He had taken a moment to thank the higher powers that there was no one to talk to when he arrived at the elevator. On a normal occasion, he wouldn't have minded a little bit of small talk while he waited for the elevator, but this was not a normal occasion. Hell, he would have taken the stairs had his vision not tried to do the impersonation of a top. There came the soft ding as the elevator reached the floor. The metal doors slid open and he walked briskly into them, taking hold of the railings for support.
"Hold the door!"
Instinctively, Yong Soo thrust his hand out as the nation that was easily identified as North Italy came running at full speed towards the elevator. He screeched to a stop, bending over, hands on his knees.
"Grazie. I didn't think I would make it."
Yong Soo delivered what he hoped would be his last forced smile of the day.
Italy stood up, squinting slightly.
"You look kind of like Japan. Are you two related?"
"Distantly related." He replied shortly.
"Oh!"
A smile spread across his lips.
"So like brothers then!"
Whatever. Yong Soo was too tired to correct him anyways. He would deal with being compared to Japan another day. Preferably, when his stomach did not feel like a bucket of water on a washing machine.
It had suddenly occurred to him that no one had pushed the button that would allow them to actually lift off.
"What floor do you want?"
"Number 4, thank you!"
His vision pitched forward and was briefly aware of a dull pain in his shoulder. He blinked for a few times
Italy was on his knees, trying to rouse the
"Oh no! What's the matter?!"
Italy had grabbed his shoulders pushed him into a sitting position.
"Come on! Speak to me! Tell me what's wrong!"
The only response Italy had received was a barely audible sentence in a language that he did not speak.
"Not like that! In Italian! Can you speak in Italian? Or English? English is fine too!"
The closest that Italy got to a response was a head that had only slumped further forward.

Being the nation that was hosting the monthly meeting of the nations, it was customary for the hosting country to be the last to leave, lest in the rare occasion that someone had a question that needed answering. The jet lag, particularly amongst the non-European nations, was were irritability had originated from. The first few days of these week-long meetings were usually the worst, as people were too tired and too cranky to censor their speech and get through speeches without launching insults at one another. He huffed, pushing papers into a folder. He had made sure to accentuate that nations should be in a country a few days prior to these meetings to allow themselves to adjust to the time differences between their homes but did anyone listen?
He picked up the folder and began to make his way to the elevator. He had recalled how he saw Italy charging down the hallway at full speed to catch the elevator before the metal doors had slid shut.
He had expected the elevator to be void of people, but much to his surprise, the door opened right away. Germany walked into the elevator to see Italy pushing the slumped figure of South Korea up against the wall.
"Italy!" Germany bellowed, causing formerly mentioned to jump. "What did you do?!"
"Nothing Germany, I swear! He was standing one second and suddenly, he dropped like a sack of potatoes!"
Germany ignored the analogy as nudged Italy aside while he pressed his fingers to his neck. He had made the unexpected discovery.
"His pulse is quick and he has a high fever. I doubt he'll be functioning normally anytime soon. You do have Japan on speed dial, right?"
"Of course I do! He's out to lunch with some of his siblings though…."
"Well call them! One of them is bound to know his hotel room or at least where to put him!"

So this is like when Yong Soo doesn't join us.
The lunch had been hanging in an unnatural silence, with the only occasional break with a menial conversation about the weather or likewise. Yong Soo was always the one to dictate the discussions while excitedly rambling on from topic to topic. China had often scolded him, telling him to let other people have a chance to speak.
But Yong Soo wasn't here and logically, those who would inevitably try to shout over his brother's incredibly loud voice should be revelling in the opportunity to have a chance at conversation in a regular volume.
Except that no one was actually talking. It wasn't that Japan did not appreciate the silence it was just that it was…unnatural? Abnormal? Bizarre? He shook his head slightly. He could not quite think of the appropriate word.
He could feel his phone vibrate in his pocket and excusing himself, picked himself up and stood a little ways away from the table.
"Hello?"
"Japaaaaaaaaan!"
Heads jerekd around as the mentioned winced, pulling his phone a considerable distance from his ear. Italy's voice still rang clear for all at the table to hear.
"I didn't do anything, I swear! I'm so sorry Japan, didn't know what happened one minute — "
"Italy," Japan said sharply. "What are you talking about?"
Feliciano had begun to wail before he even commenced his story.
"Give me that!" The all-too distinguishable voice of Germany could be heard loud and clear in the background followed by a series of muffled as the phone was being tossed from hand to hand.
"Germany, what's going on?"
"Your brother was in the elevator with Italy and he fainted. His pulse is quick and he's running a high fever. Italy managed to rouse him a little bit, but he's not making much sense."
China had suddenly reached across the table and snatched Kiku's smartphone from his hand.
"Is it South Korea?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry to disrupt your lunch, but someone needs to come back to the hotel — "
Germany had not even finished his sentences before China had released a series of explosives and shoved the phone back into Japan's hand.
"I knew he was acting weird today!"
Hong Kong and Taiwan exchanged uneasy looks.
"It does explain a lot." Hong Kong said.
China did not appreciate the added commentary and made his opinion clear with a glare as he shrugged his jacket on.
"We'll be there in 15 minutes. If you can, try and keep him awake until then."

"아니요…"
Italy's head turned in response to the voice was back in front of him.
"It's okay. Japan says he'll be here in a few minutes
True to his word, several sounds of running feet could be heard approaching. During the wait, Yong Soo had pulled his knees to his chest, his head resting on them. Taiwan knelt in front of him, raising his head while the other hand felt his forehead. This had only confirmed what Germany had told him. Unfocused eyes slid over her face, seemly trying to gain an identity.
"You have lunch…"
"Something else came up."
China had cut in front of his sister, the latter willingly relinquishing her place.
"You have to get up now. You can't sleep in the hallway."
Yong Soo seemed to have an expression that demanded that China should watch him try.
China wrapped an arm around his neck while he pushed himself to his feet, trying to support the weight of his younger brother. There was a slurred protest of sorts that was merging between Korean and English.
"Let me help."
Much to China's relief, Germany had come on the other side and collected most Yong Soo's weight.
"Where to now?"
"I'll take him to my room. If he's this scrambled, then I don't trust that he remembered to bring his card key out. Besides. My room is closer."
Germany nodded in agreement and the two worked to practically drag the partially conscious nation.