So here's the next chapter! I finally managed to finish it!

Gracious it took forever -_-

As my profile states, chapters wont be coming out very often for a while.

I'm not so sure about the quality of this chapter...I tried my best on it, but...well, you guys let me know, okay? Italy was hard to write for this chapter, but it was the only LOGICAL person I could think of.

Next chapter will be semi short, just saying, because it'll be from Prussia's point of view.

Anyways, enjoy this chapter, okay guys? Leave reviews, they always help.


Rewind the Hands of Time
Chapter 15: Italy - Explaination

I looked around at all the different nations that were gathered around me and let out a breath that I didn't know I had been holding. This was it. I was going to tell them...maybe I should have told them from the beginning...

But wait...I had tried that...and it had failed. My face must have displayed uncertainty, for Japan placed an awkward hand on my shoulder. I held back a wince from the injury there, and sighed.

"Well...now...er..." I started, and then stopped, stuttering. I didn't know where to start..." Where should...I start? What...do you want to hear?" Japan took his hand off my shoulder and took a step back, blinking a few times at me.

"Well..." he begin, seeming to think about it, then nod to himself. "This...isn't the first time we came here...is it?"

"Ah! I was also wondering about that." Russia suddenly said, startling me and I jumped a bit. "America said that we've gone through this several times...it's true, da?"

I stayed silent for a moment, battling with myself. That first time...I...really didn't want to relive it...but...I knew I had too. I would have to relive those times in order to be truthful with them now. I needed to be truthful with them.

"Yeah..." I said softly, nodding. "We've...gone through this several times, ever since we first came here from the world summit..."

"I knew it!" America exclaimed, looking vaguely triumphant before he frowned. "So...what happened the very first time?"

I swallowed hard, dreading this. I would have to answer...

"If you want to wait a bit, it's fine Ita-kun." a voice suddenly said from next to me and I blinked. It had been Japan, and he was looking at me with concern. I quickly shook my head.

"N-no...I'm okay..." I muttered and took a breath. "Okay. How this started...I can do that. Basically, before the world summit, I...kinda sneaked away from Germany's training..." I winced at the flash in Germany's eyes. "And...I arrived at some weird town or city. I was exploring when I heard some people talking about this place, and how it was haunted. I thought...that it sounded I-interesting at the time and when we went to the meeting...I told America about it..." I felt my voice break a bit, but no one seemed to be angry with me...

"No difference so far." America muttered, looking down thoughtfully, before back to me. I nodded.

"Y-yeah...but...the very very first time, I came here with nine of you." I replied. Romano nodded from my other side.

"Which is everyone except Spain and I." Romano said...then blinked a few times, looking at me. "This really is the first time we both are here..." I nodded, then frowned.

"W-We were just going to have fun..." I started again, "We were going to go home soon. We opened the door...came in...but...as you know, there was...that...thing inside..." I swallowed again. "We...we all ran in different directions. I got lost from everyone...so turned around, so scared...I had no idea what had happened...I wanted to find at least someone as soon as possible..." I paused, letting out a shaky breath. "After...walking around a lot...and falling a lot...I found...Japan. I was...so happy...so very happy...until...I realized...he had been defeated. Until then...I had completely forgotten that Japan had come along. There was...some sort of gap in my mind, as if something had been erased..." I shook my head a few times "While...while I was thinking that there was something wrong with my memory...China...France...Russia...America...Canada...and England...they were all killed one by one...By the time I'd finally been able to escape...Prussia and Germany were also killed, and I was the only one still alive..."

I almost didn't hear the collective gasp as this sank in. I didn't look up...I knew if I did, their faces would be horrible, and I wouldn't be able to continue. I swallowed a few times, trying to get my nerve back.

"...You were alone..." France muttered, his voice sad. I think something in me snapped.

"I was supposed to get out! I was! That's what I was told to do! But...I didn't! I didn't do it! I felt...so hopeless...I just...wandered around without knowing what to do...before I knew it, I had found the library...That's when I found this book." I muttered, pulling it out of my pocket and almost...stroked the cover.

"That's the Bible you've been carrying all along-aru, isn't it?" China asked curiously, and I shook my head.

