I was running. Faster than I have ever been able to. I was running so fast that everything around me was a blur.

There were footsteps all around me, a grip on my arms. I couldn't see anything in front of me, but judging from the shouting I assumed Scandia was leading us. The two gripping my arms were Berwald and Mathias. They weren't so much dragging me as making sure we all stayed together.

I didn't know who was behind us, but I knew almost instinctually that it was not the younger boys. This was proven true when the back of my cloak was yanked back, pulling me away from the boys and into the arms of another.

"You can't take her from me!" a voice shouted from behind me. "She's mine!"

"No!" Scandia roared, turning and running back.

A sword appeared in front of my face, pointed at Scandia's chest. He paused, reeling back, his face still fuming. He drew his own sword, and the chest pressed against my back shook with menacing laughter.

In the same moment, something caught my eye, just barely at the edge of my vision:

The end of a white scarf, billowing in the slight breeze.

Ivan.

"You won't do it, Scandia," he said scathingly. "You can't hurt me without hurting her."

Scandia growled. "Let her go."

"Why would I do that?" Ivan asked giddily. His grip on me tightened; his muscular arm was like a boa constrictor, wrapped around my waist and holding me up so that I had to stand on my toes. "She is my beloved little sister. We belong together."

"No you don't," Berwald said. He and Mathias appeared on either side of Scandia, both brandishing their own swords.

"She belongs with her real family," Mathias said. His usually smiling face was serious. "Us, not you."

"Why don't we let her decide?"

Ivan suddenly let me go, causing me to fall to the ground. I dragged myself to the side, looking up at the four facing off.

"Come on, sis," Scandia ground out. He maneuvered his weapon to one hand so he could reach his other out to me. "Let's go home."

I looked from him to Ivan, then to Berwald and Mathias. All four were watching me expectantly. Without them noticing, I took something (actually, six—very small—somethings) from my boot. Standing, I went to Berwald first.

As I approached, he looked surprised. Only just, though; his face was still blank. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck in a hug. As I felt his arms around my waist, I tucked two of the objects in my hand into the back of his shirt. As they got caught up in the tucked-in fabric, he froze.

"Shh," I murmured. I combed my fingers through his hair. "It's all going to be okay," I said. My conscious self—the one watching from the outside—realized that my voice had a weird quality to it. Not an accent, but close. It was the same quality that made the boys' voices different. The same quality that had been present when I was talking to Berwald earlier.

Berwald's arms tightened around me, bringing me back to the scene in front of me. His head was buried in the junction of my neck and shoulder. I kissed the hair by his ear.

"I love you," I whispered. I hugged him tightly for a moment before letting him go.

"Always," he whispered. He let me go reluctantly.

Next, I went to Mathias.

I gave him a hug, letting the next three objects fall down into his shirt. He didn't seem to notice—he was shaking in my arms. His grip was breathtakingly tight.

"Please don't," he whispered brokenly. "I can't lose my family."

"Shh," I soothed. I rubbed his back comfortingly. "It's okay. You're not losing me. You're still my big brother. And I'll always be your little sister."

"But—"

"Shh. Listen. I don't have much time. You have to listen to me. You need to be strong. I know it's hard. I do. But the others are going to need you. You shouldn't be sad. Just—" my voice broke. "Just be happy. Can you do that for me?"

"I don't know," Mathias mumbled.

"Well try," I snapped.

"O…Okay."

"Good," I said as I let him go. He, too, retracted his arms reluctantly.

Next was Scandia.

"I love you, big brother," I whispered as we embraced. I let one of the last two items fall down his shirt; I know he felt it, but he just held me tighter. "My knight in shining armor."

"I'll always rescue you," he murmured into my hair.

I smiled grimly up at hi before kissing his cheek. "Not this time."

He nodded. "I know." He released me.

Finally, I went to Ivan. Reaching up, I pretended to straighten his scarf. Really, though, I was just putting the last item in one of the folds of fabric. "You know, you're probably my sweetest big brother," I said softly. "Others might think you're crazy, but I know you have a lot to deal with." I smiled up at him, gripping his arm. "I'll always be with you."

