A few minutes ago...

China was not really sure why he was visiting Japan today, but he told himself that it was because he just wanted to catch up with him.

His subconscious, however, told him that maybe he was hoping that his wish had come true, as silly as it sounded. As if he could somehow feel that his wish had come true.

Anyway, here he was, walking through the path that lead to Japan's house.

Suddenly, he saw Italy walk in what seemed to be the same direction, looking remarkably serious.

One more surprise. He had his eyes open. Both of them. For a long period of time.

It was so surprising to see the usually bouncy and energetic nation look so... calm, that China just blurted out, "Italy?"

The Italian stopped dead, looking rather startled and stared at China with eyes that seemed strangely familiar... before he suddenly smiled. Although... this smile seemed more forced than anything.

He would know. One did not grow so old without learning a few things.

"Italy, what are you doing here, aru?"

"Ah... I just wanted to visit Japan~!" came the cheerful reply.

"You too?" China internally sighed. He had hoped to have some bonding time alone with Japan.

Italy seemed to freeze at his words. "Um... you want to visit him?"

This peaked China's curiosity. "Yes. Why, aru?"

"Well... I'm not quite sure if he would like anyone else besides me to visit him at the moment..."

If China had been paying more attention, he would've noticed that Italy had a different speaking pattern, but he had only focused on the 'besides me to visit him' part.

"Why? Can I not visit my own little brother?" China huffed, rather annoyed.

Italy visibly tensed and seemed rather uncomfortable at 'little brother', although China didn't pay much attention to it at the time.

"Is he sick?" China prodded, wondering what had happened that only Italy was allowed to visit Japan.

"Ah, no..."

"Then what, aru?"

Italy bit his lip. "He didn't really tell me..."

"Then I'm sure that nothing's wrong if I visit him too." China reassured the auburn haired nation.

"But he said no one else was allowed to come but me..."

China was starting to get worried. What had happened to his brother?

China thought it over for a second. "Then maybe I can help him, aru. If it's anything serious, I have lots of herbal medicines."

"N-no! Please, he doesn't want to trouble anyone..."

China raised an eyebrow. Why was Italy being so adamant in not letting him come to Japan's house?

"It's not troubling at all. I'm his brother, it's what I do!"

Italy frowned slightly, which looked rather out of place on his usually happy face. "You really care for me- him that much then...?"

The Chinese man looked at him like it was the stupidest question he could ever ask. However, he hadn't noticed the slight slip of the tongue. "No duh, aru."

And then the Asian nation continued walking to Japan's house.

Italy widened his eyes - China still had to get used to the fact that they were even open - and caught up to him.

"I suppose I can't stop you then..." he heard Italy say under his breath, and China tried to hide a grin from his face.

Although, it was rather odd how Italy was acting rather different... On their way to Japan's house, he was still smiling, but it seemed less happy and more forced.

They got to Japan's door, and China rang the doorbell.

Italy seemed to look rather nervous, although he did his best to cover it up.

China couldn't understand why Italy was acting so strange, but he shrugged it off and waited for Japan.

The door suddenly opened and there stood Japan. China gaped at him, and Italy's head suddenly started to hurt so he massaged it.

There stood Japan, smiling, widely. With his eyes closed.

"Japan, aru?" asked China weakly, when he had recovered from shock.

Japan seemed to get startled by this, because suddenly his eyes opened and he had a surprised look on his face.

"China...?"

Things were not going so well.

Japan massaged his forehead, as Italy looked confused, and China just stared.

"I- I mean... China-san... what are you doing here?" Italy asked, trying his best to keep his voice calm.

"... Are you okay, Japan?" asked China, still a bit shocked.

"H-hai... I was... um... just not expecting you to come with Japa- I mean, Italy-kun!"

Japan winced. His acting was a bit off... Then again, he wasn't the best actor himself, was he?

China blinked. "Oh... okay... Anyway, can we come in now?"

"Ah- sure! Come in." Italy tried to look as calm and as serious as Japan usually did. He wasn't doing very well at it though.

China stepped inside, followed by Japan. He hadn't been counting on the older nation visiting him. How was he and Italy going to talk?

However, their earlier conversation left Japan rather confused. China still considered himself his brother? Even with all that had happened...

He shook away the thoughts. There was no time for that now.

"So Japan, what's wrong? Why can't I visit you?" asked China, inspecting who he thought was Japan.

"Er- well... I um, don't have a lot of food so I can't cook for lots of people." Italy said, thinking it sounded about right.

China looked skeptical. "Really? That's the only reason?"

"... Yes?" Italy answered, although it sounded more like a question.

China was still frowning a bit. "Alright. You should really take better care of yourself though, aru." he scolded slightly.

"Sure~!" Italy chirped, not acting like Japan at all and China sent him another weird look.

"China-san, can me and Japan talk alone for a while~?!" Japan said, trying to sound lively.

"China-san?" repeated the Chinese man, surprised that Italy would use a Japanese honorific.

Japan realized his slip, and corrected himself, "Oh, I just hear Japan say it a lot!"

"Oh. Well what will you talk about?"

"Um..."

"Pasta!" Italy blurted out.

"Really?" China rose an eyebrow at Italy.

"Yeah! We're exchanging secret recipes! But they're a secret so you shouldn't hear them!" Japan improvised, running a bit out of breath from all the shouting.

"Er- okay then aru." China said unsurely, so Japan more or less lead Italy to his room so they could talk privately.