stood, the gun in my hand hanging by my side limply. I looked on, detached- as though everything before me was happening behind glass.

"Why are you so stupidly selfless?" Takeshi coughed, glaring at his twin, but his eyes had lost their ire. His brother only gripped his hand, his face pale and stricken. Yao cradled the young man's head in his arm, but his amber eyes were dark and distant. I thought I remembered that look. It was the same look Arthur gave me after our war. Like he wanted so bad to be furious with me, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Yao?" Takeshi's voice was fainter now, but he fixed his gaze on his former caretaker.

"I'm here."

"I promised you… that I would be a great nation."

Yao closed his eyes. "And you were. Just not in the way I thought you'd be."

"Can you… can you forgive me?"

"Perhaps in time," Yao's amber eyes were full of pain, but also love.

Takeshi was fading fast, his breathing slowing, but he managed to turn back to Kiku. There was a ghost of a regretful smile on his lips. "I'm sorry Kicchan."

He fell still. And the only sound was the roar of far-off airplanes. He would return, but he would never be the same. I stared up at the gray sky. In one day I'd seen the fall of a nation and the rise of a new, terrifying power. But I'd also seen the end of a great war. There was no triumph. Funny I thought I'd be feeling more like a hero. That's the thing I've learned about wars. There's rarely a hero. In this moment though, there is peace.

A/N: Again, I'm sooo sorry this is late. It took me forever to write this because the final scene just kept coming out awkward and it just didn't feel right... I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but at this rate it'll never get posted so here it is! I don't have as many historical notes (I know, I'm shocked too) this time because this really wasn't very historical so I apologize for any historical mistakes I made in advance ^^;

Also, I'm sorry if America seems so OOC in the end! I was trying to show how his human feelings and his citizen's sentiment and government are in conflict. (I also apologize for that horrific pun haha) He's also more of an observer in this chapter in comparison to China and Taiwan who interacted directly with both Kiku and Takeshi. Takeshi may come off as a bit OOC as well, but I was trying to show how he changed.

Notes:
- America and China's meeting in the first scene is entirely fictional. I felt that I should show how much China care's for his brother though, so that's why included it. China was also not involved when America dropped the atomic bomb (that I know of), but I felt like he should be there.
- Taiwan's phone call to America was not entirely random and their relationship was actually pretty strong in the post-WWII/early Cold War years.
- Part of the reason America is so detached after Takeshi falls is because that's how America was after the atomic bomb in a sense. The pilots who actually bombed Japan (not just the atomic ones) often said they felt disconnected, like they weren't directly killing people, and that's why they didn't feel as guilty about what they did compared to say foot soldiers who were directly involved in combat.

Yay! I can't believe this took me over 6 months to finish. Well, I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Thank you so much for your support! I couldn't have finished it without you guys~