"Arthur?"

"Yes, love?"

"Why do you love me?"

"I love you because you're you."

"Would you ever leave me?"

"Of course not, love."

"You sure?"

"As sure as the ring on your finger."

Ib woke up slowly from her night sleep. Her dreams were always memories from when she was happy. When that was, she couldn't remember. It seemed so long ago. She sighed before rising from her bed and getting ready for the day. It was five in the morning, her usual waking time since she had gone into isolation. She walked over to her closet and pulled out the only outfit she owned that had pants. The rest were skirts and dresses. In Ibliechenstein, it is known as a disgrace for a woman to wear pants or shorts unless they were of military standards. The outfit was a long sleeved military shirt that was the color of lavender. The pants were the same color. She took a fan out from her weapon's cabinet and watched as a gold ring fell to the floor with an almost inaudible clang. She picked it up slowly. As much as she hated the ring, she couldn't bear to throw it away. It reminded her of such sadness, such heartbreak. She looked at the many pictures on her wall, some drawn and some taken from a camera. She smiled at the pictures of her, Italy, and Romano playing as chibis and frowned at the ones of her and Belgium in fistfights. She smiled more at the pictures of her with her older brothers. She missed them, yes, but she knew they were no-doubt happy even though she was gone. She looked at the gold wedding band again before slipping it on her finger. 'Maybe just for the war,' she thought to herself before walking out of the room and house.

A few hours later, Japan awoke silently. The small man arose just as quietly but blinked when he saw what lay on his floor. There were four mounds of white, two that were very much small. One was slightly larger than the other and each had something with them. The largest one had a purple package tied to it's back and the one slightly smaller than that one had a lavender butterfly on it. The smaller ones each had a butterfly as well but one had a red one and the other had a pink one. He made a small gasp when he saw they all four had eyes and small little mouths. He kneeled in front of them and went to touch the one with the lavender butterfly but the one with the purple package moved quickly in front of his hand.

It stood guard in front of the other three. Japan defined it as the alpha male since it was so protective. The small mound glared his small brown eyes at the country. Slowly the mound behind him awoke and Japan could tell by its eyes it was a female. The smaller mounds blinked awake and hid behind the female in fear. 'A family….' Japan thought as he gazed at each of them. "Ah," he said, "You are mochis, hai?"

The male mochi nodded, however he did, in agreement. "And they are your famiry?" he asked.

Again the mochi nodded. "I'm not going to hurt you," Japan said, holding out his hand.

The mochi sniffed his hand before backing off slightly from the slightly friendship smell. Japan smiled before standing and walking out of the room silently. He followed the sound of cooking to find the kitchen where a tall male with pink hair and electric green eyes was cooking. "Good morning!" the male smiled at him.

He bowed, "My name is Eddy Edkut. I'm one of Ib's brothers."

Japan nodded and bowed in return. "Ib had some business with her military so she left early this morning. Vise will show you the way there once Italy wakes up," Eddy explained before handing him a cup of green tea.

Japan blinked a bit before bowing in thanks. He looked to find Germany sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in his hands. "Ohayo Germany-san," he greeted before sitting two seats away from him.

"Guten tag Japan," Germany greeted in return.

The silence between the two was enough for the noise of Italy falling down the stairs to intrude. Germany sighed with a small facepalm before the Italian walked in. "Buongiorno!" he greeted happily.

The two other nations nodded in greeting. Eddy smiled at Italy before giving him his coffee. Soon, a male that was tall like Eddy walked in. His hair was a dark purple and his eyes were a ghostly light blue color. "You guys ready to go or what?" he said boredly.

"At least introduce yourself first," Eddy said to him with a glare.

The male sighed, "I'm Vise Edkut and I'm one of Ib's brothers. You happy now Ed?"

"What did I say about calling me that?" Eddy yelled at him, throwing a knife at him.

"Not to do it," Vise said catching the knife easily and throwing it back at him.

Eddy caught it with a glare harder from before and returned to cooking. Vise rolled his eyes before walking out with the nations following. "You'll have to watch out for the other soldiers in the base. They have a habit of shooting at new comers," Vise warned before opening the door to a metal building.

Inside stood a long line of soldiers. Each was tall and they varied in looks. From normal hair color like brown to crazy hair such as lime green. Their eyes each showed one emotion, devotion. The three countries looked around for Ib, but not one spotted the small brunette. "I know that your powers of retention are as wet as a warthog's backside, but thick as you are, pay attention. My words are a matter of pride," her voice resonated through the base but where it came from could not be placed.

"It's clear from your vacant expressions. The lights are not all on upstairs but we're talking kings and successions. Even you can't be caught unawares," Ib soon appeared in front of the soldiers, her hand behind her back with a riding crop.

She whacked the crop on the wall and the soldiers all straightened up and took the guns from their sides to rest on their soldiers. "So prepare for a chance of a lifetime. Be prepared for sensational news. A shining new era is tiptoeing nearer," she sang as they all turned to the right.

"And where do we feature?" the soldiers sang, much to the male countries' surprise.

"Just listen to teacher," Ib whacked the wall again, "I know it sounds sordid but you'll be rewarded when at last I am given my dues and injustice deliciously squared. Be prepared!"

The large metal doors in front of soldiers opened slowly. The soldiers began to march through the doors as they sang, "It's great that we'll soon be connected with a king who'll be all-time adored."

Ib walked in front of them and as if by magic, appeared on a ledge in front of them. "Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected to take certain duties on board. The future is littered with prizes and though I'm the main addressee. The point that I must emphasize is," she sang before whacking the crop again, "You won't get a sniff without me!"

The soldiers continued to march as she sang, singing in the back round somewhat. "So prepare for the coup of the century. Be prepared for the murkiest scam. Meticulous planning, tenacity spanning, decades of denial is simply why I'll be king undisputed, respected, saluted and seen for the wonder I am," she sang as the last pair of doors opened to a multitude of ships.

The soldiers piled into the ships, each still straight and ready to fight whenever they needed. "Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared. Be prepared!," she sang before saluting to the boated soldiers.

"Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared. Be prepared!" they sang back, saluting before the boats began their journey.

Ib appeared in front of the male countries suddenly. "I see you got here successfully to see them off," she said looking at them.

"Ja," Germany replied, "Are jou ready to leave?"

"One second, I have to change out of these pants," she turned away from them.

"When was it ever a good idea for women to wear pants," she muttered before walking into her office.

Unknown to the others, Japan had a ghost of a smile again.