Rewind the Hands of Time

Chapter 13: Deadly Visions

I sighed, closing the door behind me. This wasn't good, it wasn't good at all...

"How is he-aru?" I heard China asked, and I turned around.

"He's in the bath right now." I replied. "...Romano is looking after him..."

"Um...Maybe...he has amnesia?" a voice said, and it took me a moment to focus, it was Canada.

"No." England spoke up, and I turned to him, letting my eyes go over everyone present. They were all worn out...it was a bit worrisome. "...It looked like something different."

"I agree." I said, nodding. "It is similar to me...when we have just broken a clock."

"Eh? Vat do you mean?" Prussia asked, looking confused.

"When we break a clock, Japan gets a lot of strange memories, and they get mixed up." France replied, waving a hand arily. It seemed he was trying to keep up his old antics, though it looked fairly strained. I nodded again.

"That's correct." I replied, slightly uncomfortable with the amount of eyes that were on me. "...Italy also got so many memories. It pushed him to the limit, both physically and mentally. He got saturated with them." I paused, sighing. "If any more memories pour in, he wil only reject them."

"Reject? Reject what-aru?"

"The memories themselves." America spoke up. "That's how it usually is. But...Italy still tried somehow..."

"The line probably blurred between the real memories and the old memories." England finished, and America nodded.

"You mean...his memories are all scattered about?" Germany asked so suddenly I jumped a bit. "So, by thinking about them, they vill return in time?" I nodded.

"Yes. The proof of that is that he...well...tentatively...called my name."

"tentatively?" Spain asked, looking confused. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well...er..." I faultered, really unsure of how to explain what I meant. Sometimes I really hated the differences in cultures...Luckily I was saved by the door behind me opening, it's knob slamming into the wall with the force. I turned to look, and was face to face with Romano and a sheepish looking Italy behind him, who clung to the other's sleeve.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Romano muttered, his softer voice not matching the glare in his eyes for once.

"...Uh...no...that was pretty quick." America replied, faultering a bit before smiling. "Are you feeling a little better now, Italy?"

I studied Italy's face as he blankly looked at America. It was obvious he was wracking his brain for an answer. I saw his hand tighten against his brother's sleeve and then he looked down at his feet sheepishly.

"...Yes, sir. I'm sorry about all that." He muttered, and I frowned at the sound of his voice. It had gained a sad childish tone. "...My head feels a lot better and I'm fine. now." He looked up and let his eyes move over everybody. When they passed over me, there was a flicker of recognination, but most everyone else got nothing but a blank look.

"Vat?" Prussia spoke up from beside me and I saw him take a step forward out of the corner of my eye. "Er...Italy? You...do know me, don't you?" Italy was silent for a moment, before nodding.

"I do." He said. "...He is Mr. Japan." He pointed at me, and I nodded, a small smile on my face. "You're Mr. Prussia..." His finger moved to Prussia and then landed on Germany, who I saw was watching the younger nation intently. "And he is..." at this, Italy's voice faultered, and his face twisted a bit. "Hol..." Out of nowhere, Romano nudged him, shaking his head.

"Hm?" Germany looked a little confused. I was confused as well, what had he started to say, and why had Romano stopped him?

"Oh...er...Mr...Germany." Italy's voice got quiet, and his head went down as if he had done something wrong.

"Italia?" Germany asked, taking a step forward. "What's wrong with you?" Italy winced and Romano glared at Germany.

"There's nothing wrong with him you bastard!" Romano exclaimed, taking a defensive stance infront of his brother. I winced, silently agreeing with the italian. Germany-san shouldn't have said that...

"Huh?" Spain suddenly spoke up, and I turned my head. I had forgotten he was here, it felt so strange..."Doesn't it kinda feel...as if he's talking like when he was a kid?" the tanned skinned man asked and Romano looked away. "What happened?"

"Well...his memories are kind of jumbled and he's a little confused..." Romano replied, the usual scowl on his face. "He just needs some time, okay?" he almost snapped, and I almost smiled. It was a little heart-warming to see how much Romano really cared for his brother.