"Yeah...but it's not a Bible...kinda looks like one though...but it's a journal. I almost didn't open it...but...when I did, it had the name of its previous owner written on the inside cover." I muttered, opening it and showing it them the name. Japan seemed to frown a bit.

"It reads 'Ryuuzu no Ko', correct?" he asked hesitantly and I nodded, closing the book and going back to stroking the cover.

"Everyone had died right before my eyes...and I was all alone..." I muttered, feeling my face twist slightly. "But...by then...I wasn't really thinking straight anymore. Heh...you should have seen this place then...it was a wreck. But...after that, my memory gets a little fuzzy..." I paused, thinking. "I was...going to throw this book away too...but...that thing found me before I could. I was terrified, and I ran away with the book still in my hands...My feet took me to the front door...and I was out..."

I panted, feeling the rain on my skin. Oh how I savored that feeling. Each and every drop onto my skin felt like heaven...and then...hell.

"I got out..." I muttered to myself, staring down at my hands. Already, the rain was washing the blood away from them. "I'm the only one who survived...the only one who got out..."

How did this happen? How? I had gone in with everyone...but I was the only one to get out?

"I...shouldn't have survived..." I muttered, shaking my head. "What the hell? This...this doesn't make any sense! Out of everyone...I'm the only one left? What the hell? What the hell?" I screamed at the top of my lungs up at the clouded sky. I sat there for a moment, sobbing. Japan...China...France...everyone...Even Germany! They were all dead...they weren't supposed to die! We're nations! We're countries! We don't' die...our land keeps us alive!

CRASH

The door behind me burst open and I shot to my feet. Behind me was that thing! It still wanted me...still wanted to kill me! It took a few steps forward, and I darted away. The gate! I had to get to the gate!

No. No more running!

Only a foot away from the gate, I skidded to a stop and turned to face that monster, feeling my face contort into anger.

"STOP!" I screamed, and to my surprise it...stopped. I blinked a few times, not expecting that, but then it felt like something within me snapped, and I felt a grin coming out onto my face.

"I won, right?" I asked. "You...couldn't catch me! YOU LOST!" I searched the alien's face for any hint of emotion. "The moment I get out of here...the moment I pass this gate, you'll lose! There's nothing you can do from that distance!" I paused, feeling laughter pulling at my throat. I held it down for a moment.

"When I get out of here...this place won't be the same as before, you know." I said, grinning at the monster before me. "As a country...a nation, I will destroy this place!" it was then that I let the laughter out, and was shocked at how...crazed it sounded. "Doesn't that make you frustrated? Hm? I'm your last trophy after all...You lost to the guy who's...only...only redeeming feature is his feet!" I started laughing again, curling in on myself as the laughs changed to sobs. I stood there...and sobbed for a few moments, and just when the monster had taken one step forward, I spoke again.

"...go back..." I muttered, staring at the cover of the book I had forgotten was in my hands. "Take us back!" I looked up and screamed at the monster, triumphantly noticing a brief explosion of surprise on its face. Did it think I was stupid? "You can take us back in this warped space, can't you?" I asked, taking a few steps forward, a grin on my face. "If you do that...why don't you eat me first?" I paused, and let my grin turn sinister for a single moment. "If you can catch me...that is."

The monster did nothing...it didn't move, didn't speak though I knew it could. Why wasn't it doing anything? Did it not want to eat me? Did it not want me? I gritted my teeth as I waited, waited for it to do something...hell, I wasn't asking for much here! Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore, and launched myself at the monster.

"GO BACK!"

"The next thing I knew...I was in the world summit." I muttered, keeping my head down. "I had the journal still gripped in my hand, and...somehow...I knew that I had gone back in time. Then the owner of this journal was passed on to me...the proof that I had turned into...or became the new Ryuuzu is that it was written on the previous journal that he was the only one who could go back in time..."

"So you made a pact with it." Germany said suddenly, causing me to jump and look up at him. He was looking at me with his eyes narrowed and I swallowed. "It made time go back so it could eat you..." I nodded slowly.

"The second time...I didn't want to come back here, and I tried to stop America...but...it was too late, another group was already headed here. In the end...no matter how many times I go back in time, I can't go back to before I told America about this house. The ten of us always come here. Even if the groups change. Always." I bowed my head again, unwilling to look at them.

