The sewers were foul and unnaturally stuffy. However, for once the team (minus Russia and Belarus; who knew what they were up to) was grateful that it was overwhelmingly freezing outside because the stench below the city would be unbearable if it was hot and humid.

North Korea was the last to descend into the sewers from the manhole; he had to make sure that no one was watching them from above, though with the fog and snow, it was difficult to be certain. Hopping down from the last ladder rung, North Korea did another head count to make sure everyone was there.

"Why?" Poland asked. "It's not like we could go missing already, you know?"

"Anything can be lurking in the water," North Korea retorted, scanning the dark sewers quickly. "Who knows what will happen."

The team acknowledged the fact that he said 'anything' and not 'anyone'. They dedicated a few tense seconds to scan the water but the lack of light gave them a limited view. The manhole above them allowed in a bright beam of light, but North Korea urged everyone to stay away from it.

"The light makes us easier to spot," he said as they followed him along the path at the sides of tunnel. "To avoid being seen, we need to stay in the dark."

There was an apprehensive silence as they continued on. It was difficult to see ahead, but their eyes adjusted quickly to the change. Though they were able to only see silhouettes and, if they were close enough, certain textures like the stained walls or the slightly rippled water, the darkness did not affect their sense of mobility. As if they knew the sewers confidently, the team hastily walked towards what they hoped was the direction of the tower.

"Do you know where you're going?" Lithuania asked North Korea, hastening his pace to catch up with the country.

North Korea's eyes flickered towards Lithuania and even in the dimness, Lithuania could see the determination in his eyes. North Korea nodded curtly and set his gaze back ahead of them, but Lithuania wondered to himself if he had caught a glimpse of indecisiveness.

Estonia stopped abruptly and turned his head to stare at the water to their right. The others heard his footsteps vanish and immediately turned back at him with an inquiring gaze.

"What is it?" Ukraine asked him, studying his slightly widened eyes and his mouth parting slightly into an uncertain 'o'.

Estonia didn't answer at first. He turned his head to the right and then the left, searching for something in the water. North Korea frowned. This was taking up precious time, but whatever the reason for Estonia's halt, it must be important since North Korea could trust Estonia not to make unnecessary observations.

"Did you not hear that?" Estonia asked quietly.

Silence. Ukraine and Lithuania exchanged troubled glances and Poland shied behind Lithuania, clutching his arm. "It must be your imagination," Lithuania laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't hear anything."

Estonia shook his head frantically. "I heard something."

"Well I don't-" Poland started to say but his voice trailed off at the loud splash from the water.

The team jumped a little and stared at the direction of the sound. Did something fall? Was someone following them? No, they wouldn't make themselves noticeable after Estonia stopped; normally one wouldn't slip or make a noise whenever his or her target or targets stopped. North Korea's mind was racing and he joined Estonia by his side, squinting into the distance of the sewers.

"Look for ripples," North Korea hissed. "See what direction the come from. We'll locate what caused the noise."

But there were no ripples. North Korea scowled to himself. "Estonia, turn." he said curtly.

Estonia did as he was told in alarm. North Korea unzipped Estonia's backpack and dug around for a flashlight. When he found what he wanted, he hastily flashed the light on and backtracked the way they came, sweeping the small, strong beam of light around.

The water was unnaturally still.

Crouching down, North Korea tried to see if there was anything in the water as the others pulled out their own flashlights. "No," he said slowly before they could switch them on. "Only two others. Remember, we have to try to avoid very well-lit places. Three flashlights is the most I'll tolerate."

Their heads jerked back up towards another path on the opposite side of the sewers. If their ears did not deceive them, there was a clear, ringing metallic clang echoing.

North Korea stared at the tunnel leading to another direction. The tunnel was on the other side of the sewers, accessible to them by the bridge at the corner of their path not too far away. If he crossed that bridge, he'd be able to go an investigate.

Do they have the time to do that? North Korea glanced down at his watch. Perhaps, perhaps not. What should he do?

"Lights out!" Lithuania whispered urgently, hurriedly switching his off.

North Korea blinked and followed suit, along with Ukraine who had pocketed it securely. Back in the darkness, allowing their eyes to, yet again, readjust, they listened grimly to a chilling moan.

"What is that?" Estonia asked hoarsely, cringing at the groan.

Before anyone could say anything, another loud splash thundered around the sewer and this time, it was much closer.

"What is this?" North Korea muttered under his breath. By now, he was annoyed at the interruption. They were mere sounds. Sounds couldn't hurt them, not physically as long as they weren't so high pitched that ear drums would bleed. But groans and splashes out of nowhere were harmless. Just a waste of time.

"Forget it. Let's keep moving." North Korea said, jostling the others out of his way. "Continue."

Reluctantly, they followed him. However, the sounds of violent splashing and metallic clangs became more constant and soon enough, it started unnerve even North Korea.

What is that? Could there be someone following? Or is it another presence that we don't know about? North Korea thought to himself, grinding his teeth out of irritation. Russia had the usual companionship of General Winter. Of course, living near Russia (China's enormous house was the only house that separated them, but then again, China's house separated several countries other than them), North Korea had gotten used to the occasional breezy drafts sent to his house. According to rumors, he knew that England and Norway had certain friends no one else could see.

