Well, here's 53. It's a bit early, yes, but there are two reasons for that: 1. I'm ahead in my writing schedule, and 2. It's my birthday, and I subscribe to the hobbit custom of giving other people gifts. Now I'm going to go sleep. I need to be up at 7 tomorrow...


The Nations were gathered around a table in a conference room, studying stacks of paper before them. Iran and Iraq had gotten their bosses to send them some of their paperwork, and were alternating between that and going over reports from the Afghani military. Pakistan had disappeared half an hour ago to answer a phone call: she walked back into the room holding a file stuffed with papers. Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan glanced up when they heard her approach, and looked back down at their work once they saw who it was. America had fallen asleep, a half-eaten burger to his right and a load of paperwork to his left.

Whump. America shot upright, jolted awake. "I wasn't sleeping, I was resting my eyes, sir," he asserted. Then he blinked. "Oh. This…isn't the White House."

"My place," Pakistan ignored America, patting the thick file she had just dropped onto the table. "They're at my place." She paused, and added, "Israel, you're too jumpy."

"You startled me," Israel scowled. She bent over and picked up her chair, which had fallen when she leapt to her feet. The sudden noise of the file hitting the table had startled Israel, and her automatic reaction now earned her confused looks from the other Nations.

"What do you mean, your place?" Saudi Arabia asked Pakistan, drawing everyone's attention back to her.

"I received a report from a station on my border with Afghanistan," Pakistan opened the file and took out a sheet of paper. "It states that a group of men and women crossed the border from Afghanistan to Pakistan three days after the group of the people we believe to be terrorists entered Afghanistan. What caught the attention of one guard was that a woman in the group, who was sleeping in the back of a truck, had pale skin."

"Are we sure this is the same group that crossed the Afghani border?" Iran folded his hands in front of him.

"When I first got the report, I emailed pictures from surveillance cameras at the Afghani border to the station that processed this new group and had facial recognition comparisons done with pictures from my border station," Pakistan replied. "Three of the men from the latest group are 78% matches to men at the Afghani border. Another man has the same scar as a man from the Afghani border, though he never got his face captured on camera at my border."

"At least it's a lead," Iraq sighed. "Can you get your government to make a follow-up check before we go haring off, though?"

"What? Why check? If we know it's them, why don't we go now?" America asked.

"Going off without knowing if we're right or not is how conflicts start, America," Iran reminded him. "We can't afford to make mistakes—tipping off the terrorists that we're looking for them might have serious consequences for the hostage. I don't want that on my conscience, do you?"

"He's right, America," Israel agreed. "It's best if we follow this up from here. Pakistan, do you know where the group that crossed the border went?"

"Men from my government are working on it now," Pakistan put the paper in her hands back in the file. "And I've got my house staff preparing rooms for all of you. Iran, Iraq, you two will have to share, I only have four guest rooms."

Afghanistan dropped his head into his hands. "You're making me sleep outside, aren't you?"

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't?" Pakistan feigned surprise. Or…she may have been sincere. America didn't pay enough attention to figure it out.

As Pakistan and Afghanistan devolved into their usual bickering, America quietly made his way out of the room. Saudi Arabia and Israel definitely noticed him go, but neither drew attention to it. Iran might have seen, but Pakistan and Afghanistan were turning to Iran and his brother for support, demanding his immediate attention.

Once he was out of the conference room, America found his way to a public phone. He checked his watch—it was fifteen minutes later than he'd hoped. Maybe he shouldn't have fallen asleep at the table in the conference room.

Regardless of the delays, he was there now. America picked up the phone and dialed a number he had memorized, then held the phone to his ear and listened to it ring. Several government officials walking by raised eyebrows at a young American (the flag patch on his jacket's shoulder gave it away) in one of Kabul's major government buildings.

On the third ring, the other line picked up. "Moshimoshi, this is Japan," the voice on the other end of the line crackled. "Who is calling?"

"Japan, it's America," America twirled the phone cord around his finger. "How're you holding up?"

"Oh, America, hello. I am doing very well," Japan replied. "The cleanup after the nuclear meltdown has been a chore, but my people are pulling together quite well. Fukushima in particular was hit hard, but he is recovering now."

"Has Prussia stopped by to help again?" America asked. "He was talking about doing that after the meeting earlier this month. Once I finish up what I'm doing here, I may stop by as well."

"No, Germany has kept him busy," Japan answered. "I am very thankful you two personally came to help, but I do not believe I need more assistance. My own people can do so quite well."

