Hello there! I know it has been quite a while since I updated this one but I am trying to get things back on track now. Small hiccup in life, it happens. Meh. Car accidents and injuries, stuff of that nature.
Anywho, enjoy this installment! I will be finishing it up over the next few months!
After making sure Prussia was with England and company, America begrudgingly set off to join Russia and China. Why couldn't England let him go alone to retrieve his guns? It wasn't as if he hadn't already battled a monster and won, well, not exactly won in the victorious sense of the word but the point was he had survived. There was no reason to believe he wouldn't be alright without an escort, just for a few moments! And of all people, Russia and China! American shuffled along behind them, why couldn't he just be left alone to grieve?
In no time, America realized that feeling angry and mad at everyone was getting him nowhere. He needed to focus. There was an issue at hand that he needed to solve. Namely, where was Italy and how was he going to save him? The mansion was only so big and he had just wandered off! There was no way he could have gone far. Besides, America knew Italy hadn't been seriously injured or was dead. The time loop would have reset it's self by now. Canada would be alive and there would be no point to any of this.
The American sighed in relief at that thought. There was still hope. That was something he could focus on instead of his dead twin.
To his frustration, Russia decided at that moment to break the silence.
"So, Amerika. You tell me what Italy has that is so important, da?" He said, with his usual creepy grin. The American wanted to slap it off his face but settled for a shake of his head.
"Nothing doing. That's for me to know and you possibly to find out." He replied. As expected, Russia wasn't exactly satisfied with that answer.
"Nyet. If risking my life for something, I want to know what it is. You tell me know." He commanded, a little menacingly. China visibly tensed, knowing that something relatively bad was going to happen. It always did when it came to Russia and his foul moods.
Of course, as America was unable to read the atmosphere, he completely missed the signs. He forged right ahead into the danger zone. "Um, how 'bout no? Look, you volunteered to go with me to get my guns. I'm not talking to you about what Italy's got so you might as well forget it! Shut up and leave me alone!" America hissed back heatedly, trying to avoid raising his voice in the hallway. Although, if a monster were to come snatch Russia, he wouldn't be too heartbroken over it.
The Russian growled and stepped in front of America, stopping him in his tracks. The glare he gave him was extremely icy. "Tell me, now." He commanded again.
At this point, America was ready to beat the crap out of something again. He cracked his knuckles, ready to pound into Russia. He took another step forward, bringing them almost nose to nose.
"I'm not telling you! The only person I would tell is heading toward the supply room right now!" America fumed. The tension was building more and more. Russia towered over him, trying to look threatening, ready to strike and America was more than ready to kick his ass like he had Germany's. Threat of monsters or not, his buttons had been pushed.
Luckily, just before he was about to royally pound into Russia, China stepped in between them, preventing the fight.
"Aiyah! Do this later, aru! I want to get back to others soon! I do not like being in hallway!" China said angrily. At that, Russia took a step back and smiled.
"China is right, da. We will settle this later. You are being very immature, Amerika." He said very simply and pushed past him. The American grew even more enraged. He was being immature?! That was ridiculous! He stalked behind Russia, ready to pounce. China sighed and decided on a different tactic to get them to stop.
"America, why don't you tell me about your brother? I am sad to say I did not know him very well, aru." China said calmly.
All thoughts of beating Russia to a bloody pulp left his mind as America blinked back at China. "Seriously?! How could you not have known Canada?! He was an ally too, ya know!" America exclaimed. Russia continued to walk ahead but nodded.
"Yes, even I knew Canada. I went over to his house all the time. His pancakes were very good." He commented, still smiling. America glared.
"I'm gonna choose to ignore you just said and talk to China, 'kay? Thanks." America shot back. But then he sighed and softened his tone as his mind began to whirl with memories of his brother. "So, you want to know about Canada, huh? Where do I start? He…he was a great brother." He said quietly, rubbing the back of his neck.
As they walked, America began telling them (mostly China) about Canada. From the time he was a little colony and they played together, America playing cruel jokes on him during games of hide and seek. Namely not be able to "seek" Canada or losing interest and not looking for him at all. He told them about the War of 1812, how he thought his brother had betrayed him. But America quickly moved from that, telling them stories of different pranks and nonsense he had pulled on Canada. The Canadian's reaction had differed with each one and America had loved to see how far he could push him until Canada blew a gasket.
Wait…
Was that all he could remember of his twin's life? The pranks and jokes at his expense and the heartbreak of the war they had fought against each other?
America grew very quiet and if China and Russia were perplexed about it, they didn't say a word. The American was beating himself up. Some Hero he was. No wonder Canada had come to believe Kumajiro, a stupid polar bear, was all he had in the world. His own brother treated him like pure shit over the years. Ignoring him, joking on him and making Canada feel generally miserable. He had to of felt awful all of the time and that was America's fault.
The very last words he had said to Canada when he died seemed to be on constant repeat. Did he really mean what he had said? That Canada had always been loved and noticed? Had he really just lied to his dying brother?
His musings were cut short by Russia. He cleared his throat and then turned to America, smiling like he always was. "I see signs of struggle in this room. Could be where Canada was killed, da?" He asked very nonchalantly.