"Of course." Russia replied from the table where he sat. "Take your time, da?"

"Y-yes sir..." Italy stuttered, shaking a bit. "I'm sorry..."

"and you stay with him, Romano-san." I spoke up and he looked at me a little shocked.

"u-uh...w-wait a minute!" he suddenly said, causing everyone to look at him. "I...I've been thinking...and...I think...I think I should tell you, after all..." Hm? What did he mean by that? And why did a flash of panic fly across italy's face for a split second?

"Er...wait, wait..." England said, as Romano opened his mouth to talk again. The italian's mouth snapped shut and he glared daggers at the british man. "...I appreciate the thought, but..."

"We shouldn't have asked without concidering Italy's feelings-aru." China finished for him. Ah so that's what that meant.

"It's still alright." France said airily. "You just take care of your brother."

"There are still many things we have to solve..." Canada spoke up. "Maybe he will remember something while we're having a meeting."

"If there really is not other way, we'll ask again." France finished. Romano looked a little put off, and I could understand why. He had actually come to the decision to tell us soemthing that his brother had desperately hid, and now he was being told to forget it.

"I see..." Romano muttered, then scowled, turning and pushing Italy off towards the beds. "All right, Veneziano, go to sleep, you're tired. Come on." I almost laughed. Romano was always so forceful with everyone, especially his brother...yet it was obvious he was trying to be a little gentle.

"B-but..." Italy suddenly said, trying to wiggle out of his grip. It was then I noticed how strained his face looked.

"It's all right." Germany spoke up again, and the boy immediately quieted. "If there's no other way, we'll ask you. Until then, be at ease." I stared at Germany, trying to resist the urge to salute at the use of the military term. I blinked at myself...all those times of war had really gotten to me...hadn't they? I turned to italy, to see if the use of the terms had cause a memory to resurface, and I managed to catch a glimpse of recognition before he seemed to deflate and nod slowly.

"...Okay..." he muttered, letting himself be pushed towards the bed by a brother who glared daggers at Germany. Everyone watched as the two disappeared around the corner, and I watched as the smiling faces vanished as soon as they did.

"He's...so worn out..." France muttered, shaking his head.

"Da..." Russia replied, pushing himself up and coming over, towering over everyone. "He pushed himself too hard. He must have kept telling himself that he could try harder and harder to protect us."

"...Let us think about what would be the best course of action." I said, trying to direct the topic away from Italy.

"Yeah." America exclaimed looking excited, then his expression faultered a bit. "Er...there's one thing that's been on my mind..."

"Hm? What is it?" I asked, turning to look at him.

"Germany...what was that thing that you gave Italy?"

"You mean...right before he pushed me into that cell?" Germany asked, and America nodded. "It's a piece of metal that I found in the cave. Incidentally, Italy had dropped it when we found him, and I now have it with me again." he pulled it out, and America took it, turning it over in his hands a few times.

"Judging by the way he acted, it must be something necessary to escape." Canada muttered, looking over America's shoulder. The other blonde nodded. "Even...though it looks like an ordinary piece of metal..."

"Maybe it's some sort of key?" Spain asked, and almost everyone frowned. I turned the idea over in my mind.

"Key?" France asked, taking the metal and looking at it. "But...Keys aren't usually shaped like this."

"That's the point!" Spain exclaimed, looking excited.

"In other words, " I said, "the keyhole is also concealed."

"But...there vas no keyhole vere this piece of metal could fit..." Prussia muttered disbelievingly.

"We must have overlooked it-aru." China replied, and I watched him turn to England. "Opium, wasn't there places that made you feel uneasy?" England frowned, looking..well, uneasy.

"There were..." he started to say, then shook his head. "and there weren't. I mean..." he paused for a moment. "there were so many places that made me uneasy that I've forgotten about some of them...I'm sorry." America let out a laugh.

"In that case, we'll have to search the mansion once again!" he exclaimed, though he didn't really seem unhappy about it. I sighed.

