The Philippines – November, 1944
"Goddammit, Japan. Just lay off!"
The smoke and fire below the plane was incredible, it had a sick beauty to it the way the smoke curled into the darkening sky. This was a common sight by now. The air force was almost always airborne during the light hours, only landing to refuel. Planes on both sides were starting to resemble Swiss cheese, the amount of holes in them was that bad. Boats were only used to take women and children to safety in America or Mexico, the Japanese air force seemed to leave the boats alone. Everyone was running low on men, the government barely had control over its people. The young country had to stay in hiding most of the time, being too young looking to fight with his military or even give moral support by giving speeches. He either hid, snuck away to fight, or went with his boss to do negotiations with Kiku. He was too young to really understand what was going on, only have seen civil wars that involved swords and muskets. Planes and tanks were a shock to his body, doing a lot of damage. The country was so isolated, left alone and handed off.
South Mexico landed her plane, jumping out and running to Domingo, who she scooped up into her arms. She hugged him tight, always worried about him. She held him out at arm's length, checking for wounds. She hated how he managed to sneak away to fight with his men, working to fight down the Japanese planes on land. It worked, but the crashing planes left black burns on his body. He was fine, save a black eye that was obviously from a human fight. Nieve didn't ask about it but sighed in relief to see he was overall well.
"I'm fine, stop." Domito slapped her hands away. "How about you? Have you seen yourself, old lady? You're a wreck! Come on, hide the plan and come rest. Al and Fern are waiting." Dom's voice was deepening, maturing. The war was taking a toil on his youth, maturing him too fast. In the past three years he had aged two years and was starting to hit puberty. The nations pulled the leaf cloak over the large air craft, inspecting it from all angles to make sure it wouldn't be distinguished as an airplane from the sky. Dom playfully threw some leaves into the air and at Nieve. He ran off with Nieve stumbling to catch up. Nieve tackled the younger nation against the hill side and laughing Dom pulled open the hidden door.
"Nieve! 'Bout time you got back! We were worried! If you were out much longer, we would have had to declared you dead!" Al ran over, his white teeth glowing in the darker hollowed out hill-room. Nieve gasped when Al pulled her into his strong arms. She blushed and the younger nation was roughly pulled away, Fern glaring.
"I told you I would know if she was hurt or dead. She's my other half, idiot. And stay off her. She has enough trouble with Brazil, not that I care about him. I rather her be with him that you. Stay away, you got it? Nieve, hermana, where were you?" Fern said, pulling his sister into a hug. Nieve's blush deepened, happy for the dark.
"I-I was...sorry. I was out doing patrols, I didn't see anything though. I was planning to go to the main Japanese camp, see what they're planning," Nieve said, suddenly interested in the workings of the bookshelf.
"Oh no, We'll find out what they're planning a different way. A safer way. One that does not include my other half going into enemy air space, got it?" Fern almost yelled it, appalled at the very thought.
Nieve scowled, annoyed by her brother's territorial impulse. In a huff she stomped into the side room when the four slept. After an hour or so, the rest of the nations decided it was safe to enter the room and to go to bed themselves.
A/N: Fail chapter is a fail, but whatever. I wanted to show the relationship of the group a little more, so I felt this chapter was needed. I think I'll have the whole story up by tonight! Woo!