She took several deep breaths, leaning against a wall. Taiwan shuddered, wiping the moisture from her cheeks. She glanced up and down the cobblestone road before sliding the door open. She slipped inside, sneaking down the hallway. She stopped outside the door, biting her lip. She silently went inside, striding to the bed. She reached down and shook the man's shoulder gently. "Wang-san?"

He mumbled under his breath as he wearily opened his eyes. When his eyes finally focused on her, he bolted upright. "Mei? What are you doing here? You should be at home."

"This is, and always will be, my home."

China stood, shoving his bedding away. "Mei… We both know that's not why you're here."

"Then you heard, I take it?"

"Yes."

She sighed, shaking her head. "Then you know what I'm going to ask."

"I do. But first, I think you should sit down. Here, let me take your coat."

Taiwan nodded softly, shrugging it off.

China spread it over a nearby chair before joining her on the bed. "I don't know how it started. Honda-nii-san had become distant from everyone, even me. Then one day, he came to visit. That's when he met you and Ryou. I don't know what came over him after that. He was… confused, I think, and became even more isolated. He came out of nowhere… I couldn't stop him. When it was all over, he asked for the typical spoils of war. But then, he asked for you."

"I don't believe this…"

"Mei, I-"

"China-san, there is someone here that wishes to speak with you," Hong Kong interrupted, opening the half-closed door.

He nodded, rising. "We will finish this in a moment, Mei." He followed Ryou down the hall, whispering to him quietly.

"Wang."

"Honda. What brings you here at this time of night?"

"Mei left. I was hoping she came here."

Wang sighed, running a hand through his loose, hanging hair. "I'm sorry nii-san, she's not-"

"She's gone, China-san."

"What?"

"She left."

Wang looks over at Japan before rushing down the hall, both men following behind him. He flings the door open, searching wildly. "Mei…"


She ran, boots hitting the pavement with dull thuds. She didn't stop, despite the questioning looks of some of the vendors who were setting out their goods. She didn't know where she was going; she let her legs take her anywhere they wanted. She finally collapsed next to a small stream in the woods, panting. She glanced around, eyes narrowed slightly. "It looks so familiar," she muttered, observing the light around the edge of the small meadow. "This must've been where he found us." She smiled slightly as she sank into the tall grasses, drifting to the brink of consciousness. The last thing she heard was a voice mixing with the sound of water.

"I found her."


"Her lips are blue, Arthur. She has no coat. Nothing."

"Why are you so concerned, Alfred?"

"This is my fault. I'm going to fix it."

"Are you sure about that?"

"As sure as I'll ever be. It's time for me to step up and do the right thing." America quickly shed his customary jacket and wrapped it around Taiwan. He lifted her up, holding the cold woman against him tightly as he started to leave. "And Arthur, please don't say anything to Japan or China."

"If you insist. What exactly are you going to do?"

"Help her get her facts straight."


"Wang… I'm sorry."

China gave him a confused look, tying off his hair with a strip of cloth. "Why?"

"This is my fault."

"No, Honda-nii-san. I believe we're both partly to blame. We should have told her long before this."

"She would not have listened."

"At first, no, but she would have come to accept it in time."

Japan sighed, resting his head against his palm. "I hope she's alright."

"She will be. And Honda? She is who she is. No amount of teaching or correction is going to change that."

"I know. I know…."