He smiled down at me. "Of course." He smirked at the other boys.

"Unfortunately…" I trailed off. Then, quick as lightning, I grabbed the hilt of Ivan's sword, taking him by surprise. I quickly wrested it from his grasp. By the time he realized what was happening, I was already several feet away, pointing the sword at his throat. "Well, unfortunately, it will have to be in your memories and heart. And land, I suppose. Sorry, bro. As much as I love all of my siblings…all of the nations, really…As much as I want to be with them always…" I smiled bleakly. "It has come to my attention that it is time for me to go."

I paused, looking at them. Then I smiled for real, tossing the sword to the ground. "Now, who's going to do it? Scandia? Berwald? Mathias?"

"What's going on here?" a voice asked behind me.

I spun around, only to come face to face with blood-red eyes and stark whiter hair.

I smiled again. "Ah, Gil! I didn't know you were here!"

He shrugged. "Well, I do live just about next door." He paused. "I heard people running in the woods. Figured I'd come check it out, being the awesome nation that I am."

I chuckled. "Of course." I inched closer, growing serious once more. "Well, remember when you were younger? And Germania…left us? Do you remember what I told you?"

His eyes narrowed. "Yes. You said he went to the special Heaven, where all the great ancients and empires go, along with the bosses."

"That's right," I replied. I stepped closer, stopping an inch away from him. "And when you said that that was stupid and wrong, what did I tell you?"

Gilbert sucked in a breath, his ruby eyes widening. "You said—You said—" He choked.

I smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "I told you that, one day, I was going to go there. I was going to die, and I would go to that special Heaven. And I would be with Father Germania and Granpa Rome and Mama Rus. And then, one day, long after I went there, long after Brother Scandia joined my so Ber and Luka and the boys could take over…" I chuckled. "After a few hundred years, you—"

"I would meet you," Gil muttered. "I would let West take over and come meet you."

I smiled. "That's right," I said again. "Little bruder…" I trailed off, hugging him. "It's time for me to go. It's time for the process to begin." I sighed. "I left a box in the field. It has instructions inside. You're the only one awesome enough to do it." I giggled, then sighed again, letting him go.

I looked at all five of them.

"If nobody want to be the one, I understand." I picked up Ivan's sword, turning my back to them to do so. "I—"

I didn't finish.

There was a ripping noise. And pain—so much pain.

The blade of a sword stabbed up into my torso—the hilt pressed against my lower back, the tip emerging just over my heart. I smiled as I slumped over.

Gilbert caught me as I felt back. "Find peace, schwester," he whispered in my ear.

I giggled as my vision faded. "I'll tell them you said hello."

It went black.

So...

I'm back!

I already posted one chapter today, as I'm sure you've seen, but I really wanted to talk to you guys.

Man, I can't believe I just left like that. I've just been so busy! School started, and I think I took on a little too much with that, hahahaha. I have written another chapter or two for this story, but until I've written beyond that, I won't post them. Also, I wrote out a sort of plan for this story, and I think I might take it as far as 40-50 chapters. I'm not sure, though.

As for those of you reading my other two stories...

I don't know when I'll be updating Chance. Maybe in a month or two.

Friendships Heal, my Ouran story...Well, I had to start over, kind of; the original story is still going up, but I'll also be posting a separate story with a similar story line and the same characters. I didn't want to do it that way, but it was necessary; I had an idea to make it better, and I needed to get it out. Now, though, I have about eight chapters I need to type up for each of those. The one will be updated when I'm done here, but the other...It might be posted next month.

Plus, I had a new idea for another Ouran story, which is my current project.

I love to write, don't I? My brain can't focus on one thing at a time, haha. *sweats*

Anyway...

Yeah.

Next couple of chapters will be posted next month, probably.

But Read and Review, mkay pumpkins?

Talk soon!

Happy Reading!

Anya