Author's Note: This is based off the strip where Japan betrays China. I was wondering what came after, so... this was born!
Thoughts are written in italics.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia!
- Summer, 1894, China's home -
"Gomennasai, Chuugoku-san..."
Japan stands in the shadows next to the door of China's home.
"Japan? Japan, why are you outside this late at night, aru? Come inside, I made zongzi!"
Wordlessly, Japan unsheathes his katana and raises it.
"What are you doing with that, aru? Why are you pointing it at me?"
Japan slashes at China, who jumps backwards.
"JAPAN, STOP IT, ARU!" China instinctively whips out his trusty wok. Japan, undeterred, springs forward and begins to duel his older brother.
"Wha... What are you..." China's questions are cut short by Japan's relentless attack. Soon he is pressed up against the side of the house. Japan feints to the side, causing China to spin away, his back momentarily facing his younger brother as he attempts to dodge the blade. Japan slashes downwards, and a wound opens on China's back.
"AAAAHH!"
China falls to the ground face down, his blood spattering on the ground. He tries to get up, but is too weak. He realizes that this was not just something that happened to him; rather, it was something that had happened to his country. Japan... Japan has invaded me?
"I'm sorry, China... but I need to be stronger. And... this is the only way..."
China turns his head and is shocked to see the normally calm and emotionless Japan crying. But the younger nation turns away before his older brother can get a good look, and leaves with only a few words of farewell.
"Wakare, Chuugoku..."
But China can hear the immense sadness behind his words.
- That night, Location indeterminate -
Their tears strike the ground like rain, a thousand li apart, as they cry for when they had been close; after all, China had raised Japan. But now, both feared that they could never be brothers again.
Japan had never really acknowledged that China was his brother when they were in public; in fact, he had denied it multiple times. But he knew that they were brothers, though their countries, their cultures, their words were different. He loved his brother, and he feared that by betraying him, they could never have what they once had again, and that China would never forgive him.
China had cared for Japan since he found the young nation in the bamboo thickets. He had raised him, nurtured him, protected him more than he had any of his other siblings. He remembered back when Japan was young and used to call him nii-chan. Though it wasn't in his language, the title had warmed China's heart. Now he feared that Japan would never want to be his younger brother again.
And so they cried, the two ancient nations, both thousands of years old. They cried for what had been lost, and they cried for what might have been.
- A year before, China's home -
"Aiyaa... There's so much political unrest in my country right now, aru. It's really making my body hurt. I'm too old for this, aru..."
China leaned back and closed his eyes, tired after a day of running back and forth between different factions of his government, trying to reach a compromise.
"Here, China-san, I made you some tea."
China opened his eyes to see Japan coming out of his house, carrying a tea set.
"Ah, thank you, aru! Mmm..." China hummed as he took a sip. "Did I ever tell you how good your tea is, Japan?"
"Hai, multiple times, but it certainly cannot compare to yours. After all, tea originated in China."
"But you definitely improved it in many ways, aru." China smiled and sipped at his tea again.
"And please don't argue with me over it, aru," China said, seeing Japan open his mouth to protest. "I know it's in your culture to show humility; well, it's mine, too, but we've had this discussion before, aru!"
"Ah... Alright, China-san..." Japan sat down next to his older brother on the front porch.
"Say, Japan, why are you here? Doesn't your boss have work for you to do, aru?"
"Well, yes, but he's letting me have some time to myself for now. Tensions between our countries are rising, China-san, surely you've noticed."
"Aiyaa... Let's not talk about that, aru. It's not often that my favorite little brother comes to visit! Come, I'll make us dinner."
Japan nodded and followed.
The dinner was simple, but delicious. After cleaning up, the two Asian nations went back outside to sit on the porch and talk.
"What are you going to do in the future, aru?" China said, breaking the silence.
"Eh... well, I want to get stronger. The Western powers are most likely going to come to Asia, and I plan to fight them at all costs when the time comes."
"Ah... that's making my head hurt! I meant it as a simple question, aru!" China shifted so that he was leaning on his hands.
"Japan, look! The rabbit on the moon is pounding medicine, aru!" China pointed at the full moon enthusiastically.
"It's making mochi," Japan deadpanned.
China smiled, and after a while, Japan did too.
Together, the two nations enjoyed an evening of peace.
- Spring, 1895, Japanese ship in the East China Sea -
China stands defeated behind his leaders as they sign the treaty to end the war. He wears an expression of calm, his posture perfect, his gaze fixed to a spot in the distance. But inside, he is in turmoil.
