AHHHHHH I'M SO SORRY!!!! Life kinda caught up with me… then I hit a writing slump… I'M SORRY!!!!! …. *ahem* So yeah… New chapter? Eheheh? Don't kill me, please?

I don't own in Hetalia. *prepares assault vehicle* Yet.

America stood in his office. By his own count, he hadn't moved for about ten minutes. By the clock's, it had been more like an hour. England's news had shocked him to a point that he was too numb to return from.

"From what Hong Kong's told me, China has disassociated Japan and Kiku. Hong Kong is certain that China will do nothing to Kiku, but if Japan angers him in some way, there is no guarantee of his safety. Japan attempted to tell China that he is Japan and Kiku.

"Fortunately, Hong Kong interrupted this. He explained to Japan the situation, and sent him on his way. Japan is safe as long as he is wearing his 'traditional' clothes. China still sees him as a sibling. Something else Hong Kong said worried me… 'Japan is no longer a sibling. He lost that right a long time ago. However, Kiku may have a chance.'

"To me it seems that Hong Kong understands why he is doing this, and I think he might approve. I'm rather worried, at this point. I think China is projecting a multiple personality disorder onto Japan. Hong Kong is staying with China, and will continue to study the situation. That's everything I know, I'll see you at the meeting."

His boss had entered, then left. It had been quite a scare for the poor man to see his nation in such a state. For America, it had been far more terrifying than that to learn how China thought. Even he could sense the thinly veiled warning about Japan's safety. At a time when Russia was already a loose cannon, this was the last thing they needed.

Snap out of it. America almost felt himself jerk awake. This was not the time to fool around. He had to call Japan and warn him, no-he had to ask someone close to Japan, someone who was neutral from the communists and could easily talk to him.

"I can't believe I'm actually going to call this guy…"

The second Greece entered the door, he was assaulted by a huge cloud of dust, pushed out by a tiny man in an apron wielding a bamboo broom. Japan always found dust, no matter how spotless the place was.

"Herakles-san! I am so sorry, I did not see you there!" Japan dropped the broom in shock, Greece's formerly tan-white shirt had turned an ash-gray, and his hair, formerly brown, now looked as if it belonged to a man three times his age. His human age, Japan amended in his mind.

"It's not that big of a deal…can I come in?"

"Ah, of, of course! I have just finished cleaning. Here, I will help you clean up." Greece headed for the bathroom, while Japan followed behind, sweeping up the trail of dust that the taller male left. Once he'd thrown out the dust again, he found a kimono in Greece's size and brought it to the bathroom.

I should have checked before I threw out that dust! Busy with his thoughts, Japan opened the door without knocking, and ran right into a nearly naked Greece. His eyes grew wide. "Gr-greece-san! Forgive me!" He shoved the outfit at the man and fled, a bright red highlighting his cheeks. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

In the bathroom, Greece sighed. Well, we're definitely not going to have a normal conversation.

A few minutes later, a clean and tidy Greece exited the bathroom, and headed for the room where Japan would use his kotatsu. "Kiku…? You in here?" A still-blushing Japan quickly entered the room bearing food.

"Ah, well, I went to make some food, it was just about lunch time…" He placed the tray of food on the table. "Um…I made enough for two, would you like to join me, Herakles-san?"

"Oh, yeah, thanks." Greece sat at the table. "Itadakimasu."

"I-itadakimasu." There was a few moments pause as the two began the meal. Then Greece broke the silence.

"Hey, Kiku…" Japan looked up. "America asked me to come and talk to you about something."

"Oh, of course! Is there some sort of problem?" Japan's face seemed normal, but Greece could tell that it was slightly off his usual calm demeanor.

"I guess you could say that… It's about China."

"Oh." Greece scrutinized that shorter male's face, noting that there was a hint of sadness to his eyes.

"Well, actually, it's kind of about Hong Kong." Confusion reigned in Japan's face, although it would not have been noticeable, if it weren't for the current pressure he was under.

"Hong Kong? What do you mean?"

Greece sighed, then placed his chopsticks across the bowl. "Thanks for the meal. England sent him to keep watch on China. After…things like this happen, some countries tend to go a little, well, crazy. England would know. He's been sending information about China's well-being to England."

"That would explain why he had an idea as to why Yao-nii acted the way he did."

"Yeah. He was also asked to make sure you stayed alive, should you visit China." Japan's eyes widened.

"Stay alive? You think Yao-nii would…would try to kill me?

"Not you. 'Japan'. Well… We're a bit worried about Hong Kong. The last report he gave to England… Ah, he made a comment. It almost sounded like he understood why China was doing this." Greece continued to watch Japan's reactions. America had suggested he withhold the information that Hong Kong might approve until they could ascertain how Japan would react. "Do you have any idea as to why?"

Japan smiled, and Greece wanted to look away for a second. He had never seen such a bitter look on the male's face. "Yes. Any sibling of China's would have sounded the same. When we were younger, even if his country attacked one of ours, he would be on the battlefield, helping his own soldiers. The second he got home, though, he would tend to our wounds before even bothering to take care of his. In Yao-nii's mind, the affairs of our human sides are separate from the affairs of our countries."

Greece opened his mouth to speak, but, seeing the look in Japan's eyes, he thought the better of it.

"However, he always acknowledged that we were countries and that we belonged to our countries. Yao-nii would understand if we attacked him, because that was how our countries had wished it."

"Eh? Then why is it that this is happening? I mean-"

"I did not go back."

"Huh?"

"After any of us fought, we might run away for a little, if he beat us in the war. However, we would always return home. I think that that might have been the worst wound any of us gave him, so that also contributes."

"Ah." Greece could hear the pain in Japan's voice. "Kiku…"

"I think it would be better if you were to go now." The smaller country had closed off his emotions again. Inwardly sighing, Greece stood. There is nothing I will find out now.

"Thank you for the food, Kiku." He turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and…no matter what you think, you're not a monster. No one believes that. Don't be so hard on yourself, alright?"

Japan sat bolt upright in shock, but Greece had already exited. How…how did he know that I was thinking that?

"Ah…should call America." Greece sat in the airport, and pulled out his phone. "Hey, Alfred… Yeah, I talked to Japan. No. No. Yes. No, we should meet in person. Why? Well, it's kinda… I found out some stuff, yes. No, I think it would be better if I told you in person, the news might be hard to take. Yes, I know you're the hero. No, I don't think you're going to faint. America. Calm down. Meet me at England's house…tomorrow. Yeah, I'll be on time. Don't worry. Okay, okay, you call him, let him know, alright? Bye." He sighed, pocketing the phone. "Young countries…so panicky…"

Ahhhh, another sort of cliffhanger! Hey, can anybody guess what the "No. No. Yes." in Greece's speech was about? Cookies to the person who gets it!