Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia or HetaOni.

Sorry for the wait. As a treat, the next chapter should be up this weekend.

By the time I was completely awake, whatever dream I had slipped away. I kept my eyes closed, hoping to bring it back. Nope, it was gone. Oh fucking well. Who needed dreams anyway? I could actually use a little less of that subconscious shit. I winced internally. Even if I didn't remember my dream, my nightmare was crystal clear, no matter how hard I tried to forget. The demon's voice, the vice grip on every single muscle I had, the darkness. Veneziano said being possessed was like a prison inside yourself. He wasn't wrong, but to me, it was more like being stuffed in a box with a TV screen. I saw and heard everything, still felt everything, but it wasn't me who moved or spoke.

The worst part was when Spain decided to butt in. I wanted to grab him kick him out of the room, punch him until his mouth swelled, simply tell him to shut up, anything if it got him to never say a word to the demon. I was forced to sit there and listen to him instead. No one even tried to stop him, except maybe France and Prussia once. I'm just as pissed at them, but I had more white-hot fury toward Spain. Not anymore, though. I can't stay mad at him anymore, not with things the way they are.

I was completely awake now and even saw the light from the room under my eyelids. I can't waste time sleeping. I sighed, opened one eye slowly, and nearly got a heart attack when I saw the blurry outline of a face just inches from mine. I blinked and rubbed my eyes to focus. It was Spain, still snoring away. I made a face. He probably fell asleep before he could carry me back to my own bed.

I slowly sat up, feeling Spain's arm and the blanket I was under slide from my waist to my lap (must've tried to cuddle me during the night, sneaky asshole), as memories of last night came flooding back. I gazed at his calm sleeping face. I still remember the day before, when I told him he had a better chance of hell freezing over than us sharing a bed. So much has changed and it's only been 3 motherfucking days. It's like I just woke up from an acid trip.

I started to slip out from under the blanket and Spain's arm, careful not to wake the clingy bastard. It looks like some people were still asleep, but I heard chatter coming from the main room. I stood up, shivering once from the slight cold that hit my legs, and I walked toward the bathroom. I hoped the showers are open, at least. My skin felt like it was covered in grit or something.

For some reason, I was strangely groggy, like when I woke up from being possessed. Most voices came through like gibberish when I was close enough to hear, so I just ignored it and focused on the nagging pain in my leg as well as walking properly. Stupid beds, stupid Potato making the stupid beds. If I find a big-ass bruise on my shin, there will be hell to pay.

"…Italian wankers." I froze when I suddenly heard a coherent set of words. I looked around and realized I had stopped at the foot of England's bed. He still looked half asleep, eyeing me with annoyance. I frowned when I realized he had been talking to/about me.

"Huh?"

"I said, do you Italian wankers have no shame, strutting around pants-less? Honestly, I get enough public indiscretion from France." He rolled over and went back to sleep.

"Whatever." I muttered and yawned, not even going to bother asking what he was yammering about. I walked a little closer to the main room, slow because of the pain in my damn leg, when the full realization of England's words hit me. Pants-less? But I put on boxers for bed. I looked down. I was still wearing the undershirt I slept in, but my boxers… where are my boxers?! "YAAAH!" I shreaked and scrambled to find cover. I yanked off the covers from the nearest empty bed to wrap around my waist just as Veneziano and Prussia ran over in alarm.

"What happened?! Who screamed?!" Veneziano looked around before his eyes zeroed in on me and the sheet I had wrapped around the lower half of my body. He blinked and frowned. "Big bro, why are you wearing a sheet?"

"N-no reason." The bastard saw me before bed last night, he knew I had boxers on. I scrambled for an excuse.

"Lovi!" Oh hell no. I didn't want to turn and look—I really didn't—but I did anyway. Spain was sitting up, wide awake, holding up my boxers with one finger.

"Veh, big bro, you took off your pants when you slept in Tonio's bed?" Veneziano stared at me with big, innocent eyes. Prussia looked like he was going to explode from held-in laughter. I shot him a glare, not bearing to meet Veneziano's eyes, and stomped over to Spain. After a few slips because of the long sheet, I made it to his bed. He tentatively held out my boxers for me to take, cheeks dusted with red. Hah, I bet my face looked like I was going to puff out steam from my ears or some shit. I snatched it out of his hand with one hand while the other held the sheet and rushed out of there like a bat out of hell to the bathroom.

I slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to stop my heart from being so damn hard. That was possibly the most humiliating thing that has ever happened, and at pretty much the worst possible timing. England saw me naked, Veneziano and Prussia caught me in a sheet, and both of them saw Spain with my underwear. I feel like the image of Spain with that red face holding that article of clothing will be forever burned into my head.

