A/N: Decided to update whenever I can. Extra long chapter for you here. Gosh, I must love you guys! Another A/N at the end, please read!
Germany and Romano scanned the bedroom in detail for the second time, before Romano kicked over an armchair in anger.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Where is he?!"
"Calm down," Germany pleaded, looking at the furious Italian. "He'll be fine!"
"How can you say that, you damn potato bastard?!" Romano yelled. " Wasn't it you who was insisting we 'keep together'? Where the hell is my fratello?!"
"I'm just as worried as you are!" Germany snapped, giving the Italian a cold glare. This stunned Romano into silence, as Germany massaged the bridge of his nose to calm down.
"Look, I didn't meant to snap, but Italy is a very important ally—"
"An ally?!" Romano said, bursting into laughter. "Wow, poor fratello…"
"What do you mean?!" Germany demanded.
"Italy sees you as his closest friend, hell, he regards you more of a brother to him than me," Romano said, a little bitterly. "I'd do anything for him to speak of me like that, yet all you do is consider him an ally… a piece in a war game…"
"N-Nein!" Germany protested. "Nein! He isn't just a piece…"
"Then why do you refer to him like one?!" Romano shouted at the blonde haired German.
A small pause of silence.
"I-I never had any friends before. I was always distancing myself. I'm… not sure how to react to having friends," Germany admitted. "But ja, you're right, I should not call him just my ally… he is a dear friend."
"That's better, bastardo! Now let's go find the idiot before he gets caught in a stupid situation!"
"Ja."
Japan and China exited the living-room their faces red and blotchy from crying. England sat slumped against the wall, head in his hands as America seemed to try and comfort him. Liechtenstein was helping Belarus and Ukraine chop up vegetables and other ingredients for food as Switzerland got busy sorting out the first aid kits brought to him. The former Baltic states sat on armchairs as they discussed possible next steps and ideas on how to escape and survive.
America looked at England, who was in absolute shock at what just happened.
"They're dead, aren't they?" He whispered, his face still buried in his hands. "Oh God, my brothers are dead…"
For the first time in years, America did not know how to respond. Comfort him? Assure him everything would be okay? Crack a joke? None of them were appropriate, and could set out to upset the man more. Instead, he looked at the Brit with concern ablaze in his eyes, slightly concealed by Texas.
"What did they mean by them fighting for you?" America murmured, finally breaking the agonizing silence.
"I don't know," England muttered back. "I'm trying to figure out what they were trying to say to me."
"I don't mean to pry, but did your brothers try and say something as-well before they—" Japan butted in, looking towards the two. He let the sentence dangle off awkwardly, earning a small look of despair from the American as the Brit turned silent again, his head angling toward the floor.
America decided to answer for him. "Yes. Something about the land…"
"Korea tried to tell us something, too," Japan said, nodding. "Do you think we realize it just as we are about to… go…?"
"Maybe?" America said in a doubtful tone. "I don't know, man, but something is going on here."
England stood suddenly. " I've got it! The land! They said something about the land and the nations being tied together!"
"So.. what you're saying is, our fates with the land are entwined? That doesn't make sense! We've been in so many wars with bombs and damage to the land, and we only had minor injuries sustained from it!" America said.
"Yes but our strength comes from the people!" England cried, realization clicking into place. "That's it! The only thing keeping us alive is the la—"
He faltered, his face turning pale.
"England, what's wrong?" America asked, a little worriedly.
The Brit looked worried for a moment, turning away from America. "Haha, everything is fine."
"You don't look so well, England-San," Japan argued subtly.
"I'm fine, alright?" England said abruptly. "I need to go freshen up."
As England strode off to the bathroom, America went up to follow, but he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see China.
"He needs time alone, aru," Chine spoke softly.
"Alright, but if he isn't back soon I'm going after him!"
"Fair enough, America-Kun," Japan replied quietly as the two Asian nations walked over to assist Switzerland with the sorting of medical equipment.
