Illusion

Prologue

Another crack of thunder shook the house. Italy yelped and dropped to the floor in a ball. "I hate thunder!" he cried shrilly, covering his ears.

"Mr. Austria! The storm has blown over several trees on houses! We need you to-" the man was nearly blown away when the next ferocious gale hit. Austria and Hungary grabbed him and, after fighting hard against Mother Nature, successfully pulled him inside. Vases crashed to the floor and shattered when the gale swept inside Austria's home, tearing off curtains and making Hungary's skirt fly up. Italy cried out again, dashing further into the house, searching frantically for a place with no windows.

"I-Italy!" Holy Roman Empire burst in surprise when the crying boy nearly ran into him. Italy threw his arms around his neck, sobbing. "What's wrong!" he asked.

"The… the storm! It's terrible!" Another crack of thunder only made Italy's grip tighten, threatening to choke Holy Rome unless he did something quick. Gently, Holy Rome peeled Italy off of him and took his hand, blushing all the way.

"Aah! Germany, Germany! This storm is terrrrribleeeeee!" Italy cried, running through his house searching for him. Finally, Italy burst into his office. Germany looked up from his paperwork to meet a frantic hug from Italy.

"GET OFF!" he shouted, pushing the crying Italian away from him. "What is it, Italy?"

"The storm! I-it's assolutamente terrible!"

Germany sighed. Scratching his head in exasperation, he waved for Italy to follow him.

He led him downstairs to the basement. "I'll bring down some blankets so you won't be cold. There's a lamp over there, and there should some paint around here somewhere so you can keep yourself entertained."

Holy Rome turned to go back upstairs, but Italy caught his sleeve. "When you come back… will you stay down here with me? I… I don't like being alone."

The boy's cheeks went aflame. "A-ah, s-sure, I-Italy. I'll, ah, bring Austria and Hungary w-with me!"

"This is Prussia's storeroom. Please refrain from meddling with his things. The light's over there. Here's a flashlight in case the power goes out," Germany said, anxious to get back and complete his over-due paperwork. And on top of that, Japan would be arriving any moment, and Germany had to be sure he meet him on time to hand him an umbrella.

Italy grabbed his arm, his hands shaking. "D-don't just leave me down here alone!" he burst. Italy pulled his hands back, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Please don't!"

"Italy…," Germany started. The blonde nodded. "Alright, alright. Japan und I will be back. Do you want me to bring some blankets?"

He attempted a smile and nodded. Germany returned a very awkward smile and hurried back.

Austria was not happy to be pulled down to the damp, cold basement, even if it was for poor Italy's sake. But he certainly would rather stay in the basement than help with repairs during the storm. The townspeople would be okay until the storm passed. He carried down several pillows for them (he knew Italy would eventually fall asleep, and if they tried to leave, he'd wake up, so a sleepover was unfortunately the way he was going to sleep tonight), while Hungary carried down the blankets.

Italy cowered in the corner by the light of a flickering lamp, wincing at every crack of thunder. Austria's face softened. "Italy?"

"Austria!" he cried happily, rushing over to help lay out the blankets. Italy's hands were still slightly trembling, but he was noticeably better now that they were present.

"Just for tonight!" Austria sternly told him. "We are not repeating this tomorrow night!"

"Ve~! Okay!"

Austria rolled his eyes (just to keep up appearances), cuing Hungary to chuckle. Holy Rome came down at last, precariously carrying a tray of snacks.

"Grazie, everyone," Italy beamed, sitting between Hungary and Austria.

Italy perked up at hearing Japan's soft, accented voice. Germany let out an oomph! at the doorway, unable to see over his mountain of blankets and running into the doorframe. "So clumsy, West!"

"Prussia!" Italy cried happily, coming over to meet them. The dull-haired man grinned and ruffled Italy's hair as he passed. "I didn't touch a thing- prometto!"

"Eh… at least nothing's broken," he said upon seeing the evidence clearly on his once-dusty antiques. Prussia sat down against the wall, smiling at the thunder. "Don't know what you're so scared about, Italy. I like storms."

He blinked in shock, finding that highly unbelievable. "How can you possibly like them? They're scary! Loud thunder, lightning that catches things on fire, waters that flood-" Italy ended in a shudder. "That was an awful day in Venice…."

"Think of it this way, Italy," Japan proposed. "Thunder is a drum, signaling the flashes of sun through the clouds. It's a symbol that the storm is almost over."