He longs to hate his brother for what he did; no, not just hate, he wants to rip Japan apart. But he still loves his brother. How could he do this to me? How? Why? Please...
"China? China, get a grip," one of the generals present whispers to him. "It's your turn soon."
China nods stiffly and advances toward the low table they were using for negotiations. He lowers himself down, picking up a brush. When the treaty is handed to him, he leans over to sign...
And finds that he can't. His grip tightens on the writing instrument, threatening to break it as he tries to force himself to form the strokes that would end the war. His arm trembles. He squeezes his eyes shut, ignoring his hair, which has fallen over his shoulder.
Then, a gentle hand loosens his grip on the brush, which clatters to the ground. China looks up...
Into the eyes of Japan.
In a moment, all of their emotions are revealed to each other.
China's eyes hold love, and hate, and determination, and pain, and most of all, confusion, almost exactly mirroring Japan's. But instead of hate and confusion, Japan's eyes hold sorrow and regret.
Tears well up in China's eyes, and he jerks his gaze away, snatching up the fallen brush and carelessly scribbling his signature onto the paper. He shoves the writing utensil toward Japan, then stands and goes to the other end of the room.
Japan blinks, surprised to feel the wetness in his eyes. He shakes it away, and adds his own signature next to his sibling's. He then moves to leave the room, but before he steps out, he is shoved aside as China flees before him.
Japan suddenly realizes that his brother had stuffed something in his hand. It was a piece of paper.
"Even if our countries are different, if our words are different, if our characters are different, I will always want to gaze at the same moon as you."
Me too, Japan thinks, turning his gaze toward the night sky. Watashi wa wasurenai...
- Summer, 1937, China's home -
The second time, China is prepared.
He collapses on his bed after a long day of running back and forth between his two political parties, the Nationalist party and the Communist Party, trying to stop the fighting between the two.
"Aiyaa... Why do they have to fight so much, aru? I hurt all over... This political unrest is not healthy for me, aru..."
His door scrapes open, and China looks up, curious.
It is Japan.
China's gaze immediately hardens, his tone becoming dark. "Japan, what are you doing here, aru?"
"China-san... Can we have a day of peace? Can we forget our rivalries, just for today?"
Japan looks up from the floor, his eyes pleading, though his expression is still neutral. China's heart softens a bit, and he sits up.
"I have water boiling; I will go make some tea, aru. Why don't you go sit on the porch?"
They both hear the unspoken where we used to sit.
"Of course."
A few minutes later, China walks out, carrying a tray of tea. He sits and sets the tray down between them, pointedly ignoring the fact that Japan's katana is unsheathed, and laid next to him, out in the open.
After all, his own sword is casually leaning against the wooden support nearest to him.
Japan picks up a cup of the tea, inhaling the steam rising off of its surface. He takes a sip and sighs in contentment.
"It's been too long, nii-chan."
China glances sharply over at Japan.
"Why did you call me that, aru?" he asks carefully.
"What?" Japan thinks over what he said, blushing a bit when he realizes what he had called China. "O-Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"No, it's fine, aru. It just surprised me a bit, that's all."
China smiles, trying to relieve the tension. He quickly changes the subject.
"Ah, Japan, you're lucky that your people are united right now, aru. This fighting between my political parties is painful."
Japan gives a small smile. "But at least you aren't on bad terms with Russia, like me."
China shudders a bit. "He is scary, isn't he aru..."
They spend the rest of the afternoon complaining about their troubles, although both avoided speaking of Japan's occupation of Manchuria.
By the time the sun set, the two nations are laughing together again. But as the moon rises, China's face falls.
"So this is it, isn't it, aru? We'll have to go back to being enemies again..."
"Hai..." Japan's tone is wistful. He picks up his katana, not caring that China is watching. He examines the weapon, then grips it tightly.
"I see..." China's own sword is out, ready for use. He stands up calmly, and Japan does, too. For a moment, neither moves. Then China sighs.
"Leave, Japan. You do what you have to do, and I will do what I have to, aru."
Japan nods, backing away warily. When he at the edge of the porch, he turns and steps off. He pauses, looking up at China one last time. Then he walks away.
China lowers his sword and wipes the tears from his eyes. He notices a slip of white against the ground.
What is that? He walks over, picking up the object. It turns out to be a piece of paper. But not just any piece of paper.
