"Brother, you'd never forget about me, right?" South Korea cried as held on his brother's hand tightly.

"Of course," North Korea smiled. "I never will."

And with that, the two siblings embraced each other.

America that time was hesitant as he pulled the younger one with his right hand. His eye was focused on the elder sibling and on Russia who were both silent and was motionlessly looking at them with dead empty gaze. America didn't say anything to them. He simply pulled the younger one with him away as he headed for the harbour—the division of this nation had become real.

"What took you so long?" England grumbled as he tapped his feet impatiently by the docks. Behind him was the ship that would take them out of Korea and the crew are all seemed to be ready to leave port.

America would normally try to get back at him with a witty comeback but he remained silent that time. England noticed it yet he continued with his ranting as he helped him board the ship. The young nation appears to be pensive. He had immediately lounge himself on one corner upon boarding the ship while avoiding contact with anyone in the ship—specifically, America.

America wanted to say something about it but words just can't find their way to his mouth. It was almost as though he had forgotten how to speak. A crewman on the other hand knew better than America as he had gave the younger nation a gentle pat on the head and said, "Kid, you're going to be alright."

America wished he had the same insight as that man back as certainly…he was going to need it in the future.

Pacing back and forth, America can't help but to feel agitated. Today was the day the two siblings were going to see each other after all those years. Now America was no pessimist, but he was neither overly optimistic. He still knew that things could still go wrong but he genuinely wishes that it wouldn't. After all he would feel bad for South Korea. It was also kind of his fault to why they were separated in the first place so he felt like he has this obligation to get things right.

"It's not like China would ruin it or anything…right?" America chuckled nervously as his mind drifted to the thought of China.

Just a few days earlier he and China had a conversation over the phone. At first things were casual. A few greetings here and there and formalities included; America was anxious about opening up serious topics that time so he dwelled with small talks till China was the one, who started it by saying,

"Aiyah, I would like to hear your opinion on Pyongyang."

America that time was indecisive. As much as he was aware of the said individual's existence, his knowledge about them was just as limited as everyone else's. The most he know is that the representative of North Korea's capital was more or less recognized as a micro nation and the only ones who know of their true nature is the G8 nations…well, at least that should be the case not till Vietnam came and demanded that she should be included in that small group. America had no choice but to include her since she wasn't going to leave even if she was told so. And China was more than adamant to have her stay as well so one way or another, Vietnam had found a place in that small council.

During that meeting America had found himself sitting on the edge as things weren't turning out for the best; not that things had been any better before but he at least had hoped that some of them were to take a hint or two of the situation. Italy was probably the one with the least contribution and input with the concern. All the time he was either to terrified to even talk about North Korea (not that he had ever met North Korea) or he was too distracted thinking about his brother Seborga who was currently over at Australia's place.

England was being absurd that time. For some reasons he had managed to bring up witch craft in the conversation. France never missed the chance to insult him for it though. America would have done the same but he didn't since the issue was something he was feeling burdened to on a personal level.

Germany, as always, was trying his best to have anything comprehensible come out from all of them. And although most of the chatter were of personal opinions and woes, Germany managed to have them all agree on one thing—and that was to not interfere with the affair of the North and the South. And even though all of them had pledge to stay in the side lines, the eerie silence of Russia made it clear to America that he wasn't having any of it.

Russia glanced at America with that certain expression on his face. He has a smile on his face that carries a message for him. Was it a threat? A warning? Or an advice? America doesn't know. It wasn't like he had actually learnt to read Russia after all of those years in war and alliance. Japan was also the same as he had nodded his head towards America with a certain look on his face.

Japan rarely speaks, but that was mostly due to him being timid and shy. Russia on the other hand had opted to remain silent due to a myriad of reasons. One of them was because he lacks the ability to trust anyone; more specifically America. He can't blame him though when most of the times they had been throwing bombs at each other while the other they raise their glass in celebration. It was likely difficult for him to adjust with that setting when the person you trust today would be your enemy tomorrow.

Now out of all of them China was the one who was being hostile. Even when he agreed to the pact, it was obvious that he was the first one who was going to break it. Vietnam as well had been showing signs of doing so but America didn't like to accuse them. After all, he wanted to believe that they would be the last people that would be causing trouble right?

Well on that one, America had gotten it wrong.


America's phone had been on the loudest volume that by the time it rang, even he was surprised by it saying, "Goodness, I just die for a moment there!"

Taking a few moments to recover, he then dashed to the side table and answered the phone.

"America speaking; who is it?"

"Ah America, I'm glad you've answered."

America was startled upon recognizing the voice on the other end—it was Japan.

"Oh hey Japan, what's up?"

"What's up?" Japan's voice sounded confused. "If you mean to ask about the current event, then I would say…it's not good."

America held his breath. "It's not China is it?"

