((Hey, guys. You may have noticed that I've taken to naming the chapters now- and I've added chapter titles to all previous chapters that didn't have them. My OCD side got the better of me... .' Unlike in Russia's Basement, there will be no half-spoilers in the chapter titles. Symbolism, perhaps, but no half-spoilers. ))

((Anyway, enjoy the chapter as more things are explained and then things get confusing again, and then even more stuff gets explained by two confused characters!))

"Oh, Germany, I wasn't expecting you to drop by. Erm, was there something you wanted to talk about?"

"Green eyes..." Germany muttered quietly

"I'm sorry?" England asked.

"You're the one with green eyes... Oh, I should have realized sooner!" Germany said, cursing himself for not being observant enough, "And the whole thing in chapter five- what the hell was that about!?"

Instead of looking shocked or embarrassed or even confused as Germany broke the fourth wall as if it were nothing- England quickly clasped a hand over Germany's mouth, preventing him from saying more. He struggled a bit in protest but England silenced him.

"Not another word. You've forgotten the rules," England said with a serious look in his eyes. Germany nodded, understanding not to say anything about the situation directly. England nodded and released Germany's face and gave a suspicious look towards Sealand- who was now passed out on the floor next to a toy boat.

"Vhat the hell, England? Vhat-?" Germany asked. England shook his head, his muscles tense and his face distorted in worry.

"I can't talk like this. Meet me in conference room 11 tomorrow morning. I'll explain what I can, but you have to leave now."

"Conference room 11? You mean-?"

"In your dream, yes. Now, please, go," England said as he shut the door.

Germany stood staring at the door for a moment, confused at the sudden realization that speaking to England had brought. England was one of the hooded figures. He'd been in on it since the beginning. That's why he'd been skipping out of meetings, why the watch had looked so much like Englands- hell, it was the whole damn reason he'd bumped into England in the first place- the reason Italy had bumped into him... Did Italy get the same vague message as himself?

Clarity of the basics brings about confusion of the details... And boy was Germany confused. And it would only get worse in time- like now.

"H-hello, sir?" said a voice from behind Germany. Except it wasn't a voice. Germany spun around, but there was nothing to be seen.

"Who's there?" Germany asked, a bit defensively.

"Sir? Sir!" the voice said again. But it truly wasn't a voice- the hallway was dead silent. Germany felt a tug at his pocket. He looked just as the piece of paper that had been nestled inside fell out. A shiver went down Germany's spine as he picked it up.

His handwritten copy of the watch's content was still there, but written at the bottom of the paper was a note- written in a child's handwriting.

"Beewar the traytor a mong pawns."

"Beware the traitor amongst pawns," Germany read aloud as his eyes wandered over to his own writing. The word 'Pawns' had been scribbled out lightly, and a crude arrow pointed back down to the note.

"Vhat the hell?" Germany asked nervously as he folded the paper back into his pocket. It seemed like for every mystery he solved, two more took it's place... Come to think of it, wasn't Greece marked as one of the possible fated? Perhaps the two of them should have a chat about... what was it? Hydras? When one head is cut off, two more grow back? It seemed a bit far-fetched, but perhaps Greece was involved in this somehow...

But now was not the time to question him. Germany was tired. It was time to sleep. And perhaps once he was, he'd be able to talk to England about whatever was going on.

(Conference)

Germany was tired. He hadn't felt like he'd slept much, and when he did, his dreams set him on edge. England was one of the figures. More specifically the one that had all but molested him a few days ago.

But nonetheless, he did as he was told and entered conference room 11 to meet England. The Briton was already there- cloaked in his usual black attire, shielding all but his eyes. Now that Germany was paying attention, he realized that the green bulbs were much brighter than they usually were- more noticeable in colour.

"Will you explain what's going on now?" Germany asked.

"I can't," England said simply.

"Then what was the point of calling me here if you won't tell me anything?!"

"You wanted to talk. So I came. That doesn't change the fact that I can't tell you anything," England explained as if it were obvious.

"Why are you doing this?" Germany asked. He could see England stiffen under his cloak.

"There's... someone I don't want to get hurt."

"Me too. And you're telling me to kill him."

"Germany, you know what happens if you don't."

"Well, who are you to decide who lives and dies?!" Germany shouted. England remained silent, "Well, England? Is there any particular reason you want Italy dead? Or is it just a hobby of yours to make people miserable!"

"I didn't decide anything! If I had decided this, the people I lov- the people I care about wouldn't be in danger. Do realize this, Germany, I am truly just a pawn. We do as we're told or all the other pieces disappear. We make sacrifices for the greater good. We give up our will so that no one else has to!

"And if I have the chance to save the lives of the people I care about, then I'm going to take it! And you should as well. It's childish of you to do as you have been! So man up and take the shot!"

For a long moment, the room remained silent. All that could be heard was England's heavy breathing and the swipe of fabric against skin as England tried to dry his eyes unnoticed.

Germany muttered something quietly- breaking the long silence.

"What?"

" 'Okay,' " Germany repeated, defeated, "I'll kill Italy." England looked like he was about to say something, but Germany changed the topic quickly.

"But tell me one thing. What's the traitor among pawns?"

"Traitor among pawns?" England asked. Germany pulled out the note and showed it to England. He stared at it for a while, looking it over, "This isn't our work. Who gave this to you?"

"I had it in my pocket. It fell out and when I picked it up again it was like this. So I take it you don't know what it means?"

"Not a clue. Well, I suppose it implies that one of the pawns is working behind our backs..."

"Who are the other pawns?"

"I truly can't tell you. I've broken enough rules as it is. But nothing's happened yet, so I suppose it'll be alright... I guess..."

England handed the note back to Germany. The conversation really couldn't go much further if England refused to tell Germany who the other pawns were, and the meeting would be starting soon. They parted and England went to change into his regular clothes.

Germany was one of the first the arrive in the conference room, but soon most everyone was there aside from the usual latecomers. And England... Actually, there were a few more people missing. Only Germany seemed alarmed by this- only Germany knew that England had just broken some sort of rule that all their lives hung in the balance of...

It wasn't until half an hour had passed since the meeting was supposed to begin that others began to worry and suggest they look for them.

It didn't take long.

The trail of blood was not subtle at all.

At the end of the trail was a pool of blood.

And two corpses lay in the red substance.

"E-England?"

"France?"

((DUN DUN DUN! Anyway, sorry about this being a long chapter, I really only had 3 events listed for this chapter, but it turned out really long... Anyway, onto the next chapter! After I sleep because... shoot I have school in the morning... I forgot about that... oops... Anyway, have fun with this cliffhanger while I study Spanish or whatever it is I'm doing tomorrow...))