Boy, I'm running out of openings for these things… But I guess the opening doesn't really need to be long, does it~? Quick response, and then on to the chappie~!

Maya- *scratches head* Coulda sworn I'd mentioned that before… Oh well. Yeah, it's honestly why I started writing this one. I'm planning some minor and some somewhat-major changes to what happens before the sequel (like there only being Austria [plus my OCs] outside the mansion and no Steves out there), so I thought "Why not explain it! It'll also give you a chance to refresh your memory on HetaOni~!" and now here we are, over 50 chappies in~! No, no! Like I said, I don't mind it, I'm just afraid maybe a reader will find a chappie that's like half author's not half fic, and that they'll get mad… Yeah, Flame's actually behind 4 chapters now. I'm almost worried, but I disappeared for a month, so… Hopefully whatever's holding up from reviewing won't be that major. *shivers* I know! The first five times I watched HetaOni were so far apart, I always forgot the talk of it being a hand, plus the hand appearing at the top of the screen and I kept almost screaming! Thankfully, by the time I got it myself, I could remember, but… Meh, still. It creeps it me out even now. I'm not really "scared" by it, but it does creep me out. A lot. *scratches head while blushing* I'm honestly not even sure why I added "-san" in the first place… I guess I've just been hearing too much Japanese lately. *loves Vocaloid & J-pop* Eh, my computer is complete crap, so I don't feel like dealing with the download time for images. I've tried like eight times to get a cover for this fic, but, well… My computer usually just beeps and whirs at me until I turn it off to rest, then when I get back on, there's no image. *le sobs* WHY COMPUTER!? Nah, it probably won't end up like that so long as Feathers keeps reviewing every so often. Hm, Flame is strangely behind, though… But I'll just keep hoping it's her focusing more on her stories and not the horrible thought of awfulness that keep flying through my easily-worried brain-area~!

Nations: *sweatdrop*

Me: Dangit! I almost had an uninterrupted beginning author's note, and now you ruined it! *chases them with a frying pan* See you at the end~!

Of course, Romano had insisted they go inside immediately after they woke up, but Spain grabbed him to keep him back. "Roma, come on now! You have to eat sometime, and I know you haven't had anything since before the meeting yesterday!" Spain scolded. Romano glared at him. "I can go without food for a few days, bastardo," he said, trying to shake Spain's arm.

"Romano…" Spain sighed. "You know you're brother's going to be mad enough at us for following him here, but… He'll only be madder at you if he finds out you aren't eating either." After a pause of thought, Romano huffed. "Fine. I'll have something to snack on, but if you decide to eat a giant breakfast, I'm going in without you, understood!?" he relented. Spain smiled and let him go, grabbing each of them some bread and fruit he'd packed. Romano really just wanted to help as soon as he could, and Spain understood; he felt exactly the same. But he just wasn't thinking.

Spain almost laughed at how he was the one considering their actions, and Romano gave him a funny look. He looked at the mansion to make himself stop smiling. No, that place definitely wasn't something to smile about…

Back to his last train of thought. Romano wasn't thinking like he should have been, and that was dangerous. It was too risky for any them to be caught off guard in this place, but especially because of some silly reason they could've avoided, and North Italy was going to ask questions. According to Romano, he always asked his own questions when he was questioned. But Romano wasn't thinking of that. He was too focused on helping his brother- helping them get out. It was dangerous, it was unfair if something happened because of it, it was stupid, it was… was…

Spain glanced over at Romano with a bad felling starting to build in his gut.

It was almost as if North Italy was affecting South's actions and thoughts.

But that wasn't possible. He wasn't that deep into memories, was he? North wasn't pushing that many away, he couldn't… If South was being so heavily affected by North, that could mean… Spain shook his head and took a bite of a tomato, trying his hardest not to think like that.

000o000o000o000o000

Everyone gathered around Italy, backs to the cell. He looked around nervously, fidgeting, but when he spoke, his voice was clear. "Before I say anything, I… have a favor to ask of you. You see that wooden crate in there?" He pointed behind them all, and they followed his finger. It was the same box Prussia had been sitting on when they found him and the other two.

"Yeah. What about it, aru?" China asked in interest. Had he looked in it before and something horrible was inside? A few of them rested their hands on their weapons expectantly. "Um, can you open it?" Italy asked, smiling sweetly and innocently at them. "I can't open it, and I want to see what's inside." They all blinked in confusion. He was suddenly acting somewhat like himself, and the request was odd to say the least. But it didn't stop America from stepping up heroically.

"Then I, the hero, will open it!" he declared, charging into the cell. Almost everyone sweatdropped at him, and the rest of the Allies followed him-some to see how horribly he failed, others to… no that was it, they just wanted to watch him fail closer.

"What's in the crate?" Germany asked in suspicion. He didn't buy Italy not knowing what was inside after how he'd acted back in the cave. Italy blinked and looked at the ground nervously. "Er… hope?" he said, fidgeting with something in his pocket. The last three around Italy frowned, baffled by what he'd just said. There was what in the crate!?

"What the heck?" America shouted, tugging at the crate's lid with all his strength. "It won't budge an inch!" China scoffed. "You're pathetic, aru. Give me that." China took it from the disbelieving American and pulled on it with every ounce of strength he had, but America had been right; it wasn't moving in the slightest. France frowned as he looked at it. "It looks like it's fixed to it," he said, grabbing it away from the Asian to study it closer.

