Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 14

Germany stepped in the room, flanked by the other members of the G7, except for France and Japan, of course. Russia and China also joined him. China especially looked venomous as he glared at Japan, and Germany recalled that Japan had used germ warfare against China back in World War Two. The entire situation must have been reviving horrible memories for China.

Germany would just need to make sure that China didn't do anything reckless.

It was almost comical, seeing Japan tied to a chair with a variety of belts and ties. This was the best they could do, under the circumstances. And it proved to be strong enough, as despite his struggles, Japan hadn't managed to break free yet.

"Japan, what the hell were you thinking?" America demanded. "A war? Seriously?"

"America, please explain what you were doing in the Middle East," England said. "And then shut up, hypocrite."

America glared at England, but he didn't say anything else. England ignored America and glared at Russia, subtly telling him not to make a remark about this either.

"Japan, did you create this pathogen?" Germany asked.

Japan didn't answer, and in fact, his jaw clenched tighter. He kept his gaze down, and Germany understood: Japan wasn't going to say a thing.

"Thousands of Malaysians have already died," Germany continued. "And for what? You haven't even declared war against them yet, have you? Thousands of lives are lost for nothing." Germany took a deep breath. "Are you aware that Malaysia overheard everything you said to France and Singapore?"

Japan's head jerked up at that. No, he hadn't realised. Germany narrowed his eyes.

"We know that you're planning a war, and that you're planning to target the nations that used to be under your empire," he said. "But what you're doing… How you're doing it…"

"You seem to know a lot already," Japan said. "So, what exactly is it that you hope to achieve by asking me about it?"

Germany narrowed his eyes.

"Malaysia also heard you mentioning a vaccine and a cure," he said.

"And those would be given as soon as the nations in question surrender," Japan said. "Malaysia won't get better until he surrenders, and that goes for Singapore as well."

"What do you mean?" England demanded. "What did you do to Singapore?"

America frowned, before he removed something from his pocket. It looked like a water bottle with a nozzle.

"Japan dropped this when Russia tackled him," America said. "Why would he…?"

"Drop it now!" China snapped, his eyes wide.

America jumped, and the bottle fell to the ground. Germany watched Japan, whose eyes were fixed on the bottle. China had grown several shades paler.

"Yo, what's the deal, China?" America demanded.

"That's the pathogen, isn't it?" China asked. "You're using water bottles to carry it around."

America jumped back from the bottle, as though it was a venomous snake. The others also gave it a wide berth. Even Russia looked worried.

"The other nations on your list," Germany said. "Were you planning to infect them at the meeting too?"

"He already has," China said. "That's why he said that Singapore wouldn't get better unless he surrenders, but Singapore isn't sick. Yet. Am I right?"

Japan shrugged.

"…I'm going to call Switzerland," Germany asked. "He needs to be here too."

"And in the meantime," England said, crossing his arms, "we'd like to know what happened to Singapore and France."

…

"Alright," Switzerland said. "I understand. You should have called earlier. I'll be right there."

He pocketed his phone, before he looked at the other nations gathered in the room.

"They managed to find Japan," he said. "He's restrained right now, and they're trying to interrogate him."

"I'm coming too," Thailand said.

"No. I don't think any of you should be near him. There's no telling in what emotional state he is, and if there's even a slight chance that he gets loose, he might specifically attack you. They also found a water bottle that they think is filled with infected water. We just need to test that."

"Then I'll come with you too, just to get that," Turkey said. "It would also be nice if you can find out where France is."

Switzerland nodded, before he looked over the group at large.

"If either Malaysia or Singapore wakes up, then you need to call Turkey," Switzerland said.

"Alright," Philippines said.

Switzerland turned around and marched out of the room. He was only vaguely aware of Turkey following him as he made his way to the elevator. He tapped his foot as he waited.

"There's just one thing I want to know about what Japan's doing," Turkey said. "Is he the one that wants the invasion, or is his boss the one with the plan, and he's just following along?"

"What does it matter?" Switzerland asked.

"Just trying to figure out how dangerous Japan is going to be. If he's just following orders, then we might be able to convince him to help us. I mean, he probably wouldn't approve of using a bio-weapon to kill thousands of innocent civilians. But if it's his choice, and he was the mastermind…"

"Then getting his cooperation is going to be very hard, if not completely impossible. Dammit! We also need to find out if his soldiers have any orders regarding the other nations."

Turkey pursed his lips and nodded. Things were more difficult than they'd anticipated at the beginning of the week. What happened to just looking after a sick patient?

They arrived at the right floor, and Turkey fell into step behind Switzerland, since the shorter nation knew which room to go to. They managed to find the room without much problem, but before they could go in, someone ran up to them.

"Like, I need your help!"

Switzerland blinked when he saw Poland. He sighed. It wasn't the first time that Poland would stop them, and it was usually something minor.