"Okay," America grinned. "We'd probably get distracted by a maid café again anyways."

"Hai."

"So, I called to ask you about that thing you've been helping me with," America continued. He glanced around furtively, then lowered his voice. "How has its progress been going? Have you had to postpone development because of the meltdown?"

"Development is still underway," Japan answered. "Many of the technicians were moved off the project because of the incident, but those still working on it are making excellent progress."

"Awesome! Will it be ready on time?" America asked eagerly.

"I'm afraid not," Japan sighed. "The loss of manpower has delayed overall progress, and I cannot ask the men left to work more than they are now."

"Oh. Okay," America's cheerful mood dipped. He recovered with typical American speed, and inquired, "When will it be ready for testing on the new schedule?"

"By the early fall," Japan hesitated, "but I do not know if that is a safe estimate. With less workers, there are also less people to catch mistakes. We might do better to give it a full year before we begin beta-testing."

"I'm not sure if I can wait that long," America scratched his cheek. "We're going to attend World W Academy June through August, aren't we? I wanted to do the testing before we go."

"That is the schedule my boss has given me, yes," Japan agreed. "If production continues at this rate, the system will be finished in September. Provided it agrees with you, we could do the beta testing after completing our term at the Academy."

"I'll never get why our bosses make us attend a school," America commented. "But yeah, I suppose I can handle waiting until after we're done at the Academy. It'll just give me something to look forward to, won't it?"

"It will indeed." There was a tapping sound from the other side of the line, but before America could ask what it was, Japan started talking again. "I am sending an e-mail to the project's head, asking him to prepare for beta testers in September."

"Thanks!" America grinned. "Oh, and hey, since you're worried about not having enough manpower, want me to see if some of my experts can help you out? It'll be top secret, of course, but I can spread the word around at my universities."

"Are you sure?" Japan sounded anxious. "It would be very helpful of you to do so, but I would not want to impose."

"Nah, it's fine!" America chuckled. "Anything to get this project done faster. It'll be epic!"


A bronze washing basin crashed to the floor, the water inside splashing out onto the ground. The water flowed up into the air, formed into a thin blade, and slashed through a banner hanging on the wall. As the lower half of the banner sank to the ground, the water sliced it again, and again, and again, until mere shreds of fabric fluttered to rest on the metal floor.

Meiko panted, her excessive movements and uneven breathing lending to her exhaustion. With an unnecessarily exaggerated sweep of her arm, she threw the water hovering in the air against the wall. It splashed harmlessly against the metal, and pooled at the base of the wall.

"Are you done, or do you want to destroy stuff more?" Lanko raised an eyebrow. Meiko's eyes narrowed, and she raised her hand. The water on the floor followed the motion of her hand, but before she could whip it around to fly at Lanko, Duyao caught Meiko's wrist. Their eyes met, brown and blue, Meiko's gaze furious, Duyao's calm and serious.

Finally, Meiko relaxed her tensed muscles, and Duyao released her wrist. The Waterbender lowered her arm slowly, still staring at Duyao, until her hands rested limply against her sides.

"Rage will only cloud your judgment," Duyao spoke quietly. "And that banner was mine. Please stop destroying our room and attempt to be reasonable."

Abashed, Meiko looked away, unwilling to acknowledge that her tantrum had been a mistake. She strode over to the bunk bed on one side of the room and sat down. Duyao was left standing in the center of the room. Lanko leaned against the wall near the door.

"So, what now?" Lanko blew a gust of breath from his mouth, trying to get a stray lock of hair out of his face. "The Northern Water Tribe will be on guard against us sneaking in again. It won't be nearly as easy to infiltrate them a second time."

"We failed," Meiko spat. "Why would we even get a third try?"

"Don't be such a downer," Lanko waved a hand. "If at first you don't succeed, and all that. We just need to think up a new way to get in. Maybe if we detour around the city, and come at it from the north…"

"There will be guards there," Meiko grumbled. "We took that way out, remember?" Her teeth gritted as she was reminded of how they had escaped the Northern Water Tribe. To be knocked unconscious…to be carried out, only to nearly freeze in the icy wastes around the city…!

Lanko fell silent, thinking over their options. "Do we know what happened to Zuzhou?"

"All I know is he disappeared," Meiko looked away. "Which…was probably a good thing, at the time." She glanced at her brother. "Do you think he'll return?"

"If he does, I'm having a nice, long talk with him about how to treat my sister right," Lanko ground his right fist into his left palm. "There is a line, and he has crossed it."

