Hello everyone! This fanfiction is about the countries past lives. In my pervious fanfictions of 'The Axis Powers and…Who?' and 'The Ambassadors', the countries were humans in their past lives before becoming countries. They become countries because their pasts were saddening and deserve a second chance, but this only happens when the country is just starting out. The countries would not remember their past until they have been countries for some time. Let's begin shall we?

Feliciano and Lovino Vargras weren't always brothers. They were actually cousins in their past lives in a town of their newly formed country of Italy after the Roman Empire fell. The boys were different as the two could be. Feliciano was a popular boy among his peers. He has everything he needed: great parents, wealth, friends, good looks and so much more anyone could wish. The only thing that makes him different from all his friend is that he wasn't searching for love. He doesn't flirt or look for something which many people look for. He was already content with himself.

Lovino Vargras on the other hand, did have anything Feliciano had. In fact, quite the opposite. He lives in a dirty shackled hut with his drunken father. His mother had died giving birth to him. Lovino was treated like a slave in his father's house. There are only two reasons why he keeps living: He is afraid fo death and his cousin Feliciano. They were good friends despite Feli's friends don't like Lovi and prefer to stay away from him. Looking at the two, you would wonder why a handsome, nicely dressed boy with a kind face would be next to a bitter boy with patched clothing and poor posture. One would change the two.

Julia was a new girl who just moved into the village with her parents. As you know, strangers are not welcomed into a village in the old days. It took no time for people to gossip about her and avoid her. Julia didn't mind though, she was an introvert and preferred to be alone. She would rather paint or draw with any scraps of paper she can find. If not, she would draw on the ground with a stick. Her love for art cannot be subsided. When Feli heard about this new girl, he wanted to meet her. He was walking around when he saw a girl with long blonde hair with the top half tied into a ponytail under a large tree. Her blue eyes were concentrating on her drawing on a piece of dry skin no one wanted. Feli was interested and went to her.

" Hello, I'm Feliciano. I've never seen you in town before." Feliciano said.

The girl looked up, she had such bright eyes " Oh, I-I'm Julia…"

" Julia? That's a nice name." Feli said as he sat down next to Julia " What are you doing?"

" D-drawing." Julia stammered, blushing.

" Really? Wow! I never heard of girls drawing before. I thought it was a job for boys." Feli said.

" M-my father is a painter. H-he taught me how and I love it. How you curve your hand like a breeze and how such a simple tool can create such beautiful works!" Julia said. Then she blushed and said " I know it's weird… but I really do love drawing even if it's not for girls."

" I don't think it's weird." Feli said. Julia was surprised. In her pervious village, they all cursed and hurt her for her love for art. This village seemed no different. But this boy… " What are you drawing?"

" Oh, flowers." Julia said. Feliciano looked at the drawing of a white lily, the national flower. Feli smiled and said " Can I try?"

" Um… sure." Julia said as she passed the animal skin and pencil to Feliciano. Feli took the pencil and started at the skin. He stared at the paper for a long time. He has never drawn before so he had no idea where to start. Then Feli asked Julia " Um… how do you draw?"

Julia smiled and said " Let me help." She took his drawing hand, for some reason she blushed. Then she guided his hand over the paper, teaching him how to draw the lily. It was a start of a new friendship. Everyday, Feli would meet Julia under that same tree and they would talk and draw. It was simple but fun. Feli's friends didn't except this but what could they do?

Lovino was suspicious on his cousin's activities. He has been seeing him less and less, and it wasn't with his friends. One day, Lovino was walking around town, trying to stay away far from the hut as much as he could when he heard laughter. His cousin's laughter. Lovino looked up the hill where the laughter came from. Then he started to climb. When he got to the top, he saw two people under a tree. One of them was Feli, with his face full of dirt marks and was now using a pencil to draw lines on the face of a beautiful girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes. Lovino thought of walking away when he saw them. He didn't want to disturb them, then Feli spotted him.

" Hey! Lovi! Where have you been?" Feliciano said as he stood up. Lovino looked at his cousin and said " I would have said the same to you."

" Ve, come on Lovi, I want you to meet someone." Feli said as he pushed Lovi towards the tree. Lovi couldn't find the words to protest but he didn't willingly follow Feli. He's not good with people, people despise him. The blonde girl stood up, looking shy. Then Feli introduced " Julia, I want you to meet my cousin Lovino! Lovino! This is my new friend Julia."

