Hi again. It's nice to see that this fic has already captured interest since I brought it to this site. I know that this chapter may seem short, and it will take a couple days until I continue the process of posting the rest of the fan fic.

Chapter 2: The chibi

As a nation, Lili had lived for hundreds for years. Immortality was no surprise to her, so this living... thing... was almost no different than that.

She wanted to believe that she was holding a dwarf with a Russian accent (that would have been the most logical answer) because this person was the right size, but the features and proportions were incorrect. This was her first rational thought, before she went onto the second- and more important- question.

"Um- who are you?" She began. "And how do you me and my brother?" She added as she set the chibi down. (for a chibi is the term best used to describe, and easy to picture for the readers who are, hopefully, familiar with this term.)

"I've meet Vash before." The Russian chibi spoke as Lili knelt down in front of it. He seemed to have the softness and innocence of a child in his tone. "You look an awful lot like him- except for that ribbon." Lili didn't know it, but the chibi was imagining Vash with a ribbon in his hair before he continued on, in a slightly offended air. "You don't know who I am?"

"Well I- I haven't been too up to date with what's been going on." Lili admitted. "I know there's a war happening, but I've tried to stay out of it. Though brother complains about it a lot."

"Ah, of course." The Russian closed his eyes in thought and produced a wide smile, but the atmosphere... suddenly seemed to turn cold for a brief moment. Lili felt a sudden uneasiness about the chibified being that she couldn't explain or put a finger on, despite his appearance. "That sounds like him."

Just as it came, the cloud of uneasiness lifted away as the chibi's eyes opened up. "I think you would best know me as Russia, little one."

Lili was a little dumbfounded at this introduction- this was Russia? That couldn't be right; She knew Russia was a very big, strong, man in appearance, not a little...whatever this thing was, and a powerful nation, to boot.

In fact, a memory stirred in her head- one of the many memories she thought she had forgotten.

-In the time of the Napoleon Wars.-

"Oh, your braids are so cute!" Francis sighed as he tugged the little girl's long golden braids. "They make such a nice stress reliever!"

Lili was too scared to even protest or run away from this unwanted attention, so Francis continued to pull at her braids, uninterrupted. Even if it meant that she had to endure the painful tugs.

"They are, da?" Lili felt tugging from her other braid this time. She recognized that voice, and this time, resolved not to say another word as she stayed rooted to the spot.

"Oh merde- what are you doing here?!" The Frenchman snapped over the little Nation's head to the happy Russian. "I was here first, damn it!"

"I wanted to have fun too." Ivan chirped. "You've been hassling me so much that I need to get rid of some stress too."

"Look, I know were fighting against each other, but could we have done this another time! Shesh!" Francis was developing clouds of anger over his head.

-present-

"...Oh now I remember!" Ivan smiled at the memory. "That was when I was against Francis! You had braids then."

Lili felt her blood freeze up. This was DEFINITELY Russia: who else would be so sweet looking, yet act like a monster at the same time? Now she was able to recall what she knew about the Nation: He was among the largest countries to date (if not the largest of all), with the scariest reputation known to man, and was up against Gilbert Beilshmidt and his brother in the war- with the same Nation who also had pulled on her braids, as an unfortunate bonus.

"So, if your Mr... Russia." Lili trembled, against her wishes. "Why are you... uh..." How was she going to put it without getting on his bad side? "...What happened to you exactly?"

"Oh?" Ivan glanced down at himself for a moment. "I honestly don't know. I was fighting in Berlin one moment, and then Gilbert yelled something stupid, like always, then I woke up in Roderich's home- then for some reason, I was knocked out again." he calmly explained...it appeared that he was taking this surprisingly well. "It took quite a lot of chloroform to do it."

Lili thought carefully, now that Ivan was here. What did he know about the First Russian National Army? If he knew that they were betraying him, he had the power to punish them. She now understood what the general meant, that any traitors to the country could be punished: after all, she had heard word that Russia's human personification was... possibly not right in the head either, Even the Baltic States were immensely terrified of the Nation, which said quite a lot.

And Vash would definitely say no, the second this was all explained to him.

"You don't have any enemies that would take advantage of this, do you?" Lili asked. "I don't want my country to get in the middle of what's left of the war."

"Maybe," Ivan shrugged. "If we defeated Ludwig, I think the only one left is Yao's little brother. Now that you mention it," He became concern and bit his lip as he thought over the situation. "Perhaps I should take advantage of this moment and lay low for awhile until I can figure out what just happened."

That really worried Lili- if he stayed in her home too, he was bound to find out sooner or later about the volunteer army, and that was even worse than a surprise invasion and Vash would also find out in turn- should she hide Mr. Braginski from him?

"On the plus side." Russia grinned again, but that unpleasant aura returned. "I would like the time to come up with ways to get back at Gilbert Beilschmidt. He and his brother backstabbed me, so I wont mind using this time to pay them back: I can't wait to see them begging for mercy when I'm through with them." He chuckled. "It just makes me feel better thinking abou-"

The chibified Ivan found himself hoisted up in the air by his prized scarf until he was at direct eye level with Lili: for once, the little nation actually shared the same characteristic level of annoyance of her adopted brother.

"On second thought, maybe I should tell Vash." She decided.

-At Vash's house-

"Hey big brother, what should I do with him?" Lili held up Ivan for Vash to see.

"Hello Zwigli!" Ivan cheerfully waved to the Swiss. "It's good to see you again!"

"WHAT THE **** IS HE DOING HERE?!" Vash almost had a heart attack and, out of habit, aimed the gun at the Russian. "LILI, WHY IS HE HERE?! THROW HIM OUT OF THE COUNTRY!"

