Chapter 3
A/N
Hey y'all! Here with the next chapter. I hope you're all enjoying, and thank you to those who reviewed! I received a review last chapter complaining about my method of responding to reviews, so I will continue responding in the A/N but will cease copy and pasting them. To the person who left that, I suggest you read your response, for I discuss my reasons for my method in it. Love you guys and hope you like this chapter!
The Queen: Awww you're so sweet! Thank you! The dream scene was started in the original story, but I took it from there and ran with it.
Guest: "Could be seen as interactive?" Seems almost like you're trying to see it that way, though I suppose I could be wrong. Thank you for the warning, but honestly I'm not too alarmed. I've seen things a lot more 'interactive' than this, such as SYOT stories, and simply responding to reviews is not such. Besides that point, I've seen several completed stories that did the same thing with no problems over this whatsoever. If you find it annoying, you can simply skip past! It doesn't take that long and is not that hard in in my opinion. If more people complain, sure, I'll take it into account, but I've done this before and it didn't bug anyone. I personally enjoy this method of responding to reviews when I see it, as it includes Guests such as yourself and users alike. PMs work, but then that's also an email clogging up and not all people check them. If someone wants to talk to me personally over PM I say go ahead, but this is my preferred method. Go ahead and stop reading my story if you want to.
I will remember your warning if my story does get reported, which I highly doubt. Cheers and thanks for your possible good intentions.
BeautifulOblivion: Oh no! I'm sorry about your account problem! Good luck and I'm so happy you're enjoying this! Happy to continue for you. ;)
Elsiepie: Oh I remember you from my other stories! I… I'm so sorry I haven't updated. So, so sorry. *is guilty* I'm getting more into ROTG again though so I might start writing that again… anyway, thank you for being such a loyal follower! You're amazing. I'm sorry you don't know this fandom but I'm glad you still like it! Thank you so so much.
Belladonna: You're awesome for reviewing! :D
APH-Hetalia: Oh really? That is quite a coincidence! Sounds like a good story- I might check it out sometime. And thank you! That you will. I appreciate you checking it out!
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE. On to the story!
xXx
When Italy began to stir, it took a moment for anyone to notice.
England's attempts at cooking had, thankfully for all of the nations in the safe room, been foiled by America and the nation was now sitting grumpily at the 'meeting table', America standing nearby, casting the occasional wary look at England as if at any moment he might make a break for the kitchen.
Prussia had emerged from the washroom area a while ago and was cracking jokes to an annoyed Germany, trying to distract him and lure him away from Italy's bedside.
Finally, Canada, having been mostly forgotten (again) was slathering a set of warmed up waffles he'd found in the fridge with plenty of maple syrup.
Surprisingly, Prussia was the first to notice that something had changed.
Looking over an exasperated Germany's shoulder, he frowned, red eyes thoughtful.
"Hey, West?"
Germany, noticing Prussia's change in tone, squinted his eyes at his brother.
"Ja?"
"I think I saw Feli move," Prussia responded, using the nation's recently given human name.
"What?" Germany exclaimed, turning around to see that what Prussia had said was the truth.
"Italy?"
The prone nation groaned.
"Arthur, Alfred, Matthew," Germany began, in a slightly quieter tone than he normally used. "Italy-" he stopped himself. "Feliciano is waking up."
Germany started a bit when Canada appeared at his side as if from nowhere. The nation that had almost seemed transparent at times was starting to get a more visible with his adeptness at solving the puzzles they'd been faced with, but still blended into the background at times.
Now that Germany was focusing on the maple syrup loving nation, it was easier to keep track of him.
He silently drifted over to his brother and stood beside him. America cast him a smile- he always had been the best at noticing Canada- and glanced over at England, who was walking forward with determination etched into his features.
America blinked at him. "How are you doing that dude? I thought you were blind!"
England cast him an exasperated look. "Don't be daft. You do realize this is a familiar space by this point?"
America's mouth opened, a bit fishlike, and Canada cast him an amused look.
"I'm not… daft…?" America almost sounded like he was asking, not telling.
A pause, then a teasing grin spread across England's face.
"You don't know what daft means, do you? Well that just proves my point."
America made a 'hmmphing' sound. "Of course I do!" he blustered. "It means… uh…"
England opened his mouth, probably about to spout another retort containing either the word 'daft', 'bloody', or 'wanker', when Prussia interrupted their good- natured banter with a shout.
"Guys. Have your little lovers' spat later." he rolled his blood red eyes, and left the two, especially England, sputtering and blustering angrily while Canada chuckled beside them, violet eyes mirthful.
The forever- loud group was finally silenced when Italy's honey eyes opened, and Germany supposed he should be grateful France wasn't here. The argument would have never ended with England, America, and him in the same space.
"Italy?" just about everyone in the room said at once.
He blinked and shifted, looking around a bit warily.
Germany could see why- after all, they were in a demon- infested mansion.
"Hey, calm down, dude," America called, "You're in the safe room."
Italy seemed disoriented. He sat up, and as his eyes met Germany's, a flicker of…( recognition? Surprise? Germany couldn't tell.) entered his eyes, and a strange, strangled gasp left his lips.
"Hol-" he stopped himself, and Germany couldn't help but wonder what he'd been about to say. That strange look was still in his eyes, and he looked quickly away from Germany.
"You feeling alright?" Prussia questioned. "You were out for a while. We thought you were dead!" he cast a mischievous look at Germany.
"West was pretty worried."
Germany felt himself flush a pale pink. "I wasn't… I mean…" he growled at himself inwardly and collected himself.
"What happened?"
"Yeah!" America agreed. "We just found you collapsed… not a wound on you!"
"Well, I was looking around and then this monster entered the room-" he paused and looked around, as if just realizing their missing numbers.
"Where's Kiku? And Francis? And Yao and Ivan?"
Germany noted the use of their human names- he wondered if he liked to use them as a reminder of the progress they'd made in this loop, a hope that it wouldn't end in failure like all of the ones before.
"They went up to the annex." Canada contributed quietly. "Russia wanted to check something out, and China went with him. Then when we… when we found out you were alive, France and Japan went to get them."
Italy's eyes widened in a fear instilled over the many times he'd watched his friends die due to what he viewed as his 'mistakes'.
"They went alone? To the annex? We have to stay together… we have to go after them!"
Italy looked terrified, and he started to get up without any ado.
"Woah!" America cried. "I'm sure it's fine! After all, England killed the monster, right? It should be safe."
England seemed to be pondering carefully.
"That wasn't the only one, was it? You mentioned a monster came in when you were looking around…"
Italy shook his head. "It wasn't." he said in a small voice, trembling. "I don't want to make a mistake again…"
"You haven't." Germany finally spoke up. He was still unsettled by the way Italy refused to meet his eyes, but he wasn't about to let him be forced to go through all of this again.
He looked around the room, and everyone seemed to be in agreement. "Let's go to the annex."
xXx
A/N
… I'm nervous about this chapter. I don't know how to have a good balance between heartless and too touchy- feely… I hope you guys approve lol. And omg so many characters to juggle 0.0. I'll do Italy POV next chapter… yeah. I think that's all I wanted to say… Review please? Tell me if you think I did okay. And I swear I didn't forget about Italy not knowing about England's whole magic problem! I'll add that next chapter.
And… looking at this chapter… *sighs* I think USUK might happen… I swear these characters have minds of their own.
