Wow, I was able to update in time for once... The carnival is finally here. Thanks so much to the nice people that reviewed and add this to alerts, I hope you enjoy it.

Hetalia belongs to Hidekazu Himaruya~

Chapter 10

It was nighttime already, but the city was still gorgeous, and the preparations for the carnival were almost done, just one more day before the great event. Feliciano was a bit happy to see his beloved Venice again, but at the same time he was already getting quite nervous. He needed some courage, so he decided to go visit a place that was supposed to bring peace to you.

When he found himself in front of the St Mark's Basilica, a small pinch of pain crossed his heart, he thought of Ludwig and Lovino, standing there, feeling betrayed. For a second he wondered if it was a bad idea after all, but he really needed to cheer up, he needed to pray for everything to end just right, so he entered the magnificent church.

oOoOoOoOo

Back in the main house of the Italian brothers, Elizabetha had reunited everyone to discuss the plan, there was just one day left. Now that Ludwig was in better spirits, they could actually do something.

"Ok guys, there's not much time left, Francis, you take Ludwig and make sure the costume goes well on him."

The Frenchman nodded at Elizabetha, stood up and walked towards Ludwig, offering his hand to an obviously confused german.

"Costume? What do you mean by that? And… France, I won't take you hand…" Ludwig said feeling awkward.

"Oh, mon cher, I'm not asking for that, though I would be enchanted to do that… But what I need is that drawing the Feliciano made, I think the other ones still need to work with that…"

The german blushed a little while realizing his mistake. "Why do you need it?" He said while he looked into his pocket for it.

Francis sighed, before answering. " Mon dieu, Allemagne, how is Feli supposed to recognize you if you don't wear something he knows?

Elizabetha was getting tired of all of this, there was no time and they had so much work to do. "Ludwig, just go with Francis, ask him stuff while you try your outfit, and I'll talk to you later. Lovino, I need your help too, so don't you dare to escape now."

Her angry voice was enough to make everyone do as she said, Ludwig handed the drawing to Francis, and he handed it to Elizabetha. After that, both of them went upstairs, and the Hungarian showed the drawing to the Italian.

"How fast can you do this?"

Lovino looked at her with an expression of misbelieve. "You can't be asking me to do that mask… Are you out of your freaking mind?" He yelled.

The woman just smiled, but her face seemed somehow scary. "Listen Romano, this is for your brother, and I don't have time to play your games, so you better think twice the next time you feel like yelling at me, ok?" She handed the drawing to him and pointed the kitchen. "Go, I'm sure Tony will be more than happy to help you, we need that ready for tomorrow, and I'm sure you know we're just trying to help Feli and Ludwig… well, you at least want to help Feli."

Lovino sighed. This was going to be some hard work, he wasn't even that interested in art, and Feliciano was the one that loved it. But if he could do this to help his stupid brother, he had no choice but to do it. "Oh, right, I get it, I'll do it." And so Lovino headed to the kitchen followed by the happy Spaniard.

Elizabetha glared at Prussia. "Now, we have to take care of the difficult stuff, so you better behave!"

"I'm worried as well you know, no need to go crazy Eliza… Anyways, what is that big plan of yours?" Gilbert seemed far more serious that his usual self.

"That's the issue… There's no… big plan…" Elizabetha looked at him. "Well, at least not mine, but Feli seems to have one. And I want to decipher what he's going to do, just in case that he needs help…"

Now the Prussian didn't know what to think. Did she know something or not? "Then what do you suggest?"

"Gilbert, you were around when Holy Rome… the point is… Feli, you know he wasn't the same since then, did you ever noticed something that you found weird on him, in recent times I mean?"

"Eliza… you're not looking for answers, why don't you tell me already what you're thinking?"

She sighed one more time. "I think was playing dumb with everyone… and it was for a long time…"

Upstairs, Ludwig was flustered; looking at the clothes Francis was showing him… What is this frilly outfit? He asked in his mind.

"What do you think?" Asked France smiling. "N'est-ce pas magnifique? My masterpiece if completed and will look perfect on you"

The german felt even more awkward, if it was possible. "On me? Are you… are you suggesting that I wear that?"

Francis glared at him and spoke with a fake hurt tone. "Oh, Allemagne, how can you be so cruel, after I worked so hard to make a perfect costume for you to attend the festival. You have to wear it, put it on, now, you got to be thankful, put it on so I can adjust everything for you." He ended up smiling again.