No, this is the paper he slipped Japan over 30 years ago. He... he kept this? All these years?
China turns the paper over in his hands. On the back is a new line of characters, written in Japan's handwriting.
"Beneath the god who illuminates the sky, let us weave our history for another thousand years..."
China lifts his eyes, letting them settle on the bright moon. We weave our history in blood, Japan. I cannot go on like this. "Zài jiàn..."
- Winter, 1941, Somewhere in China -
China almost laughs when he hears that Japan had attacked America. But he doesn't. He can't bring himself to feel joy at the fact that another country would be joining the fight against Japan. Though he hates his brother for all the pain inflicted upon his people, he still fears for Japan's safety.
America is an impulsive young nation. Who knows what he will do... Japan, do be careful...
But China knows that this could not have come at a better time. Since the Soviet Union had withdrawn their military support that spring, after signing a non-aggression pact with Japan, China had been fighting alone. Having another ally would help him greatly.
And sure enough, the United States soon sends a group of fighter planes to fight against the Japanese.
China is waiting when America arrives at the airfield.
"Hey, China! How're you doing?"
"Fine, aru," China replies. "I'm here to show you and your people around, and to give you a general briefing of the situation."
"Dude, that's great! Hey, you should totally join the Allies! I mean, since we're all fighting against the Axis of Evil, and all."
China looks at America curiously."What 'Axis of Evil', aru?"
"Dude, you haven't heard? You know, Germany, Italy, and Japan! They're the Axis powers, right? Therefore, Axis of Evil!"
China stiffens at the mention of Germany and Italy. "I... do not think that is the best idea, aru. Germany and Italy are my friends..."
America merely gives China a blank stare. "Dude, they're allied with Japan. Japan is your enemy. That makes Germany and Italy your enemies, too."
"Things are not so clear cut, America, aru. It is only because of Germany that my military is as strong as it is now. He trained my military, and sent financial support for my modernization movement, among other things. I would not feel comfortable turning against him now, aru."
"Aww, c'mon, China! PLEASE join the Allies?" America does his best puppy dog face.
China sighs. "I suppose it would be good for our war effort, aru... Fine."
"Yeah! Welcome to the Allies, China!"
"Yes, yes, now focus on the briefing, aru!"
- Early August, 1945, China's home -
China almost drops the phone in shock. "No... Tell me that's not true!"
"I'm afraid I cannot do that, China. America has used nuclear weapons against Japan, and there is nothing I can do to change that fact."
"You are lying, ahen!" China's voice shakes in rage.
"I am not. I would have thought you would be glad for this, China." England somehow manages to stay calm.
"I... I am! But I can't- Russia just invaded Manchuria, and I can't- AGH! I am so fed up with this war, ahen!"
"Calm down, China. I do not think Japan will keep fighting for much longer, after what has happened. Expect to see a surrender within the next few weeks." With that, England hangs up.
China stares at the phone in his hand. He supposes it is good that England had hung up on him; if he hadn't, China does not know how he would have explained to the island nation that he is worried for Japan.
China looks out of his eastern window, into the first light of dawn. Japan, you always claimed that you were the land of the rising sun. But even the rising sun will eventually set...
- Early September, 1945, American ship in the Tokyo Bay -
Japan looks bad.
Though he is a master of hiding the pain, China is still able to see it in his body language. The way his posture is a little too stiff, the slight tightening of his mouth, the almost undetectable trembling of his hands...China knows his little brother is hurting, and all he wants is to take him home and care for him.
Japan... Stay strong, just for now. As soon as we finish signing the papers, I promise I'll take you home right away.
For now, though, China contents himself with squeezing his brother's hand for just a second as he walks past the younger nation.
Startled, Japan looks up, but China has already walked farther on in the direction America had disappeared. He looks down again, at the slip of paper, now worn and tattered, in his hand. It's the same one he gave to China almost ten years ago, the same one China had originally given to him 40 years ago. Japan runs his fingers over the surface, coming to a stop at the bottom of the strip. On each side, under the lines of characters they had written, is one word.
On the side where China had originally written his note, the characters are written in the Japanese order. 平和. Heiwa.
On the other side, where Japan had written his reply, the characters are written in the Chinese order. 和平. Hépíng.
Both mean peace.
Japan is surprised to find tears on his cheeks. He quickly wipes them away as the other Allies arrive.
Without a word, Japan follows them.
