Here's the next Chapter!

3 weeks later-

"So this is the estimable Japan I've been hearing so much about." Germany said, peering at the tiny thing that Italy was clinging to. "You're pretty small for him to be making such a fuss about."

Japan blushed. "Thank you for welcoming me to your home." He said softly. "Italy tells me you're a lovely guardian."

Italy nodded furiously, dragging Japan with him into the house. "And he makes the best food too! Especially pasta!"

Germany turned the car off and locked it, staring after the two boys. This Japan character was curious. Never had he seen anyone stick with Italy at school for more than 3 days. The public ridicule was usually far too unbearable to suffer. And yet this speck of a person was still there, after nearly a month.

'It's just going to make it harder for him when he abandons him.' Germany thought pessimistically. 'And of course, I'm going to have to pick up all the pieces.'

Upstairs Italy was busy showing Japan his room, the entire time holding the smaller teen's hand. "This is where I draw." He said, showing Japan his worktable full of sketches and nearly completed pieces of artwork. They were all surreal and very detailed, some looking so realistic Japan had to gaze in wonder. "You are very talented Italy." He said in awe, not wanting to touch any of the works in fear of damaging them. "I would have to sit here for days to even complete a simple piece."

Italy fiddled with his art supplies, blushing furiously. "I like the way you talk to me." He said. "You speak to me like…like I matter to you."

Japan was taken aback. "What do you mean? Of course you are of great worth to me. You welcomed me into a school of tyrants with warm, open arms and have been nothing but kind to me."

Italy walked over to his bed and flopped unto it. "Yeah…"He said. "But I get you into a lot of trouble too. And now nobody likes you because of me. You'll never be able to get a girlfriend until you leave the school and go somewhere else…"

Japan shrugged and came to sit beside Italy. "Who said I wanted one? Right now focusing on my studies is key. A courtship would only interrupt that."

Italy sat up before flopping back unto Japan's lap. "What kind of girlfriend do you want?" He said. "Someone quiet like you?"

Japan hesitated before reaching down and running his fingers through Italy's soft layered hair. "No." He said. "I rarely can start a conversation on my own. Being with someone quiet would lead to sure boredom for the rest of my life. I need someone loud and spontaneous."

They both blushed at that point, being able to read between the lines. "Like France?" Italy said, looking up at Japan underneath his thick lashes.

Japan grimaced. "No." He said. "Not like that. I meant…I meant like you."

Italy sat up completely now. "Like me?" He said.

Japan couldn't look at him, it was too embarrassing. 'Why did I say that out loud?' Italy had a way of getting things out of him. 'It's because I feel comfortable around him.' He realized. 'He doesn't judge me.'

Italy bit the corner of his lip thoughtfully. "I guess if I dated someone that was loud like me it would be…overwhelming. Maybe that's why we're such great friends…because you're quiet and I'm loud. If only you were a girl." He chuckled nervously but Japan only blushed harder, making him stop self-consciously. "Have you ever kissed a girl? Before you came to school with the rest of us?"

Japan shook his head. "Never." He said. "I've never kissed anyone."

Italy cocked his head to the side. "What about your parents?" He said.

Japan shook his head. "No one." He said. "Ever."

Italy pouted and stared at his light blue walls thoughtfully. "That's not good." He said. "I kiss Germany all the time and he's not even my father."

He brought his knees up to his chin and glanced and Japan, who was staring lonesomely into the distance. "Do you want to kiss someone?" He asked. "Just…just to know?"

Japan looked at him curiously and he hid his face in his knees, embarrassed. "Ah! I'm sorry Japan!" He wailed. "Why did I ask you that? I'm so embarrassed! Baka!" He mumbled incoherent phrases to himself, embarrassed out of his mind, wishing the earth would swallow him whole.

"Baka, baka ba-"

"Yes." Japan said, interrupting his babbling. "I would love to."

Italy's head snapped up. "Oh." He said. "Just because…just because it's great to be kissed. And when you kiss someone it shows you love them. And you need to feel…you need to feel…"

Japan stopped him by covering Italy's hand with his. "Just do it." He said. "Before I loose my nerve completely."

Italy flushed, feeling his entire body heat up at the fact that Japan was touching him. Why did he feel so strangely? He'd never felt this way before. Flustered and nervous and eager to impress. He liked being carefree and not caring about what anyone thought of hi. But he cared about Japan.

Oh gods did he care.

Italy reached over and opened his mouth, tilting his head. Inches away from Japan's soft pink lips he pulled back and looked anxiously around. "What?" Japan said, his voice cracking.

Italy glanced at the door. "I don't know why I expected someone to burst in at that moment, interrupting us from this entirely yaoiful moment." He said, staring around the room. "That's what always happens in the books I read."