"Hurry back, England," America muttered under his breath.
"Ugh, this is getting boring," Prussia whined, lagging behind his two comrades who were ignoring their own fatigue of running and walking; their concern driving them on.
"I hope it stays that way," Spain shot back at the bored Prussian. "Exciting for you is fights and chases. We could avoid that for the moment."
"Ja, ja, I suppose. I just wish we could find Italy soon and then we could all go to the conference room."
"We all do, mon ami," France said sadly. "We all do."
They decided to go back to the conference room to grab something to eat to regain their strength and stamina. They reached the first floor, strolling towards the doors before they heard a strangled cry.
They paused, the three glancing at each-other in fear.
"Who is it?" Prussia asked loudly.
"B-Bloody Gits…" Came the voice which the three instantly recognized.
They rushed to the source, towards the bathroom, which was locked. Spain warned his two friends to stand back, and then shouted a caution to the man inside before he kicked at the locked door, splintering it into two. France rushed towards it, ripping away the remains of the door to reveal the Brit, who had blood trickling from the side of his mouth.
"Angleterre!" France cried, rushing forward. He looked at the Brit, his features crossing over in horror and concern. "We'll get you to the conference room, mon ami!"
"Stupid… frog…" England managed. "Why'd you have to… come?"
"What do you mean?" Prussia demanded as the Englishman was lifted onto France's shoulders. "What happened?"
"They got London… and most of my counties…" England coughed, the blood from his mouth becoming rapidly more present.
"Don't talk for now," Spain ordered the Brit as he opened the conference doors with a bang.
The whole room looked around in shock or fear, some having drawn their weapons from the sudden movement.
"Coming through!" France yelled, carrying England on his shoulders, before placing him down on a cleared table.
America shot up, eyes full of fear.
"England!" He half shouted, rushing towards him. "What the hell?! You said you were just going to freshen up!"
"L-Listen here, America," England said quietly, his voice choking on the blood that escaped his mouth. "You make sure your boss protects your land, okay?"
"England what are y-.."
"Promise me!" England insisted, his eyes locking onto the American's.
"I promise! But why? What's wrong, what's happened?"
"I figured it out also," Japan said sadly. "I know what was going to happen to England-kun."
"Thank God not everyone is stupid," England commented sarcastically, before he gave a grimace of pain. "America, our land is our life, and our life is our land. For one to live, the other must also. They… they got to London, America."
"Why are you saying this?! You're fine! It's just your capital! You have loads more land!"
"But the capital is like a person's heart, America," England quietly spoke, grasping America's hand tightly. "Without the heart, you can't live."
And then, England's eyes went out like lightbulbs, and his grip on America slackened.
The bright green eyes, which were so full of life and personality had dulled to dark green, and then to nothingness.
America was staring into nothing now. There was nothing there he cared about.
The whole room watched as the American fell to his knees, giving a pained shout of anger and agony.
"Did you hear something?" Germany suddenly said, making Romano jump and turn to face the German.
"No, you're probably hearing things, damn potato bastard!"
"Ja, you're probably right."
"Where is that idiota?!" Romano burst out yet again, this being the fourth time his emotions had taken control of his actions.
They suddenly heard a small gasp and they turned, seeing a young girl of around eight years old across the hallway. When she saw them turn, her eyes grew wider in fear and she began to dash away.
"Nein! Wait!" Germany called after her, starting to run.
"It could be a trap!" Romano shouted in panic, following the German anyway. "Hey, potato bastard! Wait!"
Germany could see the young girl's fear as she sprinted, the horror of the event sketching into her features.
"Nein! Wait up! We won't hurt you!" Germany yelled after her, watching her disappear into the basement.
He decided to follow, gripping his shotgun in-case it was, indeed, a trap.
"Hey, wait up, bastardo!" Romano whined, catching up to him. He clutched his pistol tightly, before peering into the darkness which held the basement below. "Err, you first. It's your house, after all."
