America helped the shaken Russia off the plane. Russia looked quite faint from the ride, either that or he was just surprised and tired. Either way, England and Italy kept close in case he suddenly stumbled and fell.

It was raining pretty fiercely. England didn't seem to mind as much as the others as they ran to a shaded bus stop. They sat down on the bench and America called a taxi to take the four of them back to his house.

"They said they'll be here in like ten minutes," America said sitting down next to the others. They didn't say anything. They just sat quietly, rain dripping from their hair onto their laps. It was strange for both Italy and America to be so quiet. England tended to be on the quiet side, but the silence of the other two bothered him a bit. He didn't know about Russia, not yet at least. What would being locked up in a basement for 2,000 years do to a person? Would it make them a quiet person?

England shuddered at the thought. His so-called "splendid isolation" had been rough enough, and that only lasted about thirty years.

America probably sympathized with Russia too. For the first long while of him being a country, he stayed out of foreign affairs entirely. Besides being geographically separate from the rest of the world, America has isolated himself from the European nations… Even if now he participated in world affairs, that definitely had an effect on him… Maybe that's part of the reason America is so vain…

And what about Italy? Italy had lived in several large houses with lots of people when he was younger. But surely he too understood what it felt like to be alone.

England figured that that was the fate of the countries. Long and sorrowful lives. Having a lifelong friend who suddenly turned their back on you because of political reasons… He turned his eyes to America sitting on the other end of the bench. If England admitted it, he knew that ultimately America would leave him to become a country. Everyone did. Everyone always left… at some point.

England sighed and buried his face in his knees. Now wasn't the time to be brooding over the past. There were much bigger problems at hand. China was dead. Somehow killed by Russia's 2p. It was frightening.

The taxi pulled up and the waterlogged countries climbed into it. America opened the passenger door and sat down. He told the driver where to go and soon they were flying down the American city's roads.

The taxi stopped in front of America's house and let the countries off. America paid the driver and followed the other's inside.

Needless to say, Germany, Japan, and France were shocked to see Russia enter the house. ((Prussia/Gilbert is upstairs taking a shower and changing clothes))

"Y-you brought Russia here?!" Germany said, outraged.

"What 'appened? 'ow di that 'appen?" France asked, setting his glass of wine down on America's counter. Russia backed up and cowered slightly at the hostility while the others struggled to explain.

"Hord on. I don't think that is rearry Russia…" Japan said, noticing his blue eyes.

"He's not. Well, actually he is. The other's a fake… erm…" America said.

"China…" England paused to cough a little to keep his voice steady, "China was right. The Russia we knew was actually Ian. The real Russia was locked down in that basement for the last 2,000 years." England motioned to Russia.

The other countries remained quiet for a moment, slowly taking in this fact. Meanwhile, Russia's nerves grew. He rubbed his thumbs along his index fingers anxiously.

"I see," Germany finally said, breaking the long silence. France just nodded, still taking it in.

"Werr, then," Japan said, "Russia-san, wirr you herp us?"

"Eh? Me?" Russia asked surprised. The other countries nodded. "O-of course I'll help! Ian n-needs to be stopped…"

"Do you know what he wants?" Germany asked. Russia nodded grimly.

"Hang on," America interrupted, "Before that, how's Prussia?"

"Oh, that's a-right! Where a-is he anyway?" Italy asked.

"He's upstairs. He just took a shower. I told him he could borrow some of your clothes, America," Germany said. America nodded. "But… he's definitely lost his memory. He doesn't remember anything about us being countries, and so far he only recognizes me…"

"But he's-a alright?" Italy asked. Germany looked down.

"Y-yes… but he's not healing. He's not- he's not a country anymore… It's just me now…" Germany's eyes were tearing up a bit, but not as much as they had before. "I thought I could protect him if I gave him part of my countryhood. It kept him safe for so long, but now…"

Germany sat down on the couch. The other countries took in a collective breath. China was dead, and Prussia had lost his countryhood. They were facing something they didn't understand, something they couldn't begin to fight.

"I think it's time I told you what Ian's after… and what he's been researching for so long."

The countries looked back at Russia as he stood prepared to tell his story. It was time for the last secret to finally become unraveled, and for the real fight to begin.