Miles Apart Except in the Heart [Korean Drama]

[southkorea]

- M i l e s . A p a r t . E x c e p t . i n . t h e . H e a r t -



- A Korean Drama -

The sky was rather dreary and overcast as Yong Soo neared the border of his territory. But it would take more than just lousy weather to stop the upbeat southern Korean nation. Today he was on a very special mission that he had assigned to himself on a whim that very morning.

"Alright! I'm really close to his house, daze!" He exclaimed, grinning to himself. "That didn't take much time at all!"

"A-ah..Mr. South Korea, sir! What are you doing here?" Asked one of his citizens, possibly a soldier who was patrolling the border. It looked a little odd that Yong Soo was being addressed as "sir" when the other man looked much older. He looked rather shocked to see Yong Soo, whether it be the fact that he was straying so close to the border or the sight of the Korean's strange outfit.

"If you go any father than this point, you'll definitely be shot at!" The man continued, "Don't do anything crazy, sir…And on top of that, you'll probably get in big trouble with your bosses."

The Korean just gave him a friendly smile. "Don't worry, I'll be fine! And with this disguise, no one could possibly tell who I am!"

"..Erm..I did, sir."

Yong Soo stared at the man for a moment, almost looking like he were pouting a bit. "...You don't count."

He was quite proud of his disguise actually. A black leotard with a handlebar mustache, a top hat, and fancy tap-dance shoes. He was also carrying a large basket, which had been rather sloppily decorated with sparkly stickers. Inside the basket was a container of fresh-made sweets, and his usual han-bok was stuffed inside there too, to be used mostly as cushioning. With a smile and a reassuring wink, he wandered off towards the border where North Koreans with guns would be waiting for him on the other side. With all the confidence in the universe, he happily tap-danced over the border and the bullets began to fly. Frantically dancing around, but with an over-confident grin still plastered on his face, he quickly made his way to safety behind a supply shed while dodging bullets all along the way.

Once there, after panting to catch his breath, he snuck away and headed down the road towards his brother's house. This part made him quite depressed, despite his ridiculous appearance. He passed his brother's hungry citizens and tried to offer some of the snacks he brought with a sincere smile, but most of them frowned or shied away. Perhaps it was because he was obviously an outside, or maybe it was just his ridiculous get-up.

He reached his brother's house just in time before the rain kicked in. He conjured his usual grin, though walking around town sort of put a damper on his spirits. Some of this was his fault, in a way. But what could he do? Forcing the bad thoughts to the back of his mind he knocked on the door with a smile.

"Guess who?!" He called out, smiling and swinging the basket to and fro. All that work to get here would be worth it. Yong Soo was sure of it.

[North Korea]

Walking to the window mechanically, Dae Jyun parted the dark curtains a bit, squinting up at the sky. It looked like rain was coming. Oh great.

He hated the rain. Somehow, a cloudy day with drops of water falling down from the dark, vast space high above reminded him of tears, of the many pains and hardships he had to endure over the years. Sure enough, even though he was but sixteen years, he has gone through many things, far more than what an ordinary human would go through at such an age. He was mature, adult-like, losing all his innocence and his childish curiosity that day he first fired a gun.

Though he appeared fierce to all, a strong-willed, hot-tempered, talented connoisseur, feared by many and hated by most, unintimidated by anything, and will willingly go through any means to achieve what he wants, he is still an ordinary boy, with ordinary feelings. All the pain he's holding in, his loving and caring side that only a few have seen, all of that was part of his façade. However, there was one thing about him that no one knows of.

Deep down, in the farthest depths of his soul, lay a heart that still beat with love. His stony, icy appearance, coupled with him pointing his pistols at anyone and everyone except the very few he trusts; his stern face, brows permanently furrowed together; his rigid, military-like posture, intimidating air, and mature demeanor: all of these were his defense, to shut out the world, to show that he is a strong being who does not affiliate his work with personal feelings.

Or perhaps... perhaps to hide his fragility, his not-so-obvious weakness, because he believes everyone is against him, and indeed they maybe are. However, deep down... he really wants to be just himself, a silly sixteen-year old who cares nothing for politics and guns and all that shit.

Most of all... he just wants the freedom to express what he really feels, to tell the people that was dear to him all that he wanted to tell them.

Especially his brother.

He wanted to hold him close again, to tuck him into bed and give him a goodnight kiss on the forehead, to take care of him, to scold and berate him to teach him the error of his ways. He wanted to feel, to act like his older brother, to tell him freely that he still loved him no matter how many times he gets angry at him.

It hurts. Every time he has to point his pistol at his brother, or to kick him or to thwap him, it hurts. But he can't stop doing it. He had to. From that day they parted ways, that day they pointed a gun at each other and made war, he vowed that he will never show feelings towards his brother again. Because if he does, he knows both of them will get hurt in the end.