"Understood." I said, nodding. "Let's split up into two groups. One to stand by, and the other to search around."

"Who will be with which group though?" France asked, crossing his arms. England looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I'm fine with either one...but..." he smiled a bit. "Italy must be hungry, so maybe I should could something for him..." I paled at that, I valued England as a friend...but even I knew when to admit that he couldn't cook...Italy would just get sick if he ate England's cooking!

"England-san! Let us search together!" I exclaimed, jerking forward and grabbing his wrist. He looked at me in confusion.

"What?" he asked, trying to tug his hand away. I couldn't let that happen..."But...the food..."

"I'll stay-aru!" China exclaimed, turning towards the kitchen area. "France, you can stay too-aru!"

"Of course!" France exclaimed, following China with earnest. "So, the kitchn is full now, you can search around with the others."

"I'll stay too..." Prussia muttered, and I turned to him, noticing that he looked a little pale. "I'm not feeling very well..."

"Does anyone else have a preference?" America asked, but no one spoke up. I saw him grin and nod. "Okay! Then Russia, Canada, Japan, and England will search with me, and the others will stand by!"

"All right..." Canada sighed. "Lets do a thorough investigation..." he muttered, and I nodded.

We met at the stairs leading out of this safe room, and we all started down them and into the room below. Immediately I had my hand on Tachi's hilt as the heavy air hit my lungs, stinging them slightly. I had forgotten how miserable it was in this place. The safe room had an air of...calmness and security, and hte moment I was out of that place, I missed it.

"I forgot how...stifleing the air was..." I muttered, not really meaning to be heard, though I was anyways.

"It is unsettleing, da?" Russia asked, and I noticed his grip on his pipe tighten slightly. Well, at least I wasn't the only one nervous.

I lagged behind a bit, for the moment I started walking again, the wound on my leg made itself known again. Every step was painful, I developed a limp as I tried to keep my weight off of the bad leg so that there wouldn't be as much pain. If the other's noticed, they took no heed, and I was glad for that. I did not wish to be seen as a liability, even though I knew I was. We investigated every room we could. We tried every door, but we didn't come across a keyhole. We finally got to the top, the fourth floor, and I had to stop...I had to take a rest at the top of the stairs. I stood, leaning up against the banister, and I frowned. My hand was shaking from the exertion.

"...Are you okay, Japan?" a voice asked from my side, and I turned, finding England standing beside me.

"...Hai." I replied as quickly as I could. He didn't seem convinced, and I let out a sigh. "...my leg is bothering me. Do not worry, I will be fine."

"...you want me to take a look?" he asked, and I found myself seriously concidering letting him take a look. Then I shook my head.

"No, I think it can wait until we get back to the others." I replied again, I couldn't hold them up, not any more than I already had. I pushed myself forward and started towards the room that the others were in.

"What's this pudgy thing?" Russia was asking as I walked up, past a red chair...wait...I had been in this room...this room...

"Oh! The mochi!" I exclaimed, weaving my way through the people to see the creature. It was still stuck in the wall, still looking at everyone with sad eyes.

"What is this revolutionary creature?" America exclaimed, making England wince a bit. "It's fantastic!"

"It's stuck..." Canada muttered, looking at it closely. "A-and...I don't particularly like the look in it's eye..."

"I had completely forgotten about it" I said, feeling sorry. "I found it when I was looking for the others when we got seperated. It's stuck fast, even Germany could not get it out." I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Mochi-san we will come to help you soon. So please just wait a little more."

"Da. There's not a keyhole in this room either..."

"But there is a strange indention in the wall...once we find the keyhole, we should come back and check this out." Canada said, feeling of the wall right beside the Mochi. England and I nodded at the same time.

"Indeed." I replied, turning and starting to make my way to the door. "We should check the basement too, it might hold the keyhole."

"Yeah!" America exclaimed, and I sighed. He was way to happy about this.

