"Russia! I need to ask you something," said Russian watches Anya run over to him with her scarf billowing in the wind.

"Calm yourself, sunflower, you'll trip yourself," he smiled, "What is it you wish to ask me?"

"Is it...is it alright," she stops to catch her breath, "Would it be alright to smuggle Lithuania in with the fish?"

Russia raised a brow, "Why so?"

"They said that he figured out something and Tori will stand in his place," Anya drew herself up, "It might be something important!"

"I believe you," Russia chuckled, making her relax, "Where is he?"

"Right here!" she makes a big razzle-dazzle with her hands, as Lithuania shakily steps out from behind a nearby tree, walking warily toward the Russian man.

"Ah, comrade," Russia called out playfully, "Here! Have a seat next to me! Anya can sit across from us."

"N-No, that's alright-" Lithuania starts.

"Nyet, nyet, I'll be fine! You can discuss things with Russia, while I tell the details to the other sector generals and whatnot," Anya reassured just as playful, shoving both countries back into the car.

And so they drove off.

"So, Liet," Russia breaks the icy silence from Anya's barely audible whispers into her com. She looks up and smiles at the two, then goes back to talking to who Lithuania thinks is Estonia's northern general, since that's where his capital is, "What is this new information that you find useful?" Lithuania sees Anya peer over curiously.

"It-It's," he shook his head. No, he steeled himself, This is no time for getting scared. This is important! "I think they're after Himeyura!"

"..."

The entire car had gone silent.

They could even hear Emily on Anya's com, in her shrill voice, "They're after Himeyura!? What?!"

"C-Calm down, comrade! We do not know for certain!" Anya went to back to talking to Emily. After a few spoken words in their native language, Anya fumbled to turn off her com for her wide violet eyes never left Lithuania as he said those words.

"Who...?" Russia asked dumbfounded.

"Himeyura? They're after Himeyura???" Anya's eyes became wider with each time she said the man's name, "How, though?! We don't even know where he is! Is that why they kidnapped General Eastern USA!? I mean, Amelia?!"

"U-Um, yes, Tori told me the comics stopped about a year ago, meaning you haven't heard from him since then," Lithuania shifted in his seat, "But it's our only lead!"

"W-Well, da, you have a point," Anya sunk down in her seat, crossing her arms worriedly, "He's technically the reason why we're...Hetalian."

"So he's your leader?" Russia pondered the same way Lithuania did.

"No," Anya repeated the words about Himeyura's ignorant bliss about his uprising fandom.

"Why don't you tell him?" Russia tilted his head to the side, clutching his pipe daintily in his lap.

Anya swung her arms around the black pipe she carried, staring out the window, "Well, we're just so outspoken about. Y'know, we're very different. We aren't out to start a revolution, we never really tried to change society to be like us, we just keep our opinions of the world to ourselves. I mean, da, we share a little in and out, but next to no people know us. Himeyura is a...pretty normal guy. Like...he literally has nyet idea what fandom he's made out his comics."

"And besides," Anya chuckled, "We love to watch over the world, not control it. It's more beautiful and exciting to see what they can do all on their own without Hetalian influence, you know?"

Russia and Lithuania stared at her with a surprised expression. Her eyes gaze solemnly back at them with a misty look, "Sometimes, I wonder if he'll be scared of what we are. Look at us, we're armed with weapons, fighting for what we believe in, and we're crazy when we do so. It's about a decade of pent-up fire and ice. We just," a tear rolls down Anya's face, "No normal human being would accept the way we are. We're just...we just were given a reason to bring out our extreme side."

~~~~~

Anya had fallen asleep for the rest of the ride to Moscow. When she came to, there they stood, getting ready to go down into another bunker. Anya posted herself somewhere in the premise, making idle talk with another Hetalian, everyone acting like passerby citizens having fun at the park.

Russia and Lithuania headed down to the meeting room where they saw everyone sitting around the usual oblong table, in their respective seats. Lithuania had to pull a chair next to Russia.

Looking around, everyone looked better than usual. There were only a couple of bruises and very few bandaged spots. No one looked like they were on the brink of death, which was a huge relief to Lithuania. Russia looked better than what he did when collapsed on the earlier bits of the war.

"I'm glad all of you are looking well," America chirped tiredly. Lithuania's eyes drew up to America and his face paled. In fact, everyone does. He didn't say a single word until this meeting had started. America didn't really button up his shirt and they could see the crisscrossing bandages for a reason. Bruises peppered his papery skin and his face was white as chalk, with the color exception of the purpling under his eyes.

"America...?" Canada chocked out, "Are you...what happened...?"

"How could one missing general...?" England whispered in a shaky breath.

"What happened to you, aru?!" China cried.

America looked crestfallen for a few seconds, before sinking down into his seat, looking very tired and mentally crushed, "...I lost my Eastern General."

"You lost-?" Germany's voice faded out. Everyone exchanged looks. Amelia, General Eastern USA, commands the Hetalians in America's 13. That's where his capital is. Also, no other country has lost any of their generals, whether capital-bearing or not.

"Yeah," America hung his head, "She's been gone for a very long time now."

"Hm," Russia cast down his gaze. Then his eyes lit up, he claps his hands, "Comrade! I think we have something that might help you find your precious general and perhaps stop the war!"

"Wha-? Why didn't you say this earlier, aru?" China sat up straight in his seat, wincing a little at the back pain.

America slowly lifted his tired head to meet Russia's gaze. It didn't look like he's joking. Russia gave him a reassuring nod, something you didn't see a lot from Russia, which surprised America a little. If this was a normal day, before the war, he would've loved the cute look of vulnerability on America's face. He, right now, looks so lost, so finished, openly needs help. Help that Russia once needed and America supplied. Now it's his turn to return the favor. Their turn to return the favor.

Russia turned to Lithuania, "Whenever you're ready, comrade."

He slowly pressed a hand to Lithuania's shoulder, which used to frighten him, but now he found comfort in Russia's touch. Slowly, he stood up, setting his palms on the tabletop, "We think he's after Himeyura, the technical founder of the Hetalians."