Sighing heavily and biting his lip, he had just turned away from the curtain when just a few seconds after, the rain fell. The dreaded drops of liquid pit-pattering on his roof instantly brought his mood down more than ever. He suddenly had the urge to get out of his house, to soak himself in the rain, to let the offending liquid drip down his face, and hide his tears. He was about to do just that when a cheerful voice that he knew anywhere called out.

"Guess who?!"

Putting back on his intimidating mask, he trudged over to the door and threw the door open, glaring at his happy-go-lucky brother. Even though this hurts, even though this pains him and gnaws on his very soul, he must speak out his customary 'greeting.'

"What the fuck are you doing here?" His glare trailed up and down to survey his brother, and that's when he grew wide-eyed. Facepalming, he all but pulled and dragged the younger inside, wincing at the thought of his poor people seeing his brother in this ridiculous get-up.

"Yong Soo. What the fuck are you doing here in THAT outfit? Goddammit, did you pass through the border again?! Did I not tell you not to fucking do that?! Are you shot anywhere? Geez, goddammit, what am I going to do with you?!"

Yes, he still cared for his brother.

[southkorea]

Yong Soo blinked up at the gray, gloomy heavens as a few raindrops landed on his face. His smile faded as his mind began to wander. It had been raining on that day too. The day he fired his gun at his brother, and his brother's people for the first time. He'd never forget that day, the looks in their eyes.
South Korea couldn't dwell on the thought for two long, because soon the door opened and he was staring face-to-face with his brother. A smile ignited once again, despite his brother barking curses at him. Even though their relationship is complicated and difficult now, and even though a lot of the time it's painful, the fact that his brother still yells it him was reassuring to Yong Soo's doubtful heart. His brother may hate him, but at least he still acknowledged him. For now, that would have to do.

"Yong Soo. What the fuck are you doing here in THAT outfit? Goddammit, did you pass through the border again?! Did I not tell you not to fucking do that?! Are you shot anywhere? Geez, goddammit, what am I going to do with you?!"


After being pulled inside and barked at again, the boy winked at his brother and removed the moustache and tophat. "Haha! So you recognized me, da ze! Don't worry," He said with a smirk that screamed 'cocky', "With this disguise, getting across the border was easy!" He was completely forgetting about the whole 'getting shot at' part of it.

"So everything's cool, da ze! I brought a change of clothes 'cause it's kinda chilly in this thing even though it's fun to wear. Don't you think it suits me?" He beamed at Dae Jyun, still quite proud of his disguise. Though, his cheerfulness…it wasn't completely genuine. There were still a lot of mixed emotions deep inside the boy, but he dared not let anyone realize that. Not even his brother.

"Oh, and I brought sweets, too!" He set down the basket and kicked of his tap shoes near the door. Pulling his han-bok from the basket, he wandered into the house rather rudely. "So…where’s the toilet again, da ze..?" He figured the least he could do was change before his brother pops a blood vessel. He wandered down the hall, looking in every direction with a small smile on his lips and fascination in his eyes. It had been so long since he'd been here. Too long. Oh, how things have changed.

_____________
A/N: I'm sorry this post is so fail. ;A;

[North Korea]

Dae Jyun, was, in fact, amused that his brother could even pull off these kinds of antics. No, he wasn't annoyed that the other had come in such an outfit at all; in fact, that was a funny sight in his eyes. But, alas, that amusement cannot, must not, ever be shown. Keeping a firm glare on his brother, he masked all his amusement and worry with one simple fierce look, raising an eyebrow as the other wandered into the house.

Not that he minded. This used to be his house too... until that wretched day they were separated by those goddamn westerners. If it wasn't for that Russian, or that American... they would have still been together. As brothers. As loving brothers, even. None of these stupid ideological differences, or these differing economies, and whatnot. Hell, even their cultures and language were different now, and they were basically supposed to be Koreans.

He longed for the day where there would be no such thing as North or South Korea, but just Korea. The day where he'll be able to hold his brother freely in his arms again without anyone judging or berating him for it. The day where he'll be able to tuck him into bed and sing him a Chosun lullaby, the empire they ran together and grew up in together... the empire that symbolized their unity and strength... until unexpected circumstances tore everything apart.

Rain. Dripping water. A symbol of tears. Why did the heavens have to cry out now, when he was most vulnerable of spilling tears himself? Clenching his hand into a fist, he growled at his brother rather forcefully, "Down the hallway, to the left, first door." Simple. Stark. Direct. Offering no tone of endearment, or feeling, just a simple instruction that he would bark to someone he considered a subordinate. He couldn't help it. He had to.