Japan did not respond. At that time no more words were needed to explain the current situation. America had figured it out. Taking a deep breath in, America then said, "How's South?"

"Actually, about that…" Japan trails off when suddenly a different voice exclaimed from the other end, "America!"

"South?"

"America...China, he…he…" America could hear the gritting of South Korea's teeth through the phone. "He made my brother hate me even more. What am I supposed to do now, America?"

At that time, America doesn't know what to do nor to what to say.

"About that South…"


North Korea was shaken. While he had always been the type of person who always have a plan in mind for any possible crisis, this time just wasn't one of those days and certainly getting angry wasn't part of his plan. Nor had he foreseen that he was going to use that 'miracle drug' of his either. Not like he enjoys using it. Having a convincing illness does have a high price and often times North Korea does feel like he is genuinely dying each time. If he hadn't been a nation then likely his 'miracle drug' [an unspecified poison] would have already killed him already.

But still, even as a Nation, this level of suicidal is insane. That's why…

"Brother…" Pyongyang glared at North Korea as somehow they managed to get back to the hotel room that was given to them as their temporary place.

North Korea, guilty of the cause of Pyongyang's disappointment, had remained silent as he had injected his self with the antidote. Thankfully he remembered to bring some or else he doesn't know what side effect might hit him this time around. Last time he had gotten himself paralyzed for six days—not a good experience and neither does Pyongyang find it amusing either as he said,

"Brother, at this point my disappointment in you can't be explained in words. So if you have anything to say—"

"I failed Pyang," North Korea muttered as he tossed the empty vial on the waste bin together with the disposable needle. "I can't fool anyone with the act of being a friendly nation anymore. They have smelled me out even before I do anything."

"Can't say I'm not surprised," Pyongyang sighed. Probably not the best time to get in an argument with him about that 'miracle drug'. "Although that is a bit harsh of them; they didn't even gave you a chance to prove yourself or something."

"It would be dumb of them to assume otherwise." North Korea remarked. "After all, what South Korea did is not that easy to forget and to add to that…" he hissed under his breath and grits his teeth. Pyongyang raised a brow at him in curiosity but knew that he wasn't in the mood to talk it further. So he waved a hand at him and said, "I think the shower is ready now. It would be able to help you sleep tonight."


"So, any suggestions on what to do?" Hong Kong asked rummaging through the cabinet as he was trying to find a change of clothes—he was going to stay over that night.

America, who was talking through South Korea's laptop, was pacing back and forth. Neither he nor Japan had any ideas as of the moment and Macau had been trying to make suggestions that made no sense or were simply too absurd for any of them to understand.

"I've been trying to tell you. We wouldn't know if it works unless we do it," Macau insisted. South Korea frowned as he threw a pillow at him and said, "seriously, stop joking, Macau. Trying to intoxicate North Korea is like trying to scoop the water out of the Pacific. We'd be drunk even before he'd get even a slight bit tipsy."

"Seriously?" America's eyes widened. "And how would you even know that? Were you already drinking back when you were kids?"

"No," South Korea defended. "But between the two of us, he was the one who started drinking alcohol and never had I actually seen him get anywhere close to even tipsy."

"Ah yes, now that you remind me." Japan perks up a little. "He did have mentioned something once about that."

"Seriously?" America was just flabbergasted.

"Yes, he mentioned something about drinking but he stated that he didn't like it back then; although I am not sure now whether he still drinks or not."

"And when did that happen?"

"Around the time of World War I….if I remember correctly," Japan crumpled his forehead. "Or was it further back?"

"Well it could have also been World War II you know," America waves a hand dismissively. And while the two of them decided that that specific information was relevant, Taiwan was annoyed of them as she said,

"Just scratch that plan out of the options already. Whether or not he would get drunk that plan still doesn't make any sense because even if he were to be drunk, how are we sure that he would spill it all out anyways?" She puffed her chest in anger. "And besides, it doesn't seem like he knows anything more than we do about Pyang in the first place."

"And what makes you say that?" Macau asked.

"Because Pyongyang doesn't know about it either," Taiwan explained. "We observed how he tends to refer to himself as a person rather than as a Personification and with how he never refers to North Korea with his Nation name. Sure, when they introduced themselves they mentioned their nation names, but it came of as more of an honorary title to them rather than their names; most especially with Pyongyang. "

At that time, Hong Kong, who usually understood every single nonsense Taiwan mutters, found at lost as he gazed at her blankly.

"Say what now?" he exclaimed scratching his neck. Even Macau, who everyone kind of assumes would at least have understood a thing she have said, had just looked at her with wide eyes and said, "Wait, what did you said just now?"

"You know, the way Pyongyang was talking," Taiwan squints at the two. "At least I thought you two were also paying attention. But apparently I was the only one." She shakes her head in disappointment. "Anyways, that aside, our main concern isn't about that. It's about what South Korea's next action should be, am I right?"