"So that's what the memories of coming here with different people are all about-aru! We kept coming here in various patterns..." China muttered. I nodded.

"That's right. But..." I hesitated, something wasn't right. No. I shouldn't doubt myself. Not anymore. "The second time around, I couldn't save England, China, or America...and I survived again."

"N-nani?" Japan suddenly exclaimed, as if something didn't click with him.

"so...once again...I..." I started to say.

"Stop, stop!" America suddenly said, taking a few steps forward, "Hold on a sec...In the second world...er...I did survive, didn't I? No...I know I survived! I know for a fact I survived! So did England and China!"

"What?" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "Th-that's impossible!" This...this wasn't right...what...?

"Hai, it is just as America said." Japan said, his voice taking on a somber tone. "It is...difficult for me to say it...but...Ita-kun, you were the only one...who...in the room...right behind you..." he paused, running a hand through his hair. "It was so difficult for me to see...I could not stand afterwards..."

I shook my head a few times. This was impossible. I was the only one who could go back in time, the only one who had that power!

"I'm...the only one who died? What? Th-that's impossible!" I stuttered, feeling my heart beating as thought it would pop out of my chest.

"Maybe you're just confused..." England offered, looking a little worried. "Due...to going through that too many times?" I shook my head.

"The second time wasn't the same as the first time...but...I still remember it perfectly!" I exclaimed. "B-besides, if I died...who made time go back?"

"According to what Italy has told us...he is the only one who can go back in time, da? That would fit...or would it?" Russia said, that same smile on his face, but to me I could tell it was strained.

"But we saw it when we broke that clock!" Japan exclaimed, and I took a step back from him. He wasn't acting like himself..."Even Italy said in all certainty that it was the second time..." I was appalled.

"I...did?" I asked, and he nodded. This...was so confusing. "There...were definitely several past times that I opened up to you all like I just did...but...the second time..." I stood there and thought, wracking my brain. It just couldn't' be the second time...I remembered that time..."Where was that clock?"

"Remember there was a box in that cell you trapped us in?" America said, and I nodded. "The clock was inside that box, along with that letter that Japan gave to you." Now I was really appalled.

"There was something inside that box?" I asked, not believing my ears. I was so sure there was nothing in that box!

"It looks like I'm the one who sealed it..." England muttered, and I turned to him. "It was my past self who sealed it, to be exact."

No...This couldn't be happening! This wasn't making any sense what so ever! I remembered the second time...I did! I know I did! There was no way I could have died. If I had died, no one would have been able to go back! It was just that simple...

"Ita...maybe you haven't gotten all your memories back yet?" I looked up to see Spain looking at me hopefully. I must have been making some weird faces..."And that's why you remember differently?"

"Yeah...we can't expect you to remember everything all of a sudden..." Canada said, nodding. "But we got the gist of it!"

"Yes. To sum it all up, we died and Italy went back in time, right?" France asked. "So far, Italy is the only one who can keep going back until all of us can get out." He put a strange emphasis on 'all' in that, but I let out a sigh. There was no way that I had died...and I looked over at Japan in worry. I noticed he had a deep frown on his face, as if he were battling with himself.

"...Nihon? You're...frowning..." I asked carefully, and he blinked at me, before frowning again.

"Ita-kun, how do you go back in time?" he asked me and I blinked back at him.

"Er...well, there's a clock somewhere in this house...a really huge one, and all I have to do is rewind it." I replied.

"Is that big clock in a different place each time-aru?" china asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, that's right. The first time around it moved so that I could escape...but whenever someone fell, I would go after it and it would be in a different place..." I said, then sighed. "Sadly, it's the one sure way for you to escape."

"...You mean...for us to escape...right?" Japan suddenly asked, and I blinked at him. What did he mean by that? "Surely you're including yourself in that?" Oh...that's what he meant...

"Oh...er...well..." I stuttered, sort of surprised by the question. There...was no way I could get out with them...I had...promised to that thing...it could have me...Japan let out a sigh.

"Italy." he said, and I jumped a bit. He rarely called me by my full name anymore..."Do you remember that question I asked you earlier?" he asked, and I tilted my head.

"Question?" I asked.