Slipping away to another room in the house, though, as his brother was distracted, he wanted to take his melancholy out on something. He couldn't cry here. He wouldn't cry here. Not with his brother around. He needed another outlet to at least express whatever he was feeling inside, even just a bit. He needed to get it out, somehow... or else he wouldn't know what he could do.

If only he could express it through music, like they have always done; for him, music was a symbol, an outlet, something that will express fully whatever he had wanted to convey, and yet could find no words befitting it. If only he could-- Wait, he could. Walking briskly up the stairs to a secluded part of the house, he opened a door long abandoned and peeked inside, trying the lights. It still worked. He dug through the piles of things, mostly memory stuff that he did not want to see, and brought out a violin case. It was old, it was out of tune, and he hadn't played in so long he might have forgotten everything that he had learned... but he had to try. To express himself in a way that wasn't violence, or swearing, or target practice; to unleash the gentle boy that was hiding in him; to show that he, too, still had a heart, no matter how much it seemed like he didn't anymore.

Brushing the dust off the case, he gingerly took out the instrument and ran his fingers through the strings, producing an off but still quite beautiful sound. He let a small smile graze his lips as he took it out of the case, together with the bow, and blew off the dust from it. Perfect. Positioning it onto his shoulder, he tried to get back into the feeling again... and that's where he was reeled in, back into a world he thought he had forgotten.

Adjusting the strings so that it was in tune again, he was surprised as all of his knowledge about the instrument started coming back to him. To be able to hold something other than a gun in his hands, and to hold it so gently, almost as if caressing it... it somehow gave him a feeling that everything would be alright, that he could let everything out without using words, and people would understand him. After the violin was tuned out, he savored the pleasant sound it made, so near to the beauty of the human voice, and so near to his heart that he had locked up long ago. Forgetting where he was, and even the fact that his brother could possibly hear, he began playing a slow, soft melody, a song of long ago, a sad, slow song that expressed all that he was feeling inside.

A lone tear dripped out from his left eye as he continued with the motion, the bow upon the strings gliding along smoothly; he didn't even know what the hell he was playing anymore. He let his fingers, and his heart speak out for him. It was a melody that contained what he had bottled up inside, for so long, and for so many reasons. He whispered, unconsciously, almost inaudibly, the very words he had wanted to say for so long, and yet could never do so.

"내 사랑하는 형제여, 내가 어떻게 내가 당신을 난 여전히 당신을 사랑 보여 줄 수 소원..."

[/color][/blockquote]

-----
Translation: "My beloved brother, how I wish that I can show you that I still love you..." (Just a note: If Yong Soo heard him say this, he would understand it. It's the South Korean language.)

[southkorea]

Yong Soo fumbled with his clothes as he closed the door to the washroom. Setting his han-bok down on the edge of the sink, he turned and started hopping on one foot as he tried to rid himself of his "disguise". Practically falling over, he was finally free and shivered. Was it always this cold? He shrugged it off and began humming merrily to himself as he slipped on the han-bok. Though, the humming was a bit of a distraction if the South Korean was really being honest with himself, for there were a lot of things going through his mind.

By now he should be totally used to his brother's glares and sharp, snapping words, but he wasn't. He pretended it didn't affect him, but every scowl, every curse…It crushed him inside. Whenever he approached his brother, though meetings were quite rare to begin with, he did it with a small shimmering fragment of hope in his heart. Though that fragment was surrounded by doubt and anxiety, it was still there. Though it was times like these where it felt as if that hope had been stomped on, despite how desperately Yong Soo clung to it. Thankfully, his brother would never know any of this. His seemingly confident grin and overzealous, impossible persona masked it all.

Once changed into his normal attire, he blinked as he noticed something. A faint noise? He opened the door and peeked down the hall. No, it was a song. He could hear it more clearly now, though it was still just barely audible. He listened around curiously, trying to follow in the song's direction. He stepped up the stairs lightly, not making a sound. He was as quiet as the air the air itself that hung in that lonely house. A rare thing for Yong Soo, but he needed to be able to hear that song, that enchanting melody that seemed to hypnotize him into following it. Again he found himself at the end of a hallway that was rather dark. It looked as if this area of the house was not visited very often. His eyes widened as he noticed there was light pouring from a room towards the end. He stepped forward, and the music grew louder. He finally reached the door and looked in, and to his amazement, it was Dae Jyun.

With a small smile, he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. His brother's back was to him, so he had no knowledge of Yong Soo standing there, admiring his playing. It was breathtaking. The South Korean had forgotten how wonderful his brother's playing was, and the music almost brought him to tears right then and there. What gripped his heart the most was the emotion in it, the sadness. He could feel it, and relate to it. Just by listening, he knew exactly what his brother had been keeping inside. His sad, wistful smile disappeared for a moment as he heard a faint whisper.