"What is it this time?" Switzerland asked.

"J-Japan," Poland stuttered. "Like, he sprayed me with something. And, like, this thing is in water. Y-you don't think…? Like, I want you to test me!"

Switzerland felt himself grow cold. If that was true, then it was very possible that Poland was, in fact, infected with the pathogen. Turkey swore, having reached the same conclusion.

"Unfortunately, there's no way to tell right now," Switzerland said. "We don't know how long after contact it takes to appear in the bloodstream. Since this is a thing that works through absorption… We may only be able to tell tomorrow."

Poland looked as though he was near tears. Of course, everyone had heard what this disease had done to Malaysia. Switzerland wondered how he would have reacted at the possibility that he was infected, and decided that he couldn't blame Poland for his panic.

"The incubation period is two weeks," Switzerland said. "That means you won't show symptoms until then. Hopefully, by that time we would have convinced Japan to hand over the cure."

Poland took a deep breath, and on the exhale, he nodded.

"Like, thanks for that," he said. "Um, so, should I come tomorrow, or…?"

"Yeah," Turkey said. "Come tomorrow, and we'll check."

Poland nodded again, before he wandered away. Turkey and Switzerland watched him go.

"Poor kid," Turkey remarked. "He's really scared."

"I would be too, if I were in his shoes," Switzerland said. "Or are you saying that you wouldn't be?"

"…No, I'm not saying that at all."

The two of them turned back to the door, and Switzerland knocked. They waited a few seconds, and then Germany opened. He sighed and ushered them in.

"Japan isn't being very cooperative," Germany said.

"What are you hoping to accomplish by calling me here?" Switzerland asked.

"You know more about this disease than almost everyone else. And you're the most familiar with the Geneva Convention."

Switzerland looked over towards Japan, who was watching the new arrivals. Turkey pulled out a pair of gloves from a pocket and put them on, before he approached the bottle on the floor. That must have been the bottle that Germany mentioned.

"So, apparently, you sprayed Poland," Switzerland said. "Is there a chance that he's infected or not?"

"Probably," Japan said. "When water is consumed or makes contact with the skin, it's highly infectious. Even a small amount like that might be enough to make him sick, though it would take a while for him to reach the same point that Malaysia has. How is he, by the way?"

"Total organ failure with a high risk of ending up in a coma, even if he dies and revives," Switzerland said. "His body is having a hard time recovering from this thing."

Japan hummed, as though this was interesting news. Turkey narrowed his eyes. He took the spray bottle, and before anyone could stop him, he sprayed Japan in the face with it. Water dripped from Japan's face as he turned his gaze to Turkey.

"Now, you'll get a taste of your own disease," Turkey growled.

Japan chuckled, and Switzerland's stomach dropped.

"I already took the vaccine," Japan said. "I wouldn't be stupid enough to start something like this without making sure that I'm protected. And that counts for my people too. My entire population was given the vaccine. So, if you were planning to threaten me this way, it's not going to work."

"Bastard," England muttered.

"…We found Singapore," Switzerland said. That made Japan snap his attention back to him. "Now we just need to wait for him to wake up. Whatever it is you tried to hide, we'll find out what it is."

Japan cocked his head to the side, as though he was trying to remember if he said anything important to Singapore. Germany crouched down in front of Japan, forcing the two to be eye-level with each other.

"This is madness, Japan," Germany said. "Where is your honour?"

Japan narrowed his eyes.

"Considering the types of things your people did during World War Two, you don't have the right to speak about honour," Japan said.

"You're not going to get through to him with that," China said. "Believe me, once he's in a warlike state, he sees his opponents as less than he is. Honour has no place then. Honour isn't compromised when slaughtering 'animals'. Especially if it means furthering his own position."

"Can you say in all honesty that you don't act in the same way?" England asked.

"Even at my worst, I'm not as bad as Japan. Trust me on this."

Switzerland watched Japan, and though his expression was hard to read, there was one thing that Switzerland could tell.

"You're not following orders," Switzerland said. "You're giving orders. You're not just going along with whatever your government is saying. You're actively choosing to do this to Malaysia and the others."

"…You know, it's a good thing you stay neutral," Japan said. "You're not really someone that I would want as an enemy."

"Dammit, Japan!" Germany exclaimed, straightening. "How long have you been planning this?"

"Malaysia said that he worked on this pathogen for fifty years," Switzerland said.

"…I was sure he was unconscious," Japan sighed. "I even checked on him myself."

"What did you do to him?" China demanded, leaning far too close to Japan.

"I checked his condition. Nothing else. I have to say, his sickness is progressing faster than expected. I was hoping that it would be effective against a nation, but I didn't think that it would be this effective."

"What you did to Malaysia…" Switzerland said. "Was this all a test?"

Japan's only response was to shrug. Switzerland gritted his teeth.

