The Process of Subtraction

He watched his brother's fist go through the concrete in the opposite wall.

"Brother? What's wrong?"

"NODING!"

There went his other fist. He had never seen him like this.

"Ludwig!" Gilbert called out, reaching through the bars. "Look at me. For fuck's sake, look at me!"

He did. Gilbert could not say a word. There, in place of his brother, was someone else. It was not the bruises, the scars that he could see. Knowing they were there was almost not important (but what had happened to him?). It was the look in his eyes.

The best thing to do was not get his attention, Gilbert decided. It was the only thing he could do. He saw the one option he had on the ground and he could not let his brother (bruder?) notice it.

When he had left, he had left his coat on the floor. Gilbert shoved his arm through the bars and reached. Maybe he could touch the sleeve. All he needed was to touch a bit of the fabric and drag it over. What was he looking for? Germany's phone had to be in his left breast pocket.

Finally. He pulled it closer, finally able to reach inside.

It was in the right pocket, but it was here. The Nation once known as Prussia called the first person he could think of.

Just as everything seemed to be looking up...

It felt like letting go of a rubber band. The sudden release of tension which spanned the entire world. Korea woke up, staring at the ceiling as he knew something was wrong. Something was very wrong. He just could not see what.

But it was connected to him. It was not him, though. Korea knew this and had no doubts. This was not his fault. He had done nothing wrong. Reaching out for his mobile, he searched for the latest news. He awaited any call. He awaited something.

When nothing happened, Korea got up and decided to go find out what was going on.

He could not reach Germany.

Germany could take care of himself. Despite thinking that, knowing it, Korea wished he could contact him. What was going on? Why did the phone just ring and ring and ring...?

After dressing, Korea went to Vietnam's door and knocked at it.

"Vietnam, are you up? Hey?"

He knocked again and this time he heard something in reply.

"I'm coming in."

Korea walked in to see Vietnam sitting up. She did not look all that pleased to have been woken up, but all she did was pull her hair back out of her face. "What is it?"

That was when he realized she was not talking to him. He had not woken her up. Vietnam was on her phone and he could just hear China on the other side of it.

With a dark expression she looked up at Korea. He felt a knot start in his stomach. Nevertheless, he waited for her to speak.

"A war started in Europe."

Germany.

He had known it! Something had happened to Germany. Had someone attacked him? Was he having to defend himself? Korea could not stand by idly with this. Germany was his friend. He had to go to his side!

He had to go, but Korea did not want to. Yong Soo was supposed to be going home. These were his last days with Long.

"Wait!" Vietnam called out as he rushed out of the room. Korea almost went to gather his things anyway, but he waited. He waited while he arranged for transport on his phone.

Eventually, she rejoined him in the hallway. "It's too early to say what is going on. First America was asking China to join him about something, but... Something about Hungary at Germany's house. China doesn't know any more about him right now."

"Then I'll find out!" Korea announced, putting his phone away.

"We can wait for more information," Vietnam protested.

Korea shook his head. "If Germany's involved, I have to go. I owe him. I owe him everything. Whatever's going on, I can do something... right?"

"I don't want you to go!"

All of Korea's thoughts paused.

From the quiet and the dark of the room, Prussia finally heard a voice. "Gilbert?"

"Roderich!"

He had come! He had made it! Germany's broken phone had made the contact despite itself! Gilbert gripped the bars, pushing his face forward, hoping they could see him. They could see him, right? He was not as invisible as he knew he was... But this was not the important thing.

He had to warn them about Germany.

"Did you see him? No, no... Be careful, he von't mean it, but dat doesn't mean it vouldn't hurt–"

"What the hell are you talking about, Prussia?" Hungary demanded, rounding about him. "What is going on?"

Prussia was not desperate. He tried to remind himself of that. Not anymore, he would not be desperate. "Dese people showed up," he said. "Dey vanted me to do vhat I did last time. Vhen I turned him down... Ant now Ludwig's acting... Dey got to him. I don't know how, it vasn't me! But you have to do someding for him! Carefully."

"Elizaveta," Roderich said. Gilbert looked at what had caught his attention.

The holes in the wall. Elizaveta's eyes widened.

"We'll talk about this elsewhere," she demanded, swinging her pan the lock with all of her strength.

And it broke. All Gilbert could do was stare. After... after all of this time. All of his willpower could not open that lock. Eventually, he had not wanted it to open. If being down here protected his brother, he would stay.

But it had not.

"Let's go," said Austria. "Don't waste time!"

Pulling his eyes away from the door, Gilbert nodded.

He stepped out of his cage. Now, Gilbert trembled. Was it excitement? Dread? His feelings were far too conflicted. With everything that was going wrong, he could not be happy. With what Ludwig looked like, he should not be happy.

He was out of his prison.

Gilbert nearly did not make it up the stairs. He hoped neither Nation noticed. Austria probably did not, being ahead of him. With Hungary behind him, it was far too likely she was witnessing his weakness. He hated that thought.

