Chapter 6

Warnergirls here! Sorry that this is so late again! I know I tried to post more often than this but several things have happened to me at once and it seems that this story has taken a back seat to what's going on in my life! no worries to those that are still reading it! I'm not giving up on it! It just might take me longer to finish it! I've only just gotten the strength to start writing again and hopefully I can find the drive to write more and post more hopefully! I hope you like this chapter and look foreword to more in the future!

Now in reality, running from a spirit probably wasn't the best idea the nations had at the moment. Considering the position they were in currently. Which was rather dire.

"Dude, could you not stab me in the stomach with your elbow?" A slightly irritated American voice muttered.

"Kol kol kol...What makes you think that is my elbow?" A amused Russian voice answered.

...

"I do not want to know." The Chinese elder muttered before shifting slightly, causing a small gasp from the other occupant of the very cramp closet.

"I do not even want to remember how we all got stuck in this closet together.." Germany muttered.

"Oh I do!" America chimed. " See it was when we-"

"America, shut up!" All the nations said at once.

"Fine..." Alfred sulked, shuffling his feet a little, which caused a pained gasp nearby. "Oh! Sorry Japan!"

"It's...fine Alfred-san." He smiled at the other, despite the darkness that surrounded them, it wasn't that dark in the small walk in closet they were all currently crammed into. Running from a ghost was rather hard, since the thing could go through walls and basically appear in front of them whenever they ran into a room.

It reminded America of the movies his country made, the ghosts there looking very identical to the ones he had seen in Ghostbusters! The original of course.

"So...do you think that they are gone now?" America asked, curious and wanting to press his ear against the door. But when he moved once more a few pained groans erupted from the others.

"Verdammt noch mal ! Sie bewegen Sie nicht ungeduldig Amerikaner!" Germany growled, reaching and grabbing Alfred's neckline to stop him. Romano was cursing a rainbow as well. While Russia was just emitting a aura that Japan and China seriously wanted to just run away from.

Italy was whimpering a little, squished between the German and American as the small closet erupted into the natural chaos so familiar with the nations. They were so distracted they didn't hear the heavy footsteps inching closer and closer to their not so hiding spot.

It wasn't until the door slammed open and a rather scary suit of armor stood before them, casting a shadow over the stunned nations that their arguments ended abruptly.

Looking at the intruder slack jawed, a pin could drop as each nation took a moment to process what the heck was going on.

Germany narrowed his eyes and sighed. "It looks like we don't have a choice. We have to fight." At this, he pulled free his whip from his belt and grabbed the handle with one hand before using his other to slide along the other end, grabbing it and standing up straight.

China sighed, grabbing his wok and standing next to the German. "Seriously, this is getting exhausting all this fighting. Can't you all do anything right?"

"Kol kol kol.." Russia smiled a little sadistic smile as he gripped his pipe tightly, pointing it at the armor before them. "Do not blame me for Amerika's incompetence."

"Hey!" Alfred huffed, puffing his face but the Russian ignored him. "Little frightened one." He said, eyeing Italy and his brother.

"Yes?!" The Italian squeaked, terrified of what was going on.

"You take incompetent American and continue on, da?" Ivan stated, piercing purple eyes seeing behind the suit of armor to see many more following in its stead. "This might take a little while~"

Italy blinked and realized what the others were doing. They were letting the others get away while they took on the monsters that were fast approaching.

"Veh~ But-" Italy started, a little worried about them when Germany turned slightly to him.

"GO-" He ordered the Italians and American who frowned and looked at them. He never felt so helpless as he did now. The others were willing to take on the monsters before them and instead he kept being protected like some damn Princess!

"No!" America stood before them all, fed up with being protected. "I won't back down!"

But he felt a small touch on his arm and once his eyes connected with the deep black of Kiku's his anger and resolve vanished. He could see it, Kiku was begging him not to be reckless.

"America-san...please...Let them handle this." He said, worried about him. Forming his hand into fists, he didn't see the sword aimed for him until Russia blocked it with his pipe, knocking Alfred back into Italy and Romano's arms.

"Now! Take that stupid American away!" China griped. "Kiku, protect them!"

"Hai Oni-san." With a small smile and bow and a rather reluctant Alfred, they managed to run down the opposite end of the hallway as the others distracted the ever growing army of soldiers in armor.

"Isn't this familiar?~" Ivan teased, slamming his pipe into one soulless suit of armor and smashing it into pieces.

"Why do I always end up fighting with you?" China sighed.

"Just lucky I guess~" The silver haired man smiled.

Germany chose to ignore them and just started to go insane with his whip. He hoped that Italy would be okay though. He couldn't help but be worried since they were all in this rather..odd world.

Meanwhile the group with America ran down the hallway at break neck speed, looking around and hoping that no more random enemies appeared.

Of course they couldn't be that lucky…..

