Mei shivered, turning onto her side and pulling the multiple blankets tighter around her.
"Are you sure she'll be okay?"
"She's just tired and cold from sitting out in that forest for so long."
America sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Have you heard anything?"
"No. You should be safe for now."
Alfred nodded, crossing his arms. "I just have to tell her the truth, but first she has to get better."
England pulled on his jacket, sighing softly. "When she wakes up, feed her some soup and tea with honey. That should help."
"Thanks Arthur."
He nodded, glancing once more at the sleeping woman. "Be careful, Alfred."
America grinned. "It's me."
Arthur rolled his eyes as he left, whispering to himself, "That's what I'm worried about."
"Mei, I need you to pack your things."
"Why?"
"You're going to stay with my brother for awhile."
"But why, Wang-san? You didn't answer my question."
"Because I can't teach you everything you need."
"Yes you-"
"No, Mei. I can't. He's going to teach you everything from both of our peoples."
"But I don't want to go."
"I know. I'm sorry, but you can't stay."
"Why? I don't understand."
Wang hugged her tightly. "I know. You'll understand when you're older.
"No, Wang. I still don't."
"What was that?"
Mei sat up, looking at America in disbelief. "What- Why?"
Alfred laughed, taking a seat beside her bed. "I couldn't leave you there."
"… But after the way I treated you-"
He waved a hand, dismissing it. "It doesn't matter."
"… I'm sorry for before."
"Apology accepted. Anywho…"
"Wait, why am I here? Why didn't you… They don't know, do they?"
He sighed, shaking his head. "No, I didn't tell them. I need to tell you something. Do you know what happened between China and Japan?"
"…No."
"I guess I'll start at the beginning. It was a couple years after China found you two…"
The clashing of metal against metal drowned out everything but his own heartbeat. "Honda, why?"
"Because Wang, I-"
"Love her."
"How-"
"I'm not blind, nii-san. I can read between the lines. Why didn't you mention something earlier?"
"…I wasn't sure."
"Well… Did it really have to come to this?" Wang asked, gesturing to the katana at his throat.
"If you just let her leave, the others would become suspicious."
China nodded slightly, falling to his knees. "I understand… What is it that you want?"
"So everything they did… was to protect me?"
America nodded. "They didn't want to alert the rest of us just yet. China just told me a few months ago actually… Well," he chuckled softly, "I forced to tell me, anyway."
"Why didn't they just tell me?"
"I don't know. My guess is Honda was afraid."
"Afraid?"
"Of how you would react. He knew you weren't very fond of him for awhile since you went to live with him."
"But… I could never hate him… I just wanted to know why."
"Then tell him."
"I don't-"
"Just listen to your heart."
Mei giggled softly. "Now you're starting to sound like France. I w- achoo!"
Alfred laughed. "But first, you need to eat."