"Maybe it's locked?" Prussia suggested as he and Japan walked in to stand behind him. France shook his head immediately. "Non, there aren't any keyholes or switches," he muttered, looking it over a bit more. "Let me see that," England said. But before he could even touch it, Russia lifted it away from France. "My turn~!" Russia chirped. England glared at him, but it turned to shock when not even Russia could force it open. He frowned and grabbed his pipe, trying to use it as a crowbar as he held it down with a foot. America and Prussia bent down to try lifting it up with Russia forcing on it with his pipe, hoping it would open then. England frowned as he felt an odd tingle on the back of his head, but he ignored it, instead suggesting what they could do like the others were.

Germany sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I guess I'll go try…" he muttered to himself. Just as he turned around, Italy tugged on his sleeve. "Um, Germany?" Italy asked, looking at him nervously. Germany raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" he asked. Italy looked down at the ground for a moment, but he quickly looked back up to Germany. "That piece of metal you found… Can I see it? It might be some kind of clue, and I want to take a look," he asked. Germany blinked as the shouted behind him gained volume. Italy really wouldn't be able to do much with the box, and he was going to tell them what had been bugging him all this time, so… he didn't see any harm in it.

"I don't think you'll be able to tell that much, it's just shaped weird," Germany said as he reached into his pocket. He handed it to Italy, who smiled slightly, bowing his head as he wrapped his fingers around the metal and brought it almost protectively to his chest. Germany thought he heard Italy mutter what was possibly a thanks, but he didn't have any time to think about it before he felt a sharp pain on his chest. "Hey!" he shouted, falling to the ground. The others silenced at the scream as the cell door slammed shut. Prussia immediately grabbed his sword, thinking they were being attacked, but he froze when he saw what was really standing on the other side of the cell.

Italy walked slowly from the door, studying them with dark, blank eyes. It creeped them out to see such a void of emotion on the Italian's face. They stared at him in confusion as he silently moved toward the door, yet still kept close to the bars, intently watching them all. As Germany stood up, a look of shock and horror on his face. Japan felt his gut tighten as he checked his pocket with the keys. He didn't even need to take them out; he knew one was missing, and he knew which one.

"It… Italy?" Prussia asked quietly. Italy stopped then, but it may have had nothing to do with Prussia speaking. He turned his head to the side slightly, staring directly at America. "Hey, America. Why don't you say it?" Everyone else looked at America, who stared at Italy determinedly. "Italy…" he said warningly. He knew exactly what he wanted him to say, but he wasn't going to; it wasn't his place, not after what he'd said after breakfast.

"Say it, in front of everyone!" Italy ordered. He sounded angry, but he was tearing up ever so slightly. "Who lured them here?" he asked, raising his voice. China blinked and practically ran over to the bars. "What are talking about, aru?" China demanded. Russia tilted his head. "America?" Anyone in the cell would have sworn on their life it was America; after all, he'd asked why they didn't blame not too long ago. That is, everyone but America, who clenched his hands into fists, refusing to say anthing.

Italy sighed. "What, I really do have to do everything myself?" he asked. "Oh, by the way, there's nothing in that crate," he said before anyone could question him or argue. "It's empty. Sorry." He didn't sound sorry. He didn't really sound like he had any emotion right then…

"I-Italy, what's the meaning of this!?" Canada demanded, voice sounding slightly louder. "America…" England began warily. "What's going on here? What are you hiding?" America bit his lip and stared at the ground. He was afraid he'd be dragged into it; that was the real reason he'd been nervous about bringing it up when they were through eating. But at least Italy had a reason to bring him into the conversation now, and he was probably the reason Italy even said he would talk.

"Huh? Aren't you going to say it?" Italy asked, looking almost… bored with America. "Why not? Read the atmosphere for once!" he shouted angrily, turning to face them entirely with a sudden jerk. This wasn't any side of Italy they'd ever seen before. This wasn't the happy-go-lucky, innocent, ignorant teen they all saw him as, nor was it the quiet, awkward, nervous, defensive young man he'd been recently. No, he was a mostly emotionless, somewhat-angry-yet-somewhat-sad man, which terrified them all. His usually sweet honey eyes, which were rarely even seen, were wide open and a dark shade of brown. Germany pulled against the door some. "Italy! Open this door!" he demanded angrily.

Italy smiled sadly at him. "Aww, but if I open it, you'll get mad at me! Then again…" He turned from him and smiled even sadder at the ceiling. "…you already are." Italy looked back to America with an angry look back on his face. "What, you really won't say it!? Fine then," Italy huffed. "You see, the one reason you're all here… The one who lead you all here… is me."

And big reveal chappie over! Sorry this is slightly late, but at least I got it done before the day was done~! I'll likely have the next chappie out tomorrow, maybe two more… I'm honestly not sure. But since I've gotten my finals history test out of the way (NAILED IT!), I have every day to type, OH YEAH! ...Except of course when I have appointment like next week. Well anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, maybe leave a comment if you think there's something I did weird or outright wrong (I've got one source I'm willing to use because time-saving, and it's a fanfic, so some things may be different, idk, it's been a while since I've had time to play HetaOni again and my internet's really slow, so videos are out of the question), or if you just have some idea or, well, comment on the chapter/story as a whole, feel free to tell me, I will respond to anyone. Well, "see you beautiful suns a' guns next time!" Ciao~!