A/N: To my awesome reader SCHMOWZOW the Guest (aka Kletogirl the Guest): OMZ I DIDN'T THINK I'D EVER FIND YOU *spazzes* Thanks for the permission to use your poem! I already have ideas about where I'll use it… *evil laugh* Anyway, enjoy the 29th installment of Book of a Thousand Mistakes! I'm glad you like it!

Chapter Twenty-nine

"Russia! What happened to Andorra?" Yugoslavia's nervous question sliced through the near-silence of the fireplace room as Russia slipped into the room, closing the door soundlessly behind him. She glanced at the others accompanying them – China, England, Germany, and Japan – trying to release her pent-up anxiety by tapping her fingers on the table in front of her. The others were in no better condition; the only difference was that they had opted toward quiet mindless conversation.

"…" Russia wasn't too keen on saying anything; his eyes showed pain, infinite pain. "…Sunflower fell asleep. Very…deeply."

The others fell silent, looking between each other for a moment. They had never seen the great and powerful Russia look this heartbroken. Rain was the only sound in the background; rain and despair.

"So…now we're the only ones left." The Eurasian nation held onto his pipe with a death grip, his knuckles turning white.

Yugoslavia blinked a few times. No… I thought this time would be different… "Andorra is –"

In his anger, England let off a word that caused Yugoslavia to flinch away from him. "We failed again! What are we going to do now?! We've got the key. Now –"

"When we've lost so many?" Japan solemnly shook his head. "I can't."

Russia absentmindedly twisted the handle at the top of his pipe. "Yeah, there is no point."

England opened his clenched fist and took another glance at the aged bronze key resting in his palm, letting out a heavy sigh. "…I agree. Let's leave this key to our next selves."

Another mindless conversation sprouted up from this statement, this time about where to leave the key so that it would take little effort for their next selves to find it. And again, Yugoslavia distanced herself from the rest of the nations. It was just too much. She couldn't take it for much longer. She stared intently at the floor beneath her feet. "…I am sorry."

Somehow, she managed to make the entire room go quiet again, and she could feel their gazes burning into her face. England was the first to respond, despite being cut off mid-sentence. "Hmm? What's wrong, love?"

"Yugoslavia-chan, you didn't do anything –"

"I am sorry," she repeated, completely ignoring everything that the others were saying. She stood and started pacing, walking back and forth across the long wall, refusing to look anywhere but down. She could feel her eyes start watering, and it was only a matter of time before she wore a hole in the floor. "It was me… It is all my fault…all me! And all because…because I –"

Yugoslavia snapped her eyes open, taking in the darkness that surrounded her. No one was awake. There was only her, sitting up her bed in the far corner of the safe room, the covers thrown to the side in attempt to rid herself of the hot flashes that plagued her during the night. …A dream. She turned to scan the faces of the nations surrounding her, each one somewhat peaceful within the escape of sleep. I guess it was not quite a dream. I hate this… Even here, it is affecting me. It is because I remember so many things… Maybe it is a backlash? She threw a glance at the room beyond the sleeping quarters. She could see nearly everything from her vantage point; somewhere in the kitchen, a soft orange light still flickered quietly. I am beginning to forget memories from long ago. …When did I first meet England? There was some sort of fighting going on at the time, right? When I was little, I had someone close to my heart…did I?

She sighed inwardly, squeezing her eyes shut and relishing the peaceful silence while it lasted. Maybe I will be able to remember if I can get out of here. Everyone is…breathing, right? Yes, of course they are. Malta is even moving a little. That is good, I suppose. I did not know this place existed, and I really did not think that I would still be alive… If I have come this far, then my next step is only logical. I should try to get a little rest while I can.

She didn't notice a sudden breath from across the room, a pair of frightened amber eyes shining in the dark, the two words carried away with the reality that came crashing down. The voices…

-x-

The next morning came with a much calmer mood in tow. The effect of a good night's sleep after the drama and pain of the previous day was instantly obvious once the nations gathered together at the tables for breakfast. Pleasant conversation and a few really bad jokes were passed between them as breakfast was dished out – being made by Italy, it was almost inevitable that it would be some kind of breakfast pasta. [1] Even mortal enemies (i.e. England and France) weren't arguing across the table like they often did at world meetings, which was quite amazing in itself.

Yugoslavia tried to act natural as she chewed her pasta, her mind still dwelling on her nightmare. Even after calming herself down, she just couldn't fall back asleep, no matter how hard she tried. And what was worse, someone had started talking in the middle of the night, something about saving the world. She suspected America. Well, Italy looks a bit tired too. He was probably just up late making this food.

As the meal drew to a close, compliments were thrown Italy's way, dishes were cleared to one table, and everyone moved to gather around the other. Only a few chairs had to be pulled from the other table to accommodate for everyone.

"Well," Germany started, the same way that he starts most of the regular world meetings: standing at the head of the table, palms pressed down onto its wooden surface, his eyes flicking over each nation present. "Everyone has rested and eaten, so can we begin our conference now?"

Russia leaned back casually in his seat, smiling in that creepy yet adorable way of his. "Sure. I'm full and I don't feel tired anymore, so be my guest."

"Italy's food is really good." China glanced back at the empty dishes stacked on the table behind him. "He's been working so hard. I'm impressed, aru."