Lovino tried to avoid looking into this girl's eyes. Julia was also shy but gave a warming smile. Lovino blushed, he never actually talk to girls before. He gave her a nod. Then he said to Feli " You look stupid."

" Ve~ it was fun!" Feliciano said.

" That doesn't deny that you still look stupid bastard." Lovino said. Julia looked nervous. Then he said " At least you don't look stupid…"

Julia didn't know whether it's a good comment from him or not. As the days to come, the three slowly became the best of friends. One of those memorable moments you could say was the day of the great tree.

" Hey Lovi! Let's race up the tree, the one who could climb up to the tallest branches will be the winner!" Feli told Lovino.

" Alright bastard, but if you fall you lose!" Lovi exclaimed.

" Be careful!" Julia mentioned. Then Feli and Lovino started climbing the branches. Lovino was determined to win against his younger cousin. He was much fitter than him and well fed compared to him. But Lovino had determination. He had been jealous ever since he met his cousin. He really had everything, while he had nothing. He wanted to feel he's the better one. It was selfish he can't deny but how can't you when you've been living with the devil? They both climbed as high as they could go. Feli had seemed to be winning when he accidentally slipped.

" Feli!" Julia cried out but Feli had grabbed onto another branch just in time. He can't climb any higher, nether could Lovino… and he was higher. He's the winner. He felt no pride, only worry.

" You bastard! What happened to being careful?" Lovi exclaimed as he started to climb down.

" Ve, it's okay. You climb down first. I can get down by myself." Feli said. Lovino, feeling sure Feli can handle himself, climbed all they way down. Then she asked Lovi " Is he alright?"

" He seems fine to me." Lovi answered. Julia gave a sigh of relief. Then she said " That's great… I guess you are the winner then."

" Yeah." Lovi said, trying to avoid gaze. He had a bit of an interest in Julia. In fact, he thinks he's falling in love with her. She's such a beautiful, kind girl. How can't he? But what can he offer her? Then Julia took out a white lily out of her dress pocket and put it in Lovino's hair. Lovi quickly took it off to see what it is.

" It's your prize. I bought it from a flower shop, do you like it?" Julia asked. Lovi blushed and said " Well… yeah. I sort of do. Thanks…" Feliciano, by then, had gotten down safely and Julia quickly ran towards him, asking if he's alright. Lovino could only stare at the flower. He smiled, he's glad that he met her. Maybe he is in love. He looked at Julia… who was blushing as she talked to Feli. Feli was smiling.

Lovino's heart was broken the moment after it realised love. It was obvious, Julia is in love with Feli, not him. He tighten his grasp around the flower, does the flower really mean anything? He still kept it though. He realised that even he's in love with her, Julia would not return his feelings.

Soon, the time came for the children to find lovers and start a family. Julia wasn't courted at all because none of the guys were interested in her. They all say she's a witch. Each time when she knew this and cried about it, Feli would do his best to comfort her. He knows a beautiful girl like her would be loved. Lovi had no luck at all, who wants a poor husband? Lovi didn't dare confess to Julia, afraid that she would hate him or reject him. Recently, he had been becoming more violent by the day. His father was harsher to him and Lovi was avoiding home more often. Feliciano on the other hand had argued with his parents about finding a lover. He didn't want one because he wasn't interested. His parent were constantly reprimanding him. He also continously reject girls who confessed to him. It didn't feel… right. He has a feeling somewhere that if he did accept, he would feel like he's betraying someone. For some reason, he would always think of Julia. What is he feeling? He never really questioned about it.

One day, when Lovino came home, his father pushed his head unto the wall. Lovino cried out in pain. Then his father did it again, and again.

" You worthless piece of shit! You're late again!"

'Whack!'

" Where's my dinner? You worthless bastard! You piece of scum!"

'Whack!' Blood trickled down the walls.

" You should have never been born! Your mother wouldn't have died if it want for you you son of a ****"

'Whack!'

" You should just die!"

'Whack!' 'CRASH!'

