I'M SO SORRY! I honestly didn't think it would take this long to get out such a SHORT chapter! About half way through this chapter, I scrapped it and started over, because I didn't like where it was going. I started to do it from Japan's view...then i thought, hn, maybe america? I scrapped that as well, and ended up doing it as Ita's view.

The Chapter itself is a little...choppy...and it's supposed to be that way. Italy is suffering from memory loss, so it would make sense if his chapter/thoughts were slightly...off.

I honestly don't know when i'll get the next chapter out. If you check out my page on here, you'll notice there is an important notice. Due to this notice, updates may be a little slower. I'm just warning you.

Thank you for reading...I really appreciate it! Enjoy the mushyness this chapter ^^


Rewind the Hands of Time

Chapter 14: Coming to Terms; Italy

With careful hands I smoothed out the creases in the sheets. Romano had told me I needed to be busy, so I was making the beds. I had messed it up the first time, and that man...Germany...had shown me how to do it. I was so...confused...I had spoken a long time with Romano...my fratello...and he had helped me remember a lot...about what this mansion was...How could I have forgotten that?

I let out a sigh, turning and going to the other side of the room, gathering up more sheets in my arms to take back to the beds. I was almost done with this task...and it made me feel a little better to be doing something. I heard something close, but paid no attention to it, trying not to stumble by stepping on the sheets in my arms.

"We're Back." a voice said, and I turned quickly to find that the people who had gone looking around had returned. I felt a smile on my face that felt as though it would split my skin.

"Oh, you're back." I replied as cheerfully as I could as I scanned the vaguely familiar faces. The one in the white smiled at me. "Hello...er..." I wracked my brain for the answer...what was his name...Oh! "Japan!" I couldn't explain the feeling of happiness that welled up in me when he broke out into a smile.

"Italy...Thank god..." he muttered, coming forward and taking the bundle of cloth from my arms. "You seem to be doing a little better...As do your memories." I watched him set the fabric on the bed, and couldn't help be glad when my smile faded from my face.

"Yeah...Sorry for all the trouble..." I replied, looking away in shame. I was being nothing but a bother to these people, even if I could barely remember them. "I still don't remember everything, but...things are starting to fall into place. I've talked a lot with Fratello...so I've started to remember things little by little..." I poked my fingers together in embarrassment but Japan merely smiled at me.

"Oh, you're back-aru!" I jumped in surprise at the sudden voice, turning to look. It was the other brown haired man...China? Yeah...China. "The food will be ready in a moment-aru...so you can sit down and wait." With that, he disappeared, leaving me confused. Food? They were cooking? Oh...it did smell good in here...how had I not noticed it?

"Ita-kun..." I turned my head, looking down at the light hand that was on my arm. It was Japan. "Do...you have a minute?" he asked, and I blinked at him a few times before nodding slowly.

"Y-yeah...okay..." I muttered and he smiled, motioning for me to follow him and I did so, my stumbling steps following his slightly limping ones. Odd...was he hurt? What was that red stain on his pants leg? I followed him until he came to a stop at the bathroom, sitting down on the bench that...Germany? Had put there...He patted the space beside him, signaling me to sit down next to him.

"You see, I have been holding on to a letter addressed to you..." he started to say, looking at me. "I believe it would be beneficial if you read it aloud." I was surprised...What...did he mean that he had been holding on to a letter?

"For...me?" I asked, confused.

"Hai." he said nodding, so I assumed that meant yes. He turned his head away, and I followed his gaze, noticing that Fratello and ...Germany...were watching me. "...Do you remember what happened in this mansion?" My eyes immediately went to Japan before I looked away. This thought scared me...how much DID I remember?

"...Yeah...about half of it, I guess..." I replied after a few moments, and my body shivered slightly. "But...I'm still a little scared..."

"All the more reason for you to read this." Japan said, withdrawing said letter from his pocket and handing it to me. "I only read a few lines, but I'm sure it will be helpful to you...please, read it aloud..."

Hesitantly...I reached out and took the paper from him. It...felt familiar even as I flipped it over and opened it up. It...how?