Italy's face brightened at China's compliment, and he sat up higher in his chair. His tired smile stretched wider. "Ve~ Thanks~!"

France started drumming his fingertips on the table. Apparently not all of the tension from the previous day was gone. "Well? Who's going to speak first, then?"

Glances were passed around, but eventually it was Canada who was able to gather everyone's attention. How ironic. "America, this all started with a single word from you, but you have nothing to do with the Thing, do you? Is it safe for us to assume that it's just a coincidence that Steve looks like Tony? That's all I want you to confirm."

Sitting across the table from his brother, America looked surprised, even flustered at the question. "Huh? You really think they look alike? I don't think so, though..." He pushed his glasses farther up his nose. "Anyway, I definitely have nothing to do with it."

"Yeah?" Prussia leaned both elbows on the table, holding his head in his open palms. "Then if we believe you, we're in even bigger trouble."

America just stared blankly at Prussia for a moment, as if trying to figure out some hidden meaning in his words. "Say what? …You don't blame me?"

A chorus of "What?"s erupted from several nations, the loudest being from Canada.

"It's pretty much my fault that you guys got dragged into this," America continued, glancing down and momentarily avoiding the eyes of his companions. "If I hadn't bugged you about it, none of this would have happened."

No, that is not true. It was never your fault, America. Never…

"I thought you'd blame me more. I'm rather disappointed. But it's okay for you to get mad at me now." When he looked up again, twelve very confused gazes burned into him, all sharing the same look of what the heck are you talking about.

"Aiyah… Is that really what you think?"

England huffed, crossing his arms and leveling his cynical gaze at the American. "You really do have hamburgers for brains. Stop spouting nonsense."

"Well sure, this may have started with a word from you…" Canada's motivational speech wasn't quite doing its job yet. "But we're the ones who went along with it, eh?"

"Oui, Canada is right. We could have chosen not to come, but we chose to come with you."

"Hai. You are the one who laid out the rails," Japan added, his hands folded neatly in his lap and his eyes all but judgmental, "but we are all the ones who chose to walk on them. It's not your fault."

It was never your fault.

America tilted his head a bit, thinking this over for a moment before he responded. They could almost hear the gears cranking within his mind. "I see. Well, thanks. If you say so, I…" He let the statement fade into the air, not bothering to finish it.

"That's why we need to work together!" Malta stood in her place and grabbed everyone's attention, resuming her place as leader of the pack…sort of. "By joining forces like never before, we'll make it through!" It was easier said than done. Like they say, Malta is friends with all.

Malta's enthusiasm was picked up by the other nations, who started chatting idly about anything motivational they could think of. Going home, having parties, festivals, more parties… It was all silenced with a single word.

"Hey."

All eyes turned to Yugoslavia, who was quietly sitting at the edge of the group nearest to the door. She seemed a bit fidgety, but her eyes were firm and seemed to betray no emotion whatsoever.

Andorra smiled slightly, reassuringly. "What's up, Yugo?"

"Um, well…" Yugoslavia stuffed her hands in her pockets, glancing at her friends through her hair. "…Is it alright if I speak for a moment? There is…something I want to tell you."

Italy, who had been moments ago glancing at the chattering faces around him, yawned slightly and gave her a grin. "Sure, Yugoslavia~!"

He got my name right. Yugoslavia shook off the thought. I am sure it was nothing. "Well then, can you all come with me to the basement? If we are not there, I can not talk."

"The basement?" Prussia exchanged a glance with Malta, as if she would know what Yugo was talking about. "Can't you just talk here, Jugoslawien?"

"It is really important, so… A-and I wanted to take a look inside of that wooden box. The one that was in the cell with Andorra, France, and America. There might be something important inside of it that we missed."

"Oh yeah," Andorra chuckled, her chin resting on one fist. "I didn't think about looking inside of it. You've got a good eye, Yugo!"

Malta suddenly got hyper again, waving her hand around like a maniac. Who's to say that she wasn't a maniac? "Ooh, I want to go down to the cave tunnel first! I thought I saw something lying on the ground when we went back there yesterday, but I didn't have time to pick it up."

Shooting a brief glare at Malta, Germany stood again and stretched his arms behind his back. "Alright then. Let's all head down there. We will all go together, just in case that Thing decides to show up again."

Offering a smile of thanks, Yugoslavia sighed quietly. As everyone gathered their weapons and grouped together, she reached into the bag under her bed and pulled out her journal, slipping it into the inner pocket of her jacket. She could feel the firm leather of the cover pressing against her ribs, sending a chill down her spine at the thought it produced.

No, calm down. It is nothing. Just wait. It will work this time… It has to.

-x-

Survivors: 13

Missing: 0

Deceased: 0

-x-

A/N: I have been waiting so long for this moment…and the time is nigh… :D By the way, I've got good news! I'm almost to the halfway point! According to Evo's playthrough, I'm on the 11th video out of 24, so that's good~! And I think number 22 isn't plot-related at all, so maybe that can account for my head canon-y goodness! *evil chuckle* It's so fun to screw with people's minds.

[1] – Writing this gave me a sudden craving for breakfast pasta. Let's see…sausage, bacon, pasta (obviously), some kind of cheese sauce… Mmm. (Okay, if anyone actually makes a breakfast pasta, send me the link to a picture. ITALIAN FOOD FOR THE WIN)