Yuuki no Yuki: I love the heck out of that moment in the anime. Not only that, but that scene even has chibi Russia!... Who ISN'T wearing anything underneath that coat LOL!

...Anyway.

Remember how I said that there would be a reference to the Romanovs/Russian Revolution?

Also... this was one of my favorite chapters to do when I wrote it.

Chapter 6: Comfort and Confusion

Lili had been calling for the Russian almost non-stop when she began climbing up the mountains. She was worried that her brother's intentions were meet with success: she didn't have any strong feelings towards Ivan, but she still cared about him enough to fear the worst.

"MR. BRAGINSKYI!" She yelled as her voice echoed off the mountains and proved true to their capabilities of carrying quite far. "MR. BRAGINSKYYYYI! WHERE ARE YOUUUU?!"

Once again, she was thankful that she chose to wear her brother's uniform today, since it made this search much easier. Ivan was wearing the yellow shirt today, so the odds of him being spotted were quite high with the color contrast against the blue of the mountains in mind, but it would still take time if he hadn't fallen into any place that was inescapable. She made it to one of the many meadows in the mountains before she tried calling for him again.

"MR. BRAGINSKYYY!"

"I'M HERE, DAAAAA?!"

Lili stopped running for the moment and sighed in relief as she heard his own voice echo off the mountains. She took in a breath of air and filled her lungs up as much as they could stretch and bellowed out. "WHERE ARE YOUUUU?!"

"I'M UP HEREEEE!"

Lili glanced up towards the higher mountains: Vash was able to toss him all the way up there? He could have easily threw him over the Matterhorn, if he wanted to! "GIVE ME A SECONNNND!" Ivan bellowed back to her. She waited for a few seconds before she saw something small fly off the mountains towards a forested area down below. Suddenly, she realized what he meant to do.

"VODKKKKKKKAAA!"

"MR. BRAGINISKYYY!" She shrieked and darted towards the descending Russian as he soared down the mountains at a rate of you-would-surely-die- per seconds which only increased as he got closer and closer to the ground. She wasn't fast enough for any miracle, and panicked when she saw him disappear into the trees.

"Please don't be dead! Please don't be dead! Please don't be dead!" Lili begged the high heavens as she pushed her body to go even faster as she headed towards the trees. After an agonizing thirty seconds of fearing for the worst, she reached the trees and went towards where she thought the chibi could have fallen.

"Mr. Braginsky!" Lili frantically yelled. "Where are you?! Please yell if your alive!"

"Up here!" She heard him call for her. She made it to a certain tree... where he hung from one of the branches by his scarf, just several feet up high above the ground. Apparently, crazy as it was to believe, that scarf was possibly what saved him from the fall. "Hello!" He waved to her and smiled as if jumping off the mountains or was hanging off a tree was natural.

"Are you nuts?! You could have killed yourself!" Lili chided up. "I don't want you to keep throwing yourself in these situations where you'll give me a heart attack!"

Instead of a response, Ivan swung himself back up to safety on the branch, which proved large enough to hold him. He darted across it before he started hopping down from branch to branch, but stopped at the lowest one, which was ten feet above Lili's head. "We can't die that easily, remember?" He reminded her. "Though you're reminding me of your brother at the moment- how often is he stressed to the point that he needs a vacation?"

"That's not funny!" Lili huffed. "My brother was only worried for everyone's safety, that's all!"

"Possibly." Ivan replied. "He needs to try to be a bit more calm though, otherwise his heart will fail him too soon."

"Please don't speak about him like that anymore." Lili pleaded this time. "I don't like it when my brother-

"May I ask you something, little one?" Ivan's smile dropped, and he actually looked serious this time- really serious, nothing fake. "How much do you cherish your brother?"

"If he's happy, I'm happy." Lili confidently replied. Ivan didn't need to hassle her brother while he was still around! She wouldn't let that happen! Ivan nodded in understanding.

"Ah, I see. You care about him quite a lot... but you know." He sat down on the branch and looked directly in her eye. "Suppose you had to be on your own again, and you had to look out for yourself- what would you do then?"

"I... I don't know." Lili admitted as she thought on that, but regretted it due to the pain it gave her. "I don't think I could. I mean, not right now, but why-

"Have you ever been selfish or thought for yourself before, little one?" Ivan added.

"No- I don't want to be! Why would I?" Lili angrily asked.

