Yao snorted and leant against his chair. Words and numbers swirled frantically in his head. He glimpsed the stack of documents he had yet to analyze and process. Taking off his glasses and chucking them deftly on the desk, he heaved a sigh and stretched his stiff arms. His muscles ached. His joints were no better. He had been caged inside this crappy room for too long.

He loathed paper work.

He would have complained to his boss but he doubted anyone could accomplish the work better than he did. He couldn't trust those unreliable politicians in his government. The world's economy has crumbled down again and this time the crisis spread across continents. Where did it all start from? Probably America.

That immature fool.

Yao rolled his eyes as he recalled his previous conversation with that self-claimed hero. The Chinese man couldn't remember if he had ever been this conceited and rash when he was young. After all, it has been so long since he last indulged in youth and freedom. Despite all the hassle America causes worldwide, he has to admit the young fellow's remarkable optimism is something to be admired. Whatever he did is always forgiven because to Yao, youth is definitely something to be savored, not to be reprimanded.

Perhaps it is the reason why he has had lent Alfred trillions of dollars just to help with his financial breakdown.

Anyway, the loud, energetic troublemaker wasn't the sole pain in Yao's neck. Currently, this ancient nation is combating with a dilemma of some sort. Well, you see, apparently there is this neighboring country who has been extremely fond of China and has long plotted on becoming one with him. Yao isn't flattered though. Russia has been lurking about courting him for quite a while. It doesn't bother him as much as it initially did because he has gotten pretty accustomed to Russia's ceaseless endeavors.

The problem with Russia, or Ivan as Yao usually directly calls him, is that he was a bit of a demented child with an unfathomable mind. He is also on absolutely awful terms with Alfred. The two can't endure each other for a single second being placed alone inside the same room. Frankly speaking, they both have a grip of China's interests but they are basically tearing him apart. The childish side of Ivan is sometimes adorable but mostly intimidating, or in Yao's view, kinda infuriating. He hates how he grows envious just by watching him chat with America. And he absolutely detests the way he has been stalking him nonstop, spying on him even when he is taking a bath or sleeping.

The sudden knock on the door snapped Yao out of his daydream. Startled, he spun up from his chair and before he could utter a word, the door creaked open to reveal a familiar face.

Aiya, not again!

"Yao-Yao~"

The head popping in carried the most cherubic smile ever. It chilled Yao to bones, actually.

"Wh-What're you doing here, Russia? Who let you in?!" Yao yelped. Only he would dare holler at the Russian without getting pinned down and knocked unconscious.

"No one~I let myself in," Ivan giggled, holding a water faucet stained with fresh blood. Yao needed not be informed what had happened. He simply growled and stomped towards the light-haired man. He grabbed his scarf and shoved the larger nation out of his door.

"Yao-Yao, what's wrong? What've I done?" Ivan looked seemingly hurt.

"I'm working, aru! Get the hell out of here! And stop disturbing me!" Yao bawled, striving to keep the well-built man outside.

"Yao-Yao, can we talk?" Ivan asked sincerely, his eyes pleading.

"No! Not now! Can't you see I'm busy? I'm so damn busy because of what you and America did! You guys never stop fighting with each other and see all the trouble you've caused around the globe! Another financial crisis! I'm too old to handle all this shit. You're stressing me out. This whole damn pile of work is driving me insane!" Yao croaked and slammed the door on Ivan's face.

"Yao-Yao, open the door, please?"

The Russian knocked on the door dolefully with his pipe. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. Tell me what I've done wrong. I've come to ask for a talk. You've refused to see me for a week and I'm growing worried."

"Go away, Ivan. I don't have time to deal with you right now." Yao sighed and rubbed his temples in exhaustion. "I'm really busy, aru. If I don't finish this stuff soon, my boss is going to keep nagging me."

"Are you still mad at me because I interrupted your talk with Amerika the other day?"

"Well, that too. What the hell were you thinking? Trying to pick a fight with Alfred! You know you're both in serious trouble, don't you? If you hit him again, he's just going to impose more sanctions on you! Aren't you crushed already with all those European countries penalizing you? And I thought you've caught a damn cold too."

"I have. That's why I come to ask for help."

"I can't help you right now, Ivan. I have my own problems, you know. Things are getting off track. Need to handle my own economy first."

"Then, can I see you, Yao-Yao? I just want to take a look at your face. We haven't spent much time together. I'm getting…really…really lonely…"

"Ask yourself, Ivan. What have you done to make them ostracize you! Don't freaking resort to me every time you mess up! You and America need to grow up aru! I'm not a piggy bank. I'm not the international help centre where everyone comes asking for aids when they screw up their own economy! Just go away! I'm having a headache because of you!"

"Yao-Yao, do you really not want to see me?"

"No…not now, Ivan. I said I'm busy. Go back home. I'll call you when I'm free," the Chinese man snapped, tapping the desk with his papers furiously.

