Ivan nodded to the operator as he got on the elevator after that day's meetings had completed. It was only the first day of the meeting, and already he wanted to leave.

Alfred had been telling some ridiculous story about a Midnight Channel that only came on if your TV was off at midnight and it was raining. He had sworn that he had seen Antonio on it the night before, and was complaining about it. Apparently, according to his story, the one you see on the Midnight Channel is your destined love. How foolish.

No one seemed too bothered by the fact that Antonio had not actually shown up for the meeting today.

He shook his head and read for the button, but pulled his hand back as it bumped with the operator's, who had reached over at the same time. He got a strange shock when he did it, like a static shock.

"Sorry about that, sir. 5th floor?" The operator pushed the button he had been reaching for.

Ivan leaned back against the wall of the elevator as it rose, rubbing his forehead as he felt a headache coming on. He must have annoyed himself thinking about Alfred's stupid stories. Though, that didn't explain the sudden nausea he felt, too. Well, he was on an elevator. Perhaps it was motion sickness.

When the elevator doors open, he hurried out, never noticing the leering grin of the operator as the doors closed.

When he got to his room, he pulled off his shoes and collapsed on the bed, closing his eyes.

He didn't wake up until the next morning, when there was a pounding on his door.

"Ivan! Ivan! Wake up! It's an emergency!" Oh great. Why was Alfred coming to him for this supposed emergency? Surely someone else would be more interested.

"Antonio's dead! They found his body hanging off one of the flagpoles outside!"

Alright. That was an emergency.

When Ivan and Alfred made it to the conference room, they walked into chaos. No one could explain what had happened. Nations didn't just die, especially not overnight. Did someone kill him? Did he kill himself?

There was a loud banging sound, and everyone turned to the head of the table, where China was standing.

"We're not getting anywhere just talking about it, aru. Nations don't just die. We all know this, aru. Therefore, we should set up a committee to investigate the disappearance."

There were murmurs throughout the room before the other nations began nodding their heads. But who would be on the committee?

"I'll do it!" Ivan groaned. Of course Alfred would want to be all over something like this. He had to be hero, after all.

"No! You're too irrational, aru." Well, Ivan supposed that was one way to say it.

"I'll do it." Everyone looked to where Kiku was sitting. Ivan nodded a bit to himself. Kiku was calm and rational. It would probably be a good idea for him to be part of the investigation team.

"I suppose I'll help as well." China nodded.

"Very well then. Kiku and Roderich will be in charge of investigating what happened to Antonio, aru. If they need help, everyone else shouldn't hesitate to do so."

With the matter settled, the other nations seemed to calm down as Kiku and Roderich left to begin working. Ivan stared out the window as the meeting began, as though nothing had happened.

The next day, it rained again.