"It's ok to be selfish little one." Ivan continued. "I guess I've been learning while I've lived in this country- there's a balance. I see we share some similarities, but even though I've heard you express your wishes, I've never heard you complain about a single thing that you had to do. Not even when you told me I was being a bully. I think you're almost too nice for your own good sometimes."

Lili flinched: she was too nice for her own good? Why was he being mean again, when she told him not to? "That's not nice!" Lili was hurt. "Why would you say that?"

"Because, you are capable of standing up for yourself." Ivan answered. "If you could stand up against me, you could stand up against your brother, if you wanted to because you do have it in you. However... if someone deserves a little piece of selfishness, for doing so much of what you've done, it should be you. If your idea of doing something that you want is helping others though, that's ok, but...ah, how do I put it? Treat yourself to a sweet once in awhile."

There was silence that followed between them.

Lili's eyebrows arched up as she pondered this advice. He thought she deserved to do what she wanted to do for herself? Go against Vash? Treat herself to a sweet?

Such thoughts never occurred to her... but then again, she owed Vash a whole lot, for what he did for her. And she loved to help whenever she could- being selfish was a foreign idea to her. Yet this Nation was telling her to have moments of selfishness- for her own sake.

Was it bad, being too nice all the time? To not buy, for herself, chocolate, or jewelry, which she didn't own at the moment and couldn't see how they would be so valuable to women?

"I'm just saying- I guess life should be filled with some fun, if you have the chance."

In that moment, Lili suddenly saw Ivan in a different light.

"Maybe...maybe your right." She reluctantly admitted. "I don't think now is the best time to be selfish, but I guess I could try it one day. It's been... a really long time."

Ivan smiled. "Well, that's better to hear that than nothing at all."

He hopped off the branch, but Lili was quick this time when she saw him get ready to pounce. She caught him just before he hit the ground.

"Ah, thank you, little one." He was grateful for this, as she set him back down. "You didn't have to, but I appreciate it."

"...You know, Lili is ok with me." The small Nation kindly smiled. "You don't need to always call me that."

The other Nation smiled back. "I hope, when your ready, that you can use my name too."

"So..." Lili glanced towards the sky. "Any luck with reaching Mr. Kirkland?"

"Actually...I haven't received anything back from him." Ivan frowned. "I know it takes awhile for a letter to travel from here to his place, and I wrote that I INSISTED he come or else."

"I hope he answers back soon." Lili worried. "I don't want you to stay stuck like you are, if your not happy about it."

"It's not so bad." Ivan assured her. "sometimes. I've never had a chance to relax- to feel like I don't have so many duties to attend to. It's almost like being a human on vacation." Ivan laughed weakly. "I feel like one, without being in power that is."

"So," He continued on. "I guess I shouldn't show my face around your brother's home, for the time being, da?"

"It would be safer for you." Was the reply.

-back at Vash's house-

"He's gone." Lili lied to Vash for what was possibly for the first time in her existence that afternoon. "I think your arm was good today."

"Thank God." The Swiss sighed in relief as he sat down- it had been a very long day at the banks, and the constant worrying of the Russian Nation filled it with more tension, made it harder to keep a clear head, and only made things worse.

"So, could you try to relax for the rest of the day?" Lili pleaded. "I don't want you to work today; You look like you could use a nap."

"Perhaps." Vash muttered. His eyebrows deeply furrowed glanced up to his sister. "What was your relationship to Mr. Braginsky?"

The question caught Lili off guard. "Wh-wh-

"Have you been close with him, or did you keep your distance?"

"I... I've spoken with him a few times." Lili lied (the current rush of adrenaline had to be the reason she was able to pull this stunt off, for she normally wasn't good with lying.) "He needed the company- he can be a bully." She admitted. "But I think...I think there's more to him than that."

"I doubt it." Vash's face clouded. "Listen Lili: if he ever tries to speak with you again, don't try to make any contact. He's a real monster, if there ever was one."

"...How could Mr. Braginsky be a monster?" Lili asked. "I've seen him be quite terrible to others, but he can be nice when he wants to. I don't think 'monster' is the right word for-" Vash jolted out of his seat and slammed his palms on the table, almost scaring her to death.

