27 Days

Chapter 2

(Includes some GerIta)

One person.

One person was what it would've taken.

One person to hug him, hold him close, and help him get through the night.

Unfortunately, it was all too late for that now.

"911, what is your emergency?"

"H-hi, um I-I think I just heard a gunshot in the apartment next door."

ooo

Just like any other person when something important occurs, oh how badly did Feliciano wish he could back in time. It was painful to know that his brother had taken his life, especially due to the fact that Lovino was all the family he had. If only he'd known that his brother had been feeling depressed lately. If only he'd known that he'd been having dark and suicidal thoughts. If only he'd been aware that the other was at the breach of giving up. If only…If only he'd been home that night. If only.

However, there was nothing he could do to change the events that had happened, no matter how badly he prayed for it.

At the time that his brother was deciding and fulfilling his death, Feliciano had been over at the apartment of Ludwig. Now, while everyone knew that they were together, there was one person who didn't. That was Lovino. (Though he suspected) Feliciano hadn't told him due to the fact that he didn't seem to like his boyfriend very much. So, whenever he did go over, he just told his brother he was going to his 'friend', Ludwig's house. There was where he resided at the moment, in the strong arms of the man he loved so dearly. They cuddled on the couch, whispering 'I love you's and sweet nothings to each other as they (barely) watched a movie playing on the television screen in front of them. Most of their attention had been on each other, upon until receiving a call.

It was that call that destroyed him.

The ringing echoing loudly in the living room of the empty house besides the two who were together, Feliciano got out of the other's grip after giving an apology and saying he had to answer, (in case it was his brother), the Italian crawled out of the man's grip and to the other side of the couch, where his phone continued to ring. Picking it up with gentle hands, he answered without checking the number, not being one to do that anyways.

"Hello~?"

"Feliciano Vargas?"

"Si, this is him!"

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr. Vargas, but I have something very important to tell you…Your brother, Lovino Vargas, was found dead in your apartment on the account of suicide…I'm sorry."

At first, Feliciano was silent. But, his blood ran cold and it was as if his heart stopped. His face turned pale, and it was like there was a lump in his throat. "What?"

Ludwig, who was just watching him, suddenly became worried when seeing the beautiful hazel eyes of his partner become filled with hot and sticky tears. After finishing up the phone call, the rest of that night that was planned to be enjoyed with the actions that would bond them together in the bedroom, instead consisted of loud whimpers, heart-breaking sobs, and dozens of desperate tears that trailed down Feliciano's cheeks. The blonde did what he could, comforting and holding his beloved close just like Lovino needed someone to do for him just a few mere hours prior.

ooo

A funeral was held a few days later, with whatever money Feliciano could scavenge. Knowing of his issues with money, Ludwig also helped him with the payments and so did the other friends of the brother who still remained. Those friends and Ludwig came, along with some rare few friends of Lovino (who cared for him deeply, despite him not being so social with other people in school), and so did other friends of Feliciano.

Out of those other friends, came Antonio. Antonio Fernandez Carriedo was a bright, cheerful man who could make anyone's day with just his breathtaking smile. He had beautiful, bright green eyes that shined marvelously in the sunlight and a brown mop of messy hair on his head. He stood about six feet tall, and happened to meet the one brother who was alive in college. They had come to be close friends, but Antonio had never really interacted with the one who was now deceased. Although hearing rumors that he was cold, rude and disrespectful, he always happened to think that Lovino was much more than that, despite not knowing him personally. However, now seeing him in a coffin, there was absolutely no chance of figuring out whether his thoughts were true.

Oh, if only he could go back in time.

Just like Feliciano, the Spaniard wished he could do the same. And for some reason, his will and desire to go back and change things was stronger than that of the brother he was best friend's with. He didn't know why, but he could so desperately feel it. He could sense that if maybe he had been friends with Lovino, he would have been able to do something. But now it was too late for him to do anything at all, wasn't it?

ooo

Since the funeral, Feliciano changed. No longer was he happy, bright, or high spirited. No longer did he eat, properly sleep, or even barely move from Ludwig's bed. Ever since the death of Lovino, he didn't dare go back to their shared apartment. He practically lived with Ludwig. But he did almost absolutely nothing.