I looked around the bathroom. It didn't look or sound like there was anyone else in here. I sighed, relieved for the privacy. I found my clean clothes on the counter (Japan did the laundry again—did the man ever sleep?) and went to one of the showers. I set my clothes aside and took off the sheet to set aside in a separate pile with my undershirt and boxers.

I could feel my heart slowing, my anger draining away. I can't stay mad, not today, not at him. I peeked at the mirror before I stepped into the shower. That might just be the last time I'll get to see it.

X-X-X

I didn't bother trying to go into the bathroom while Lovi was in there, so I just threw on my clean clothes without a shower. I thanked the tireless Japan for doing the laundry and we all had breakfast. Gilbert and Francis were still laughing over what happened this morning and prodding at me to tell them what happened last night. They were disappointed by the truth.

"Just talking? Boo! You can't expect us to believe that nothing happened." Francis pouted.

"It's the truth." I told him simply before taking a bite of my tomato.

"But he woke up without pants on! You said yourself that you found them on the floor by your bed. I think something DID happen and you just won't 'kiss and tell'." Gilbert argued.

"He used to kick off clothes when he was young. Maybe he did that last night." I shrugged. "Besides, wouldn't you have heard us if it did happen? At least when you talk, you can whisper."

"Okay, fine, maybe nothing happened, but don't deny that you wanted something to happen, Toni." Francis accused, digging into his food finally. Gilbert made a sound of agreement in his throat between chews of his wurst.

"A-ah." I sighed out unintentionally. I bit into my tomato again and ended up staring at it. I still remember the blood clock room, how I ate Lovi's tomato right from his hand. It gave me a warm rush in the pit of my stomach every time I thought about it. It gives me a rush right this second. I also remember the red hue his face gets constantly; the pale, drained face that scared me to death; even a bit further in the past, when I gave him his very first tomato to try and all the days he helped me in the garden. Those memories are a little more faint.

While my memories faded slowly, when it comes to Romano, the feeling behind every single memory just grew stronger as I made more in here. I don't even remember most of what happened before this place, so I can't blame my overprotectiveness, surge of bravery, anything on any past experiences. In this house, you get a clean slate where you have become human and time doesn't matter anymore. When we came, Lovi and I may have been friends, but now it feels like it has grown into more than that.

He doesn't seem to understand it either, just how important he has become to me. I took him to the past, not Feli. I kept him safe in the second time loop, as I always would and have promised to do so long ago. I challenged the demon for him, so we could finally put a stop to this madness and just go home. Even last night gave me an electric charge in my veins that I have never felt before, for anyone.

Francis and Gilbert were right. I did wish something had happened last night, like that he would've let me hold him or that I had told him exactly how much he meant to me. I could see the reflection from the shiny tomato skin smile at me, but it quickly turned into a frown. This was only wishful thinking. Even if we got out of this God-forsaken house alive, we'll go back to being nations. Work and stress will continue; bosses and rules will stand in our way. Not to mention that I don't know how he feels. If I tell him how much I care about him, he could completely reject it. I know too well how possible that is.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't hear the bathroom door open. I jumped when it slammed shut and turned around to look. Well, speak of the devil. "Ciao fratello!" Feli chirped, waving from his seat enthusiastically. Lovi nodded to him in answer. His hair was still wet and falling partway in his face. His skin looked soft and red from the shower. He looked so handsome.

I scooted over until I almost fell off the edge of the bench and waved him over. He eyed me almost cautiously for a moment before walking closer and sitting beside me. He stood again for a moment to gather his food. I wanted to tell him right now. Even if it may never be possible, he still deserves to know. I might get my hopes up if I do it before the fight, not to mention what that might do to him if I don't make it. After the fight? That's assuming I will win. Augh, this love thing is really difficult, if it is love.

I was jolted from my thoughts once again when Lovi slammed down his plate and was grumbling under his breath between bites of pasta. I looked at him, then his plate, and then along the table. It took a moment before I noticed the distinct lack of a certain red vegetable. "Are we out of tomatoes?"

"Yes." Lovi snarled, stabbing at his food with his fork. I looked down at the tomato in my hand, only two bites out of it. I held it up.

"Do you want some of mine?" He looked up and his eyes immediately lit up. I bit back a grin. Lovi never noticed, but his eyes always lit up when he saw a tomato. It didn't matter what kind of mood he was in or the status of the tomato. He reached out to grab the tomato, but an idea struck me and I moved it away. He blinked and glared at me.

"You said I could have some!"

