"You know, it isn't right for you to be hiding like this. It's very hard for just Italy and myself to handle the blame."

"I know."

Kiku glanced sideways at the man sitting beside him. Sebastian was still hiding in China for the time being. At least until those who'd defeated him decided what should be done with the land. It would likely be broken up among the Nordics, England, America, and Canada. When the borders were decided, he would have to flee again.

"I'm sorry that you two have to deal with this alone. I'd offer my support if I could. But until America calms down, I must assume that he'll kill me as soon as look at me. Ivan as well."

"Well you can't really blame them."

"No, I suppose I can't." He stared down at the plate on his lap, appetite suddenly diminished. "This whole war just messed everything up. All of my plans, all of our lives…"

The smaller nation nodded in understanding. There really wasn't anything he could say to that.

Both men looked up at a sudden crash in the bamboo forest behind them. "Is someone there?" Kiku called out hesitantly. Sebastian was already visibly tensing, ready to flee should it be an enemy.

Their only reply was another crash, sounding faintly like footsteps, this one minutely quieter, as if whomever it was that had been spying on them was walking away.

Kiku looked over to Sebastian, who nodded at the silent order to stay put, and picked up his katana from where it rested on the ground. With battle reflexes he hadn't exercised in years, he dashed into the bamboo, and knocked the figure down in one fluid strike.

He was expecting either an enemy nation, or an innocent human, who'd simply stumbled upon the two by mistake. But the girl whose neck he had his blade pressed against, appeared to be neither.

She didn't have the air of a human, but she certainly wasn't any nation that he recognized. She had dark hair, a slim face and form, and a pair of dark eyes that stared up at him in terror.

Amber eyes.

Kiku felt his heart freeze for an instant as he stared at the frightened girl. He brought up a hand, and covered his mouth, suddenly feeling sick to his stomach. "Please no… K-Kami-sama."

{}}{{}

Arthur sat at his desk, staring blankly at the forms before him. All of these political steps to end the relatively short war seemed tedious, and pointless. No one could fight anymore, so why go through all the pain of making declarations of the fact?

"Arthur, just staring at that page isn't going to get it done."

He started, not having heard Tino's approach. "I know, love. It just seems so trivial now. Too soon, really."

"You've been in plenty of wars." The Finn pointed out. "And gotten through each and every one without so much as batting an eye at all of the suffering they cause."

"We've never lost so much in other wars. I mean, sure, we've passed around colonies like hot coals before, stripped lands from others, done horrible things to their people and the like. But… I can honestly say that I've never had the blood of another nation on my hands."

Tino walked around the chair so that he could face Arthur. Crouching to his seated level, he took the Brit's face in his hands, and lifted it so that warm violet eyes met bright emerald. "Nor I. But humans lose family members all the time, I think… somehow, it seems fair that we should have to know their suffering as well, if we want to truly learn from our extended time here, and to enjoy it."

Arthur felt a smile creeping its way up his face, warming his cheeks. "You're right there love. Somehow you always are." He pressed a chaste kiss to Tino's lips, before standing up. "Now come on. I think we should have another talk with Peter. He still won't forgive me for making him stay here, and miss all the action."

"He'll forgive you. He always does." Tino promised, entwining his fingers with Arthur's as he stood as well. "Just buy him a new toy, and he'll get over it."

Just as the two were ready to leave, the phone perched on one end of the desk began to ring shrilly. "That's odd." Arthur murmured, moving to answer it. "I wasn't expecting any calls tonight. Hullo?"

Tino strained his ears to hear the other end of the conversation, but it was too quiet. All he could do was watch emotions dance across Arthur's face. "What do you want Japan?" Why would Kiku be calling Arthur at this hour? Especially given how strained relations were now of all times.

"You what? That's not possible… yes… yes, right away… I don't know how he'll take it, but I'll try to make him understand… yes of course, she'll be completely different… no, I'll hold no prejudice… at this hour? Alright, I'll see what I can do… thank you."

He hung up, face set into a grim line as he turned to face Tino again. "Can you call all of the Nordics, and Eastern Europe?"

"S-sure, but why?"

"There's an emergency meeting in Tokyo, as quickly as possible. It's urgent." He was already pulling out his cell to begin making calls. "Get Peter in here too. Recognized or not, we need every single nation present. Try to make calls and pack at the same time, if possible… hello, Gilbert? It's Arthur…"

Still confused, and a bit dazed, the Finn reached for his own cell, and dialled Berwald's home number. Whatever had happened, it was enough to make Arthur look afraid again.