The most he'd do was move his arm to drink water from the water bottle at the side of the bed table, but nothing else. He wouldn't talk, wouldn't respond, nothing. He would just sit there, no matter who or what was in front of him or talking to him. Of course, while cries were expected at first, no one expected him to be like this. And Ludwig tried. He tried everything he could to bring back the love of his life, or at least get a simple reaction from him. Nothing worked. The German was beginning to get desperate, unaware of how to get Feliciano to at least say something. It wasn't only him who attempted to do the same as well, however. It was also Antonio, and Kiku, and other friends who came into the apartment to attempt to do something about their silently grieving friend. All they got out of him was nothing. This was horrible, considering that Feliciano needed to eat, he needed proper sleep, he needed to drink more water, he needed to get up, he just needed to go back to his daily routine and not sit there, because if he only sat there, not doing what was needed for him to live…well, he could legitimately die.

And that thought made Ludwig more scared than he had ever been in his whole life.

ooo

More days passed, and more useless attempts were made. However, Antonio wasn't sure what to do at this point. He had tried what he could, which included comforting his friend, attempting to make him move, not even mentioning the death of his brother and instead trying to make conversation of something else to perhaps get it off of his mind. He had tried everything and anything, but so had others. Still, all Feliciano did was starve and dehydrate himself in that bedroom all day, not moving a single inch except for when he moved his arm to take the water bottle on the bedside table to take a quick sip and then set it back down.

Everyone was desperate at this point, and Antonio was feeling most anxious besides Ludwig, as he honestly was left clueless as to what to do about his dear friend.

One day when he woke up, however, he felt somewhat different. The usually cheerful Spaniard was still extremely worried and not so happy, but something about today felt different. The sense that something would happen today was strong in him. And, he was right. Something indeed would happen today.

Instead of going to see Feliciano today, Antonio decided to maybe go out and visit Lovino's grave. While it was a rather upsetting thing to do, he felt obliged to go there today, for some unknown reason. So, that was what he did. Around the later hours of the day, the male grabbed his keys to the car and went out on his way to the graveyard. Picking up flowers on the way (which he remembered that Lovino liked, due to him remembering a conversation from long ago with his brother) he finally made his way to the destination after some silent driving. Parking his car in a spot that was not so far away from the yard, he stepped out quietly with the newly bought flowers in hand. With only him entering the gates of the ground in which people were buried, Antonio silently walked along the path, making his way towards the grave of the one and only Lovino Vargas.

On his way, there were what looked like broken down families and others visiting their loved ones, with tears in their eyes. What a heart-breaking thing it was, really. Though after some slow paced walking, his feet came to a stop to the tomb stone that held the name of the brother who had decided to take his own life. With his hand reaching downward, Antonio gently set the flowers upon the grave, where there lay other flowers from others who had come to visit the tomb of the deceased. "Lo siento, Lovino."

Those were the muttered words that left the pink lips of the Spaniard who stood, looking down at the grave before him. While he knew almost nothing about Lovino, he was apologizing, for the fact that no one was there when someone was needed. For the fact that he thought that taking his life was the best way out. For the fact that deep in his gut, there was that excruciating feeling that he could have done something. If only he had….Feliciano wouldn't be like this right now. He'd be happy, he'd be the same Feliciano as before. God, he'd give up anything to make his dear friend joyous again. However, he had no power to bring back the dead, no matter how much he wanted to. The only thing that Antonio could do was continue to speak to the tomb, hoping that Lovino's spirit was nearby or he was somehow listening.

"I wish I would have known you better…maybe I really could have saved you..."