"Isn't that a bit harsh, brother?" Lili frowned.

"I DONT CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM! JUST TOSS HIM IN A PLACE WHERE HE'S FAR AWAY FROM HERE!"

"Uh, you could just toss me in prison, if that's preferable." Ivan closed his eyes as he had an anime sweat-drop moment. "I actually need the protection at the moment, in case you couldn't tell. And my country could storm yours, if they think you're responsible for my condition."

Vash stopped for the moment. His face was scrunched up to the point that it would put a pug to shame as he tried to think... for a literal three seconds.

"FINE, BUT TAKE HIM TO THE BEST SECURED PRISON!" He snapped.

And that's what happened to Ivan. No questions were asked.

-and that was basically it-

Vash Zwigli really needed a vacation, from all the events that had occurred within the past year- if he wasn't stingy and could afford it, that is. He wasn't happy with how things were occurring in Liechtenstein's country.

"You shouldn't have got yourself into this." He sighed to his sister as he chowed down a chocolate bar- it was the only thing that could keep him calm now. "First you have a band of traitors, now you have the traitoree with you."

Is traitoree even a word?

"I know the risks!" Lili protested. "But I'm not going to let Mr. Braginsky know about them! I'll manage, somehow!"

"Think of the money you'll have to spend too." Vash pointed out. "I don't know if your allowance will cover the costs of letting these people stay here, and for your own people."

"I don't mind." Lili insisted. "I want to help these people out! It's not right to turn them down when they aren't seeking a fight. I already have a Red Cross formed! I'll prove you that I can handle this!" Lili hoped that she would make her brother proud by showing some independence- she was grateful for all he did, but she knew that she shouldn't rely on him all the time.

Vash thought for a quiet moment as he finished off the chocolate bar. He swallowed before he said "I suppose your right, in that way." He closed his eyes. "Just promise me you'll be careful with Mr. Braginsky- despite that he looks cute and squishy now, he's the most dangerous person for miles at the moment." His eyebrows narrowed. "Seriously- be careful."

Lili could barely contain her excitement and let out a squeal as she clasped her hands together over her chest. "Thank you big brother!" She beamed.

- Inserting messages in breaks are fun-

True to Lili's word, the red cross was well under way. Many volunteers, nurses, and doctors were on hand to take care of Mother Russia's misbehaved children, without any word against it.

It amazed the soldiers as to how kind the people of Liechtenstein were: their hospitality even went as far as to offer a place in their homes while they were under their protection. It truly was fortunate that they were allowing this happy miracle, yet there was concern still that they would turn them out, when the time came.

But none compared to the small girl who always wore the purple ribbon in her short yellow hair and who occasionally wore the Switzerland uniform. They swore that she was practically the embodiment of Liechtenstein: she was as cute as the small country itself, but she placed everyone's needs before her own. She once spent hours fixing as many of the clothes that needed to be mended, while helping to prepare food at the same time, and still had time to speak to as many of the soldiers as she could.

On the seventh day since they first arrived, Elise finished the last check up of the day and approached Lili, as she surveyed a group of soldiers chatting amongst themselves- looking quite at peace, much to the Nation's relief.

"It seems all our efforts are paying off." Elise commented. "Look how healthy they are! I know they stopped in Austria, but the complexion on most of them has gotten better than before. The prince is pleased with our efforts too."

"Mmm-hmm." Lili nodded. "I've avoided asking them about their homeland, though I know some of them clearly have stated that they don't want to go back. It saddens me, but I'm a bit concerned as to why that would be."

"And when you think of why they formed in the first place." The woman's eyes clouded with worry. "I've heard rumors, and none of them sounded good."

Instead of making a reply, Lili chose to walk over and sit by the soldiers. One of them just said something that made the others boisterously laugh out, and that was enough to make her smile with pleasure, even if she had no clue what it was.

"Ah, Little Angel!" Mikhal- one of the few who spoke her language- greeted. He was one of the many that was fond of Lili, and had applied that endearing name to her after the sixth time they conversed with each other. He was a pleasant man with kind eyes, and he was among the afore mentioned who didn't seem to be very homesick- and was close to the general.

"Hello Mikhal." Lili greeted back. "What was so funny?"

"Oh, just an old legend about the three traveling 'brothers'." He explained. "They don't believe me when I tell them it was two brothers."

"Oh?" Lili pressed interest.

"Well, according to the tale." Mikhal explained. "There were three brothers who formed three countries. One of them was our homeland."

"And the others?"

"One was Poland," He continued. "And that's were I say there were only two brothers. My mother insisted that the last one is actually a girl- and that she formed what is know part of Czechoslovakia."

"Oh really?" Lili laughed a little. "And what was it like for the three of them, when they traveled together?"

"Now that's something I'd love to know." Mikhal chuckled at the thought. "I would have chosen two of my favorite people in the world if I underwent such a journey."

"Actually, Felicks always complained about how his feet were killing him. Little Czech was always complaining about running low on beer."

All eyes turned to the new voice, but Lili froze where she sat in dismayed fear. Mikhal also recognized the newcomer, and looked as if the devil was right before him. He shot off his stool and bolted away as fast as his legs could carry him.

Lili slowly turned her head to see Ivan standing just two feet away from where she sat, looking pleasantly happy, like usual. "Of course, we weren't siblings, but I didn't mind the company at the time. Now look at what's happened between us."

"H-How did you- Lili began, but Ivan beat her to the question.

"It's easy: I'm Russia. I've broke out of that prison and escaped over twenty times, in the course of a week, and they still didn't suspect a thing. And now I have a question for you: why are five hundred of my people in your country?"