Chapter 1: The Mask

ITALY'S P.O.V.

Today was one of the infamous World Meetings once again we were all talking about the World's problems...

But as usual I was distracted... It's wasn't by kittens, or Russia being scary, or even pasta!

No, the object of my distration was once again the blonde man sitting across the table from me.

His golden hair swept back and slicked against his head, making his strong face all too apperant. And his glowing blue eyes were once again in a scowl getting angered at the constant disorder of the meeting... His steely gaze makes my heart pound so hard it feels like it's going to come out of my chest.

Germany finally stood up and began yelling in his strong stern voice... The sheer power behind it...

To many it made them tremble in either fear or intimidation but as for me... I tremble in excitement as he yells with every fiber of his being... Even if it's at me sometimes but I still love it...

God, I love him... I loved him for the longest time...

I really do, but everytime I try to tell him... I chicken out... I lose my nerve...

I wish I could tell him... I really wish I could...

If he was still Holy Rome it would be easier, but like Prussia explained to me...

Germany doesn't remember being Holy Rome...

He only remembers being Germany... And it makes me sad seeing him not remembering the love we shared so long ago...

"Alright England, you have zhe floor now." Germany stated to the Britt.

England nodded and said while standing up, "As you all know, this week is Earth Day and this year it's my turn to hold the annual celebration and choose the theme. This year will be a vintage masqurade ball. An older set of formal attire such as suits and ballgowns, and of course everyone must go in disguise."

England then said, "As for the mask, I have prepared blank ones for you all. Decorate them at you leasure but know this, with the help of Norway and Romania, these mask will change your hair and eye color and distort your voice when worn to match the colors you've decorated the mask. This way you'll have no idea who you are with until the very end of the night."

A mask that does all that? That's amazing... Maybe I'll dance with Germany...

England then said, "The mask has been delivered to your hotel rooms and I hope to see come creative disguises on the night of the event."

England then sat down and Germany then said, "Danke Shon. Now vith zhat done zhe meeting can be called closed today."

"Italy-kun, are you busy?" Japan asked as we exited the meeting room.

I shook my head and said, "Ve~ Nope! What do you need Japan?"

He looked down a bit and said, "Well... I wanted to make my mask for the ball, but I have no idea what to do for it... And since you've had masquerades before and..."

I smiled and said, "Ve! Let's go grab your mask and head to my room! We can work on ours together!"

Japan bowed a bit and said, "Arigato Italy-kun."

And so after a quick run by Japan's room, we walked into my room where on the bed was a black box like the one in Japan's room.

I grabbed the art supplies I had tucked away with me for the trip and set on the table where Japan was seated with his mask box in hand.

I smiled and said, "Let's see what they gave us to work with~!"

Both Japan and I open the boxes to find two plain white mask that covered the nose and upper face to where it would be regonizable. On it's edges was thin black ribbons that would be tied and tucked behind hair to where it wouldn be visible.

I then asked, "Ve~ Alright Japan, any particualar color you're dressing in?"

He then replied, "Well I was going to wear a gold vest under my coat other than that, just a plain tux..."

I nodded and said, "Alright then! We should make your mask black with gold ivy branching from the temples to the bridge of your nose!"

He looked at me and said, "That sounds good Italy-kun. But what about yours?"

I replied softly, "Ve~ Well I have an old suit from my days of pretending to be a noble with a hat to hide my curl. It's mostly a black suit with a cape with a dark blue lining, a dark blue vest, and a ascot that will be tied off with a silver pendant. There's also white gloves and a pair of riding boots... So I'll more than likely start with dark blue and add on black and silver designs as I go~!"

Japan looked at me and said, "Italy-kun, you're really excited about this."

I nodded as I began painting the mask and said, "Si. Back home we have a yearly festival where we all wear mask! It's called the Venetian carnival."

Japan picked up the black paint and said, "Hai, that sounds wonderful. Maybe next time you could invite some of the other nations to it."

I sighed and said, "Ve... I would, but to be honest I haven't gone in years..."

