The Other Side Of The Mirror

by Maddylovesyou

Careful what you wish for. You just might get it. Nominated for Hetalia Awards. Read chapter 30 for more information.

21. down with the sickness

His feet drag feeling like lead. The rain turns his robes into weights and his blood into ice. It shouldn't be this hard to walk. He's fought great battles and won many times. He's been hurt yes, who isn't hurt or wounded after war? But this is different. Holy Rome feels weak. A part of him is fading away...he feels sick. His stomach is turning and his mouth is dry. His body is hot yet he feels so cold. So very cold. How long has he been away from his home in Austria? How long has he been fighting this war?

That doesn't matter now. Not with his large mansion standing in front of him, promising warmth and safety. Holy Rome forces himself to keep walking, dragging his bloody sword behind him, ignoring the pain in his chest. He's home. He made it.

"I'm home Austria." Holy Rome shouts as he bust the doors open, closing them quickly so the water doesn't get in. "Hey boy! Come take off my clothes and prepare me a bath! Get some cotton ready, you will dress my wounds." Holy Rome crosses his arms, waiting to be served by that demon. Yes, a demon. That's what he is. The young boy has had time to think about Italy. He's had time to fix his mind, knowing Italy was trying to poison him. What ever feeling he had that night before he left for war it's long gone now. Italy is his slave and he is the master. Italy is the demon, and holy Rome is the savior, making the monster suffer. They're doing good work. Italy has to be a demon, if he wasn't then why would his own brother sell him? Why would he abandon him?

"Italy!" Holy Rome snaps his fingers, getting irritated. "I said change me!"

"Woo look who's back and bossy." Miss Hungary comes walking down the large hallway, coming out of the doors that lead to Austria's bedroom. She's dressed in nothing but her undergarments, her green bra strap hanging off her shoulder. She gives the young boy a sly smirk. "You look like shit. You get fucked up?" She laughs, putting the cigar she's holding between her lips and inhaling.

"Sorry about not responding right away holy Rome." Austria comes out of the room next, buttoning up his shirt, a large grin on his face, those yellow teeth glistening. "But as you see I was a bit busy." He grabs Hungary's ass, and she giggles like a mouse.

The young boy wrinkles his nose, his purplish eyes lighting up with anger. "What the fuck? I just got back from fighting your war and this is how you welcome me?"

"Maybe I would welcome you warmer if you actually won the war." Austria grunts.

"Ooh man that has to hurt." Hungary covers her mouth like a school girl, being a back up voice. Unneeded.

"I tried but the fucker kept running away. He never showed his face. Where I would go he somehow got information and ran before I could get there. I've fought his army...I've won any battle I've had with him but I have yet to see Prussia. So no I don't have his head to bring you but rest assured I won...I destroyed him. There's no way he'll recover from this. Don't send him any supplies and he'll die out. Problem solved." Holy Rome looks to the ground...his brows crunching. "But you know this is dangerous. I feel Prussia fading from me...he was a part of us. I feel weaker. I feel sick."

"You'll be fine." Austria waves him off. "We don't need that pathetic guy."

"...Where is Italy? He's yet to come to mend my wounds." Holy Rome looks down at his hand that's bleeding. A Prussian soldier had sliced it...right before the young boy had shoved his sword down his throat, it coming out the back of his neck.

It's always war. That's all he knows. But if he doesn't fight, if he doesn't get bigger...then what the hell is the point? He will be Rome. He will show the world that he can rule. Rome was just an idiot.

Hungary and Austria exchange a look...before they crack up. Hungary actually falls to her knees , hugging her stomach she's laughing so hard.

"I forgot! You haven't seen! You're going to love this! This will make you feel right at home!" Austria coughs, wiping a tear from his eye. "I punished the demon for you. I made him regret ever saying he loved you. The filthy thing. Would you like to see?" Austria's smile is wobbly.

Holy Rome feels his body tense...remembering before he left he had told Austria what Italy had said to him, how he loved him and cared for him. He remembers the disgust on Austria's face...and then he smirked...it was so sick looking that Holy Rome had to look away. That smile made him sick. Back then he wanted to take it back. Something in him felt...guilt? It was just Italy's poison.

He feels nothing now.

"yeah I want to see." Holy Rome grins, ignoring the pain from his wounds. "And then I want him to serve me."

"Of course of course. Then back to his fun room." Austria and Hungary lead holy Rome down the hallway...They past Austria's bedroom going into a room holy Rome isn't familiar with. There's a door in this room...just a single door. It's white. No other color, just a plain white door when this room is painted black. Holy Rome ignores the goosebumps on his arms and this growing feeling in his chest. Something is wrong. He feels it in his head...a red flag.

"Guess who's here to see you Italy? It's your love." Austria chuckles. "Why don't you give your lover a kiss?"

There's no response. Holy Rome was expecting yelling. But there isn't any. That bothers him. Austria smirks over at Hungary knowingly before he opens the white door. Holy Rome opened his mouth to tell him not too...but it's too late.

The white door leads to a small room that looks like it could be a closet. It's just a small white boxed room. Holy Rome feels bile come into his mouth as he looks at Italy...as he looks at this young boy the world calls a demon.

Italy has two black eyes, his small face busted, swollen looking. Holy Rome was expecting Italy to be beaten up...but it's so much more than that. Italy's lips are sown together. It looks like they stitched him with wire. It's not just that...ohh no. Holy Rome has seen a lot in his wars. He's seen gruesome things. He's had to torture people before sure but...not like this.

Italy has no eyes. There's nothing but empty sockets staring at him...haunting him to the bone.

"W-What..." Holy Rome hears how shaky his voice is. He is shaky. They mutilated this boy...but he's not a boy. He's a demon. This is completely fine...it has to be! Then why...why is he shaking so much? Why do those empty, bloody eye sockets haunt him?...Shouldn't it bring him pleasure?

"I was horrified to hear that this demon actually said he loves you. It's disgusting. How dare he even look at you that way. So I ripped out his eyes." Austria laughs loudly. "He put up a fucking fight but I got him. You should of heard him scream. IT was hilarious. I have his eyes if you want them." Austria nudges Holy Rome. "Not that you can really keep them though. He'll keep growing them back as long as Italy is doing well. And it is. Romano is a surprisingly good leader. Too good if you ask me." Austria's eyes narrow.

"His eyes will grow back?..." Holy Rome swallows.

"Yeah sadly. What's wrong? You look pale, are you in pain?" Austria raises his eye brow.

"And...his lips?"

"Ah, so he can never speak such poison to you again. It's beautiful isn't it?" Austria laughs. "I had the idea after Romano came to visit-"

"His brother came?" Holy Rome's eyes widen, he looks over at Austria.

"Yes actually. He had a private talk with Italy and then he talked to me. Told me I should be kinder and give him a sowing kit. He loves to sow he says. So I sowed his fucking mouth shut." Austria gets in Italy's face. "Do you love it Italy?"

The young boy makes a sound before he swings, punching Austria right in the face. He's blind but he's certainly not deaf. Seeing such fight in Italy surprised holy Rome, his eyes widening...Why is he feeling...relief?

Italy runs out of the small room quickly, his arms out to feel. Yet somehow, those empty eye sockets are locked on him. As if he can see holy Rome. He runs towards him, grabbing him right on his arm that is hurt. Holy Rome shouts in pain, Italy digs deeper to the point Holy Rome has to hit him off. The poor boy falls to his knees breathing out of his nose heavily. His empty gaze is haunting him...making his stomach twist once again in guilt...why should he feel guilt? This demon is the one who is lusting after him. He deserves to be punished. There's nothing wrong with this...this isn't a sin. No..

"you know I'm glad you're back Holy Rome. Rest up and when your ready, we have a new target." Austria's lips keep curling and curling.

"Who?" Holy Rome looks over at Austria, Raising his eye brow.

"I just got the idea when little Romano came to visit us. He's doing awfully well. He's still a little brat though. I think it's time to take Rome's inheritance for our own-"

Italy jumps up, making a sound that could be a scream but it comes out wrong from his stitched lips. He runs towards Austria, little fists balled. He punches as hard as he can, trying to knock the larger man down but all he does is kick Italy and he falls on the floor.

"Oh yes we are going to attack your brother. Your lover is going to kill your brother. I'll make sure you have your eyes for that." Austria's purple eyes gleam down at this small boy.

He should be smirking like Austria. He should be laughing like Hungary...but he's not. He feels sick. It's puts him thought pain to watch this. He's demon. He just has to remind himself that. He's a monster...this is what he deserves.

"It's not like...your brother loves you anyway." Holy Rome speaks, his words not shaky as he expected them to be. "Visit or no visit he still sold you. You know that now don't you? Your own brother sold you. He doesn't care about you. No one does and no one ever will! Demon! Monster!" Holy Rome shouts loudly, hoping the words will stop this sick feeling. "I'll make you pay!"

"You hear that?! Your brother is going to die! He's going to die! There will be nothing left of Rome!" Austria laughs, kicking Italy again.

Then something horrible happens. Italy immediately puts his hands to his lips one gripping his lower jaw the other his upper jaw. He pulls. He pulls with all his might. The stitches don't give way...no he's ripping his flesh. Blood spurts out from him ripping his lips but he doesn't stop pulling till his mouth is open once again. His lips no longer there, just pieces of meat hanging from his face.

Then he speaks. He screams. He screams out of hatred, pain, anger. Italy twist his head, looking right at holy Rome. He knows he's looking at him, somehow, he's looking at him with those sockets. Blood spills out of mouth as he speaks the words, they are raspy and hard to understand. "Don't...touch...my...brother..." He wheezes out. He's lost a lot of blood. The small boy looks pale. He falls to his knees and begins to crawl towards Holy Rome, reaching out a bloody hand. "Don't...not...him...brother..."

Holy Rome backs up, his eyes wide and dilated. He's still in shock from witnessing this boy rip his lips off. He heard the flesh rip. He saw it. It's almost like he felt it. As if he felt the pain this boy felt, the anger, the hatred. Holy Rome's eyes shake, staring at the hand that's reaching for him...pleading with him. His eyes are gone, his lips are gone because of him...and yet he pleads for the life of his brother. The brother that sold him. Who abandoned him.

Holy Rome shakes his head, backing up away from this mutated boy. "I said i'm going to be Rome again...I'll start by taking what he's left behind..." Holy Rome swallows.

"Beg all you want but your brother is going to die." Austria laughs.

"I bet if he had his eyes he would be crying." Hungary giggles.

"I'll...kill...you...both of you...I'll make you...pay." Italy wheezes, turning those empty sockets towards the two nations. "I won't...let you...hurt...Romano...my brother...he loves me...you don't...get it. You...will die...tonight." The young boy falls on his chest, his head bowed down. He's out cold. The blood from his lips trails away, touching holy Rome's shoe.

"That's a fucking laugh. He couldn't even get out of this room. Can't kill what he can't see." Austria winks at holy Rome before he throws him a brown pouch. "There's his eyes. Keep them as a trophy. Though they'll fade away in...a month. Then i'll have to rip them out again. It can be a fun game of ours." Austria sneakers. "I'm going to take a bath. I'll get another servant to take care of your wounds." Austria warps his arms around Hungary's waist, walking out with her, not turning to look at him again.

Holy Rome stands there, his eyes wide and his hand shaking that's holding the pouch with this young boy's eyes. Stepping in his blood, looking at his mutilated body. Holy Rome bends over and pukes, his emotions becoming too much for him. He can't deny it. Guilt. Guilt is what he feels. But why?...This boy is a demon...

