Author Notes:

So...

Things are going to get a whole lot wackier since I decided to scrap mostly everything beyond this chapter. I had written 2 more, which was going to lead the story in a whole other direction. Actually, the ORIGINAL direction. But after close reflection, I've decided to go for it and just make up a whole other ending.. so for you guys that will be the "real ending." Though this story isn't going to end any time soon? Now? So...I'm not sure what to say. Am I really happy that it's going to be longer than expected? And not a sad ending? Or am I really sad cause now there is going to be all this other shit happening now? T_T I'll be the judge of that...at a later time period. U_U As for now, here is another chapter. Let's read on! ^U^

Chapter 12 : Lithuania's Dilemma

Lithuania sighed as he kicked himself back to the somewhat dusty pale blue leather couch. Specs of dust began to arise while twinkling through the half lit windows. They somewhat reminded him of dancing stars. He absentmindedly looked towards the window at his right when he came to realize that another day was going to be over.

2 days...and we're still here huh?

The sun was to set pretty soon in this April winter weather. Daylights savings was still in effect in America and Lithuania couldn't help but question why the sun set so early here. It was only almost 4 pm! Then again, Lithuania noted that every nation had their small quirks and this was just one of the ones he'd never get used to.

Lithuania lazily kneeled over his legs and sat slump for a little while, trying to focus in on his thoughts. When he was tending to Spain, there was no room to process anything else. But now that Spain was all hooked up to the wires and with China and the rest of the more adept nations inspecting the bruises and internal injuries, they let Lithuania take some time off to rest. In his thoughts he mulled over the fact that this was probably the first time anything like this has ever happened at America's place.

He softly close his eyes as he tried to piece together the information he knew.

No nation in the past couple years had sustained any life threatening injury during their meetings. If any one ever got hurt, it'd mainly just be Prussia- whom was usually injured from being hit too much from Hungary's frying pan. But even when that would happen, whomever was around would just haul him to the first floor nurse room and let him sleep there until he recovered. There had been other incidents too but they were also minor. Such as the time America back tripped when walking up the stairs cause he didn't tie his shoe laces. He couldn't get up for the next 4 days but he was fine later on. Then there was that time when Philippines came in with a bad cold. She had been struggling for most of the meeting to seem alright and everyone believed she was. That was until when she, on her way towards the bathroom, suddenly faints. And in front of the everybody who basically threw their seats away and rushed towards her. It was a shitstorm of a panic until the healer nations clarified that she fainted due to fatigue and would be able to recover. At the end, she had to lie down to rest with an I.V fluid bag at her arm. She weakly kept apologizing for creating such a stir but she wouldn't believe when anyone kept repeating that they really didn't mind. So we kept doting on her the rest of the meeting hours which made her calmer and happier.

Who else? Ah...

Even Scotland, being half distracted by a nearby arguing Norway and Iceland, when looking in his bag for his passport, he instead cuts his hand on a pair of hair nostril scissors he had in his man bag. All minor. Nothing too horrid. Though at the time since he accidentally nicked a part of the major arteries, tons of blood started gushing out. It was actually very stunning so I yelled. It was very scary to suddenly see.

I was going to serve myself some coffee when suddenly I see a waterfall of blood spurting out of his hand. I screamed... A manly sort of yell... Yeah. Good thing none of my neighbors were around or Poland. They'd laugh so much at my scream. Iceland was screaming so much too... so at least I wasn't the only one. Only Norway was the calm one as he shuffled his way over to the now cursing Scotland. Quickly he began to bandage the cut with the scarf he had been wearing. Don't think he wore that scarf again.

Lithuania quietly moaned with embarrassment from recalling the thought. He tiredly opened his eyes, his eyes now colored by deep concern and a sense of fear. His throat felt dry. His lips too. He felt like he was thirsty but he knew he was not. This feeling was something else.

There was cringing in his gut while the subtle sense of uprising worry began to accelerate. From the very moment he woke up on the floor in the meeting room, he had felt it. From the very beginning of the day the feeling never left his mind. This notion of fear. Or whatever it was.

It just DIDN'T SIT... Well! It didn't sit well before but now...perhaps illuminated by the setting of the sun or the mood of things... the feeling was growing. With the way the wind softly budged the window in an ominous manner. With the way the grey clouds were rushing away from them in the opposite direction of the sky. It seemed that even the sky was afraid of what was to happen. All it just reassured that something that hasn't felt right for a long time now. Lithuania knew this was the time he had to confront whatever his subconscious was screaming about. He hadn't before but something about the beep monitors and the soft lit lighting he was sure he'd be able to hear it now. Hear it...within himself.

