Alright! New Chapter! I'm really excited to write this HetaOni time loop. It's going to be fun!
This whole thing will be 8 or 9 nine chapters worth. So stay tuned! ^^
Just gonna say, the Prussia part in this chapter, I broke my own feels a bit on that one.
Reviews are awesome and encouraging!
Blank stares, that was all America received after demanding to see Italy. It was an odd request coming from him, he could give them that much. Normally, America wanted nothing to do with the weak, obnoxious nation but this was an unusual situation. Italy had the journal that could turn back time, therefore save Canada it was as simple as that. Of course they wouldn't know about the journal but that wasn't for them to worry about. It was between him and Italy, but still why wasn't Italy just coming forward to speak to him. America looked from face to face, most were still shocked, England looked confused but Japan and Germany they looked worried. America's eyes widened as he realized there was a face missing.
Getting up slowly, still cradling his broken wrist he walked over to Germany. America stood in front of him, staring hard. Germany didn't back down but bit his lip.
"Where is Italy?" America asked evenly though his anger and panic were beginning to rise. Germany took a deep breath.
"Italy has gone missing." Germany said quietly, some pain flickering across his eyes. America took a step back.
"Missing? Italy is gone?" America repeated back, hardly daring to believe that his one hope of saving his brother was gone. Germany looked down at his feet.
"Ja, missing." He nodded at his feet, putting a strong emphasis on missing.
This really could not be happening America thought. While carrying his dead brother to the safe room, he had thought Italy would be his one answer. This part of the never ending nightmare they found themselves in would be over, or at least began anew. In the next time loop, he would protect his brother better, not let him die, not again. America swore while on those steps that he would be there for him in the next time loop, not let him go on thinking a polar bear was all he had in the whole world. With Italy missing, there was no chance of that happening now.
America started pacing, what was he going to do? The others seemed relatively unconcerned that Italy was missing, like they weren't going to do anything but sit here and wait. Like they were scared. Yes, those creatures that roamed this place were scary, America had to admit he was apprehensive to meet another one but that didn't matter now. There were bigger issues at stake than facing fears. The life of his brother and now most likely Italy depended on them. America stopped pacing and stared at England.
"I gotta find him." He said and turned on his heels towards the door. England barley hesitated before he called after him.
"What about your wrist? I can clearly see it's broken. Let me bind it for you." He said. America whipped back around and glared. He knew what this was, an attempt to stall him. Buy themselves more time to think of a way to stop him. He wasn't going to have that.
"It's fine." He said flatly. He grabbed his wrist and gave it a good yank, a loud cracking noise rang out across the room.
The pain was immense, he thought he would have gotten used to it by now, having set his bones on the battlefield countless times but that was not the case. It nearly brought him to his knees, he staggered for a moment but then stood up right. Taking in a deep breath, he went to head to the door again but then something made him stop cold.
"United States of America!" England's harsh voice yelled. Forget being a grown man, America was a grown nation and the use of his full name in that tone could still make him think twice. He twirled around to face him, England looked as angry as America felt.
"What! There is no time to argue! Italy could be in danger and I have to save Canada!" he cried. Everyone seemed to be unconcerned, this was insane! England walked over to him almost menacingly and took him by the shoulders. Now frog marching across the room, England guided him over to an empty chair and forced him to sit down.
When he walked away to go get something, America thought about getting up and making a mad dash to the door. Seven or eight steps, that's all it would have taken, he could make it he nodded to himself staring at the door. Russia saw this and stepped in front of it, hand resting gently on his metal pipe. America rolled his eyes and looked away. Creepy ass bastard, he thought.
England returned with a first aid kit and a chair which he sat across from America. He set to work binding his broken wrist. America wanted to laugh, there was really no need to do that and England knew it. In a few hours his wrist would be good as new. Nations had remarkable healing powers, he glanced over to Canada, most of the time. Suddenly, England cleared his throat.
"We need to know what happened to Canada, please tell us." England said calmly. America sighed, he wanted to argue but knew they would not let him go in search of Italy until they knew something.
In almost horrifying detail, he told them about how Canada had died. How he had been cornered by one of the big monsters when America found him, how they had fought together and how America had gotten his wrist broken. He told them about how Canada had tried to save him but ended up being slashed instead. What he didn't tell them was how Canada had told him Kuma was all he had and about his final moments on the stairs. That detail they could live without, only America needed to know.
America finished his story and glanced around the room, expecting everyone to be somewhat satisfied but instead was met with more blank stares. England was staring at him, blinking hard, no doubt fighting back tears. Romano and Spain just looked confused, Russia and China looked at each other and then back at America and finally Germany and Japan still looked worried but puzzled now. The only ones not staring at America were France and Prussia. Japan raised his hand half way up and stepped forward.
"Hai, but America-san that does not explrain why you need Itary-kun." Japan stated matter-of-factly. Everyone else nodded. America gulped, if he told them that Italy had a magic journal that could control time and send them back a time loop, even after all they had already been through, they would think he was crazier than they already do. He shook his head.