"It's...it's my...handwriting..." I muttered, looking up at Japan in confusion. He was silent, waiting, and I looked back down, briefly scanning some of the words. I swallowed a few times...I was hesitant...what on earth would this say? "To...to the me who lives at...some point in time...and who isn't...alone..."

"...Once again I made some mistakes...but also some progress. Meanwhile, I finally, but slowly began to learn..." I had to pause...

"...its okay Ita-kun...keep going." Japan urged me on and I nodded slowly.

"...to rely on my friends. I was constantly afraid that everyone would blame me for dragging them into this...and they would hate me, or be appalled at me, or even get mad at me and leave me...But then I was told I had the wrong idea. They were very mad at me. It hurt so much...not that they hit me, but it...it really hurt. I finally figured it out. But...I can't pass this memory on to my next self. Unfortunately, I'll lose my life yet again..." I couldn't help a sob...this was my handwriting...did this mean I died? I didn't even notice the hand on my shoulder. "That's why I'm writing this letter. Say thanks to England...and tell them the truth. I'm sure they'll get mad, but it's not that they hate you or think you're a pain...Why didn't you rely on your friends sooner? What are friends for? That's what they told me...and that's what they're going to tell you too. I...I'm sure I'll cry. And then...and then..." My voice died into sobs and I felt the paper in my hand crumple up as I couldn't help myself. What was this thing? What...I felt the tears streaming down my face and I made every effort to stop them, brushing them away as soon as they fell. It took all my will power to get myself to stop crying...it wouldn't do me any good, and it would make everyone worry about me more...I didn't...I didn't want to be a pain, as the letter said...

"Ita-kun." Japan suddenly said, and I sniffled, before turning to look at him.

"W-What?" I asked, confused when he looked away and back out at the room. His face was...oddly content.

"...I've been thinking all this time...wondering what we're going to do now...What do you want to do?" he asked, and it confused me even more. What did he mean by that? Perhaps he meant what to do next?

"..Er...investigate some place...or..." I replied hesitantly, not sure if that was the right answer. I was proven correct when he turned to look at me and shook his head

"A-ah, iie. I meant..." he stuttered for a moment, before sighing. "I meant once we get out of here. I was thinking...about talking to Russia about this...but how about we have a party at my house or something like that.

A party? Parties were fun...and...If Japan was there, and everyone else...that would be nice...no more running, or blood, or anything like that.

"At your house?" I asked, feeling my face light up with a smile again. Oddly, this time it didn't hurt. "That sounds like fun!" Japan smiled at me.

"I have to work until night time, so everyone would have to arrive late at night..." he muttered, drawing a hand up to his chin in thought. "I'm sure we'd all be very tired...so perhaps everyone should sleep over. I have a Kitchen garden as well, so I could get up earlier than usual the next morning and go pick vegetables..."

At the talk of food, one of the blondes at the table perked up, looking over at us with a big grin, pushing up his glasses.

"Hey! That's a nice idea!" he exclaimed with a loud voice. "I'll try to get up early and help you too! Like a Hero should!" This caused Japan to laugh.

"...thank you America. When we come back from the garden, I'll make breakfast..." he said, and I could feel my spirits rising with each word. The other brown haired man came in, holding a spatula.

"That's my cue-aru! America can wake up the guys who are still sleeping!" the man said, waving the spatula at the blonde, presumably America.

"Awww, why do I have to do it?"

"Because-aru, some of us are heavy sleepers!"

"Hai, China-san." Japan nodded, smiling. "And then...well..." I watched his face twist into one of slight embarrassment. "Maybe...we could all go out somewhere?" he suggested, and the silver haired man stood up quickly with a grin.

"Let's go to the...uh...whatchacallit...the amusement park, or something like that?" he suggested and Japan nodded. One of the blondes let out a sigh and flipped his hair over his shoulder.

"...Well, I suppose I can refrain from hitting on people for at least that occasion." he muttered, and it sounded like he was trying to sound hurt...but wasn't very good at hiding how excited he was.

"I'm sure a day or two won't be enough..." Japan muttered, "Oh, yes, we could go shopping."