We made our way back down, going towards the basement. It was a little easier going down the stairs than it was going up, though I still lagged behind. That was fine with me, at least this way if the monster decided to attack us, it would attack me first. It was a morbid way of thinking, but it was true. I was glad for that. I made my way down the steps towards the basement slowly watching Russia's scarf disappear around the corner without me. Once I got to the bottom of the stairs, I turned and followed the direction it went, finding myself in the room that Italy had locked us up in. Everyone was crowded around taht little box that had been in the cell.

"Oh? My appologies for lagging behind, what happened?" I asked, as everyone looked up as i entered.

"Italy said there was hope in this box, da?" Russia asked and I nodded.

"That is what he said" I replied, scowling a little at how easily he had tricked us into the cell.

"What did he mean?" Russia asked.

"If he was doing it for our sake...he must have deliberately arranged a hope to escape when he locked us up in the cell." Canada muttered, though it seemed it was only half to himself.

"But he said the box was empty!" America exclaimed. "It was probably a trick to lock us up!"

"Probably..." I replied, picking it up and shaking it a bit. "It makes no noise when shaken...however, what if the trick is a trick itself?" I offered, and America looked at me blankly.

"Makes sense..."Canada replied. "...he means what if he tricked us, then tricked us again by telling us there's nothing in the box? Naturally, since he told us there is nothing, we want to look."

I set the box down and sighed.

"I didn't used to think he would be that...smart. Now I am starting to second guess myself." I muttered, and Canada nodded.

"Hm? Wait...a minute..." England suddenly said, and I turned. He had picked the box up and was examining it. "This is a little odd..."

"Odd? How so?" I asked, and he blinked a few times at me.

"...oh, sorry. You probably wouldn't get it..." England muttered, "well, most of you wouldn't, at least...however, this...it has some of my magic. Bloody hell?"

"Your magic?" Canada asked, almost glareing. "You mean this belongs to you?" Everyone was looking at him, and he flushed a bit.

"No. That's not what I mean." he replied, looking defensive. "Give me a minute...Even at my current level I can remove this much..." He seemed to focus on the box, muttering something under his breath before the was a barely audible click.

"Hm? It made a sound." Russia observered and England opened his eyes, letting out a breath. "Let's try opening it, da?"

"oooooh! What is it?" America asked, sounding giddy. "I hope it's ice cream!"

"...bloody idiot..." England muttered and America frowned.

"What? I'm hungry!"

"Whatever, let's just find out what's in it. I want to know why it had my magic..."

England snapped it open, and there was a small flash.

"...the...y..." a voice started to say, but it was faded. I immediately grabbed the hilt of Tachi in preperation for an attack...that never came.

"Hm?" I turned at America's hum, and felt the blood rush from my face.

"What?" Russia exclaimed, for once surprised. I was also surprised, and slightly horrified. In front of us had appeared a hazy image of England, but it was different.

This image of england was bloody. His entire uniform was torn into shreds, and blood dripped down his arm. His free arm was holding a spellbook, and he looked in front of him. I noticed his eyes were glazed over, though it was unclear why. It could have been the pain, but it also could have been something else, for there was blood running down his face from a large cut above his eye.

"E-England?" Canada exclaimed, taking a few steps back.

"...and...it..." the vision's mouth moved, but only bits and pieces of what it was saying got through

"W-What the bloody hell is this? Why...why is..am..?" England seemed too stunned to put a coherent sentence together, and I had to turn to glare at him. What this vision had to say might be important...

"Please be quiet! He's saying something!" I muttered and he quieted, nodding.

"My...my future self who is watching this!" the vision said, it's form wavering. "There is no time to tell much. If by any chance Italy dies, Find the journal!" I took a few steps forward.

"Italy...dieing?" America exclaimed. "No way in he-"

"Hush!" England suddenly said, and the blonde went silent as the vision of England continued to speak.

"in return...you'll get his memories as well as my life!" the vision of a bloody england exclaimed, then it fell to one knee...seeming to be too exhausted to stand. His life...did that mean that this england had died? "...Go back without fail! Go back in time! ...please...sa...Italy..." abrudtly the vision ended with the bloody blonde falling to his side...and then he was gone.

