The week had passed and soon the meeting had come up. America was able to persuade his boss to not come even though his boss had a liking to Italy. America took a normal flight there, the calls he needed made and the preparations set. He watched the white clouds beneath him floated with bliss, no concerns.

He checked into the hotel and took a nap, a day left till the emergency meeting was held. When he awoke it was around 5:30 PM at night in Italy, his stomach growling. He went into Florence where his hotel was located and immediately found a place for dinner. He walked around, a cola in his hand, the sun setting. He found himself at a waterfront, but there he saw something much more interesting than the water. He hid behind a building, watching with his phone out.

The next day had come, America actually showing up a few minutes earlier than everyone else, the room grand and luxurious as anyone would suspect in Italy. He sat back in his red, comfy, swivel arm chair. The rest soon came in after; Germany came in with Japan and Italy, Russia and China coming in one at a time afterwards. Canada came in soon after (though no one noticed). The only ones missing were France and England.

"Aiyah~ the most they could do is be on time." China's arms were folded, his long sleeve outfit replaced by a black suit, his face menacing.

As he said that the two came crashing into the room, both of them heavily breathing.

"Bullocks! I told you to take the other road you ass hat!" England spat at France as they got into their chairs.

"Ehh?! It was your faulty instructions that got us lost for the first thirty minutes you imbecile!"

The two continued to glare at each other as Germany began to lead the meeting. "I've collected the data on these robberies and the suspects that followed."

He turned on a PowerPoint that shown on a screen in front of the meeting table. First came up the photos of the samurai swords which were first stolen. "These were stolen two and a half months ago on Nov 5. No suspects. The guards had all been incapacitated through the pressure points on their necks. There was no evidence left behind."

Japan gritted his teeth some as Germany changed the screen.

"About two and a half weeks later the Chinese pictures were stolen; those were in the Forbidden City. Two guards dead and one still in a coma. Cause of death for both was a slit neck while the comatose guard suffered hits to the head by a blunt object. No suspects."

China stared at the screen with dismay, wanting to stand and scream.

The screen changed. "Three weeks later the Mona Lisa was stolen from Paris, France. There was one suspect who is now being held in custody. His name was Johannes Lefou, a service worker who had been struggling to make ends meet. He's charged for both the theft of the Mona Lisa and the disappearance of Officer Dubois who was last seen patrolling near the Louvre."

France made no movements; he only stared.

"Then we have the Romanov Jewels from Russia, stolen about two weeks after the Mona Lisa. The entire infrastructure had been filled with an incapacitating agent which gave every person in the building severe hallucinations, different reactions occurring. Two committed suicide and the rest yet to recover. No suspects."

The slide changed, Russia readjusting his scarf.

"Finally we have the Crown Jewels, stolen a week and a half ago. This one was the most intricate theft as to date. The room was filled with an incapacitating agent only this one only left the victim unconscious unlike in Russia. There was only one suspect. Ridley Ferguson, accounted for both theft and murder in Scotland, he moved to the UK to supposedly start a new life under a new alias. Though, as England describes it he was the man who had knocked him out and was last seen in the room. His locker had a red duffel bag inside it, something that has yet to be confirmed as suspicious."

"Damned bugger I'll have his head." England murmured to himself.

The room was silent, Germany readjusting his tie as he pinched the rim of his nose in frustration. "As far as we know the only pattern we can find is that these occur in two-three week intervals. Also…though this may just be a theory we've noticed that these thefts have occurred a day or so after the World Meetings. This wasn't the case in China or Japan, but it did occur in France, Russia, and in the UK."

"Whaaaa~?! Am I next?!" Italy's head went head first onto the table, his hands covering his head in fear.

"You moron we don't know" England scoffed.

"But it's a coincidence don't you think?" Russia stated.

"Ja, we don't know yet if it's a correspondence, but if this pattern follows we'll be able to narrow down the suspects. Still, for all we know it could be a worldly organization or a coincidence which could prove my theory faulty. As of current Ferguson is our best bet, but seeing as we still haven't tracked him down these theories are the best thing to work off of."

America tensed up some, though it wasn't enough to grab the eye of anyone at the table. He knew that someone would eventually catch onto that but he thought he could get in at least this last theft in. He hoped that this theory would remain underground for just a little while longer. Still, if he were to act they may begin to hone in on the theory that these thefts have been happening after meetings; if they do they might begin suspecting each other even more. Eventually they'll begin monitoring each other without each other's consent. That's how it always goes these damned countries. America weighed his options. Would his plan still work?

No, all the preparations were already set and he hated to back out now. If he were to be caught though what were his options?

1. Suicide

2. Trial which would most likely lead to life in prison

3. Go into hiding

4. …

He had thought over this list hundreds of times, the same result always coming up. Still, the rush weighed over the circumstances, but …. "Oh God" he thought. He needed to smoke a cigarette or something, his mind rushing with everything that could go wrong. He knew that he should've waited. He could have taken David much later, this meeting leaving no trace, but he didn't. He was a fool, he acted with haste. Fuck, he's being who he tried to destroy.

"America? Are you ok?" Canada asked, putting a hand on his strangely quiet brother.

America felt his mind sway back and forth. He was going to throw up; these sudden fears attacking him all at once. He looked up and realized that everyone was looking at him. He realized he was shivering, his face must've looked flushed and he could feel the sweat on him.

"I…I'm fine." He muttered taking in a deep breath. "Just…overworked I guess." No, he needed to get out and do something.

"I'm overreacting" he thought to himself. There's no way these people are smart enough to suspect him just because of these certain theories. He could go as planned and then he would break the pattern, but first he needed a smoke.

He couldn't think throughout anymore of the meeting, obviously not well. He excused himself from the meeting hall, but halfway through opening the door he collapsed, unable to take in anymore of these unknown consequences.