" Being 'nice' is a cover up Lili!" Vash nearly shouted, his voice loud enough to fill the entire house. "I've seen and heard him do many things- his hands have been stained with blood almost since he was a young Nation! I've seen him do terrible things while looking like an innocent child, and that's saying something about his mentality! You cant even imagine what it would be like to live under his house, but I've seen what goes on for one day, and it looks like a living nightmare! He's a demon about twenty four seven to the Baltics to the point that I'm surprised they haven't tried to revolt yet! Don't you know about the origins of the Soviet Union, Lili?!"

"N-no." She didn't like where this was going. She almost didn't want to hear it.

"Remember the Romanovs?! The Czar?! When his rule fell, the people were so angry as to how they lived under him that they killed the entire family- even the little one!" Vash bitterly continued. "And the worst of it was that they didn't need to be killed: they could have just been removed from the country or something, but the people were just to upset to care! And do you know who aided in the execution?!"

"Brother stop!" Lili frantically pleaded. She was scared to hear it- she didn't want to hear what he was going to say, even though she felt that she knew what was coming. "We don't need to talk about this right now!"

"Lili, if you need to know how to protect your people, you need to know whom to avoid!" Vash slammed his fist on the table. "It was Braginsky who helped kill the family he held so dear! And I know this because Toris once told me Braginsky said to him that he couldn't have 'children who don't play fair' when it happened!"

Silence filled the room. Lili stood there, horrified, as this new, hidden secret about Ivan was revealed to her.

She didn't want to believe it...that her friend was a murderer.

"Please." Her mouth moved by itself. "Tell me your lying brother. Please just tell me your only joking about this because I wasn't careful about keeping a tighter hold on Mr. Braginsky."

"We Nations have had to participate in the bloody affairs," Vash harshly reminded her. "Look at how many innocent people have died in this war, just because they were deemed 'impure'. Look at the hypocrites who said their homes were open, only to rope off lost wanderers because they don't want to add to the population or have more financial concern. Sometimes being a 'murderer' isn't the worst thing someone can be."

Vash sat back down, filled with slight regret, but he knew what he did was right. "I'm sorry Lili, but I speak the truth. I want you to know, even if I wish I could shield you from even more horrors in the world. I prefer that you knew it this way, rather than in some room where they interrogated you or put you through the worst of tortures."

-later-

Lili spent the next few weeks in her country, trying to help more people and the Red Cross, all while trying not to remember what her brother told her.

She was too afraid to face Ivan now. Afraid to find out that her brother was speaking the truth, and that there was something even worse than the cruel child that the Russian could be. If she saw him coming, or heard word about him coming to where she was, she would try to quietly evade the situation and get away as fast as possible.

It was hard to not think about him when she had to attend the Russian Army: they served as a reminder to the worst one could do to their own people if they had to run. The general and even Mikhal (who seemed to be happy be with Elise) couldn't erase this truth.

But whenever she thought of the times Ivan talked with her, like a friend, and showed displays of genuine goodness, she felt guilty for trying to stay away from him. Just as he had the aura to frighten people, he also similar to a lonely, broken child, abandoned by his close companions.

What if Mr. Kirkland wasn't responding to his messages because he was secretly afraid of him?

Sometimes, she wanted to do something about his behavior though: even if he kept his word, she could tell that it was a little hard to restrain himself from lashing out in his special way.

They were both quiet and observant, but their personalities shifted from then on out. It was a miracle that she was able to hold a good conversation with him, but it was likely that strange circumstances were what threw them together like this.

She knew that enough was enough after awhile: she had ignored him for too long, and he was most likely hurt because of that.

One day, Lili headed to Elise's house, rang the bell, and waited.

"Ms. Elise isn't here right now, da?" She heard his voice and, at that moment, wanted to run as fast as she could- away from having to confront him and have him find out why she was acting distant.

"I-Its' only me." She blurted out, when her gut told her to stay put and stay strong.

A few seconds passed. Then the door opened up; Ivan was looking up at her in surprise.

"Oh, it's been awhile! Hello!" He beamed- he seemed very happy to see her again.

"I've-been busy." Lili found out that lying was starting to be a recurring habit she was developing. "I hope you don't mind that I stopped by to check on you."

"That's fine."

"I was actually wondering... if you could come with me."

-some time later-

She lead them to that field again, where they first hung out together. The summer blossoms had grown even more since they last came, and all of them were in full bloom.

"These looks nice." Ivan chirped as he plucked one of the flowers and examined it. "They make your country look even more pretty!"