"You can…" I hesitated, trying to find words. Then, I smiled, made sure the unbitten side of the tomato was turned toward him, and held it closer to his face. "Just one bite, deal?" He stared at me in confusion for a second before it changed to realization. He scowled and tried to protest, but only managed to make sounds like "I—ah—wh—yo—". He later gave up and pursed his lips while staring at the tomato I still held, looking like he was actually thinking about it. Finally, he gave a small nod, bent forward, and took a biiiig bite from the tomato, straight from my hand. I felt his teeth graze my finger and I flinched at the funny feeling.

I felt a warmth shoot up from my fingers all through my bones. I had to swallow a shudder. Our eyes locked on each other as he slowly pulled back to chew his big bite. He swallowed and looked at me weirdly. "Thanks." He finally murmured.

"Anytime." I smiled. He turned back to his food and I ate the rest of the tomato. After the fight, when I win, I'll tell him.

X-X-X

"If everyone is done eating, we'll start the meeting." Japan announced when we were done with washing dishes. Some of us were wet from the splashing (and the water fight I started with England. I won~). We sat down in the same seats as before. "As you all know, today is the fight between Spain and Steve."

"Who's Steve?" Feli wondered.

"That's what America named the demon." Germany explained.

"At any case" Japan continued. "I believe only a small group goes with him to oversee the battle. The rest of us will stay here, contact those outside, and pack up to leave the mansion."

"Sounds good. Who wants to go with Spain?" America asked.

"I'm going." Lovi spoke up right away. He looked stern, but also very unwilling.

"Are you sure, Lovi?" I asked gently. He looked at me with hard eyes.

"I'm going." He repeated. I didn't protest.

"Okay, anyone else?"

"I want to go." Feli volunteered. "I just want to see it killed and get it all over with and done."

"Then I'm coming with you." Germany put a hand on the Italian's shoulder. No one protested; Lovi didn't even make a peep.

"I'll go too. No offense, but I don't trust Spain to fix everything when it goes sour." I rolled my eyes at the typical comment made by England.

"I'll accompany you, if that's all right." Japan politely said.

"That's fine. Let's leave it at that, then." America declared. "So Spain, Romano, Italy, Germany, England, and Japan will go to the fight. One or two of you should have your phone so you can contact us."

"If Spain were to lose, God forbid, we ought to be contacted straight away." Canada spoke up.

"Correct, so we can be prepared to fight."

"I'll have mine." Germany held his phone up. "I charged it last night."

"So the rest of us will stay here and wait?" Gilbert checked.

"Yes, we will stay and wait for the call with the outcome of the battle, then call the outside world and pack up." Everybody was in agreement. My group got their weapons and we said good bye to the remaining nations.

"Good luck, Anton!" Gilbert gave me a hug, then passed me to Francis.

"In case something happens to you, j—just know how much we love you, my friend." Francis' eyes started tearing up a little.

"Dammit, France, you'll make me cry now!" Gilbert rubbed an eye.

"Mis amigos, don't be sad. I'll be back!" I reassured them, my eyes stinging. We all hugged once more, Francis dampening my shoulder. I don't know how long we stayed hugging, but Lovi was soon dragging me away. Everyone shouted out their wishes of good luck as we went down the stairs. Germany stepped forth to unlock the steel door. The halberd on my back felt a few pounds heavier now. I took a deep breath. Here goes everything.

X-X-X

Once the door was locked behind us, we were on our way. Japan kept a hand on England, who was still slowly restoring his magic and eyesight. Feli clung to Germany. I half wished Lovi would do that too, instead of the slight distance he kept.

"Where do we go, anyway?" He wondered. I stopped. That was a good question. I didn't say where the battle should be, nor did the demon. Before I could ask the others for advice, one of the monsters appeared across the hall from us and started walking toward us.

"Eeek!" Feli squeaked. I reached instinctively to grab my axe from my back and I heard Japan behind me starting to draw his sword from his scabbard. The monster didn't attack nor did it seem like it would, however. It snorted and moved its head in a small jolt toward the side, then turned and walked down the stairs. Halfway down, it looked back at our frozen figures and repeated the motion.

"I think it wants us to follow." I mused.

"How nice, the demon sent an escort." England snorted sarcastically. I ignored him and cautiously went down the stairs and heard the others follow. The monster walked slowly, turning around sometimes to look at us before continuing. We came down to the first floor and headed for the Japanese-styled rooms. For one horrifying moment, I thought the fight will be in the annex.

The monster led us through the screen doorway. It had been emptied out of objects that had been there before, but the room wasn't all empty when we arrived. Across the room from us was a whole group of monsters. The big muscular ones, the big-headed ones, even a squid thing or two. "There's so many of them." Feli whimpered.

