Back in the second van with the Nordics, Mathias had taken up the annoying habit of asking if he could drive every ten minutes or so. Once Freyr gave in, and let the Dane drive, he began his retaliation of 'are we there yet?' maybe just a bit too happily.

They'd lost track of how many days they'd been driving. Surviving solely on gas station food, which they got whenever they stopped to refuel. They'd agreed to remain in Russia as long as they could. It was pretty much the last safe haven in the world. But their days of safety were over. They were mere hours away from their final destination, and Tino had begun rambling nervously whenever the others went silent.

"I should be staying behind with Matti, I'm not ready for something like this, I haven't fought since the Winter War, I've gone soft!"

"Relax kid!" Mathias shouted, trying not to sound too irritated. "I don't think anyone's really ready for this. We've just gotta give it our best shot. And you are the best shot." He added the last bit, almost as an afterthought, grinning at the smallest Nordic, who smiled weakly back.

"W're gettn' close." Berwald mumbled suddenly.

Andreas nodded curtly. "I believe Matthew has wires for us to wear so he can direct us through China's home. We have to stop at their van before we head out."

"Well it's not like we were just going to go on our own, without them at all." Freyr shot back.

Just as the Norwegian was about to shout something back, Tino interrupted. "Now, now. Brothers shouldn't start fighting at times like this."

This caused Freyr to slip into a minor fit of depression, slumping down in the passenger seat, and frowning darkly out the window. He hated being reminded that he and Andreas were related.

Berwald suppressed a sigh. This really wasn't the right morale the team should have for 'saving the world' as America had so eloquently put it.

{}}{{}

As the vans pulled into a small clearing close enough to China's home so that Matthew could access the cameras, but far enough so that any guards remaining wouldn't spot them, the nations began changing into their 'espionage garb' that Berwald had made. Solid black t-shirts, pants, and military boots. Arthur had thrown in a personal touch of a long black coat, and both Alfred and Freyr opted for fingerless gloves. Tino had also thrown a black hoodie over top, claiming that it would make him look more intimidating should they meet any guards. Mathias has just laughed. Even now, he was still snickering every time he glanced over at the Finn, whose face was now thoroughly reddened.

Everyone was ready and armed to the teeth as the vans finally pulled to a halt.

"Everybody out!" Alfred called from the back of the first van. Matthew was perched on a foldout chair with his laptop sitting on his lap, and a little white box of wires in his hand.

"These will be more of an assurance that you'll be able to contact me at all times." The Canadian explained softly. "I won't be able to guide you very much, so you'll just be looking for imprisoned nations, anything we can use, and of course, Yao himself."

"But you have blueprints, don't you?"

"Yes, but they're fairly out of date. We don't know how much has moved around, and I don't want to be directing you to the wrong locations. I'll do my best to hack into the security camera systems, but until then, I'm as good as blind."

"Alright then lad. You get the wires ready, and I'll divide the groups." Arthur ordered quickly.

It was decided that Alfred, Arthur, Tino, Berwald, and Freyr (because he and Andreas refused to be on a team together just in case they started another argument) would go looking for Yao, while Andreas, Mathias, Ivan, and Belle would look for the imprisoned nations and attempt to free them. Belle had flashed Arthur a grateful look that he was letting her go look for Antonio, even though that was never brought up at all.

Once the plan was set, they turned to Matthew, who was balanced on one leg so that he could place the earpieces in each nation's ear, and ran a quick check. Ivan was last, and he had to stand on a chair to reach, as he'd done with Berwald.

"Be careful." The blond whispered.

"Now Matvey, when have I not been careful?" Ivan murmured with a smile, kissing him softly.

"Just make sure you come back."

"I promise."

"Hey, you two wanna have a good-bye fuck too, or are we going?" Matthew blushed a furious shade of red at the sound of his brother's impatient voice, and sat back down quickly.

"Well then, good luck everyone. Hopefully the next time we meet will be under a more peaceful sky."

"You can count on us Matti!" Tino cheered, previous doubts vanishing in the moment, as they headed towards Yao's mansion.