With Spain's beat down, it all started to instill now. In order to clarify it all now, he just had to focus.

Focus!

Maybe I feel like this because I have never seen Spain horridly injured like that... Maybe it's because it has been many years since any one of us has ever got beaten within a feet to our after life...Or... Well, Spain's injuries DID really pale in comparison to all the battle injuries from before the 1700's but China's fiercely scared expression told us to treat his wounds otherwise...A-and I'm GLAD we did... or e-else...WHAT AM I EVEN going to think ABOUT?... It's not going to happen anytime soon! I mean, we're all established as nations now. We are not seeking to branch out or to control others anymore. Every nation has their independence now...even the micro nations...so there is no need to fight so drastically as before... But to see that again... a nation friend in dire condition when every other day he isn't like that...it really messes my thinking up. He was just FINE... yesterday. Blabbering on about his strangely energetic festivals that Poland always tries to invite me to.

Silence.

H-he was in good health and s-smiling! And now... And now? He's in front of me sleeping and who EVEN knows- when he is going to wake up again? This is all... quite a mess.

Lithuania half heartedly whispered to his self, "Something's wrong. Something doesn't feel right. But for the heart of me, when I look at Spain... I feel that it is even bigger than this. Something bigger is happening. Past the horizon that we all can't see. Waiting. Waiting. When will it... Strike?"

The last word laid ominously heavy on his tongue as soon as he muttered it. He cupped his head miserably as he noticed that he couldn't hear the shuffling noises of the room anymore. Everyone felt like they were fading away or that he was. It felt to Lithuania as if he were being summoned away, being ripped away from all them gently. Past the normal air and into a haze of fear and doubt.

A n-nation... a nation will always be in touch with their lands. But with all these changes lately...Lithuania couldn't help but feel he hadn't been feeling something that was surely so obviously there. But now...with his hairs pricking up every time he wakes up till when he sleeps for the past few months...the feeling of doubt finally began to knock loudly on the door of reality. Ready to be beckoned. Ready to be recognized. It's just coming a little too late. A little too late... for everyone.

Lithuania quickly recalled the increasing changes in the weather and stratosphere's. He remembered reading about it in his files a few months back from the files he receives from his Boss's secretary. It was about the topic of the tectonic plates. Strange spikes had been picked up from the main governmental geology labs. In the letter, they profusely apologized for not being in touch sooner for they had doubts that there had been any problem at all. In the letter it said that they had been receiving strange readings for quite some time now but most interns had thought it was due to old equipment. They stated in the file that with the replacement of the old with the new tech gear from the government...they realized that the mistakes they thought were mistakes, really were not.

After Lithuania had read it, he realized it had peaked his interest.

"Registering strange spikes on our Tectonic plates? What does this mean? Are they moving against each other more faster than usual? They shouldn't be from what I know. They sometimes move strangely every couple of decade or so... so that's normal.. It should behave like every other time. It bothers me though..."happening for some quite time"... it's been happening for some quite time it states. What could that indicate? Hmmmm."

But at the time, with his other secretaries bringing him in all these other vast amounts of letters and packages, Lithuania didn't really pay much more attention to that letter. He just laid it down off to the side. Always meaning to get back to it. But he never did. It just didn't seem important at the time and slowly but surely the letter fell back towards the floor and into the half opened bottom shelf. It stayed there in hiding since.

With that in the back of his mind...

A few months later on, Lithuania began to notice the first signs that something else was amiss. Like when he'd go to town on his morning commutes to the office. How he would often look up to the clear blue skies to relax but instead he began seeing the birds behave differently than how they usually do. They began to fly more erratically. And suddenly in the main winter season, many birds who shouldn't be flying this late in the season were migrating in large flocks. Lithuania thought that this shouldn't be the case. T-they were JUST BIRDS. J-just acting differently, right? Nothing tooooooo OUT of the ordinary! Animals can change their normal behaviors for fun... right? So he thought it was then nothing and moved on, not pressing any more on the feeling... On the matter. He thought it was nothing. But perhaps that was when the uneasiness began to settle in.

Then it was the winds. Increasing wind gusts began to sweep the nation. They were gentle at first and his citizens seemed to enjoy the soft gently breeze caressing their homes. But little by little, the winds began to increase in momentum per hour. Nowadays, the winds will rise from their slumber and smack everything around very viciously. Even the citizens started monitoring the wind patterns and began calling them on the television news cast, "Wind Showers."

