Got a secret.
Can you keep it?
Swear this one you'll save.
Better lock it in your pocket,
Taking this one to the grave.
""

Ding dong! Ding Dong!

Japan's doorbell sounded, pulling the nation out of his deep slumber.

Ding dong! Ding dong!

'Who on earth would be visiting at this hour?' Japan thought sleepily, stifling a yawn as he untangled himself from his futon and stumbles from to the door, trying to shake off lethargy before opening the thin paper door to his house. Imagine his surprise when he saw Italy leaning heavily on his doorframe.

"Italy?" Japan ventured carefully, taking in the younger's half closed eyes, the way his lips were pressed together in an ever so slightly down turned curve, his normally red-brown hair dark brown with sweat and plastered to his cheeks and neck.

"What… what ever happened?" he asked more softly, stepping aside to allow Italy to come in.

Italy didn't respond he simply raised his head as though he hadn't heard him and just stared at him, not glaring; his gaze wasn't intense in the slightest. Simply looking at Japan with beautiful, sad, hazel brown eyes with little flecks of gold in them; staring as though he couldn't quite believe Japan was standing before him, like he had just been awoken from a very sad dream, and Japan's very presence reassured him it was just a lie.

Japan tore himself away from Italy's eyes, feeling slightly awkward; seeing him so sober and downtrodden was heart-wrenching, it made Japan want to pull Italy into his arms and whisper to him that everything would be alright, that he was still here –but Japan was also aware to do such a thing would be most inappropriate.

Japan gently took hold of Italy's arm and led him inside, being careful to keep a reassuring pressure on his limb- his cold limb, Japan realized at that moment.

The younger nation felt freezing, and while Japan could tell no signs of shivering he realised that Italy's skin colour was too light to be normal as well, all of a sudden making him appear feverish to the oriental nation.

Gently Japan set him down on a chair and turned to make hot chocolate in the kitchen for the hope that a warm drink would help Italy feel better and tell him what was going on.

Japan sensed a shadow looming over him as he placed the kettle on, and two arms rapped gently around his midsection, and then felt a weight rest upon his shoulder and warm breath on his neck.

"I- Italy…?" Japan murmured, not wanting to pull away for fear of upsetting his precious friend, so he lent backwards in the awkward hug, letting their bodies press up against each other like they were moulds made for each other. Part of him reminded himself that this was an improper gesture on his part, but the Italian had started it with clearly no objections to the intimate hold, and Japan couldn't help but love how there was no space between them; how he could feel Italy's body pressed gently against his, the way his fingers were digging ever so slightly into his waist, the semi-tightness of his abdominal muscles that he could feel through his clothing on his lower back and the sound of his unsteady, raspy breathing in his ears with warm, moist breath heating up his face and neck.

Italy pulled him closer and tighter, half afraid that Japan would disappear before his eyes leaving nothing but blood, blood and blood behind, and half just needing someone there to hold and comfort him, he stifled a quiet sob and buried his face further into Japans neck, smelling his so very real flesh and hair.

Japan turned around, still not pulling away despite his conscience telling him this was wrong, and just wanting to comfort the other with all of his heart and soul.

"Italy… he spoke softly, letting his forehead press against the other's cold one, "Italy… won't you tell me why you're crying? Please tell me what happened."

"Japan," Italy stared at him, so very close, and Japan could tell that his state of mind had greatly improved by the way his eyes twinkled again ever so slightly, even though tears ran down them, they seemed to be tears of relief as though a terrible fear had just been proven to be false, or that that sad, sad dream had been broken.

He let out a small smile, making him look truly gorgeous and serene, "Everything is alright, everything will be alright- just please, please don't ever leave."

Thoroughly confused, Japan just hugged him tightly, improprieties be damned.

"I don't know what brought this on, but… I most definitely will not be going anywhere; I'll stay by your side."

-The next day—

Japan yawned loudly, it was a World Summit and he had gotten next to no sleep last night due to caring for Italy, he never found out why Italy had come over and got the impression that he never would, but… Japan glanced over to where Italy was seated next to Canada, smiling goofily as he chatted happily to the quiet, nearly invisible nation.

So long as he kept wearing that dazzling smile everything would be alright.

""

In case you're wondering, I used one of my HetaOni head cannons that Italy switches between the HetaOni world and a world where they had never entered the mansion when he's sleeping, that is, when he's asleep in HetaOni he is here, and when he is sleeping here he is in the HetaOni world, neither dimension is any less real, the pain and emotion of every single character is just as real and intense then if they were in our world.

So, I'm guessing that Japan died in one of the arcs and when Italy woke up he went to see him, to remind himself that his terrible, terrifying nightmare was not real. DrowningHeta