Holy Rome gets on his knees so he's next to Italy...he reaches out with a shaking hand touching his cheek. It's soft. Not rough or scaly like a monster or like a demon. It's flesh. Flesh like he has. Holy Rome swallows not able to look at Italy anymore.

"...You should have never said you loved me. What did you think?...that I would love you back?" Holy Rome closes his eyes. There's no response. "Did you think I would say I cared about you?...why love a nation who has hurt you, who has made you a slave?." Silence.

"...i'm still poison. I feel...pain. I feel...regret. Am I sorry I told Austria?...maybe..." Holy Rome pauses, looking down at the boy who he's wronged so terribly. "But you're a demon. My enemy. And I will kill your brother. I need to get power. I will be Rome." Holy Rome gets up and walks out of the room...keeping his eyes closed.

Leaving the brown pouch in Italy's open hand.

---

Romano jolts awake, screaming covering his eyes with his hands. He frantically touches his eyelids just to feel the ball there. To feel if he still has his eyes. Romano's scream is loud despite how dry his throat is and yet he still has to feel his lips, to feel if they're still there. Romano has his eyes. Romano has his lips. They haven't been taken from him.

But he felt it. Oh he fucking felt it.

He felt his brother's pain, anger and hatred. He can still feel it. It goes through his veins and tightens his stomach to the point that Romano gets on his hands and knees, puking. He gasps the acid burning his nose but it's nothing. Nothing to what he just experienced.

That dream was so intense that Romano is terrified. Did these events really happen to his brother? It couldn't have could it? Romano knows that the dreams haven't made sense before. He knows they can't be true. If Austria had ripped Italy's eyes out, Romano would have felt it. He would have felt his brother's pain. They are connected in that way. If Italy is hurt, sad, in pain, Romano feels it. And if Romano is upset, Italy feels it. They are the same country. Even though they were raised by different people, Romano knows that he would have felt Italy's emotions, especially strong ones like those.

Still, it makes Romano want to hold Italy close and never let go. He wants to touch his brother's eyes, kiss them. He wants to touch his lips and thank god that he still has them. He wants to touch his brother so he knows that it was just a dream. Just a horrible nightmare.

Romano blinks the tears away as his senses start to come back to him. As he becomes with his own world again and away from that hell. He's sitting on the floor, his lunch in front of him, causing him to wrinkle his nose. As soon as he stands up and twist the door knob, it being locked, he remembers why he's here.

Spain. He saw the hickey. He knows it was Italy. He grabbed a bat and locked him in here. Romano doesn't know how long he spent screaming his lungs out, banging on the door trying to break it down. He must have tired and passed out. Don't judge, fucking doors are hard to break. His fucking hand have bruises on them. IT was hard work.

Romano's face gets pale. How long has he been asleep? What if Spain is already at his house? Romano swallows. The tomato bastard wouldn't really...hurt Italy would he? He wouldn't beat him with that bat...

Romano's heart is beating so fast. Because he remembers that look in Spain's green eyes. That fire there. He's seen it many times before as he watched him fight in war. It's such a dark look, anger mixed with raw power. Spain will hurt Italy. That look told him everything. Once Spain is pissed he's pissed. He can't see pass his anger.

"Fuck no! You stupid bastard! Don't hurt my brother!" Romano screams as if the Spaniard could hear him. He starts ramming his shoulder into the door, closing one eye when he ends up hitting the bone, hurting himself. "Damn it!" Romano grips his fists, he feels his body shaking. If he doesn't get there what's going to happen?

"Don't...hurt...him." Romano tenses when he remembers Italy's raspy voice, blood dripping down his lips as he out stretched his hand towards holy Rome. In his dream Italy was begging Austria and holy Rome not to hurt him. The dream doesn't make sense because Romano never had control of all of Italy. Austria never wanted to attack him. Only Spain. Yet he felt the strong emotion Italy begged with.

Love. It was love. Italy begged, spoke even though he was in agony just to beg that they wouldn't hurt him.

"D-Don't hurt him Spain...please." Romano lays his head against the door, sliding down it till he's on his knees In front of it. Romano is good at begging. He knows how to get out of a situation. He begged Britain not to feed him his food and Italy begged Britain that he feed his food to him instead. Now it's time for him to beg a different way. "God please...send me help so I can get out of here." He begs god. He needs to get to Italy. He needs to stop Spain. He won't let himself believe he's too late.

Suddenly there's a loud slam and a thud. Romano squeaks-he means, very manly he grunts in surprise. That sounded like the front door was knocked off the hinges. Is Spain's house under attack?! Or maybe... Romano's eyes widen and he looks up with hopeful eyes. Has god answered his prayer? His beg?

"Yo Spain! I'm here to fuck shit up! Kesese!" Romano's face completely deflates at that voice, that loud, annoying voice. He recognizes that voice anywhere. "France wasn't home so I decided the awesome me would pay you a visit! And if you're wondering why you're front door is broken it's because my awesome was just too much for it!"

"Really? The other potato bastard?" Romano looks up with a frown on his face. "Of all the fucking people-"

"Spain is that you?" Prussia laughs that odd laugh of his. "IF you're hiding the awesome me will find you!" A bird tweets after this comment, getting the older German brother to laugh. "of course we can eat his food! You're awesome bird but not as awesome as-"

Romano has had enough of this. This guy Is just as bad as that meat head Germany. Romano feels like shooting himself when he goes on about his awesomeness. There's nothing awesome about a potato bastard. "Hey! I'm not Spain you fuck! It's Romano! Now let me out! I'm locked in Spain's room! And don't eat our fucking food! That's my food too! You can eat all his churros though, just get me the hell out of here!" Romano bangs on the door, making sure this dumb ass knows where he is.

"Romano?" Prussia sounds puzzled but to Romano's relief and irritation he hears the German's boots click as he walks across the wooden floor till he's right in front of Spain's room. "How the hell did you get locked in there?" Prussia sounds like he's smirking. Romano can feel his face get red with anger. "where Is Spain?-"

"Italy's in trouble you fucking bastard! I'll smack that smirk right off your fucking face if you don't let me-" Romano yells only for the door to open quickly. He's met with not a smirking Prussia with gleaming red eyes like he thought he would. The albino's red eyes are wide and his expression grim for a guy who's 'so awesome he likes the smell of his own fucking farts'. But no, really he looks paler even.

"what? Italy is in trouble? Don't tell me west has something to do with this?" Prussia's eyebrows furrow and his lips tug in a frown.

Romano's taken a back for a moment but then he remembers why he would think it's Germany. That bastard fucking chased his brother all the way to his house and he wouldn't stop banging on the door, trying to get in. Prussia had to come and knock him out and carry him away. If not for him that bastard would have never gone away.

"I don't know why mein brother has been acting so strange. Attacking Italy, hurting him." Prussia gets this deep look on his face, a look of deep thought. " He doesn't talk to me like he use to...doesn't he know he can talk to the awesome me and I will help him? I think he's forgotten who's raised him...i'm worried about him-" Prussia's eyes are closed as if he's talking to himself. It sounds like it. it sounds like this guy does a lot of talking to himself. The bird his only listener.

"I don't care about your fucking family drama. It's not the potato bastard who's done this for once. It's Spain who needs to be stopped!" Romano runs pass Prussia, running out of the house as fast as he can. As soon as he's out of the house he can see that Spain's car is gone, his car sitting in the drive way alone. "Damn it!"

"What the hell do you mean it's Spain who needs to be stopped?" He can hear Prussia behind him. He's running after him. Fucking bastard.

"Spain is going to hurt my brother! It's a long fucking story! If I don't get there he's going to beat my brother with a bat! He's gone mad!" Romano feels his eyes water knowing this is half his fault...the other half belongs to his brother. Together they share the guilt of this sin yet it's going to be Italy who's going to be hurt. Not him.

It's not right.

Romano jumps into his car, the hood is down so he just slides right into the front seat, flopping down. He takes his keys out quickly only to drop them next to his feet. "Shit!" Romano's hands are shaking too much. He can't put the fucking keys in the engine. He's scared. He wants to run. He wants to surrender.

A pale hand grabs his, stopping it's shaking. It moves his hand so the key goes into the engine. Turning on the car. Romano snaps his head over toward Prussia who is sitting In the passengers seat, his face blank.

"What the hell are you doing bastard? Get out of my car!" Romano fums.

"Hell no! I'm going with you. Drive." Prussia lends back, putting his nasty shoes on the drives dastboard.

"Why the fuck do you have to come along! I'm going to push you out the fucking car!-"

"Spain and Italy are close to me. If Spain is fucking losing it then I'm going to be there to knock some sense into him. And if Italy is in danger then I'll be there to protect him." Prussia doesn't look at Romano. "Because I'm just that awesome. The longer you argue with me, the less time we have."

Romano stares at this man for a moment, debating if he should just kick him out but he's right. It's just a waste of time. And it's true this bastard is Spain's friend and for some reason his brother loves the fucking German brothers. The irritated Italian sighs but he puts the gear to drive before he stomps his foot on the gas.

Romano runs his first stop sign of many and not a single fuck was given.

---

A stinging pain in his head is what he wakes up to. America groans, his head rolling from side to side, his eyelids fluttering. He blinks once, twice, before he's able to hold his eyes open. They squint at the bright light that's shining in his face, he ends up closing one of his blue eyes, leaving the other one open.

"Uh...what the fuck happened?" America tries to use his hand to shied his eyes from the light but he can't move them. His eyes widen in alarm as he tugs, realizing his hands are tied behind his back. He might not be able to see much but he can tell he's sitting on a chair. He feels the back of it stabbing itno him. America tries to hop, tries to move the chair but it doesn't budge. It must be glued to the ground or something.

America tries to recall how he got into this mess. His head and the bright light not helping him. He remembers being pissed...yeah he was pissed at England because the bastard is cheating on him with Germany! Having all these business meetings when England barely even talks to him on the phone. Ameirca grinds his teeth remembering his anger. He remembers he came over here, ready to kick Germany's and England's ass. He remembers Germany telling him that they just finished their 'business' and England was asleep in bed all fucking tired out.

America felt Rage but before the rage he felt pain. Deep pain. Of course America was pissed because he thought it was going on, because he was jealous that England was talking to Germany more than him but to be told his suspicions were correct, was like a bullet to the chest. How could Arthur do that to him? After he had stood before him and spilled his guts, told him how he loved him. How could Arthur just take his heart and throw it out of the window? He thought Arthur felt the same way. That they equally cared about each other, and that's why America believed that this relationship would last till the end of the world. Because as soon as America laid eyes on England, he was in love. Maybe not when he was a child but he loved Arthur as a brother, as someone who takes care of him and as he grew older it became more. America didn't want to be his brother anymore. Now that he has Arthur he does this? How could he do this to him as a lover? If not a lover as his ex brother? How could he betray him like that?

Then after the pain was the rage. How the FUCK could he DO this to ME?! After all the SHIT he's been THROUGH because of HIM! It was such a quick switch. Germany told him where England was and he remembers marching in the room, ready to let the fucker have it. Ready to be a hero to his own heart.