Lovino, scared to death, held a broken beer bottle in his hand. His forehead was trickling with blood. His father's head was bleeding. Lovino was trembling all over. What did he just do? When his father started to get up, his instincts took over. He quickly grabbed a knife and stepped over his father. Anger and hatred boiled in him as he raised his knife. Kill.

His father had stopped breathing. Blood spread throughout his clothes. His eyes stared into nothing. Lovino pulled out the knife, his face had a wicked smile. He was satisfied… not so after a moment. His face filled with dread. He killed someone. He was scared… but yet relieved. But what would the villagers say about him. What if he himself is killed for killing his father? Lovino waited till nightfall of leave his house and bury his father as well as wash his hands clean. But the water didn't cleanse away his guilt.

That day changed Lovino. After conquering what oppressed him for years gave him new courage, but it doesn't mean its good. He got into more fights, stole food and valuables, injured several, spoke up more insults… he did this all in secret. He was afraid of anyone finding out, especially about his father, especially from Julia and Feli. Feliciano and Julia were worried about Lovi. He had changed somehow. He got more violent. When they were hanging out under the tree again, Feli decided to confront to him about it.

" Hey Lovi, are you okay?" Feliciano asked.

" What?" Lovi spat. Julia suddenly became uncomfortable. Then she decided to speak up " Um… well you seem a little stressed. Is there something wrong."

" Nothing's wrong." Lovi said a little too loudly.

" You're lying." Feli said. " It's okay, you can tell us."

" Shut up *****" Lovi muttered. Feli was upset. Lovi may have thrown insults from time to time but he never actually said such harsh words.

" Lovi, come on, you can tell me."

" I said shut up!" Lovi exclaimed as he got up and pushed Feli away. Feli fell unto the ground. Julia, who had been sitting next to Lovi, quickly got up and exclaimed " Lovi! Calm down! What happened to you?"

" None of your business you ***" Lovi yelled at Julia. Julia felt her heart break. What happened to him? He was never like this. Feli got up and confronted Lovi again. " Lovi, what's wrong? Tell me, I'm your cousin. Please. You're not you."

" Get away!" Lovi exclaimed as he punched Feli in the face. Feli retaliated and punched him back. They fought each other, getting several bruises. How did Lovi turn this way? That was all Feli could think. How didn't he see it? Julia, afraid, took in a deep breath and quickly grabbed Lovi's arm despite being so much weaker. Then she yelled " Lovi! Stop fighting! Please!"

" Go away!" Lovi growled as he slapped her unto the ground. Julia screamed. Lovi awoke from his anger. He looked at Julia.

" Julia!" Feli exclaimed as he went to her. She looks weak, and the way she looked at Lovi was filled with fear. She was in pain. Feli quickly craddled Julia in his arms. Jealousy… Lovi had been channeling it through punches at Feli. And his anger at Julia. In the end, he hurt someone he cares about. Both of them. He lost them. Lovi slowly relaxed his fingers, he could only murmur his apology that Feli and Julia never heard before he ran away. He kept running. He quickly grabbed all his things from his house and started running away from his village. He held a dagger in his hand. On his way out, he bumped into a guard.

" Hey! Where do you think you're- urk!"

Lovi's dagger was deep into the guard's chest. The guard coughed out blood. Lovi didn't want to talk. He could only run. Lovi quickly pulled out the dagger and ran off, behind him people were accusing him of murder. He can't look back, he can't rewind time. The next day, Feliciano and Julia herd the news that Lovi had killed a guard and escaped the village. Julia and Feliciano were shocked and devastated. It took weeks to get back to 'normal', but even then it didn't feel the same without Lovino. Feli thought acted like he's back to normal, he was broken inside. How can his best friend turn out in such a way? What had he missed? Feliciano didn't realise the time passing and Julia's suffering of being alone.

" I'm leaving." Julia said one day. Feliciano was surprised. Leaving? Leaving where. " I'm going to another country to study art with my father. He can't seem to sell any painting here and… we can't support ourselves anymore."

" Leaving…" Feliciano said. It made him sad. First he lost Lovino, now Julia too? It made his heart ache, a sudden emptiness inside of him. The he tried to smile and said " Well, when?"

" Tomorrow." Tomorrow… it was so soon. That made his heart ache even more. Julia… gone. Possibly forever. He hugged her. Julia was slightly surprised but then hugged him back. Then Feliciano said " I'll make this a great day for you. I promise."

