A.N. This chapter is exceedingly violent. you have been warned~

Japan stared anxiously as the machine began to whir and beep, charging up for the blast of electromagnetic waves that would hopefully wipe out the nanovirus in America's system. If it worked, America would immediately leave in order to keep from being reinfected. The controls beeped, signaling that the EMP was ready to be released. Japan typed in the command code, authorizing the final stages. Four pulses would emit from the machine, killing all of the Nanobots. Japan watched the display. First pulse. Alfred's body went rigid. Second pulse. He began to scream. Third pulse.

"SHUT IT OFF! SHUT IT OFF!" England was crying. He couldn't stand to see the nation he had once called his brother like this. Why? Why did Alfred have to volunteer? England believed he himself should have gone. Yes, England thought, that would have been better. Japan rapidly flicked switches and pressed buttons, trying to get it to shut off. It wasn't working. The machine whirred as it built up to the final pulse. Japan stared. It was all he could do. He was no longer in control. He-

The final stages of the machine ran their course. America fell to his knees, weeping quietly. Everyone held his or her breath. He shook his head. The nanovirus was still there. England ran up to America and hugged him.

"You git. You don't have to be the hero every time, you know." Tears ran from his eyes. America smiled weakly.

"N-no. just this… this time." America collapsed, exhausted. England was nearly crushed under his weight. He flailed around, yelling angrily.

"You weigh more than Russia, you lard arse! GET OFF OF ME!"

Russia reached down and picked America up, lifting him off of England. "I will take him to upstairs room, da?" England paled. Old habits die hard.

Japan was on his knees. What would have happened if he had killed America? Would they have forgiven him? Surely not. The world spun as the realization hit Japan. His breathing shallowed. Russia walked over, still holding America.

"No dying. That would inconvenience others, da?" The larger nation smiled coldly. Japan was brilliant, and quite necessary if they were to ever maneuver their way out of this particular predicament. Japan nodded weakly. He stood up and analyzed the control panel in order to figure out what went wrong. He had barely begun when he was hit by a splitting headache.

"No-not time yet…" Japan croaked weakly, trying vainly to ignore the pain. "To ea-early…" He gripped the sides of the control panel. Nations collapsed around him, falling to the pain as well. Knowing that their thrashing about could damage the machine, Japan struggled against his pain and begun to drag them out of the room. America first, he was strong and could do a lot of damage. When Japan began to move on to Russia, who was curled up into a shivering ball on the ground, another hand touched his. He looked up and saw China. The older nation began helping to remove the fallen nations from the room. The pain intensified and Japan felt a warm fluid trickle down his cheeks. His ears were bleeding. He looked up at China and saw blood dripping from his ears and nose as well. They had to hurry. The only nations left were… were…. Japans vision pitched and blurred. He opened and closed his mouth, trying to form words that would somehow miraculously fix the world that was warping and twisting around him. He vaguely realized he had fallen down at some point, as he was now staring at things that were usually on the ground. Like the floor. Japan had never really noticed how nice the floor in Russia's house was, all shiny and grey. He wished he could admire it better, if only it would stop moving about and this incessant pain in his head would cease. His surroundings swirled again, and he wondered what the hell was going on. He felt very happy for some reason. Happy, happy, happy….

He was immediately transferred to that dreadful prison within his mind that held him during the periods of time in which he was submitted to the torture inflicted upon him. The pain had become secondary, however. (Japan was, although he didn't quite realize it yet, on his way to one of the most important discoveries about the "war" against the nanovirus yet) A dark figure lurked in the corner of the "room" (which now had walls.)

"You are probably wondering why you are here now, and not still working. It is still your period of time to fight me, yes?" What could only be described as a "grin" broke out on its face. Japan did not acknowledge the nanovirus, merely nodding and remaining quiet.

"I thought so," it glided (for that is the best way to describe Its movement) around Japan in a close circle, studying him. "And although it is not… REQUIRED, I do believe an explanation is in order." It "smiled" again, and began to speak.

