A/N: Hello, everyone. Summer's finally here and all that, so I can actually get to writing again.

I want to thank you for all of your support, and I hope that my stories continue to hold your interest!

...but I've gone on long enough.

"No, no… you can't die. You can't die now…" Italy whispered.

"Yeah… hang in there… you're not supposed to go before me," Prussia said softly.

The two crouched beside their fallen comrade, watching the young man's shallow breaths worriedly. Italy wanted to get him out of there, get him to someone who knew how to treat his wounds, but Prussia feared moving him would cause too much of a shock to his system…

…and what if another beast came?

Germany groaned softly, turning his head to face his brother and friend. Italy felt his heart constrict as he took in the sight. The normally strong, austere man he knew looked so frail now. His usually neat hair and clothes were in a state of disarray and covered in red. His clear blue eyes were hazy, his face looked hollow from blood loss…

"You look terrible, West," Prussia laughed softly, trying to ease the atmosphere in any way he could, "Though I suppose we all look terrible, huh?"

Italy looked at Prussia then down at his own body. Prussia was right… they did all look terrible…their clothes torn and covered in blood, their hair matted… but it didn't bother him. It was Germany lying on the cold floor, Germany fighting for his breath, Germany...

"You can't die," Italy repeated, shifting closer to Germany and brushing some hair out of his friend's eyes, "Please don't die…"

"Italy…" Germany said softly.

The young man froze.

"If I ever said or did anything that… that…" he swallowed, "I… if I ever…"

"Don't talk…" Italy whispered.

Germany shook his head weakly, "You were a good friend… and I'm sorry for… for being the way I was…"

Italy shook his head roughly, "No! You are the best friend I could ever ask for!"

Germany gave a weak smile that made Italy's heart sink like a stone. Don't smile at me like that! Italy wanted to shout. It was the way he smiled then… when he first… Italy shut his eyes tightly, but still heard the words, "Thank you…" whispered softly to him.

Germany shifted slightly, his eyes on Prussia.

"Brother…?"

"Yeah, West…?" Prussia asked, sliding closer.

"I… I want to thank you… for looking after me all those years… and if I ever did anything to you…"

"Oh, for crying out loud, West! You did nothing to me!" Prussia said, trying to grin, "…you were a great little brother!"

Germany looked away, "Thank you… thank you both…" he said weakly.

"Hey… don't get all mushy on us, West…" Prussia said softly, "You'll be okay, you'll see…"

Italy took up Germany's hand, "Yeah…" he whispered.

Germany shook his head weakly, his eyes drifting over his brother and his friend, "No…" he whispered.

Italy squeezed his friend's hand comfortingly.

"…thank you…" Germany whispered again. He closed his eyes and allowed his breath to get weaker and weaker until it faded into nothing.

Italy felt Germany's hand go limp.

"No… no no no…" he whispered.

Prussia put a comforting arm around the young man's shuddering shoulders, "Italy… I…"

Suddenly, Italy was hugging him, burying his face in the crook of Prussia's neck and sobbing, "It… it happened again! I-I promised i-it wouldn't ha-happen again! I…I p-promised!" he cried, "I-I'm so sorry!"

Prussia rubbed Italy's back in comforting circles as he rested his chin on Italy's shoulder and choked back his own tears, "I… I'm sorry, too…" he whispered back. He wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't think… how could he think…?

His little brother, West…

Prussia closed his eyes and allowed the tears to flow.