Disclaimer: Though it is a little late. I DO NOT own Hetalia. All I own is some shirts and DVDs. Also I should add much like in the anime characters have the amazing ability to instantly get from one nation to another despite how impossible it is :)

Darkness within

Chapter 3

Tormented Release

I had never felt this way before in my life. I stumbled into my art room. I picked up my brushes and started painting giving no thought to my process. I had to let these feelings out. Some drank, some gambled, some had wild sex, but I Italy Veneziano painted and sung to release my feelings. I heard a splat noise as the paint hit the canvas. I started to sing shakily at first nothing seemed to make sense. I dropped the paint brush and held my head and sung even louder to the top of my lungs as I fell to my knees. I felt like I was being torn apart from the inside. I needed help. I needed something. I screamed and fell over on my back. My head hurt I could feel the evil me's grip on my mind.

"No, I don't want to do this."

The evil me laughed. "Don't worry it won't hurt."

I cried and screamed. I felt like my soul was torn in two. I remember closing my eyes as the world crumbled around me. What was I to do? Romano was gone, Germany couldn't save me. I was useless. I started to sing again that song I sung in Austria's house. No one was here to save me. I couldn't save myself. I felt like I was losing me. I tumbled into darkness the last words out of my mouth were. "I am Hetalia." That little line from that song I had heard from. Who was that called me that. Oh no. The darkness took me. It was too late I was gone.

I awoke to a knock at my front door. I groggily stand up and stumble to it. I open it and see France. "France?"

"Hello Italy. I thought I'd stop by to see how you were doing." He said as I let him in.

I sat down on the couch and bury my head in my hands. "Fine."

"Where is Romano?"

"Gone."

He raised an eyebrow at me and wondered through the living room like he was looking for something. He spotted my hands. "Italy were you painting?"

"Si." I sighed.

"Can I see it?"

I nodded. He wondered into the art room. I followed timidly.

"Oh my God!" he yelled.

Paint was all over the floor and splattered across the canvas was the same phrase over and over again: Help me, someone please help me. It was written in English and Italian. France backed away from the painting.

"Do you like it?" I asked off handedly. "I worked so hard on it."

France looked down at me. "Italy, I think you need some help." His voice was filled with concern as he reached to me.

I slapped his hand. "Romano was worried too I made him leave. Germany was worried too and he yelled at me. France, why does everyone hate me?"

France laid a hand on me. "Don't worry I'll get you help, Italy."

My face reddened. "I don't want help!"

He jumped his cell was in his hand. "I'm going to call, Germany or Romano someone can help you."

I screamed and swung my fist at him. "I don't need help!"

He backed away. "I'll go then."

(POV change)

France nearly ran out of Italy's villa. He had never seen the boy act like that. He dialed Spain as he walked to his car. "Hey it's me. It's worse than you thought."

Spain sighed in the phone he could hear Romano crying in the background. "How bad is it?"

France chocked back a sob. "Real bad. He was lethargic and crying. He wrote help me all over a canvas." He paused before he finished feeling the weight of the following words. "Spain he attacked me."

There was a pause before Spain asked. "Did he hurt you?"

"No." He said pushing his hair behind his ear. "What… what should we do? I don't want to leave him alone but…"

The man on the other line paused then finally said. "Keep an eye on him. I'm going to call Germany. I'll call you later."

"Okay."

At Spain's house, the Spanish nation hung up his phone. He turned around to find Romano who had left the room as soon as France called. He's poor Roma he knew he was having problems dealing with what was going on with Italy.

"Romano!" he called out. Nothing. "Roma!" he shouted as he moved to the living room.

"Stop shouting, bastard, I'm right here." He heard Romano say. He looked to find the other nation laying on the couch curled into a ball.

He walked in front of him and kneeled down. "That was France."

"Si, I know…" He said not looking at him.

He paused. He wasn't good at telling bad news. He didn't know how to tell him what was going on. "Roma, he…"

Romano finally looked at him. He slowly sat up and rested his head in his hands. "My fratello is still acting weird?"

"Si," he said nodding then he added. "He attacked France."

"What?" He yelled.

He nodded. "Si, I heard from Prussia earlier today. Apparently Italy attacked him last night."

"Si, Germany called and told me about it."

Spain sat beside his friend studying him. He looked like he might breakdown at any minute. Romano was the closest thing to a brother he had he couldn't imagine what he was going through right now. He slowly reached up to him and the younger nation started sobbing loudly. He put his hands on his shoulders. "It's okay, Romano." He pulled him into a hug. "You can cry all you want."

He sobbed louder. "Damn it, Spain. Now you see what you've made me do?" He pushed away from the older nation and rubbed the tears away.

He smiled as he spoke again. "Roma, I'm going to call Germany and."

"No! You will not call that potato bastard! This whole thing is probably his fault anyways!"

"Calm down Roma." He said waving his hands. "Think of it this way what if it was you who was going through this and Germany didn't tell me. How would you feel?"