The Feliciano let go of Julia despite not wanting too and took her hand. Julia blushed but let him tug her to wherever he is taking her. They walked past the town, where the rumours were.

" I heard the witch is finally leaving town."

" Really? That's a relief! Who knows what curses she could have conjured!"

" I heard the boy next door got cursed by her!"

" She's such a strange girl."

" I don't get what Feli sees in her."

Julia felt embarrassed to go into town. Feliciano noticed it and put an arm around her. Julia blushed but didn't push it away. She felt safe in Feliciano's arms, away from those nay sayers who were now confused. Feli brought her to a beautiful river where they played, draw and talk. Feli tried to make the most of their time with each other. If he was called, he said he has chores to do. They ate berries from the nearby bushes and talked. At the end of the day, Feli brought her back to hill, under the tree, where they watched the sunset. Julia was happy, she cherished the moment. But she needed to do something before leaving.

" Thank you Feli." Julia said, her eyes looking at the beautiful sunset. Her fingers were entwined with his. Feliciano didn't want to let go, nether did Julia. Julia, unexpectedly to her, started to cry. Feli looked at Julia and said " There, there, don't cry." He wiped away her tears despite he himself crying.

" Y-you won't forget about me right?" Julia chocked.

" How can I? You're everything to me. How can I forget everything? I won't forget you." Feliciano said.

Julia smiled, it was a sad smile. Then she kissed Feliciano's cheek. Feliciano was caught off guard. He felt his heart beat fast and his face heat up. He stared into her beautiful blue eyes. He felt it, that feeling, spread throughout his entire body. He didn't want to let go. Julia squeezed his hand and said " I love you Feliciano."

His heart beat even faster, he held unto her. No… don't leave… not now… His breathing quickened. Love? She loves him? Feli tried to clear the confusion in his head. Love. When Julia let go, Feliciano still held unto her tight. Julia just smiled weakly and left, with her slipping right through his fingers. " Good bye Feli."

Then she ran off. Darkness came, the nightfall. The time left they could not spend before Julia leaves. Feliciano let out his tears and cried. Love. He realised it…

He too loves her.

Feliciano didn't sleep that night, his thought could only surround Julia. He wanted to tell her at least, at least before she left. When dawn came, he quickly got out of bed and ran to Julia's house. He hoped to see her again, at least one glance. To tell her he loves her. But when he reached there… Julia's house was empty. She had left. Feliciano clutched his fists, he's going after her.

Feliciano quickly went home, packed the necessities and took some money from his parents before setting out in that early morning. He would go after her, tell her and hopefully… be with her. It was a reckless idea to many but he figured he would know what to do when he got there. There were long cold night, hot dry days, he eventually got robbed once and ran out of money. He was beaten down, lost and desperate, but he didn't give up. He wanted to find Julia, he doesn't want to lose anyone else ever again.

Lovino on the other hand, after running away, had gotten captured by gang of criminals. But after negotiating, Lovino managed to join the gang. He was trained and learnt to have a cold heart. He was injured several times and joined on raid, it was all to survive. What was worse is that he was trained by a girl. A girl who was much tougher than him. She was assigned to him when he joined the gang. Her name is Alessandra. Her shoulder-length messy hair was tied in a loose ponytail and dark eyes that were menacing. She wore men clothes and looked tough. She trained him, hard. She yelled at him, kicked him and told him to work harder. But she was kinder compared to the others. She at least acknowledged him and gave him his share. She also smiled at him once or twice. They would once in awhile have a proper conversation. Lovino survived in that group, he got over his feelings for Julia- what's the use. In fact, he had a small crush on Alessandra. She seems to know but kept quiet about it. She had to act tough after all.

Unfortunately, there is always a beginning and an end. At one raid, their commander was killed along with many and the rest were captured. The rest consisted a few teenagers, this includes Alessandra and Lovino. Lovino elbowed Alessandra, hoping she would find a way out of things. She looked around and gave a look. He couldn't read it. It showed that she ether had a plan… or something evil up her sleeve.

" Please! Let me go! I was forced into this! I'm just an innocent girl!" Alessandra exclaimed.

" Yeah right! Like you killing everyone makes you innocent." The guard who had captured them growled at he pointed his spear at her.