"I asked if you were...hurt somewhere..." he replied.

"Are you...Are you hurt somewhere?" Japan said to me, and I frowned. What in the world did he mean by that?

"Yeah...I remember" I replied cautiously.

"I'll...rephrase my question, Italy." Japan said, once again using my full name instead of the nickname he usually gave me.

"O-okay..." I stuttered, unsure of this. He seemed to think it over before locking me in a hard gaze.

"Is there somewhere you wish to be?" He asked me and I felt the color drain out of my face. Of course...

"J-japan..." I stuttered again, looking away. I couldn't...

"Answer me...Italy...Kudasai..." He said, almost desperately, and I looked at him.

"I..." I didn't know what to say...so I looked away, and to the floor. "All this time, I really did want to be with you guys...Everything hurt...but I knew I couldn't stop trying, and yet...I couldn't find a way to make it stop, either." I felt my voice failing again. He knew. He knew about what I had planned to do all along...sacrifice myself just for them. And...He didn't want me too..."But...maybe...maybe I can tell you now?" I asked uncertainly to the air, and shuffled my feet uncomfortably. "Actually...I...I really wanted to be with you all...I wanted to escape with all of you..."

"Yes...So do I. I want you to escape with all of us as well." Japan smiled...and I couldn't help the tears that welled up in my eyes.

"Ve...Nihon..." I stuttered, before starting to cry silently. Him telling me that...made my hurting heart feel a little better...but still...he didn't catch...that Instead of saying 'want' I had said 'wanted'...but it didn't matter...

"Ack! Japan! You made little Italy cry!" Prussia suddenly exclaimed, grabbing my arm and pulling me over to try to hug me. I let out a noise and pulled out of his grip, leaving him blinking at my sudden strength.

"Prussia, this is a serious conversation..." Germany muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Anyways, we'll all live and escape together!" America exclaimed, giving me a thumbs up. "The last time you had to rely on that clock was literally the last time! Okay?"

"Yes. No objections." England said, and they smiled at me. I noticed Romano frowning, staring at me for a moment before he scoffed and looked away. I felt myself smile a little bit. He had really been worried...which...was a bit surprising. He had never really seemed to care much.

But it made me feel better...that I was doing the right thing...

"Ita-kun..." Japan suddenly said, and raised a hand to fiddle with my sleeve. "...I meant to ask you...how...are you holding up?" Everyone went silent and I blinked at him.

"Ve? What do you mean?" I asked, not exactly following.

"...how...is your stability. I know...that it's been hard on you...but...I would like to know...How you're...coping." he tried to explain. Oh...

"...I don't know how to answer that..." I said...almost a little too flatly...My voice had been flat enough to make Romano wince.

"Leave my brother the hell alone!" he exclaimed, but it was right about then that I felt a change. A shiver went through me, and I felt it.

"...Well, everyone...it looks like our discussion will have to end here." Japan suddenly said, and I knew...without turning around that they were here. "We have...a visitor."

About that time, Spain let out a squeal that sounded very...girlish. "WHAT IS THAT THING?" he exclaimed, suddenly gripping Romano's shoulder, trying to hide. "What the heeeeellll?" Romano...looked comically pissed off.

"You...Stop screaming in my ear!" Romano exclaimed, pushing the man off him. He didn't seem fazed at all. Spain let out another girlish scream.

"THERES ANOTHER ONE!"

"See...now that's a natural reaction." France said airily, waving a hand as he drew his rapier. "I suppose we've been through this so many times that we've got unconsciously used to the thing."

"That's how it is when you see the damned thing for the first time!" Prussia exclaimed, bearing his own sword. Shakily I got out my spell book, but was pushed against the wall by Germany and Japan who stood in front of me. "Stop worrying about it and fight!"

"Everyone, draw your weapons." Japan said smoothly, and I shivered a bit at the cold ness in his voice "We shall definitely do away with them. Russia, you and the others stay back...until needed."

With that, everyone launched into battle.

Japan let out an almost feral growl as he pulled out a talisman and charged a curse into it, then threw and released it, managing to hit both of the monsters with the shock wave. They staggered a bit but their expressions did not change.

