Belarus was alone. But that was okay (for now). She didn't need to have the others with her; all she needed was Russia.

Shading her eyes from the violent torrent of wind and snow, Belarus shuffled through the freshly laid out layer of whiteness. She tried to catch a small sound of the fight, if there was a fight. She wasn't sure if Russia was waiting for a moment to pounce and beat the living shit out of Dark Russia or if they were already at it. Whatever was happening, she was determined to go find out.

As soon as she located them.

Scowling to herself, Belarus slowly twirled her knife with her right hand. Before Team Three left Germany, Belarus had spent an awful lot of time polishing her knife, making sure it was clean and gleaming. Back in Guangzhou, it had left with quite a bit of scratches and she had a hard time getting the dry blood out from the crevices where the blade met the handle.

Now, it was getting peppered with flakes of icy water. How nice.

Wiping the blade clean of the snow with her sleeve, Belarus whipped her head to the right towards the sound of a crunching sound. It sounded as if bones were being broken.

That was her call; she licked her lips hungrily and made her way towards the sound, using the covert of the snow to her advantage.

Belarus found Russia and Dark Russia staring at each other, panting slightly. Their puffs of hot air faded into the gray air as they bored their killing-intent gazes at each other.

Belarus was about to shout out something to Russia to let him know he wasn't alone, but she stopped and found herself staring, as though mesmerized, by his hands. They were both covered with blood, blood that dripped freely and stained his sleeves.

Russia was gritting his teeth at his doppelganger, who was starting to smirk and laugh. He didn't think he would ever feel express his actual feelings with facial expressions. Usually, he kept a straight face with nearly ever emotion he came across. But something about Dark Russia made it impossible to keep a calm composure.

"Why don't you give up now? Both your hands are broken. Fingers crushed, wrists snapped into half...just quit it, okay?" Dark Russia said pleasantly.

Both hands broken? Was Russia able to fight now that his hands were useless?

Normally, Belarus would have barged in and interrupted the fight, taking Dark Russia one on one just for Russia. However, Russia's sudden movement made her stop and watch him.

Russia knew his hands were practically useless but the pain barely reached him. Was it because the frost numbed them? Was it because Russia was too busy being concentrating on his doppelganger that he didn't seem to notice? Or was it both? It didn't matter; what mattered was beating Dark Russia and getting back to the team, wherever they were.

The lack of pain-or at least, the full extent of it-didn't bother him and didn't stop him from ramming himself into his darker counterpart. Russia rammed Dark Russia into the window of the closest building, sending both of them tumbling into the building. The frostbitten glass shards shattered into pieces and made a sharp, bloody bed on the floor for both the country and doppelganger.

Russia pinned Dark Russia to the ground by sitting on his doppelganger's lower abdomen, bent over with his right forearm pressed hard against Dark Russia's throat and that their faces were mere inches away from each other. The violet eyes pierced the red and the red offered the same dark intentions.

"Why don't you quit it, da?" Russia sneered, applying even more pressure onto Dark Russia's neck.

Dark Russia grabbed Russia's right forearm with both his hands and tossed his original over to the side, sending Russia crashing to the wall. The wall crumbled within impact and Russia landed painfully on his side in the next room. Dark Russia had gotten up by the time the debris settled down. He stepped through gaping hole in the wall that separated the two rooms and sought out Russia, who was getting up to his feet.

"Persistent, aren't you?" Dark Russia glowered. "Don't worry. I won't kill you. Not that you can by normal means. But listen carefully, okay?" He lunged at Russia, closing his hand around Russia's neck and lifting him up.

Russia said nothing; he didn't even struggle or writhe to break free.

"We are too strong for you. We can not be destroyed. We will succeed, and we will show no mercy."

Russia scowled. "I wasn't looking for mercy."

Dark Russia smiled. "Then everything works out, doesn't it?" Dark Russia's sly expression vanished and a brief flash of shock took over. Russia was released and he balanced himself to stay standing, watching Dark Russia turn around to face the hole in the wall.

As he turned, Russia saw three throwing knives deeply implanted into Dark Russia's back. Belarus. Russia thought, bewildered. What is she doing here?

Dark Russia was also bewildered. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Russia stared at the back of Dark Russia's head. Was it possible that his hatred was also afraid of Belarus? Surely after all of those years, possible decades, of Belarus going after him holding marriage papers in her hands with a frightening determination to wed him would make even Dark Russia fear her.

Belarus didn't answer Dark Russia at first. She took the time to take out another knife, smirking as Dark Russia eyed it warily. "I'm here to save Big Brother." she whispered, licking the the blade hungrily.

Dark Russia narrowed his eyes slightly at her. "Save? You think that's possible?"

A knife zoomed through the air, piercing Dark Russia's throat, in response. Dark Russia scowled and pulled the knife out, but extreme caution flashed in his eyes.

"Are you scared?" Belarus asked coldly, a smile playing on her face. She took a step forward, and Dark Russia tensed, eyes darting from her to Russia behind him. "You better be scared." Belarus cooed softly. Her knife blade gleamed wickedly. "Because I will not forgive you for what you have done to Big Brother Russia. You are not him. You are an obstacle between him... and me."