And America had a whale and an alien, or so he claimed.

North Korea pushed the irritating thought about America away before he could lose concentration.

So there were definitely some countries that had special friends, and that seemed to be true. Since many of them had more than one special friend or companion, then was it possible for Russia to have another 'thing' at his house?

Lithuania let out a sudden "Ah!" and inhaled sharply. He stumbled forward but caught himself by bunny-hopping a few steps with his right foot.

"Are you alright?" Ukraine asked at once as Poland rushed forward to re-steady his friend.

As Lithuania sheepishly laughed and nodded, North Korea and Estonia couldn't help but shoot looks at any suspicious looking area their eyes scanned by. Lithuania's stumble had echoed a little, and even though 'a little' was only just 'a little', it was probably enough to arouse unwanted attention.

That was the very last thing they needed. The first thing they need was to get into the Omsk Hideout. Then they needed to...

What do we do from there on?" North Korea wondered in alarm, stopping his scan. He had forgotten to think about that. He was so occupied with everything in the present that the idea about the future slipped his mind.

That kind of thinking will get everyone into trouble, and there's no telling what kind of trouble. North Korea thought bitterly to himself. He reached up to grab a fistful of his hair and tugged. He felt like cursing mercilessly, but he knew he couldn't vent his anger out during a time like this.

"Come on," North Korea heard himself sigh heavily. "We need to keep moving."

Behind his back, the other four sensed that he was getting weary and frustrated. They couldn't blame him; they knew the pressure he must have felt. Something like this was difficult to keep to oneself, and North Korea wasn't one to openly express himself like his brother.

Another, angry roar startled them from behind, but it was in the far distance. North Korea threw back his head and his eyes fell onto their expressions, examining them with a gaze of pure indifference. Their visage was forced back to normal. Not wanting to give him more trouble, they kept their mouths shut and continued to follow him.

North Korea returned his gaze back to the front and they left the roar behind them.

"Do we have to do this?" Russia asked quietly.

Belarus nodded. "Staying up there is crazy, big brother. Down here, it's easier."

"It's dark."

"It's easy to walk through."

"We'll get lost."

"No we won't."

"But-"

Belarus snapped her head up, her sharp eyes intruding his bubble, as if it wasn't already intruded. She had linked arms with him and dragged him down into the sewers after she "disposed" of Dark Russia. Though the doppelganger could not be 'killed', it didn't mean that they couldn't be...taken care of.

Honestly, Belarus thought that tying up the doppelganger with nearly all of her rope and stuffing him into a bag and tossing him into the sewer was a good idea. She'd like to see Dark Russia get out of that.

No, actually, she wouldn't. She just wanted to make Dark Russia suffer, but perhaps she failed to remember doppelgangers felt no pain but only reacted to it.

Russia decided not to remind her of this, for his sake and, to his sullen realization, for his doppelganger's sake as well.

The two adapted to the stench of the sewers by the time they pushed a groaning Dark Russia (Belarus had whispered something into his ears that had made him like that; Russia was glad he couldn't hear her), stuffed into a bag and all, into the sewers. They merely watched as Dark Russia fell into a metal pipe below them, producing a loud clang that they were sure people could hear miles away. The ringing died down a little after the loud splash Dark Russia made and the desperately wriggling bag float in the murky water, making smaller splashes of water.

"He'll get out soon," Russia said.

Belarus gave his hand a small squeeze but he grimaced and pulled away. She had momentarily forgotten that Russia's left hand was broken, so she reached for his right but he also jerked it away.

"Both of your hands are broken?" Belarus whispered.

Russia was grim. Dried blood caked his torn fingernails and small ends of his bones stuck out at unnatural angles. Yet, as long as no one touched him, he could bear the pain. "Yes. He broke them both." Russia responded.

Belarus wondered what else of Russia would have been broken if she hadn't came. "That will give us time." She glanced up at Russia and asked quietly. "Big brother? Are you glad that I saved you?"

Russia didn't answer.

"Big brother?" Belarus sounded somewhat urgent. "Did I do good? How did I do? Big brother? Russia?"

Russia could only nod, and even though it was a small motion, Belarus nodded back in disappointment, accepting the fact that the tiny nod was all the acknowledgment she could get out of him.

For now.

"I'm happy that I saved you, big brother." Belarus whispered. "I'm happy that I didn't come too late. I don't know what I would do if your entire body was broken."

"I won't know either."

"I'm happy I have you, big brother."

Pause. "I am too."

Belarus hesitated. "Do you mean it? It's very special, to be able to spend time with you."

"Yes, I mean it."

Looking into her eyes, Russia saw that she didn't believe him. He didn't really care. He just wanted to get out of the sewers. He wanted to go find the others and destroy the Omsk Hideout. That was what he wanted.

Belarus bit her lips. As if she had read his mind, she murmured, "Let us go find everyone else...big brother." They started to walk quickly away from their spot, leaving the thrashing bag behind. Though their footsteps were fairly noisy, Russia could hear Belarus whisper, "Someday, you'll feel what I feel."