When they reached the top, Hungary looked panicked. "Germany!"

Then Prussia heard what it was they had. Yes, the door had just opened and shut. No, not shut, slammed.

He wanted to go and talk to him, but Prussia knew he had no power. It was why he had called Austria. He did not have the ability to do anything for Germany except call someone else.

He hated that too.

"Take him out the back," Austria said to Hungary. "I'll talk with him."

"Are you an idiot!" Prussia snarled. "Vhat part of vhat I said didn't–"

"Go!" Austria commanded.

Prussia opened his mouth to argue more. Leaving Austria by himself to deal with Germany was a stupid idea. A very stupid idea. Austria had no idea just what Germany was capable of right now. Prussia did not know what Germany was capable of right now.

Hungary, however, said nothing. She grabbed his hand and yanked him towards the back.

Korea looked into Vietnam's eyes. "I don't want to either."

But I have to. Understand, I have to.

Vietnam shifted in place. It looked like she was forcing her arms to stay at her sides. Her phone was still in hand, nails digging into its edges. "Korea... we don't know what's going on. Germany might have started it."

"No!"

The look Vietnam gave him hurt.

"It happened at Germany's house!" he reminded her, as if the limited knowledge would mean what he wanted it to mean. "He was defending himself!"

"Whatever is going on, he might not be on the right side this time," Vietnam retorted. "Or he might be. Wait here until we know more. Then you can go to him."

Korea did not want to believe that. No, he could not believe that. "Whatever is happening over there, I will figure it out."

Because he had learnt that much. He would not step in blindly. She had to believe that. Korea was no longer blind. And Korea owed Germany so much... but he was not blind. Germany could not be at fault... but Korea would do what was necessary. Korea would be able to discern the truth for himself. He would help Germany.

He was not going to wait to hear it through China.

"I'll keep in touch," he promised her.

Her disagreement came out in her smile. "Please stay," she said.

But Korea could not.

Gilbert very nearly swore, but did not have the breath to. At least, he did not until they stopped right outside.

"Idiot!" he exhaled, glaring back into the house before glancing at Elizaveta. "You should have dragged him out too!" he said, pointing at her.

She did not seem to care what he said. "Go to Sweden and Finland." Elizaveta then set something in his hand. It took him a moment to see what it was.

Car keys. "Vhat are you doing?"

"Going back for Austria."

"You're an idiot too!" Gilbert hissed. "Everyone! Hafe you all lost your minds? Plus, I can't go to Sweden! As far as anyone else is concerned, I'd be behind vhatever's going on!"

"I am not leaving him behind!" Hungary growled at him. Prussia wanted to protest, but nothing was coming out. "Go!" she shoved him away before heading back into the house.

"Elizaveta!" he called after, but she shut the door.

What have I done? He wanted to return inside. Stop her. Get Roderich. Fix Ludwig. Even if all of that required that he fade away in Germany's basement. He wanted to do so much.

I... cannot do anything. Not for him, not against him... nothing.

Then, Gilbert did something he would never want known that he did.

He ran to do as Elizaveta had asked.

The house was quiet.

Korea could tell that it was wrong. Everything seemed to be tilted somehow. Germany's house was not right. It was messy. And Germany hated a mess. Korea knew that well. He and Italy shared stories about how bothered Germany could be by certain messes.

The house was quiet and everything was wrong. Korea almost wanted his gloves.

Reaching out to knock on the door, it opened. Quietly, no creaking. Of course it would have been oiled. Germany took care of things like that. But if that was the case, why did the inside of his house look like a disaster zone? Everything was everywhere that it was not supposed to be.

"Germany?"

He stepped inside, wondering. Had this happened during the attack? Maybe Germany had not had the time to clean up yet. That made the most sense. He should have called Italy, Italy would know what was going on. Why had he not thought of that sooner?

"Ludwig?"

Not even the sounds of the dogs. Korea hoped they were all right. They were probably with Germany, wherever he was, keeping him safe.

Korea stopped at a patch of blood on the ground and bent down. It was mostly dry, but faded red collected in the grooves of his fingerprint. Mostly dry. This blood was not from that long ago. There was a lot of blood here... maybe it was longer then that?

The moment Yong Soo straightened his back he was attacked.

He dodged the first blow by pretending to tumble forward and dodged the second as he turned about to face his assailant. The only reason Korea did not avoid the third blow was because of shock.

It was Germany attacking him?

Germany's arm hit him in the neck. Korea fell into the wall, but managed to stay his ground. He reached up and deflected the next strike from pure instinct.

Then there were arms around Germany's waist, an attempt at pulling him back. It was not a successful one, but Italy's voice stopped Germany from moving again.

"Ludwig! It's okay, this is a friend! He's your friend! He doesn't mean it, Korea, he doesn't mean it! Please, don't fight! You're both friends! Korea, tell him you're on his side!"