For the sake of the readers, the next few minutes of this particular scene must not be repeated, described, nor talked about. Censorship is required for your sake else you wish to end up in the corner of the room, cowering from any slight movement or noise you hear in fear of Belarus.

North Korea stopped the others from getting too close to the hideout. At least, that's what he thought the hideout was. He shaded his eyes from the snow and looked up at the tower suspiciously. "This can't be it, can it?" he murmured to himself.

"What's wrong, North?" Lithuania asked.

North Korea brandished his arm towards the supposed hideout and said, "This place isn't suitable to be storing weapons of mass destruction. The address must be wrong."

Lithuania held out his hand for the piece of paper Germany had written the address on. North Korea handed it over and Lithuania double checked. "No, it's correct." Lithuania confirmed, passing it back to North Korea.

North Korea sniffed. "Well then. This shouldn't be a challenge. The location of this hideout is a disadvantage for them."

"Who knows. They might, like, totally have something up their sleeves." Poland said, shrugging. He linked arms with Lithuania and started forward. "Come on, Liet. Let's go."

North Korea tensed. "Wait! Don't go yet!"

Poland stopped and sent North Korea a doubtful look. "Why?"

"What do you think?" North Korea asked under his breath. "We can't just barge in like that."

Poland tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You're right. We need to send someone in and, like, totally announce our presence."

"That's not what I was talking about." North Korea snapped. He massaged his the side of his head pensively. "Alright. We need to find a way in that isn't obvious. But in order to do that efficiently, we need to split up."

"No problem then, right?" Estonia asked.

North Korea shook his head. "No. Problem; splitting up is a stupid thing to do in a situation like this."

"Well, what situations would splitting up be the best option in?" Ukraine asked calmly.

"When a group is well prepared, when there are large numbers, when there are specific plans for each group or person that will split from the team, when you are chased by a small number of people, and well, there are several scenarios that splitting up is a good idea." North Korea said. "But this isn't one of them."

He tossed a glance over his shoulder and examined the building once more. Then again, it seemed like they weren't spotted yet. Of course not. We're hiding around the corner. North Korea thought. And if they didn't split up, they'd only waste time. If they split into two groups, then their work would go twice as fast.

But there were five of them. One of the groups will have to be a group of two, and after seeing how close Poland was to Lithuania, it was obvious who would be separated into what. That unnerved North Korea, because if Poland was left with Lithuania, would Lithuania be able to control Poland's hyperactivity?

Was it hyperactivity? North Korea wasn't sure. He didn't know everyone's personality as well as, well, everyone else. He knew Russia well, though. But that was decades ago. He didn't change much, however.

Belarus, in his opinion, was obsessed with Russia and North Korea knew that she would be useful. She was gutsy enough to defy the co-captain, and that took sheer bravery.

Or recklessness that would get herself in the worst possible situation. Either one worked.

Ukraine was soft spoken and worried for everyone. Could she be of use to him? He didn't know enough to determine that. Estonia was smart and he heard that he was very lucky. Maybe that luckiness will rub off on them. Lithuania was soft spoken as well, and that was what concerned him if he was to be partnered up with Poland.

"North?"

North Korea blinked and pushed his thoughts away, concentrating on what was currently going on. Lithuania was watching him in concern. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." North Korea said. He sighed and asked him, "Can you keep him under control if we do split up?"

Lithuania assumed 'him' was a reference to Poland. He smiled at North Korea and said, "You'd be surprised but I think I can."

North Korea cocked an eyebrow at him. "'Think'?

Lithuania hesitated. "Can." he added uncertainly.

"Then sound like you can."

"North, have faith in him." Ukraine interrupted softly. "I have total faith that Lithuania can do it. Right?" She smiled at him. "So, um, are we splitting up?"

North Korea sighed. It was all or nothing, a phrase that was repeated all over Germany's house before the first three teams were sent out. Now that he thought about it, North Korea remembered the forced smiles and the forced determination.

He laughed. He didn't see that coming, to be honest, and neither did the others.

"Why are you laughing?" Estonia asked.

North Korea shook his head, smiling to himself. "Odd how everyone puts up a facade. It's as if we're doing the impossible and there's no hope, and yet everyone still acts like there is."

"No hope." Ukraine whispered. "Do you truly believe there is no hope?"

North Korea and the other three turned their heads to look at Ukraine's sad eyes. Lithuania and Estonia exchanged glances. Poland looked up at the sky silently and North Korea adverted his eyes. "Let's go then." he muttered. "We're splitting up. Don't get too close to the building and when you find a way in, signal us with a whistle or something. Don't get caught or I'll personally see to it that you get the punishment you deserve."

Okay, maybe that was a little to harsh for them. Poland's eyes widened and he tugged at Lithuania's arm all the time as they walked into the alleyway to keep hidden. Estonia and Ukraine were staring at the ground as they walked behind him down another alleyway. They acted like sad puppies that didn't get a belly rub.

"Eyes up or you'll never see things coming." North Korea snapped at them. "You'll regret it if you get hit in the head with a rocket."