Japan looked quizzical. "Italy…"He said, not wanting to show how eager he was. But it was impossible, his heart was pounding furiously and his chest was throbbing. He wanted this. "Just do it, its ok."

Italy nodded and moved in again, and when their lips met every plausible thought he'd ever had flew from his head. He wanted to pull back from the sheer shock of it but at the same time he wanted never to ever pull away again. It was Japan who pulled him closer with his small hands, eager for more. The feeling of those delicate puckered lips against his emitted feelings that he'd never before experienced, dilating his closed eyes and making every hair on his body stand up.

It was amazing.

The urge to open his mouth and delve further into this bliss nearly overcame him but he resisted. He was absolutely sure that no family members kissed that intensely, or even this intensely for the matter. When he felt as if his lungs could take no more he pulled away, leaving Japan flushed and out of breath, his hand still encircling Italy's neck, still nestled in his hair.

Japan looked at Italy through dazed, hazy eyes. "Incredible." He said softly, leaning into Italy. "Is that…is that how kissing everyone feels?"

Italy breathed deeply a few times to catch his breath. "I don't…remember. Most people don't usually kiss their family on the lips. And not…for that long. But…but we're best friends right? So why not?" He racked his brain for more excuses as to why kissing Japan had been spectacular, but none came to mind. Then he realized what the strange feeling was, the one he'd never before encountered.

Arousal.

Italy ran his hand experimentally down his chest. His nipples were both erect, his stomach sensitive. Never before had he been aroused. It scared him. At that moment the door was flung open by Germany.

"Damn!" He said. "The yaoi senses were tingling and I ignored them! I missed it didn't I?"

Both Italy and Japan ignored him, lost in their world of simultaneous bliss. Germany sighed. "Dinners ready." He said. "Come whenever…are you guys even listening?? Its lasagna!"

Not even the magic words could affect Italy at this point. Was he…horny? Japan slid off of the bed, his knees wobbling a bit. "C-Com'n." He said, turning to Italy. "You love lasagna, don't you?"

Italy stood as well, holding Japan's hand and following him down the stairs. Had Japan gotten him aroused for the first time?

"So…"Germany said, looking at Italy from across the table. "You've hardly touched your food Italy...what's wrong?"

Italy blushed and looked up. "Nothing." He said, taking a big bite out of his lasagna to avoid speaking. His lips were still tingling from the sensation, but Japan looked as if he had gotten over it by now and was talking to Germany as if nothing had happened. Had something happened? Did boys usually kiss each other?

Was it normal to feel like this? 'Maybe I'm weird. Maybe I'm supposed to be feeling like this.' Italy stuffed large portions of the lasagna into his mouth, trying to listen to what Germany and Japan were talking about. But he couldn't. The image of him and Japan kissing kept replaying itself over and over in his mind.

Over and over and over.

The feel of Japans lips against his, small hands in his hair, another body pressed to his, the heat taking him over the warmth enthralling him. He wanted to feel more of it, more, more. He wanted to hear Japan screaming his name out loud. He wanted Japan. He wanted Japan naked.

Italy's eyes grew wide as he reviewed his previous thought. What was he thinking? No, he didn't want to see Japan naked, he didn't want more. Because Japan was his friend. His friend. Just his friend.

Before he knew it, they were driving Japan home to his estate, and even more quickly after that he was back home.

"You've been really quiet these past couple hours." Germany said. "You didn't say anything during dinner or on the way to Japan's house. "I thought you'd be ecstatic to have him over."

"I was." Italy said, staring out the window of the limo. "It was great. We should do it again…sometime."

Germany turned in his seat to stare at Italy. "What's wrong?" He said, sounding worried. "I've never seen you like this before."

Italy looked at Germany. "…Germany…"He said, biting his lip. "I think…I think I'm in love with Japan."

"Ah." Germany said, smirking without even skipping a beat. "I thought that might be it when I saw you two snuggled up in your bedroom with your arms all around each other. You're a little Casanova, aren't you?"

Italy blushed. "I'm serious!" He pouted. "I'm in love with Japan! What am I supposed to do?"

Germany rolled his eyes. "You don't know anything about love." He said. "This is the first crush you've ever had much less."

Italy ignored him. "I'm in love with Japan and I can't live without him." He said emphatically, covering his chest with his hands. "He needs me. I'm going to show him just how much he needs me by sweeping him off of his feet and into my arms."

"Italy, I-"

"Don't try to persuade me as to otherwise." Italy said dramatically. "It's my choice and I'm going through with it. When we get married you can be my best man ok Germany? And you'll be the godfather to our children." Italy threw the limo door open and floated inside, leaving Germany still in the car.

'Again,' Germany thought. 'This cannot be good.'

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