" I was forced to! Please! I can tell you the real leader if you let me go!" Alessandra said.

" Real leader? Huh? Tell me." The guard said.

" It's the boy beside me!" Alessandra exclaimed. " The one with brown hair! Please, he conducted the whole thing. The leader was just a decoy! Let me go before he kills me!"

" What? No!" Lovi exclaimed " That really was the leader! What are you doing Alessandra?"

" Please! Help!" Alessandra pleaded, tears coming out of her eyes.

One of the guards pulled her away while she cried, spears were now pointed at Lovi. Lovi realised she had used him, used him for her, and only her, escape. Anger boiled in him. Lovino struggled and yelled " You *****, You traitor! You ***** ********! What about us! You damn ****!"

" Help! He's trying to kill me!" Alessandra exclaimed. The guards of the town hauled the rest of the criminals away. Lovi struggled. He wanted to kill her. He shouldn't have trusted such a devil. He swear under those tears was an evil smirk. She used him, played with him. His feeling were played. Lovi managed to squirm out of the guards grasp and ran away. Alessandra screamed like an 'innocent' girl. That girl… He would get revenge.

Since that day, he went on his own way of crime. All to survive. All this time, it was to survive until he sees Alessandra again, to kill her for what she's done. Once he stopped by a town full of lively people. Lovi looked like a ragged beggar more than a ruthless criminal. It was then passing through that town, after receiving news Alessandra is in his old town, that he saw Julia. Julia looked up from walking down the street after her sulking locked gazes at Lovino. They were staring at each other. Julia didn't know how to react. Her eyes got teary. Lovino knew he can't have anything to do with her. She's just a part of the past now. He left her there, he had a mission to focus on. He didn't notice how pale she was from working, how she lost her usualy glow, how her illness was slowly biting away in her life.

A week after that event, Feli finally managed to reach that same town. It took him another week to search for her. The school she was suppose to apply for didn't accept her over a month ago since she's a girl and was robbed soon after. Feli received news was received that her father had died out of food poisoning. Julia's mother had died of grief. When Feli finally thought he found Julia… he was told she died from a sickness two weeks before. He was shown her grave.

When he was standing right in front of her grave, Feliciano didn't say anything. He was alone. He got unto his knees and cried. His heart was broken. He never got to tell her he loves her. Feli cried, he wished he would have realised it sooner. Would he had been able to do anything about it? He felt like an idiot. he kept crying over her grave. When Feli left, all that was left on her grave was a drawing of a white lily. He had no choice but to go home.

Back in their home town, Lovino was lurking in the dark alleyway, trying to search for someone he knew. Suddenly, someone tried to attack him with a knife, Lovino attack him with his bare fists, using his weapon against its user, killing him. Another attack and Lovi knocked him out. He had to run. Lovino ran as far as he could to the side of the town. More people were after him. They surrounded him and Lovi fought back. But there were too many of them. Lovino was eventually beaten to the ground. Suddenly, they stopped. The attackers stepped back. Lovino attempted to get up, the voice of the one who gave the order was the one he wanted to kill. He quickly drew his dagger, only to have it snatched from him and have a hand around his neck. He was pushed unto the wall. Lovino struggled, his green eyes met those same dark menacing ones.

" Alessandra!" Lovi yelled.

" Hello Rookie." She growled. " How have you been? Like my gang? What about you? I don't see anyone else. You loser."

" Let go!" Lovi yelled again. Alessandra let go of her playful tone and threw him unto the ground. Then she demanded one of her gang to toss a stick at him. Lovi grabbed it. Alessandra smirked and said " Come on little rookie, lets see what you've got."

Lovino didn't hesistated. He started to attack her despite being beaten several times. Alessandra dodged most of his attacks, as if she's playing with him. As she been all this time. Lovino quickly attempted to stab her with the stick. Eventually, she took it seriously and soon, Lovino was back on the wall again, struggling to get rid of Alessandra's grip.

" Damn you! Damn you ***** ******! I hate you! What was all those times for huh? I thought you had a heart! Damn it!" Lovino yelled.

" A heart? What for?" Alessandra said playfully.

" Damn Bastard… I liked you too. In the end, you are just a devil through and through." Lovi growled.

