Hetare
By your favorite loser authoress~
(A/N): Another random idea! Just got Hetalia seasons 1 and 2. Best twenty-two dollars ever!:3. This story, which was supposed to be a one-shot, will actually be two chapters. I will post this now, finish the other chapie, and work on the next chapter for Embracing Freedom. I really need to sit down and figure out where I want to go with my two progressing fanficts. I have great ideas for both The Four of the Earth and Embracing Freedom . However, I have to think about how to connect the plot events smoothly...Anyway, onto the story!
For any of you Hetalia newbies at there(We all were at one point:3), Hetare is Japanese for "useless" in a kind of endearing way. The title "Hetalia" is a combination of both Hetare and Italia (Italy's Japanese name), thus the title literally means "Useless Italy."
Yay for cultural enlightenment! (LOL. Reminds me of when Japan opened up to the world. Hang in there Nihon-sama!)
It was a typical day for our favorite pasta-loving nation. A meeting was happening today and he was ready to go to it…more or less.
"Idiota! Hurry up! I am not going to go in your place this time!"
"Ve! Sorry fratello! I was just finishing my pasta!"
"Why do you insist upon eating that every single freaking day?"
"Because I love it. Ve~.Pasta!"
Romano face palmed, something that is awfully common when you live with perhaps the densest nation alive. That's saying something considering he used to live with Spain!
"What am I going to do with you…" he muttered, face palm still in effect. However, if you looked closely, you could see a small smile behind his hand.
"I'm ready to go!" Italy said with a cheery voice (How else would he sound like?), running up to the front door where his Southern Italian brother was watching him with his usual scowl.
"Finally!" Romano said in exasperation, crossing his arms.
Italy just giggled and hugged his brother, much to the other Italian's annoyance.
"Grazie for worrying about me Lovi~." Italy said happily, burying his head in his brother's shoulder.
"Don't call me that! I already have the stupid tomato lover saying that!" he yelled but with no real anger in his voice. He stopped trying to struggle out of the hug. He sighed, and returned it reluctantly, much to the other's joy. What could he say or do? He always had a soft spot for his brother.
After a few minutes of hugging, Romano cleared his throat.
"Ve! Right! The meeting!" Italy said as he just remembered what he was doing in the first place.
Romano face palmed again and said, "Be careful. Try to actually pay attention. Don't do anything stupid, and come back before it gets dark." He may be abrasive, but he is still a true big brother!
"Ve~. It's okay! I'm going to go over to Ludwig's house after the meeting!"
Italy winced slightly when Romano exploded(LOL. That sounds weird.).
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU ARE GOING OVER TO THE POTATO'S HOUSE?"
"Veeee! Lovi! Ludwig really isn't bad at all."
Romano looked like he was going to yell some more, but when he saw the clock by the door, his face paled.
"Idiota! You are going to be late!"
"VEEEEEEEE! I'm sorry! I'll go!"
"You better hurry! You are hosting this time!"
So in a panic, Italy was able to run all the way to the meeting place across the city of Rome. Thinking fearfully about what Germany would do to his pasta if he was late, he sped up.
At 1:05, five minutes late, Italy arrived at the meeting place (A hotel) and pushed open the doors.
"I'm here, Ve…" the Italian panted, exhausted. He looked around to see all of them staring at him. What he missed was the annoyance in their stares.
"Itailen! You are late again! I would think that since you vere hosting zis meeting you vould be here early for once!" Germnay sighed and shook his head. "Take a seat and let's continue."
Everyone turned away from the late Italian. China muttered something about immaturity. England turned back to watch Germany with an impatient look on his face. France, Russia ,America, and even the usually emotionless Japan also seemed annoyed.
Italy, like the oblivious, innocent person he is, Italy didn't notice all the small glares he was receiving. He pranced(in a manly way, of course!) over to the seat right next to Germany, ignoring the German's irritated glance in his direction as he sat down "Ve"ing loudly.