"Zuzhou is a spirit," Meiko reminded her little brother. "He's a little out of your league, Lanko. You won't be able to touch him."

"I'll figure out a way!" Lanko asserted. "Nobody, nobody, gets away with threatening my big sister! Not even sharding spirits! I…I'm gonna talk to a sage. They know how to deal with evil spirits, right? Do we have any? I don't wanna go to Gege, he's sort of scary."

In a predictable display of irony by the universe, the door swung open to reveal Gege. One of his eyebrows was raised, and judging from the amused expression on his face, he had heard Lanko's words about him being "sort of scary."

"I have been known to scare small children," the elder man joked before his expression sobered. "Meiko, Lanko, Duyao. Your mission was not a success." Meiko nodded, unwilling to look at Gege. "I read your report. You say the spirit was driven off by the Ocean Spirit."

"He threatened Meiko!" Lanko asserted. "I hope he never shows his face around here again, or I'll threaten him!"

"Stay calm, Lanko," Gege advised. "He appeared in my office not long ago, raging over the failure of the mission. I convinced him none of you were at fault, and he is sorry that he attempted to harm Meiko."

"No he's not," Lanko crossed his arms.

"Well…he understands he should not have done so," Gege rubbed the back of his bald head. He didn't think "Zuzhou" had the capacity to feel sorry anymore, but pretending he did made it easier to work with the spirit. "That's the best we can hope for."

"Are we going to try infiltrating the city again?" Meiko asked dully. After the sound defeat her team had just suffered, she had little motivation to attempt another mission. Her eyes remained fixed on her feet, hands clasped in her lap.

"After what has happened, no," Gege shook his head. "Security in the city will be too tight. Instead, we're going to have you try a different approach. It will be dangerous, and difficult, but I trust that if anyone can accomplish it, it is you and your team, Meiko."

Perking up a little at the praise, Meiko's eyes shifted to look up at Gege through her eyelashes. Some of her bangs had fallen over her forehead, and brushed the tops of her eyes. "What is it?" she whispered.

Gege hesitated. Even he wasn't sure it could be accomplished. When Zuzhou proposed it, he'd thought the boy mad. Lanko would definitely scoff at the very thought. Duyao would accept it with her usual passivity, and Meiko would believe Gege simply because it was he who suggested it.

Sometimes Meiko's devotion to him made Gege uneasy. She believed he was always in the right, even when he might not be. Such faith…how could he deserve it? How had he managed to earn it in the first place?

"Enter the Spirit World," Gege let out with a deep sigh, "and track down Li Wu's soul from there."

As predicted, Lanko snorted in derision of the idea. Meiko's head snapped up to stare at Gege, her eyes wide with surprise and awe.

"How can we enter the Spirit World?" the Waterbender hastened to her feet, stepping towards Gege with eager curiosity. "Do you…do you have the power to…?"

"I cannot send you," Gege admitted. "But Zuzhou can." There was a flicker of unease in Meiko's eyes, quickly covered by that frightening trust. Duyao inclined her head, the best response Gege could hope for from her.

Lanko's reaction was less than positive. His face turned an angry red-purple at the mention of Zuzhou's name, his lips tightening with fury. Realizing that Lanko was close to an outburst—and with Lanko, outbursts were always violent and destructive—Gege continued speaking.

"We have had words, and the boy understands that he cannot threaten your team members," Gege explained. "I've made sure he knows that to do so will only make the rest of you more unwilling to continue the mission."

"Why's he so obsessed with this mission anyways?" Lanko scowled, his anger simmering. "What's a spirit care if one human lives or dies, even if she is royalty?"

"That's for him to explain, if he wants to," Gege gave Lanko a firm look. "I understand the boy made a mistake in dealing with you. He knows not to repeat it, and you need him to complete this mission." With a slight hesitation, Gege looked to Meiko. "As the leader of this team, your word is all I need to stop this mission," he informed her. "If you don't want to work with Zuzhou after he threatened you, I will understand. It already feels as if I am asking you too much by proposing this mission."

"My word can stop this mission?" Meiko blinked.

"I think, as the one threatened with death by the boy, you deserve that right," Gege nodded. Lanko groaned with frustration.

"Of course I believe we should take this mission," Meiko asserted. "If it can help us achieve our goal, what reason is there not to take it?"

"Sis, I don't think you're looking at the part of this that involves Zuzhou," Lanko turned to her. "He's going to completely forget what he promised as soon as we're not useful to him anymore. That kid is dangerous."