" Oh? A little crush? I'm touched." Alessandra said, but then narrowed her eyes " It's called acting. Goodbye rookie."

Lovi felt something pierce his body, he coughed out blood. By his own dagger, he was killed by Alessandra. Her face was cold and serious. Then she pulled out the dagger and threw him unto the ground. Lovi gazed into nothing. His last though was cursing life itself. Alessandra dropped the knife and left Lovino's dead body. Lovi's body was spread out, he had been defeated. That glory of killing those who oppressed him was short lived.

Feli did a slow march back to his village. He was tired, heart broken and depressed. He didn't know what to expect when he got home. He could not think about parents and his friends. His thought only surrounded Julia. His heart is full of regret. But then he heard people loud murmurs ahead. Something told him to look. Feliciano quickly ran towards the source of the sound and when he reached there, he stopped. He felt his heart stopped. The villagers were surrounding a dead body surrounded by a pool of blood. The face of the dead body was someone Feli thought he wouldn't see again.

" LOVI!" Feliciano yelled as he ran towards Lovino. Feliciano cradled Lovino in his arms. " Come on, wake up. You can't be dead. Wake up! Look! It's me, Feliciano! Wake up!"

Lovi didn't wake up. No… now he truly lost his best friend. Feliciano cried over Lovino's body, crying out loud. Feliciano buried the body of the criminal in a spot near the giant tree, marked with only a wooden board with the name ' Lovino Vargras, the best friend who died'. Feliciano, not long after the burial, found out his house and the neighbouring ones had caught on fire and burnt his parents as well as his fortune. Feliciano tried to get help from his 'friends' but they all ignored him. Feli was forced to beg on the streets. It was a miserable life. Everything was taken from him in a few weeks. He was beaten down, had to eat what people threw away. When he was laying down on the ground ignoring his hungry belly, he looked at the direction of the great tree, where he met Julia, where Lovino was with them, where Julia and Feli had spent their last moments together, where Lovi was buried. Feli smiled to himself, then he closed his eyes.

I'll see you soon. Lovino. Julia, my love.

" Ve~ Romano! Nice to see you again!" Italy exclaimed as he approached his brother as the human personification of Italy. It was sooner after their independence and were trying to get along.

" Go away bastardo." Romano said.

" Ve? Come on! Let's play big brother!" Italy exclaimed.

" What do you want to play?" Romano asked. He had been bothered about something for sometime. He keeps getting images in his head. It was coming together but it still didn't make sense. First someone who looks familiar, then a girl. Then blood and another girl. More blood. A white lily.

" Ve~ You know you look like someone I knew." Italy said. Romano looked at Italy and said " Of course I am! I am your brother."

" I know! I mean somewhere else…" Italy said. " Like, in another lifetime or something."

" Ha! Another lifetime? You've got to be-" Romano stopped. Another image, it was the boy and the blonde girl this time, but this time he can see the boy clearly.

" Feliciano?" Romano said.

" Ve~ you called me?" Italy said. Romano turned to look at his brother again. Feliciano… he remembered. Julia… Alessandra… it was all coming together.

" Feli! Do you remember me? Your cousin!" Romano said as he grabbed his shoulders. Italy was confused at first then he realised it. Then he muttered " Lovino? You too?" Romano could see Italy was about to cry. Then Italy hugged him. " I thought you were gone forever! I was so sad when I found out Lovi! How did you die? You know how sad I was to see you dead?"

" You saw me?" Romano asked.

" Yeah. I did." Italy said. " So what happened."

" I can't remember everything yet." Romano said as Italy let go. " But if I do, I might tell you."

" So… can we play now?" Italy asked. Romano looked at him and said " Why?!"

" To have fun! Come on Romano!" Italy cheered on.

" No!" Romano yelled " Bastard!"

" But you said yes earlier!"

" I changed my mind!"

Romano was just glad Feliciano Vargras reincarnated as Italy. Yeah… he was damn glad. So was Italy, seeing his cousin and now brother all fine again.

I hope you like this short story! Germany's story would be next! Try listening to 'What Hurts the Most' by Rascal Flatts, it perfectly describes Feliciano's feelings when he found out he was in love with Julia and Julia left. Same for Julia's side. Though, I prefered the nightcore version. :) See you next time!