"Huh?" England asked, taking a few steps forward to where the other had fallen.

"England...You were pretty worn out, Da? What happened?" Russia asked. I was too busy trying to figure this out. The vision of England had looked pretty beaten up, it reminded me of the vision I had seen of Prussia. I shivered.

"Journal?" I asked out loud. "Does that mean-" I stopped, trying to figure it out. A journal? What did that mean? "W-Wait a minute...what does that-"

"So that was a message to England in the future?" America asked, and I saw England clench his fists as if he were about to hit the other. "And he said something about going back in time or something like that...right?"

"And he told us to 'find the journal'..." Canada replied, looking thoughtful.

"...'My furture self'...?" England repeated, starting to pace. "...Was he talking about me?" I shook my head.

"...But Italy is alive..." I said softly. "We...we made sure of that...and...'the journal'...that's not very specific, is it?" Almost everyone shook their head.

"Oh!" america suddenly exclaimed, and everyone turned to look at him. He was looking in the box, reaching inside. "There's something else inside this thing!" Russia walked over and took a peak at what was in America's hands.

"It is a clock." Russia muttered, taking it out of his hand. I noticed it was smaller, like a pocket watch. "The usual, da?...Hm? Oh...and also a letter, apparently." he took it in his large hands, turning it over a few times. "It has no address..."

"A letter?" I asked, and reached for it.

"Da." He replied, handing it to me. I opened it, and read the first few lines, before quickly closing it, feeling my face twist into a frown. It was for italy.

"...I see..." I muttered. "I will give it to him later." I tucked the letter in my jacket pocket, and let out a sigh. An eerie silence covered the room after that.

"Well..." Canada spoke up, "what are we going to do now?" Everyone was silent as they thought about it. After a moment...an idea crossed my mind. I scowled at it, but...surprisingly, I went through with it.

"Well...it is only a suggestion..." I started to say, and everyone turned towards me. "...but...how about we break the clock?" There were a few gasps, an especially loud one from America. The blonde was pale when he spoke.

"What?" he exclaimed, and I got the feeling that the last time he hadn't seen a happy past. "Wh-why?"

"...Somehow, I have a feeling that it is hiding the hint that we need to figure out what that vision of England was saying." I replied slowly, choosing my words carefully. "Besides...there is the chance I can glimpse furture events, like the last time."

"We also have to fix time." Canada pointed out, and I nodded.

"Hmm...is that so?" England muttered, almost too himself. I could tell he was pretty shaken up by what we had just seen. "Well, then, let's break it."

"Oh...b-but..." America stuttered, looking uneasy. "I'm...don't..." England seemed to ignore his unease, and took the clock from Russia.

"All right." he said, and a light appeared in his hand. "I'm going to break it." I tried to brace myself as the light shot out of the brit's hand and shattered the clock.

I opened my eyes, and found myself in the same room that we had found Italy after he had locked us up.

"Great kami-sama above, what on earth?" I exclaimed, taking in the scene infront of me. I was standing off to the side, watching as almost everyone surrounded that monster that I had become familiar with. Everyone was injured, very serverely.

"Bloody hell!" England exclaimed, struggleing to keep a hand on his spell book. "Run Italy!"

I noticed that Italy was standing infront of the monster, beaten and battered almost beyond compare. he was standing by himself, shaking but not running.

"Move...Please, Italy, Go!" France called out, but Italy merely shook his head slowly.

"...I...I can't." he replied, his eyes never leaving the monster. "...If I move from here...America...will..." his face twisted into dispair, and I realized what he meant.

"That...that is the adversary that Italy fought on his own!" I exclaimed, though it became apparent that no one could hear me. I didn't notice until a few moments later that someone actually had heard me. Everyone was so injured..."Why am I just standing here and watching?"

"This is horrible..." America muttered, one eye closed in pain. "What the fucking hell? Even with so many of us fighting together, we still can't defeat it?"

"Why the hell am I giving up so easily?" a voice suddenly said from beside me, and I turned to look, finding another america beside me.

"America?" I exclaimed and he turned to look at me, his eyes wide in surprise.