It was all there. It was all painfully there.

Lithuania thought but with rising self hate.

Watching the increasingly rising winds smack everything around. Watching the rain pour with more bite than usual. Watching his boss become more private with him than usual. Watching ever so silently to the subtle yet changing waves in his reality. Lithuania never felt so scared in his life. It was the type of fear his neighbor's had when Russia would summon them for a dinner party. It was the kind of fear that something unknown was unwinding and that he could do nothing about it.

As a nation and as a personification of the mass that he and his public mentality own to, Lithuania is to know what occurs always in his lands. Wild fires feel tingly. Massive deaths feel prickly and stabbing. It's never enough to inflict much pain, but he and his land are always tied like two strings of each lover to another's pinky. But when Lithuania inquired his neighbor pals if they too felt anything strange or anything amiss, they just nodded no. Estonia would stress that maybe it was just his imagination from working to hard in tolerating Russia. Or from just being a natural workaholic in general.

He laughed back and shrugged it off but it still settled with him wrong. The feeling wouldn't go away as Lithuania stared back at his two hands who now seemed like foreign. Something was changing. He needed to get to the bottom of this.

Therefore, he was so happy when Norway said to him a few weeks ago, during a meeting, that his mythical creatures were stirring with worry. Scotland who had been overhearing, also mentioned that his nations mythical creatures had also been behaving differently. Norway inquired as to what behaviors they were. And Scotland itched his head with a defeated look. He said that his mythical creatures wouldn't tell him anything. But that they felt the need to return to their respective dimensions and stay there for but a little while until things winded down.

Lithuania half heartedly joked to himself, DIMENSIONS? UNTIL THINGS... WINDED DOWN? MAN I HOPE YOU ARE DRUNK SCOTLAND.

Lithuania just kept laughing in hopes Scotland was just drunk. But Scotland quickly chastised him while saying that this was all very true! Just because most can't now feel the mythical creatures from their old folklore, didn't mean they still weren't there. Lithuania remembered vaguely asking, if there could be a way to remember and to see them but Scotland shook his head and said, "Once you forget, it's hard to ever quite remember again."

Feeling bad and feeling the oncoming presence of a ever scary Russia, Lithuania quickly excused himself as he hoped that maybe Scotland and Norway were wrong. That they were making it up. That maybe his worry was just a phase he was going through. Like nation growing pains. He hoped it to be. He silently hoped for it through all the days and even until today.

But now, he knew it. Something was changing in the air. Spain is just the first. Something has to be done before whatever it is... would start.

Lithuania tensed as he started to grimace. His grimace quickly disappeared when a tired Finland plops himself down right beside Lithuania. It startled Lithuania as he gasped from the shock. Finland wasn't aware and just exclaimed happily yet tiredly, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I'm SOOO exhausted. I'm going to nap so much when I get back home. Well, until we're given the clear to go back home. We've been here almost 2 days already. Dear."

Noticing that Lithuania didn't answer, Finland continued, "A-at l-least! We managed to stop the swelling. But uhhhhh, WAS THAT EVER a high-risk-not-fun-time! Today felt like it was turning into a really bad movie. Wasn't it kind of... Lithuania?"

Lithuania shuddered in thinking but said aloud, "I... sure d-don't want to see wounds like that ever again! I mean, I've seen others with their battle scars but this was just so unreal. He was puffing up like a marshmallow! If it weren't for China instructing us where to apply pressure, I don't think any one of us would know what we were doing! Ah, yeah, I shouldn't be referring to Spain as marshmallow. Pardon."

Finland lightly chuckled, "Don't worry! Don't worry! I don't think Spain would mind. He likes cute things and marshmallows are cute. Though I haven't had one in years. I do try to stay away from sweets most of the year since on the holidays I indulge a little too much on Norway's great baked goods! They are delicious! You should come over and try some next time when he leaves me his leftovers." Finland ended his comment with a small smile as he noticed Lithuania's unusual good cheer dimmed out.

Lithuania didn't respond until he absently minded added, "O-oooohhh, y-yyeah! Please alert me whenever Norway makes some. It's always nice to try other nations cooking than being the one that cooks all the time..." Lithuania was going to comment more but he trailed off still consumed in his thoughts.

Finland not missing a beat spirit fully adds, "And! Well! Spain's current condition is stabilized. So we don't have to worry too much anymore. No need to be so worried Lithuania! The worst is already over."

