Hello again! Skysword asked about Japan calling Emma 'Emma-kun' in a review, so I thought I'd explain the reason I had him call her that here. I only know the basics of the Japanese honorific system, so I looked it up. "Although kun is generally used for boys, it is not a hard rule. For example, kun can be used to name a close personal friend or family member of any gender. In business settings, young female employees are addressed as kun by older males of senior status. It can be used by male teachers addressing their female students." -Wikipedia. I figured that Japan would use it in the business setting sort of way so that he is acknowledging Emma as someone younger than him without the familiarity of -chan. I also thought that calling her Emma-chan sounded weird, so I scrapped that.
I would also like to apologize for this chapter being a day late. I was busy this weekend, and this chapter is a doozy. And finally, the last bit is Japan explaining his feelings on Emma. It's felt sort of awkward. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia or HetaOni. Hetalia belongs to Hidekazu Himaruya and HetaOni was made by Tomoyoshi and translated by PianoDream and others.
"Sleep." He told me. "I'll bring you to the safe room." I nodded and curled up against him, letting my exhaustion overcome me.
Everything was dark. Where was I? It didn't look like any room in the Mansion. It didn't look like anything at all. I glanced down. I still had a body. That was good. I took a step forward. Everything seemed to be in working order. I glanced around again. There was something in the distance. Or perhaps it was close. There was nothing to judge it on.
Might as well go towards it.
It grew pretty quickly, so it must not have been too far away. Wait a moment, there's two things. One is a Steve, and the other…
"Italy?" I called. He didn't hear me, so I sped up. Almost there… Did he just disappear? "Italy!"
"What are you doing here." It's that voice! The one that I keep hearing in my head! I finally caught up to Steve, but he disappeared too. Not in the same way Italy had, though. "I didn't mean to bring you in here."
"Shut up voice, I'm trying to figure out where I am!" I scolded it. Suddenly, there was a boy where Steve had been. A strikingly familiar boy. "Holy Rome?" The boy smirked.
"Not quite. And I can answer your question. We're in a mindscape." He tilted his head slightly. "Or at least, I think that's what you'd call it."
"So you're not Holy Rome?" I clarified. Not Holy Rome ignored me.
"What to do with you." He muttered. "I can't have you interfering with my talk. But I don't want you wandering around in here until you wake up."
"Who are you talking with? Italy?" I asked. Not Holy Rome sighed.
"I suppose I'll simply put you in one of my containment areas. Dammit, I don't have time for this!" He pointed at me and I was suddenly enclosed in a glass sphere.
"Wha- Let me out!" I yelled at him.
"The glass is very hard to break. This should be good enough until I can put you somewhere more satisfactory." He decided before snapping his fingers. "Now be quiet." The scene changed into a golden meadow. My sphere was hidden among the trees, and suddenly tinted green. Not Holy Rome was standing just at the edge of the meadow.
"Italy!" He called. I blinked. I hadn't noticed Italy kneeling in the center of the meadow, as my attention had been focused towards Not Holy Rome.
"You...are…" Italy said, staring at the imposter.
"I have looked for you, Italy." Not Holy Rome said, smiling gently.
"Hol-" Italy said, stopping himself. "Holy Roman Empire…"
"That's not him! Don't believe him, he's just a fake! He's not Holy, or Roman, or an Empire!" I shouted. "Well, to be fair neither was the real Holy Rome. But that doesn't matter, this still isn't who you think it is!"
"Oh…" Italy said. I don't think he heard me. This glass must be soundproof or something. But then how could I hear them?
"Long time no see, Italy." The imposter said.
"Y-Yeah. Um, I… I mean, I…" Italy stammered.
"Italy." Not Holy Rome interrupted.
"What?" Italy asked.
"You don't have to talk to me as if we were still children. I know everything." Huh, I didn't realize that Not Holy Rome looked Italy's age now.
"Okay." Italy accepted. "Long time no see… Holy Roman Empire." This prompted another round of glass banging from me.
"Yes." Not Holy Rome agreed.
"You're… all grown up." Italy said.
"That's not Holy Rome!" I tried again.
"Because you wished so." Not Holy Rome told Italy. Huh. Because he wished so…
"What?" Italy asked, confused.
"This is a place where your wishes are fulfilled. There was no way I could win against that guy when I was little. That's why I asked you for that favor, Italy." Not Holy Rome explained. Would that work for me?
"Was it you who showed me the way just now?" Italy asked. I pressed my hand against the glass and tried to imagine it disappearing. Nothing happened.
