I finally got HetaOni~! So to celebrate, I got another chapter done.
Disclaimed.
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Prussia has to run to catch up with the others; they've gone on ahead, most likely on Italy's suggestion. He catches up to them and trots beside Japan, wrapping an arm around the smaller nation's shoulders, ignoring his squirming in an attempt to free himself. "Ah, Prussia, can you get off, please?"
"I could. But I won't." He snickers, tightening his grip into less of a companionable hold and more of a one armed hug. Japan tenses, then relaxes. Is it just his imagination, or does the smaller nation lean into his hold, just a little?
"I wish the others had come with us…" Japan sighs.
Prussia shrugs, trying to ignore the niggling sense of déjà vu. "I guess they really like adventures."
"You're all too slow!" Germany complains. "I'm going on ahead."
"West, wait-" It's too late, he's gone. It's too late to stop it-
"Prussia?" Japan pulls away to look him in the eye. "Are you alright? You seem…" He trails off. "…upset," he decides.
"Nah, it's nothing." Prussia did say he'd tell people about this stuff, but… maybe not Japan. Not yet, at any rate. "Although, I could say the same about you."
"Oh, I'm fine." Japan pulls away completely, turning away and wrapping his arms around himself, like he's cold. "Absolutely fine," he repeats.
It sounds like he's trying to convince himself.
But right now, Prussia has other problems. I've seen a lot of memories, so I'm sure that Thing has gotten a lot stronger. There must be a way to beat it, but… how?
"AGH!"
"Germany-san!" Japan spins around, yanking his sword from his sheath and sprinting down the tunnel.
Italy shoots Prussia a glance. "What happened, ve? Did you trip over a rock?" He follows Japan down the tunnel. Prussia goes to follow-
Wait. He frowns. That Thing got stronger every time I saw a memory, true, but… it wasn't just the Thing.
Prussia grins to himself, sprinting after the others. Sure the Thing's tough, but he and his friends are tougher. They can handle this, easy.
He runs after the others, stopping at the sight of the burnt ladder and the Thing in front of it.
Here we go.
Germany holds out a hand. "Dammit! Just when we were going to get out-!"
Japan gasps, hands rising to his lips in a way that might be comical if the situation wasn't so serious. "The others!"
"Run!" Germany orders. "If we all go, we can get out!"
Italy laughs. "Oh, I see. This is what he meant."
"Run!" Japan calls. "If we run now, we can get to the others before that Thing does!"
They take off, all four of them, sprinting down the tunnel. Italy first, then Japan and Prussia, with Germany bringing up the rear. Prussia glances over his shoulder at his brother. The enemy is stronger, sure, but I'm faster. I can't do this alone… but…
That's when Germany stumbles and falls. "Shit-!"
But Prussia's prepared. "Ita! Japan! West tripped over a rock!"
"Go!" Germany screams. "I can't get this vine off!"
Italy ignores him, running back to stand in front of him. "Sorry, Germany, I can't do that~!"
"Italy…"
The Italian turns to look at Prussia. "Hey, Prussia! Do you have your answer yet?"
"Dammit, Italy!" Germany roars. "Why won't you just run away?!"
"I can't just abandon you! You're my friend!" He jumps forward, hitting the Thing with his flag. "Um, that didn't work as well as I thought it would…"
Japan runs over to kneel beside Germany, drawing his katana. "I…I'm sorry," he murmurs. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," the other replies. "Thanks for checking."
Japan smiles.
Oh, Prussia suddenly realises. My mistake, this whole time, was to believe I had to work alone, when all this time…
All this time, we were losing because… I only watched the enemy. I never paid attention to what my allies were doing! The thing making us lose all the time was my own narrow mindedness. Agh, what would Old Fritz say if he saw me now?!
"This is my answer!" he calls to Italy. "The enemy is stronger, but so are we! If we work together, then we can beat it, easy!"
"Nice job!" Italy replies. "Ah… I could use some help here!"
Germany stares at the three of them. "What- Why would you come back?"
Prussia shrugs. "Well, why wouldn't I help my little brother?" He frowns. "Is this any time to wipe the floor?!"
"O-oh!" Japan murmurs. "I'm sorry." He cuts through the vine holding Germany in place. The blond stands with a nod of thanks; Japan moves to stand beside Prussia. "Let's go." His eyes gleam determinedly.
Prussia smirks. "Now you're talking!" He draws his sword and points it at the Thing. "If you want to die, step forward!"
Japan leaps forward. "I'm sick of looking at your face! Dismissal!" Red kanji flare to life, slicing across the Thing. It screeches.
Prussia stares at him. "Since when are you able to do that?!"
Japan shoots him an innocent glance. "It was in that book you gave me."