"Pepperoncino!" I quickly muttered, managing to slow one of them down. However, I hadn't fought two of them in a long time, and stupidly had targeted the closest one. The furthest one decided to attack at that moment.

"DiE" Its raspy voice reached my ears and I barely had time to jump away.

"TAKE COVER!" I screamed, and most of the countries jumped back without even asking why. We all took damage...and when I landed on my feet, I barely kept my footing.

"God-damnit!" Prussia exclaimed, snarling. "BEAR THE DAMNED CROSS YOU FUCKING BASTARDS!" He launched himself at the monsters, his sword lighting up in the shape of a dragon before he sliced horizontally and then vertically. He let out a huff, but then the monster closest to us recovered from the spell that I had used against it. It let out a tone...

"YoU WOn't ESc aPe" it muttered at us, and turned towards Japan...

"Nihon! Look out!" I called out, but it was too late. Vine-like energy shot towards him and hit home, sending him flying against the wall. He slumped down and didn't move. "n-no!...b-bastards...Pescatore!" I quickly cast a healing spell, letting out a small gasp as my energy was sucked out and into the spell.

"OI!" Germany suddenly called out, and ran forward, cracking his whip as he let loose, muttering many German curses. I immediately ran over to Japan, nudging him.

"Nihon? Nihon! Wake up!" I muttered, shaking him. After a moment, he let out a groan that didn't sound like him and opened his eyes.

"a-ah...I...I'm okay..." he muttered, pulling himself to his feet."...yes...I'm alright...Perfectly fine, actually..." I let go of him, a tingle of fear running through me. He was very angry, that much I could tell. It was about that time that the other monster decided that Prussia needed to have a taste of that vine-like energy and struck out at him.

"Prussia!" I exclaimed as he went flying and landed a little ways away. I frowned before turning to japan. "Carbonara!" I quickly muttered, casting a quick healing spell on him. He nodded his thanks before pulling out a piece of paper and once again, charged a curse. His aim was true and he hit both monsters.

"Pepperoncino!" I cast, once again slowing one of the monsters down. However, exactly as I did that, the other decided to attack. It let out that dreaded tone and I jumped back, watching as it hit Japan, then hit me. I let out a whimper as I hit the ground.

"You all should rest, da? We'll take it from here!" I vaguely heard Russia say as I gained my bearings back.

"Ja. Go." Germany said and I watched him grab Prussia's unconscious body to drag him back. I turned and noticed Japan was having a hard time getting up so I got to my feet and helped him.

"a-ah...arigato Ita-kun...If it weren't for that one attack..." he muttered, and I nodded, turning my head to watch the battle. Once Japan was seated, I sat down next to him, resting, but not really. My hand hovered over the book in my lap as I watched the battle. There was a flash of light, and I was glad at that moment I wasn't the only one who knew a bit of healing magic. It let me relax my grip on my book. I had known that the others had some magic, but I couldn't remember who had the healing magic. Then...I had to cover my eyes from an explosion that seemed to have come from Canada's pet polar bear. When my vision cleared, only one monster was left.

"Let me take care of this!" England said proudly, and opened his own spell book, casting a spell. "Expecto Patronum!" Many different guardian animals appeared around him and attacked...and when they were done...the monster had vanished like it's brethren. I was...so glad...

"W-Well, now...lets go back..." Japan muttered, pushing himself to his feet. "We're all tired. This...is it for today."

"That's right!" China exclaimed. "Let's go to sleep!" I let out a sigh. I felt...useless...again...I let out a sound as I noticed everyone moving.

It wasn't long before we were back in that place that Germany had made for everyone, sitting at one of the tables. I blinked at everyone before putting my head down to stare at my hands.

"I'm sorry..." I muttered, but apparently it was loud enough for everyone to hear. "I guess I lost more memories than I thought..."

"No, that was good enough." England said, patting me on the shoulder. I blinked up at him. "The rest is our job."

"You feel kind of weird when you're about to die, da?" Russia asked suddenly, and looked at everyone.

"...As if we were the same as humans, you mean?" France asked, a horrified look on his face. "Maybe we exist as humans in this place..."

"Aiyaaa...You're right. My body doesn't seem to carry the weight of my nation...even though I don't look any different."

