I'm sorry for the slow update...but don't expect them to be much faster than this. Thank you to all those who reviewed, favorited, and alerted! This chapter could be a bit boring...but next chapter will be more interesting. WAAAAY more interesting. Also, my friend got me into Higurashi. IT'S SO MUCH LIKE HETAONI. 0_0 Anyway, that's about it. Enjoy~
"Thank you for helping, Italy," Germany said, his voice lacking its usual gruffness. They had just carried Romano's body out together. "Let's go back." He and Prussia started to leave.
Italy didn't move from his spot. "G-Germany...there's something...something I have to do."
Germany stopped and turned back to the Italian. "...ok. I'll come with you. Prussia, you can go back." Prussia nodded and continued walking.
"N-no...I have to do it...alone."
"But it's dangerous! What if you're attacked by the Thing?"
"I...I'll be fine. I promise."
"Italy, you're not going alone. That's final," Germany said firmly.
"...nevermind. Let's just go back to the room." Italy brushed past him, headed for the safe room.
Germany watched his friend for a moment before following. Just what was going through his head?
Italy realized the others would never let him go alone. He had to get to the clock so he could rewind time, but he knew everyone else wouldn't understand. They would try to stop him. If only there was a way to isolate himself, make it so they couldn't come after him...
His head jerked up. The cell! He could lock them in there! Sure, they would be mad, but it wouldn't matter after he rewound time. They wouldn't remember anything. It was perfect.
When Germany and Italy returned to the safe room, they were met by unbearable grief, pity, and tension that seemed to hang in the air. Everyone was sitting silently on their beds, which were still shoved against the wall.
"S-sorry...we didn't cook anything...no one was hungry," Canada said.
"That's ok." Germany looked around at the saddened faces of his comrades. "So...should we...move the beds back in place?"
They all exchanged glances.
"W-we can't...there...there are only 10 beds, remember? N-not enough..." Italy choked out. He could barely contain a wince at his childish statement.
The others regarded him with sympathy.
"He's...right. Let's leave them where they are," America decided.
"...ok. Well...what are we going to do now?" Germany asked.
"We could explore the basement," Japan suggested.
"That's a good idea. We haven't been down there yet. So we have our plan in place for tomorrow?"
Everyone murmured their quiet agreement.
"Good. We should get some sleep."
Silently, the nations settled into their spots on the floor. Italy was always between Japan and Germany, but he moved away from everyone else that night.
Germany sent him a glance of concern before lying down by Japan and Prussia.
"He's probably just grieving. Give him time," said Japan.
"Yeah. West, he just lost his brother. Imagine if I died. Heck, I might die anyway," Prussia put in.
Germany jackknifed upright and glared at him. "No! We're going to get out of here! All of us!"
The other nations jumped at his sudden outburst, except for Italy, whose back was to everyone else.
"He's right. We're all going to get out," Italy agreed without turning around. "Every last one of us."
No one answered.
"Oh, yes, Romano says hi." With that, he fell silent.
The remaining countries exchanged glances, then slowly drifted off to sleep.
Germany woke up to a noise in the kitchen. Grabbing his gun, he went to investigate, only to find Italy cooking something.
"Italy...? What are you doing up this early?" he asked.
"Making breakfast," Italy answered. "No one ate anything last night. I figured they would be hungry."
Germany said nothing for a moment. Italy was never up before he was. "Oh...well, thanks. I'll go wake the others up." He poked his head around the corner. "Hey...get up. Breakfast is almost ready."
That roused everyone. They got up and crowded around the table, a few of them making attempts at conversation.
Germany turned back to Italy. "Uh...Italy..."
"Yes?"
"You...you've been acting...strange. Even before Romano's death. You seem...well, braver. But more distant. Cold. It's just not...you."
Italy paused. "...I see. It's true that I've changed. But I don't understand; you want me to toughen up, and then when I do, you don't like it?"
"...truthfully, I don't. You're the happy guy who's always smiling. Maybe you aren't the best fighter, maybe you need protection, but you're yourself."
"But I'm sick of being the idiot who always needs someone to defend him. This is for the best."
"...there's something you're not telling us."
"What makes you think that?"
Germany sighed. "Italy, we've been allies for decades. I can read you like a book."
He didn't answer.
"Look, I'm not going to force you to tell me. But don't do anything stupid. Got it?"
Italy swallowed nervously. "R-right. Anyway, breakfast is ready."
Germany shot him a look at the quick change of subjects, but dismissed the matter for the moment. He grabbed dishes for everyone, and Italy carried the mountain of pancakes he had made to the table.
"All right!" America punched a fist in the air, picked up his fork, and dug in.
"Is...is there any maple syrup?" Canada asked hopefully. Italy smiled and handed him a bottle.
France, England, China, Russia, Prussia, Japan, and Germany reluctantly ate a bit, but tension knotted their stomachs. Italy sat quietly, poking his pancake with his fork, but not eating.
"So are we gonna split into groups to explore or what?" America asked between bites.
"Don't talk while you're eating! It's disgusting!" England snapped.
"I'd rather watch that than have to eat your cooking!" France piped up.
"Shut it, wanker! Do you want another 100 Years' War?"
"G-guys...let's stop fighting..." Canada said, knowing exactly where this was going. No one listened.
"Actually, this is quite amusing to watch." Russia smiled.
"Be quiet, commie bastard!" America shouted.
"He's not communist anymore, you know, aru..." China said.
"...I think Canada-san has a point..." Japan said.
"Kesese, let them fight, Japan! This is pretty awesome to watch!" Prussia cut in.
"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" Germany yelled, effectively quieting everyone down.
Italy felt like crying. In the last time loop, they had formed a pact to stop fighting until they got out. They had all stuck to it, not letting past disagreements get in the way of trying to escape. It was pointless to try to do the same thing now; time was going to be rewound yet again and they wouldn't remember it.
"We can split into groups; America, Canada, France, and England, you should explore the western part of the basement. Russia and China, you get the middle. Me, Japan, Prussia, and Germany will look around the eastern part," Italy suggested.
The others stared at him for a moment. They still weren't quite used to this new Italy, but his plan made sense.
"Yeah! Let's do this thing!" America said, wiping a sleeve across his mouth. "And I can lead the group, because I'm the hero!" The three nations on his team rolled their eyes but said nothing. "Come on, guys!" He marched out the door, followed by Canada, France, and England.
"We should head out too, da?" Russia grinned innocently at China, who was mentally cursing out Italy for putting him with Russia. Nonetheless, the pair left for the basement, leaving Italy, Japan, Prussia, and Germany alone.
"Well, let's get going then!" Prussia announced, started towards the door.
"Wait. I have something to say." Italy kept his eyes trained intently on the ground. "No matter...no matter what happens down there...we'll still be friends. Right?"
"Of course we'll be friends, Ita-chan," Japan answered.
"He's right. Friendship lasts through anything," Germany agreed, worried about what Italy meant about 'no matter what happens down there'.
"Kesese, we're gonna be fine! No one would dare mess with my awesomeness!" Prussia said.
"Th-thank you." Italy smiled serenely. Maybe they would be mad about him having to lock them up, but they would still be friends. Not that it would make a difference after a few hours; they wouldn't remember anything in the next time loop.
Italy's question answered, the group headed to the basement.