"내 사랑하는 형제여, 내가 어떻게 내가 당신을 난 여전히 당신을 사랑 보여 줄 수 소원..."

He had to let it process for a second or two. He wasn't sure if what he had just heard was real, or a dream. All of this felt like a dream actually. After a few moments his eyes started to well with tears at those words, but he didn't cry. He couldn't make a scene. Not now. And as much as he wanted to respond to those words, he just couldn't. He didn't say a word. It would be a crime to interrupt something so… beautiful.

[North Korea]

The haunting, excruciating melody continued to fill his ears as bow upon strings glided along, smoothly, unfailing, never stopping. The music itself had no set melody; hell, he wasn't even playing something contemporary, extraordinarily complicated, or famous. It was something composed right on the spot, a song coming straight from his heart, a song that conveyed everything he needed to say, and could not be said. Pain. Loneliness. Longing. Grief. Isolation. More longing. And finally... a sad ending. The last note, so long, so low, and so tragedy-stricken, it was painful to the ears, and to the heart. Even those with hearts of stone could be moved by it.

Not noticing his brother at this point, he sunk low to the ground, his fists clenching tightly around the neck of the violin, the other around the bow. He shed tears, tears that he had kept in after all these years. He had not cried... not since that day. He didn't even cry when he pointed a gun at his brother and shot him, but he was dying inside. Slowly, he was dying inside. There was hope in him, that one little light flickering strong that one day, one day he will be together with his brother again. And this time, forever. And when that day comes... He will never allow anything, anyone, to get in their way again. Unification, at this point though, was impossible. And he knew that. Painfully, he knew that... Which is why he was on the floor, right now, shedding the tears he knew he couldn't shed in front of his brother.

He had played a beautiful melody. By professional and ordinary standards, it was a gorgeous tune, pleasant to the ears. But that was not the only asset of this particular song. It was designed to relay whatever he felt that he could not verbalize, in hopes that his brother might hear. He wanted his brother to hear. Somehow, inside of him, even though it seemed ridiculous, he wanted his brother to hear, to feel what he was feeling. He wanted to be able to look into his eyes, eyes that were so much like his, and read his soul... and let his own soul be read.

Wiping the tears from his eyes, he tried to compose himself as he quietly, as if nothing had happened, put the violin and the bow back into its case, hiding it from view again. He now knew he had an outlet... but he couldn't make a scene now. It would be weird for him to be seen by his brother crying. Adjusting his cap so it obscured half of his face, he prepared to go out of the room.... Only to find the one person he did NOT want to see right there.

South Korea.

Yong Soo.

His brother.

His twin.

The one who the music had been for.

Feeling his voice catch in his throat, he could neither snap nor say anything at the other nation. How long had he been there? He was sure that the other had probably seen him crying... But how long had he been there? Could he possibly have heard the music from the bathroom, and sneaked in, without him knowing? Was he that engrossed in his music?

Finding his voice, finally, it was small and mumbling as he kept his eyes trained on the ground, flushing, almost as if fresh tears were about to fall from his eyes. "Y-Yong... Yong Soo, I... I... I didn't... I mean, I..." He was never good with words, but this was ridiculous. He could not form a coherent sentence to save his life right now... and that scared him. He would have had a snide remark, a sarcastic comment, or some rude snapping, always ready for his brother... But he had none of them. And that was terrifying.

Keeping his eyes glued to the floor, he shifted his foot, controlling himself from just rushing forward and throwing himself into his brother's arms. But perhaps... Perhaps just one time, that he could reassure the other that he still loved him? And tell him everything he was doing, all the "hatred" he was showing, was an act? After all... they were hardly in public. They were safe in the vicinity of his house... so long as nothing was wired to watch their every move. But... that was out of the question. Dae Jyun had checked every nook and cranny not two days ago, and no one has come by since. Maybe he could try to tell his feelings... right now.

"Yong Soo, I... I... I know you heard me playing." He started lamely, in a small, quiet voice akin to a shy child. "...If you had understood the melody, you would know... you would know what I'm feeling... I... I love you, brother. All these years, even when I said I hated you, when I said I wanted you out of my sight, when I pointed my gun at you... even then, I still love you. It's never changed. You'll always be my precious little brother... Yet so out of my reach. I..." Dae Jyun moved towards the other slowly, timidly, as if unsure, looking straight at him with teary, burdened brown eyes, forced to mature, yet still the terrified teenager he really was.

"Even just this once, Yong Soo... Will you allow me to hug you?"