I looked away; they were realizing something I already knew. I let out a sigh, feeling my curl bounce a bit as I stared around the room. I wondered what all the other nations were doing, but I quickly squashed that idea. I didn't need to be thinking about that...

"...I wonder if I'll forget again..." I muttered to myself, not really noticing that the others could hear me. I had been on my own for so much; I had forgotten..."I don't want that...I don't want to forget our newly found bond..."

"Italia..." Germany suddenly said, and I blinked, looking at everyone. They had heard me.

"Yeah...Isn't there anything we can do here?" Spain asked, looking a bit panicked. America seemed to think.

"Oh! I know!" America suddenly, causing me to jump.

"Wh-what? What are you thinking America?" Canada asked. I blinked at America.

"Let's form an alliance!" America suggested, and I couldn't help but smile at the idea. "A testimony of our new bond, without any relation to the Allies or the Axis or even the neutral nations, but to all of us who are here!"

"Oooh, that sounds interesting" Prussia said, grinning. "I approve!"

"I am of the same opinion as America." Japan said, a small smile on his face. "Let's do it. Oh..." He turned to Romano and me. "Did we form an alliance before?"

"Not as far as I know." Romano answered for me, but Japan looked at me too. I shook my head. "I approve too.

"I won't accept objections!" America exclaimed, grinning at us like he used too. "After all that trouble, we should write it down in a document! Er...we can keep it simple!"

Germany nodded and got up, coming back with a piece of paper. He tilted his head a bit, then started writing.

"Well, first of all, believe in one another. Then...Help one another. Rely on one another...Also..." he said, then looked me square in the eye, making me feel small again. "Escape altogether. That is all!"

"I like it! It's so easy to understand. An alliance among nations like that is pretty interesting!" Spain grinned.

"There!" America said, taking the document from Germany. "Now we just have to sign it." he took the pen and was about to write when Russia interrupted him.

"Wait a moment, da?"

"What is it-aru?" China asked, and I turned to Russia, to find him looking a little sheepish.

"Sorry. I'm really going to put a wet blanket on it, but we're nations, and we're arbitrarily going to form an alliance with so many nations...it doesn't feel right..." Russia explained, but I still didn't follow him. I wasn't the only one.

"But our signatures will only be valid inside this house, right?" England asked.

"That's the problem, da? Forming an alliance here. I mean...we don't know who might get their hands on it. We'll leave it in this strange place where God-knows-who might see it." Russia said, and I finally got it.

"I see..." Germany said "You have a point. Even if we exist as humans right now, it doesn't change the fact that we're nations." I felt my hopes come crashing down.

"...so we really can't make an alliance..." I muttered, not noticing the hopeless tone in my voice. Russia did though, and he looked torn.

"I-I'm sorry. I'd want to form an alliance too, if I could. But we have to think about the nations we bear on our shoulders..." Russia stuttered, and it was kind of odd to hear him stutter.

"If..." France started to say, but he stopped. "If...If possible...I also want to form an alliance, and stay like this..."

"hm..." Japan made a thinking noise, and he looked deep in thought. "Even if it's only in this place...while we're human..." He muttered to himself and I turned to him.

"Nihon?" I asked and he seemed to get what he was thinking.

"Oh I know!" he exclaimed, smiling brightly for once. "Let's form an alliance, not as nations, but as humans!"

"As humans?" Prussia asked "Vat do you mean?"

"Let's sign this paper as the humans we are now." Japan said, then took in everyone's blank looks. "In other words, we could come up with human names for ourselves and sign with them..."

"I see!" Canada exclaimed "If anyone else sees it, they won't understand it, because it's not signed with nation names!"

"A human name...not Romano...Hmm..." My brother seemed to think it over for a minute before nodding. "Sounds good. What do you think Veneziano?" I blinked a few times before smiling.

"Yeah! I approve! If we do that, we can all form an alliance!" I exclaimed, a smile breaking out on my face.

"I'll be...let's see...Al...er...Alfred F. Jones, I guess!" America said happily, passing the paper to Canada.

"Matthew Williams." Canada said.

"Wang Yao!" China exclaimed.

"Gilbert Beilschmidt!" Prussia exclaimed, grinning "How's that? Pretty awesome, huh?" I giggled at that, earning a smile from Japan and Germany.