"Ah, Thank you." Lili blushed a little. "I'm glad you like them."

"You could probably dance in this field for hours and wish to stay forever, da?" Ivan twirled the flower with his fingers as he said this. "Well, the children like to." Lili answered. "It's fun, but I don't know about forever. Even if forever sounds like it would be wonderful...do you like to dance?"

She wondered why she even bothered to ask that question in the first place, but Ivan lit up at the question.

"Oh yes- in Russia, we have our traditional dances. But I also remember the times when I danced in the Czar's Palace."

She was suddenly scared as to how this would go now.

"Remember the Romovs?! The Czar?! When this rule fell, the people were so angry as to how they lived under him that they killed the whole family- even the youngest!"

"There were the times we had large balls in the Palace, during the winter." Ivan closed his eyes as he began to waltz through the flowers with an invisible companion, flower still in hand. "I always liked to dance with his daughters. I tried not to favor one over the other as I danced with them: they still had yet to find their princes, so I would be a prince for each of them." He seemed to be lost in the memories as he continued to dance. "I was so sure that everything was going to get better from then on."

The younger Nation sat down in the field of flowers and continued to watch him. He seemed, in that moment, to truly be happy as he recalled those days from long ago, but just as he had started, he suddenly stumbled and fell over onto the ground, losing the flower in the process.

"Are you ok?" Lili got on her knees in an instant and offered a helpful hand. He was able to get back up, but he now looked different: he seemed very sad, almost in pain. His eyes were downcast as he accepted her hand and stood back up.

"I cant believe I almost forgot about that time." Ivan murmured quietly. "So many years have passed already, and I'd forgotten that time... when I was actually happy. There have been too few times when things have been fine in my home, and I was able to be happy... when my people were happy."

He glanced up to her. "You know about me already? About what happened after that?" His mouth grew a grim line, as he grew bitter. "I won't be upset if you don't know...or if you do and you secretly fear me or hate me. I wouldn't be surprised about it."

Why was this so painful? This was bound to happen sooner or later, and yet- why did Lili feel sad, rather than scared for what could come of this?

"I..." She hesitated. "I...I know... but I don't hate you. I actually feel sorry for you. I don't know what I can say that could make you feel better, other than that I feel sorry for all you've been through, and how it- how you..." She wanted to say right out loud how this terrible past he endured had turned him into the way he was, but she didn't know if he would turn on her for listing any of those flaws born from suffering. "I can't say anything that I will regret later."

Ivan glanced to the sky. He stared up into the blue and the whiteness of it as if it would be the solution for everything, but Lili could see emotional turmoil in those purple eyes. She wanted to know what he was thinking, and what was causing him so much pain: perhaps she was the cause, for making him go through what he tried to suppress... and she wanted to have the answer to make everything right, not just for him, but the whole world that was threatening to enter her home and engulf her with it's mess of problems.

"I know what you mean- you want to say what's wrong with me," Ivan stuttered out a sigh. "Why you don't want to be around me anymore. I may as well leave, before you grow ill from lack of money, for your own sake."

Instead, she did the only thing she could do: she picked him up and drew him close to her. She held him tightly, like a mother would hold her child.

"It's ok Mr. Braginsky," She soothingly assured him. "If you need to cry- cry. No one is around but me to listen to you. I'll leave if you want me to, but if you need to let go of something, do it before it consumes you."

She felt his small arms wrap around her. His hands clutched her dress and they tightened up into trembling fists as his head trembled against her chest.

She didn't mind that she was feeling wet spots on her dress. If Russia needed to cry, he deserved to cry under the protection of that haven of neutrality, where no one would judge him. Soon, she could hear his sobbing, which got to the point that it was almost uncontrollable, and his fists tightened up even more as he almost pulled her towards him. He sounded like he was having a hard time breathing as he heaved and tried to let his emotions out, and she found herself rubbing his back, to try to alleviate the pain.

It was as if he needed a caring mother to hold him and keep his world in pace- like he didn't have one before. They stayed together in the field for hours; Time was nothing for them, not even their own immortality, and even that had a ticking clock.

She ran her fingers through his hair and patted his head. "Everything's going to be fine." She assured him. "I promise... as long as I'm here with you, you don't need to hide anything."

Lili was beginning to get tired of sitting up though, so she fell back into the flowers and stretched her legs out while she still held the little chibi close to her.

