Germany's POV

ITALY IS HURT. That's a simple thought, I know, and a gross understatement, but that's the only thing I can think about when I get there just a fraction of a second too late. I told her to leave, Japan tried to force her to, but she didn't, like I knew she wouldn't. Italy doesn't run when someone she cares about is in danger.

When she fell to the ground I could see confusion in her eyes, like she didn't know why. I could see it all: the blood staining the stomach of her uniform, pouring out on the floor. Austria dropped her gun immediately, and I turned around, so angry I was shaking. Austria didn't try to run. I could see in her eyes that she was horrified at what she had done.

She had better be.

Hungary doesn't try to stop me this time as I advance towards the uptight nation. That's good, because I honestly don't know what I would have done to him if he had. The frying pan he normally swings drops to the floor. I don't even hear the noise. Austria doesn't have to nerve to run, dodge, tell me to stop, because she deserves this and she knows it too. She shot Italy, who never hurt her, the child she raised herself, the girl who always had good things to say about everyone, she put a bullet into her own little sister just because she knew it would hurt me.

I guess she forgot how badly it would hurt her too. I'm right in front of her now. I see fear in her eyes. I lift my hand and slap her as hard as I can and I want to do more than that but I can't. Her face makes me so disgusted right now I feel like I might throw up but I can't hit her again, I can't become the monster she did just a few short moments ago. I see the same fear I saw in Italy's eyes before she passed out.

No, I don't. Italy's fear, I realise, was for me. I thought she was scared I wouldn't get there in time but that's not it at all. Italy was scared that I would, scared that I would get hurt, scared that I might be the one right now on that floor, bleeding with a bullet in my stomach. If I had got there just a second later I would be. No, Austria's scared for herself, and it's not the same fear at all so I try to hit her again but I still can't because I know if I turn around I'll see that same fear in Hungary's eyes and if I do that to Austria I will be just like her.

Just like Austria is the one thing I will not let myself be anymore. She can have Beethoven, Mozart, anyone she wants, I'm done with her and anything she has to say. I don't even know what we were fighting about anymore, but I know it was not worth this kind of sacrifice.

Nothing is worth this type of sacrifice.

I turn around and pick Italy up bridal style. She moans in pain, but I know that we have to move her to get her somewhere safe. We can't just call an ambulance like humans would, as countries their techniques don't work. We have to wait for the citizens and the land to heal.

I can't wait to hear what sort of havoc was wrecked on the country itself for Italy to be like this.

"Germany…" Japan calls my name, running to catch up and panting. I didn't even realise I was sprinting but now I know I was. I know the peaceful girl is worried because she forgot to tack 'chan' or 'san' or even 'sama' on the end of my name like she normally does. I slow down just a bit, still going fast because I know where we need to go and I don't know if Italy has time to make it there.

One bullet can't kill a country, right?