"...Then I'll be Francis Bonnefoy." France said. And I frowned.

"That's pretty close to France, isn't it?" I asked, and he frowned.

"I'll be Ivan Braginsky, da?" Russia said happily.

"I'll Antonio Hernandez Carriedo! Oh...there isn't enough space..." Spain looked a little put off as England took the paper.

"Alright, I've got it! I'll be Arthur Kirkland!"

"Th-then I'll be...Ludwig. This is kind...of awkward..." I smiled at Germany. Romano looked at me as Germany handed the paper to him.

"Can...I be...Lovino Vargas?" he asked, writing it down. I had to think for a moment, before smiling.

"Yup!" I exclaimed, feeling my smile widen. "Then I'll be...Feliciano! Feliciano Vargas!" I quickly handed the paper to Japan.

"Then I am...Honda Kiku." Japan said with an air of finality...and with that, we all had our own human names.

"All right! Everyone signed! That makes this vow absolute!" America exclaimed. He turned to Japan. "Right, Kiku?" Japan floundered for a moment.

"Nani?" he asked blinking then seemed to realize that America had called him by his new human name. "Oh-Are you talking to me?" America nodded. "Er...Indeed. We must all abide by it, um...Arthur-san!"

"...No, my name is Alfred." the newly dubbed Alfred said, pouting a bit. "Arthur is England."

"O-oh...I...I'm sorry!" Kiku exclaimed. "My memory these days..." I giggled, then tried to remember.

"Germany was...Lutz? Louis?" I asked, not able to remember it.

"Lutz! That's hilarious!" Prussia exclaimed. "It's like a completely different guy! Right, Lutz? Kesesseseseses"

"Can you please stop smirking and taunting me?" Lutz...Lud...Ludwig asked calmly, his eye twitching a bit.

"This is awkward, da?" Ivan asked, smiling. His smile turned a bit thoughtful. "But...these names will never change, no matter what...da?"

"That's right." Matthew replied. "With this, even after we get out of this house, we can still continue to be bound to this alliance as humans..."

"All right, everyone be quiet kudasai!" Kiku suddenly called out, picking up the piece of paper. "Stop calling each other's names for fun. Looking over the document closely..."

"What is it now?" Arthur exclaimed, looking a bit panicked. "It's fine, isn't it?" he turned to Francis. "Hey, frog. Your name is almost the same as your nation name!"

"Be quiet Alfred!" Kiku exclaimed, glaring a bit at Arthur.

"...I'm Arthur..." the English man barely got out, wincing away from the older man's glare. Gilbert let out a laugh.

"That's the second time he got your name wrong!" the albino exclaimed, laughing for a moment more before suddenly clutching his stomach. "ow...my stomach hurts!" Lo...er...Germany put his head in his hands.

"I'm surrounded by children..." he muttered, but I couldn't help but smile. This...this was so much fun!

"But...you know..." I said quietly, causing him to look at me. "It's been so long since it was this noisy and fun~" I felt a non-painful smile on my face. "This is fun...isn't it Louis?" I turned to him, finding him blinking a few times before smiling back.

"Yes...it is." he replied, turning to look at the commotion that was still going on. I turned to look too. Japan, or Kiku was arguing with America and England about who's name was who. Spain was teasing my brother, England turned between Japan and France, arguing with both of them...it was...so fun.

"Ow..." I heard, and looked over to find Prussia bent over in an almost fetal position. A very painful spark of worry passed through me.

"Prussia? What's wrong?" Germany asked, starting to get to his feet. I felt myself getting to my feet as well. The albino raised his head to look at us, and I was shocked as to how pastely it looked...

"Hm?" he asked, frowning a bit. "Oh...nothing. I'll just go take a bath...I think my side is all bruised from that fall earlier. I guess I just need to rest it for a bit." he muttered, getting to his feet, and making his way over to the bathroom. He was limping.

The worry did not leave me, though I sat back down. Germany sat down as well, and I could tell he was worried as well. What was wrong with Prussia? Surely he wasn't injured too much...right? After all those promises...I didn't want to have to go back again. If he died...I would have too...and then everyone would forget again. I didn't want that...I didn't want that at all...

Please Prussia...Please be okay...