{}}{{}

By noon the next morning, everyone was assembled in the Tokyo conference centre, many looking exhausted from jet lag, but all alert and curious.

"I suppose you're all wondering why you're here." Arthur started, seeing as Japan hadn't yet arrived, oddly enough. "I know this seems very sudden, but grave news waits for no one. It has come to our attention that…"

He was interrupted as the door swung open, and Kiku arrived, followed by Sebastian, and a third figure.

At the sight of the Serbian, Alfred stood up, eyes blazing. "You bastard! Finally decided to show your cowardly face?"

Willhem caught the blond's wrist, effectively keeping him from flying at the man. "This isn't yet the time, Alfred."

"Fuck that, he killed my brother!" Enraged didn't even begin to cover the emotion conveyed through his eyes as he watched the man enter, unable to meet the eyes of any one of the assembled nations.

"Alfred!" He stopped struggling as Arthur snapped his name. "I'm sorry, but this man's punishment can wait. There are more pressing matters at hand. Kiku, will you please introduce this young lady?"

Kiku nodded in thanks, and stepped aside so that everyone could get a clear view of the girl who stood close behind him. "This is Lien-hua. The new representative for China."

The entire room fell silent. No one moved, or said a word for what felt like an eternity. Normally, a new nation was a cause for celebration. They would welcome the child into their midst with smiles and cheers.

But now, no one could even will themselves to congratulate the girl, who stared at all of them in fear.

It made the echoes of Alfred's laughter all the more bone chilling. "You have got to be kidding me! There's no way! Just no freaking way that's possible!"

Suddenly, the false cheerfulness disappeared, and he sneered over at the trio. "You mean to tell me that China of all people got a second chance? Out of everyone we lost out there, that son of a bitch gets a new start?" He leapt to his feet. "What about Toris, huh? What happens to the country that he worked so hard to make strong? What about Heracles, or Sadiq? What happens to their lands? That's right, they dissolve! They disappear into the pages of history books! Any one of them could've gotten this honour, and it's that bastard that gets it? No way in hell!"

There was another long silence that followed his outburst. Several nations looked like they agreed with him, like it wasn't fair that this had happened. Some still remained looking stunned.

But it was Latvia, of all nations, who stood to speak, visibly trembling like a leaf. "What's the difference, Alfred? It's a second chance for the people, not for Yao. He's gone, and can't feel any pride in the fact that his country will live on. If Lithuania had been the one to get a new representative, I would have been happy for him, but it would never have been Toris, just as this girl isn't Yao. It isn't fair to judge her, when she is the chance for China's redemption."

Still shaking, he walked in long strides to where Lien-hua stood, and knelt down to her level, taking one of her small hands in his. "Welcome to our world, miss. We're glad to have you."

With the hand that wasn't in Ravis' grasp, Lien-hua reached up, and wiped the tears away from his eyes, that Ravis hadn't even realized he was shedding until then. He supposed crying had just become second nature that he didn't notice anymore.

She looked like she was trying to say something as well, but no words came from her mouth, only a jumble of unintelligible sounds. "What's wrong?" He murmured.

"She has no tongue." Kiku explained calmly. At his words, both Antonio and Belle looked up with a start.

"She has no…"

"No. As if it were never there."

Ravis' words came floating back to them. 'She is a chance for China's redemption.' Maybe that was true.

A third heavy silence fell over them, this one, a bit shorter, as Ivan spoke. "Ravis. That is the most I have ever heard you say at once."

Still kneeling beside the new China, the Latvian let out a shaky, but cheerful laugh. "I guess you're right."

{}}+{{}

Thanks for reading~!

I lied! There's no way I can say goodbye to this story just yet! I still need to wrap up some stuff with some of the others, and this mini plot kind of hit me as soon as I'd published chapter 11, so I'm going to continue to forge on! I really want 16 chapters!

Here's the deal, if I keep fighting for 16 chapters, you guys will all review so we can get to 100 reviews? 100th reviewer will get a Hetalia one-shot of their choosing. The plot can be as vague or specific as you want, and the only thing I refuse to write is CubaXCanada or AmeRus. Absolutely anything else is fair game.

Anywho, as promised, here's the awesome monologue that will be chapter titles if I can get to 16:

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended.
That you have but slumbered here,
While these visions did appear.
And this weak, and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream.
Gentles-do not reprehend
if you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck
if we have unearned luck.
Now to scape the serpents tongue.
We will make amends ere long
else the Puck a liar call.
So-goodnight unto you all.
Give me your hands if we be friends.
And Robin shall restore amends.