Finland remembers something and says, "Well, ALMOST, the worst is over. We still have to do additional surgery to where the pools of blood accumulated within his muscles but everyone agreed that it'd be better to do that when he rested a bit more... Lithuania?"

Lithuania perks his head up as he gingerly smiles at Finland's now worrying face.

"L-Llook! I'm sorry. I just have a lot of things... on my mind. Like what is going on up above us. We've heard the collectiveness of 2 crashes though it seems it wasn't serious since no one came down to alert us. You know, if we were in danger or not. I'm just worried. Actually, REALLY WORRIED..."

Pause.

"I'm worried because the world is slowly changing and none of us are even noticing. I'm worried because our bosses were THE ONLY ONES who knew we had this meeting today and NONE even called in return! It's just...There are so many things going on and no one is doing anything about IT! And the worst part is, feeling something so terrible and how that terrible thing is going to reveal itself soon and I don't even know what it is. What is wrong with our earth? What's really going on here?!" Lithuania snapped as he found himself standing up from the rage and huffing very loudly.

China, Hong Kong, Hungary, Austria, and Finland looked at Lithuania, shocked as most stopped what they were currently doing. Hong Kong and China were the only ones to mostly ignore the small outburst, for they had to monitor the machines and Spain's condition more vigilantly.

Hong Kong quietly muttered to him self but loud enough to alert the entire room while changing the gauzes on Spain's arm, "We all feel worried. We all feel it now if we didn't feel it before. We all feel something is changing in the air... So...we'll worry about that a little later."

Lithuania looked up in disbelief as he inquired in surprise, "Wait. Wait! Have you all been noticing the change effects of our world too?"

Hungary spoke next with a quiet voice, "Yes. I've been feeling something was changing within the lands and the people's hearts the past 2 months. But I just thought... I was imagining it you know?"

Austria piped in solemnly, "I'm sorry but I wasn't aware of anything. Sorry."

Finland was about to continue when Austria interrupted once more, "Ah, wait. I'm sorry. There is one thing I've been noticing."

Hungary questioned, "What is it dear?"

Austria's expression became a little more serious as he stated, "My boss...has been hiding things from me. I haven't been receiving as many files as I should have. That's my own complaint even though at the time I was not complaining. Looking over the files is always a ton of work as you all know... and at the time... I thought that if received a little less, that it was good. Now I know, something was a miss. Something is not right at all. You're right Lithuania."

Finland chirped in, "We all agree with you Lithuania. As Santa, and flying over every nation for the good little boys and girls, I've noticed changes in the nature too. But the people overall haven't changed. If anything people are bustling with more life than usual! Whatever it is... we will tackle it when it arrives. Together as nations."

Finland shoots one of the smiles that America usually does. That smile that says everything's going to be okay. And if it is not okay, then it's not over yet.

Lithuania weakly smiled but it still bothered him. What could it be?

"What is it," Lithuania finally inquired but a little more relieved.

China, who had been fighting himself whether or not to bring it up, finally decided he would. China muttered while still looking at Spain, " It's called Drastic Change. Drastic Change."

China stopped attending Spain for a moment when he carried on, "Everyone-aru. May I have your attention for a moment please."

Everyone turned to China as China braced himself to say it.

"What you are all feeling right now is something very natural and I've felt this many times before. I call what you are all feeling now the era of "Drastic Change."

China paused and scanned everyone's asking faces. He continued.

"Look, everyone. We will probably be encountering something unlike any time before. I've lived for a very long time. Maybe even longer than any of you but the feeling in the air that has you all preoccupied with is something I call "Drastic Change." This is a term I coined myself so if any of you want to change what you call this feeling, you may. I just like to keep it simple to remember- aru. "Drastic Change" occurs when a definite era will be coming to an end and another era will begin. It always feels the same. And it will continue to feel the same. This has occurred many times in my life time so I wasn't aware that it may be a first for all you guys... Just...why didn't any of you voice this concern during any of the meetings? I would have been able to clarify this a long time ago-aru."

Hungary apologized, "I'm sorry China. I wouldn't have been able to tell you anyways because I personally didn't feel anything until recently. Austria didn't even feel it at all!"

Austria looked miffed and embarrassed as he begrudgingly agreed, "Well, that's true..."

Finland said, "I didn't really feel it. I just noticed some shifts in how the nature was growing around our homes. It struck me as odd...but I counted it as a earth-sort-of thing. Lithuania?"

Lithuania was crying and everyone was alarmed. He wiped his overflowing tears as he said happily, "I'm sorry! I'm just so glad it was not just me! I thought I was going kind of crazy! So when I heard that Norway and Scotland had some suspicions I thought then that maybe I wasn't the only crazy one! I'm so glad!"

