Hello! Thanks for choosing to read my story! My goal for this fanfic: I want to make you cry, make you laugh, make you say "AAAAWWWWWWW" and make you scream at the computer screen "NOOOOOOO! NOT (enter hetalia character here)!"(Please let me know if I manage to accomplish all of these! :D) But above all, I hope that this will turn out to be a halfway decent story, as I've never written a character death before (why I chose hetalia to write a bunch of death scenes for, I don't know) Anyway, please leave a review after reading! I'll give you pasta! (Okay, maybe imaginary pasta, but pasta nonetheless!)

Austria tried in vain to focus on the sheet music spread out atop the piano in front of him. The notes all seemed to blend together on the page. His eyesight hadn't been quite correct for some time, although he was sure he simply needed new glasses. Yes, new glasses were the solution.

Looking out the window, Austria suddenly felt an icy chill. How is it so cold on such a sunny day? He wondered as he pulled his dark blue coat tighter around himself. Lately, the temperatures had been quite strange. One moment, Austria would be freezing cold, and the next he felt as though dying of heat. Maybe…No. I refuse to believe…

Attempting to play a few more measures, Austria banished the thought from his mind. He cringed as he hit an incorrect key, and his hands grew increasingly shaky as he continued playing. After missing yet another note, Austria threw his music to the floor. As he stared at the scattered pages, they appeared to be laughing at him. Mocking him. The melody written on them seemed to dance around the vast room, its harmonious sound taunting him.

"Quiet!" Austria cried, standing suddenly. As he did so, he began coughing violently, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. He collapsed, still choking, knocking over the piano bench.

Realizing that this would be his last moment, Austria only had one final thought.

I hope Hungary will not cry for me.

The black curtain of death consumed Austria.

-Three Days Before-

World Conference Hall

Austria coughed and cleared his throat. He had been feeling strangely unwell for a while. However, being very stuffy and a bit ignorant, Austria brushed it off.

"Hey, Austria!" Prussia said, poking him repeatedly in the side. "That cough doesn't sound too good. You sure you should be here?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Austria stated. Prussia was always poking his nose into things that were not his concern. Then again, he was probably trying to see if he could take control of Austria's vital regions… Again…

Why must I always sit next to him at these meetings? Austria thought. Though I would hardly call these "meetings"… We never actually talk about any of our problems.

As usual, the meeting quickly spiraled into a worldwide argument. England insulted France's clothing, who retaliated with a remark about England's hair. America, in between hamburgers, brought himself into the debate by making fun of both their accents… Actually, he said he was the only country who didn't have a weird accent, which pretty much brought everyone into the argument. Before long, half the countries were yelling at each other for various reasons.

"ENOUGH!" Germany shouted. "We are obviously not accomplishing anything productive, and I don't see the point in staying here to start another world war. I suggest this meeting should be postponed for a few days, when you people learn to act like adults."

"He started it," France mumbled, gesturing toward England.

Germany glared. "I don't care. We will meet back here in three days."

A murmur of agreement spread through the room. It appeared the only thing everyone could agree on was the fact that nobody could agree on anything. Slowly, all of the countries rose and shuffled out.

Once outside the World Meeting Hall, Austria had another coughing fit, this time harsher than the previous. When he brought his white silk handkerchief from his lips, it was stained a bright red.

"Y'know, most people consider that a bad sign," Austria was startled by the sound of Prussia's voice behind him. As he turned, he stowed the handkerchief in his coat pocket.

"It's nothing," Austria stated bluntly. "And last I checked, you took little interest in my well being, so I would prefer if you kept out of matters that aren't your concern."

"Austria, wait!" As Austria turned to leave, Prussia grabbed his wrist, which resulted in an awkwardly long awkward moment for the two of them.

They stood in silence for a moment, neither knowing exactly what to say to break the awkward atmosphere…

…

…

…

"Unhand me!" Austria hissed, after what seemed like an eternity. He jerked his arm from Prussia's grasp, walking away with long strides. That is, he would have walked away, had Prussia not taken hold of Austria's collar, and pulled him around to the side of the World Meeting Hall.

When finally released, Austria was not amused. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"Okay, at first, I just wanted to see if I could get control of your vital regions again…"

I knew it.

"But, have you even told Hungary you're not feeling well?"

Austria looked away as if in shame. "There's nothing to tell Hungary about. I'm fine." He stepped around Prussia, wanting to find Hungary and go home.

Prussia once again grabbed the back of Austria's collar. "Oh, really? And how long have you been 'fine'?"

Austria scowled, batting Prussia's hand away. "Will you stop that? It's very annoying."

Prussia contemplated the thought for a moment. "No."

"It's none of your business." As Austria stepped to the right, Prussia mirrored him. He stepped to the left, still having no success evading Prussia. He sighed. "A few days…" he lied, avoiding Prussia's gaze. "Maybe a week or two… I don't know." He swept past Prussia, half expecting to be seized again.

"If you don't tell Hungary, I will," Prussia threatened.

Hungary jumped when she heard a loud crash. Austria's house was very big, so it was almost always quiet, with the exception of music. So, needless to say, she was more than a little startled by the sound.

She set down the dishes she had been cleaning, and wandered the vast manor to investigate. "Austria?" she called, with the echo of her own voice the only reply. She searched every room for the source of the noise, coming finally to the music room.

"Austria, are you in here?" Hungary called softly, approaching the black piano in the center of the room. "I thought I heard someth-"

Looking down, Hungary picked up the pages of music she almost stepped on.

That's odd…Mr. Austria never leaves music scattered about…

Stepping forward, she gathered several more sheets of paper. Following the trail with her eyes, her gaze rested on Austria, motionless on the floor.

"Austria!" Hungary cried, rushing to his side, her pale green skirt flowing out around her. "Austria, answer me! Please!" She held his head in her hands. His skin was ghostly pale, and cold as ice. Taking his hand in hers, she felt the fabric of his handkerchief. Taking hold of it, she dropped it when she discovered it was covered in blood.

No… Hungary thought. He can't be… It's not…Not possible! He can't be dead!

"Austria, wake up!" she screamed, terrified. "Stop it! This isn't funny! Wake up, please! Just wake up! Austria!"

When Austria still remained motionless, the realization hit Hungary.

Austria…

Austria was…

Austria.

Was.

Dead.

Hungary didn't know what to do. She stayed by his side for the longest time, not wanting to leave him alone. The adamant clanging of the clock soon frightened her, telling her it was noon. The world meeting was starting.

I can't go… I can't leave him. Hungary couldn't figure out what she should do.

I have to go.

He would want me to.

She fled to her room, to change to her uniform.

I think I shall end this chapter here. Hopefully the next chapter won't take long to post! Please, please, PLEEEEEEEAAAAAASSSEEEEEEE review! Even if it's to say that my story sucks (I really don't mind criticism, even if it's harsh), or my author's notes are very annoying, or that you imagine Italy's voice when you read them! (Veh~ Pasta!) (Btw, if you actually read to the bottom of this, I love you! XD)