He doubted that they would get hit in the head by a rocket, but it could still happen. Anything could happen, now that he knew that mere emotions occupied physical bodies. It stumped him how they obtained physical bodies, however. He had heard rumors from the other countries that the hatred's strong will freed them from their originals. But was that all? Their own freewill got them out?

North Korea accidentally ran into the brick wall of the building in front of him. He staggered backwards, holding his head and scolding himself for not paying more attention to where he was going.

"Are you okay?" Estonia asked.

"I'm fine." North Korea said icily. "No need to worry over small things. Keep going."

From the alleyways, the three could examine the hideout carefully without being spotted. They could only hope that the other two didn't trigger the doppelgangers' attention, but things were very quiet so it was pretty obvious nothing eventful happened.

That's probably what they want you to think. North Korea thought bitterly. Honestly, he had to give the doppelgangers props for being able to gather weapons under the countries' noses. And he had to give them props for being able to weaken them to such a state. Surely their armies combined could do something about it.

He questioned Germany's tactics to Estonia and Ukraine and told him what he had just though, sending armies out and all of that.

"That would be the norm." Estonia said, pushing his glasses further up the ridge of his nose. "But for every country, there are usually more citizens than soldiers. Most of everyone's armies are seeing to our people. You've heard that the doppelgangers can bring out the hatred in our own citizens, correct?"

North Korea stopped him. "I can figure the rest out on my own then. I thank you for the Intelligence. I have a much more broader sense of the problem now."

Broader, yes. If the entire world was controlled by their own hatred, then it was reasonable to have armies keep them under control and to prevent them from causing chaos and disorder. North Korea shuddered to think of seven billion people all over the earth causing havoc. They'd fight each other, every single one of them, and cause a World War Three.

North Korea bumped into a lamppost in alarm. As Ukraine asked him if he was alright, he shot a bewildered look to the top of the tower, the top of the Omsk Hideout. Was that what they wanted? A World War Three?

No. Germany said that they wanted to control the world. Wanted to take over for the originals who, supposedly, failed at ruling the world.

Perhaps he was over thinking things.

"North?" Ukraine asked again, only this time her voice was louder and more urgent.

North Korea sent her a glare. "Be quiet." he snapped at her. He sighed and rubbed the spot where he hit his head. "I'm fine. I was just thinking."

"About?" Estonia cocked an eyebrow at him.

"The doppelgangers."

Estonia nodded understandingly. "They're...difficult to interpret."

Silence. North Korea stared up at the tower with Estonia and Ukraine by his side. They stayed there for a while, looking up at the tower. They all saw an air vent on the top and wondered if there was any chance they could get up there and go through the vents. The tower was a giant looming over them; before the doppelgangers occupied it, it was probably a business building for a major corporation or something. In any case, North Korea still couldn't see how or why the enemy made this tower their hideout.

Then, an echoing whistle shrieked from the other side of the street. The three snapped their attention from the roof of the building to the other side. Then they exchanged looks of anticipation.

"Do you think they found a way in?" Ukraine breathed excitedly.

"They have to else they wouldn't signal us!" Estonia said eagerly.

North Korea watched the two grin their grins and sighed. He wished that he had a team with more serious people, but for some odd reason, he felt a small tug at his lips. Did he just smile? When was the last time he smiled?

He forced the small smile away and beckoned for the two. "Quit fooling around. Wipe that silly grin off your faces." he said coldly to them, not wanting to give them the impression that he had softened momentarily.

North Korea led them across the street by ducking behind a car tucked in by the snow and darted to a bus on the other side of the street. There, Lithuania met up with them.

"Where's the other one?" North Korea demanded. "You didn't split up without my approval, did you?"

Lithuania laughed nervously at his fuming anger. "No, no. He's up ahead. There's a manhole there and that will lead us into the sewers. Chances are we can sneak around the city undetected and chances are that we-"

"Can make it into the building." North Korea finished for him. Okay, so he had his opinions about Lithuania altered. Not only was he soft spoken, but rather useful as a scout. He'd have to remember that.

Lithuania paused for a second and said, "There are chances, but I'm not sure how lucky we can get from her on. Should we go down the manhole or look for another way in?"

North Korea sent a look up the street. In the distance, he could make out the faint fuzzy silhouette of Poland crouched down by what he assumed was the manhole. Poland must be hiding behind a tree because he could also make out a narrow tall shadow beside him.

He glanced at his watch that was still set in Germany's time. It was like that so he could tell how long they had been there. Team Three had arrived in Omsk in an hour after departure, which meant that it was one in the morning in Germany's time. Omsk was five hours ahead, meaning they arrived at six in this region of Russia.

They day would be over in eighteen hours, but the doppelgangers weren't going to attack at night. If North Korea had to guess, he'd guess at noon, which left them six hours.

A lot could be done in six hours.

But lose any time and what would happen? He still didn't know too much about the doppelgangers to analyze and predict what would happen.

"North, you like to think a lot, don't you?" Ukraine laughed.

North Korea looked up from his watch and gave Lithuania a curt nod. "We'll take it. We'll go down into the sewers."