The Germany sighed, making his way down the steps before switching on the light. He suddenly lifted his gun, turning it around and finding a male figure. He aimed it square on between the man's eyes, he reflexes taking the better of him. He suddenly gasped as he saw who it was.
"Italy?!"
"Germany!" The Italian cried, rushing up with a wince and running to the German before hugging him. The wince, Germany noted, came when the Italian had stood up.
The Italian's brother rushed down the stairs hearing his brother's voice.
"Fratello!" Romano yelled, giving a small cry as Italy threw himself at him and hugged him tightly. Romano dropped his pistol and hugged his brother back firmly, before pushing him away and giving him a look of annoyance.
"You stupid bastardo! Merda! What the hell did you do, you stupid idiot?!" Romano yelled, watching tears fill up In his brother's eyes.
"I'm sorry fratello! I'm so sorry! When the door blew up a piece of glass got stuck in my ankle. Then a person came and tried to hit me, so I stumbled away quickly! I tried to come back after the man disappeared but I couldn't because it hurt too much! I found this basement and hid in it! I was very hungry after a while, and couldn't move, but then Rosa helped me out!"
"Who's Rosa?" Germany inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, si!" Italy cried. "It's okay Rosa! They're friends, see?"
A young girl popped her head from around a huge canvas, looking around warily. She finally stepped out slowly, keeping her eyes fixed on the gun Germany still held tightly.
"Rosa, meet Germany and my fratello, Romano!"
The girl gave a shy nod, blushing. Germany blinked, seeing the girl looking frightened at the sight of his weapon. He lowered it slowly, before dropping it to the ground in a clatter. The girl jumped slightly, before blinking innocently and staring at the blonde haired man.
She gave a bright smile, "Hello, mister Germany!"
"Er, hello," Germany replied, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"What are you doing here?" Romano asked bluntly. "You're a human. Why aren't you trying to kill us?"
The girl shrank back, holding her arms above her head as if to protect herself. Italy shook his head quickly, looking at his two friends.
"No, no! She's good! She's still nice to the nations!" Italy assured them. He pointed at the blue band the girl wore around her wrist. It had the sign of the United Nations on it.
"She told me that there are still humans who are not mean and evil!" Italy explained further. "They hold the sign of the United Nations, and found out that the land and people are connected in a way. So they're defending the lands of their own from being attacked so we can live!"
"And how did this girl get here?" Romano asked, doubt evident in his voice.
"Fr-From the passageway," the girl said shyly, peeking from behind her arms. "There's a passage way from outside into this cellar. They sent me here to warn you about attackers, because only I could squeeze through. But I was too late!"
"Veneziano," Romano said, looking at his little brother. "Can we seriously trust this girl?"
"Si! If she was bad, she could have just killed me or brought bad men here while I was injured! Instead, she brought me food and bandages! Ah-!"
Italy's whelp came from when Germany lifted him, carrying him over the shoulder.
"You're injured; I'll carry you back to the conference room," Germany muttered.
"Should the girl come?" Romano asked, glancing at the scared child in front of him.
"Si! Ofcourse! Rose can explain things better herself." Italy trilled.
"Alright," Germany said. He glanced at the gun and then at the girl. "Uhm, if you wouldn't mind, could you carry my shotgun, please?"
The girl blinked, before nodding and picking up the shotgun. She gave it a look of hatred before putting it over her shoulder, like a soldier.
"We better not run into any trouble on the way back," Romano muttered as they made their way up the stairs.
A/N: I apologize if it has suddenly got faster paced. But believe me, the main part of the plot hasn't started yet, and so if I carried on as I was going to (Italy being found after a few more chapters), then it would drag on too long.
However, if you're reading this after it has had a few more chapters, and you still believe it is too fast paced, I, once more, apologize.
Anyways... Thank-you for reading! More Reviews and Follows means I'll update quicker and even make longer chapters!