[South Korea]

What I can give you will have
It is fate that brought us here
_________________

Each note. Each beautiful, haunting, longing note filled his ears, feeling as though he were being held by the music; held by the same desperate emotions that Yong Soo himself wanted to be rid of. The deep pain, grief, the longing to be fully and truly reunited with his brother...To run up that hill again, back to their spot. Their special place from their childhood, the one where he one day hoped to be able to return too at the top when they can finally rule the country again together. While the melody was painful to listen too, he rubbed at his eyes with his han-bok covered hand to make sure no tears fell. He wouldn't cry, not this time.

He wanted to step forward as his brother dropped onto the floor, raising his arm for a second to reach out to him with spread fingers before they curled into a fist again with his arm dropping back to his side at the first soft sounds since the music ended...The quiet sounds of a person crying. He wanted so badly to step forward, to cling tightly onto his older brother, say words of reassurance that everything would one day be ok. That one day they wouldn't have to sneak about. Wouldn't have to put each other into dangerous situations and risk being shot or worse just to cross the border just to see the other in secret.

No, he couldn't...Not now at least. He's never seen his brother cry, not that he could actually remember anyway. His older brother was always the stronger one, the one who held more carefully tight to his emotions. Not even that day when they faced each other on the battlefield, that day when they pointed guns at the other, that day when he was shot with the bullet just barely nicking his own heart. Even though he had been felled by his own brother that day, told that he was no longer his brother...He never gave up hope, even when Dae Jyun did. One of them had to cling onto the last burning lantern, he had too. He could never be able to live with himself if he did, he knew that.

Watching his brother put the instrument away in it's case and rising, he held his breath for a second when he turned. He said nothing at the expression of shock crossed his face, along with the stammering half-questions spilled from his mouth. He waited for the snapping, for the yelling, for the hurtful remarks that broke his heart every time he was told them.

But they never came, only the quiet, honest words of what he was really feeling. Words that he prayed to hear, words of reassurance and of love. Admist the tears that were now beginning to fall, he felt his lips curling into a bright smile as he ran forward and flung his arms around his older brother.

"What kind of question is that brother, of course I'd let you hug me da ze! You really think I would say no? Do you...Do you really mean what you said? That...Even though a lot of bad has happened...I love you too brother, but...Can you stop with all the yelling and saying that you hate me and never want to see me again? I...At times really think that you mean it. But...I'm glad to know that you don't really mean it! You can hug me at any time da ze! You need to let me hug you more!" He whined quietly with his lips pursed into a pout, fingers clinging to the back of his brother's uniform.

Destiny has moved my hand in yours to hold
I look on you and see worlds behind
_________________

[North Korea]

He looked at Yong Soo, longingly, wistfully, his arms itching to stretch itself out and his whole body itching to pounce the other and hug him for all eternity. He waited for a response, hoping and praying to all the gods that he didn't know and have never prayed to that he would reply in the affirmative.

In the next moment, though, he knew that his prayers were answered as a blur of white pounced him, throwing him a bit off-balance but he quickly regained his posture. He could hear the other, feel the other clinging on to him for dear life. It had been so long since he last hugged his brother, so long since he last had any kind of sentimental contact with him, verbal or physical. It had been so long since he started treating him as Yong Soo, his own reflection, his blood twin, his other half, and not as South Korea, a country he merely represented, with ideologies he merely spouted, and with superiors he merely followed mechanically.

He had forgotten how it felt like to be Dae Jyun, the scolding, proper, older brother. He had been North Korea for so long, had treated his brother the way North Korea would treat him, that he had forgotten. But... he had not forgotten how to feel. Just knowing that his brother was still here, clinging to him, feeling so... real, and that he didn't hate him like he thought he would... gave him the sense of peace that he had been waiting to feel all these years.

All awkwardness gone, tears continued to fall from the older twin's eyes as he wrapped his arms tightly around his brother, burying his face in the other's shoulder. He couldn't care less that he was soaking his hanbok; all he cared about is giving his brother the hug that he had wanted to give him for so long. He merely listened to the other speak, smiling wanly, sighing contentedly. And when he had finished speaking, he had an anecdote of his own to tell.

"I know, Yong Soo, I know... You can hug me at anytime, for as long as you want, as long as we're not in public. You know the consequences for both of us if we are ever caught." Sighing in remorse, he pulled away a bit, still keeping his brother at arm's length, and letting the younger cling to him. "You have no idea how much it hurts, how much it tears me inside, every time I have to confront you and shun you. I never meant anything I said, and I never will. All those years ago, brother... I was brainwashed. Completely. Brainwashed and blinded, that I followed orders without fail, succeeded in convincing myself that I loved you no longer, and that I would be willing to sacrifice you for the sake of the fucker. But now... I realized how wrong I was, and how much I had jeopardized our relationship. But I'm here to make sure it won't ever happen again." Planting a brotherly kiss on his twin's forehead, he stared straight into the eyes that were so like his own only more lively and hopeful, his own eyes flickering with the fire of determination, though faintly. "And even though we have to keep up appearances, brother... I want you to know that I don't mean anything bad that I will ever say. Whatever horrible thing I say, remember that I always mean the exact opposite. Times right now are hard, and I've lost all hope... So I need you to cling onto that hope for me, because I can't, anymore."

