Sorry For so much Spain and Romano but the next chapters are different.

Chapter 17

Romano was beyond freezing, tiny icicles hung from his nose, but as long as he was keeping Antonio warm that's all that mattered to him. And by the way that he's been breathing lately, Romano thought that he was doing a good job. No irregular breathing, nothing too bad…except the wounds.

Up ahead, Romano saw something; a black hole of some sort, and when he got up closer to it, he saw that it was actually a little cave. Romano made his way up to the cave almost slipping from his weight being off balance and immediately noticed something was wrong. There was some sort of creature/body? on the floor surrounded by blood. The figure was in horrible shape, huge chunks of skin and flesh missing. As Romano inched closer and the moonlight shone over the figure of the thing and he noticed that it was indeed a body! The body was in such a bad shape that Romano didn't even know who it was at first.

It took his eyes a little time to adjust to finally be able to see something. He scanned this over and saw long strands of black hair and a red tunic torn to pieces. What the fuck? Bones and flesh were ripped out and bent in ways they shouldn't be bent in. Is that...? Oh no...

"Yao! No! No, no, no no...Oh God no! Is that you? How did this happen? ...This...this is all my fault! " Romano was so horror stricken at first that he almost dropped Spain on the floor, shifting his shoulders to lift him back up. Lovino walked up closer to the Chinese man who was beyond saving…and stared. All that was left were tiny pieces of flesh and parts of the outfit. It was torn and almost shredded to pieces but it was still there. So, Romano bent down and grabbed a torn piece for safekeeping.

"I'm sorry this happened to you." Romano stated sounding genuinely sad as he said a prayer for the loss of a friend, yet most of all feeling guilt. Romano walked back away from him against a wall before he felt safe enough to let Antonio down for a while, because his shoulder was really killing him.

It was warmer in here, because there was no snow drilling Lovino in the face and because there was no wind in here either. Well, I guess we'll have to stay here for a while. Romano said in a hushed voice looking over at his unconscious Spanish boyfriend.

He didn't like the idea of staying here, not at all, because he was afraid that whatever got Yao would come back to get them too, but he was too cold and weak to go anywhere else. He needed a break, Toni couldn't walk…plus he didn't want to wake him up since about 10 min. ago he fell back into his unconscious sleep.

Antonio shifted and little in his sleep and then rolled onto his back, wincing a little. Romano liked watching Spain sleep, it always amused him that one person could move so much while sleeping. He smiled down at him and eventually sat down right next to him. Romano gradually reached his hand down and patted Antonio's head, moving his fingers in and out of the messy surface of the hair. After a while though, Romano dozed off into sleep as well.

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Romano awoke and turned over to see puddles of blood everywhere. He suddenly became very frantic and looked for Spain. He was gone…
"What-? Spain!" Romano turned almost pale as he spotted and bloody Spain, who had blood flowing out from his mouth, standing in front of him limping weakly with a blueish tint to his skin. Spain stumbled towards Lovino, flesh deteriorated and peeling. Everyone else was there as well, all of which were repeating the same thing
"You did this to us." they all said in rough voices.
"You did this to us-...You started that avalanche and killed us all…"
"R-Romanoooo…why didn't you save me?" Spain asked him personally climbing closer toward the frightened Italian. "I was your lover and you let me die!"
"NO! You're…you're not real…none of you are! I'm going to wake up soon, I will wake up-!" Romano screamed at the withering Spanish nation as he grabbed onto his shirt.
"Oh, you don't think I'm real Lovi, I thought we were a lot closer than this, but I see you're just a scaredy-cat!" Spain spat as he looked at Romano in disgust.
"No...no I'm not a scaredy-cat. I'm not, it-it wasn't my fault! I swear!" Romano yelled out, tears slowly falling forward, towards the deteriorated Spanish country.
"I do love you Antonio! And that's why I'm...I'm going to wake up soon, and we're going to get out of here!"

"We'll just see about that, how about this!" Just then Antonio threw himself at Romano and bit into his neck…making Romano wake up screaming.

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When he awoke next the sun's rays had shone through a cloud and blinded Romano for a second.
"It's morning? ...It was just a dream…Thank God…" He thought to himself as he huffed out and rolled over to check on Spain. Antonio was still in a peaceful looking sleep, so Romano did not dare to wake him,
"Thank God he's ok, I'll let him rest he needs it. I'm glad I didn't wake him up…God what would I do without you Antonio...He said as he stretched his arms toward the sky and yawned, "The others are probably pretty worried about us."He thought about the others, about his brother who was probably freaking out right now and how everyone was probably out in search parties right now looking for them, and any others whom the avalanche took. He missed Feli and he was sure Feliciano missed him too. A hand suddenly caressed Romano's side and he jumped, snapping him out of his daze, making him turn around quickly only to see Antonio staring up at him, smiling.

"Buenos Dias Lovi~!" He said happily with a smile as the sunlight flashed across Romano's face. Romano always wondered how the Spaniard could smile in the worst situations.

"Good Morning..." was all Romano said back.

