NOTE: Many characters will die, if they're not dead from the start. I apologize if your favorite character dies. I actually intend to kill off most of my favorite characters- oh, who am I kidding? They're all my favorites. The characters I intend to kill only die based on whether it makes sense for that country to fall to ruin.
"New York's gone," America sobbed. "Disney World's gone, Hollywood and Disneyland are both gone… It's all gone!"
Canada patted his brother's shoulder in a vain attempt to comfort him. The few countries left in the world sat around what remained of their own meeting hall. Canada was now one of the most powerful nations in the room, as he and a few others were now the providers of all the world's food.
All their homes had been destroyed. They were all dying of heat stroke. Half the world's nations- actually well over half- had turned to anarchy and either gone crazy or died.
Germany stood. "All right," he began, "I know ve have all been affected by zese global varming-induced disasters- some more zen ozers-" he nodded at France, who was fanning himself, drenched in sweat- "But I believe sat if we vork together, ve can make it through…"
Before he could finish, the door burst open (and fell down), and China rushed in, carrying a small, frail figure.
America stood, ready to offer help despite his own weakness. "China! What is it? What's…?"
"It's Japan," he panted. "His home has been flooded-aru."
He lay the fragile nation on the table. Everyone leaned in to get a closer look. Japan looked smaller than he ever had before. He was thin, dirty, sopping wet, and barely conscious.
He opened his eyes and turned his head slightly. His voice was barely a whisper. "Wang? Is that you?"
"I'm here, little brother," China said softly, choking back tears.
Japan smiled weakly. "I don't think I'm going to make it much ronger. You-"
"No!" America shouted, pushing China out of the way and leaning down to be closer to Japan. "You can't say that! You have to live- I'll take care of you!"
"No…" Japan coughed. "You have troubres of your own, Amelica… Don't waste your enelgy on me…"
America turned. "Matt! Get your ass over here!"
Canada hesitantly stood and approached the end of the table, where several nations huddled around Japan.
"yes?" he asked.
"Do something!" America yelled. Canada was taken back by his brother's sudden harshness, but he could see grief and pain in America's eyes behind the anger.
"i- i'm sorry, but there's nothing i can do…"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO?" America practically exploded. "There's ALWAYS something you can do. Look at you. You're dressed all nice, and you're fatter than I've ever seen you before. You're doing better than just about anyone in this room. For once in your life, someone not just notices, but actually NEEDS you, and you're telling me there's NOTHING YOU CAN DO?"
Everyone fell completely silent and stared at them. America glared at Canada, waiting for a response. Canada just gazed back in shock.
"… i'm sorry," he said at last, "but there's really nothing i can do."
"Can't you consult the Council of Northern Nations, Canada?" suggested Britain from his seat next to France, who was now using Britain's hands to fan himself.
"well, i suppose… no, they wouldn't…" Canada glanced over to the part of the table he had come from. Russia, Iceland, and a couple Scandinavians (though he would never say it out loud, Canada had some trouble telling them apart) sat there; fairly healthy and well-dressed. The CNN (no copyright laws were infringed, as television had stopped working) had been formed as soon as the freezing nations in the far north had realized what an advantage they now had. Frozen tundras and glaciers in their homes were now flourishing forests and fertile farmland. While the rest of the world slowly drowned, burned and starved to death, the members of the CNN were doing better than ever before. They now looked down on the once superior countries that now depended on them for survival.
"Prease…" Japan's weak voice drew the western nations back to the task at hand. "Don't fight because of me. Even if Canada did have the medicine… I have no home. You all know a nation is nothing without his home."
Nobody said a word. They all knew he was right, but not one wanted to admit it. Despite wars and tensions in the past, everyone had come to Japan. After the tension from WWII had ebbed away, Japan had come out of his shell and shared his personality with the rest of the world; and while they found him a little odd, he was such in a lovable way.
They stood and listened to Japan's strangled breathing for a minute or so; then one by one, each nation decided to step up and say a final goodbye.
"It vas a pleasure vorking vith you, Japan. You vill not be forgotten." Germany saluted Japan and stepped back.
"Noooo! Don't-a leave me, Japan! Germany said we was gonna get our old Axis club back together and ambushMMPH!" Germany covered Italy's mouth and dragged him away.
"Your home was very lovely, Japan. I… I don't know what else to say. I'll miss you," Britain said hesitantly. Come to think of it, he didn't know Japan all too well.
"Ah, cher, ze world will never be ze same wizout you," France said with a sad smile.
"Kiku…" Like almost everyone else in the room, China had long since began to cry. He wanted to give his little brother one last profound, four-thousand-year-old piece of wisdom, but now that he had the chance he found himself at a loss for words. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Japan's frail body and sobbed.
America was about to approach when China stopped and straightened up. With an alarmed look on his face, he leaned back down and put his ear to Japan's chest.
"… I am now an only child-aru," he announced with no emotion in his voice. (Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea... all of Asia was pretty much gone by now due to the previously mentioned anarchy and insanity.)
Immediately he was pushed out of the way as America burst forward to check for himself. "No… No! It can't- he can't- oh god…" The self-proclaimed hero was now bawling like an infant. The other countries glanced at each other. America had experienced as much loss as everyone here, yet- while they were all deeply affected by this particular one- for some reason he seemed to be taking Japan's decease especially hard.
As all the attention in the room was directed at Japan and America- and Canada had a knack for avoiding attention anyway- Canada quietly slipped out of the crowd and sat back dow with the rest of the CNN.
"What is wrong, Canada?" Russia asked him. "You look a leetle sad."
"america seems really affected by japan's death," he replied. "i guess i feel a little bad for not trying to help when he asked me to."
Sweden looked up. "Japan is dead?"
Iceland glanced around. "Who's Japan?"
Ignoring them, Russia put his hand on Canada's shoulder, making the smaller nation cringe. "He will be fine. He is a strong country. And besides, why do you even need him anymore? You are a world power now. He eesn't."
"yeah… i suppose you're right," Canada said, and left it at that, but he didn't feel any better.