He grimaced. "Germany pushes Veneziano to hard!" He screamed.

Spain almost jumped at Romano's outburst. He knew the two nations had a shaky relationship but this was unexpected.

Romano looked down at the floor. "He expects too much of him…" He looked up at him. He looked like he might start crying again. "You can call him."

"Are you sure, Roma?"

He shook his head. "He makes my fratello happy. If anyone can save him it's the potato bastard."

Spain smiled and picked up his phone when he saw a text from France saying: Germany and Prussia came over. Sorry I let it slip to Prussia what happened.

He sighed. "Well Roma we don't have to worry about calling Germany now," he said as he put the phone away. "He's already there."

Romano's eyes widened then he relaxed. "Maybe that bastard can help him." He mumbled.

Back at Italy's house, Germany ignored France as he shouted at him and his bruder that Italy wasn't being himself. If he's friend was in danger he had to save him somehow. He went to knock at the door but hesitated.

Prussia leaned over and pounded on the door loudly and no one answered.

"Italy!" he called. "I know you're in there."

Germany sighed and knocked. "Come on Italy, it's me."

But still no answer. Desperate the two knocked down the door to get inside. "Italy!" Germany called.

"Ve, I'm in here Germany." The Italian nation finally answered. Germany followed his voice with his brother following him until they found Italy in his art room.

He was sitting on the floor on his knees. He looked up at them and a strange smile came across his face. "Germany." He said standing up. He was holding his arm and he pointed to the painting behind him. "You like my new painting Germany?" He asked.

The painting was covered in red scribbles repeatedly asking for help. "Italy…" Germany started to say then noticed his arm. There was long scratch marks going down his arm. Each was bleeding some worse than others. He gasped and grabbed his hurt arm.

"What happened?" He asked. His voice was trembling announcing his concern for his friend.

He looked at his arm. "Blood is so pretty isn't it? It's a nice shade of red. It's hard to get with normal red paints…" he rambled.

"Mein Gott." He looked at Prussia and said. "Go get a first aid kit."

"Ja." He said nodding and left the room. He heard his brother grumble something about not knowing where one was.

Germany strengthen the pressure on Italy's arm and made sure that the bleeding slowed down. "What were you thinking?"

"Ve~ I told you I needed the prefect shade of red."

Prussia came back with the first aide kite and was getting bandages out. Germany held out his friend's hurt arm so his brother could bandage it up.

Italy seemed to stare off into space. His eyes were vacant and void of the joy and happiness that Germany was used to seeing. Germany wanted to cry when he looked at that blank and emotionless face that Italy wore now. Italy looked up at him wincing when Prussia applied alcohol to his wounds.

"Don't look so sad, Germany." He reached up to his face. He laid his hand on his cheek and said. "Trust me Germany; you'll like me better this way." He removed his hand from his face. Germany could feel the warm stickiness of the blood on his cheek.

Germany gasped without realizing it. He reached up to his face and froze over the blood now on his face.

Prussia quickly wiped Italy's hand and got another wet cloth for his brother's face. Italy spoke again looking up at his German friend and said. "Red is such a pretty color."

Germany got up and said to his brother. "I'm going to go and clean off the…"

He nodded and said. "Ja, bruder I understand." He looked at the work he had finished with Italy's arm. "There you'll all patched up, Ita."

The Italian stared at his arm then at Prussia. "Prussia… do you think I'm crazy?" Italy's voice sounded weak but more normal than earlier.

"Nein Italy…"

He sighed. "You're lying… why does everyone do that to me?" He held up his arm. "I can't stop it anymore."

"Stop what? What are talking about?"

He looked away almost ashamed. "There's a dark me…" he started when Germany walked back into the room. Italy then focused his eyes on the floor to ashamed to look at his friend. After all he had kept the whole situation a secret from them. "There is an evil me," he started. He put his hand over his heart. "Inside me. He showed up earlier this week at the World Conference. I've been seeing things all week… I saw a vision of Romano dead; I thought Prussia was a demon… that's why I attacked him. Before you guys came I thought if I…" He hesitated before he finished. He shook his head and started again. "If I hurt myself then I could… release him from me."

Germany gasped tears where beginning to form in his eyes when his brother asked. "Italy, where you trying to… kill yourself?"

He stared at his arm then said. "I guess so…" He looked up at the brothers. He saw the pain in Germany's eyes and couldn't look at him. "I don't want to die but I don't want to hurt anyone again. I'm so scared… please help me." He started sobbing loudly again. He reached out to either one of them someone anyone to hold him and tell him it would be okay.

Germany came to the rescue wrapping his arms around the smaller man as he sobbed loudly. He had to fight back his own tears he had to be strong for his friend.

Prussia looked at the two and said to Germany. "West, what are we going to do?"