Finland steps over to Lithuania and hands him a tissue while saying, "Here ya go! Don't worry. We all will worry about this now together and I'm sure with the amount of nations we are, we'll be able to solve and be ready to receive this new era. But whatever this era ending will bring, we'll get through this together. Like we all always have."

Hong Kong let out a brief smile as China cheerfully said, "Couldn't have said it better myself."

Everyone smiled towards each other and began to discuss what more out of norm things they had either felt or seen. As many talked about what it really meant, an "ending of an era" China said quietly to Hong Kong, "Hong Kong..."

"Yes, China-kin."

"What do you think Spain would say on this matter? Do you think he's also felt some of the things we've felt lately?"

"Well, we wouldn't know. If only we could wake him up and ask him what he remembers. But at this point, we just need him to rest. We could also ask him many other things as to the appearance of the disgrace who hurt him. Then we would be able to take more concise counter measures. Like what we are up against. Like what type of jutsu did that man really use? It's a mix of your culture and mine as well. Besides, we know one thing."

China curiously asked, "What-aru?"

Hong Kong looked with full concern at China while he muttered, "Our bosses were involved in whatever happened to us. We're going to have to confront them pretty soon. And that's like... going to be ugly..."

And suddenly.

*CCCCCCRRRRRRRRAAASSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH*

Everyone in the room jolted upward as the door blasted open by a little too strong Denmark. Behind him came rushing in a Greece and a Turkey. Lagging behind was a little Italy.

Denmark joyously remarked, "FIRSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! FIRST! AHHHHOOOOOO! OH YEAHHHHHHHH!"

"HAHA! I BEAT YOU!" said Turkey stumbling in with a triumphant smirk.

Greece being a sore loser shot back, "I ONLY LET YOU WIN CAUSE I WANTED TO BE NICE TODAY!"

"Doesn't seem to me that way since you tried to trip me while we ran down the stairs."

Greece turning red muttered back, "My foot slipped the wrong way and it happened to go right in front of your feet."

"BULLSH.."

"GUY'S WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP! SERIOUSLY! WE ARE NOW IN THE INFIRMARY. BE QUIET!" Denmark shouted with his shout echoing all throughout the room.

"Um, actually Denmark? You were louder than both of them…" said Italy while walking down the last few steps becoming fully aware of the silence.

Denmark realizing the pregnant pause afterward and the mystified stares from everyone else in the infirmary- began to blush all sorts of red before apologizing quietly, "Sorry."

"What…is with this….racket?"

With those words, everyone in the room turned to the person saying it.

And it was Spain saying it.

Suddenly, the strange mood uplifted as if it had never been there and with quick steps everyone made their way to Spain's bed. Spain was alarmed at how everyone started talking to him at once. From what Spain saw, many looked at him with pleading eyes of relief and others chirping on about his recovery so happily. Italy was the only one who didn't move any closer to Spain's bed and chose to shyly remain on the last two steps leading into the room. It was like his spine was hanging on a thread and that one last step into the room would break his whole body. Italy just stood there with silent tears flowing. Italy graciously was content with just seeing from afar as Spain tried his best at smiling to all.

Italy muttered to himself, "Spain nii-chan I was so scared. Spain nii chan I thought I wouldn't see you smile anymore. Spain nii chan if you had left... what would have Romano done without you? What would have I done? I'm so glad. I'm so glad you are alive...sooooooooo much. Spain nii chan! SPAIN NII CHAN!"

Italy choked down his upcoming sob* and placed his hands over his mouth. This was now a happy moment. He didn't want to ruin the moment he was waiting for since they discovered that Spain was hurt. And as Italy gazed all around the room, it wasn't just him who was waiting for Spain to recover. It was everyone else too.

The fears in their expressions such as Hungary's plastered tight smile and Austria's tired eye bag's- disappeared. Even Hong Kong's stoic face made softer expressions for a change as he smiled to himself and China too. The ones yelling so happily were Denmark and Turkey and Finland. Denmark cradled Spain's noggin as China quickly chastised him for mistreating the patient so quickly. Denmark apologized again but this time smiling very brightly. Italy realized that he wasn't the only one held down with the invisible balls of chains. He wasn't the only one.

Italy walked into the room now and edged closer to Spain's bed or as close as he could, while trying to look over the first wave of nations before him.