And after saying and conveying every possible thing that he wanted to say and convey, he shut his mouth again and just took in the fact that everything right now was real, and the fact that his brother still didn't hate him even after what he had done, even after all those years ago. He was comforted, in every way imaginable... and there was nothing he could ask for more.

[South Korea]

Sad boy, you stare up at the sky
When no one's looking back at you
______________

The feeling of his older brother clinging on his hanbok, hugging him back, his face buried in his shoulder, warm tears soaking the fabric...It was far more than he could ever ask for. Far to long had the brothers been only able to interact with each other as North and South Korea, not as Dae Jyun and Yong Soo. His smile was burning bright now, his own face burying into the hair of his older brother as he continued to cling back with his fingers clutching tightly at the stiff fabric of the uniform.

For the moment...His prayers had been answered. Not all of them of course, but at least one of the main ones that he prayed for every night to come true. Each night that he looked out the window up at the clear night sky, the twinkling stars that guided so many. The stars that granted so many wishes and made dreams come true, and now it was finally his and his brother's turn.

As he listened to his brother speak and pull away from him so the two were at arms length from each other; wide, hopeful brown eyes staring back into softening, determined ones. His fingers grasped tightly at the sleeves, as if afraid that he will turn to mist in his grasp and disappear forever as if this were only just a dream. At the gentle press of lips against his forehead, as much as his body wanted his eyes to close he kept them open; continuing to stare back at those eyes that were now so foreign, yet still so familiar as a familiar tune played on in his mind.

Yaksok haeyo i sungan i
Dajinago dasi boge duwu neun geunal
Mwodeunnggeol beorigo geudae gyeol e seohseoh
Nameun gileul garirangeol

"I know we can't hug in public, even though I really want too. But you really think I care about the consequences da ze? I don't care if I get into trouble, if we ever get caught...I'll take the blame. I'll just say that I made you do it, that it wasn't your fault da ze." Even though his tone was bright, it still held a faint note of seriousness to it. He would gladly step up and take any kind of punishment that they could potentially receive, he would run into the line of fire and take a bullet for him with the knowledge that he would receive the same. "I know brother...But I know we'll be ok! I've been praying every night to the stars, you know the stars grant wishes right da ze? We'll be running back up that hill sooner than either of us might think brother, I know it! I can feel it! The stars will grant our wish da ze!"

Inyeon i rago hajyo geobu hal suga eobjyo
Nae saeng e icheoreom areumda un nal
Ddodasi ol su itteul ggayo
Godalpeun salm ui gil e dangsin eun seonmulingeol
I saram i nokseulji andorok neul dakka bichulgge yo

He meant every word. Every single word. They would be ok, sooner rather than later, they would be ok. They would make it, the stars promised him that much. The stars never lied.

You wear your every last disguise
You're flying, then you fall through
______________

[North Korea]

Where has my heart gone?

[/b]
trapped in the eyes of a stranger[/size]
___________________________________[/center]

His brother's enthusiasm and raw hope that everything will be better, despite their current situation, never fails to bring happiness to his heart. If there was one thing he wanted to protect the most in this world, it was his brother's pure trust, pure innocence that he wished he still had.

Though they share the same face, the brothers were as different as night and day. Where Dae Jyun was mature, strong-willed, and melancholic, Yong Soo was innocent, playful, and hopeful. They complement each other, kept each other strong, despite everything that's been going on. And right now, Dae Jyun could feel the reconnection he had so wanted to revive flowing between them.

He felt like an older brother again.

After so long, he felt like he was his older twin again, and not as if he was North Korea, an opposing country that must fight him. Even with their situation, he felt that as though as long as they are behind closed doors, they can be brothers without interference.

Outside, though... they have to be North and South Korea. Two countries that are also as different as night and day, like they are. Two clashing ideologies, two different situations. And it must stay that way, until the day they are reunited.

If that ever happens.

Of course, what happened with the Egyptian president sparked his hope a little bit. Looking at history of other countries, too, gives him just a little bit of hope each time, that someday it would be the same for him.

But for all of that to happen, his leader must go down first.