"He has something important I need. Now my turn to ask some questions, what I want to know is why you weren't watching him more closely?" He asked, jabbing his finger towards Germany. The man was shocked, his face turning slightly red.
"What iz zhat supposed to mean?" He replied. America was getting angrier, letting his sadness and frustration take over again.
"Aren't you supposed to be his babysitter or something? How did he slip away?" America spat. Germany walked over and grabbed his collar, pulling him out of the chair. They were face to face now.
"He slipped away in zhe confusion you caused when you ran out of za room. Perhaps your bruder is dead because you didn't watch him close enough. How did you let him slip away, dumpkoff?" Germany hissed back angrily. America was more pissed off than ever. He cringed back and waved his good hand in front of his nose.
"Your breath smells like ass." He said. A moment later, he was stumbling back shaking the pain out of his hand while Germany held his now bleeding nose. Their eyes locked on each other with hatred and despite protests from the others, they launched at each other.
It felt good to be beating on something, even if he winced, his punching bag of choice punched back. He hadn't truly meant what he had said to Germany about Italy, he was just angry. A small pang hit his heart, like when Canada had said Kuma was all he had. Canada had told he didn't mean it but America knew that was true for him. He had meant it. But America hadn't meant what he said, he hoped Germany could see that as he threw a kick to his stomach. Germany countered with his own punch to America's gut, taking his breath away. He really hoped he would, eventually.
Everyone around the tumble was urging them to stop fighting. America could hear England's angry voice but he didn't care to listen. Russia and China were quietly saying stop though America was sure they were just going along with everyone else. At one point, he distinctly heard Romano taking bets before Spain stopped him.
America felt like he was just getting started when a loud voice caused them all to freeze.
"Zhat is ENOUGH!" France yelled. After the initial shock of hearing France yell, America got up off the floor and looked over to where he stood.
Standing over by the cot he had laid Canada on, France looked at them all with the kind of compassion America had seen many times before. Everything got quiet so that the only sounds they could hear were Prussia's low sobs. He was kneeling beside the cot with his face buried in Canada's neck. One hand was tangled in Canada's hair while the other was gripping the material of his jacket on his shoulder. As America watched his back shudder up and down with the sobs, he felt bad. France placed a gentle hand on Prussia's shoulder and sighed.
"Regardless of who is to blame for 'im slipping away, zhe matter now is to find 'im. Italy is in need of 'elp first and foremost. Secondly, if America says 'e 'as something zhat will save Canada zhen all zhe better." France said. Wait, America blinked in confusion but smiled, France was helping him? It was a strange turn of events but America was happy.
"France, you can't honestly-" England said stepping forward. France held up his hand to stop him.
"Non, I 'ave my doubts about it but we do need to find Italy. Zhat is our task now." He said. America deflated a bit, he knew it was too good to be true. They all glanced at each other with hesitation. France was right, they needed to find Italy before something else did but where to start? America's frustration was growing again. Suddenly, England sighed.
"We will need some more supplies, which means we will have to go there first." He said. America's heart leaped into his throat, England was actually agreeing that they could go in search of Italy. Once they found him, they would find the journal, he could turn back time and save Canada! Excitedly, he ripped open his jacket and dug around for some of his spare bullet clips. He pulled them out and then reached in his pockets for his guns.
"Hell yea, were gonna save…save Ital…save Cana…oh shit." America said, his happiness draining away as fast as it had come.
"Amerika, wot iz the problem now?" Russia asked. America continued to search his pockets frantically.
"My guns! T-they're back in the room where Canada was killed!" He shouted. England rolled his eyes.
"Great, now we must risk our necks further because you're a careless oaf! One more place we must go! Perfect!" England said throwing his hands up in the air. Now that was pushing it a bit far, he had had bigger issues to worry about at the time.
"No, I can go grab them real quick and meet you guys at the supply room." He said hastily. England shook his head at him roughly.
"Absolutely no way you're going alone. I won't allow that." England said stealing another glance at Canada's cot. America understood but he puffed up in indignation anyway. He was about to give him a retort but to his surprise, Russia stepped in.
"China and I wol go with him, da?" he offered, giving England a big grin. China didn't protest to being volunteered, just walking up to stand beside Russia. England looked from the two back to America. After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
"Very well then." He said. America looked up at Russia, he would very much rather be alone but he knew he didn't have a choice now.
After several minutes, they had gotten everything together and were split up into groups. England and the rest of them were heading to the supply room. America and his new partners were heading downstairs to retrieve the guns.
As they were leaving, America looked back and saw Prussia standing over Canada obliviously still crying. He felt bad for the ex-nation, he had loved Canada so much.
"Prussia, time to go man." He called. Prussia turned and headed towards the door. America hadn't seen him this upset since the day he was declared no longer a nation. Hell, this was probably worse, America thought.
America looked at his brother one last time. How he could have ever believed that Kuma was all he had?
"Don't worry lil bro, I'll bring you back." America said defiantly, shutting the door with a snap.