Chapter Twenty-One: Impact

Italy whimpered as thudding footsteps pounded behind them. They were both panting heavily as they ran down the hallway.

"H-He's catching up!" Italy wailed, and Japan nearly keeled over.

"A-ah…Italy…I can't…run…" he gasped, struggling to stay upright. The drug was still within his system, and it would be many more hours before it was gone completely. Italy bit his lip nervously, then suddenly tugged him to the nearby elevator door. He pressed the button furiously.

"Y-you don't have to! Get in, hurry!"

Italy yelped as Russia turned the corner, and America came racing around the other. He pounded at the button.

"Faster! Come ooooon!" he pleaded. The door made a friendly little tinkling and slid open, and both of them collapsed inside.

"Cut them off!" America yelled, and Italy gave a cry as a bullet thudded into the metal door. The elevator squeaked as it started to move.

"Take that!" Italy hollered. He grinned widely, but his smile quickly faltered as the elevator stopped.

"What is—"Japan started to ask, but they were both thrown back against the wall hard. There was a horrible screeching sound as the metal door buckled and twisted, and Russia forced the door open all the way with his bare hands.

Italy gulped as the door collapsed in on itself, and Russia smiled. He grabbed Italy by his shirt front and pulled him up. The elevator had only been able to travel a few feet downward before being stopped by the superpower.

Japan looked up, and he barely had time to say anything before America kicked through the ceiling door and dropped in. America straightened to his full height, which was difficult in the cramped elevator. He snatched Japan by the back of his kimono and yanked him off his feet.

"Thank you," America said brusquely to Russia, and the nation shrugged and readjusted his hold on a wildly kicking Italy. Japan reached out, and America slammed him to the ground.

"It seems nothing can hold you down, doesn't it?" America said, holding him down. He narrowed his eyes at Italy. "And not to mention that boy keeps getting in the way…Russia?"

Russia nodded and caught the pistol America tossed him, clicking it and placing it to Italy's head.

Japan froze under America, and America took out a syringe.

"I'll just have to stay in the room with you at all times," he was saying. "And with that Italian out of the way—"

"N-no…" Japan cried, and he struggled weakly. America frowned.

"Look, just go to sleep. It will be better when you wake up, I promise."

Japan shook his head and began to cry, tears running down his cheeks. America stiffened.

"D-don't…kill…Italy…he didn't….do….anything…" Japan sobbed, and America signaled to Russia to wait.

"But….Kiku, I need to. He'll only get in the way, you see?" America explained. "He'll be a distraction from what's important. Not to mention those messed-up ideals he fed you during the war—"

Japan sobbed harder, clutching onto his jacket pitifully. He was crying, mostly out of fear, but he also knew his tears affected America heavily, and if he made someone cry it made him feel unheroic.

America sighed and looked away.

"Fine," he said reluctantly, then, "Let him go, Russia."

Russia obeyed, and Italy tripped and fell down. Russia helped him up roughly, and Italy stumbled a little clumsily.

At the last moment, he swung around and darted, grabbing the gun out of Russia's pocket. He pointed it at America, lips bared in a feral rage Japan had only seen when he was in the middle of war.

Russia stepped forward, and Italy warned, "I'll shoot."

Russia shrugged. "Go ahead. I do not like him anyway."

America stared down the gun barrel, for once without words. Japan took advantage of it and grabbed the syringe, squirming out of his grasp.

"Hey!"

"Shut up, America," Japan growled, and he stuck it in his shoulder. America's eyes rolled up in his head and he went into a dazed sleep.

Russia smirked and went towards Italy, unfazed by the gun in his shaking hands. He suddenly stopped and tipped over with a loud thud. A familiar face was behind him.

"Hungary!" Italy exclaimed, and the girl lowered her frying pan, eyes gleaming.

"Need help?" she asked, and Prussia came up behind her. He grinned at Russia groaning on the ground.

"Hey, there loser," he crowed, and he did a little dance, sticking his tongue out immaturely. "I always knew awesomeness would prevail….kesesese…"

Russia tried to swipe at Prussia's leg, and the ex-nation squeaked and ran behind Hungary.

"I'm so glad you guys came," Italy began, helping Japan up. "I thought we really had it that time—"

The entire ship rocked, and there was an earsplitting grinding as every one of them was bodily flung to the floor.