Was it her imagination, or was she secretly liking to hold the other nation? She squashed that idea out of her, feeling that, other than uncertainty, it was inappropriate at this time.

Eventually, Ivan sat back up and wiped his face. He looked much better and greatly relieved after letting loose all those tears. "I feel like I just removed a weight off me... maybe people should cry more, if they need to let go." He pondered the idea. "Yes... I suppose that sounds like a good idea."

"I'm glad it worked for you." Lili smiled, happy that he was feeling all better now. "Perhaps tomorrow, we could do something that will make you happy?"

"Da!" Ivan nodded. "I have something for you anyway."

"You do?" Lili asked in interest- something for her? "What on earth-"

"It's a surprise, so don't ask." Ivan gave her a mischievous fox grin. "I hope you can wait until tomorrow."

-?-

You know how, when you dream, the best ones tend to be the ones in which you are absolutely convinced that it's real?

Lili was shivering as she walked through the snow covered streets, blanketed by the darkness of an inky black night. Where was she, and why was it snowing in the middle of summer? She huddled up her arms even more until they could have been pulled out of their sockets.

She glanced up ahead to see windows. They were attached to an invisible building, but their fancy design and size hinted at a mansion or palace, and a warm, glowing atmosphere peered out of them like beacons. She could see silhouettes of people inside- their shapes hinted at some kind of special party, or a ball.

"I wish I could go inside." Lili enviously stared, despite herself. "I bet it's nice and warm, with lots of food to eat, and I bet there's something fun going on too."

No sooner did she say this, than something fell onto her head. She realized that it was some kind of jacket, judging by the feel of it, and how it draped completely over her with it's immense length, but because she was getting cold, she put it on anyway. It was far too large for her body: it was clearly intended for a man of a large stature. The tan colored garment also looked like a military coat, judging by the design of the collar and the sleeves.

"At least this coat is nice and warm." Lili was comforted by this fact as she put her hands in the pockets inside the coat- only to feel something like paper brush against her fingers. Out of interest, she pulled it out to see what looked like an invitation with a red ribbon on the outside.

"Oh, Miss Zwigli! You've been expected!"

Lili glanced up at the sound of the man's voice: three, well suited young men were standing before her. Although one of them was shorter than the others and looked to be her age, they were all wearing cat-like masks of a variety of different colors. Behind them was a elegantly carved door.

"We were afraid you wouldn't come!" The dark haired man with long hair explained. "We thought we would get it for sure if you didn't."

"But thankfully you're only a few minutes late." The one who seemed to be wearing glasses over his mask- funny enough- added.

"If you hurry, you may get a bite to eat before the dancing starts!" The smaller one pipped up.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Lili asked, daring to hope that she was allowed inside the warm looking building. "And what do you mean, I was expected?"

"Come this way," The dark haired man grabbed the handle and pulled the door open to emit a blindingly bright light that made Lili shield her eyes.

Suddenly, she could hear music- Viennese music. And people talking.

She lowered her arm to see an impressive sight before her.

She was inside a large ballroom- possibly bigger than the Colosseum of Rome itself. It was in a baroque style that would have made a certain French Nation approve, and every National flag imaginable hung on the cream colored walls.

She glanced down the stairs to see the guests: everyone was dressed in costume, as if it were a masquerade. What was more startling than the costumes themselves was that she could recognize most of the guests: there was Ludwig, wearing a wolf mask, while a certain Italian was by his side, dressed like a Renaissance Red Ridding Hood. Mr. Honda looked like an elegant emperor, while Yao, who looked like a ferocious dragon, was more animated in their conversation. There was Francis, wearing a suave period style costume (with curiously tight pants on) while hassling a pirate that could only be Mr. Kirkland. A man dressed in late eighteenth century clothes was busy stuffing his mouth full with food from the buffet, while his twin- dressed in white- tried to ignore it, as he stood by a more colorful looking man of a darker complexion, who looked ready to kill the glutinous brother. With them, was a woman dressed as Demeter- Goddess of the Harvest- with a noticeably large chest that was modestly covered up by a sash.

