~ ~Why yes, hello! I'm back with another chapter! I would really love you all so much more if you R&R! Grazie! Also, PM me if you need help with any of the Italian/ French/ Japanese/ German that may be in here. I only know the basics of each language anyway so I use a few words here and there. Anyway~ I'm really tired and I've got another FanFic I'm working on so this is a little shorter than the previous chapters. The next chapter will get (VERY) interesting through! R&R please~!

Grazie Veh~!

Romano sighed, "Dammit. I'm so friggin' cold. . ."

Spain's eyes lit up, "R-Romano!"

The Italian blinked sleepily, "Aw, Spain. . ."

Then he sat bolt upright, "Spain?"

"Aye, Amigo. . .you passed out a little while ago. . .it was because you're southern Italy. . .Veneziano didn't have enough energy and yeah. . ."

Spain wasn't very good at explaining complicated situations; especially ones like this.

Romano struggled to get from his bed, shaking standing on two unsteady legs. He sucked in a breath, and began to fall forward before Spain caught the nation and hauled him into his arms, "Amigo, you better take it slow for a little while, you're incredibly weak right now."

Romano sighed deeply, "Vaffanculo, I wish I could've helped Veneziano sooner. . ."

Spain's eyebrows lifted, "What?"

Romano shook his head and leaned heavily against the elder nation, "Veneziano knew that using the Journal was risky. He also knew the consequences. . .but what I don't understand. . .is why he didn't warn the rest of us? I mean, we're all a team now!"

Spain rubbed his chin and nodded slowly, "I see what you're saying, Amigo. . ."

Romano gripped Spain's jacket, "Why are you holding me?"

Spain blushed and shrugged, "Oh. Uh. . .ya' know I don't know. . .you just kinda fell and I didn't want you to bump your head again so I just kinda. . .yeah. . . "

Once again, it is apparent that the Spanish are bad at explaining some situations. . .

"Well. . .Grazie, Spain," Romano said, blushing slightly.

Spain's surprised look gave way to one of affection, "R-Romano, I am always watching out for you. You're like my little broth-"

"Don't say it."

Romano's voice was oddly strong and commanding.

Spain blinked and the surprised look returned to his face.

"America had to start a war for independence to get away from the brotherly love relationship he had with England. I don't want to start a war with you Spain. . ."

Spain hugged the nation tighter in his arms, "Okay Romano. . .okay. . ."

Romano's entire face turned crimson but he smiled all the same, "Thank you, Spain."

Germany hadn't spoken to anyone, not even his own brother.

As a result, Prussia and Japan stood in the kitchen talking about Germany.

"What should we do?" Asked Prussia, unnaturally serious.

Japan squeezed his eyes shut and thought hard.

Prussia glanced around to make sure that no other nation was listening before leaning close to Japan's ear and whispering, "Did you see the way Romano and Spain are becoming oddly closer?"

Japan's eyes widened, "Nani?"

Prussia's face became a mask of dumbness, "I don't think that was English or German…."

Japan blinked rapidly before responding, "No. . .sumimasen. Um. . .sorry, Prussia. I think its strange. . .before we were all joined together by this mansion, we all hated each other and ignored our feelings altogether for one another. But now Romano and Spain are becoming closer, Canada is being seen, Russia isn't been as ominous, and America's egotistical personality has toned down a bit."

Prussia nodded and smiled, lying his arm over Japan's shoulders, "You're very good at reading the mood, Asian. I applaud ya' Kesese~!"

Japan, being the awkward person he is, nervously stepped from beneath Prussia's arm and (gave a lame-ass excuse and) decided that he would prepare some food for everyone.

"Ya' know. . .we haven't broken any clocks lately. . ." Prussia commented, getting plates out for all the nations.

Japan turned on the burner on the stove and hummed in agreement, "I'm surprised we've managed to all stay alive to be honest. What I mean is that we've all be rather wishy-washy towards each other until around this time. Then there was when England-san was shot. . .I was sure he'd die then. But then Italy. . ."

Japan let the sentence hang in the air, realizing what he'd said.

"Gomen. . .uh, sorry," The Asian apologized quickly and bowed a few times to Prussia.