But England wasn't in the room. He wasn't there. America turned around and that's when it went all black. America's blood turns cold as he hears a dark laughter fill the room, it snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Ser gut! You're awake!" Suddenly the light that was blinding him is moved away from his face. America blinks a couple of times before he can see normally again. When his eyes lock with Germany's shaking blue and the odd smirk on his face, America misses the blinding light. Germany claps his hands together, rocking back and forth on the chair' he's sitting on in front of him. It looks like he's in a stone room. There's chains hanging from the wall and a table next to the German full of tools and weapons. A knife, gun, hammer, nails,ax,whip, lighter, salt, and a grape? It doesn't take a genius to figure out where he is. America is in Germany's evil secret lair.

"what the hell is this dude?! World war 2 is over man! What the hell you pissed off about? You're the one who took my iggy! Where the hell is he anyway? Why'd you lie?" America's eyes narrow, no fear in his blue eyes as Germany's lips twitch.

"oh he's not here right now but he's going to be soon, now that you're here!" His smile twitches to a frown before he grabs his hair. "It's going to fucking work! You don't know anything! You're just a fucking voice in my head! I will get him back!"

"Dude...did you eat fucking crazy flakes for breakfast this morning?" America's eyes widen his heart starting to beat fast. There's a red flag going off in his head. If him being tied down to a chair with torture instruments in front of him didn't do it, the German talking to himself finished the job. This is bad news. America's eyes widen. "Wait...he's not here?" America swallows. What if he's gotten this all wrong? What if England's in trouble? What if this bastard has done something to him?

"No! I said he isn't! That bastard left! He left when he knows he's my only hope with getting Italy back! He's trying to keep Italy from me! He knows I love him so he's trying to take him from me!" Germany roars, his spit landing on his face.

"What the hell are you talking about- So you do like Italy! Dude I called it!-" America gets too caught up in thoughts, too caught up in his pride with knowing the truth to see the dangerous look in Germany's eyes.

"Shut up!" Germany snaps, punching America across the face, his head rolling over to the side. America taste iron in his mouth, that metallic taste of blood. His blood. Germany pants, his blue eyes shaking. "As if you didn't know! You're probably in on this with England! You want to gets back at me for the war don't you?! Well...no matter. I will get Italy back and if I don't I'll kill you, someone he loves. He'll get me Italy back...ohh yess he will." Germany chuckles oddly as he takes out a phone from his pocket, America noticing it's his phone.

"I'm going to kick your ass dude. Just you wait." America growls as he tugs harshly on what ever is binding him expecting it to break from his strength, instead the material that is binding his hands digs into his flesh, cutting so deep he curses out in pain.

"Nice try. It's chicken wire." Germany smirks as he watches America's blood drip from his wrist onto the stone floor. He gets an odd look on his face before he smacks his head. "I'm not being cruel! This is the only way to save Italy! This will work!I'll show you..." He chuckles again, those eyes dilated. "Oh I'll show you." His voice sends shivers down America's spine.

Germany is fucked up. He's bat shit crazy.

The crazy man dials a number on America's phone before he holds it against America's ear. "When he answers, tell him to come back here...or else You're dead." Germany stares at him intently.

His phone rings in his ear as he spits in Germany's face. "Fuck yourself." America is pissed. He doesn't understand what's going on. Why Germany's talking about England taking Italy away and why the dude is nuts. He doesn't understand what's going on. IF England is in trouble or if England has been betraying him.

The German doesn't even flinch. He lets the spit slide down his cheek. He just stares at America with those haunting blue eyes. It looks like this guy hasn't been eating much. His cheeks are sunken in and there's bags under his eyes. America hasn't seen this guy this messed up since 80 years ago. That' worries him. Germany is back to his evil ways. Once America is out, he'll show Germany he's not taking it.

The ringing stops in his ear. "Please leave a message after the tone."

"Well?" Germany grinds his teeth, giving him a warning look with those eyes that flame.

"He didn't answer." America snaps, his eyes narrowing. "Tell what kind of fucking business you and England are in together!"

"I should be asking you the same fucking question! I know you're working with him! Working with him to keep Italy away from me! It's your plan to drive me fucking crazy!" Germany grips his fist before he punches America in the face again, hitting his nose. America grunts in pain, feeling his nose break, his blood splashing out, getting some of it on his and Germany's shirt.

"Fuck!"" America growls, moving his shoulders violently trying to get out of his binds so he can fuck this guy up. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about dude! Me and England aren't trying to keep Italy away like what the hell are you talking about? We're not trying to make you crazy, you are fucking crazy!"

Germany's lips that were in a tight frown twitch upwards, his blue eyes glazed. He chuckles, the dark sound rumbling in his throat making it warped and raspy. " You sound just like him!" Germany keeps chuckling, pointing a gloved finger at his head, his smile twitching up more. "He keeps saying i'm crazy. He keeps telling me to stop but he's wrong. He's not the truth. No, he's on your side. He wants you to win. I'm tuning him out now. I'm not crazy!" He roars his last words, his smile wiping off his face as he grips the end of his chair with such force it causes the wood to splinter.

"Maybe you should be listing to that voice! It's probably your fucking conscious! Dude you're looking and acting sick! I didn't do anything to you-"

"But your lover did!" Germany cuts him off, his eyes narrowing, the pupils shaking. "He won't help me! He won't get feli back!" He starts rocking back and forth. America is taken aback when the large man's eyes start to water. "Mein gott I just want him back! I didn't mean it. I didn't...I miss him. He could be fucking dead right now! I don't fucking know! And if he is...oh if he is it's all my fault."

"...Okay dude slow down. I really don't understand what you're talking about. I hung out with Italy not too long ago...He was fine-" America stops, his eyes widen. "Oh...Now I get it. You've gone crazy because he doesn't want to be your friend anymore. He doesn't return your feelings. He likes someone else.." America's eyes shift thinking of his brother. "...I know it must hurt but you got to get a grip man. You can't go trying to steal my iggy from me and you can't be doing this kind of stuff! This kind of shit starts wars!" Germany covers his ears, closing his eyes. America, despite the pain he's in, feels just a little bit sorry for him. He couldn't imagine how much it would hurt if when he told England he loved him if the other man didn't return his feelings, not only that but didn't want to be friends with him anymore. That would probably drive him crazy too. "Look dude...just let me go. I won't hurt you. I'll leave here and it will be like it never happen. You take some time to get yourself together and when you're alright we'll talk about the issue with you and England if there is a issue. I still have to-"

"You're wrong. Everything you say is wrong." Germany takes his hands from his ears, his eyes snapping up to lock on America's. "That Italy you 'hung' out with was not mein feli. No you are talking about a demon. The demon that has taken feli's place. My feli is not in this world...Don't you see?! This is why I need you! This is why I have to do this!"

"Dude you need a professional-"

"This is all your fault!" Germany suddenly roars, his face getting red from anger as he stands up, breathing heavily out of his nose.

"My fault-"

"You made me say those things! Hanging out with Feli, Feli talking about you. It was you who caused me to be jealous! You who caused all of this!" Germany grabs the knife from off the table, he calls England again, this time putting it on speaker phone. He puts the phone on the table next to America before he grabs his chin, forcing his head up. "Fix this. Fix this now. Make it all right or I swear to gott! I will kill you!"

"You think you can kill me? I'm a super power. No matter what you do, I'll come back. My country is doing well-"

"I don't need to kill you...I just need to make you suffer. Your screams will get me England's help." Germany's eyes narrow when the call goes to voice mail. It beeps. "Scream for me!" Germany stabs the knife down, it going into America's thigh. America' bites his lip, holding back his grunt of pain, not going to give this basket case the satisfaction. America's eyes burn with a fire as he holds Germany's intense glare. "Oh being tough are we?" Germany chuckles, ripping the knife out of his thigh.

"We'll see about that..." Germany grips America's blonde locks, forcing his head back, exposing his neck. America fights with him the whole way not letting this bastard get an easy ride. America is able to fight him enough that Germany can't get his head to stay bent back. The German grumbles in irritation before he grips America's sleeve, ripping it off. Before he can even say anything Germany takes the knife and skins it down his arm, taking a thin peel of his flesh with it. America keeps his mouth shut though he wants to scream, to curse. Germany is peeling his arm like he's peeling a potato, taking all his skin off. He keeps skinning, and skinning. America feels angry tears of pain fall down his face. He won't scream. He won't. His arm is nothing but bloody flesh when Germany's done. America is shaking, his blood dripping on the floor and getting on the German's shirt.

"You're stubborn." Germany chuckles, his lips curling in a evil smirk. "This will get you to scream." Germany reaches over, taking the container of salt and bring it closer, slowly, his smirk growing. America closes his eyes, biting his lip as hard as he can, knowing the excruciating pain that's about to come. He won't scream. He won't. America thinks of England. He thinks of the man he loves. Though America is glad he isn't answering his phone right now at the same time he's hurt by it. England never talks to him anymore. What if America really needed him? Or really needed to talk to him? Does he not care?-

His thoughts are cut off by the pain of the salt being poured on his open wounds. It feels as if his whole arm was just set on fire. The salt settling deep into his flesh making it all ache worse then Germany skinning him. America screams. He can't help it. He screams in agony. "You fuck! I'm going to fucking kill you!"

"Get England to answer." Germany warns. " I Have more ways of making you scream. This is just the beginning." Germany's eyes bounce.

"I felt sorry for you at first but I'm fucking glad Italy left you! You don't deserve him you crazy mother fucker! I won't be fucking bait for England! I won't let you hurt him! He can't help you get Italy back! No one can! No one wants a psycho-"

"Lair! England can get him back and he will! Italy didn't leave me don't you get it?! I set him away! I set him the fuck away! I did it!" Germany's eyes shake, he grips the phone, calling England's number again before setting it down. Germany's smile twitches. "If he doesn't answer this time I'm going to smash your feet with a hammer." Germany picks up the hammer from off the table, smirking.

America's arm is still sizzling from the salt. He breathes heavily out of his nose, his eyes watery. That hurt like a bitch. It's still hurting. But America is use to torture. He's been tortured before, all the nations have at one point of another. It's a part of war. It's how you get information or gain the upper hand. But this is different. Germany has gone mad. He's not crazy from a war either like he was during world war 2. No he's just crazy. He's gone mad because Italy left him. He's doing this not because of a war but because he wants to hurt him to gain something he can't have.

It's worse then when Germany was like this in world war 2. At least then, he had a excuse for going crazy. Now he doesn't. It's not his 's Ludwig who is messed up. The man inside this nation. And that scares America. He's not stable as a man, what will that mean for his nation? Will it become unstable?

"Germany!" a nervous voice calls. It sounds far away but America heard it. Germany must have too because he stops smirking, dropping the hammer with a thud. That voice was Italy's. America's eyes widen.

"Italy! Get the hell out of here! Germany's crazy-" America yells only for Germany to grab a cloth, shoving it far down America's throat. The American gags, not able to yell anymore.

"Germany!" Italy keeps calling, unaware.

The German's eyes are wide, his body tense but when he hears his name a second time he turns on his heel and runs up the stairs out of this room, almost falling down the stairs in the process. His eyes had lite up with both disbelief and hope. His face warped. Shit...Italy is in for it. Germany might kill him. America's eye brows furrow. He's the hero. He can't let Germany hurt Italy. America starts to struggle with his binds but it brings him to much pain. He ends up crying out, his blood splatting on the stone floor.

The phone stops ringing, it going to voice mail once again. America looks over at the phone weakly, his heart beat ecstatic and his arm still bring him great pain. He can't help to think, even with all that's going on...