"Da…"

There was a beam of disappointment in the Russian's voice. Yao listened as Ivan's footsteps fade away.

"He's got to know that not everything goes his way," Yao sighed and sat back down in his chair. "And that annoying American too. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with these two, always thinking they can conquer the world and having a say over everything? Are youngsters all this narrow-minded and capricious? Stupid, stupid, stupid Ivan."

xXx

Yao was running late for another world meeting but he didn't care. He had overslept due to fatigue. And since he is never the kind to skip breakfast, he made it at least fifty minutes late.

When he burst in through the door, everyone gasped and turned to him. His hair was obviously unkempt and his Western suit was all wrinkled. He had forgotten to ask Taiwan to iron it for him the night before.

"Sorry, aru," he muttered and started tying his hair.

It took him a second to sense that something was wrong because no one seemed to be scolding him for his tardiness. He scanned around the room apprehensively.

"Oi, what's going on, aru?" China inquired.

"Oh, you're finally here, dude," America chuckled.

"What on earth is happening?"

"Well, you know, ha ha, you see, I didn't do anything this time, dude. Honest." America held up his hands in defense.

"You didn't do anything?" England cocked his eyebrows and folded his arms.

"Honhonhon~It's no big deal. We can solve this, mon cher~"

"Let me take a look," Yao sighed and shook his head. He slid past his former allies. He gulped when he spotted Russia, sitting rather inanimately on a chair, his violet eyes starinf hollowly ahead and his hands placed neatly on his lap.

"Russia?" Yao mumbled. The nation didn't respond. He didn't even blink. His face was pale.

China almost jumped when something jerked beside him. He stared in terror at crimson mess. It was still moving! It was alive!

And it was….a heart! Russia's heart!

"Aiyaaaaa!" China shrieked and stumbled back. "WHAT IS THAT?"

"Um…look, China-dude, it's not like what you think," America attempted to explain but was soon interjected by England.

"This imbecile was trying to initiate a duel with Russia again," Arthur said. "And apparently, he verbally attacked him and caused his heart to pop out."

"What?" Yao nearly dropped his jaws as he ogled the twitching heart on the desk. It was a miracle that Ivan wasn't even bleeding. There was a gap in his body though.

"Hey, it wasn't my fault! His heart is fragile, that's all! And you guys stood there and did nothing but watch as well!" America argued, hands on his hips.

"Why should we interfere with you two? You know the fights between you and Russia are always pointless, right?" England scoffed.

"Ve~ Should we do something about Russia?" Italy exclaimed.

"Ivan?" China waved his hand in front of Russia but received no response. America poked him lightly on the arm.

"This sucks, dude. He's in a daze," Alfred laughed. "Does that mean I win?"

"Oh shut it, America. You went too far this time," England accused.

"What? I didn't do anything serious! Dude, what did I even do to him?"

"You didn't do anything?" France reprayed sarcastically.

"Fine! His hideous face pissed me off so I was just trying to…ya know, give him a warning. He almost touched my burger, dude! MY BURGER!"

"You left your meal near his seat. It's your fault," England pinpointed.

"No way! I let no filthy hands touch my awesome hero food!" America asserted. "He's got himself to blame. Anyway, nobody wants him here today. I thought we told him not to come. More likely, he's out of our group!"

"That's pretty enough, America." Yao murmured, gazing anxiously at his stiffened friend.

"Like I said, he fucked it up himself, dude," Alfred grunted. "And he's been like this for a while."

"What did you say to him?" Yao asled.

America pouted and scratched his head, a faint blush emerging on his cheeks.

"I will tell you, Yao." England said. "This dullard told Ivan that everybody detested him and he ought to kill himself."

"Hey, I said he should go fuck himself!" America protested. "It's true no one here welcomes him, right?"

"And then Russia-san got out his pipe," Japan continued calmly.

"Ready to kill me, dude!" America bellowed. "That look on his face scared the shit out of me!"

"Okay, okay, but you started it first, America. Remember?" Germany said. "He didn't even try to touch you or anything."

"His hand brushed over my McDonalds meal by accident!"

"By accident," France repeated.

"Oh man, why is it that you blame me every time something happens to this creep? I'm doing you guys a favor. He's making us uncomfortable!"

"Shut up!" Yao yapped. Everyone silenced at once. "We still haven't got to the main point yet! What caused his heart to pop out?" Yao howled, glaring at every one of the nation in the conference room.

"Um…" America stammered but decided to swallow his words. Frankly speaking, he wouldn't risk enraging the Chinese because he was well aware of the amount of debts he owed him.

Besides, China's kung fu is something not to be tried.

Last time he got the honor to try it, he risked having his Florida forever eradicated.

"Well, it was just like one of their usual fights," Japan said. "But then, America-san shouted something and Russia-san froze on the spot. A second later, his heart popped out."