Prussia sighed, "This whole thing, its getting rather ridiculous, wouldn't you say?"

Japan poured some of the tap water into a pot and placed it on the burner, waiting for it to begin to boil.

"What do you mean?" Inquired the shorter nation, curiosity shining in his chocolate-brown eyes.

Prussia ran a hand through his whitish-gray hair absentmindedly and replied, "What I mean, is that That Thing can't get us when we're holed up in here, so if we never ran out of supplies, we'd be perfect. Then, we know where the key to escaping this lame place is, up in the annex. We know basically everything."

Japan nodded in agreement but then his expression contorted and he darkly suggested, "Yes but what about America's insanity back there? I mean, you think about how being in this mansion caused him to shoot his ex-brother, to try to kill him, and then you remember that we are no where near perfect. We could all easily become as crazy as that in a matter of days."

Prussia sighed and rubbed the back on his neck, tiredly, "Kesesese I can see what you're sayin', Japan. . ."

"Hai. I believe that it would be better if we could get Italy to awake. . .then we could at least question him to see why he didn't tell us about the Journal sapping energy."

"But Holy Rome. . ." Italy whispered, following closely behind his old friend.

Holy Rome turned back and smiled gently at the pasta-lover, "Italia. . .I've missed you so much. . ."

Italy nodded and smiled, "I missed you too, Holy Rome. . .!"

The two were holding hands and walking through a garden together, so carefree like the old days when Italy was known mainly as "Chibitalia."

Italy suddenly slowed his pace and stopped altogether; he knew this garden.

It was the garden right in front of the mansion.

No, it wasn't just any mansion.

It was The mansion.

"Holy Rome!" Italy's voice was filled with panic, "Holy Rome! My friends are trapped in there! I have to save them! Do you remember? That was what you promised to help me do! To help me rescue them!"

Holy Rome's ocean-blue gaze lingered on Italy for a moment before he whispered, "I came to take away your pain, Italia."

Italy shook his head, "Holy Rome, I need your help."

Holy Rome took Italy's face in his hands, "Italia. . .you've been ignoring the pain for so long, you've been such a strong nation. Since the day I left you at Austria's house back when you were Chibitalia, I worried. I worried about your safety and your future. I worried and wondered if you'd become strong or just continue to be ruled by another country. . .But Italia. . .I've never stopped worrying. . ."

Italy took his old friend's hands from his face, "But now I have friends who need me, and who depend on me. I've been so used to depending on Germany for everything but now I have to take a little pain and stand on my own two feet and protect those who I love!"

Holy Rome stood opposite Italy, staring at him in silence.

"Italia. . .you've grown so strong. But I will be here to comfort you whenever you need me. Al you must do. . .is to close your eyes and I will be waiting. But now I know that I will never have to worry about you again, because you have these friends and you are strong enough to go on without me shadowing you."

Italy took Holy Rome's hands in his, "Thank you, Holy Rome."

Holy Rome smiled, "Thank you, Italia. . ."

Italy found himself surrounded by the fabric of Holy Rome's cloak, as his old friend pulled him into a hug.

"This is good-bye again, Italia," Whispered the nation.

Italy smiled sadly and felt tears run down his cheeks and wet his friend's cloak, "But this time. . .it is only for a little while."

Holy Rome was crying too.

He let go of Italy and searched the nation's eyes for something, anything, else before smiling sadly, "That's right, Italia. I will see you again. But until then. . .return to your friends. . ."

The nation began to fade away and Italy felt the pain stab through him. He was begin to wake up. . .

The pasta-loving country returned the smile to his old friend and ran off, "I'm coming Germany, Japan, Prussia, America, England, Canada, France, China, Russia, Spain, Romano. Wait for me, please. . ."

~ ~Grazie for continuing to read this! I really do appreciate it everyone~! Grazie! So yeah. I'm soooooo exhausted I should really go to bed soon. . .well anyway~! I have to get working on my other FanFic… (I have to publish the next chapter tomorrow. Crap!) Don't forget to R&R~! once again, Grazie!

Cheers and Pasta,

VenezianoItaly

Veh~!