What the hell is England doing?

---

"Lights off, check. Candles lit..." Norway lights a match, lighting a single candle that wasn't aflame. There's many candles surrounding where he's sitting, their flames dancing to an unknown tune. Casting shadows over his face. "Check."

"Are you quite done?" England drums his fingers impatiently, sitting across from the blonde on a red circle drawn with trolls' blood. Don't worry, he didn't kill them. Trolls are kind enough to donate their blood to him. He's known the trolls for a long time, they're ugly on the outside but sweet as can be on the inside. England wears his dark cloak, woven with fairy dust in each strand.

"I'm setting the mood. It has to be just right or this will be a failure like all your magic spells." Norway grunts as he shifts a little, getting comfortable. He's wearing a dark cloak too but it's not as cool as his mind you. Norway doesn't have as many magical friends as him. It's a shame really.

"Oh shut up you bloody git! I did set the mood! I turned off the lights and drew this circle! That's all we need!" England's eye twitches before he takes a deep breath. "whatever. It doesn't matter. Let's get focused." England holds out his hands, looking this man right in his blue eyes that are deep and dark. "To see the Magical barrier it will take complete focus."

"I know this." Norway gives him a bored look as he puts his hands in England's gripping them tightly. "Don't hold me back now."

"Funny I was about to say the same thing to you." England and Norway exchange a knowing look before they close their eyes. The only sound is the pendulum in between them. Going back and forth. England focuses on the sound, feeling his magic flow through his veins, his magic comes out of his hands, fusing with Norway's. England doesn't have his eyes open but he knows that he's glowing, just as Norway is. He feels himself float slightly off the ground, hovering. "Open our eyes, let us see what we need to see." England and Norway speak, their voices merged together like their magic.

Suddenly England is no longer in his basement, holding hands with Norway. He's floating outside of the earth, in space, in darkness. The large ball of green and blue in front of him. England gasps when he sees the magical barrier become visible around the earth. It's a thin layer of pink light with stars in between. It's a beautiful sight. England feels his chest tighten when he sees the hole in the magical barrier...and how large it is. The hole has gotten bigger. It looks like someone took a bat and struck the magical barrier, shattering it. The edges of the hole are a nasty black color, jagged like broken glass. The black color is spreading. Pieces of the magical barrier falling off, making the hole bigger.

Something moves, England catching it from the corner of his eye. He turns his head only for his eyes to widen. There's...another earth? It's far away from this earth but it's close. Closer than it should be. England can see the magical barrier of the other earth and it's doing the same thing. There's a hole that's spreading. It seems the hole is bigger in the other earth. England then sees magic coming from off the barriers going from one barrier to the other. They're sucking magical energy from each other.

England jolts when he stops floating, hitting the ground. His eyes snap open, he breathes heavily as if he was underwater for a long time and he had no air. It felt like that. He wasn't breathing in his vision. He was holding his breath. Norway is in a similar state, panting, his eyes wide. A bead of sweat falling down his brow. The pendulum has stopped moving and the candles have blown out.

"Did you...see that?" England pants, his words airy.

"yeah..." Norway closes his eyes, breathing in through his nose.

"It's worse than we thought." England catches his breath finally but he can't calm his beating heart. "I thought the only thing we would have to worry about is patching up the hole. No...The hole is actually spreading. It's getting bigger. Did you see that?"

"Yeah, the black stuff. The black gunk is spreading, decay is spreading, causing more of the magical barrier to break."

"...Did you see that other earth?" England's voice is no more than a whisper.

"Yeah I did. That's the other world isn't it? The one Feliciano is on now? It was a lot closer than I expected...shouldn't it be in another universe?" Norway keeps his eyes closed.

"Yes it should but maybe when my other self broke the barrier and made the exchange, it caused their world to get closer." England takes a deep breath. "You saw what the magical barriers of both our words are doing yes?"

"They're feeding off each other. They're trying to repair themselves by stealing magic from the other world."

"That's the black gunk. That's why our hole is getting bigger. The other world is feeding off of our barrier. Just as our world is feeding on the their barrier." England gets up and starts to pace back and forth, his face pale. "This is much worse than I thought. My other self really screwed things up. He's destroyed the order of the universe and now the worlds don't know how to act. We need to destroy the connection My other self has made to this world. We need to stop the other world from feeding off of us."

"...Did you notice the other earth was...getting closer?" Norway's eyes shift as he thinks. "The other world was getting closer, slowly inching towards our world. The connection you're talking about might be why it's getting closer. They're trying to get closer to their food source. Like a magnetic pull." Norway looks up at England. "...What do you think would happen if our two worlds collided?"

"...I don't know." England closes his eyes. "But I know it wouldn't be good. We'd probably both be destroyed. That's not our main concern though. With the rate our magical barrier is deteriorating one of our worlds will be destroyed before they even get the chance to collide. Right now it seems we have the upper hand but that doesn't mean that the other world could ring us dry. We can't let our magical barrier fall, if it does our world will fall apart. It will be destroyed."

"Do you think if we tried to exchange Luciano for Feliciano it would break the connection? Think about it. Their exchange is what caused this. If Luciano goes back to his world, and Feliciano back to this one we could break the connection like that. The universe would be back to normal." Norway closes his eyes thinking.

"That's impossible." England looks back at Norway. " The magical barrier is far too weak to do an exchange. Honestly I believe if we tried our world and their world will be destroyed. Neither of our worlds can take that kind of strain. The magical barriers are too fragile. I don't believe even my crazy other half could pull it off. It's literally impossible." England takes a deep breath. "We have to find another way. We need to repair our magical barrier."

"The magical barrier will keep getting weaker as long as the other world is feeding off of it. We have to break the connection somehow." Norway stands up.

"Or...we just have to out live the other world." England doesn't look at him. "Think about it. We keep repairing the magical barrier and wait it out. Their barrier is worse than ours. Once their world is destroyed everything will be okay. There won't be a world feeding off of ours anymore."

"What about Feliciano who's on that world?"

"...Sacrifices have to be made if our world is to survive." England swallows, feeling sick to his stomach.

"...so that's are plan? Waiting it out? What happens if that other world gets too close? If it collides with us it will kill us all. We need to break the connection England."

"If you have a plan on how to do that i'd love to hear it." Britain puts a hand over his heart, it beats fanatically against his chest. When he closes his eyes he sees Italy's cheerful smile. IT makes him feel sick. Then he sees the other world, the world Italy is on, burst into flames before it disappears into the darkness of space. Britain grips his cloak feeling short of breath. He remembers talking to Italy through the mirror, the Italian's smiling face as he told him he wanted to stay...that he wanted to help that world. He wanted to be useful. Britain feels a lump in his throat. Italy wanted to save that world and now he's going to die with it. He's going to disappear into the darkness with this world that is not his own.

"Excuse me Norway. I need a moment."

"..alright. When you got yourself together we should head to Germany. That's where the hole is the deepest." Norway sighs. "We'll try your idea but I'll be thinking of a way to break this damn connection..."

England isn't listening to him anymore. He walks out of the dark room, walking up the stairs. The light from the hallway hurts his eyes, he has to blink a couple of times to get use to it. England walks slowly towards his room, his shoulders slumped with the weight of this decision. He literally has the weight of the world on his shoulders. It's up to England to save their world...at the cost of the other world. At the cost of Feliciano's life.

Now more than ever, his body yearns for America. He yearns to be in those strong arms, for him to comfort him in that annoying way of his, for him to say everything will be okay because he's the hero. He wants America to hold him and kiss him. He wants to kiss America. He wants to hear his voice. He misses him so much, this whole thing has ruined their relationship. England hasn't been talking to America like he should. He's been ignoring him but he's had to do it. He wanted to keep America out of this but now it's not possible. He needs someone to talk to.

He needs a hero.

England walks into his room and flops on his bed. He reaches over, grabbing his phone about to call the energetic blonde, wanting to feel better, to feel warm. He stop when he sees America has called him three times. He has one voice mail. England's chest warms, his heart picking up speed. America has been calling him...He must miss him just as much as England misses him. He's probably wondering what's going on...Well it's time that England explain himself. He doesn't want to lose America. He needs him. He needs him to get through this. England has been alone for most of his life. He's had to make tough decisions and he's had to deal with the consequences alone.

But it doesn't have to be like that now. He's not alone. He has America and he loves him. He cares about him. Though the git is annoying, he knows how to make England feel loved. He knows how to make him smile.

England doesn't need to listen to the voice mail. He wants to talk to America. England dials in America's number, placing the phone by his ear, he listens to it ring. He swallows, feeling nervous. First he'll apologize and then he'll ask Alfred to come over. He will and then England will explain himself...America will forgive him and then they'll cuddle. Alfred will touch his body and make him forget about the world for a moment. If just a moment. Then they can face this problem together. Arthur truly loves Alfred. He loves the goofy man's smile and those bright blue eyes full of life and dreams. He can't wait to see him again.

England closes his eyes, listening to the ringing. He waits for America's loud voice, he waits for him to go off on him as he does sometimes. Britain's smile twitches up at the thought.

He's not alone anymore.

---

"So are you going to tell me whats going on?" Romano tenses when his thoughts of his brother are broken by the albino next to him. He was so focused on driving and reliving Spain's dark look in his eyes before he went after his brother that he forgot he had a potato bastard in his car.

"I told you. Spain went nuts and he's going to hurt by brother. That's the story." Romano keeps his eyes on the road though he can feel Prussia's gaze on him.

"Ok but Spain doesn't just go crazy and he defiantly doesn't hurt Italy. Whats the reason. What happen." Prussia crosses his arms, leaning back in the seat. Romano feels himself start to sweat. He doesn't want to tell this guy what the hell happened. He doesn't feel like seeing disgust on Prussia's face or anger when he hears he cheated on Spain- "You cheated on him didn't you?"

Romano's eyes widen and he whips his head over to look at Prussia in surprise. Prussia stares back at him with those red eyes deep and serious. There's no smirk on his face. There's no look of anger in his eyes either. His face is blank. "H-How the fuck did you-"

"That's the only reason I could think of that Spain would go crazy." Prussia shrugs. "If I was you I would keep mein eyes on the road."

Romano looks back quickly just in time to see that he's swerved onto the other lane and there's a truck coming their way. Romano, very manly, squeaks before he turns the wheel swiftly, getting back on the right lane and saving them from becoming pancakes. Romano takes deep breaths, his heart beating fast. He takes a moment to get his thoughts together before he speaks again. "Yeah...you're fucking right I cheated." The words make him sick.

"Okay so that's the reason Spain has gone crazy but...why attack Italy?" Prussia's eye brows furrow. "I would think he would go after the person you cheated on him with-" Prussia stops talking. His red eyes widen and he whips his head over, staring at Romano in disbelief. "No way...Your brother? Italy is the one you've-"

"Don't you dare fucking judge me." Romano feels his face get red from shame but also...he feels defensive. "You don't fucking understand. I know it's wrong. I know you must be fucking disgusted but you just don't get it. Italy was the one pushing it and..." Romano stops himself. This is what got Italy in this situation in the first place. Romano put all the blame on Italy. He was too scared to admit his guilt to Spain. "No. You know what? Italy started it but I didn't stop it. When he kissed me...I felt fucking whole. He made me feel loved! Spain is always fucking hanging out with you and France. Hell I bet he's been fucking France! That's why those two are always together!...Italy makes me feel like I'm the only one he loves. He treats me like i'm fucking precious and i've been a dick to him. I just don't know how to feel. I should be disgusted. I should get help, along with Italy but at the same time I don't want to. You don't understand how fucking confusing this is!" Romano hits his wheel out of rage, causing the horn to go off. The guy in front of them beeps back, sticking his middle finger out of the window. "Yeah fuck you too buddy!" Romano's eyes twitches as he zooms up close to the person in front of them. "Yeah i'm tail gating your ass now!"