"I haven't had proper sleep in almost three days," Switzerland ground out. "I've been working my butt off to try to help Malaysia, and have done everything I could to try to keep him from going into a coma. And this was all a test?"

"If you don't punch him, I will," Turkey hissed.

"Th-there's no need to resort to violence!" Italy stammered, waving his hands.

"Actually, if anyone has a right to use violence against Japan, it would be these two," Germany said. "I've seen how hard they worked. Frankly, I would be angry too, if I were in their shoes."

Japan watched the two, and there was a slight flicker of concern in his eyes now.

"So, what are we going to do with him now?" Switzerland asked.

"I think we need to call everyone for another meeting to discuss this," Germany said. "I have a few ideas. And for all intents and purposes, the Japanese government is guilty of a war crime."

Switzerland narrowed his eyes. Japan didn't seem to be too bothered by the matter, and that made Switzerland feel even angrier.

"You know, when we first heard about the porcelain and connected it to the bombs your people used during World War Two, Malaysia defended you," Switzerland said. "He insisted that it couldn't be you."

"Malaysia is a fool," Japan said. "Are you trying to make me feel guilty or something?"

"I'm starting to think that you're incapable of something like that," Switzerland said. He turned to Germany. "We need to leave someone to guard him. I don't think we should try to leave him alone."

Germany nodded, before he turned to Russia.

"Could I ask you to stand guard?" Germany asked.

"I'm surprised you trust me with this," Russia said.

"Yeah," America said. "Why are you trusting him?"

"I think having someone that isn't too friendly with Japan is good," Germany said. He then glanced at China, whose fists were vibrating. "Also, I don't want anyone who is angry with him to be left alone with him. And I definitely don't want anyone who might be one of his targets to be left alone with Japan."

"In the meantime, I'll test this water and see if Poland has a reason to be worried," Turkey said, raising the water bottle.

"Do you have any idea where France is?" Switzerland asked.

"He's tight-lipped regarding France," England said. "Makes me wonder if there is anything else that he's trying to hide."

Japan closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Whatever it was, he wasn't going to say anything.

"That reminds me," Germany said, "The hotel manager lost a master key. Japan, would you happen to know anything about that?"

Japan snorted, and China immediately pounced on Japan. Switzerland thought that China might have been attacking Japan, and the desperate yelps from the island nation seemed to corroborate the idea. But then Switzerland realised that China was looking for the key, which he pulled out after a few seconds.

"Found it," he said.

He handed it to Germany, who thanked China, before he gave the key back.

"Actually, I'd like to ask you to look for France," Germany said. "The manager gave me a list of all the empty rooms."

China nodded, before pocketing the key. Germany removed a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to China as well.

"I'll find France," China said. "Just make sure that Japan doesn't get away with this."

"He won't," Germany promised. "What he did is extremely severe. We will need to punish him accordingly."

"And do you think that's going to change anything?" Japan asked.

"Asides from punishment, we will make sure that there is enough pressure to cause your government to hand over the vaccine and cure. What you did to Malaysia is beyond unforgivable. And the punishment will reflect that, along with the reparations necessary."

Switzerland kept his eyes on Japan. He had a feeling that this wouldn't be fixed within a few days. This was going to be a long, drawn-out affair.

…

China sighed as he locked the door. This was the fourth empty room that he had investigated, but there was no sign of France. He had two more rooms to check before he had to change floors.

He wondered if he was even on the right track. After all, how would Japan even know that the room would be empty, provided he had hidden France in one of the empty rooms. If it was unused, then it would make sense, but how would Japan even know…?

He came to a sudden stop as a thought occurred to him. Japan would have to know that the room would be empty, and that would be difficult to determine. Unless it was a room that he knew, logically, would be safe. And the only room he could think of was Room 421, Malaysia's old room. He, along with the rest of the world, had heard as Philippines told Germany and the medical nations. And Japan had accompanied Germany on at least one occasion, he knew.

China turned away from the room he was on his way to investigate and went towards 421. He noticed on the list that this room had a few asterisks next to the number. He could imagine that this was used as a warning. If the hotel staff were unwilling to go into that room due to the possible health hazard, then it would have taken even longer to find France. It would have been perfect.

China unlocked the door, and he took a moment to examine the room. There was nothing in the immediate area, but he didn't let that discourage him. He stepped inside and started to search around. France wasn't in the kitchen, and he wasn't in or under the bed, nor was he in the wardrobe. That only left the bathroom.

He stepped into the bathroom, but didn't immediately see anything amiss. At least, until he saw a drop of blood on the floor. He didn't think that it was a remnant of Malaysia's stay in this room, so he took that as a good sign. He turned towards the shower. The curtain was drawn, which wouldn't make sense. And when he drew back the curtain…

One trussed up European was waiting for him.