Oh god, Germany thought.

That day passed rapidly, everyone busy with arrangements; they needed their own outfits, and masks. But somehow the nations were ready on time. They were almost leaving when Elizabetha called Ludwig to talk in private for a second.

"Ludwig" She started. "I'll just ask one big favor of you. Forgive him"

He frowned. "What do you …"

She interrupted "Just promise, promise that you'll try your best to do it…"

The german sighed, so she really knew more than she said. "Of course I will"

"Good, now we can go." She said as she ran to meet with the others. "To the Carnival we go!" She yelled.

oOoOoOoOo

The streets were beautifully decorated, brilliant colors, playful music that transmitted happiness, yet make you feel as if you were in some luxurious court of nobles; people in circus like outfits were performing on the streets. Everything was monumental, and shiny, even the huge crowd. Everyone was wearing flashy clothes, some had feathers, some had exaggerated makeup, most of them wore masks, from the traditional while mask, to the somehow scary, medico della peste mask.

Ludwig stand there for a moment, this was… way too much for him. First he had to wear so frilly clothes that France had made, then the mask Lovino made, now he was here by himself almost scared of so much happiness, festivity, it was overwhelming.

But he knew he was supposed to look for Feliciano, he wasn't sure how he was going to find him, maybe the Italian would actually look for him, but he wasn't that sure that he would recognize him in such clothing.

He walked throw the narrow streets of Venice, he contemplated the gondolas on the canals, decorated as well, passed the bridges to search the other side as well. This theatrical atmosphere was making him feel dizzy, he wasn't even sure where he was anymore, and every single place was packed with people.

Ludwig was about to go crazy when their eyes met through an identical mask to the one he was wearing.

Feliciano froze in his place. No one could be wearing the same mask as his, he drew it, he made it with his own hands, and there was just one person that could have it. This was not part of the plan. But before he could move the german graved his arm, strong but yet gentle.

"Feliciano… is that you?"

The Italian cursed on his mind, he would need to cut his plans for the day a little bit. He was still shocked of finding him so soon; he fought the urge to hug him right away. "Si… Lud… what are you wearing?" he said slowly looking at his best friend. Yeah, that would definitely distract him.

"Ah…" Ludwig's face turned red. "This… it's not… it was France… they forced me to… wait, that's not what you're supposed to…"

A finger on his lips interrupted him. "No, no, I didn't mean that, you're supposed to be dressed like that in a carnival. I want to know… why do you have my mask." The Italian said almost whispering.

Germany stared at him, unable to find the words that we wanted to say so badly. "I… Feliciano, I am…"

The Italian interrupted again. "Sh… I'm going to speak first." He sighed. "First of all… sorry for the other day."

Ludwig got confused for a second, until he remembered the St. Basil Basilica thing. "Oh. That… you… you lied to me… didn't you?" Suddenly he had remembered what he was trying to do.

Feliciano looked down. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that…" Then looked up to meet his friend's eyes. "I'm sorry about many things… And I don't know…" This was getting difficult, his courage was escaping him; he needed to do this before it was too late. "I don't know if you will hate me when you get to know… That's why, I ran away, and made up all of this…"

Ludwig just looked at him. This guy here was way too serious to be his Feliciano. But even then, he needed to ask so many things. "It's not… as if I could hate you… If you just told me…"

And once more the smaller man didn't let him finish. "You don't know that." He took a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to Ludwig. "Lud, go home. Read it… You'll understand. But I need you to let go of me now."

"Nein! If I do that you're going to run away again, and then I won't see you again, and…"

"Hey, hey… I'll be back here tomorrow, I promise. You're the one I'm not sure that will come back to me…" He said with a sad smile showing.

"Why would I…"

"I promise, let me go, Ludwig."

He slowly loosened the grip. "I… I will forgive you… I'll try my best to do it… so… you have to come back…"

Italy looked at him, if the mask wasn't there, the german would have seen the shocked look on his face. Then he smiled a little. "Thanks Ludwig…"

And with that he ran away and entered some alley and disappeared, leaving Ludwig with the letter in hand. And he suddenly realized. I don't even know where I am… How I'm I supposed to get out of here? He started walking, hoping that somehow he would be able to find his way back, so he could read the letter.

And that's it for this week, was it ok? In the next chapter Ludwig will learn some stuff about Feli~ See You Soon!