" I understand." Romano stops his yelling to glance over at Prussia. The ex nation is looking away from him, watching the cars go by. " You both are half of the same nation. Of course being with him would make you feel whole. He can make you feel like no other. I don't love Germany like that if that's what your thinking. No I just understand where you're coming from. When I'm around Germany I feel content. Like I am a nation again. Look at America and England. They were brothers. Just because America broke away doesn't change that fact. So...i don't think it's disgusting." Prussia looks over at him and glares a bit. "But it's not awesome at all that you would cheat on Spain. The poor guy is head over heels in love with you. He's not fucking France. Who the hell would fuck France? He's probably got every STD known to mankind! Take it from the awesome me, he has never cheated on you. He hangs out with us a lot because of me. I'm just that awesome. But he does talk about you the whole time, showing us pictures. It gets so fucking annoying." Prussia groans. "You know, if you make up with Spain i'd be happy to take Italy off your hands-"

"Keep your creepy hands off my brother!" Romano snaps but it's not as harsh as he wanted it to be. This fucking potato bastard...made him feel better. He's right, he understands what Romano's feeling. Germany is the other half of his nation, Prussia is the oldest. There's nothing wrong with him loving his brother...no. Italy was trying to tell him that all this time. incest happening around the world with the nations. America and England, France had a thing for him and his brother and they're brothers...so if it's okay for America and England to be in love, why can't it be okay for Italy and Romano to be in love?

But then there's Spain. Romano loves him too. He feels guilt for making Spain hurt like this, for driving him crazy enough to attack Feli. Spain loves feli too...Romano has hurt him so much that he can't even see that anymore.

"Enough of this deep talk, I'm too awesome to be a therapist." Prussia chuckles as Romano runs another red light. " Do you even know how to drive? I could drive better in mein sleep i'm so awesome."

"Shut the fuck up my driving is fine." Romano grunts as he swerves in the other lane so he can pass this mother fucker who's going too slow. "Because of my driving we're almost there!" Romano hopes they're not too late.

Really this car trip hasn't been so bad with the potato bastard. He has an annoying voice and when he talks about how awesome he is Romano wants to strangle him but he entertains himself. He reminds him of Italy in some ways. For half the car ride Prussia was singing to the radio, the other half he was playing with his bird, telling stories of how awesome he was in these battles that Romano wasn't listening too.

Then again for most of the trip Romano's been out of it. Only when Prussia asked him about what happen did he even realize the other man was there.

Romano pulls into his driveway, he barely puts the car into park before he's ripping the keys out and jumping out of the car. He doesn't wait for Prussia. He runs up his long drive way, his eyes shaking in fear when he sees Spain's car already sitting in the driveway ahead. He runs, the rocks In their driveway hurting his feet but he doesn't care. He can't yell, he can't speak, hoping, praying Italy wasn't in the house when Spain came or that he was smart enough to hide or to run. Romano's eyes dilate when he sees the door has been left open. He runs into the house, screaming. "Spain-" Romano stops, his scream choking him.

There's blood all over his living room. A large puddle on the floor, dark,almost black. There's splashes of it on his couches, ruining the white fabric and some of it on the walls. A vase is broken and a lamp. There was a struggle. Romano covers his mouth as he sees Spain standing in the middle of this room, still holding the bat, his back turned to him. So much blood...Romano can see his terrified reflection in the black puddle.

"R-Romano?" Spain whips around quickly when he heard Romano's scream, his face is pale like he saw a ghost. The bat drops from his hands, his green eyes are shaking with confusion and shock. "T-This isn't what it looks like!-"

"Y-You...you killed him! You killed my brother!" Romano's chest feels griped, frighten tears falling down his face when Spain takes a step forward. "NO! Stay the fuck away from me!" Romano screams, turning on his heel and running. Running as fast as he can. His heart is beating so fast, his tears blurring his vision.

"Romano! No I didn't! I didn't kill Italy! You don't understand!" Spain yells after him, Romano can hear his frantic foot falls. Spain is running after him. He killed his brother. He's going to kill him. HE killed his brother. Italy is gone. "I lost myself a moment Romano but I would never kill Italy! You have to know that! I was angry yes! But you know I wouldn't have-"

"I don't believe you! Just stay the fuck away!" Romano screams as he takes off running into the forest next to their home, running as fast as he can, his tears making it harder to see but he can make out the brown blurs as trees so he doesn't run into them.
"Romano!" Spain's voice starts to fade away. IT fades and fades till Romano can't hear him anymore. The Italian ends up tripping on a log, falling hard on his chest, knocking the wind right out of him. He wheezes, laying on his stomach, not moving. His ankle hurts. He sprain it, he knows he did. Romano lets his tears fall as he tries to catch his breath.

Italy is dead. That's all his head can think of. If Italy isn't dead he's dying. He's been put through pain. And it's all Romano's fault. It wouldn't be the first time. Again he's let it happen. He put the blame on Italy and now look what's happened. Romano wasn't even brave enough to look for Italy, to find his body and see if he was alive or not. It's only a matter of time before Spain finds him here. Will he hurt him? Will he kill him? His mind can't think straight. He's in shock. He never, truly thought Spain would hurt his brother so bad. He might have beat on him a little but not...that. There was so much blood. So much of his brother's blood.

"I-Italy..." Romano sobs, his chest hurts as if there's glass inside, cutting him. He calls for his brother. "Italy!" He yells his name, not caring if Spain will find him. He's calling for his brother to help him. He's calling for his brother to come back...to let him know he's still here somewhere.

Because without Spain to protect him who does he have? He has no one but himself...The only other person he had was his brother. His brother who's stupid and makes stupid decisions but...he always protected him. Always. Maybe the dream was wrong...maybe it didn't make sense but maybe it was telling Romano something. It was showing him how much Italy has given up for him. How much he loves him.

"I-Italy..." He calls, wheezing out. Praying that what he saw was just a horrible nightmare. Praying that his brother isn't truly gone.

He doesn't want to die alone.

---

Prussia watches as Romano runs out of the car ahead of him. He's still shocked, though he didn't show it. He's too awesome for that. Deep down he always thought that Italy and Germany were perfect for each other. He thought it was just a matter of time before Italy fell into his little brother's arms. Knowing their past better then anyone. Prussia could not have guessed that Italy would not return his brother's feelings, instead loving Romano. No wonder his brother has been going crazy. Maybe Italy told him that day that he didn't love West, that he loved Romano. Maybe that's why Germany lost it and hurt Italy. Why he chased him all the way home.

After all this is over he needs to go visit his brother and give him some of his awesome support. It's crazy...Italy being in love with Romano has caused a lot of trouble. Spain and Germany going crazy, Romano seems like he could go crazy next. His eyes were shaking a lot. He looked terrified the whole ride as if some creature were right behind them, chasing them, wanting to eat him. Prussia tried talking to him but he kept ignoring him. He was in his own little world during the drive.

This whole thing is a mess and even though Prussia knows Italy didn't mean all of this, He is the core of the problem.

Prussia gets out of the car about to run after Romano when the little bird on his shoulder starts to chirp loudly, grabbing a strand of his hair with it's small feet and tugging. "What is it gilbird? I have to stop Spain-"

It's chirps become more frantic and his tugging harder. "...you don't usually freak out like this...what are you trying to show me? Is Italy hiding in the forest?" The bird just chirps louder. "Okay bird you're awesome so this better be something worth my awesomeness." Prussia glances up at Romano who is still running up the driveway before he runs into the forest, following the small yellow bird who is flying in front of him, chirping, leading him some where. The trees around him seem to cave in around him, the way he came in now blocked by trees. He keeps moving forward. The sun is slowly setting, the clouds a light pink. The forest is darker though. Shadows are cast from the branches that look like skinny arms reaching out to grab him.

Trees don't scare Prussia though. Nor does the forest or the dark. For years he lived in a forest and hunting at night is the best time. It's the funnest. You never know what you're going to run into. As a child he would pretend he would run into a monster, one with large teeth and red eyes like his own. He would day dream that he would slay this monster with his sword and he would become even more legendary then he already is.

Prussia can't help his smirk thinking of himself as a kid. He was so cute, now he's fucking sexy and even more awesome.

Gilbird leads him deeper and deeper in the forest before he dips down and lands on a lump on the ground. Prussia can't see what it is so he picks up the pace...It looks like it's a brown bag. Large enough to hold a body in it. There's a red stain that covers most of the bag. Prussia's smirk falls. "...Who is that?" his chest tightens...is Italy in that bag? Did Spain...do this? Prussia jumps over a log, landing on his knees right beside the brown sack. Gilbird tweets softly, the small animal tilts its' head at Prussia. The ex nation keeps his hands steady as he unties the knot at the top, pulling the bag down, revealing it's contents.

Prussia tenses when his eyes fall on the pale face of that one guy. That guy who gave him pancakes and syrup. Canada. It's Canada. The soft spoken blonde is laying on his back, his eyes closed, dried blood on the side of his face, over his left eye. "Shit!" Prussia quickly tears the rest of the bag, revealing his body, his shirt up half way showing the black bruise on his stomach. His rips are sunken in, broken. Blood is pouring like a steady stream from his mouth. Internal bleeding. His head is busted open and there's cuts on his body. Someone beat the holy fuck out of him. Prussia leans his head on Canada's chest, his eyes widening when he hears a heart beat. It's not much but it's there. Then again, Canada is a nation, and his nation is doing well.

"Damn guy...what happened to you?" This guy was the last person he thought he was going to see. Prussia gently picks Canada up and throws him over his shoulder. "Hold on birdie! The awesome me will save you!" Prussia starts to run back the way he came, gilbird flying in front of him, chirping. Canada's body bonces against his shoulder. Maybe he should have been more gentle but the man is already fucked up. If Prussia isn't fast he could die. Though Matthew dying isn't really a big deal, he'll come back because Canada is doing well, still it could take awhile and going through death isn't something he takes lightly. Prussia has gone through it many times. Also...When they die they forget a lot of things. They forget moments in the past. Prussia doesn't want Matthew dying and not being able to tell him what happened.

Prussia's surprise to find his heart is beating fast and he's sweating. He's concerned about this guy. He hasn't seen him in so long but he remembers spending that day with him, tasting maple syrup and going to heaven. He hung out with him a couple of times after that but he hasn't gotten to hang out with Canada recently. He's been busy going on trips with the bad touch trio, it's been a couple of weeks...He's thought about Canada. He thought about this guy a lot when he thinks about it. Honestly he was planning to see this guy soon, he was going to see him next week and take him out to go fishing with him.

"Come on birdie, don't die on me." Prussia whispers. "That's not awesome..." Prussia moves Canada so he's holding him like a baby against his chest when the nation started to whimper in pain. The albino takes off running again, being a bit slower carrying Canada this way, the guy looks small but he's heavy! Gilbird leads them out of the forest, back to Romano's car that's still sitting in the driveway. Then he remembers why he was here in the first place. Italy. Italy and Spain.