"Yeah..." Korea managed to reply, rubbing at his neck. He finally had the opportunity to look at Germany.

Germany was cut, bruised, scarred, and more... but that was not what caught Korea's attention. It was the look in his eyes. Korea had seen them stern, kind, angry, confused, laughing... but none of those followed now. Not even fear. It was like someone had taken another person's eyes and put them in Germany's head. It did not matter that they were the same blue. It did not matter that Korea knew they were capable of everything else he had seen them like.

They were not capable now. It was an ugly sight that Korea could not look away from, despite how much he wanted to.

Italy's words rang in his ears. Korea did not know what was going on, but he would find out. He would help Germany. He would do as Italy said so as to keep that opportunity.

Korea bowed lowly before him. "We are friends, Germany! You have done so much for me. I will always be on your side. Please let me stay with you, sir, repay the debt I owe. At the very least... let me give this much, imnida."

No answer came. Yong Soo looked up, back into Ludwig's eyes.

For a moment, he recognized those eyes once more.

Then it was gone. "I accept," the Nation said as his eyes returned to the past. "Velcome. To your feet, soldier."

The entire Korean peninsula rose to its feet.

Yong Soo turned his gaze to Feliciano. What?

And for the longest time, the only answer he would get in return was I'm sorry.

I'm so so sorry.

The end of this story. Not quite as good as Discovering Ludwig or Recovering Francis, but I at this point in the chronology I am causing trouble, not fixing it. I know this took me longer than it should have and most people who started reading this are no longer doing so, but for those who have finished this story I thank you for it. I know I have not responded to the all of the few reviews I have received (I am rather put out that I do not get alerts in my e-mail about them anymore), but I want you to know that it was those words which helped me finish this.

Here is one of those omake things I tend to put at the end of these stories:

"No, you have to stay with me! Hear me? You have to stay with me?"

Sweden was smiling, despite everything. Perhaps because of what Finland had just said to America. Finland admitted that it certainly took him long enough to get it, but that did not matter right now. He was bleeding, so much blood, and Tino needed Berwald to do more than smile so as to know he was sticking with him. That what Finland had done was enough to have saved him.

"Please, Su-san. Say something. Say anything. I need you to stay awake."

But Sweden did not say anything.

Finland did not like being angry. He did not like it, but he preferred it to being scared. So while he was terrified out of his mind for his best friend, the anger at what had caused this started to overcome him.

He would kill America for this. If Sweden died he would tear America apart limb by limb.

But it could wait. He dragged Sweden all the way home. Dragged him into the house to get him on the couch so as to begin to dress his wounds. Where was Sealand? Where was Belarus?

I don't want them to see this. But where are they? Please let them be somewhere else. Please let them be here. Please... Peter, Natalia... be safe.

Had all of this really started with a cold? No. What America did came out of nowhere. Just like with Germany. Finland had not been able to focus on much else.

Where were their children?

"Papa?"

Tino's blood ran cold at Peter's voice. Balancing that with the relief he felt was difficult. He might not have been able to manage it at all if not for the fact he was so angry. "Sealand, get me more gauze," he instructed.

It gave the boy something to do. It gave Finland a little longer to make Sweden look less of a mess. His breathing had stabilized.

He kept working – all the while Peter at his side, getting him what he asked for and staying out of the way.

It was only after all of this, after Sweden was out of the red, that Finland allowed himself to breathe. Sealand was sobbing quietly. Despite the blood on his hands, Finland stroked the boy's hair.

"He'll be all right. He'll make it."

The fear for Sweden was fading, but it had not completely disappeared. He was still scared. Yes, for Sweden, but that was not foremost on his mind. It took Tino a moment to say it.

"Where's Natalia?"

Peter cried more.

Tino tried to swallow, but the lump in his throat hurt too much. "Peter?"

"She left!" Peter screamed into his hands. "She left to save Liechtenstein! Because that's what everyone else can do for friends! They can help them!"

Finland pulled the boy in to hug him. At first, Sealand protested. He screamed out, fists beating against Finland's chest as if that would make a difference. As if that would make him more than an abandoned sea fort.

"You helped me," Tino told him. "You helped Berwald. He's going to live because of you."

It was partly true. Peter did help, he helped more than Tino thought he would be able to. Nevertheless, Peter did not believe it.

Eventually Finland had to move. He called his boss to figure out his next move. To ask who had all fallen to Germany and America.

Italy. Both? Hungary. Austria. This is only the starting of the list. France. Monaco. Belgium. England. Luxembourg. Why so many? Liechtenstein. Korea.

This was going to be a terrible war. Finland would make sure of it.

This will be continued in Destroying Alfred (which is already up and still rather lighthearted, until probably chapter seven). In the meantime there are two other stories which also follow the same time frame as Training Yong Soo. Raising Natalia and Seeing Matthew. Raising Natalia will be posted soon.

Thank you all for reading,

Words