I was a ghost and since I died as a child, I expected to stay that way, but not so. As Italy grew into an adult, I grew with her. I became an adult. I was taller than most people, probably over six foot, and I'm pretty sure I would've been strong too if I was still alive. I never did slick back my blond hair again. I liked it the way it was.

Hungary eventually got used to me. In fact, she's the only one I can talk to in a manner of speaking. When she'd see my reflection, she'd give me a kind smile and a wave, and I'd greet her the same way. If no one was around, she'd talk to me, and I'd breath on the mirror and write a response with my finger, which she'd read before it faded. As a result, we became quite close.

Austria, however, never found out about me. I really wanted to play pranks on him, being invisible and all, as payback for punishing Italy, but I decided to play it safe and not bother him. One day, I sat on the piano bench as Italy, bored with his chores, began to sing.

"Hey hey, mama, can I have some wine?" Once he got to the "Draw a circle, that's the Earth" part, Austria and Hungary curiously walked in.

"Ah, the world around us can be seen through the stroke of a single brush! Now we give a toast with our boots." Now, you can't hear that part in italics since this is writing, but think of a high-pitched Italian man's voice, and that's what Italy's voice sounded like at that part. That's what he sounds like whenever you're reading this, but when you hear it for the first time and its super sudden and you thought Italy was (ahem) not male, one may have a tendency to slip off the piano bench he was sitting on in shock.

"Huh?" Italy curiously cocked HIS/her head as I tried to figure out what was going on. If this was Italy's voice breaking, it sure did sound like a… man's voice. "Hey!" He ran over to Hungary in excitement. "My voice is changing! I'm beginning to sound like a boy!"

"That's great!" Hungary said, clapping her hands once. "Wonderful!"

Wait. She knew? And she didn't tell me Italy was a GUY?! Austria's face was filled with shock, but I got over it quickly. After all, Italy did begin to lose his "figure" once he became a teenager, so it was too much of a surprise. Then the memories started flooding in.

"Take this to remember me by!"

Oh, that.

"Italy, what do people in your country do to express love?"

Wait.

"Oh, kiss, I think."

Ah!

I was kissing Italy!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I KISSED ANOTHER GUY!

I sat scrunched up in a corner ("Excuse me while I try to die…") while Hungary and Italy celebrated. Apologies to any man out there who does love another male, but I'm straight. It's just not my culture to do that.

But… did I still love Italy? For the first time in my life, I doubted myself. And now it was scary. Would my feelings change? Would I still feel like my death, caused by the deck broom being destroyed, was worth it now?

But I did know I definitely still cared about Italy. I'd keep my promise to protect him.

Moving on from that… incident… Years and years passed. The time was World War One. Italy, who was frightened about getting into battle, hid in an empty tomato box. (And God knows what it was doing there.) I sat next to the crate for a while. Italy sat silently inside, knowing he'd have to eventually come out. About an hour had passed when I heard crunching – definitely footsteps. Italy still didn't make a sound. Suddenly, a man, whom I assumed was country, burst through the trees. He wore a green army uniform and carried a musket. And a stick for some unknown reason.

But moreover, he looked just like me. His hair was slicked back, just like how I used to wear it. He was also blond with blue eyes (although his were more threatening).

"A tomato box?" he said in an accent that I think was German or something. He tapped the crate with his stick. Suddenly, the box jumped and made a yelping noise and the man flinched.

"Oh, hello!" I was surprised to hear Italy say from inside. "I'm the Tomato Fairy! Let us be friends and play with each other!"

Italy, are you serious?

"Ah, so someone's inside!" the man said. He began to try and pry the crate open.

"Noooo you're wrooooong!" Italy said. "There's no one inside, so please don't open the box!"

There was something strange about him. That man with the musket. Did I know him? Yes, I did! Why didn't I realize? Was this just a hasty feeling? No, this wasn't possible, was it? When I died, did my soul leave my body? Did my body keep on living without me?

This was my body with a new spirit! I knew it!

"Come on," Italy cried. "What's the point of seeing the Tomato Fairy's guts?!" But the man finally opened the crate and splinters of wood flew everywhere.

"I'm sorry!" a crying Italy said when he popped out of the crate. "You were right, I'm not the Tomato Fairy but please don't shoot me I'm too young to die and what if I don't die and I have to lie there in a pool of my own blood please don't shoot I'll do anything I don't want to die! I'm begging you! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

Another day in the life of Italy Veneziano.

"I'm just a virgin! Would you really shoot a virgin?"

Yeah, right. With your interest in women?

"Let me ask you a question," Musket Man said as he held Italy up by his shirt collar. (That's right, folks. Italy no longer wears a dress. Apologies if I disappointed you.)

"Are you a descendant of the Roman Empire?" Italy stopped crying and his face lit up.

"You know Grandpa Rome?" he said. "What a fantastic turn of events for this pizza and pasta lover!" But things weren't that fantastic when Musket man hit Italy in the face with the butt of his gun.

But who was this man with my body? And why did he hate Italy so much?