"Fuck! What's with all this messed up shit happening?" Prussia runs with Canada up the driveway, knowing the Italian's must have some first aid in their home or at least bandages and pain meds. Before he even goes inside the house the smell of blood reaches his nostrils. A smell he's very familiar with. It's the scent of his time as a nation. Blood of his people, blood of his enemies spilled everywhere. "Italy?...Spain?" Prussia walks in cautiously, his eyes widen when he sees all the blood everywhere. "What the hell?" the albino whispers as he carries Canada slowly into the Italian's home. "Spain? Romano? Italy?" No response. "Shit! Gilbird go out and see if you can find them anywhere around here. I have to help birdie or he's done for." The small bird chirps before it flies out of the home quickly.

Prussia walks over to one of the stained couches, laying Canada there gently. The blonde makes no movement but he's still breathing. "Hold on birdie." Prussia doesn't feel like moving Canada's body to take off his shirt so he just rips it in the middle, exposing his bruised stomach and messed up ribs. Prussia's surprised to see that Canada is already healing. One of his ribs has moved its self back into place and he can see the others slowly doing the same. The bruise isn't as dark as he first saw it. Canada is healing and he's healing fast. The only problem is Canada is burning up. His body is red and when Prussia touches his forehead it feels like he stuck his hand on a stove. This is normal though. When nations are hurt badly like this they heal but it takes a lot out of them. Their bodies become unnaturally hot and they end up getting sick. The sickness ends up killing most nations half the time. It fries their internal organs.

Prussia has to keep Canada cool so he can heal properly. The albino runs quickly to the kitchen and gets a cup of ice. He runs back throwing the ice cubes on Canada's chest, they immediately melt, sizzling on his flesh before they're nothing. Prussia goes back into the Italian's kitchen and starts tearing up the place, trying to find their pots and pans. He finds a nice sized boiling pot under the sink, he fills it up with cold water before dumping as much ice as he can into it.

"The awesome me will keep you cool birdie! You're not dying on me!" Prussia runs over with the pot, grinning. He dumps the water over Canada, it getting on his face and chest. The water sizzles a lot but slowly it dies down. Canada is breathing heavily, panting, his blonde hair dark from being wet, slicked away from his face. That long curl of his is crooked. Prussia touches Canada's body lightly...still hot but not so bad. The bruise on his stomach has completely healed. Prussia is about to get up to refill the pot when he hears the blonde groan and his body shift. "Birdie? Birdie can you hear me?" Prussia gets on his kneels, hovering over the other man's face, frowning slightly.

"...P...Pruss...ia?" Canada's words are raspy, his eyes opening halfway. Trapped water falls out of his eyes and sides down his cheeks. "Is that...y-you? W-what are you...doing here?"

"ja, it's the awesome me. I'm just saving your sorry arse is all!" Prussia grins before it falls, his voice getting softer, more serious. "What happened birdie? Who did this to you?"

Canada is silent a moment, groaning softly. "I...I-I don't..." Then he stops, his blue eyes opening a bit more as he grabs Prussia's wrist tightly, gripping it enough that it hurts. "R...Rus..sia!" The name is said in a gasp, those blue eyes terrified.

"Russia? He did this?" Prussia doesn't bother forcing Canad to let go of him. He can take the pain. "Why'd he dump you near Italy's house? Why'd he even attack you the fucking bastard?" talking about Russia always makes him pissed but for some reason finding out Russia is the one who did this to birdie makes him want to find the freak and beat the shit out of him. He feels like punching something.

"I was...a-already here." Canada's eyes shift as he thinks, his face getting red.

"You were already here? I didn't know you were friends with Italy." Prussia frowns at how Canada blushes more. He doesn't know why it makes his stomach twist. Canada blushed a lot when they hung out before and he thought it was cute but- wait did he just say cute?

"W-Well...a little m-more than friends." Canada squeaks out, his eyes looking everywhere but Prussia.

"What?!" Prussia's eyes widen. "You're banging Italy?! When did this happen!"

"D-Don't say it like t-that!" Canada's face turns so red, his voice getting high like a bird. "It..h-happen just recently. I h-haven't seen you in awhile...I-I was going to tell you when we hung o-out again but it's been so long." Canada's eyes shift before he starts to cough.

"You and...Italy?" Prussia frowns, not understanding why his chest hurts. "Seems a little weird. You just started hanging out with him right?"

"Y-Yeah but...i-it only took one day Prussia. I-Italy was so nice to me" Canada blushes.

"...Alright." Prussia looks away from Canada, his chest tightening. "So you came over to see Italy...how the hell did Russia come into this?"

"He...j-just showed up." Canada's eyes widen. "I-I was just holding Italy and t-then I w-was hit on the head. It w-was...Russia. He started saying w-weird things like I need to keep m-my hands off of what's his..h-he said Italy couldn't love anyone but him...t-then Russia attacked me. I-Italy just watched. He said...h-he wanted to love me." Canada frowns, his curl drooping, his eyes watering. "I-I think he was afraid of Russia...b-but deep down I know..." Canada's shoulders shake. "H-He doesn't love me like i-i love him. It w-was in his eyes."

"Man Italy's fucking everyone." Prussia grumbles but seeing Canada cry as he is, so beaten, gets him to frown. He feels anger. Anger towards Italy. Something he'd never think he'd feel. "Come on birdie..." Prussia leans in, wrapping his arms around the smaller man, letting him cry on his shoulder. "Who the hell needs Italy anyway? You shouldn't cry over him...He had a thing with his brother too. He's a hoe, you deserve better than that-"

"Y-You don't understand. I-Italy was the first to understand me...the f-first that wanted to touch me. He d-didn't mistake me for America. He made me feel v-visible. He made me feel like I-I wasn't alone. B-but I should have k-known I wouldn't have been good enough for him. W-what do I have to offer? I'm the guy no one knows. I'm the g-guy everyone beats on because they think i'm America. I-I'm the guy who can't stand up for himself...the guy everyone forgets." Canada's curl twitches, his batted body shaking. He hiccups.

"Stop it." Prussia pulls Canada away, looking him in the eyes, his red ones serious getting Canada to tense. He looks angry. "You're awesome birdie. Don't let anyone make you feel other wise. Italy wasn't the one for you but that doesn't mean you're alone. You weren't alone to begin with! I know you're not America. I know when you're around. You know how to make awesome pancakes, and you're a bad ass when it comes to hockey and being on the ice. You know how to shoot a bow and arrow, your movies are awesome. You have these bright eyes and cute laugh..." Prussia stops himself, his cheeks dusting pink. He coughs. "You're not invisible. Not to me."

Canada stares at him with wide eyes, his cheeks tear stained and red. His lips look so full and delicious. Prussia can't stop himself from moving in, kissing him gently on the lips, groaning at how soft the blondes lips are and how they feel against his own. It's such an awesome feeling that he knows he'll do it again. The way his heart beats and his brain buzzes...He feels light headed.

"P-Prussia..." Canada's face is so red when Prussia stops kissing him, his eyes wide with shock. "Y-you..."

"It made me angry hearing about you and Italy so from now on you're mind birdie. Don't kiss anyone with those lips of yours." Prussia's voice gets softer as he kisses Canada's forehead. "...I've been in love with you for awhile. I just didn't think it was awesome of me to ruin our friendship...not that I thought you would turn down the awesome me but..." Prussia trails off, looking down for a moment. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long...I know I didn't return your phone calls it's just...I got confused. We were hanging out so much and while I was around you my heart started to beat faster. I liked your smile too much. Your laughter got my blood flowing. Being away I realized I loved you from how much I missed you. I-" Canada cuts him off with kissing his lips, so softly, so nicely, Prussia melts into him.

"I f-forgive you." Canada's eye shine brightly, those tears of sadness replaced with tears of joy. "I-I'm so glad...I felt the same but once you left I gave up...I just wanted t-to feel loved. My brother has England...I just wanted-"

"Someone to love? Well now you have me. Look no further. I love you." Prussia kisses Canada once more before running his hands through his hair. "Get some rest mein liebe. You still need to heal."

"Y-You'll be here when I wake up?" Canada looks up at him with tired eyes, he's barely keeping them open.

"OF course." Canada closes his eyes, sleep taking him instantly. "I'll always be here." Prussia's heart swells. He feels like he could dance...yet at the same time he still feels anger.

Russia. Russia hurt his love. So did Italy. Prussia won't leave Canada but when he wakes up...he'll have to tell him he has some business to take care of.

What happened to Spain and Romano anyway?

---

The quiet hallways are disturbed by the clanking of boots. The men who where standing in the hallway, whispering amongst themselves stop their talking. They turn towards the man approaching them, opening their mouths to speak only to stop when they see him and hear him. Russia is walking towards them, his eyes closed as he hums to himself, a smile frozen on his face. He holds a vase of Sunflowers and there's a skip in his step. How could there not be? His love is waiting for him in their room. Not only that but his boss agreed to his proposal. His boss seemed reluctant but Russia always gets what he wants. Russia is aware of the men in front of his room, well he should say his and Italy's room. Italy will never leave him again. Russia is aware these men want to talk to him about his sister Ukraine but the cold nation doesn't feel like it right now.

It's nice because he doesn't even have to say anything. One look at the smile on Russia's face and the sound of his humming and those men are running off quickly. Smart guys. Russia doesn't like men being around his beloved anyway. His Italy is a delicate Sunflower, he won't let anyone soil him. Canada tried, and he left him to bleed to death in the forest beside Italy's old home.

Russia giggles thinking how Canada's blood got everywhere and how he screamed. Very amusing. Russia has never felt so gitty before. He feels as if he could dance off their largest building. Italy was so light in his arms as he carried him away. They talked about past tortures and even talked about future ideas for torturing people. Italy listened to him on the plane ride as he talked about his sister Ukraine...It's nice having someone to talk to. It's nice having a friend, not just a friend but a lover. Someone who will keep him warm in this cold nation. Russia had to leave his beloved in their room so he could talk to his boss about a couple of things. So he could tell his servants about his plans for tomorrow. Russia also found some sunflowers for his beloved.

Italy will be so joyful when Russia tells him the news.

"Italy my sweet, i've got you something~" Russia's voice is sing song as he opens the large black door leading into their room. Next to their king sized bed is Italy, curled up in the corner, covering his eyes with his hands.

"Don't take my eyes, don't take my eyes." Italy rocks back and forth, clawing at his eyes. "I can't see...I can't see...!" His breathing is heavy. Russia tilts his head, his smile not falling as he closes the door behind him. He hides the flowers behind his back as he walks closer to Italy who is still whispering too himself. "I'll kill you...My eyesight...come back...come back...I can't see." Italy growls as Russia kneels in front of him.

"Peek a boo." Russia smiles as he grabs Italy's hand, ripping his hand away from one of his eyes. Italy's eyes snap open, a dark look in his eyes that would scare many but not Russia. Looking into that darkness there, the murderous look. Russia falls more in love. "You can see! I have cured you." Russia can't stop his giggles.

"...oh. It's you." Italy's dark look leaves. His face goes blank as he feels his eyes, feeling them being there he sighs.

"Were you having a nightmare?" Russia's smile falls a little bit when Italy starts to chuckle. It's a dry humorless chuckle.

"Not exactly. I suppose someone ripping out your eyes is a nightmare but...when I think about what I did to those sorry ass nations...It makes me laugh." Italy's lips turn in a smirk.