"The demon must want them to stand by to kill us." Germany gruffly said.

"Or it wants an audience." Japan murmured mysteriously. I took another deep breath and stepped forward. In the end, it doesn't matter why the monsters are there, after all.

"I'm ready to fight! Bring out your leader!" I called out to the monsters. They made hissing sounds that sounded a little like laughter. I ignored it and waited. Nothing; not a shadow nor any monster stepping forward. "Show yourself!" I yelled. Silence, aside from the monsters' laughter. I frowned, annoyed and cautious. If they're laughing, does that mean that the demon is planning some trick? Is it giving up, or is it going to do something big?

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the room a little. Before I could turn to look, Lovi walked past me in a strut. My annoyance flipped to worry like a switch. "Lovi?"

"Veh, fratello? Where are you going?" Feli sounded just as worried.

"What is he doing?"

"I'm not sure. Romano!" Japan tried calling. Lovi either ignored us or didn't hear. He kept walking straight toward the monsters. He drew his halberd. The monsters' laughs quieted, and there was a strange air of anticipation coming from them. Was Lovi planning to attack them?

"Lovi, no! Those things aren't worth the trouble. This is my fight, I can handle them." I assured him. He kept going. "Come back! I don't want you getting hurt!" He finally stopped, holding his halberd in one hand at his side. He seemed to have his head tilted down to look at it, at the blade. I was going to ask him to return again when he turned completely around. My voice died in my throat and I think my heart stopped as well. A pair of pitch black eyes watched my reaction with amusement.

"That's too bad. I'm afraid you don't have a choice~"

X-X-X

"What's the meaning of this?!" England exclaimed, sounding outraged. He was the first one to speak out of all of us, breaking the pregnant silence. I heard Feli try to withhold sobs and Germany was trying to comfort him. It may have been Japan, though. I couldn't even turn to look. I was shaking a little too much from anger.

"This was not a part of the deal." I tried keeping my voice under control, but it came out a little shaky as well. Lovi—or Steve, rather—chuckled.

"Really? All you said was that we can choose a weapon as long as it doesn't use magic" He held up the halberd. "and you never specified who you meant to fight when you challenged me—or rather, us~"

"Get out of him!" I demanded harshly, any restraint in my voice gone. Lovi smiled, Steve twisting it into something evil, and positioned himself in a battle stance.

"Why don't you come make me?" he purred. I gritted my teeth, but my halberd drooped toward the ground. No amount of anger toward Steve persuaded me to take the bait. Even if it's a demon, one I set out to kill, I can't kill Lovi. I never could harm my Romano, in any time or place.

The demon watched my axe lower with a smirk, straightening from his stance. "What, you're giving up? Do you know what that means?" I didn't answer. He chuckled; it sounded so wrong. "All you humans are weak, cowardly things, ruled by emotion. Demons cannot feel. We let our mind rule, letting us be so much more powerful.

"When there is something weaker than you, your destiny is to devour it. It's the nature of the world. As soon as I win, I'll make sure you weak creatures are purged. My minions will rip you to pieces, you will be captured—" He looked over my shoulder specifically. I heard Feli whimper. "and I'll use this body's memory to find your little safe room." Someone behind me gasped. "They will be destroyed. I'll kill my prey myself and leave this body just long enough for him to see the damage I caused; the damaged HE caused. He will beg for his death and I will oblige." His smirk became so much more twisted. "As we have done before."

This is what Lovi and Feli were so afraid of, why they thought I wouldn't win. The demon is cunning, pure evil, and unfeeling. He is limited to Lovi's strength, so I might have a chance, but winning implies I have to kill him to eject the demon, and that isn't an option. There is no world for me or for Feli if we lost Romano. Feli would turn back time if that happens, and it would all have to happen all over again.

I remembered Lovi's words from last night, to kill the demon no matter what. He was trying to warn me of this. He was also telling me to go on without him. My heart sank. How could I do that? How could I hope to live a normal life again knowing that I've lost someone who is as close as family is to me, maybe even closer? Someone who I care about more than anything? My eyes stung, but I ignored them. The last thing Lovi asked me to do was to kill this bastard. I can't give up and I can't disappoint him!

My grip tightened on my halberd's shaft and I spread my legs out in a wide battle stance. I glared at the monster's eyes, the black abyss that dared cover the warm golden-brown. "Are you gonna talk or are you gonna fight me?" It sneered and re-positioned himself once again.

"Come and get me, España~."

The final battle begins! 4 more main chapters to go.

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