"Yes! Yes-Aru! You gave us quite a run for our money. We had to calm down your swelling and injuries rather quickly. It was so very nerve wracking! You must never pull off a stunt like that again! My old heart can't take much of these things anymore aru!" China happily yelled while squinting his eyes as if to prevent...upcoming tears?

Hong Kong added, "Spain... you almost didn't make it but we did our best and put our faith that you'd get better. I'm glad you did."

Suddenly, Switzerland shoved his elbow into Hong Kong's ribs while he muttered angrily, " He doesn't need to know! About that one detail man!"

Hong Kong eyes lit up as he sidestepped backwards when he realized Switzerland was the one to jab him.

"Switzerland!"

"Yes. Why are you calling my name in such an exasperated manner Hong Kong?"

Hong Kong calmed down as he coherences his thoughts.

"I haven't seen you since you finished up stitching Spain's forehead. That...that was a while ago. Where did you disappear to?"

Switzerland, not wanting to make the information he was about to reveal as public, nodded towards the direction of the stairs and stated as unsuspicious as he could, "Well if you really want to know, come upstairs with me. We'll let the others know a little later. Now that Spain's awake, I don't think it'd be kind if you or I ruined this festive mood. Shouldn't we?" Switzerland finished darkly.

The rest of the nations, not catching on to the two's more private conversation, kept on talking to Spain as Hong Kong solemnly followed Switzerland quietly up the stairs.

Spain tried his best to smile but from what he could tell, his cheeks weren't working as properly as he wanted them to.

This feels strange. I feel strange. Blinking hurts. Smiling hurts. Ow ow ow owwwww. I think it's the pain killers but it almost feels like I'm floating. Just like in my dream. But...this doesn't exactly feel as that particular floating did. Wow though. Everyone looks so tired. Did they really all worry their wits because of me? Wait...what did happen to me? They all are so relieved.. but what were they all so worried about? I'm forgetting something... Though this is strange...Austria is always pissed off at me...but right now he is looking at me with different eyes. Relieved eyes. Hungary looks very tired and Lithuania too. Has no one told him he's crying? He's just been talking to me, smiling, but he is also crying. Was he so worried about me? Italy is behind them all but he too is smiling a grand smile of relief...oh...that's so cute. I wonder...where Romano is...I wonder...I wonder... Wait... why hasn't any one asked me about what happened? They are all just telling me how happy they are. I have to ask what has happened while I was out. Out...where? Out...out as in sleeping out?

No...

I was knocked out.

PO'd out.

Do I really want to stop these stream of smiling faces right now though? The meeting room. I was there, wasn't I? We were all there... but then they were sleeping. There was one that wasn't sleeping. Sleeping. Sleeping because of that guy. Sleeping. Then awake. America... America!"

And suddenly it felt as if two worlds were colliding in Spain's mind. Everything was returning. The reason why his body was so mangled looking. The reason he couldn't properly move his face. The reason everyone is wearing such relieved smiles. The reason there were many wires in his arms. The reason. The most important reason. America.

Flashes of himself screaming at the top of his lungs waded back into his inner view. Sidesteps of visual imagery quickly collided as Spain started to hyper ventilate. It was all rushing back.

America turning back towards him as he lay on the floor against the podium. Looking at him with such intense worry and then shock when he managed to raise his thumbs up with the last bit of energy he had...and then it was all a world of black...but he heard. He heard everything. He just couldn't move. It was like his body functions turned off without his consent. He wanted to respond to America's frantic screams towards him. Yet, no matter how hard he mentally tried, his lips would not move. His vocal cords tamed and relaxed. His eye lids were so oddly heavy and Spain found himself in a strange place of states. He was asleep but awake. It was awake but asleep. And this all came back...within 30 seconds.

China who had been nearby, stared with rising preoccupation as he started noticing the monitors beep a little more louder with each passing second. Everyone's overcoming joys were beginning to silence as Spain started to gurgle and spit. Finland, being the first to act, quickly pressed Spain's head back quickly to his pillow as he urgently pressed, "CHINA! WHAT'S GOING ON?"

China quickly placed his hands between Spain and the rest of the group as he commanded, "Give him some space! Something is happening." China returned to Spain's side as he inquisitively patted Spain's shoulder while trying to understand what was the issue. After watching Spain's behavior for a few passing seconds, China then understood.

"Spain. Spain! Hey there- aru. Relax. Relaxxxxxxx. You're experiencing hyper ventilation. You need to calm down and breathe. Breathe Spain. Calm down. You have to or you're going to pass out!"