The other blonde stood, looking excited.

"Yes!" he exclaimed "I suppose I'll take a look at the suits!"

"Calm down Bushybrows..." the long haired blonde said exasperatedly.

"What did you call me you French bastard?" the other said...so I assumed that the short haired was England and the longer haired was France...The tall white haired man let out a chuckle.

"You all are so funny, da? I want some clothes to wear while I'm at Japan's place...what was it called again?" he asked, smiling.

"Are you talking about a Yukata, Russia?" Japan offered and Russia nodded.

"Da! Let's all buy one, da?" Russia asked and Japan let out a small laugh.

"I can hardly wait. And when we go back to my house we'll all have a banquet." Japan said, nodding to set the decision in.

"With lots of food from all over the world!" the blonde with the curl said...funny, I hadn't noticed him before now...but he looked excited. "Let's see...what should I make?...perhaps maple pancakes?"

"I'll bring hamburgers!" America exclaimed

"I'll contribute with beer and wurst."...Germany said calmly. I felt the need contribute too.

"Um...well..." I started to say, and let out a small meep when everyone looked at me. I swallowed, feeling like I was taking some sort of test. "I'll...make...pasta...and pizza..." I muttered, and nearly everyone smiled at me.

"And then we'll all sleep together in a huddle!" Spain exclaimed as he and Fratello walked over.

"In that case, I'll lay out the futons in the other room. You can go to sleep wherever you like." Japan said, smiling. I watched my brother cross his arms as he sat down next to me...I had to scoot a bit to make room.

"Sounds interesting." he muttered, opening one eye to stare at me. "Hm...what should we bring as a gift?" he asked me, and I was a little confused as to what he meant...perhaps he meant the food? "Maybe...we should send it beforehand, right Veneziano?" I decided to agree.

"Yeah!" I exclaimed, and I didn't even have to act like I was happy. I was happy! "We'll bring the best ingredients...Lots of it!"

"I'll bring the beer." Germany said...once again.

"It'll be fun. Really fun..." Japan said, sighing before looking at me. The happy mood vanished, replaced by one of seriousness. "That's why...Italy..."

"Y-yeah?"

"That's why we all have to escape." Japan said. "With everyone who is here, without losing a single person."

"...yeah..." I muttered, looking down at the crumpled paper in my hands. "Yeah." I smoothed it out.

I'm sure I'll cry. And then...and then...Look around yourself.

"That's right...I..." I muttered too myself, too silently for everyone to hear. How...how had I forgotten? All that had happened...With those lines, I remembered...mostly everything. But how...how had I overlooked this? How could I have overlooked all the friends that were around me...all this time?

"Ita-kun? Why are you looking away?" Japan's voice broke through my thoughts and I looked up at him. "Do you still feel unwell?" he looked so worried...

"No...I'm fine..." I muttered, and I watched his face twist a bit at that line. That's right...I told him...not too tell me that...yet here I was telling him...I looked away, back down at my hands, twisting them in embarrassment. "There...There's something...I wan-"

"AAAAH!" Spain suddenly exclaimed, causing me to jump and let out a little yelp. "Damnit! What are we going to do, Lovi?"

"Wh-What the hell are you going on about?" Romano asked, standing up from where he had sat down next to me. Spain looked a little sheepish.

"I...forgot to tell Austria and the others that we found Ita..." he muttered and Romano was silent. I tried to look at his face, but Fratello had turned it to stone.

"Er...what? Is...he coming too?" France asked, pushing his chair in to the table. "Wait...'the others'? You mean..." Romano took a breath and nodded.

"Almost everyone who came to the world summit."

I felt the color drain from my face. The others? Everyone...at the world summit? I must have tensed up because I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked over. Japan was giving me a worried look and I tried to calm myself...

"Romano threw a fit back there. He was really desperate to save Ita, you know." Spain was saying and I looked up at him in surprise. "I've never seen Romano being that honest before!" Spain was smiling, as if nothing was wrong.

"Shut the fuck up, asshole!" Romano exclaimed, getting into a defensive position...looking about ready to punch someone. "What's wrong with swallowing my pride to save my brother?" I felt tears stinging my eyes again.