Japan then asked, "Why haven't you? It's clear that you love it..."

I replied softly as I picked up some black paint, "It's during a World Meeting Week..."

Japan turned to me and sadly said, "I see... Gomeninsai for asking..."

I smiled and said, "Ve~ It's alright Japan! Besides this year I can do a masquarde with my friends!"

So we continued to paint our mask with simple chatter until they were finally finished.

Japan's mask was plain black with spiraling gold ivy painted in the design I suggested, but he has also made some gold leaves and black roses from some metallic molding paper I had and glued them at the temples and that the peak of the forehead on the mask.

As for mine, (Which you can see on the cover image!) the mask was a dark blue painted with black spirals and designs and decorated with bits of silver dots here and there. As a finishing touch, I took a silver crystal from a part of the chandeler (know one would miss a single crystal right?) and placed it at the center of the mask forehead.

Japan looked at it and said, "Incredible Italy-kun... Why don't you try it on?"

I looked at it and said, "Ve... If you say so... But you do it first, si?"

Japan quickly agreed and tied the mask on to his face forcing his hair to slightly poof a bit making it look a little longer.

As soon as he finished the last knot on the mask, his hair shifted from black to a golden blonde color as did his eyes.

I then yelled, "VE! Japan you're hair! It's blonde!" "Wait, what?!"

Japan stated but his voice was completely un-accented and very smooth and soft sounding.

He ran to the mirror and looked at him self in awe. He then said, "I guess England was right about the mask magic... I might have to wear my hair in Shota to make this work better..."

I nodded and said, "Si! I wouldn't have known it was you, if I didn't see you put it on!"

Japan slipped his mask off and returned to normal. "Alright Italy-kun, your turn."

I nodded and slipped my mask on, forcing my bangs to hang in front of my face. As I tied my mask I took notice of how my reddish brown hair began to change it's color to the same dark blue as my mask.

Once tied I looked at Japan and asked, "How do I look?"

My voice had changed as well... It became deeper and more suave with no accent attached to it.

Japan stood there with his jaw dropped and staring at me in complete shock.

I tilted my head and said, "Ummm Japan... Are you okay?"

"Italy-kun... You look completly different! Even more differnet than me when I put on my mask!"

I turned to the mirror to see what he was talking about... When I froze at my reflection...

My hair had gone completely straight (except for my curl, which I'll have to hide with a hat) and turned a dark blue color along with my eyes. The combination of that made my skin look rather pale and made my jaw look more firm.

I looked nothing like myself anymore... I looked like some sort of suave masked man who could wue any woman... Or man he wished...

I head the door open and close rather quickly.

"Hey Veneziano! I need your help with my mask for the party you bas-..."

Romano stopped in the middle of his rant and looked at me in confused anger.

He then asked in a yell, "Who the hell are you and why the hell are you in my fratello's room with Japan you bastard?!"

I then replied looking at him, "Fratello... It's me..."

He laughed and said, "Yeah right! Veneziano looks nothing like you!"

I sighed and began unting the mask letting the magic disapear, and also making my brother's jaw drop and stare in shock.

"V-VENEZIANO?!"

I replied with a soft smile, "Ve~ I told you Fratello... Did you forget the mask were magic already?"

Romano gumbled out a series of curse words, and Japan stated softly, "It's true that you were completely unregonizable Italy-kun... You might have the best disguise of the ball."

Romano sighed and said, "Si... Damned mask made you unregonizable to the point I was gonna aim a gun at you and ask where was my idiota Fratello was at..."

It really worked that much...?

Maybe...

I looked at the mask in my hands and thought to Germany...

Maybe with this I can make him remember...

Maybe I could win him back...

No... With this mask...

I will make him mine!

And no one will take him away from me ever again.

(I got the idea after reading a fic where Italy was at the Venetian Carnival and acted like a completely different person... Also Shota is where japaneses men where their hair up in a ponytail ((Think Kagame Len)) Yes, Germany is H.R.E. and that will be importiant later... Anyway tell me what do you think! Reviews are helpful!)