"Anyvay, up next is America who is going to give his speech on ze British Petroleum situation…"
England squirmed uncomfortably at this topic, but the look of uncomfort soon changed to one of surprise when America announced that England was not blamed. In the speech, it looked like he was just referring to the actual country in a formal fashion, but it a small smile flashed in England's direction hinted towards something else.
Italy may not have been playing complete attention to the speech, but he did catch the hidden meaning behind it. He smiled. England may be scary, but he is lucky to have a friend like America! Italy glanced over at Germany. He was so glad that he could say the same for Germany and him!
Germany was paying rapt attention to America, but, to Italy's surprise, he turned away to stare at Italy. Italy was surprised, but also happy. Germany never takes the time to just talk during meetings.
"Italy…Ve need to talk."
Italy felt so happy! What was Germany going to say? Was he going to help him make pasta? He perked up even more. That would be so much fun!
"You vere late again! You can't keep doing zis! Zis isn't a game! It's about the entire world!"
Italy's face fell, but Germany was too much into "Rant Mode" to notice it. After about a few moments passed, though, he smiled again. It was just the same. It was him criticizing everything he did. But c'mon this is Italy! He's used to it! So, he sat there, Germany's rant going right over his head. That is…until he took it too far.
"You're Grandfather and entire country vould be ashamed!"
Italy froze "staring" (Eyes closed. Remember?) at Germany in shock, but he had already given an exasperated sigh and turned to watch the meeting proceed with France.
That comment…It hurt Italy a lot. He was doing a great job at taking care of his country! Granpa would be proud...would he? The rest of the meeting went on with Italy just "staring" blankly at the table in front of him(…or at least more blankly than usual). Eventually, the lunch break came, but this time, instead of going along with Germany like he usually does, he went by himself to a restaurant nearby.
After telling the waiteress what he wanted, he dropped back into his sad, hurt thoughts.
Why did Germany say that? Italy thought somberly, twirling the straw in his drink around absentmindedly. He went so far this time…It hurt. Usually he would act annoyed and yell at him, but he never said something as deeply upsetting as that.
Italy then realized that he didn't bring Germany with him to lunch like he usually does.
Why does it matter? Italy pondered bitterly. He probably doesn't want to be around me.
He was suddenly struck with a thought. What if he doesn't want to be my friend anymore? He thought in a panic. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice that the waitress came back with his food (pasta, of course!). He jumped slightly in surprise. She gave him a sympathetic smile, and said, "If something's bugging you, you should try to fix it. It doesn't help anyone if you put it off til later."
Italy stared at her, then down at his lap as he though about her words. She's right. Ger-…I mean. Ludwig is a true friend. I won't let him down anymore! I'll try harder and he won't yell at me anymore! Immediately, he felt reenergized and he stood up.
"Ve! You're right!" he said, starting to run out of the restaurant. Just before he got to the door, he remembered that he had to pay for his meal. He walked back to his table where the waitress was waiting for him in amusement.
After apolygizing, paying for the food, putting his pasta in a box(C'mon! He's not going to waste it!), and bidding the waitress fairwell, he ran back to the meeting place with a new spring in his step. He'll just tell Germany how he felt about what he said, tell him he'll try harder, and they will continue being friends!
A few minutes later, the hotel elevator opened up to the fourth floor where the meeting was taking place. Good thing that he was on time this time! He made his way over to the door. He was about to open it when he heard people talking.
"I can't believe it…late again. I should have known not to trust him vith something so important."
Italy stopped and listened carefully outside the door. That was Germany's voice! Curious, he stopped to listen through the door.
"Hahaha! Even the hero wasn't that late!" America?
"Honestly! So immature aru. How he even became a country I'll never know!" China?
Someone sighed. "Let's not have the bloody meeting's here unless Romano is hosting!" England?
"I agree. I cannot help but admit that the Italian is…how did you say it Japan?" Russia?
"Werr…Hetare Itaria." That was obviously Japan.
"What does that mean?" France asked.