"That's not true," he argued. "Thunder is a scary monster that comes out when lightning flashes."

Germany rolled his eyes and pushed a blanket in his face. "Calm down, Italy. Help us move some of this stuff so we can lay out the blankets."

While they set to work, Japan pointed out that they should have asked him to bring futons. Prussia snapped at Germany to be careful with his things- "That sword helped bring down Saxony himself!"- which cued Germany to irritably tell him to help instead of standing around fussing.

Italy smiled the entire time. "Grazie!" he said once they sat on top of the blankets, opening up the obentos Japan had prepared.

"It's getting late," Austria announced, looking at his watch. "Let's all go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day…. Italy, you sleep beside Hungary. Holy Rome, you're with me.

"What about changing into pajamas?" Holy Rome asked, nervous about sleeping in the same room as Italy and desperate to get away for a moment.

Austria shrugged. "I think the storm's died down a little. We'll go back." When Italy turned his best puppy-dog eyes on him, Austria added, "And then we'll come back. You aren't sleeping in that, are you two?"

Hungary grinned down at Italy, instantly grabbing the blankets to show he wasn't moving. "I think we'll be alright. Thank you, Mr. Austria."

Once they had disappeared upstairs, Hungary tucked Italy in. "Do you want a lullaby, Italy?"

He nodded enthusiastically. He had never heard Hungary sing, and he was sure she would sound beautiful. After all, she was a very pretty lady. "Alright. It's an old song from my country. Hush kisbaba, nem szólt egy szót sem. Anya kap egy gúnyos madár. És ha ez gúnyos madár nem énekel…"

"Can we sleep down here, tonight?" Italy asked when several hours had passed. It had to be night outside the safe confines of Prussia's storeroom, and Italy wasn't willing to leave his haven anytime soon.

"You are not cuddling up to me," Germany said at once. But he sighed, caving in at Italy's puppy-dog eyes. "Fine, fine. We'll stay. Is that alright with you two?" he asked Japan and Prussia.

Prussia's eyes lit up when he grabbed a pillow. "Fight to the death, anyone?"

Grinning evilly (which really freaked them out), Japan nodded. "I'll take you up on that offer."

"Yahoo!" Italy cried happily, bringing his pillow down hard on Germany.

"Cut that out! Look what you did, Prussia!"

Prussia scoffed and ducked to avoid Japan's pillow. "Have a little fun, West! As if you didn't love pillow fights when you were a kid."

Germany scowled and hit Italy in the face. "Don't bring up any stories," he growled before Italy tackled him. "Honestly! Get off, Italy! I'll- oomph!"

"I beat Germany!" he crowed. "Who's next?"

"YOU DID NOT!" he roared, jumping up with pillow raised high.

"WEST! DON'T TOUCH THE- MY SWOOOOOORD!'

Just a few minutes had passed before Italy could tell Austria and Hungary were asleep. Austria, Italy had come to realize, liked to hum in his sleep sometimes, as if he were playing the piano in his dreams. Hungary didn't talk in her sleep, but she always had to cuddle something- in tonight's case, Italy. Holy Rome seemed to realize they were asleep as well.

"I-Italy?" he quietly whispered. Gently sliding out of Hungary's arms, Italy popped his head up over her shoulder. Holy Rome sat up, the blaze of red on his cheeks noticeable even in the dark. "I… I'm going to get some water. Do you… want to come with me?"

Italy opened his mouth to instantly reject the idea- but something held him back from doing so. The weird feeling that had settled over him the past few days had come back. Somehow… he felt like he should cherish what few moments with Holy Rome he had, because he felt like they would be their last together. And besides, it hadn't thundered in nearly an hour. Maybe the storm was… over?

The brunette nodded, carefully bundling up his side of the blanket in Hungary's arms so she wouldn't wake up and find her little Italy missing. "Okay," he answered softly. Holy Rome lit a candle, carefully shielding the flame from waking Austria and Hungary. Italy padded up after him into the silent, elegant house. Austria's paintings hung proud from the bright walls, their stern faces something Italy was well used to already. He wondered how long he had been with Austria now…. After Grandpa Rome died, everything was a blur for Italy. He didn't recognize his brothers at all anymore. The world had changed so much after Grandpa Rome's great reign.

Holy Rome had to pull over a chair in order to reach the cabinet where Austria had the glasses. "Do you want something to drink too, Italy?" he asked.

"Um, no thank you."