Of course, there was only silence in reply afterwards. But Antonio continued to speak, regardless. He spoke words full of respect, words full of wishes, and most of all, words full of regret. Although, he did eventually have to leave. It was starting to get somewhat late in the afternoon now, and the sun was beginning to set. Giving a small sigh, Antonio was about to turn to leave when a beautiful butterfly came into view. It was almost completely black, except for the white spots along the rim of its dark colored wings. It caught the attention of Antonio, as he'd never seen a solely almost black butterfly like before. An almost sad smile came to his features, and he raised a hand, holding out a finger as the butterfly came to rest on his pointed finger. The butterfly stayed for a few seconds before flying off, and Antonio watched it fly off into the sky. Though when he looked back towards his finger where the small animal had rested, there was the faint outline of a small cross. The color of pale white (almost gray) was there, which the Spaniard found to be very weird.

Blinking once or twice, the cross was gone and nothing was there. Maybe he had just imagined it….? Left slightly puzzled, he brushed it off and now actually turned to make his way back home. It appeared as if he was wrong, nothing was going to happen today. As usual, he went home after the visit and decided to go to sleep early, since he was extremely tired. Still, nothing. What a disappointment…the male honestly thought that something was going to happen today.

It was, but right now wasn't the time.

Everything occurred when the time was 11:59 p.m. and the person who was resting on the bed was still sleeping, snoring softly every now and then. A black butterfly with white spots along the edge of its wings came into the apartment, which was quite peculiar, considering that neither the door of the building was open at this time nor were the windows of his apartment. Still, the mesmerizing creature continued to make its way into the apartment, and down the hall into the open bedroom of the owner.

Coming to rest on the same finger that it had rested on in the grave yard, it was just seconds after that the male who had been asleep opened his eyes. His green eyes were looking upwards, to what was supposed to be the ceiling. Instead, he was met with what was looked like clouds, or mist. "Huh?"

Sitting up, all he saw around him was mist. Mist, mist, and more mist. It was only that, and nothing else. There was nothing else in view, except for what was a figure completely dressed in a pure black cloak with a hood, and a scythe in hand. No face was seen, as the hood covered it. Only what appeared to be a human hand was seen and that hand was the one holding the scythe. However, that was no matter. Antonio was terrified, not knowing whether this was just a dream or reality. If reality, this person could kill him! Said person moved forward, taking slow steps towards the bed in which the male lay. It only made Antonio more panicked, him not sure whether to try and defend himself or not. There was no need for it, however. This was death, looking forward to making a deal.

"Antonio Fernandez Carriedo?"

"…Si?" He replied uneasily, replying back to what he thought to be the person who spoke with a British accent.

"I am Death, and I have a proposition for you. You wish to bring back the deceased, Lovino Vargas, for his brother, right?"

"Ah…Si…," He answered again with a nod, not sure if this was all a dream or just a big joke. This wasn't seriously Death…right?

"I'll give you twenty seven days. You will go back twenty seven days in time, in which you'll have the opportunity to save his life. However, you must not tell him why you wish to do so, or that you have traveled back in time. If you do otherwise, this bloody deal is done and you must live with how the events have already occurred now."

Slowly blinking once, and then twice, Antonio came to realize that this was serious. Or at least, he hoped it was. It had to be. He didn't want to wake up tomorrow only to realize that this was all a dream. He would do this for Feliciano, he would save the brother's life and then the Italian would be happy again. His face lit up, and he nodded, only to have the other continue speak.

"Also, if you fail, you will live with how the events occurred in that time line. I cannot give you another chance if you fail. Is that clear?"

"Si-I mean yes!"

"Good. So, do we have a deal?"

Death stuck out his other hand which was free of any items, waiting for a hand shake to seal the deal. Antonio was slightly hesitant, but only because he was scared that this was indeed not really happening. It would be such a disappointment in the morning. Although, after a few seconds, he stuck out his hand, about to shake the one of Death before Death itself began to speak once more.

"Oh…but you must know, if you do happen to save his life, there's a price you must pay…"