When they arrive at the meeting place, the official declaration of surrender is already set out. America, unusually quiet for once, gestures for Japan to go first. Hesitating only a little, Japan approaches the table. He picks up a pen and places the tip on the paper.
But his hand is trembling, hard. He mentally berates himself for showing weakness, and tries to steady his arm.
Then, suddenly, China is by his side. The older nation gently takes Japan's hand in his own, lifting it off of the paper. Japan looks up, into the concerned eyes of his brother.
In that moment, they do not need words. Japan can see the question in China's eyes: Are you OK? And China can see as Japan searches within himself, finally finding the strength to nod slightly.
China releases his brother's hand, and Japan bends down once more to place the pen on the paper. This time, he does not hesitate.
He signs, then straightens and backs away.
One by one, the Allies sign the documents, too. First America, then China, England, and Russia. Then comes Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and finally New Zealand.
Japan sways a little, relief washing over his features. Finally, the war is over...
But the relief quickly turns to pain, and he crumples to the ground. He can hear the Allies' exclamations of shock.
The last thing he sees before the world fades to black around him is China's concerned face, and his brother's voice, yelling his name.
"JAPAN!"
- A few weeks later, Japan's home -
Japan opens his eyes, blinking in the sudden light. He looks around. Where am I...?
It takes him a moment to recognize his room. It had been so long since he had last been there... All through the war, he had either been in Europe with Germany and Italy, or living with his soldiers on the front lines of the war.
He tries to sit up, but pain flares in his abdomen, and he falls back down with a cry. His door opens, and China rushes in.
"Japan! What happened, aru?"
"Ahh... China-san... Don't worry, I just tried to sit up..." Japan tries to calm his brother down.
"You're injured, you shouldn't be moving, aru."
"Hai, I know... Sumimasen..."
Japan is suddenly engulfed in a hug.
"Oh, Japan, I was so worried about you, aru! You should have stayed at home, signing the papers could have waited, we could have signed them here, at your home-" China's rambling is cut short by Japan gently pushing him away.
"Please stop, China-san. What's done is done." Japan struggles to sit up again, ignoring the pain and China's protests.
"How long have I been sleeping?"
"A few weeks, aru."
"Then I must go see the damage!" Japan tries to stand up, only to have China push him down again.
"No, you're too weak, aru!"
"But... It's my country, I have to see..."
China and Japan lock eyes for a moment, then China turns away. "Next week, aru. We can go see next week."
"Ah... Alright..."
"I'll go get your medicine and some food, aru. You must be starving." China leaves the room, and Japan settles back on his pillows.
A bit later, China returns carrying a bowl of medicine and a tray of food.
"Here, drink this first, aru."
Japan accepts the offered bowl of medicine, grimacing a little as he tastes the bitter concoction. He forces it all down with minimal gagging, then hands the bowl back to China. China quickly places it aside, then sets the food on Japan's lap.
Japan looks down in surprise. It is his favorite meal; rice, miso, pickled plums, and pickled salmon.
"Are you sure I should be eating this, China-san? I remember Germany and Italy telling me to cut down on the salt..."
"Aiyaa, those Europeans worry too much. You have been eating like this for centuries, aru. Why let it worry you now?" China smiles, a mischievous glint in his eyes, his expression reminiscent of the days before the war.
Japan smiles a little. "That is true."
China sits down next to the wall, leaning his head back on it. "I miss the old days, aru. When every day was like this..."
Japan nods. "When we were all one happy family... Hong Kong setting off fireworks everywhere, Vietnam smacking everyone with her paddle, Thailand and North Korea reading together, South Korea attempting to claim our breasts... Speaking of him, where is South Korea?"
"He went back to his own country, aru. Since you surrendered, he is no longer under any obligation to stay in your home, and his government wanted him back, so..."
"Oh..." Japan's previously happy mood drops.
China sighed. "I shouldn't really be here either, aru. My country really does not like yours right now. But I couldn't just leave you..."
"Thank you for staying with me, China-san..."
"Just focus on getting well, aru." China gives Japan a small smile.
"Of course."
- A week later, Hiroshima -
Japan leans on China as he stands at the edge of the nuclear blast zone at what was once the proud city of Hiroshima. Unconsciously, his hand moves to cover one of the wounds on his abdomen. China, however, notices his movement and quickly asks him if he is OK.
"I'm alright, China-san."
"Are you sure? Maybe we should get you home, aru. You're still healing..."
"I'm fine. Just let me stay?" Japan pleaded.