"Yeah!" Prussia exclaimed, "You're right!" I whipped a few of the tears away.

"Romano..." I muttered and he immediately calmed, looking over at me in confusion. "...thank you." I tried to convey everything I was feeling at that moment in those words...and it worked. He let out a huff and crossed his arms.

"...I just wanted you to come back." he replied, his face twisting into a scowl "...I don't want you to go through that again..." I looked away, down at my hands again with a wince.

"We fixed time quite a bit, so our phones should also work at least a little, da?" Russia asked, and right as he said that, Spain's Spanish ringtone went off causing him to jump into the air in fright.

"Good timing-aru!" China exclaimed, setting the table for food. He had a grin on his face. "I'm sure we'll be able to hear their angry voices even from here."

"Yosh!" America exclaimed, turning to look at the sweating Spaniard. "We'll all watch Spain get scolded!" Spain gave a nervous laugh.

"Oh, god...R-Romano, can't you answer it instead?" he asked, holding the still ringing phone out to my brother. Romano almost snarled.

"Just answer it already. Your ringtone is giving me a headache." Spain let out a sigh.

"...Okay..." he muttered and clicked the phone open, answering it."H-Hi...Long time no see..." he said stuttering..."...H-how are you?...Well, um..." he clicked on the speaker button so everyone could hear. "I'm...really sorry. I forgot to call you, huh? I was with Romano and...er...um..."

"Yes, yes." I heard Austria's voice on the other side of the phone. "There are a mountain of things I wish to say to you...more than a mountain actually..." his voice paused, before continuing. "When Romano didn't contact us, I was worried sick, you FOOL!" I winced at the yell.

"Huh? Lovi was supposed to call you?" Spain asked, and looked over at my brother, who scoffed and looked away.

"...idiota..."

"...Italy, you can hear me, can't you?" Austria's voice sounded again, startling me. "I know this fool has me on speaker, I heard him press the button." Spain gave a nervous laugh.

"a-ah...ye-yes sir..." I muttered, but wasn't sure if he heard me or not.

"Come down for a bit and look outside from a window." Austria said and I swallowed. "I assume you're on one of the higher floors, correct?"

"Y-yes...O...Okay..." I muttered, standing. I felt almost like a robot, the way I was walking. My body hadn't completely healed from the attack I had sustained...my arm was still in pain...which was why I had been told to carry only the sheets earlier. I had made it almost to the door when someone grabbed my arm.

"Wait, don't go by yourself-aru!" It was China, his face twisted in concern. "Let's all go together." I nodded slowly, slightly confused, and he let me go. I started to walk again but then England stepped in front of me.

"Hold on. Don't walk in the front. You're being targeted, right? Walk in the middle." he said sternly and I shrunk back nodding again.

"O-okay..." I muttered, retreating to the middle of the group.

"Yeah. Let's go quickly, or else he won't stop bitching." Prussia muttered as we started down the stairs out of the safe room. "Then again...I don't think he'll be able to see us very well with those bars..."

The walk down the stairs and to the first floor was relatively calm. There were no attacks, no nothing. No one spoke, no one even dared to breathe hard. We got to a window and everyone made a circled around the window, confusing me until I remembered what England had said earlier.

"Haha! This again..." France suddenly said, looking at the floor beside the door behind us.

"Ne? What are you looking at Fra-" I started to say, but Austria's voice from the phone interrupted me. Spain handed it to me.

"Italy...I've heard of what you've done to some extent." Austria started to say and I tried to fight off the wince. "Not very laudable, now was it?"

"I..." I started to say. "I'm sorry...but...I...just..."

"You are far from being a fool!" Austria suddenly exclaimed, almost causing me to drop the phone. "You are an outright IDIOT! Do you have any idea how worried your brother was?" I couldn't help feel the tears welling up in my eyes. Now I remember why I had never told them...they were so mad...but it was...my fault...

"H-hey...you don't have to go that far..." Germany said suddenly, reaching forward to take the phone from me. I started to let him, but Prussia knocked his hand away.