"I-It means 'useress' in my language."
"Zat sure does sum up Italy…" Germany muttered.
"Ohonhonhon~. As much as I adore the little Italian, he is pretty stupid and annoying at times."
"At times? More like all the time!" America said.
"That is true, da?"
"He never does anything right! He thinks zat he is doing amazing things, but everytime he just continues to show how stupid he is! He never does anything right!"
Japan sighed. "As much as I want to be porite, I do wish that he wourd reave me arone a rot of the time. His rambrings give me headaches…"
"Sometimes, I vish that I never opened that tomato box."
"I wonder if we wourd had won the war if I had advised against Itary's alliance in the Axis." Japan muttered quietly so that nobody could hear…but Italy heard.
On the other side of the door, Italy stood in silence. Something wet fell onto his hand. He looked down, only for more drops to drop. He felt the skin underneath his eyes. He was crying and he never even knew it. He slowly backed away from the door and started to walk away when he felt like he was far enough away so that they wouldn't hear him, he started to run towards the stairs. He went up several flights of stairs until he finally reached the roof top. He closed the door behind him just as he started sobbing. Collapsing on his knees and hands, he felt himself shake with his soft cries.
All of them thought that he was useless, stupid, weak, and annoying. How come he never heard of this before. He did useful things!
There was that time where he invaded Egypt!...Wait. He failed at that. Egypt ended up hitting him with a stick…
Oh! What about the war supplies…Oh, those were cooking supplies.
Well, there was the U-boats!...No that was Japan.
Italy's sobbing worsened. He really was useless!
He stood up. His crying had halted, but his eyes were still red and puffy. He was far from feeling better though. He felt hollow and the anguish was making him nauseous.
He walked back down to the ground floor and went out of the hotel. The meeting would continue for another hour, but why would it matter if he was there or not? He was useless! Even if he did stay, he would just mess things up. Fresh tears pricked at the corners of his eyes again as he walked back to the home that he and Romano shared.
Thirty minutes later, he arrived to the house. He wasn't crying anymore, but that was because he was trying not to think about it. He tried to think about pasta and pizza. Those two things did make him crack a small smile, but the sad feeling lingered in him like a plague.
Just as he was about to knock on the door, he heard his brother yelling.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE ISN'T THERE?"
Italy cringed slightly at his brother's voice and stood to listen, having an odd feeling of déjà vu.
"…Really? Ditched? Figures. Stupid, useless fratello can't do anything right!"
Another mental spear jabbed into his already wounded heart. Leaving not a single second left to listen any more, he turned and started to run in the opposite direction, not caring if Romano heard him or not.
After thinking that he was far enough away from the house, Italy stopped running to slow into a walk, head down.
Even Romano thought that too…Sure his brother would call him things like an idiot, but he never went so far as to call him useless. Despite the fact that he was hostile towards many people, he always had a gentle side for his brother.
Italy felt his eyes water again. Apparently, all things must come to an end.
He wiped away his tears and looked up. He knew where to go now. If nobody else needed him, then he was going to his old home: the one in Venice.
(A/N): And there you have it! Awww! Don't cry Ita-chan:(.
*Sigh* I like making stories, but I still get impatient, so sorry if the emotional parts sound more rushed than emotional. Tell me if it does. I'm kind of worried...
Anyway, ever since I got the first two seasons of Hetalia, I have been learning even more about my favorite anime! For example, I never knew that Austria and Switzy were friends.
You know, I always was annoyed with Austria. He was prissy and stuck-up, but now, my opinion of him is changing. I also thought that Chibi! Austria was adorable! As in, I seriously paused the DVD to stare at him for a while.
I also cried at the point when Holy Rome left Italy T_T. Holy Rome is sooo kawaii! The parts with him in them were my favorites!
I would go on and on, but I need to get started on other chapies~I has work!
Wait though! Before I go...how would you people feel if I started a unit fanfict after I finished at least one of my in-progress fanficts? Review por favor~
- Le Neo-chan