Belarus paced frantically in her lab, searching her mind for any way to earn Russia's forgiveness.
"Oh, what should I do? Chocolates? Flowers? I don't know!" She cried in despair, burying her face in her hands.
"Why don't you try leaving him alone aru? I think he needs his space," replied the ever-wise magic mirror.
"Do you really think it would work?"
"Of course aru. He's always trying to get away from you anyway," China mumbled under his breath, careful not to let Belarus hear.
She frowned and sighed. "Fine, if it will make brother less angry, then I will stay away from him, but then what will I do with my day?"
"Work on a way to stop Yong Soo from getting in here and bothering me aru?"
"He knows of this place!"
"He's known for years, and he wont leave me alone aru! Every time it's 'mirrors originated in Korea!' And 'Your breasts belong to me' aru!"
Belarus huffed and pulled out a sheet of paper. "What did you have in mind?"
Russia was currently on his way to the castle garden. They had the most beautiful sunflowers there. When he reached his destination he smiled and bent over slightly to admire the flowers more closely. The small smile that had found its way onto his face instantly faded as realization dawned upon him. He was alone, and easy prey for someone who would wish to say, follow him. Everywhere. He frantically looked around, wishing he were part owl, searching for the platinum blonde in the blanket of plant life. Slowly, as if hearing a noise in a horror movie, he looked at the forest of sunflowers, which were easily taller than his sister. Letting out an unmanly squeak, he ran away like a frightened Italian.
At lunchtime Russia wandered into the dining room, and noticed that his sister was not at the table waiting for him. Timidly he called out for her.
"Belarus? Belarus, where are you?"
He checked under the table, behind him, even looked up at the chandelier and found nothing. Just then he heard a clanking noise. Whipping around, he saw nothing but the suits of armor that decorated the room.
"She wouldn't, would she? No, she wouldn't hide in there, it would ruin her dress."
But to Russia's horror, a suit started moving its arm. He shrieked and lit out, nearly leaving a dust trail behind, or he would have if Austria didn't insist on the castle being practically sterilized everyday.
Hearing the scream of terror, the captain of the guard ran in to follow his sworn duty and protect whoever was in trouble. He burst through the door opposite the one Russia had fled through to find…no one. Wait, scratch that he found a walking suit of armor.
"Hong Kong, get out of there" he demanded with a no-nonsense tone.
"Oh, hello, Vash, how are you today?"
"I told you, it's Captain Zwigli."
"Can I call you Switzerland?"
"No."
"Why not? Your guards call you that."
"You're not one of my guards, now get out of there or I'll lock you in the gate house again."
"Will you keep me company?" Hong Kong asked, never minding the punishment, because he always had the captain to converse with.
Switzerland pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed exasperatedly. He really didn't have another choice. That boy had a knack for getting out of anything.
"Come on…no, not while you're still in the suit! That's better! Let's go."
"Ok aru, what have we got so far?"
"When Yong Soo opens the door, it will pull the string, releasing the lab mice from their cage behind him creating a distraction while simultaneously propelling him forward, while the other string attached to the door has already tipped the bucket filled with olive oil in front of him, and when the bucket tips it will pull a third string, pulling the switch of a highly powered fan, so while he's on the oil, the wind will push him back, while we have Shinatty close the door…Wait, Shinatty?"
"Well this plan is ridiculous already, so I saw no harm in adding him in, aru."
"How did you even write it down? You don't have hands."
"I suggested it when you had half your mind occupied on worrying over your brother, aru."
"Oh. Now where should we put the guanacos?"
"After the oil spills, but before the fan goes on aru."
Russia peeked around the corner before making his way through the corridor like someone who got trapped in a "Predator" movie. He hadn't seen Belarus all day, and it was freaking him out! She was undoubtedly planning something, but he could not figure it out. He had been fretting all day, looking around 360 degrees every couple minutes or so, asking servants if Belarus happened to pass by (not that this was unusual, it was just for a slightly different reason this time), and ducking into random rooms at the smallest sounds. All this got him was extreme muscle tension and a mental scar. He really didn't need to see Poland convincing (forcing) Lithuania to wearing a maid outfit...
"But Poland, I don't like wearing dresses!"
"Like, come on! It's my latest design and no one else will, like, try it for me!"
"Can't you put it on a mannequin?"
"Mannequins have, like, women figures. This is for Japan, so I totally need a guy to model it."
"But he's the prince, why did you make a maid outfit?"
"Because," Poland said rolling his eyes, "the people in his manga wear them, and he'd totally look super adorable in it! Now like, don't forget the hat."
Shaking the thought from his head, Russia looked at one of the many grandfather clocks, that the captain of the guard convinced the king were necessary to put all over the castle so everyone would be on time. It was already 5:00, where could she be? Since he was busy looking for Belarus in places that no one would expect to be ambushed from, he completely missed her walking out of the creepy looking door of her secret laboratory.
"Oh, hello, brother."
Russia snapped his head to the direction of Belarus' voice, paralyzed in terror.
"I didn't expect to see you around he-"
She never got to finish as Russia screamed and bolted away before she could so much as blink.
"Wait! Brother!"
But he was already gone. With her fists shaking in frustration, Belarus angrily made her way back down the stairs of the lab.
"This is all Japan's fault! If he weren't going to marry brother, then he would be mine! If Japan weren't around then everything would be perfect!"
She froze at that thought, letting a manic grin leak onto her face, marring the cute features that had gleaned so much praise.
"If Japan weren't around," she repeated. Hurrying her way down the rest of the stairs, she quickly approached the magic mirror. "China! Where is my book of spells?"
"Um, on the top shelf aru, why?"
"I have a plan."
Taking note of the grin, China decided it was better not to ask.