"Well, I suppose this would be best… illustrated… in a way that makes sense to you. Do you remember… Hiroshima?" The "sh" was drawn out, and coincided with a sudden burst of pain. The combination made Japan wince. "I thought so. Well, America's excuse for that… was that you had dropped a bomb on Hawaii, but… he only wanted to get in on the fun that is war." Japan grimaced. He had been an idiot, thinking it was a good idea to bomb the young nation at the time… but no use thinking about that now. "I, as well, wanted to do something. I wanted to hurt you more." This was followed by a giggle-a horrible, terrible sound coming from a monster such as this. "But I had to have something that would be a good excuse…. This IS a war, after all." A war? A WAR? This wasn't a war. This was torture, followed by random guesses at a solution. "So… I waited for you to develop something that would kill some of me off. That machine? It killed half of my cells that were in… America… and therefore, gave me a valid reason to attack you." This was followed by another smile. Japan nearly laughed. So it HAD done some damage, after all. They could do it again, increase the power, and… but that might kill the nation being treated. As if reading his mind, the nanovirus spoke it aloud. "Needless to say, I adapted. It would take a MUCH stronger blast to disrupt my bonds. And something like that would kill whoever your test subject is."

Japan was hit by a blast of pain, blurring his vision. When it cleared, he was alone again. He sat down hard, leaning against one of the walls. He thought back to the things the nanovirus had said, hoping to find a clue. He couldn't think of anything for a few minutes when something hit him. Biologically speaking, an EMP shouldn't affect them at all, much less nearly kill them. Of course, the nanovirus was hooked into their nervous systems, which meant that the sheer act of killing the individual Nanobots caused the nations pain. Japan nearly laughed, but restrained himself. So, they had to defeat it without killing it. Wonderful. He drew designs with his finger on the ground, waiting for the next bout of intense pain. It never came. He slowly became aware that he was lying on the ground in the real world. NO! Had someone died? It couldn't have happened… no… He tried to sit up and couldn't. So the nanovirus was still in charge of his body. He waited a few moments, and his vision changed, indicating he was sitting up. Sweden and Finland were standing in the middle of the room. Sweden had Finland in a headlock. Kiku's mind was blank for a moment as he struggled to figure out what was going on. Then it struck him. His eyes widened in horror as Sweden's muscles tensed, pulling on Finland's head. Finland began to scream in pain. Sweden was pleading, begging the nanovirus to "please, just no… no… don't make me…" A peal of insane laughter rang in Japan's ears, and he realized his mouth was moving. Forming words.

"Poor, pathetic, Sweden." Every nation spoke, including Finland… "I can make you do whatever I want!" There was a horrid tearing sound as the skin around Finland's neck began to pull apart. "This may not kill him, but will it kill you? Let's see, shall we?" Finland's mouth twisted into a grin as his head began to separate from his torso, spewing blood onto Sweden, who was pleading in his native language. The head separated completely from the torso, its momentum flinging it against the wall. A red splotch appeared where it made contact. Probably not the FIRST red splotch to adorn the walls of Russia's basement. Sweden was sobbing now, and the head was still smiling eerily where it lay. It had already begun to disintegrate as Finland began to regenerate. A worldwide sigh of relief was stopped when Finland was picked up by nanovirus-controlled Sweden and put on a table. NO. The word raced through Japan's thoughts as he shivered. NONONONONONONO- Sweden ripped Finland's arm off. The newly regenerated head was put to work, screaming. The now dismembered limb was tossed away, falling next to Japan. He gagged as a droplet of blood hit him squarely between the eyes. This was horrid, and he had to watch it happen… His vision swirled for the umpteenth time today, and he realized he was standing. And then walking. Everyone came, under the control of the nanovirus, and stood around Sweden and Finland. Japan felt his mouth open, and not of his own accord, he began to laugh. It was a horrific sound, spewing form the mouths of every nation there. Including Finland… he laughed as his other arm was ripped off, and then his leg. And then his other leg. Sweden continued sobbing and pleading, but was drowned out by the mad laughter. And then it all stopped. Finland, pale from the loss of blood, passed out. Japan found he could move again. Liechtenstein hurried over to Sweden, comforting the horrified nation. Germany picked up Finland's limbs; probably planning to sew them back on in order to speed up the healing process. Japan was worried, however. Their time had not been over, not by far. If past indications were anything to go by, they had still had about three hours to go. Who knows what could have been done to them in that time? But it had stopped early. He looked around, fearing the worst. Had someone died? He began to walk towards the corner of the room, and tripped over something. Catching his balance and looking down… he realized it was a body. A short sob escaped from his lips, and he sunk to his knees. He reached out a shaking hand to touch the fallen nations face. He ran his fingers through the nations hair and began to cry. He collapsed, sobbing, over the dead body of his once friend and fellow nation, China.

...

I HAVE the next chapter. Now I just have to decide when to post it. *evil smile* It could be tomorrow, it could be next week. We shall see.