Matthew gave one last wave before turning back to his laptop, fingers already flying across the keys as he searched for any kind of access to Yao's security cameras.

It's Showtime.

{}}{{}

"Mattie! Is this Yao's office thingy?"

"No Al, the office is-." He was cut off yet again, as the American moved to the next door and repeated his question.

"Lad, over here!" Arthur hissed from where he was standing with the others in front of a larger door. "This is the one."

He grinned, and hurried over, pushing his way through so that he could lead the way into the room. His grin faded almost instantly when the smell of death hit him full force. He suppressed the urge to gag, and attempted to sound calm.

"Someone catch the lights?" He asked, and Berwald quickly found the switch on the wall, and flicked it.

There was a slight figure underneath a pale blanket on the dark red couch against the far wall. Pinned to the cloth was an envelope which, when they approached it, read America in a thin, careful hand. One that was used to calligraphy.

Alfred reached for it with a slightly shaking hand, and opened it, resisting the urge to whip off the blanket to see who was dead. Who Yao had left for them to find.

It's a shame I couldn't be here myself to meet you and your friends. I'm afraid I have smarter things to do than stand right in your line of fire. But don't worry, we should all be seeing each other soon enough. I should have known your dear brother would've hidden you anyway. That would have made things much easier for me.

It was very tempting to order my men to shoot you the other day, when they saw you driving towards my home. I had to send my men to your base, just in case you really were that stupid. But I had my suspicions you'd be here.

Give my regards to Ivan. After all, it's his fault that your friend lies dead before you. I won't tell you who it is though, I'd hate to ruin a good surprise, but if Ivan had just died in Moscow like he was supposed to, there would be another still among us. Just thought you should know.

-Yao.

"Alfred? What does it say?" Freyr asked quietly.

"Yao knew we were coming!" The blond shouted, tears of rage pricking his eyes. "He knew it, and sent his men to our base anyway! The bastard is mocking us!" With an angry sniff, he finally reached for the blanket, and drew it back.

Toris' sightless eyes met Alfred's, and the latter broke right there, and wept. Out of instinct, Arthur turned Tino towards him, and the Finn held on to Arthur's shirt as if for dear life, not wanting to believe who was lying there.

No one spoke for the longest time. The American's sobs were the only sound in the room. It was a moment of mourning. They still had their task at hand, of course, but this was one of them. This was Lithuania. He'd earned several lifetimes worth of respect from them all. Surviving under so many harsh conditions, and keeping a smile on his face. Just taken away by this thoughtless massacre that Yao had started.

Finally, Alfred's sobbing subsided, and he reached out to close Toris' eyes gently before covering him back up, and getting to his feet. "I'm gonna kill that fucker guys. I know you all hate him but please, let me end this."

"He's yours lad." Arthur replied almost instantly, still with a reassuring arm around Tino's shoulders. "After all that's happened, you deserve it."

If anyone objected, they didn't let it show. Berwald walked over to the doorway of the office to contact Matthew, and relay the news, and Freyr moved to the computers, translating as much as he could to see if there was any clue as to where Yao would be. Arthur and Tino joined him, and Alfred.

Alfred just stood there.

{}}{{}

Matthew slumped a little lower in the stool he was sitting on, still in disbelief at what Berwald had just told him. They'd lost yet another nation to China's bloodlust.

"Who?"

He jumped a bit at Kumajirou's voice, as the bear appeared from under the seat. "Oh, Kuma. I thought you were still asleep."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I think we'll be fine." He picked up his long-time friend, who immediately flopped over onto the laptop keyboard like a cat, always needing to be in the centre of things. "Come on Kumakiro, I need to see the screen." He laughed.

And then the cold barrel of a gun pressed to the back of his head.

"We should have a little chat, I think." Yao murmured coldly.

{}}+{{}

Thanks for reading~!

We are nearing the big, awesome, epic battle! But first, we're going to pop in and visit the other group on their quest, okay?

Exams start tomorrow. And I need to be job hunting so… wish me luck… and reviews, I really want reviews.