Once they turned a corner of the hallway, all four skid to a stop, before them stood more enemies, only these were in the form of two mean looking men completely made of ice. America's jaw dropped a bit at this and wondered how the heck this was even possible. Japan narrowed his eyes and pulled his blade from its sheath and sighed. "Get behind me, all of you." He said seriously. "This is going to get….messy.."

The Italians quickly got behind Japan and America stood tall, just a little bit behind the other nation. He knew he would only get in the way, but he desperately wanted to help his friend with these monsters, who he thought could only could have appeared if he was in some wacky RPG game.

But Japan's eyes simply narrowed and he perfectly almost danced around the two ice demons, Using his katana he made several swipes at the roaring beings. They were flinging ice at the others rapidly. America quickly dodging along with the Italians if any ice came their way.

"Go!" Japan yelled to the three. "The others have to be around here somewhere! Find them!"

"But Japan!" America yelled, his eyes rather wide. He couldn't leave the other alone. "I can't let you fight them alone"

"Don't worry burger bastard!" Italy Romano growled, bringing out something from behind his own back, where the heck were they keeping all these weapons?!

There lowered in his hand was a rather large bladed golden axe. It also had some Spanish designs on the side painted in red.

"Veh! Romano did you take that from Spain?!" Italy asked in shock.

"I didn't steal it!" Romano growled. "Just…borrowed.." He huffed and gripped the handle with both hands and swung it around, slicing one of the demons in half instantly. "Now go you two! And burger bastard! Protect my brother or you will be sorry!" He shoved Feliciano into Alfred's arms and turned around with a smirk, swinging the axe back and looking at Japan with a nod.

Looking at the two, Alfred frowned and grit his teeth. "Damn it! Don't die okay?!"

"Romano!" Italy cried but followed America down the other hallway reaching a flight of stairs and starting their way up towards the tower.

Romano huffed, watching the two leave. "Idiots…" His grip on the axe began to shake suddenly, even if his face never changed. In truth, he was scared…..terrified and Japan saw this.

"Romano, stand down…there's only one left. I can take care of it." Japan said sternly.

"Shut up! I can run circles around you stupid!"

"Look at your hands."

Romano did and he swallowed uneasily. Japan was right, he wouldn't be able to hold the axe properly or aim right with that tremble. He cursed and dropped the Axe, backing away and trying to control his fear.

"Don't worry, this won't take long. We'll follow after those two in just a second." But before Japan could take a step foreword, the two halves that Romano had sliced of the second opponent suddenly morphed, forming into two new ice demons, each with menacing red eyes that caused the two to freeze in their tracks.

"Oh that's just freaking fantastic…"

Italy and America continued on, reaching the upper level of the castle without much problems, until they came across three doors. Each held a number and before them stood a pedestal with something written into it.

Walking hesitantly foreword, Alfred began to read the writing. Which strangely Italy couldn't. The writing to him it seemed was in another language all together. But Alfred had no problems reading it.

"Be careful for those who tread this path. Only one road is the one you seek. Think beyond logic. Think beyond reason. Think beyond doubt, what is left to believe in?"

"W-What does that mean?" Italy asked, confused and America frowned, shrugging his shoulders and groaning.

"I have no idea…I wish Japan was here.. he is good at these kinda riddles…" he groaned and scratched his head.

Italy frowned. "What did it mean..think beyond reason and logic? What else is there…"

Suddenly Italy looked down and spotted a cross he wore around his neck. "What…if it means Faith! When reason and logic don't work..people…humans rely on Faith!"

America frowned, but nodded. "That is true..but I think they want something more specific than that…I mean how can you make Faith into a number of a door?"

"Maybe it wants us to try to trust our gut? Inner voice?" Italy supplied.

"You…mean guess which door is where the others are? What if we're wrong?! We could be walking into a trap!"

"America…Alfred.." Italy smiled and reached over, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Ever..since we arrived here..you've been a hero left and right..saving everyone…I trust you..I believe in you. I know you'll make the right decision. This world, it seems to have a connection with you. So..please..open yourself up to this experience. You have to believe in yourself. Right?"

Sky blue eyes blinked at the Italian, who was simply smiling stupidly back and Alfred swallowed, glancing at the three doors. He had…never really done this before. England often told him stories as a child and ways to feel things. A flash of memory came to him.

Do not worry my little one…you will know the way, just believe.

A womans voice….from someone he long had forgotten. It hurt to think of, but he knew he had to. He had to believe, he had to trust that he would make the right decision. So he stood before the three doors and placed a hand on the first door, closing his eyes and focusing.

He did the same with the second and the third door. After a few moments of silence he pulled away and swallowed. "There…" He pointed to the second one.

"That's the way to the others…" He said, nodding and smiling back to Italy. Feliciano smiled.

"That's the spirit! Ottimo lavoro! Let's go!" He grabbed Alfred's hand and drug the rather reluctant nation into the doorway and once they opened the door, it felt as if they were being sucked through.

All that was beyond it was darkness...

And within that darkness came a voice.

"Non! Se il vous plaît ! Not the face !"