"That's true," Japan said in agreement. "However," he breathes in deep thought. "You mentioned some information that I can't just ignore. They sounded important so—"

"We have all the time in the world to discuss about that tomorrow. Right now we should come up with a plan. And it's urgent." Taiwan cuts him off slamming her hand on South Korea's bedroom door. Fortunately it wasn't strong enough to cause any serious damage.

"By the way," she turns to South Korea. "Tomorrow when we board the plane, North Korea would be boarding the same plane as us right?"

"Of course," South Korea replied. "It's a private plane after all so it's only going to be…."

At that moment a foreboding silence fell amongst them. They had definitely forgotten about tomorrow's departure and the fact that the media is likely to be there. And considering the now shaky relationships between them all, it would definitely be awkward the entire trip.

"It's only going to be for a few hours," Japan consoled him despite him knowing that a few hours would be enough to cause a commotion.

"Here's hoping that Vietnam wouldn't try to kill any of us." Macau suddenly said massaging his temples. "Considering that we did a 360 on her, I doubt she'd welcome us with open arms."

Hong Kong shuddered. "Like, please don't remind me. I have a lot of things on my plate to worry about already and Vietnam is already on tier number 2 just after China. Temptation was so real that I literally threw myself on the flames for this one and Taiwan isn't by the slightest afraid of it."

"Me?" Taiwan chuckled. "Oh come on, I'm sure they are angry but I doubt that they would ever be angrier than they already are. I mean, you did felt it too right?"

"Felt it…?" Hong Kong looked perplexed but it didn't take him any longer to figure out to what she was referring to. "Sure, I did. I bet Macau also have since he is with us right now. Never would you expect him to bail out on China on an agreement for no reason after all."

"Well, how should I put it…?" Macau flustered clearing his throat. "It's not that I am convinced that what China and Vietnam believes in is wrong but for some reasons…it just felt…wrong."

America, who was still listening at the conversation, had already lost track of what the topic was as he asked, "Um, what are we talking about already?"

"Oh I'm sorry America; we almost forgot that you are also with us." Japan profusely bowed his head in apology to the laptop. "And for what they were pertaining to, they are talking about the familial link."

"Huh?" America was more confused. "Familial what?"

"Wait, you don't know what familial link is?" South Korea screamed in shock. "Seriously, you have a brother and you don't know about it?"

"Hey, just because I have Canada that doesn't mean I know everything about that kind of thing. Heck, I doubt even England would know about that either."

"Actually," Japan fiddles with his fingers in agitation. "He does know about this thing."

"What? For real?!"

"Yeah, he has, like, three older brothers so it would be dumb for him to not know about it." Hong Kong chuckled sinister. "But then again, someone here had experience being brothers with what, five siblings, yet he still doesn't know it."

"Hey, are you picking a fight with me, you Panda!" America barked in anger.

"Me? Why would I, Bear?" Hong Kong grits his teeth.

"Probably still have some of those old time resentments, don't you?"

"Maybe," Hong Kong grins. "Want to visit memory lane?"

As the two were about to engage in an unexpected bickering, Macau had put an end to it by smacking a fist on Hong Kong's head saying, "can you please settle your resentments against each other next time. Don't add to the problem right now. It's not a good time."

"But he—"

"That's enough Hong Kong. Have it with him next time." Macau breathes deeply. His nerves are getting triggered. "And to you America," he turned over to the laptop. "Stop arguing with this idiot. You'd get nothing with fighting with him. And besides, I understand if you don't know about Familial Link. It's not something that is well talked about between us Nations after all."

"Yes, it's true." Japan affirmed. "Not that its taboo or anything; it's just that it's a thing that has not yet been logically accepted as a fact by people."

"Is that so?" America pondered on it for a moment. "Kind of explains much to me then. So what is this thing anyways?"

"It's a connection between nations whose people came from the same origin." South Korea, who had been quite silent for a while began saying. "Since the people on the territory are similar, the representation of their nation are going to have this connection with each other and share, as one have told me before, 'the same blood' thus being akin to being blood relatives.

"It is to how my brother North Korea and I are considered brothers even though technically we shouldn't even be related considering our history."

"History?" America scratched his head. "But aren't you two like Italy and Romano that got separated and stuff? So what do you mean by that?"

"America, you don't know about that too?" Japan was surprised…by a small percentage. Somehow it shouldn't be a surprise anymore, but he just can't help but to feel that way.

"Well, do I look like a 'know it all' to you, Japan?" America puffs his cheeks in frustration.

Japan just chuckled nervously. "Anyways," he said trying to steer clear of trouble. "Even if South Korea and North Korea are twins, they weren't always like that before. Unlike Italy and Romano who appeared as already twins, South Korea and North Korea wasn't born as twins. They had other sibling's asides from each other."

"Wait what?!"