"We're going to need dangerous help," Meiko glanced down. "After that debacle in the Spirit Oasis…"

"You mean the debacle that resulted in him trying to strangle you?" Lanko crossed his arms.

"Yes. That debacle." Meiko rolled her eyes. "But Lanko, so long as we can accomplish our mission, I don't care if I die. I've understood that my life is in danger every time we go on a mission, and I don't care. All that matters is serving the Tóngyī Shìjie."

"Meiko, I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you are so loyal, but perhaps you should take more time to consider the matter," Gege urged. "Don't rush into this blindly. Your life was endangered the last time you worked with Zuzhou, and if you were to die because I allowed you to work with him…" Gege gritted his teeth. It was killing him to even suggest that Meiko work with Zuzhou again, but what could he do? She needed a chance to redeem herself. If Gege didn't offer her one, she'd go find one herself, and take greater risks than this to do so.

"Sir." Meiko looked Gege in the eye. "There is nothing for me to think about. I live only to serve this cause…your cause."

Gege's throat constricted at her words. He looked to Lanko, who gave a grudging nod of agreement. Duyao inclined her head. "That settles that, then," Gege sighed. "I'll send Zuzhou when he comes by next."

As the leader of the Tóngyī Shìjiè walked out of the room, Lanko looked at his sister. "You may live to serve him," the warrior gesture after Gege, "but I live to protect you."

A thin-lipped smile wavered on Meiko's face. "I know."


Music drifted through a large house on the outskirts of Vienna. Inside the house, a man with dark hair and closed eyes was sitting at a piano, his hands moving smoothly over the keyboard. A small furrow in his forehead indicated his concentration, though the rest of his face was peaceful. If a fan of classical music were to listen in, they might recognize the music as Chopin.

Austria played Chopin when he was feeling angry or frustrated: both could be used to describe his present mood. Li, whom Austria was investigating with Germany, and who was also Austria's newly-hired maid, had been kidnapped by terrorists while delivering a package to America in the Middle East. Why America needed a toy soldier delivered in person, with extreme care taken during transport, was beyond Austria's understanding. Most of what America did was beyond Austria's understanding. The young Nation's actions had been known to trigger long bouts of Chopin in the past.

But he had really done it this time. Getting Austria's maid kidnapped? Austria struck a wrong note, and the mistake made him press the keys harder. His teeth gritted as he mulled over America's last phone call to him. The search was going slow, with no end in the foreseeable future. That stupid, stupid America…!

Of course, much as Austria hated to admit it, part of his anger came from the fact that Li wasn't around to be questioned. The month was slipping by fast, and Austria had hoped for answers during it. Where was Li really from? Why was she lying? She didn't seem like the criminal sort, and her story of being in the wrong place at the wrong time seemed sincere, but there was so much about her that didn't add up.

Speaking of the investigation, wasn't Germany supposed to come over and discuss his findings soon? A glance at the clock told Austria that it was already past noon. His stomach grumbled in confirmation, and Austria allowed the music to trail off. He had expected to miss lunch while playing—it wasn't exactly rare for him to do so—and had made himself a sandwich before going to his music room. The sandwich was in his fridge now—he would eat it, then see if he could bring himself to do some paperwork before Germany arrived.

As he was eating the sandwich, Austria was hit with a wave of nostalgia. He got them, occasionally, with more time in between each one as the years passed. It was just…lonely, living in this house, with nobody else around. Centuries ago, there were live-in servants, and the other Nations under his control, like Italy and Hungary.

Hungary…the thought of her triggered a stab of regret. Their separation had been a condition of the Treaty of Versailles, a painful affair for them both. Austria knew he still had feelings for her, and he thought she still had feelings for him, but…after their divorce…it was hard to approach his former wife on the subject. During their marriage they had slowly realized how deeply in love they were, and just when they had finally started to enjoy their life together, World War One began, then was lost.

If Hungary was still his wife—if she was still living with him at all—she would have let him know the moment it was lunchtime, and had something delicious prepared and on the table. They would have spent a quiet meal together, and then he would have retired to his music room before wandering out just in time to make supper for them both. Evenings would be filled with the paperwork that he neglected during the day, and once it was done he would play something soothing for his wife before bed.

Strange, Austria thought as he finished his sandwich and put the plate in the dishwasher. Sometimes he felt like the house wasn't empty at all, but everyone was just in their rooms being quiet. At times he almost thought the floorboards were creaking as someone was walking down the hallway…

…Wait a minute. The floorboards were creaking as someone walked down the hallway. And since there was only one person who did that, Austria didn't need to turn around as that person reached the kitchen door.