He shrugged. "Italy… I thought I should tell you…," Holy Rome started, distractedly pouring himself some water. He paused, rethinking what he just said. "Ah… well, you've noticed how the people have been treating Mr. Austria so poorly lately, haven't you?"

Remembering the impatient man from before and the mobs that had started crowding as of late, Italy solemnly nodded. Holy Rome sighed. "I… I may have to leave soon."

Italy's eyes widened in alarm. "What? But, Holy Rome, you can't! This is your home- if you go, where will Austria and Hungary and I go?"

"They… you'll go back home, Italy. You can be with Romano again and… and you won't have to be a servant anymore."

"I like it here! No, amo questo luogo! Non si può andare, Santo Roma!"

Holy Rome took his shoulders, startling Italy. "Shh, shh, don't cry, Italy. It's alright. We'll see each other again. Some day, when all this trouble is over, I'll come back to see you."

"P-prometti?" Italy asked, wiping his tears with his sleeve, still too shocked to revert back from Italian.

Holy Rome nodded. "I promise."

"Ve~ That was so much fun! Let's do this again some time!" Italy declared, huffing for breath on the blankets spread on the floor. Germany smirked while Prussia let out a bellowing laugh. Japan, completely wiped out from the mini-war, was already asleep on a sloppily made futon. Italy put a finger to his lips, nodding at the sleeping Asian.

Prussia quieted into a chuckle and ruffled Italy's hair. "Anytime you want, kiddo. I've got all the time in the world on my hands."

"That reminds me… I've been meaning to ask you something, Prussia."

He blinked in surprise. "Huh? Well, then, ask away."

Italy nervously looked at the ground. "How is it… that you're still here, if you're not a nation anymore?"

Prussia's smirk faded into seriousness. He too looked down at the floor. "Well… I'm not entirely sure on the details, but it's basically because West here wasn't about to let me fade. Somehow, him wanting me to stay actually made me not fade. I'm more like a memory than anything else at this point."

"Then can I ask you one last question?"

"Then can I ask you one last question?" Italy quietly started, looking up at Holy Rome with an expression neither had seen before. "If, for some reason you can't come back, will you still promise to be my memory?"

"That's up to you, Italy," Holy Rome smiled, patting his head sadly.

"You know where he is, right?"

Prussia looked up in shock. Slowly, he narrowed his crimson eyes. "…Wen meinst du, Italien?"

((((()))))

"Holy Rome…."

Romano yawned, rubbing his eyes. "What, Veneciano?" he drowsily asked, looking over his shoulder at his sleeping brother.

Italy's face scrunched in his sleep. Again, he muttered, "Holy Rome… where are you?"

The older Italian's gaze softened. "He's gone, mio fratello. Long gone." Romano put the back of his hand to Italy's forehead. He frowned, pulling it back. "Still have your fever…. You get to stay in bed," he halfheartedly grumbled, getting out of bed, "while I have to go do your work for you. You'd better hurry and get well soon, Veneziano, or I'll kick your butt."

"Thank you, Romano."

Romano shrugged on his shirt and turned back to Italy. "Did I wake you?"

Italy shook his head the tiniest bit. "I was already half-awake, I think…."

"Can you eat some breakfast? I'll get that jerk Spain to fix you something. He needs to get off his lazy butt and do something around here anyway," Romano growled, marching towards the door.

"No thanks," Italy weakly called. Romano tightly nodded and softly shut the door behind him.

"Is he any better?" Spain asked the instant Romano emerged, anxiously wringing his hands.

Romano shook his head. "He didn't sleep a bit. He kept talking about thunderstorms, Prussia, and… Holy Rome. Veneziano said he didn't want any breakfast, but I want you to fix him something anyway. He hasn't eaten in a while."

Spain nodded, turning off to the kitchen. But he lingered, a smile creeping up on his face. "Eres un buen hermano. Italy must be glad to have someone like you taking care of him."

"I'm all he's got since Macho Potato disappeared," Romano sighed. "Geez. If that idiota got himself sick over him, I'll… never mind. Get to cooking, jerk."

A good brother? I'm terrible. I can't console him in the least…. Santo Roma, you and la patata stupido had better come back soon, or else he won't get better.

Well, that was a myriad of different languages. Hungary's song was Hush Little Baby, and the rest should be pretty easy to figure out. If you don't know what it means, ask me in a review or PM.

ALSO! This story is going to be updated at crappy intervals due to Alleluia's schedule and my school work. This is basically being written on the side while I'm sorting through the plot bunnies my other fics have.