There was Roderich, playing at his piano, while Hungary's personification was in a heated discussion with the other Beilshmidt: he wore the most gaudiest, flashiest thing imaginable, while he was poking fun at her choice of dressing up like a man. Watching with mild amusement was a young woman dressed all in black, with a bow on top of her head- was those knives sewn into her dress? There was a look alike of Ludwig's companion, already dancing with a cute blonde haired girl too. Oh, nearby, one man in eyeglasses looked serious- almost intimidating, despite that he was dancing with a nervous, yet cheerful looking blonde himself.

Lili would have kept watching the scene and tried to spot everyone out, had she not felt a hand pat her shoulder.

"Señorita, instead of standing here, you should go an enjoy yourself." A green eyed matador winked at her when she glanced around in confusion. "Surely such a lovely girl like yourself will find herself a prince, emperor, or czar to sweep her off her feet."

That's when Lili saw herself in a nearby mirror: she wore a light-teal and cream colored dress, with puffy short sleeves, a blue chocker, and wore a simple mask of the same colors. Her hair was down, but there was no sign of her purple ribbon. She looked completely different and almost very mature, compared to the innocent, simplistic appearance she was used to seeing in her reflection.

"Go Señorita." The matador smiled to her. "Go enjoy yourself."

Lili turned towards the steps, a little unsure of what to do. She was cautious as she made her way down, but when no one seemed to pay her too much attention, she was able to relax.

She carefully made her way through the mass of bodies, weaving herself this way and that, until she reached the middle of the floor, where there wasn't as many people- she had no clue what to do, or why she was here to begin with.

It's quite a ball. Lili thought. I've never been to one so nice as this one.

The music faded. (a lively piece from the opera Die Fledermaus- the act two finale.) Some people began to politely clap for the Austrian, who only turned to a band of musicians and, with a gesture of his hand, had them get ready for a new piece. It was then, that Lili felt a gloved finger tap her shoulder.

When she turned, she meet the dark colored torso of her new acquaintance. She backed up away from the the elegantly dressed figure a little bit to see that she only reached under his chest and felt like a child, in comparison to this noble giant. He wore a very regal looking uniform with a sash and she glanced up to see that he wore the mask of a brown bear, with a scarf around his neck, but his little smile of pleasure remained exposed.

He deeply bowed before her, as if she was a princess, then held his hand out for her- he was asking her to dance with him, Lili realized.

Lili shyly took it, noting that her hand felt so small within his own, much larger palm. Then her new dance partner held her dearly close to him- not too close that he would suffocate her, but enough for them to have some space. To manage their height difference, he cupped his hand over her shoulder blade, and that seemed to suit better for the both of them. Immediately, the music started.

He lead her into what was possibly a waltz; It wasn't any kind of complicated dance, thankfully. He would move one way, and she would follow, then there would be an occasional sway, or he would carefully lead them in a spin. She had no clue what exactly they were doing, but she put her trust in him, as he seemed to be familiar with this sort of dance.

He was a pretty good dancer.

She slowly forgot the world around her as she let go of her concerns of accidentally being stepped on, or vice versa, or that perhaps she possibly was under the delusion that she belonged in this one place where everyone was able to be together in peace and not see one another as an enemy.

She gazed into the face- or what wasn't covered up by the mask. His eyes were closed in content and that small smile still remained in a state of bliss.

She felt very secure with this strange man, for some reason. Without any thought, she willingly placed herself against his body, but he didn't mind: he slipped his arm a little lower and held her dearly to him as they started a small slow dance. He felt warm to the touch, and, judging by how he felt, had a strong body under his costume. Lili blushed furiously at that thought and wondered why she would even think that.

But suddenly, she felt herself slowly falling foreword.

She opened her eyes in time to see herself going into his abdomen and then- then there was nothing but blackness as she continued to fall. She could feel her dress and her hair flail as the wind pushed against her tiny body, and her screams rang and echoed around her.

Her body flipped around and she could see, like on a film projector that was following her in the descent, were two animals attacking each other. One was a large, ferocious bird of brown and white, and the other was an enormous brown bear. The bird would try to swoop in and peck at the bear, while the latter would try to swipe it away with it's large forepaws- neither of them seemed to be winning.

But then, the bear suddenly let out a cry of pain and toppled over: the bird only watched as it flapped in the same spot as the bear whimpered until it became motionless.

"And so, for his foolish ignorance and pride, he will collapse from within." A voice echoed out.

-the next day-

Despite the unusual dream she just had, Lili woke up feeling in the best of moods that morning. The sunbeams were cheerfully filling her room with light, and she felt nothing more than to jump out of bed, ready to start the day.