"Good afternoon," Austria sighed. "Is there any reason why you couldn't ring the doorbell first?"

"You never lock your door," Prussia shrugged as he leaned against the doorframe. "I figure that's an open invitation. If you don't want me to stop by, use your lock!"

"What if I expect the people I know to respect me enough to knock before entering?" Austria suggested, a bit irritated at Prussia's presence.

"Then you clearly aren't taking me into consideration," Prussia chuckled. Austria rolled his eyes—it seemed centuries of animosity between him and Prussia had devolved into Prussia's current-day campaign to annoy Austria into submission. The sad thing was, it had a chance of working.

"Germany is due to come over soon," Austria glanced sideways at Prussia, narrowing his eyes. "Does he know you're here?"

"Nope," Prussia's gaze roamed around the kitchen, taking in the new features. "First time I've seen your kitchen since your oven exploded. Don't suppose you know why that happened?"

"It's a complete mystery," Austria shook his head. "The police conducted an investigation, and found nothing that could explain what happened. In the end, they assumed it was an overload, but that explanation doesn't quite satisfy me."

"West probably won't like it either," Prussia inclined his head in agreement. "He's so picky about everything, you know? Do you have any speculation on what could have happened?"

"I don't care to speculate," Austria frowned. "And since you're here, I suppose I should offer you some tea?"

"Nah, but I'll take beer if you have it," Prussia grinned, knowing full well that Austria kept several bottles in the fridge at all times for when Prussia showed up without warning. Austria gestured to the fridge, a brand-new and high-tech model, which was his way of telling Prussia to help himself. And so Prussia did.

There was a minute of silence as Prussia retrieved and opened his beer bottle, then took a long drink. He sighed and smacked his lips as he lowered the bottle, thoroughly pleased. Austria considered getting a drink for himself, but didn't know what he wanted. Water, maybe? Were there any bottles in the fridge? Maybe he should go grocery shopping soon…

"Oh, I'd forgotten, but a question occurred to me while I was on my here," Prussia spoke up. "What's Li going to do when we go to the Academy in June? Are you gonna leave her here, on her own?"

"Leave her alone in my house? Definitely not," Austria shuddered at the thought. "I'm making arrangements with my boss to have her brought to the Academy with us."

"Did you tell him about Li's circumstances?" Prussia asked before taking a swig of his beer.

"Of course not," Austria scoffed. "For starters, I don't think he'd believe me. Normal humans are much less accepting of strange occurrences than us Nations. No, he thinks she's an American that I'm looking after, related to a friend of mine from a century or so ago. He also seems to think I only want her around because I'm lonely."

"Your house is pretty big," Prussia remarked. "I guess it'd be easy to get lonely here."

"Yes, if I were the type to become lonely easily," Austria brushed Prussia's remark, and the implied question, aside. Of course Austria wasn't lonely. That had nothing to do with why he had offered to let Li stay here. Nothing at all.

"So, Li's coming to the Academy with us? That'll be fun," Prussia set his beer on the counter. "Do you think she'll be rescued soon?"

"If she isn't, I will hunt America down and play angry music for him personally," Austria felt his anger at the careless young Nation rise to the surface. "Honestly, such a childish person…how is he a world power?"

"I taught him how to fight," Prussia suggested. "Maybe that has something to do with it?"

"Yes," Austria's voice dripped with sarcasm, "because clearly it's all thanks to you and your 'awesomeness.'"

"I'm not saying I taught him everything he knows," Prussia laughed. "But he does have a lot of people descended from me and West's place. That's gotta have some effect on him, right?"

"What sort of effect are you thinking about?" Austria decided on a glass of water, and opened a cupboard to retrieve a cup.

"Hard work and dedication!" Prussia paused. "Though, I think he might have gotten some of Italy's personality from the Italian immigrants. Neither of them are very good at reading the mood."

"I must agree with you there," Austria closed the cupboard and went to the sink, where he turned on the cold water faucet and water purifier. "However much it pains me to agree with you…now, was there anything else you wanted, or will you be going now?"

"Can't I stick around until West gets here?" Prussia suggested. "I forgot to get enough money for a train ride back to Berlin, so unless you want me staying in Vienna tonight…"

"Absolutely not!" Austria scowled, holding his cup under the stream of cold water in the sink. Tap water wasn't his first choice, even with the purifier, but Prussia was only a few feet away from the refrigerator, and Austria wouldn't go near him for a million euros.