China worriedly shot a glance at Italy as Italy quickly rushed to the bed while shouting, "SPAIN NII CHAN! Please CALM! CALM! Like the PALM TREES DO! Calm. Calm. What's wrong?"

Italy began to tear tears of pain as he asked incessantly to China, "What's wrong with Spain Nii Chan? Why is he doing this? Make him stop now!"

Hungary and Austria stood there getting paler and paler by the second as Turkey walked backwards with a rising sense of fear. Lithuania and Greece were the only ones who stayed in the same spot they stood before China told everyone to go back. Lithuania rushing his wits, breathed in and out, when he abruptly shouted towards the ceiling in hopes he'd shock Spain into calming down...

"SPAIN! IF YOU DON'T CALM DOWN I'M GOING TO RISE THE COST OF THE IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION OF SALT TO YOUR COUNTRY! 50$ MORE FOR EACH PACKAGE!"

With that, Spain snapped out of his hyper ventilation, while somewhere in his mind he started to calculate how much that would really mean. He mouthed very quickly, "WHYYYYYY?" as he sputtered and coughed. Italy quickly picked up the basin near by on the floor and held it to Spain's chin. Spain hacked out a couple of bloody clots of nerves and a hefty amount of mixed colored saliva. China patting more furiously Spain's shoulder, murmured softly like a lullaby towards Spain, "Shush, shushhhhh. There we go. That's it-aru. Calm down. That's good. Let it all out- aru."

China then barked to Finland who he thought was Hong Kong, "Okay, give him some anesthesia. Um...Hong Kong? Finland? ...WHERE IS HONG KONG NOW ARU?!"

Finland glanced up at China in full alarm as he sputtered, "Um! I DON'T KNOW? I can do it! But wait, China-san...Like you want me to insert it r-r-ight n-now?!"

China declared, "Right now."

Denmark who had been nearby Finland suddenly bursted, "Wait! Why are you going to do that right now?! We STILL don't know anything about what happened! We were going to ask Spain after we cheered him up and let him relax but! But if you put him to sleep now! Then! How are we going to solve whatever else is happening to all of us?!"

Spain frantically tried to speak when Finland began filling up the needle to inject into the IV fluid bag.

China countered very carefully, "Denmark, I too want to know what happened. I believe Spain knows a couple things we do not and we will hear it in time. But the stuff he was hacking indicates to me right now that he has an internal injury in one or both of his lungs. Blood is pooling up in his lungs which is a greater hazard than any of the other things will still have left to fix in Spain. If we don't treat him now," China paused for emphasis on the word NOW, "if we don't right NOW, then that could put his life back in peril. Do you want that Denmark?"

Denmark gaped aghast as it took him a couple seconds to recover from the accusation.

"OH NO! NO! NO! I'm! No... P-please go a-ahead! You're right. You're right...Spain comes first," Denmark fearfully uttered.

The sunny feeling that had blossomed in the room faded away. As the wind from the outside moved the windows more violently.

Spain moved his neck to his left to then see Finland quickly injecting the anesthesia into the bag. This was all going to quickly. Just as much as Denmark wanted Spain to say things, Spain had a couple things he wanted to say too!

"Wait!" He gasped. Spain registered the oncoming wave of tiredness begin to consume him. He fought mentally to stay awake. He pushed onwards with fitfully yelling,

"Wait! America! You have to find America! He left! He left!"

China saw how increasingly agitated Spain was becoming and held him down as Spain began to squirm more frantically. Spain continued to shout out with the last spurts of energy he had left, "In my dream! I s-saw a-a cliff! I saw sparse grass! I saw a cliff on looking towards the ocean..."

Spain wanted the feeling of relaxation to calm to a sharp halt. He didn't want to feel this relaxed. This secure. Not now. Not when he needed to so desperately say it.

"T-that's w-wh-ere...T-that's w-where you t-told me that he... that America...is..ther..."

Spain's tense body suddenly became limp in China's arms as China gently placed his head slowly back towards the pillow.

Everyone remained stunned into silence by the outburst they saw. Denmark was trying to lick his lips as they felt more chapped than ever.

"Does it seemed like the air became drier? Or is it just me?"

Italy snapped out of it and looked at Denmark while grimly saying, "No... but I think I want to throw up. This is too much for me. I want to go home. I want to siesta. Pastaaaaaaaaaaaa."

Italy quickly hugged Denmark. Denmark didn't get surprised because after today he was sure he just saw about as many surprises as he would see in the whole year. These fearful and tense moments were taking all too much of a toll on everybody by now. With the bursts of happy moments and then the odd mix of fear and sadness, this was becoming more of a nightmare than they all understood. Austria collapsed onto the sofa as Hungary fearfully shouted, "DEAR!?"