"Oh. Okay, then." He shrugs. Stranger things have happened.
Germany rolls his eyes. "Torture level thirty!" His whip lashes out and curls around the Thing.
Italy just keeps hitting the Thing with his flag; the fabric tangles around it, which at least manages to slow it down a little.
Japan smiles faintly, eyes flashing with power. "This is not the end of the line! String!"
There's a sound like a whip-crack and a flash of light. The Thing staggers back, snapping at the air. Prussia grins. We're doing it! We're actually doing it!
"I don't think we can actually beat it!" Italy warns. "Let's get out of here!"
"Right!"
Germany hesitates, frowning. "Japan, are you alright? You're really pale. Ah, paler than usual."
"I'm fine," Japan replies yet again. "Hurry!"
They run, the four of them, gathering the others as they do. Their allies follow, disappointed and upset, but understanding. Prussia can't help but think it's incredibly convenient that they just happen to all be in the basement.
They gather in a room Prussia vaguely remembers. He leans against the door, panting. He goes to move away-
"Lock the door, dumbass!" Romano snaps.
"Oh! Right!" Prussia turns the lock and pulls away, a hint of relief slipping into his mind at the motion. Idiot, he remonstrates. If he hadn't locked the door in the study room, or the room Italy had been in, then…
He shudders at the thought.
"Wow," America comments. "So now we're all assembled in this tiny room."
Thank Gott, Prussia thinks. For a minute there, I really thought we weren't gonna make it! This is… well, not exactly awesome, but not bad!
"Dammit!" Germany hisses. "Even though we're all together now, our situation hasn't gotten any better! We're still locked up here, and that fucking monster is after our asses!"
"Don't be so pessimistic," Prussia chides. "What really matters is that we're all alive, ja?"
"Besides," Italy adds optimistically, "with so many nations gone, surely someone will come looking for us!"
Prussia blinks. Odd… I feel like I'm forgetting something. Something important…
"Yeah," Romano agrees. "And we need to fix the time too; we should keep breaking the clocks."
"That's the best shortcut," Spain adds. "But we need to regain strength somehow… We're all pretty tired, I think. Not from fighting, but from running away all the time."
"Maybe…" Germany begins, looking defeated. "Maybe… escaping really is impossible. And now… we're probably all going to get eaten one by one. That's what I would do, if I were that Thing!"
That's right, Prussia recalls. It's different, but… West said that, and I got mad at him, and then… Aloud, he says, "That's enough, West! We only lost one way out! There are still many other ways!"
What is it? What am I forgetting? Remember, remember! If I don't-
"…Prussia," Germany murmurs. "I'm sorry. And thank you—all three of you—for what you did earlier. This time, I'll make it up to you for saving me. I'm sorry I was a burden."
Regret again-
"Germany-san, it's alright," Japan murmurs from his place by the door.
"No," Germany insists. "If I can't protect my allies when I have the chance, them my training was pointless. At the very least, I shouldn't be such a burden." He pauses for a moment. "I'm sorry to you too. You've been fighting harder than anyone else; don't think I haven't noticed. I- No, we all really appreciate it."
"What?" Japan looks away, blushing. "Oh. Ah, arigato."
"But you know, I think we can really escape now," France blabbers excitedly. "You see, this is the first time that-"
"Please…" Japan interrupts suddenly, his stormy eyes flicking around the room before focusing on Prussia. "Please, if you get out… just keep running. Don't look back no matter what, don't stop, don't forget me, don't… don't cry, and- and time-"
"You're shaking," Canada murmurs. He's right, Prussia realises, staring at his friend. Slight, almost imperceptible tremors rack along the small nation's frame.
Time… he thinks. After that line-! The realisation hits hard, and he stares at Japan in undisguised horror. "Japan!"
The Thing bursts into the room, standing right behind the Japanese. He doesn't even flinch. Prussia's vision narrows until all he sees is his dear friend, standing there. He would appear fearless if it weren't for the tremor in his hands, the slight twist in his smile; things most people wouldn't pick up on, but Prussia does. He can't even hear the others' horrified cries.
"Japan!"
Japan smiles, just slightly. It almost looks sincere. "It… was scary… But it was also… really fun," he murmurs, glancing up to meet Prussia's eyes. "Good luck-"
"JAPAN!"
The Thing leaps.
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You. Little. Shit. Stop making me cry, asshats!
So that happened. Um, I'm gonna go watch really fluffy Prupan AMVs now. OH WAIT. THERE AREN'T ANY.
FUUUUCK!
There is an R-18 doujin, though. Even if it is in Japanese. (Don't ask why I know that. *shot*)
So, yeah.
See ya~!
-Bird