"Yes. I was able to repel it somewhat, but not completely." Not Holy Rome shot be a quick glance over Italy's shoulder. I stuck my tongue out at him. "...I'm sorry." So my attempt to get out was enough to get his attention.
"N-No! It's okay! Um…" Italy tried. Not Holy Rome looked at him questioningly. "Th-This is kinda awkward for me. You being a grown up, I mean." Then wish him away!
"I can imagine. If you don't like it, you can wish for me to be little again. You would probably feel more at ease with my younger self." Holy Rome suggested. It was sort of unsettling that we suggested similar things.
"Uh, n-no! I mean, this is definitely awkward, but… How can I put this?" He sighed. "I'm glad that I can look you in the eyes without having to look down." I can see how that would be awkward.
"I see. That's good." Not Holy Rome said. Oh, right! I almost forgot that I had to find a way out of this stupid bubble.
"So, where are we?" Italy inquired, glancing around. Maybe if I could just make the glass more flexible? I pressed my hand against it and I could feel that it was slightly more malleable under my fingers.
"Hm? Oh… right." Not Holy Rome said, his eyes once again flicking to me. "Sorry, but we're keeping them waiting. Let's go back first." I pressed into the glass harder and it stretched.
"Who are you talking about?" Italy asked. Almost there…
"You will know if you come with me. Let's go." Not Holy Rome replied quickly.
"O-Ok." Italy said as I pushed my fingers out of the bubble. Then the scene changed again, and I was inside the basement cell of the Mansion.
"Okay Japan, spill." Prussia said, plopping down beside him. Japan glanced at him from his seat in between Emma and Italy's beds.
"What is it you want me to 'spill', Prussia-san?" He asked.
"Emma! I'm pretty sure that it's an open secret that you've got a crush on her. So what gives? It's not like you to fall this quickly!" Prussia replied bluntly. A faint blush appeared in Japan's cheeks.
"I was not aware that you was being so obvious that everybody would know…" He muttered. Prussia sighed exasperatedly.
"You keep on going out of the way to keep her safe and shit! Even America could tell that something was up. But I'm pretty sure that you avoided my question." He raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Need me to ask it again?"
"No," Japan told him, sounding defeated. "It is… slightly embarrassing though." Prussia nodded in a 'go on' gesture. "Well… It has been proven that in life threatening situations experience an increased level of attraction." Prussia had to stop himself from laughing.
"Wait, are you pretty much saying that you're horny?" He asked.
"NO!" Japan defended, his face turning beet red. "That is extremely inappropriate Prussia-san, and not the issue. I believe that it simply has me…" He trailed off. "No, that is not the way to say it. I suppose that I have simply been more open to a romantic relationship than I normally would. I can recognize this, and am ashamed to say that it has made me act irrationally in the heat of the moment at times." Japan ignored Prussia's snicker. "However, I believe that the best option would be to get out of the mansion safely so that I may sort out my feelings for her and ascern whether they are genuine or formed from the life threatening situation."
"I guess that's one way to look at it." Prussia agreed. "But you've been going a little overboard." Japan sighed.
"As I previously stated, I have gotten carried away. It has been many years since I have felt this sort of attraction. It also does not help that Emma-kun repeatedly gets herself into dangerous situations, despite the fact that she is not as capable as the rest of us." Japan explained.
"She's not completely helpless!" Prussia defended. "She can fight."
"She barely knows how to wield her katana and she is not as naturally resilient as the rest of us. We also have years of experience with battle and tactics." Japan countered. Prussia simply shrugged.
"Fair enough." He admitted. "But then why aren't the rest of us feeling this 'attraction' you were talking about. We're all in the same life-threatening situation!"
"Perhaps some of us are." Japan replied, his eyes wandering around the room. "Have you not noticed America getting slightly more worked up about England than usual? Or Italy clinging to Germany more? I have not seen him so reliant since the last World War."
"I have noticed that something was off." Prussia said, frowning. "But I didn't know that England and America were a thing! When did this happen?"
"I do not believe that it has happened yet." Japan told him, gazing thoughtfully at the pair. "The attraction simply shows us the possibilities that there are. Perhaps once we get out of this place the relationships will fall apart. Perhaps the shared experience will draw them closer. I'm afraid that I do not know." Prussia sighed.
"This sucks." He complained. "I'm already bored of this stupid mansion." Japan smiled slightly.
"I believe that we can all share that sentiment, Prussia-san." He replied quietly.