She was actually looking forward to meeting Ivan today- no, she WANTED nothing more than to see him today, for whatever odd reason. It was making her very happy, and she was eager to get ready to go.

She went about her morning rituals as quickly as she could before she went back to her room again. She knew that there was a pink dress that she normally wore that had a bow at the collar, and she felt like wearing it especially for today.

"I feel like today is going to be wonderful!" Lili exclaimed, despite herself, as she finished putting the dress on, just as she heard frantic knocking at the door. This made her puzzled: who on earth was wanting to come to their house at this hour?

She hurried down the stairs and looked in the small peephole: it was Elise, but Lili had never seen her look so pale, so ill, or so terrified in her life. The woman looked like she was going through hell, and she seemed on the edge over some unspeakable horror. The blonde quickly opened the door, but before she could greet Elise, the woman was quick to frantically speak "You have to come to the Prince! It's horribly urgent! Oh, it's so terrible!" She wailed this last part.

"What is it?!" Lili demanded, though she immediately felt a large dosage of unexplainable fear course through her, which made her voice waver. "What's happened?!"

"Come quick!" Elise grabbed her hand "I can't explain now-"

"My shoes!" Lili reminded her in protest. "Let me get my shoes!"

-later-

Whatever it was, Elise was too afraid to speak about it. She had gotten someone with an automobile to take them to the office of Lili's boss in the quickest amount of time possible. Even though it was guaranteed to take awhile, she was bitting her fingernails- an old habit- rather than give an explanation to Lili about what was wrong. It made Lili more afraid than irritated- she was almost too afraid to find out what was wrong, if Elise was acting this way, and that woman was not the kind to show so much fear or dread this outwardly.

As soon as they got to the location, Elise bolted out of the automobile and opened Lili's door for her. She grabbed her by the hand with her own trembling hand and lead her inside.

The atmosphere was very different than what Lili was used to: all those present looked very uneasy and scared, much like Elise. Those who knew Lili gave her a worried look, but no one would say a word to her. It puzzled Lili when they went down a corridor and found a handful of what looked like soldiers on hand- all of them wore an unfamiliar kind of uniform.

Then, she saw her boss on the other side- he was trying to reason with a very agitated Vash who was gripping his gun as if he were intentionally squeezing the life out of it. As Elise lead Lili to the office, he noticed his sister and began to try to run towards her.

"LILI!" He yelled, but the soldiers quickly rushed in and blocked his path. "LET ME GET TO HER,YOU BASTARDS! LILI DONT DO THIS!"

"I'm sorry I didn't explain earlier, but this is between you and someone of equal importance." Elise apologetically told her before opening the door while looking guilty, as if she was throwing the Nation into a den of wolves. Lili wanted very much to heed her brother, for whatever the reason was; She wanted to run away as fast as she could- away from the unknown horror as Vash continued to scream at her to get out of there, but she found herself slowly walking into the office.

"NO! LILI DONT LET H-" The door closed, and Vash's warnings were muffled before they slowly died away. But Lili wasn't paying heed to this- instead, she was focused on the figure that was looking out the window, behind her boss's desk.

He was a tall figure who casted a large shadow upon the ground. He seemed to be a wide mass made up of darkness where his form blocked out the sun, until he casually moved towards the curtains. With a gloved hand, he drew one side across, and repeated the same procedure with the other, until the room was only lit by the electric lighting overhead. He grunted in approval as he admired the change of scenery.

"Uh... I wasn't told what was going on." Lili began, already lacking confidence- knowing that this man was the cause of the terror was putting her even more on the edge. "They said it was between us... so you must be a Nation like me."

The figure turned: he wore the same uniform of the soldiers, only it clearly indicated he was of a higher rank than them and wore the cap as well. However, what made Lili's heart stop- what made her understand why Vash was yelling at her to run away, what made her stomach experience the same situation as falling, what made her unable to comprehend anything in that moment, was his face.

"Hello there Lili Zwigli. Now that there are no more interruptions, we can commence this discussion: I have come to talk about something with you, and you alone." Ivan Braginsky's signature smile that never failed to induce fear stretched out, like a spider that finally caught it's prey would smile.

And this is where I laugh like an evil villain.

Also, the thing with the cat masks- it's my jab at the Baltics. I'm not going to say the exact reason but it has something to do with them.