"What did you say, America?" Yao turned back to America.

"I…um…well, you see, I just…"

"What?"

"I said no one fucking likes him. He has no friends so he should go fuck himself. Even…"

"Even China is only using you for his benefits. Don't you get complacent thinking he genuinely wants to be your friend. No one will back you up," England finished the line for his friend.

"Well, isn't that true?" America shrugged.

A sudden slap across the cheek shushed him completely. He gasped, tracing his hand around his swollen spot.

Everyone widened their eyes as America quieted down with a small whimper.

"I really want to refrain from using any violence, aru. But your words irritate me profusely," Yao snarled.

America growled and looked away with red cheeks.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" China said. "This is how people feel when you humiliate them. To you, words are words. You might forget what you've said a minute ago. But to those who receive them, they stab harder than any swords. Words hurt a lot more than you think. I hope you understand that, America. I know you hate him but hurting someone would only mean hurting yourself in return. A small skirmish it may seem. But you are involving all of us here in this childish conflict. Certainly, we have enough crisis to handle already. We do not need another war now, do we? We don't need something to destroy the peace we have been pursuing for so long, right?"

Yao smiled and wiped off a few drops of tears that prickled the corners of America's eyes. Alfred lowered his head with a pout. If anything, or anyone, could ever talk some sense into this impulsive youth, it had to be the old and wise ancient empire.

"Good point, China," Germany nodded in agreement.

"I don't think a war is a desirable solution either," Japan said. "Plus, we've been giving Russia-san retribution through economic sanctions. That's pretty…enough. He should know better to retreat."

"Go on and lecture this brat more often," England smiled. "You hear what China says, Alfred? You don't speak without thinking. This is why you've been provoking so many people."

"Fine," America snorted and jammed his hands into his pockets. "Maybe I spoke a little bit too rough but he still got on my nerves."

"That does not justify your deed, America," Yao said. "You don't go around hurting someone just because they get on your nerves aru."

"I'm sorry," America whispered. "Okay?"

It was almost the first time for everyone to hear America apologize, even though it came in a tentative whisper. Yao smiled and patted his younger friend's head with an approving nod. "Don't worry about it aru. We'll try to fix this."

He turned back to look at the pumping heart. Russia was still frozen on the chair, his eyes wide open and his face devoid of expressions.

"Is he…dead?" Italy stuttered, trembling behind Germany's back.

"No…I don't think so." Yao shook his head with a confident grin. "He's probably just sulking."

The Chinese man picked up the heart gingerly and delivered it towards the hole on Russia's body.

"Do you think it will work?" A few nations started whispering as Yao attempted to put the heart back to its place.

They had tried it several times before Yao arrived. Every time they stuffed the organ back into the gap, it kept popping out instantly.

"Ivan, I'm giving you back your heart," Yao cooed, tenderly shoving the organ back into the hole.

He waited patiently for the heart to merge with the body and for Russia to spin back to life again. He was even ready to receive a giant bear hug from Ivan and hear him make his trademark "kolkolkol" laugh before chasing America all around the building.

Silence took over the room as everyone stood motionless waiting for the retrieval of Russia's heart.

Nonetheless, it never happened.

Shortly after the heart was brought back into his body, it leaped out again, though this time, it stayed much longer than it did when other nations tried to put it back.

"What…" Yao gasped in bewilderment. The heart bounced back onto the desk.

"Oh my God!" England frowned.

"It doesn't work?"

"Ivan, what're you doing? This is your heart, aru. Don't you want it back?" Yao picked up the heart again and repeated his action.

Again, the heart didn't fuse with Ivan's body. It kept popping out the moment it was shoved back into the gap.

"No…it can't be!"

"Shit, it's not going in?"

"Ivan!" Yao panicked, dreading the worst. He kept repeatedly stuffing the heart back into the hole but the expected result never occurred.

"Why…why isn't it going back in?" Yao asked no one in particular because everyone was just as thunderstruck. The heart was supposed to go back in pretty readily. This wasn't the first time it had happened. Russia lost his heart several times and each time, he never got into a trance and managed to solve the condition himself.

"Ivan, can you hear me? Ivan?" Yao shook the Russian gently.

Silence.

Nothing happened.

His body didn't stir a bit. He looked like a soulless skeleton, a zombie lost in the middle of nowhere.

"Russia?" America frowned and poked him.

"Shit, he's…he's not dead, is he?"

"No, his heart is still pounding. But it won't go back in!" Yao cried. He didn't stop trying to put the heart back until both of his arms went sore. The other nations made their attempts too, ignoring how revolting it sounded to be touching Russian's heart. Nevertheless, none of them succeeded.

Ivan's spirit was gone, or so it appeared.

"Russia…" Yao called out, knowing well it wouldn't work.

He was lost.

"What do we do now?" someone asked.

"I don't know…" Yao shook his head sorrowfully. "I don't know aru…"