How could Russia be so calm? America felt his muscles tense and he turned slowly to the room in question. As soon as he saw it, his heart fell.
"Yea, this is where he…" He stopped, and took a breath. "It happened. Looked, you guys standby out here. I'll go in, get my guns and come right back out, m'kay?" he asked, though he really had no intention of offering a choice. He was going in alone whether they liked it or not. Luckily, it looked like they were in agreement for once.
"Be quick, aru. We need to get to the others quickly. Aiyah! This place gives me the creeps!" China said, moving to guard the door as America stepped in. Russia smiled and nodded, although his dark aura was surrounding him, America could feel it.
The first gun was easily spotted as it was right near the door and the American picked it up, shoving it into his pocket while trying to fight the tears. He had tossed it right after he saw his brother slashed.
"Don't think about it. Get the other gun and get out." America mumbled to himself as he looked around.
But he did notice something was missing. Kuma. The stupid bear Canada had gotten killed over because he was trying to save him. The bear that started this whole mess. America had left his corpse right there in the corner. But now all that remained was blood and fur where he had been awkwardly angled against the wall. It took a few moments to dawn on him.
The Things must have taken him!
America stumbled back feeling sick imaging what might have happened to the bear. Did his disappearance mean he had been eaten? Or maybe they had taken him for a souvenir of sorts? Whatever had happened, America wanted to be out of this room quick.
Suppressing the urge to throw up, America made it over to the large, dried puddle of blood. That certainly didn't help the queasiness but that was where the other gun was. Just on the edge of the puddle, in fact the handle of the gun was in the blood. Canada's blood. America stooped down to pick it up, letting a tear fall as well.
Wanting nothing more than to get out of the room and get to Italy, America hurried out and then his little party started to head to the supply room. They didn't talk this time, America shut them up every time they started. He was definitely not in the mood. Especially if Russia and China wanted to talk about Canada. That simply wasn't going to happen. He was too angry and upset.
As they got closer to the supply room, America's anger and annoyance was redirected. England was an idiot, why did he have to be escorted to retrieve his guns? They hadn't ran into any trouble at all. In fact, America would have gone a lot faster and already be halfway to finding Italy and the journal not if he could have gone alone. Damn that England! He had only wanted to stall him, that bastard!
The boy was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn't notice Russia and China had stopped. Until he plowed right into Russia's back. Stumbling backwards, he glared.
"Hey! What the—"
His eyes grew wide and his face fell and paled considerably.
"Hell…" He whispered.
One of those large monsters was looming in front of them.
There was maybe a half a second before weapons were drawn. However, that was a half a second too late. China was able to make one slash with his sword and dive out of the way but Russia was not so fortunate. He had barely gotten his lead pipe out to attack.
The monsters fist came smashing down at full force, on top of Russia's head. His neck snapped in an instant and he crumpled to the floor dead.
"Russia!" China screamed. He gripped his sword tight and ran reckless towards the monster. America was trying to load his gun as quickly as possible but with his wrist still broken, he was painfully slow at it.
Finally, he was firing shot as China slashed at him, all of them dancing around Russia's body. It was strange to see such heartbreak and pain on China's face. As much as he tried to convince people he didn't care for Russia, it was very clear not that he did. America watched him slash and stab at the monster with fury and precision.
However, despite that, one slash from the monster sent China across the hall, slamming into the wall. Just like Canada, blood bloomed on his chest. The American's heart sank and as the monster disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared, having killed twice, he raced over.
"China! Are you alright?! Is it deep? Can you stand? Come on, I'll get you out of here!" America yelled, pulling on his arm. To his surprise, China weakly shoved him away coughing up blood. The slash was very deep, if not deeper then Canada's was.
"No! I will not leave Russia!" He said forcefully, having to crawl over to the dead man.
"This is crazy, China! I've got to get you to England! He'll heal you! It's too late for Russia!" he exclaimed.
But China would not be deterred from his goal. The blood was pouring out of the wound as he crawled along the floor. He was growing paler and breathing heavier. The truth was that he knew he would be dead very soon and he wanted to be by Russia's side when he did.
America fell to his knees as China was finally able to just barely grasp at the Russian's fingers. He was coughing up more and more blood and now taking very short breaths. But he looked to America.
"Go, aru. Y-you can still s-save us, can't y-you?" He asked weakly. America looked to him confused.
"If you come on right now! There may be time for you! Not for Russia!" He began but stopped when he noticed China was shaking his head.
"I will die now but…" He wheezed. "Y-you are going t-to save Canada, r-right?" He asked.
"Of course I am! I'll bring my brother back!" America replied, determination creeping back into his voice. The room and this fight had doused the flames a bit. China smiled.
"W-when you do, y-you will bring us back t-too, aru…" He said softly, fading very fast as he held onto Russia's hand tighter. The American got to his feet slowly and nodded, understanding what China was talking about now. Not only was Canada counting on him, but the others too. He could not die, not this go around.
Turning on his heel, America was speeding off toward the supply room on his own. "Don't worry, China. I'll being you guys back too." He vowed to himself.
"Be the Hero, America…" China whispered before letting out his last breath of life.