"You know what the best part of this trip has been so far?" Spain asked and Romano just stared...how is it possible to have a 'best' part of this vacation yet? So, far all that happened was a mix up in cabins and him getting tortured…an avalanche…both of them left to die…

"The best part of my trip has been this moment right here. Waking up and seeing your face when the sun hits it is quite a breathtaking view, you know." He chuckled and for some odd reason, after all they've been through Romano couldn't help but chuckle back. God damn why was Spain so good at sweet talking, that Damn Spain. Romano leaned down and lightly kissed his precious Spaniard.

"Never leave me again, ok?" Romano whispered as his lips finally parted from the Spaniards. Antonio looked up and blush covered his cheeks.

"O-ok I won't." was his response as he just stared into the loving eyes of Lovino.

"I'm glad you're ok now." Lovino said scanning the Spaniard up and down.

"Yeah it was all because of you really. You helped me escape and I owe you one Lovi." Spain countered. Lovino looked at him sincerely until he finally asked

"So, how's your leg doing Toni?" At that moment Lovino saw Antonio's smile slightly fade,

"Oh, well uh…I won't be walking for a while…maybe not ever...I-I don't know" He said trying not to sound too depressed. He looked down at his leg and Lovi followed his gaze.

"We really need to get you to a doctor as soon as possible; your leg could possibly be infected…" Lovi stated worriedly staring at his gruesome wound. He brought his hand over a lifted up his pant leg only to have horror approach his face. His leg…its turning an off shade of color…oh no no no no this is not good, We have to hurry!

"It's horrible I know, I can't really feel it much so I guess that's good. That means less pain for me." Spain huffed "I know…I'm sorry I'm such a burden to you right now Love." Spain suddenly said sadly while holding his hand up to a gash in his shoulder blade. That last sentence actually shocked Romano as he pulled the pant leg back down and yelled,

"SHUT UP BASTARD! You're never a burden Spain, never!" the Italian yelled back towards the chocolate brown haired Spaniard, and soon afterwards Romano had an angry fit of coughs that erupted from his mouth and he put his hands to his mouth making him lean his hand against the wall of the cavern.
"You ok, Lovi!" Spain worriedly yelled out, as he tried to shift up on his elbows more, but as he tried pain shot through a lash on his back and made him and he fell back down as Romano just looked up.
"What did I say, don't worry a-about me bastard! I'm ok... how about you?" Romano stated as he wiped his mouth. Not wanting to show the Spaniard the small bit of blood he wiped from it. This wasn't good, and Romano knew this. They both had to get back to the cabin and quick.
"I-I'm ok" Spain stated back, worry still colored his eyes as he gazed at Lovino.

"You never were a burden Spain, ok? And if anything I should apologize to you; it should be me, for being so late... I-I'm sorry. I-I started this avalanche and I'm the one who's making everyone suffer. It's all my fault." Toni looked over to his little Romano and just smiled.

"No, no no no Lovi it's not your fault at all." Toni soothingly said as he motioned for Romano to come closer. Spain then grabbed Romano and gently rubbed his head in a soothing pattern cooing. "I'm glad I'm not a burden to you my love. Don't worry about the past Lovi, what's done is done I'm just glad you came when you did and you weren't hurt too bad."

"Hey, Antonio… why did Sadiq capture you?..." Romano insisted, completely changing the topic and looking up at his lovers beautiful eyes.

"Oh, um I'm still not really sure why…He talked to me but only for a few moments before he knocked me out again…All I remember is that he was mad at me for getting you. He wanted to capture you and make you his slave or something…"Antonio stated while bringing a hand up and rubbing a bump on his hurting head.

"Oh…I see…" was all that Romano said back. That bastard.
"By the way Lovi, what's that over there?" Spain asked suddenly pointing at a lump object near the center of the cave, catching Romano off guard.

"Oh, it's…uh…that's Yao…..and well..." Romano choked a bit trying to get the words out of his mouth. "...H-he's dead." Romano gulped.

"Wha-!" Toni stated surprised, "Yao…is…dead? But how? I mean he's a nation right? ...What's going on here?"

"Yeah…I dunno that's what I thought…but I guess for some reason here we all have the weight on our shoulders, and we can die…and that's why whenever you're ready we have to get a move on before the thing that got him comes back to get us!" Romano informed Antonio and he nodded.

"Oh! Lovino, I was meaning to tell you something!" Romano slowly got up and looked down at him,

"Feliz Navidad, mi amor!" Spain happily said to the Italian. Romano blushed deeply before saying "You too, bastardo. Now come on." back toward him.
"I can't believe this is real…I mean I was planning a great evening filled with love, fun, and Joy...but this...this is not what I expected at all. I would have never guessed in a million years that I would ever spend Christmas day in a cave with you and Yao's dead body. With me all beat up like this…and this leg...and this body of mine like this..." Spain sighed at that last parts. "In a way it's actually kind of funny isn't it?" Spain half laughed half coughed out.