"... OK, aru. But if you start to wobble, I will drag you home!" China tries to look stern, but his worry still shows.
"Alright, China-san. Um... Can we go in?" Japan gestures towards the ruins of the city.
"Ah... why would you want to do that, aru?" China frowns.
"I... want to see the damage closer up... Although from the air would be nice, too..." Japan says, thinking to himself as much as he is answering China's question.
"Alright, fine, aru. But not for too long, there is still radiation!"
Japan slowly makes his way through the ruins with China's help. Before long, they reach spot where the bomb was dropped. Ground Zero.
Without a word, Japan pulls away from China and kneels on the ground, his lips moving silently as tears stream down his cheeks.
China backs away to a respectful distance, giving Japan his privacy to mourn his dead citizens.
After a while, Japan stands up again, stumbling a bit. China rushes over to support him, carefully leading him away.
As they reach the edge of the city, Japan speaks up.
"China-san, please take me to Nagasaki."
"Are you sure you are strong enough, aru?"
"Yes, I am fine..."
"Alright, then..."
Without another word, they turn to the south.
- Same day, Nagasaki -
The same occurred again at Nagasaki. They entered, found the drop site, and Japan mourned.
As they made their way out of the ruins, Japan stumbles a bit. China immediately catches him, holding Japan until the younger nation is steady again.
"We should go home now, aru. You don't look good, and you need a change of banda-"
"HEY JAPAN! CHINA! HAHA, fancy seeing you here!"
Both Asian nations look up in surprise at the energetic Western nation Coming towards them.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, ARU?! Do you have no shame? You dare show your face after what you did to Jap-"
Japan lays a hand on his brother's shoulder, cutting China off with a slight shake of his head.
"Why are you here, America-san?" Japan's normally neutral voice is cold.
"Dude, no need to get all hostile-"
"NO NEED TO GET ALL HOSTILE, ARU? YOU INSOLENT, ARROGANT LITTLE-"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING ARROGANT? IF IT WEREN'T FOR ME-"
"Please, both of you, stop!"
The arguing nations immediately drop the topic, both looking a bit embarrassed, although China's anger is still visible.
"America-san, why are you here?" Japan repeats his earlier question.
"I... uh..." America is suddenly sheepish, scratching his head as his cheeks redden a bit in embarrassment.
China narrows his eyes. "Just spit it out, America, aru."
"I... IcametoapologizepleaseforgivemeI'mreallyreallysorr yIdidn'tknowitwouldhurtyousomuch! Sosorry!"
The Asian nations blink in confusion.
"Uh... I didn't quite catch that, America-san..."
"I..." America takes a deep breath. "I came to apologize. I'm really sorry, Japan, for what my country did to yours."
Japan blinks again, surprised that they young nation would apologize. He had been expecting America to lord it over him, not apologize. America continues.
"I know you probably can't forgive me, but-"
"I can forgive you."
America lapses into silence. "What?"
"I can forgive you, America. But, it will take some time. It is not your fault, after all." Japan looks up at the younger nation. "Though we as nations represent our entire country, we cannot control what our people do. Yours did what they thought was right, and... and it just happened that mine suffered for it. But they - no, we - are only human, after all. We all make mistakes. You are still so very young, America. For your sake, I hope that this is your worst mistake."
Japan turns away, and China shoos America away. "Go home, America. Do not make this any worse than it is, aru."
America merely nods, and walks away.
"I hope... Someday, perhaps, we will be friends again..."
- That night, Japan's home -
China carries a tray of tea out to the porch, where Japan sits. The younger nation, fresh out of the bath, is wearing his favorite yukata. China, too, is out of uniform, and wears his mandarin jacket and a pair of loose pants. He sets the tray on the ground and sits next to Japan, letting his legs dangle over the edge.
For a few minutes, they just sit there, sipping their tea.
Finally, China sighs. "I remember when we used to do this, aru. Times have changed, haven't they, Japan?"
"Yes..." He laughed softly. "I was right, wasn't I, China-san? The western powers did come, and now they are changing us..."
China laughs a little too. "I guess you were right, aru. By the way, what will you do now?"
"Well, get stronger, I suppose. Become an influential country in this new world order. Make friends with America-san. Spread my culture. There's so much to do... I have to rebuild first, though."
"Yes..." China gazes up at the moon, as full as it was on that night over 50 years ago. "No matter how much we change, Japan, I'm always here for you, aru."
