The War Is over for picfic Tuesday 10/22

[dixiebelle2013.livejournal.com]

Originally posted by dixiebelle2013 at The War Is over for picfic Tuesday 10/22

"The trick is to remove the hair at its base without also removing the top layer of skin," Uncle Vanya explained to Illya's cousin, Boris. Uncle Vanya was teaching Boris how to shave, and Illya, who was not quite twelve, was watching, fascinated.

"It's such a warm day," Uncle Vanya told his nephew. "Why don't you run along outside and play?" The two small fans with which the house was equipped did almost nothing to combat the August heat, and even at this time in the morning, Illya's short blond hair was already damp with sweat.

"I am soon to be a man myself, so I must be prepared for the day when I must learn to shave," Illya replied somberly.

Boris snickered derisively, and Illya scowled at his cousin, secretly rejoicing when the older boy nicked his chin a moment later.

Suddenly Aunt Katya appeared, bursting with excitement. "The war is over!" she exclaimed. "Emperor Hirohito has just announced the surrender of Japan to the Allies! Sonya and I just heard it on Radio Moscow!"

"Isn't it wonderful, Illya?" Sonya gave her cousin a hug, and the blond smiled ruefully. He was thinking of his parents and his younger sister, Masha. It was too late for them to be saved.

He was still thinking of them when he awakened to find himself lying in a hospital bed in Medical and realized that it was now twenty years later and a nurse was using a razor to shave his cheeks. "Good! You're awake," she commented, noticing that his eyes were now open.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You've been out for several days," the nurse told him. "You were knocked unconscious by a THRUSH bombing. Luckily you were far enough away that you escaped with only bruises and a mild concussion."

"I need something to drink," said Illya.

"I'll be finished up here in just a minute, and then I'll bring you something," the nurse replied. Just then she nicked him slightly. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed at the sight of the blood.

Illya closed his eyes and returned to his reverie. He was sitting in the living room with his aunt and uncle and cousins. Uncle Vanya and Aunt Katya were sitting on the sofa, and Illya was sitting on the floor with Boris and Sonya. They were all very still and quiet, listening to Radio Moscow. Representatives from Japan, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the U.S.S.R., Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand were signing the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The representative of each country was announced as he came forward to sign. Illya closed his eyes and imagined what the scene must look like. He'd heard of an invention called a television which consisted of a box containing a screen upon which images were projected. He hoped that perhaps some day he might own one.