"Don't think of anything that will upset you. The past is over. You have me now. No one will touch you. If they do, I will personally rip them apart and give you their eyes as a gift."

"I like the way you think." Italy chuckles, this time with humor. "Me and you...We're too much alike."

"That's why we go together so well." Russia's smile grows. "I will not take your eyes. I will only give you whatever you desire..." Russia grabs Italy's hand with one of his, lifting him up and leading him over to the bed. Italy watches him carefully as they both sit down. "I got you something." Russia pulls out the sunflowers from behind him,holding it out for Italy to take. "I saw these and couldn't help to think of you!"

"Uh...thanks." Italy wrinkles his nose. "They're...beautiful."

"I'm glad you think so! They are one of your many wedding gifts!~" Russia claps his hands. Italy blinks.

"...Did you say wedding gift?"

"Da! We're getting married my love! My servants are getting it prepared! We will be wed tomorrow! You will be my wife." Russia kisses Italy's hand, the Italian is staring at him strangely. He must be so happy he's in shock!

"...Don't you think tomorrow is a little soon my beloved? I need to pick out my suit and there's decorations and-"

"no worries! My servants will take care of it! You will be the queen of Russia! I am calling off the fighting with Ukraine for tomorrow. All of Russia will witness you becoming one with me forever." Russia shakes his hands in excitement. "Aren't you happy my love? You will never leave. We'll be together forever."

"Forever is a long time. How are you even sure what tomorrow will be like? If you will still want me...If it's even right." Italy looks at the sunflowers in his hands. "There was someone before you who spoke like you. He told me...we would be together forever. And I believed him. I believed him like a child would. Even when we were separated I believed his words. Even when the world was telling me of his betrayal, I believed. I waited. I believed he would come for me...i believed he would take me away but..." Italy stops talking, his amber eyes shifting up to met Russia's gaze. "Forever is a long time. Marriage is serious. You don't even know who I am."

"And I don't need to. All I know is that I want you. I can learn about you as we spend forever together. Forget about anyone else. It's me and only me. Remember that..." Russia leans close, smiling. "Anyone you kiss with these lips, you have poisoned. I will make sure death falls upon them shortly."

"I'll keep that in mind." Italy smiles oddly. " I'm poison huh? Some things don't change." Suddenly Italy's eyes widen, his pupils dilate. He puts a hand over his heart, breathing heavily. There's fear in his eyes...concern. "Romano..."

"What?" Russia's eyes narrow.

"My brother need me. I feel it...I can feel him. I must go to him." Italy stands up quickly, dropping the sunflowers...They fall on the floor. Russia gets up just as quickly, he grabs Italy's arm hard, using his weight he throws Italy back on the bed roughly.

"Oh no. You're not going anywhere. The last time you went to see your brother you were all over another man." Russia gets on top of Italy, pinning him to the bed, his purple eyes flaring. "Also I don't like the look in your eyes when you talk of your brother. You smile when you talk to him and you frown when you worry about him. You should smile only for me. Forget about your brother."

"Now now...lets not get hasty." Italy's eyes flash, his hands reaching out in a flash, grabbing Russia by the neck tightly, not enough to choke him but close to it. Russia's eyes narrow, waiting for italy to try to choke him...instead Italy leans up, giving him a deep kiss. Russia tenses in surprise but soon melts to his kiss. He becomes like jelly as he kisses his soon to be wife. Italy is able to move Russia so he's on top, his hands still on his neck tightly. Russia kind of likes it. Pain is something he's familiar with but his love is doing It...compared to what he's been through his slight squeezing is nothing. "Are you jealous my love? What are you jealous of? I'm getting married to you aren't I? I just care for my brother...just as I know you care for your sister Ukraine and Belarus. You three have your differences and you may fight some times but deep down you love your sisters. In a twisted way you do, just as I love my brother. So you see, being jealous of my brother is like me being jealous of Ukraine. There's nothing to worry about my love. I promise..." Italy kisses the corner of Russia's mouth, the large man's cheeks dusting.

"...I still don't like it." Russia looks away childishly. "So no. you can't go-"

"that's alright." Italy surprises Russia once again. The man kisses him deeply, his tongue darting into his mouth, playing with his own. Russia feels his body warm up and he sighs, kissing Italy back, gripping his hair to the point it has to hurt. Italy makes no sound of complaint. He nudges Russia's head with his nose pushing on his cheek, Russia turns his head, a bit sadden when Italy lets go of his neck, only for his eyes to widen when the Italian starts to kiss his neck, licking the sensitive skin, nibbling on it. Russia closes his eyes, moaning softly, hugging the Italian against his chest, wanting more of him. Wanting more warmth and nice touches. Russia growls when Italy starts to move his hips in such a way that it causes fiction In his lower regions, slowly coasting him to hardness. Russia grips Italy's butt, moving his hips with Italy's to get more fiction. He bites into Italy's neck possessively, breathy moans escaping his lips.

All his.

"Hold on my love. I need to use the restroom...but don't let yourself go soft on me." Italy purrs, the look in his eyes causing Russia's dick to pulse. He just wants to be burred as deep as he can be in Italy. He wants to feel all his warmth. "Close your eyes...I'll be right back." Italy kisses his lips once more before he gets off from on top of him. Immediately Russia feels cold without his body. The large nation frowns as he watches Italy walk towards their bathroom inside this room.

"Don't be long..." Russia knows he sounds impatient. He is impatient.

"I won't." Italy winks. "Keep your eyes closed now." Italy giggles before he walks into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Russia's lips twitch as he closes his eyes, his excitement growing. He just can't wait to officially claim Italy as his. The large nation is too focused on thinking of his beloved and his warmth that he doesn't notice the shadow that passes him quickly...

Following Italy into the bathroom.

---

"Damn..." Italy splashes water on his face. He breathes heavily as he stares at himself gravely in the mirror. "Romano...Don't worry." Italy closes his eyes. When Italy opens his eyes, there's a woman with long blonde hair standing behind him, a crazed look in her blue eyes as she holds a knife over her head.

Italy does a twist on his heel, grabbing the woman's wrist, stopping her before she could even stab him. He twist her wrist, causing her to grunt in pain, she drops the knife. Italy keeps the water running, just so Russia won't be able to hear this. Italy catches the knife, spins it in his hand with skill, grabbing this woman's hair he tugs her head back and jabs the knife in her face, the tip of it stopping right before it sticks into her right eye. All this he did in a second. So fast. So deadly.

"Belarus...my it's been ages." Italy's face is twisted into a large smile. "you should be more quiet if you're going to sneak up on someone."

"Shut up." Belarus hisses, though her eyes are dilated as she stares at the tip of the knife. " You fucking slut! All over my brother! How dare you kiss him?! How dare you even think that you will be his wife?! I'm the one who he will be marrying! Me, me,me! I will fucking behead you and I will use your head as a center piece for me and my brother's wedding."

"I adore you!" Italy chuckles darkly. "You're brutal...I like it." Italy's dark look changes to a soft smile. "Listen. I don't want your brother. Not at all. I don't want to marry him but he won't let me go-"

"Lair! You're the one who has tricked him into this you-" Belarus growls only to groan when Italy pulls her hair ruffly, the knife getting closer to her eye.

"Don't make me kill you now. I'm losing patience with this world. Listen carefully to me. I don't love your brother. I don't want him. I love my brother. I love Romano." Italy pulls the knife away from her, letting go of her hair. He gently rubs her cheek, this crazed woman looking at him with surprise. "You love your brother also. I don't want to take that away from you. I understand. Me and you could work together to both get what we want..." Italy puts the knife to his lips, kissing it, looking at Belarus with a dark look. "Me and you have the same taste..." Italy hands Belarus the knife, curling her fingers around it. "Russia is out there...why don't you give him company?"

Belarus stares at him for a moment, waiting for him to do something...but Italy doesn't. "Go ahead dear. Keep him company I have to go to my brother. I will be back. Meet with me later. I'll need your assistance tomorrow-"
"tomorrow is the wedding." Belarus eyes get that crazed look again.

"Si. It is. Why don't you do something about it?" Italy gives Belarus a look. The blonde stares at him for a moment...gripping her knife. "Well go on. Don't keep him waiting."

Belarus slowly walks towards the bathroom door, ready to go out. She stops, looks back at him with those crazed blue eyes. "If you kiss my brother like that again I'll cut your balls off and shove them down your throat."

"Lovely." Italy grins, watching her go before he takes powder out of his pocket, he rubs it between his fingers...disappearing from this bathroom.

Russia is going to have a surprise when he opens his eyes.

---

"Romano! Romano please! I didn't hurt Italy!" Spain yells as he runs through the dark forest. He listens for a response but he doesn't get one. It's quiet in this forest. Too quiet. Spain should be able to hear Romano...when he's scared he screams but he hasn't. Spain hopes he didn't fall into a hole or hurt himself by running into a tree. He has to find him. Spain doesn't understand what's going on. He still can't wrap his head around the fact that Romano cheated on him...with Italy. It was such a shock that Spain didn't give himself time to think. Seeing those marks on Romano's neck that weren't made by him...it just made him lose it. The anger was too much to control. How dare Italy do something like that to him? Weren't they family?

As Spain was driving to Italy's home, with the bat in the passengers seat, he had time to think. His anger faded to confusion the more he thought about it. Italy has never really paid much attention to Romano. They never really spent time together because Italy was always messing around with Germany and Japan. Mainly Germany. How could their relationship gone from rarely seeing each other to Italy giving Romano hickeys? What had changed? Spain knows that Italy said he didn't want to be friends with Germany...is that it? Did the fight Germany and Italy had do this? Since Italy doesn't have Germany, has he been clinging to Romano instead?

Spain isn't sure what happened. But during that drive to Italy's Spain decided he was going to talk to Italy, try to figure out why he's done this. He would get to the bottom of it. Spain took the bat with him into Italy's home just to scare Italy. To let him know he means business when it comes to his Romano...but when he walked in, there was blood everywhere. Spain just stood there in shock, looking at all the blood that stained Italy's home.

Spain's thoughts were this: 'where's Italy?' 'was he attacked' is he still alive'? Before Spain could even search the house he heard Romano's scream. Spain must have looked guilty by the fear he was feeling. Because he knew Romano would think he hurt Italy. That he did this. And he was right.

Spain stops running, to catch his breath, his side hurting from all his running and his throat dry from yelling. The forest is creepy at night, the shadows reaching out towards him. It's so quiet...it's like in all those scary movies..Spain's almost expecting some kind of monster to jump out at him-

"Spain."

The Spaniard jumps at the dark voice. He whips around quickly only to breathe a deep, deep sight of relief when he sees who it is. "Italy!" Spain cheers. "You're okay-" Spain's eyes widen and his chest warms when he sees that Italy is holding Romano in his arms, holding him like a baby. Romano looks out cold, dried tears in the corner of his eyes. " You found Romano! Is he okay?" Spain runs up to Italy. "Are you aware there's blood in your home? Did you get attacked, did you-"

"Stop acting like you are concerned about me." Italy snaps, those amber eyes look red in the darkness.

"Italy what are you-" Spain's eyes widen at how Italy's voice is deep. His stance is different and everything...it's like he's a different person.

"Romano was talking in his sleep. He thinks that you hurt me. Were you planning on it?"