Smiling softly at the face that was so like his, he brushed his brother's bangs away from his forehead with gentle fingers. "I'm sure that if you keep praying, your prayers will be answered, brother." He sighed a bit, and continued in a low voice, "I've... long ceased to believe in the saving power of anything spiritual or divine. But if you can continue praying, hoping for the both of us... I'm quite sure that would be more than enough."

Completely calmed down and the tears on his cheek long dried, the scowl on his face was replaced with a bright smile as he stacked his violin in the corner, then led his brother out of the room as he closed the lights. "Well... what shall we do today, brother?"

___________________________________
Oh I, I want to go back to

[/b]
believing in everything and knowing nothing at all[/i][/center][/blockquote]

[South Korea]

We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
________________

His face held an expression of trying to be serious even such, a bright smile was beginning to form on his lips when the smile crawled on his brother's own. Eyes widening, his hands and fingers gripped tightly at his shoulders, beginning to shake him with a mock terrified note in his voice. "Brother you're smiling! You're actually smiling da ze! Are you coming down with something?! Are you sick da ze?!" Despite the teasing tone, he was still more on the shocked side to see that his older brother, after God knows how long, actually smiling.

It perked up his spirits, making him feel like he was being a good little brother again. He could feel that reconnection coming back between them, what he knew they had both been waiting for. One again he felt like Yong Soo, his younger twin. At least behind closed doors, there was no room to pretend. They didn't have too right now at least until they had to part ways again.

When they did, it would go back to how it has been for years. Two different countries. Two different ideologies and systems of beliefs. But, they would be ok. He knew that sooner or later they would be ok. They might even be reunited sooner than they first thought, what with all of the uprisings that were happening now. Maybe it would happen for them too.

An eye fell closed at the soft hand on his forehead, brushing his bangs out of his face as he just listened. His brother really had stopped believing? He understood in a way why, but...Wasn't faith in that divine power all that they really had left? "But brother...It will happen twice as fast if you do it too da ze! And...Isn't that faith in a higher power that can save us all we've really got left?" He asked as he was shooed out of the other room, head tilting slightly to the side when he was asked what he wanted to do that day. His smile almost automatically turned bright, clapping his hands together over the fabric of the sleeves on his hanbok.

"We can watch one of my dramas! I got a new one and brought it with me!"

I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
________________

[North Korea]

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
______________________

He felt himself laughing a little as his brother shook him and shouted in mock fear. Well, it was understandable. He really hadn't smiled for a long time, and for anyone who could see him right now, his smile would indeed come as a surprise and shock. "Well, there's reason to smile today, brother."

But… he still shook his head at the talk of divinity. His brother could keep believing, and he had no objection to that. But he had stopped. Religion is the opium of the people, and he wasn't about to get sucked into that again. He had stopped smoking that particular opium, for it hadn't made anything better. It hadn't made him forget, it hadn't made things go for the better, it hadn't solved anything, hell, it hadn't even made him feel good even for just a short while. It just didn't work. Divinity is all but meaningless to him.

He was brought back to reality, however, at his brother's bright and cheerful words. "Perfect! Go put it in the DVD player, and I'll come back in with food." He made his way for the kitchen, ruffling his brother's hair as he passed him.

Sure, they looked like a pair of girls, as their idea of hanging out and having fun is watching Korean dramas. But that was no matter. North Korea isn't a place for leisure anyway, and they weren't allowed to be seen together. God FORBID they be seen together, lest his brother be shot down and him flogged and put into prison and god knows whatever the hell else they could and would do to him.

Coming back in with a variety of chips and popcorn, he made his way to the living room, setting down the snacks on the coffee table as he flopped on the couch, making himself comfortable. It has been a while since he had made himself comfortable. Hell, it's been a while since he's had any reason to flop himself on the couch comfortably, as there was nothing to watch on TV except propaganda songs and Kim Jong-Il speeches that made him sick to the very core of his being. This was a nice change to his rigid agenda, a welcome variety to the monotony and precision of his everyday life. It was a rare occasion. Very rare, indeed, as he wouldn't know if this could or would happen again. An occasion that he would, indeed, treasure and enjoy for as long as it lasts.

"So… what drama are we watching today?" He asked with a raised brow, patting the space on the couch beside him to indicate that Yong Soo was to sit there. Call it awkward, but he wanted to be as close to his brother as possible in this rare occasion. Now that he'd finally found out that he never hated him, he wanted to be his brother in every possible way that he could. Even if it meant sitting together and cuddling on the couch.