And she reached out to hold onto Russia's left hand tightly.

And Russia didn't pull away.

Russia and Belarus continued down the sewers, hand in hand with each other, peering around the dimmed corners and stealing glances at the dark water to the side. They would shoot suspicious looks every time they heard something that wasn't supposed to be in the sewers, like the occasional murmuring that they could not make out and the quick breaths of alarm or irritation.

They all came up ahead of them.

"Should we continue going in this direction?" Belarus murmured to Russia.

"It's towards our destination." Russia said. "We have to."

Once, Belarus' foot had bumped a few good-sized rocks about the size of her hand off the ledge of the pathway they were walking on and plummeted into the water. She and Russia had stopped, aware of the possible danger they could attract as the splash echoed.

Seconds after the splash, they could hear footsteps hastily running from up ahead. Were they running towards them or away? They couldn't tell within the first few seconds; they braced themselves for another fight but it dawned upon them that the footsteps were getting further and further with time.

"Could they be...?" Belarus muttered under her breath. She grabbed Russia's wrist, the part where it wasn't broken, and dragged him forward. "Come on! Let's go!"

North Korea was sure that something was following them now. He heard a voice calling, and though it sounded eerily familiar, it might as well be a doppelganger of a country. That would explain why it sounded somewhat familiar.

"Can we even outrun them?" Lithuania asked in a hushed voice, running alongside North Korea. "We can barely see where we're going. This is dangerous!"

"Yeah, I rather not fall into the water. Who knows what's in it..." Estonia grimaced.

"Well if we can't run away, we'll have to hide." Ukraine whispered.

"Hide where?" North Korea asked in frustration. "There is no place to hide. Unless you want to spend your time in that water, go ahead."

Lithuania automatically reached out to grab Poland's collar; it was good that he did because Poland was ready to jump. "He was kidding." Lithuania said.

"I wasn't." North Korea said.

Lithuania ignored the comment. "As long as we keep going in the right direction and keep up this speed, I think we'll be fine."

Their conversation ended there; the only noises made by the group were their panting and treading. They kept their ears open for any other sound behind them that hinted at how far their pursuers were.

They were getting closer.

Russia stopped. Belarus, who was still holding his wrist, jerked back at the sudden abruptness of his halt. She glanced back, tugging wildly at his arm but he didn't budge. "Big brother? What's wrong?"

Russia's eyes flickered to the side. Silence. Then, he said quietly, "He's back."

Belarus stared at Russia. Slowly, she released his hand and peered behind his figure. Narrowing her eyes, Belarus flicked her hand for another knife to protrude from underneath her sleeve. "Keep going, big brother." she hissed. "I will stop him."

Russia didn't move.

"Big brother-" Belarus started to snap, but Russia glared her down. Belarus faltered and realized the intensity in his eyes. He had never really intimidated her before, and she kept on hearing how the other countries were frightened by him. She never realize why until now, when he gave her that look.

He never gave her that look.

"You go." he said dangerously. "I'll deal with him, da?"

Belarus lost tension in her shoulders. She looked form Russia to the advancing silhouette of the doppelganger. "Big brother, you barely made it out last time..." she whispered. "I will not leave you. You can't fight. Your hands...they're useless."

Russia's expression remained unfazed. "No, they're not."

Belarus narrowed her eyes in suspicion, then they widened in realization. "No..."

"Go. Belarus, go on without me."

"No."

"Belarus."

"No." Belarus gritted her teeth. "Big brother, why do you think I'll leave you here by yourself? Are you an idiot? I'm staying."

At first, Russia didn't say anything. He had his back turned on Belarus by now, and he was eying the darkness where Dark Russia was approaching them slowly, carefully. It seemed as if the doppelganger had lost its cockiness and returned to how it must have been before; analyzing, careful, cautious...

That was what made doppelgangers tricky to deal with in the first place.

"Belarus, I'm asking you to go." Russia growled, trying again to convince her to leave. "I never finished my fight before. Believe me when I tell you I am grateful you helped me, but now I need my honor back. Do you really want to strip me of my hon-"

"Yes."

Russia faltered at the unexpected response. He anticipated a, "No, of course not big brother," from Belarus, but her stubbornness was indomitable.

"Fine then," Russia murmured.

Belarus assumed Russia was letting her stay with him, which he should have in her opinion. However, before she could get a running start towards the calculating doppelganger who had stopped in the distance to analyze the situation, Russia spun and kicked her off the ledge.

Belarus gasped as his foot, heavily padded because of the winter boot, caught her in the stomach. It was enough force to leave her literally breathless. Her body flung several feet away from Russia and skidded so quickly and painfully over the surface of the water that she was able to collide into the wall of the ledge, barely above the water, on the opposite side of the sewers.

A second after impact, Belarus felt herself sink into the putrid water but she was unable to gasp for air before she descended. Russia's kick was horrifyingly strong even in his weakened state.

For the first time in a while, Belarus' eyes teared up in betrayal as she silently watched Russia's silhouette in the dimness fade into the shadows, towards Dark Russia.