Japan smiles. "Nii-san... Shall we weave our history for another thousand years?"
"Yes, aru. Even though we are different, let us always gaze at the same moon."
And in that moment, they weren't nations, and they didn't have the weight of their countries resting on their shoulders.
They were simply brothers.
Family.
And they were at peace.
終
Author's Note: I tried to capture the character's emotions, I don't think I did very well, though...
Translations:
Gomennasai - I'm sorry. Japan actually said "Gomen" in the strip, which roughly means dismissal/pardon me (as in forgive me), but I thought gomennasai sounds better...
Chuugoku - China
Zongzi - a type of Chinese food made of glutinous rice and various stuffings wrapped in bamboo leaves. It's really yummy. If you want to see pictures, just Google "粽子"
Wakare - farewell
li - a type of traditional measuring system in China. Japan uses ri, which could be romanized as li, so... pretend it's both.
Watashi wa wasurenai - I won't forget (something like that. I think it's not in past tense, but I'm not sure how to write it in present tense in English... I am not forgetting?)
Zài jiàn - goodbye (literally, "see again". China is more hopeful than Japan. Or rather, he knows they'll meet again... That's not necessarily a good thing...)
終 - end. In both Traditional Chinese characters and Japanese kanji. Isn't it wonderful when two languages share a system of writing, and the words mean the exact same thing?
Anyways... HISTORY TIME!
Historical Notes: (you can skip these if you want, its just some random history)
On the first Sino-Japanese war:
The first Sino-Japanese war started in August of 1894 and lasted until April 1895. It was fought over control of Korea. Poor Korea. The funny thing is, neither Japan nor China calls it the First Sino-Japanese war. Japan calls it the Japan-Qing War (as in Qing dynasty, which was in power at the time) and China calls it the War of Jiawu (Jiawu refers to the year, based on a traditional calendar system. The Japanese won. I couldn't find any info on where they actually signed the surrender or ceasefire or whatever actually ended the war, so I put them on a ship somewhere in the East China Sea, since it's between China and Japan.
On the second Sino-Japanese war (WWII):
The second Sino-Japanese war officially started in July of 1937, but Japan and China had already been fighting on and off since 1931. Hence China being prepared for Japan's attack. The war was fought over Japan's imperialistic interest in taking over China, particularly China's resources. Again, neither country calls it the second Sino-Japanese war. China calls it the War of Resistance against Japan, while Japan merely calls it the Japan-China War (simple enough). In 1941, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the war was merged into WWII.
(NOTE: This was all done by the western powers. I know China does not consider the war part of WWII, and I don't think Japan intended it to be, either. Stupid western powers, thinking they can just randomly rename and re-categorize Asian wars... :) OK, I'll stop now...)
Anyways, Germany and Italy were actually good friends with China during the beginning of the war. China actually sent a diplomat to Germany to ask to join the Axis powers, saying that Japan was weaker, and that Germany would benefit more from an alliance with China. (I wonder what would have happened had that gone through...) Germany had provided a lot of economic support for China's military, and also trained it. Italy was just kinda... there. I'm not exactly sure what they did...
Even though China was technically the first of the Allies to fight against an Axis country, it didn't join the Allies until 1941, (again) after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Japan really shouldn't have done that...)
The USA was actually planning to send assistance to China before their official involvement in WWII as a result of (you guessed it) the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but they didn't actually send the assistance until after.
On the end of WWII and the surrender of Japan:
The end of the second Sino-Japanese war, and WWII, was when the USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in early August of 1945 (but you knew that already). What most people don't know is that that wasn't the only reason. Another factor in Japan's surrender was the fact that the Soviet Union invaded Japanese occupied Manchuria, and Japan really didn't want to deal with them after getting hit by two atomic weapons. Japan surrendered just a week after the bombings, but the official Instrument of Surrender (it's actually called that) wasn't signed until September. The signing actually took place on the USS Missouri, which was stationed in Tokyo Bay at the time.
Author's Note (continued): The other stuff, like Japan collapsing and China taking care of him, has no historical basis. In fact, I'm positive that China was not in a help-Japan-out mood after WWII. It's also untrue that America apologized. I think all they actually said was that it was war, and they did what they had to, and blah blah blah. Politics. Urgh.
Wow, this end note thing is really long... It's, like, 900 words... Anyways...
If you can figure out where I got the lines written on the piece of paper Japan and China pass back and forth, I'll give you a virtual cookie! (::) - see, it's right here!