"Japan?" he exclaimed in shock, before seeming to calm "Huh? But..you're over there...You're the japan that just spoke, right? Just called my name?"

"Y-yes." I replied, nodding then looked over at the scene. "We must help Italy! I fear.." America shook his head.

"I don't think that's possible..." he replied sadly, reaching forward and trying to touch his other self. "We're transparent...see? We can't even touch anything...I think...we're only supposed to watch...not like we can do anything else."

"Shit!" Prussia exclaimed after trying to get up. "My leg...is broken..." he let out a grunt, trying once again. "Move damn you...MOVE!"

"No!" I exclaimed, taking a few steps forward as the monster suddenly shot forward.

"Italia!" Germany called out, and my vision was obscured for a moment. I couldn't see Italy through the monster.

"...It's...weakness is...it's forehead..." came a pained voice and the monster let out a scream, backing away. My vision was still obscured by it. "...Too...too bad. I win...again." The monster let out another scream and faded away, and I saw exactly how bad Italy had been injured in the attack.

"Wh-What the hell?" America exclaimed, and I felt the blood rush out of my face. Italy had a...a hole all the way through his shoulder. There was a bloody splatter mark on the wall behind him where the claw had gone all the way through him.

"...France...your injuries...are you okay?" Italy asked, but France didn't answer. "...Japan...is still breathing too...thank god. " He turned his head to look at where this past's America knelt on one knee. "...America...you can still move a little...right?"

"Stop...please!" America exclaimed, rushing forward. "Not again! This time it's Italy?"

"No...Kami, please, no..." I said, watching as Italy fell to one knee.

"I...did it..." he muttered, his eyes shining with what looked like tears. "I...protected everyone! I made no mistakes..." He fell over onto his side, not even wincing.

"Italy!" the past me exclaimed, rushing forward. The entire group suddenly seemed to have the energy to move, and they all clustered around the fallen boy, who let out a strained laugh as he was gathered up in the arms of Germany.

"Your injury looks serious...but...you're alive...so you'll heal...Thank God..." His voice faded for a moment. "...thank god my ruse worked."

Both me and America froze. "Ruse?" we both asked at the same time, looking at each other, before approaching so that we could watch what was happening.

"...Guys..." Italy started to say, his voice fading for a moment. "you may not know this...but this is actuallly the second time we came here...The first time...I wasn't useful...at all..." he stopped talking for a moment, closing his eyes and smiling. He opened them again. "I could finally get you back...Thank god...but...I'm sorry..." his voice faded again, and his face scrunched up. "...now it's my turn to fall..."

"You're fucking kidding!" Germany exclaimed, making the boy in his arms wince sadly. "The second time? That makes no sense!"

"I went back in time, you see..." Italy quickly tried to explain. "I...I managed to get out of here! But...i was the only one...who could get out...I didn't want that...I had...I had to get you all out..."

"You..." France stuttered. "You idiot! You didn't have to get us out! You had to get out with us!" Italy didn't answer, his eyes were closed tightly, as if in pain.

"I-Italy..." Germany stuttered.

"Q-quickly!" america exclaimed, trying to get to his feet. "Let's carry Italy...Anyone? Isn't there anyone who can move? What about China and the others? Aren't they back yet?"

"Go! Make...make a place where ve can rest! It can be anywhere! I'll look after him until you can get it done! A really safe place! Someone!" Prussia exclaimed, scooting forward towards Italy. I realized then where our safe room had come from. It had been a carried memory that Germany had...though he hadn't realized it. I tried to focus on Germany, who was trying to get italy to open his eyes. It finally worked.

"...Hey, Doitsu..." Italy's voice carried over everyone's, and it all went silent.

"V-vait...Italia..." Germany stuttered, before sharing a look with Prussia. "Oh...I know! I vill make a place for you. The...best place for you to rest at ease..." Italy's face lit up at that, and he laughed tiredly.

