"What happened?" Japan's calm voice made its way to Italy's ears.
"I'm not entirely sure," Germany said with a puzzled look on his stern face, "He just suddenly went blank and collapsed while he was training. His eyes were slightly open and he was spasming all over. I was afraid he was suffering a heart attack."
Italy opened his eyes ever so slightly, groaning as a wave of fatigue overwhelmed his body. He wanted to speak, but the words would not travel up his throat, let alone out of his mouth. His larynx simply trembled as he choked his breath in and out of him. Italy's vision was blurring with his heartbeat again, and the room seemed to spin around him. He was freezing, although drenched with sweat, and his chest and belly heaved in and out with every convulsive breath.
Japan leaned down to him, pressing two fingers to his neck. "His pulse is panicked, but shows no sign of a cardiac problem."
"Then what could have happened?" Germany asked, "I would suggest a seizure, but he just seems more panicked than anything."
Japan thought. Then he looked down at Italy. "Italy, can you hear me?"
Italy tried his best to speak. But his vocal cords did not seem to synchronize with his breath. A small, terrified squeak came from his throat, but he could not manage to turn it into a word.
"Just nod if you can hear me, then," Japan said.
Veneziano tried to focus his vision, but only succeded in hurting his head even more than it already did. He managed to nod weakly.
"He is concious, at least," Japan said, looking to Germany hopefully.
Germany grunted, looking at the trembling boy before him. "Italy, did you take your medication?"
Italy blushed slightly; it wasn't a topic he normally enjoyed talking about. But he nodded.
"Huh," Japan said, "Well, at least that's not it... When he doesn't take his medication he hallucinates..."
Italy opened his eyes fully. "I... Was hallucinating..." he managed to choke out. Germany looked surprised.
"Italy, what the hell happened?" Germany asked.
Italy stuttered, his larynx riveting as he tried to speak. "I was running... Everything was spinning... T-the face... Its eyes..."
The two other Axis members looked, confused, at each other. Then, Germany looked down at Italy. "What face?"
Italy shuddered. He didn't want to remember the face he saw... Nor could he at all. All he could do was lie there in Germany's arms, trembling violently, whimpering quietly.
Germany brought Italy into his living room, lying him down on a couch. "Japan," he said, "Go get him a blanket and some water."
"Hai," Japan nodded, and went to do so.
Germany kneeled down to Veneziano's side. "Italy, calm down. Everything is alright."
Italy pulled his arms in, breathing into his hands to warm them. "Everyone... Was dead..."
"We're alive," Germany said, "None of it was real. Everyone is fine."
"I was... The last one... F-fire... Blood..."
"It's not real, Italy," Germany reassured him. "None of it is."
At that moment, Japan came back into the living room, holding a glass of chilled water and a blanket. Germany took the blanket from him, draping it over Italy. Japan then lowered the glass to Veneziano.
The frantic boy took the glass, gulping down mouthfuls of water. Italy may have been weak, but boy, was he thirsty. His body seemed to have been completely robbed of hydration from his intense sweating. He felt his stomach become cool as the water rushed into him faster than his throat could take. Seconds later, he held out the empty glass to Japan.
"You must have been thirsty..." Japan said, staring in surprise at the empty glass in his hand. Italy wiped his mouth, and then tucked himself under the blanket.
Germany thought. "Would it be possible that you could have suffered heat stroke?"
Italy didn't recall that day to be very hot. It was mid-spring, still considerably cool. But anything could have happened, really. "I don't know..." he said unsurely.
"That could have been it," Japan said.
Germany nodded. "Just rest up for today, Italy," he said. "Be sure to drink a lot of water."
Italy nodded. His body was beginning to calm down, although he was still jittery. His heartbeat began to slow, and his vision finally settled as he tried to relax. None of it was real. It couldn't be. He closed his eyes and tried to be calm.
"I'm going to do some work," Germany said, standing up. "Japan, keep a periodical eye on him. We don't want him siezing up again."
"Hai," Japan said with a nod. "I will watch over him."
"Danke," Germany said, and left the room, heading toward his office.
Japan looked down at Veneziano. He wondered exactly what had happened to the poor young man before him. It certainly was strange. This had happened without any warning, and seemingly without any reason. He knew Italy to be rather dramatic and pathetic, but he had never gone and done something like this before. Japan shook his head, not wanting to put too much thought into it. Knowing Italy, this couldn't have been anything too threatening. He turned and went back to what he had previously been doing.