"nooo! Keep talking!" Prussia exclaimed, then turned to the window, his red eyes widening. "Hey Italy! Take a look out the window!"

"h-huh?" I cautiously made my way to the window, blinking a few times at the light that shone through it. So bright...it took a few moments for my eyes to become adjusted to it.

When I could see...I nearly dropped the phone in shock. Everyone...everyone that had been at the world summit...Korea...Austria...Switzerland...Liechtenstein...Belarus...Ukraine...and others! They were all there. Everyone had crowded around the house...somewhere looking for things in the bushes, while others were standing next to Austria, looking up at the house.

"E-Everyone..." I muttered, and couldn't stop the tears that fell from my eyes.

"Italy!" Austria's voice suddenly exclaimed, and I jumped, looking down at the phone in my hands.

"Y-yes?" I replied, sort of dreading the reply.

"I don't approve of your idea to try to solve everything yourself." He said, his voice full of...anger. He then sighed. "However...you did your best."

"Wh-wha?" I asked, confused. What did he mean...of course I tried my best...and my best wasn't good enough...

"The whole World has come to help you Italy." Austria said, and...I looked back up at the window as everyone crowded around me to look as well. "Unfortunately, we couldn't find a way in. We'll have to support you from the outside...however frustrating this may be."

"Whoa!" England exclaimed, pointing to the side. I barely saw someone with silver hair..." Those over there are the Nordics...and...over there..." he moved his finger.

"Ukraine..." Russia muttered, before shivering "and even Belarus!"

"Amazing..." England muttered and I put the phone on the window sill, trying to dry my eyes once again. "We really have to get out altogether..."

"I..." I started to say...but my voice cut off due to how shaky it was. I couldn't see anymore...my eyes were too clogged up with tears.

"Yes, Ita-kun?" Japan's voice sounded and everything went silent. I let out a loud sniffle.

"I'm all...un-alone..." I muttered, giving up trying to wipe the tears away.

"Indeed! You should broaden your horizons...and come home soon. The cakes are getting cold!" Austria exclaimed, and I let out strained laugh. "First though, you have to come out safe and sound. We're doing everything we can here...but...it's rather uncanny how everyone is agreeing with one another."

"It's a unity warning-aru." China muttered and I turned away from the window, unable to look anymore...maybe if I quit looking, I'd quit crying.

"Haha! It's true!" America exclaimed. "We can never get anything done together when we have a meeting, but now we've started working together."

"Well, of course!" Spain replied, smiling. "Even though we fight and don't get along very well...we're all the same. We're all nations."

"You're right." Canada muttered

"Y-yeah..." I felt the need to put in.

"I must turn the phone off, however. It seems some of them are bickering again...I believe it's Belarus this time. She's quite determined to find you Russia. Please get out soon, and be safe, Italy." Austria said, and the phone line went dead. I blinked a few times at the phone, still sitting on the window sill and let out a sigh. I knew...I knew that I didn't have all my memories back...but...they had questions. Questions I probably had the answer too. Like the letter said...I needed to tell them. I wiped my eyes, and tried to speak steadily.

"Guys...I'm sorry for making you wait..." I muttered my voice still wobbly from the crying. Immediately everything went silent.

"...Veneziano..." Romano started to say but I shook my head. No. I was going to do this.

"I'll tell you everything. Everything...that I remember." I said, trying to convey in my voice that I was going to do this. Nothing would stop me.

"Italia..." Germany started to say and I shook my head again, narrowing my eyes

"I'll tell you everything from the very beginning...so it could take quite a while...but...I still want you to listen..."

"It's about time-aru!" China exclaimed. "Go ahead and tell us already, and don't hold anything back!"

* "I've been waiting to hear that, Italy!" Prussia said. Everyone was so excited...they wouldn't be when I was done...

"Please...do tell. Everyone be quiet. We want to know the extent of it..." Japan said, and everyone quieted.

"Thank you..." I muttered, before swallowing. "It...all began shortly before the world meeting...I had overheard...some rumors by chance...and in hearing those rumors...it made the clock hands begin to move..."

I was going to do this...

I was going to tell them everything.