"Really?" he asked, his voice soft. "Then...will you make lots of beds? So...that everyone can rest?" he seemed to relax a little bit. "...and...then I'll sleep peacefully...between you and...Nihon..." his voice faded a bit, and his eyes fluttered a bit. I noticed how much blood the boy was loosing, and it pushed everyone else into a frantic mode, trying to get to their feet.

"Yes..." Germany replied, his face stony. I shared a look with America beside me. this past...this italy was dieing, and everyone...including Germany knew it. Italy himself knew it.

"...Oh! and a biiiig table!" Italy suddenly exclaimed, giving another tired laugh with a smile. "...I also want a place...where we can all cook...even England..."

"Yes...definitely." Germany muttered, his face twisting slightly. Italy let out a sigh, and closed his eyes. I saw Germany tense up, and I found myself shaking.

"...Doi...tsu..." Italy's voice came suddenly and almost silently. There was a strain that hadn't been there before, and he opened his eyes to look up at the blonde that held him, his eyes glossy.

"...Yes, Italy?" Germany answered, leaning forward so that he could hear the boy. I watched as tears started falling silently from the younger nation's glazed eyes.

"I..." he started to say, but it faded quickly, as if he couldn't keep a hold on his voice. "...I don't..."

"...You don't what?" Germany asked softly, the softest I had ever heard his voice. Italy's face twisted slightly.

"...I don't...want to die here..." the boy muttered, and I felt my heart wrench, tears falling from my eyes. "...I...wanted to escape..." he sighed, a small smile on his face. "...with all of you..."

And then he quit talking. His eyes became unfocused...and then glazed over completely, loosing their shine. His hands, which had been clenched in pain, went limp at his side.

"...Italy?" Germany asked, tensing. "Italy? Italy..." he started to lightly shake Italy's body, but recieved no answer. the only answer he got was the boy's head rolling to the side limply. "Italy! Italia!"

"No..." I heard England muttered, and heard a thud as his spellbook dropped to the floor.

"Shit..." Prussia muttered as my past self got to his feet, tears streaming down his face. "Japan! Take the others outside! Vest is out of control!"

"Italia! Italia! Stop Screwing around! Your eyes are open!" Germany was yelling, loudly. He kept repeating Italy's name over and over.

"Germany is..." The past america started to say, but Prussia interrupted him.

"VEST! Calm down!" Prussia yelled, managing to get to his feet. "France! Please gimme a hand here!" He turned to France, who was just...sitting there.

"Italy is..." he muttered, in shock. "No...it's impossible...Wait...why?"

I watched as Germany started to shake italy's body harder, trying to get some reaction out of the obviously dead nation.

"Vait, Vest!" Prussia exclaimed, stumbling forward and wincing in pain. "Calm down!"

"Japan...Let's leave. this is the most..." I heard England say, and I turned to him automatically, only to find my past self just sitting there, stareing with tears falling from his face. "...Japan?" My past self started slightly, turning to look at england with wide eyes.

"I...suimasen...It's been...a very long time since I lost a friend...I..." my past self muttered, shaking his head. "I...I don't know how to...react. I feel...sad. But...also angry...and hopeless...and...empty." he paused, looking down at his hands. No one seemed to notice my past self, England, and America. "...I don't know how I should feel...but...I cannot stop crying..."

"...let's leave..." the america beside me said suddenly. "It would only make it worse if they saw you like that..."

"Hai..." Was all I could muster as I felt myself sway a bit. america must have caught it.

"...Are you okay?" he asked me, and I turned to look at him. "...If you can't stand, you can lean on my shoulder." He offered but I shook my head.

"I'm...i'm fine." I replied, then took a look at him. "What about you, America-san? You're clenching your own hand too tightly...It's bleeding..."

"...This is why I didn't want to break the clock..." America muttered, "I can't do anything to help here..."

With America's help, even though I tried to refuse it, we managed to get out the door. It made me shiver when we litterally passed through the door. We came upon a gathering of the other nations.

"What the hell?" America suddenly exclaimed from beside me, and I could tell he was angry "Someone always...always..."