Austria raised his hand in a don't worry manner as he choked out, "Um. Wow. I'm sorry. This...Everything that has happened today...really is draining all my life force. I need to sit. Sorry for startling you honey."

Greece uncomfortably moved to the middle of the room when he said, "I know that this isn't the right time to talk about this and maybe we shouldn't talk about this…" Greece frightfully said.

Turkey too remained shocked into silence until he replied, "I don't think we should say anything right now man... This does actually count as one of the worst times ever to keep on talking."

Denmark chimed in, "No, you should go on ahead. We're all nations. We're tough. We can take it. Go on," Denmark finished bravely.

Italy looked up at the Denmark he was hugging and only thought, "Wowww... He's...really so strong. Just like Germany. A strong just like Germany. It's in his determined eyes... unlike mine..."

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news. I really really do. Actually Turkey, I think you're right. I don't have any taste in my mouth anymore. Why don't we go upst..."

Turkey interrupted, "So yeah, America's missing. Like REALLY MISSING. HE went out and stupidly played the hero and is currently missing in action cause he chased the guy who we think played a major role in our...uh..."

"Napping," helped Greece.

"Uh...yes napping. We don't know... if that guy America chased was really the guy who did this to us. But we are sure he was in on it. If we can find the guy, we can find America. And if we find America, he probably has found out some Intel on the guy and whomever the guy is affiliated with. And another bomber on the news is...we think...our bosses are in on what happened to us too? I mean, NO ONE, no one knew we'd be coming to America's place except for our leaders. They should have called us by now or at least one of us, but no one has called. I can only assume they have done something that they don't want us to know. I can only assume, there is something bigger going on than what we currently know. Cuba was mentioning about us leaving to another building. Someplace where our bosses don't know where we are. So we could relocate and think out our thoughts in safety. But we really don't know if this will be true yet since the rest are still consulting up in the main meeting room...sooooo."

China asked, "So wait. America wasn't here the whole time? I thought he was scouting up there with you guys?"

Greece replied, "No, he was not in the meeting room, nor is he scouting. He actually broke through a window and jumped off the 2nd story to the first."

"Wait a second. What? America jumped through a window?"

China mused with the idea that American's always did crazy things but at that is awfully stupid to ever do. Even for fun. But it wasn't for fun and for serious things so China began to let the thought slide.

"America will need a good talking to when I find him," China finally said.

Greece pressed on, "We know now, thanks to Romano, that he went on foot running after or running away from the person or people who drugged us. We wouldn't have found out had we not found Romano, who had been lying outside at the tea garden. He filled us in with the little he knew. And that's all we know so far."

Turkey furthered remarked, "Also Northern Ireland and Scotland found that the wiring to the outside world has been cut on all the floors. So it's not possible to call using the land phones. But we still got our cell phones... so that's okay... And they found that there were chains from the outside keeping us all locked in. And yeah, we are not locked in. We can go out...so don't worry about that. That's about it, right Greece?"

"Right."

Denmark who still had the ripped cloth from America's bomber jacket, took it out of his pocket and showed it to everyone around.

"This is a part of America's jacket. Everything Greece and Turkey said is true. It seems we have more figuring out to do as well as that cryptic message Spain just left. Did any of you get what he was trying to say in the end? Who is you? And Cliffs?"

Hungary spoke with anger to Austria, "EEEEEEEEHHH! AMERICA went to stop the bad guys all by himself without consulting any of us? That's very dangerous! Why would he do something so brash like this?!" yelled out impatiently Hungary while Austria hugged her a bit to calm her down.

"But dear… we were all passed out. And had he waited... who knows what else would have happened to us! I honestly think the reason America ran away or pursued the man responsible for a part of what happened to us, was to protect us. Why else would America nor the bad person not have come back?" Austria paused and continued.

"America must have had his reasons for what he did. And we will give him a lecture to not do such things just on his own again when we find him. No need to get so upset my dear. It wrinkles your face," Austria said smoothly.

That was when they all heard a flat line sound ring throughout all the room.

(Fin for now)

Author Notes:

Yeah...I'm going to end this chapter exactly like that... Yes. (hides behind desk while you all throw things in frustration.) :m

And in case you were all wondering. This was the song I was listening to while writing this chapter. Thought you'd like to know.

"Porto by Worakls" Look it up! It's a nice beat. ^U^