"Yeah, I guess it is kind of funny" Lovi said back to him "But really we got to go Toni…"

"Oh, right, right, ok I'm coming, just wait a sec." Spain muttered out. Antonio tried to sit up more, but he winced from the pain in his leg and a spot on his back that was getting aggravated, and he slumped back into the position he had just come from. Romano practically jumped to help him at this.
"Spain!" Romano quickly came over to his side. It really was a miracle that Antonio was still alive as Romano got closer and looked at him.
"We really need to find you some bandages." Romano insisted.
"Y-yeah, I guess…" Spain answered back. "D-damn…Romano my leg won't move…it's like a brick or something...It's getting harder to feel it too… My body is in such a bad shape and you know it. I think it's taking a toll on me. I just don't know what to do anymore. I-I can't even get up straight…"
"D-don't! I got you, just don't move jackass! Ahh, when I get my hands on Turkey next…he'll pay for what he did!" Romano yelled at him.
"No! Just forget about it Romano…Forget about Turkey I can get up, it's ok. Just let me try once more. Maybe it was just a cramp...yeah that's right just a cramp..." Spain said hesitantly.
"Just forget about it! How? Look what he did to you Toni! I mean look! Every piece of your body is covered in your blood! And your poor leg…How are we going to fix that?" Lovi winced at the sight of the gruesome shape his leg was in yet again. Even though Romano tore off a part of his shirt and wrapped it around the wound earlier, he could still see some blood and the pieces of the bones sticking out and his leg…and the way it was slightly twisted.
"Lovino, it's ok…really just forget about that right now and let's focus on getting back to the cabin alive, Ok?" Spain forced a small smile across his face and Romano just stared. Brown Hazels eyes scanning Toni up and down.
The Spaniard tried again, but once more to no luck as pain shot through his whole body and forced him to just freeze up and yelp with agony.
"Here...I-I'll help you up. Come on!" Romano insisted as Spain just sat there motionless.
"Ah, I-I hurt so much Roma…I don't think I can even get up…I-I don't know what to do." And for once in Romano's life he saw pure horror quickly reach the surface of Antonio's face, he was lost, he really and truly did not think the he could make it. Tears welled up in Antonio's eyes, and slowly seeped out onto the front of his body. Antonio was crying…Lost, hurt, and confused, he just sat there…

"I'm sorry Romano…this is so un-manly of me, a-and totally foolish, but-but I guess just leave me here…that way you could run faster and get help that way and-"

"NO! I am not leaving you! I've come so far I am not going to back away, now come on and get up Antonio! Get up bastard! You can do it! Please don't leave me all alone Spain! I'm not leaving you behind." And now it was Romano's turn to shed some tears, as he shouted at Antonio, tears forming in his beautiful chocolate and olive eyes and crept down his face.

Spain really did like it when Romano got all flustered. It always made him think of the old days when Romano was a kid and he would run up to him pretending to be strong when he saw Spain coming home from a Pirate Voyage all bloody and hurt. So he tried once more to get up but to no luck, as he failed again.

"Here Spain, come on b-bastard…take my hand and we can do this!" Romano choked out sniffling but Spain just sat there motionless just staring at a spot on the floor, and he huffed deeply.

"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BOSS SPAIN! You said you'd never leave me again! Now get your ass off the ground and let's go! You can get through anything! Isn't that what you always told me? So come on, live up to your promise like you do every other time!" Romano screamed at Spain all flustered, coughing over little bits of his words in the process. He knew that Antonio was in much pain already and probably felt like shit for not being able to do anything right…but Romano had to get Spain up and moving/walking again, he just had to…they had to get out of there together.

Antonio looked up at Romano shocked and just smiled, relieving Romano a little bit.

"I can't believe it..." he said as Romano looked confused.

"What?" Romano answered back.

"So you did really pay attention to me all those years ago? …You always told me that I was so uncool and weak remember? You always said that I would never be the boss of you because I'm a 'scrawny, good for nothing tomato bastard' isn't that what you told me?"

"Y-yeah I did…you had left me no choice. You were so annoying, claiming that you were the boss and that you were so high almighty. But, you really are strong Toni, I never doubted that! So, come on and use that strength of yours and get up." Romano said as he glared at his Spanish boyfriend. "Come on, we better get going now while the sun's still up in the sky." The dark brown haired Italian said jokingly, trying to at least lighten the mood a little. And he stood up and reached his hand down and helped Antonio up the best he could. Antonio grabbed at his hand and hobbled on his good foot to try and keep steady, but slowly fell against Romano's lighter weight and they both tumbled over to the floor. Romano got up and brushed off the dirt and snow, then tried again, reaching down and helping Spain up once more. Romano knelt down and grabbed his arm then swung it over his shoulder standing up. Lovi clutched as tight as he could to Antonio and half dragged him out of the cave and into the bright whiteness at the opening of the cavern. They both took one last look at the small bloody Chinese man on the stone cold floor of the cave and chills ran up their spines. Sadness swept over the two nations for the loss of a friend, as they both said a silent prayer and hurried on into the light blue abyss of the new morning sky.