"You're kidding...right?" the Past Canada was saying, shaking his head. "italy is...Wait a moment! How could something like that..."

"...Those voices coming from the room. It is Germany and his brother, da?" Russia asked, his face twisted in an unusual frown. "We'd better not go in there, da? They were...the closest to him..."

"If only I had gotten here sooner-aru..." China muttered, hanging his head and fiddleing with a rip in his uniform.

"No...I'm the one who made us split up..." America replied.

"..." The America beside me stayed silent, listening even though he was shaking with anger at that statement.

"That...What's that book in your hand?" the past America suddenly said, pointing at something in Canada's hands.

"Oh, this?" Canada pulled it out, showing it. "I found it in the library room..." he paused, flipping it open and running through the pages real quick. "Er...actually, it seems to be...a journal..." this surprised me enough to take a few steps forward.

"America! That book!" I exclaimed and he looked forward. "Do you think that's the journal?"

"That's the book Italy has been using...isn't it?" He asked, and I nodded carefully. "I thought it was a Bible though...Is that it?"

"...There's something...strange about it." Russia muttered, towering over Canada to look down. "It's on the first page..." The larger man suddenly took the book out of the smaller man's hands, flipping to the first page. "Look at the name here."

Both me and America leaned in to look as well. I paled at what was written there.

"Italy Veneziano..." England muttered, shaking his head. "It doesn't mean it's the name of the journal's owner..." he looked thoughtful, taking the book and looking at it. "It kind of looks like this is a...contract sign page..."

"SHIT!" America suddenly exclaimed and I looked over to see his form fading.

"America?" I shouted, concerned. Where we about to be taken back? No! I couldn't...

"It says..." England started to say, and I watched as America faded completely. I felt the tug...and the world around me went silent, I could see England's mouth moving, but no sound came out of it...I was being pulled back.

"No! I...have to stay just...a little longer...even...even if it's a few seconds!" I exclaimed, but even as I said that, my vision went dark. The last thing I saw was Germany slaming the door open of the room, a look of crazed desperation on his face.

And then nothing.

"Japan!...America!"

My eyes shot open and I litterally collapsed to my knees, my breath hitching.

"We're...back?" I heard America exclaim. "Oh...if only we could have stayed a little longer..."

"Just sit down, please America...you both look very pale..." Canada said, but his voice was far away to me. I was...in shock.

"...It was actually...the second world..." I found myself muttering, and England bent down to my level.

"Hm? what's the matter, Japan?" he asked, worry evident in his voice. I blinked up at him.

"...It wasn't just a hypothesis." I replied, and he paled a little bit. "Everything I saw...they were past experiences..." I suddenly looked away, my face furrowing in thought. "Or...were they the future?"

"Wait a minute then. What number is this world?" America suddenly asked, and I shook my head, watching his face pale. "...How many times have we...lost our friends?"

"Number?" Canada asked, looking confused. "What...We?"

"You mean, how many times have we come here, da?" Russia asked.

I felt myself grow faint, and I fell forward. Luckily, England was still bent down to my level, and he caught me, righting me before I hit the ground.

"H-hey, are you all right?" he asked, as I raised a hand to my head. "Just what the bloody hell did you see? Can you go back once more?"

I had no answer for him, trying to calm my shivers.

"...can't you do that...for me? I don't feel so good either..." America muttered and I blinked at him, before looking up at England.

"I'm...Suimasen. Even though I know he's all right...I want to see Italy as soon as possible..." I muttered, trying to stand. I could not. My legs would not support me.

"You are unsteady on your feet." Russia muttered, before he bent down and lifted me up and almost threw me over his shoulder. "You better not walk, da?"

I struggled for a moment before sighing. I knew he wouldn't let me down, so there was no use trying. I could do nothing but grip his dusty coat as they made their way back to where Germany and the others were. I felt...almost broken. While I hadn't seen but a few pasts, but...I already feel like I'm about to fall apart. But...what can I do? I'm going insane, keeping it bottled up like this...and I know that if I do not tell anyone...but...it's just so hard...If I keep it in...it's just too painful.