Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia Axis Powers. Copyrights go to Hidekaz Himaruya.
Last chapter of Yowling Cat. I hope those of you that've actually had the misfortune of stumbling across this fanfic will like it. It should clear everything up if you guys have questions about the plot in a short and sweet way. And this is going up unedited because I don't feel like doing eet right now.
As always, reviews = love. They keep me writing.
Enjoy!~

Epilogue: Reasons.

Fair fingertips brushed against the even, transparent surface of one of the rectangular windows embedded into the west facing wall of the conference room, tangerine rays of sunset casting the hand's owner in an orange light. A personal world parallel to the one in which he stood seemed to fully engulf Japan as his gaze transfixed on the cloudless expanse of indigo overhead, noticing the countless streaks of different colors that sunset sketched upon the canvas of Earth's natural ceiling. He stifled a laden sigh that began to build in his diaphragm, sepia eyes narrowing reflexively as a memory flickered across his mind, one of better days in the heart of spring, sprawled out against an endless plane of the most vibrant grass he had ever seen, flipping over on his side to look at the unexpected friend that he had found on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the cosplay cat ears that Japan had made specifically for him crowning his chocolate-brown hair...

A hand cupped Japan's shoulder unexpectedly, scooping the Asian nation out of his reverie as his muscles instantly rigidified from the unwanted touch. "Japan? What're you still doing here? You know this year's World Conference ended like, three hours ago, right?"

Japan stepped to the side, turning to face the sandy-haired America standing within arm's reach. Fathomless sienna met crystalline robin's eggs as Japan's hand flitted up to America's and gingerly removed the other's hand from his shoulder. "Hai, I am aware, America-san. I had paperwork to clear up after the conference, and I suppose I let time get away from me after I finished that. If I may ask, why are you still here if the conference ended a while ago? Usually you try to claw your way out of the door thirty minutes early."

Embarrassed scarlet fingers caressed America's cheeks, rosily tingeing his cream complexion. "Prussia wanted to show me something after the meeting, so I stuck around. It took a little longer than expected and I was just about to go home but I saw you in here, and since you're my friend I had to see what was up. You look really sad."

Japan waved his hand through the air, as if dismissing America's claim. "I was thinking about the things that have come to pass in the last six months. I lost a good friend, and I'll admit, it is painful to experience the aftermath."

"Well, what happened?" America inquired, his voice adopting a docile tone as his pitch descended, abandoning the frenzy that usually coated his words.

Japan shook his head, dropping the contact that their eyes shared in favor of staring at the tiled ground that separated the two. "It does not matter now, America-kun. It is in the past."

An immense sigh elicited from the blonde as he reached out, nudging Japan's face upward to look at him once again and blatantly ignoring the onyx-haired country's hand that warningly seized his wrist. "You did not just tell me of all nations, the supremely awesome America, that it doesn't matter 'cause it's in the past. That's history you're talking about, and it does matter, god dammit! Now tell me what's wrong. It wouldn't matter if it didn't bother you, but it does bother you, so either get it off your chest or else get crushed underneath its pressure! ...I tell you this because I care about you, Japan. You're my friend."

Japan's mouth shifted in an uncertain fashion before he relinquished his hold on America's wrist, nibbling at the inside of his cheek as if deciding whether or not to listen to his friend. After a few moments of tense silence, the muscles in Japan's shoulders relaxed and visibly dropped as he deliberately nodded, umber eyes meeting America's unyielding pools of human sky. "Fine. It seems I won't be able to feed you bad sushi this time in hopes that you would leave me alone to deal with my problems... ah well. About six months ago, the human representative for Greece... Heracles... he contracted a somewhat uncommon disease from the cats that he cared for so much. One of the new strays that he had adopted carried this disease, lost its mind and in its pre-death mania bit Greece. That animal... gave him rabies."

"Wait wait wait," America piped up, his hand returning to his side and subsequently jamming into the pocket of his coffee-colored bomber jacket, "isn't there a cure for rabies?"

Japan languidly shook his head, his eyes visibly tightening before he continued, "No. No one has discovered the cure for rabies yet... I was there when his symptoms first began to appear. I thought he had the flu, but then... he kept having really strange dreams, he would cling to me as if I was going to disappear at any given moment, and he attacked Turkey... just before he..."

America grit his teeth, his heart fluttering as the grim severity of Japan's problems all but slapped him in the face. The urge to reach out and wrap his arms around the shorter country bubbled in his mind but he forced it away: he knew how picky the other was about his personal space. "I-I'm sorry, Japan... I had no idea that even happened..."

Japan feebly shrugged. "It's alright. I trust that, wherever he is, Heracles is in a better place... probably full of cats. He loved those little animals so much... even to a fault. Either way, Greece will have a new representative in a few days or weeks. It will be as if Heracles never existed, though of course he will always live on in my memory."

"I guess that's how it should be, right? Always cherish the time you had with him!" America remarked, trademark determination shining in his oceanic eyes. "That's how I look at it anyway... and somehow that keeps me sane. I kinda lost someone like that too. I'll probably never be able to get him back, though he didn't physically die... but I know he hates me. Maybe a hate-love but I doubt it. I know what it's like to lose someone, Japan. It's rough as hell, but it's endurable. You'll make it through this and you'll become stronger when you do."

Japan nodded, attempting to blink back the tears that shimmered in his taupe optics as one lone teardrop broke free from the rest, skirting the blanched skin of his cheek. America stepped closer and cupped his cheek, carefully thumbing away the translucent liquid as pleasant astonishment enveloped him at the prospect of Japan allowing his touch. "America-kun... that was probably the wisest thing you've ever said."

Fin.