"...I wasn't planning on hurting you...that much." Spain's green eyes shift for a moment. "You have to understand Italy...when I found out from Romano that you have been messing with him...I lost myself for a moment. I got a hold of myself before I got to your home though. I just don't understand. Why would you do this to me? Is it because you don't have Germany anymore?-"

"Ha. Why would I do this to you? One I fucking hate your face. Two, I fucking love Romano. You don't deserve him. If I didn't need you right now I would rip out your throat." Italy smirks at Spain's face, how his mouth is open wide, his face is nothing but disbelief.

"Y-You're not Italy. I knew I felt weird around you...there's such darkness in your eyes! There's no way you are the real Italy! Italy is sweet and kind! He wouldn't hurt a fly!" Spain takes a step forward, his green eyes shaking. "What have you done with the real Italy? Who's blood is that in your home? Now I understand why You aren't friends with Germany, it's because Germany knows doesn't he? He knows that you aren't who you say you are! Don't touch my Romano! You demon!" Spain's voice gets dark as he moves closer, those green eyes on fire as he watches Italy's face morph...those eyes are red, his smirk is sinister. It's wrong seeing Italy's face look like this. This man is a wolf.

"My you're not mentally challenged like I first thought. I'm glad you were able to tell it wasn't Feliciano when I pretty much showed myself to you." Italy chuckles darkly. "Romano is my happiness. He's the brother I thought I had...but I did not. No i'm so close to having what I've dreamed of. The love that i've craved for so long. I won't let anyone take that from me." Italy starts to fade away, holding Romano close, smirking at Spain like a wolf.

"No! Let go of him!" Spain runs towards him, reaching out. He jumps to tackle Italy, only for the Italians to disappear into thin air. Spain falls on his chest, hurting himself. It doesn't matter. "Romano! Romano!" he screams, looking around...but they're gone. He knows they are. "Shit!" Spain gets up quickly running back the way he came, his green eyes shaking. Italy is a demon. He is a wolf. He is a monster. Spain needs to go to the only one who can help him. The only other person who must know Italy is not who he says he is.

Germany.

Don't worry Romano. Spain will save you. He won't let that demon hurt you.

---

"you salute with your right hand." Germany feels his lips turn up into a smile. A smile that doesn't hurt his face, a smile that comes naturally. His chest feels warm when Italy smiles back at him, closing his eyes as he does. Such a sweet, beautiful smile. Germany wants to jump through the mirror and hold the Italian close. He wants to touch his best friend and see that smile in person. Italy's smile brings back feeling in his chest. Italy's smile is like a bucket of water that's thrown on him, snapping him out of the haze of despair and madness.

Italy's smile saves him.

The mirror lights up. Now instead of Italy smiling back at him, Germany is smiling at himself. The blonde's eyes widen as he takes himself in...really seeing himself for the first time. His hair is mess, some of it is sticking up while other strands are on his forehead. His clothes are ruffled and wrinkly. There's dark bags under his eyes, which are blood shot. There's blood on his clothes from America...Germany feels ashamed, sicken that Italy saw him this way. He looks like a deranged man-

"You are a deranged man." Germany jolts when he hears that voice again. He sounds irritated. "Didn't you see the look on Italy's face when he saw you at first? You made him afraid. Italy has seen you gone crazy before...don't you think he'd know what it looks like? He's experienced it first hand after all-"

"Shut up...I-I don't want to go back to that." Germany's blue eyes shift. "Don't torment me now. I feel sick as it is. Italy hasn't seen me in so long...and he sees me like this!"

"Ah, so you're listening to me again." The voice grunts. "If you don't want to go crazy like you did back there always listen to my me."

"...No. You make me crazy." Germany glances over at the mirror. "I don't feel ashamed for my actions. Now I know that they are justified. They are needed. Italy wants to come home. I need to make England help me. I will get Italy back, at all cost." Germany closes his eyes, walking out of the room, his back straight.

"What would Italy think if he knew you were torturing America to get him home?" Germany tenses. "You know it's wrong. Italy wouldn't want this. You really went crazy on America. You skinned his arm and poured salt on him. Right now America is down in the basement, he's in agonizing pain. How can you not feel ashamed? How can you not feel guilt?"

Germany stops walking, staring off into space a moment, his blue eyes glazed over. "...I've done many terrible things in my life. If you are me voice, then you know them all very well. If I felt guilt for everything I've done, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed I would be so depressed. It got like that once voice. And you know who got me out of bed? Who took care of me? Who slowly got me to feel again?" Germany grips his fist. "Italy. I've done terrible things for my country. I've tortured countless men, i'm responsible for the death of so many. I did this on my own, for myself. Now Italy, who has always been there for me, needs me. He wants to come home. I will do evil deeds to get him home. I didn't feel guilt for doing them for myself, so why would I feel guilt doing them for Italy? Nein..."

"...Are you sure you're not doing these evil deeds for yourself? Italy was reluctant to say he would come home. You begged him. You begged him to come home with tears in your eyes. How could he say no to that? Could it be a possibility that Italy is better off in the other world? Away from you? You're losing your mind-"

"That's why I need him don't you get it? Italy will save my mind. Once he's back everything will go back to normal. I won't hear your voice. I won't have to worry about him. I know what's best for Italy-"

"Best for Italy? Or best for yourself?"

"..." Germany doesn't response this time. He walks down the hallway and opens the bathroom door. He walks in, closing the door behind him. He strips off his clothes, they felt like weights on his back. Germany shivers slightly from being exposed as he turns on his shower, making sure it's hot before he gets in and closes the curtain. He hopes the sound of the water drowns out that voice. The steam clears his head and he sighs, letting the water pour over his head, the water dripping down his muscular back. Germany leans his head against the shower wall, just laying there, breathing to himself. He closes his eyes and he thinks of Italy...Thinks of the smiling Italian he saw just moments ago.

Italy is alive. Germany's brows furrow when he thinks of the blood on his shirt...though it wasn't his it means Italy's been around danger. A war?...did they force Italy to go? To fight? Germany grips his fist, remembering the relief he felt when Italy took off his shirt and he was unharmed. Italy had bags under his eyes too...It looked like he hasn't been getting much sleep. Though Germany didn't ask him, he wonders if Italy has thought of him at all...If he misses him...or is this really just Germany's selfish desire? That Italy comes home?

Germany washes himself, starting with his hair he lathers it with shampoo and rinses. He washes his body before he gets out of the shower, wrapping his lower half in a towel. Germany is surprised the voice hasn't said anything. Germany dries off before he walks out and finds himself some clothes to wear. He chooses black pants with his black tank top. Blood is harder to see in black.

"Think this through." The voice speaks.

Germany looks on top of his dresser, seeing a picture Italy had drew for him and left here. A picture of him and Italy in a flower field. "I have." Germany walks out of his room, fully dressed, his hair slicked back. He puts on black gloves as he walks, his back straight and those eyes fierce. "This has to be done." Germany Keeps his composure as he opens the door leading down to the basement. The smell of blood is strong but the blondes nose doesn't wrinkle. He walks down the stops, his boots making an intimidating clanking sound.

He hears America's muffled yelling, his cursing before he even gets down all the stairs. Germany walks down the stairs, his face not changing when his eyes lock onto America's. The younger nation is shaking, his blue eyes glaring at him with rage. His arm looks bad. It's nothing but a bloody mass. America is biting on the cloth, duck tape around his mouth to make sure he didn't spit it out. Germany shows no emotion as he walks closer, grabbing the duck tape at the end he rips it off. America makes a cry of pain that becomes louder when he rips out the cloth from his mouth. It's damp from his saliva. Drool hangs from America's mouth, his eyes watering.

"What the hell did you do to Italy you bastard?! Where is he?" America yells. "Italy! Italy can you hear me!"

" He isn't here. Don't waste your breath." Germany's expression doesn't change. He's use to looks of anger. He's use to looks of hatred. He will gladly be hated for Italy.

"What the hell? You cleaned yourself off? To hide his blood? Did you-"

"I didn't hurt Italy. You don't understand what's going on. It's obvious to me now. England hasn't told you a thing."

"...What?" America stops, his eyes look at Germany with confusion, his eyes squinted from the pain.

"I need your help America. I'm sorry for the damaged I've caused but I need you to get England's help. He's the only one who can get Italy back." Germany keeps eye contact with America. The young nation seems confused still, he squints his eyes at Germany.

"...Get Italy back from what?"

America's phone starts to ring. Germany grabs it quickly when he sees it's England. "Perfect. He's calling you." Germany puts duck tape on America's mouth so he can't blurt anything out before he answers the phone, letting it be on speaker phone.

"Hallo England." Germany speaks first. He can feel the tension that he just caused.

"...Germany?...Why do you have America's phone?" England speaks after awhile, his voice shaky.

"It's funny really. When you left me, America came by to visit. He was looking for you-"

"Where is he? What did you do to him?" England's voice gets louder, a bit panicked.

"We just had a little fun."

"Let me talk to America! Where is he you bastard?!"

"He's right next to me, tied up and gagged. If you want him alive Britain, then you'll come over to my home. Come alone. You are going to get Italy back for me. If I can't have Italy i'll make sure you won't have America."

"Germany I can't get Italy back! It's impossible!" England screams into the phone, surprising the German. "...The magical barrier has gotten worse Germany. If I tried to get Italy back both our world and the other world will be destroyed. Italy would die. Don't you see? I can't get him back-"

"Then send me over there!" Germany grips the phone.

"It's the same concept! I can't send you over there without destroying us all! We're stuck Germany!-"

"Find a way! Find a fucking way! Italy wants to come back England! I talked to him through the mirror! He wants to come home! I told him I would make it happen, and I keep my word!"

"...Germany is America okay? Is he hurt?-"

"Come over soon. We will discuss this more." Germany hangs up the phone, taking a deep breath. He looks over at America to see the young nation giving him an odd look. "I'm going to untie you. I'm going to get you medical resistance. If you want to save Italy, and hear England explain himself then you'll stay here." Germany walks out of the basement, calling some of his workers to take care of America as he walks.

"You didn't hurt him anymore. You're helping him now."

"As I said...Italy saves me. He doesn't even have to be here." Germany closes his eyes. "I just want him back."

"...I know."

"Do you miss him too voice? If you are me...do you feel it?"

"I've been missing him a lot longer than you can imagine." The voice is quiet for a moment. "I've been watching him through your eyes. I've watched him grow stronger. I've watched him smile at you, I've watched him laugh and play. Through you I held him in my arms, and I've been with him. Be grateful you miserable man. Be grateful for the time you have had with Italy...The times you got to spend with him when you weren't fighting in a war. Be grateful you are still here to greet him when or if he comes home. Be grateful...my time with him was so short."

"...who are you?" Germany stops walking, his eyes widen, this pain in his chest. "...You've been with me for as long as I can remember. I didn't know it was you when you spoke in the beginning but as time went by, you spoke more. You say you want Italy back...you say you've watched him grow. You say your time with him was short...what does that mean? Are you...someone else? Inside my head? Did you know Italy?"

"You were a different person back then yes. You were me back then but I am you and you are me." The voice chuckles slightly. "It's confusing. But if you are asking my name I can tell you that. I knew Italy way before you did. I fell in love with him first. I gave him his first kiss. He was my first love, and I was his. I was a great and powerful nation. I played with Italy when he was a child, he taught me how to paint, how to be a child when all I knew was war and how to take." The voice is silent for a moment.

"I am the holy roman empire."

Thank you for your reviews! It definitely motivated to write this faster as you can see. Till next time.