"I don't know." He said holding his friend tighter to him. What could they do? Italy was obviously suffering from a mental disorder. He felt the pain for his friend surge through him. He wanted to crumple onto the floor and cry as well. "We'll have too… figure something out." He slowly let him go despite his friend's cries. "I'm going to call Japan… he should be involved in this." He began to walk away when Italy grabbed his leg.

"Don't leave me alone please!"

"Italy." He sighed. Prussia laid his hand on Italy's shoulder. "You're not alone I'm here to. Let the Awesome Prussia look after you."

Italy nodded and looked up at Prussia. "Thank you Prussia."

Germany sighed to himself as he stepped out of the house. He had to pause he felt the overwhelming need to cry. Nein. He had to be strong. He got his cell phone out of his pocket despite France's inquires and dialed a number. He had to be strong for Italy. The phone rang a few times before the person on the other end picked up.

"Hello, Germany. Is something wrong? Did you guys find Italy?" asked Japan. No sooner had the nation spoke Germany began to break down. Damn. He thought to himself as he cried he dropped the phone. France ran up to him asking what was wrong. He couldn't think of anything that could save his friend. What were they going to do?

France took the phone and began to talk to Japan. Explaining to him what was happing as he watched Germany nearly fall apart. He saw someone driving to the house. He realized it was Spain. "Japan if it's possible could you come to Italy's house. He's… going through some issues and I think he needs his friends."

"Hai, I'll be there as soon as I can, France-san."

France hung up Germany's cell phone. Germany pulled himself together the best he could when the car slowed down. Out of the car stepped Spain and Romano. No sooner had Romano gotten out of the car he went into the offensive.

"You asshole!" He screamed as he ran up to Germany. He grabbed the front of his shirt and yelled. "This is all your fault! You're the reason Veneziano is going through all this!"

"Romano!" Spain yelled as he ran up to his young friend. "Please don't do this."

"Shut up!"

(POV Italy's)

My arm was still stinging from the cuts. I looked up at Prussia who was looking at me with a look of pity.

"Look at him he pities you. You're so pathetic." The evil me said.

I tried to ignore the voice and was going to speak to Prussia when I heard yelling from outside. I recognized that voice anywhere. It was my fratello and it sounded like he was angry very angry. I shuddered without realizing it.

The front door opened and big brother France stepped in. "Prussia, you have to help. Romano and Germany are fighting and Spain can't stop them."

I tried to stop Prussia from leaving me. I didn't want to be alone the evil me would come back. I chose the best option which was to follow the older nation.

We walked outside. Romano had ahold of Germany and was screaming to the top of lungs. "I hate you! It's your fault! If you hadn't pushed him so hard he wouldn't have broken!"

Oh my God they were fighting about me. I couldn't stand to see this. Prussia tried to separate them. I ran up to the scene. I had to stop them myself.

"Romano stop!" I screamed. I grabbed Germany as if I could protect him. I tried to shake the negative thought and tightened my grip on my friend's arm. I started crying. "It's not his fault. It's mine. Please just leave him alone."

I heard Germany whisper my name. Romano frowned tears were gathering in his eyes and he yelled. "Veneziano you're a jerk!" He tried to wipe away the tears and said. "How could you blame yourself?"

I looked down at the ground. "It is my fault." I whimpered. I looked up at them then continued talking. "If I was stronger I could have stopped this. If I didn't rely on everyone else so much you guys wouldn't have to get involved and… I wouldn't have you hurt you…" I buried my face in Germany's arm. I was a weak and pathetic creature. I didn't deserve these friends, this love nothing. I would be better off if I was dead and gone, then I wouldn't hurt anyone any more.

I felt Germany put an arm around me and I cried louder. I heard Romano say.

"No Veneziano please stop crying." He laid his hand on my shoulder. He weakly said to me. "It's not your fault. Please don't blame yourself."

Then I heard Prussia speak. "All right everyone. It's time to stop being un-awesome! We need to help little Ita, that would be the awesome thing to do. We're his friends and family. He needs us between all of us we can help him beat this!"

I heard the other two nations cheer in agreement. I heard Germany whisper. "Ja," He looked down at me. "Don't worry Italien we'll help you."

I nodded. I knew somehow it was going to be okay. Somehow this evil me would be beaten.

"Wrong you'll never get rid of me."

I felt the darkness taking over again. No! I couldn't let this happen again. I am going to beat the evil me.

"You can't beat me. Remember I am you."

I felt myself began to lose consciousness. No! I felt myself falling and everything felt slow motion. The last thing I heard was Germany screaming my name.

"Italy!"

A/N: And that is the end of chapter 3. This one I completely rewrote because I didn't like how it was originally. I like it a lot better now. Also I realized when looking over the last few chapters is that I forgot to add in Japan. I felt bad about it after all he is Italy's friend too.

Translations

Italian: Si (yes also the same in Spanish) Fratello (brother)

German: Ja (yes) Nein (no) Mein Gott (My God), bruder (brother) Italien (Italy)

Japanese: Hai (yes)