Hello, I am SomeoneNearandFarAway. It does me a great honor that you have taken the time to read this strange gem. My mind has recently been taken over by this odd anime called Hetalia, and I thought I'd try writing about it. I find Italy or Feliciano a fascinating character with so much room for growth and development. This story is dark with OOC characters. Any such character changes will be explained, so give it a chance. There is yaoi involved, so if that is not your cup of tea then please leave now. Other than that please enjoy, and don't forget to review.

Chapter one: To Sail On Wood-Less Ships

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Death and all its wonders, is never, but an afterthought to a sin filled mind, but dare not the thought of death leave a sin less man for in all it wonders-life is something a man can only persevere, if only for a moment. Let us not forget the fragility of mortality and embrace but not let consume that which we can never understand."

The words fell forth like a wave from his lips and onto the floor a heap and garbled mess that sounded like a foreign prayer from lands lost. He hated them. He had learned these words long ago, and lived his life with the understanding that though he could heal the wounded he could not save them from death. However, the darkness of failure is a heavy one.

Especially for one who could never say he was sin less.

"Hey...Feliciano!"

Said man jolted foreword alert and tense with the words still bitter on his tongue. He nearly hit his forehead with his palm for allowing himself to be caught. It was the third night his body had moved him outside his family home and out onto the spiraling countryside fields. He knew he was looking with eyes closed for something that only dreams could conjure forth, and all the magic of this world could not produce what he wanted.

"It's raining Feli. You'll catch your death out here"

So it was. Pouring was the better term. He gazes at the sky and muses how it is dark yet light with swirling grays that beautifully mixed with hidden blues But for all its beauty it held no answers yet it pounded on his skin hitting his flesh with a sound akin to water on tin. Zink zink Zink zink. It sounded hollow, as if his body was made of metal. How long would it take for him to rust?

"Feli, come on we need to get you inside. Aren't you cold?"

He blinked. Once for the word inside and another for cold. They both felt synonymous with each other as if he could not have one without the other.

"I'm fine. The rain is warm"

It was like ice against his skin and it hurt like it too. Thousands of needles on his body that rose bumps along the flesh. He thought himself morphing into something akin to a demon, but the halo of some divinity kept itself known, and kept him sane.

"Feli"

The word seemed blank until a hand landed upon his shoulder and the revelation that the voice was a real being almost startled him. He could see the hand from the corner of his eyes, but he dared not cast a single glance for he feared it be only a hand.

"Feli"

He really liked the hand upon his shoulder. He wondered if it came from that which he held dear or from that which he secretly loathed. It was calloused and rough from years of hard work. There were faint burns and scars that glowed and shined so softly yet somehow he could still see their existence even in the darkness. These hands have met war. He knew who stood behind him. Gilbert Beilschmidt.

"Ve, dispiace Ludi!"

Feliciano spun around quickly and warped his arms around a startled torso. Guilt hit him for his cruelty, but he showed nothing form the slap. He released Gilbert, softly stepping backwards and though his eyes were now closed he pictured in his mind, eyes the color of blood and hair that rivaled the moon.

"Oh! Dispiace Gilly! I thought you were Ludi, you two sound alike in the rain. Does my voice sound funny too?"

Brothers of blood be damned. They were as far apart as fish was to a bird. They acted like it too they would only ever meet if one was to devour the other, or everyone else. And Feliciano didn't know if he favored the ocean or the sky.

"Its alright. He is my bruder and we share the same awesome blood."

Gilbert laughed and his eyes crinkled with something fierce. It was not missed by Feliciano, but not expanded on. He didn't really care. Not right now. His nightmares were making their way from his consciousness and into a godless form. Haunting him, forcing his mind to places he hadn't thought about in many years.

"Do they ever stop, Gilbert?"

It was barely a whisper, but so loud even amongst the assaulting rain. Feliciano was facing Gilbert with eyes-for the first time in a long time-wide open. Gold met red, and in an instance the understanding between them spoke volumes.

Gilbert though, said nothing just formed his lips into a thin sullen smile as he pulled Feliciano into a tight embrace leaning his face near his ear.

"I'm sorry"

They both were.