______________________
And I miss you
Yeah, I miss you

[South Korea]

Our lives are made in these small hours
These little wonders, these twists and turns of fate
___________________

Yong Soo could feel himself smiling in return to his brother's answer, walking up to him to wrap his arms around his neck into a firm hug. There really was a good reason to be smiling today, they were actually going to be spending the day together. Mainly sitting on the couch and watching Koreans dramas sure, but it was something that the both of them shared and loved. Even though most of the time when they actually did it, they ended up clinging to each other and crying by the end. Ok, so maybe they did act like girls when that happened, but at least no one was around to even see them. At least...That's how it was supposed to be anyway.

Even as he got on the floor and crawled toward the DVD player to set everything up, he could feel his grin widening with the popping sounds of the popcorn popping and the rustling of chip bags in the kitchen. It was a soothing sound in a way, it served as slight reminder of better times, and at least maybe better times to come. It were days like like this that he hoped would begin to happen more often, one of them sneaking across the borders just to spend time together and watch a new drama. Maybe be able to start doing this every week when a new episode of the newest one that was coming out?

Turning his head when he heard footsteps coming back into the room and turning on the DVD player, he rose up to his feet and walked to plop onto the couch. "It's a real good one da ze, it's called A Thousand Kisses. It's not done yet, but I have what's come out recorded! It's about these two people one with an older guy and a way younger girl da ze and and a way younger guy and an older girl and it deals with how they're trying to make their relationships work!" Yong Soo was practically bouncing on the cushion from excitement as he gave the very...Slight explanation for what they were watching. He was excited especially since there was going to be a new episode on that evening. "You'll really like it brother and there's a new one on tonight so I can get you caught up and we can also watch the new episode da ze!"

Time falls away but these small hours
These small hours still remain
___________________

[North Korea]

Brother, my brother
Tell me what are we fighting for? We've got to end this war
______________________

Dae Jyun couldn't help but smile and laugh a little at his brother's enthusiasm and pure, unadulterated innocence. He couldn't believe that he's managed to keep such demeanor even after all they've been through, but it isn't really surprising anyway. Yong Soo had some good bosses, particularly Kim Dae Jung, but he only had two bad ones. He was forced to mature over the years, and he was brainwashed for a little while, but he's thankful he's the one who's experienced such things and not his brother. He's always been the innocent, playful one out of the two of them, and he's thankful that innocence remained intact.

He reached over to pop a handful of popcorn into his own mouth, before reaching over for the popcorn again and throwing one at Yong Soo's head, giggling. "Alright, alright, I get it, geez. Now stop bouncing, stop talking, and just sit still so we can watch." Ruffling his brother's hair with an amused look on his face, he leaned back on the couch and focused on the drama playing.

At first, he couldn't believe the South Koreans would actually make such a controversial drama (as he is still very much conservative and traditional in his thinking, being the one who has retained more Joseon Dynasty thinking and ideologies out of the two), but as the series progressed, he slowly got into the storyline, as he always does with every drama he watches. He didn't even notice his surroundings anymore, as he absentmindedly popped chips and popcorn into his mouth and stared at the screen. It was a truly engaging drama, and he couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen.

After getting tired of eating, though, he settled back again and sighed in contentment, though his eyes were still glued at the screen. Korean dramas always do that to him. He absentmindedly scooted over and clung to his brother, though, as he watched, just relishing their closeness after all these years.

Yes, this is the best way to spend an afternoon. Never mind if they seem like girls.

______________________
We should love one another
Oh, can't we just pretend this war never began?

[South Korea]

We live on front porches and swing life away
We get by just fine here on minimum wage
_________________________

Dae Jyun had always been the more mature out of the two of them, even when they were kids. With all that they had been through; forced occupation, bad bosses, being ripped apart, forced to go to war against one another; it was truly a miracle that Yong Soo remained as innocent as he truly was. Even after everything, but...One of them had to remain that way, right? If they both had succumbed to the darkness that had surrounded them both for as long as it had, he didn't even want to think about what would have happened. They both couldn't be total stick-in-the-muds.

Blinking when a piece of popcorn was thrown at his head, he turned to look toward his brother and stuck his tongue out at him in a more childish manner. "But how can I sit still and not be quiet da ze?" He asked with more of a whiny pout, taking a piece of popcorn out of the bowl and throwing it at his brother's head in return.

Even so, he finally did allow himself to calm down and settle back on the couch to watch the drama unfold. Even though he had seen it before, Yong Soo became completely absorbed by it. Popping chips and popcorn into his mouth in an almost absent-minded manner, he scooted closer to his brother as he did the same, after a few minutes began to cling onto each other. Sure they may look like girls doing this, but what was a better way to spend an afternoon with his older brother than watching dramas, eating junk food, and cuddling each other? It seemed perfect to him, it was really all that he wanted at that current moment.

"We're on the last episode brother, then the new one comes on right after that da ze."

If love is a labor, I'll slave 'til the end
I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand
_________________________

A/N: Sorry it's so short. D: