Ok guys sorry this took so long but I've decided that I'm going to make this fanfiction 30 chapters. I'm going to try to stick very close to that number, sad chapter by the way~ Have fun!

Chapter 27

"Phew…" Japan exhaled as he wiped some sweat off his face with a wash cloth. "I'm afraid that's all I can do for Romano at the moment. His temperature's stable for the time being. I think I'll go get me some more coffee and check on the others." Japan sighed as he set the washcloth down on the bedside table.

Before the Japanese man left, he took one last look at the Southern Italian lying on the bed.

"I hope everyone gets back here safely…I'm no doctor … and I am really afraid what have become of the others? What if they're hurt just as bad as you? I don't know if this place has enough bandages for them all…" Japan sadly exhaled as he scanned Romano.

The Italian was quiet for once, a hard thing to get accustomed to from him. He was still and peaceful atop of the bed, pale and clammy. A couple bandages here and there and a cold wash cloth sitting on his forehead to top him off. Japan turned to leave one again but instead heard a small grunted noise coming from behind him. Kiku quickly turned back around to notice Romano slowly stirring coming into conciseness.

"S…p..a..i….n?" Romano whispered out, eyes still closed, and voice hoarse.

"Romano! Oh thank God! You're awake?" Japan expressed with a sigh of relief as he crossed over to the bed.

"Wh-whoes…..there…?" Romano insisted, finally opening his eyes a crack. His hazel eyes filling with the bright light from the room only caused him to quickly shut his eyes once more, merely to reopen them moments later. Romano blinked a few times staring up at the ceiling, Japan now focusing more into his vision.

"It's me Japan remember?" Japan expressed as he leaned over to pull a chair over, completely forgetting and not caring about his coffee that he got up to go get in the first place.

"W-where's Spa..in?" Lovino asked fearing for the answer as a look of great intensity came into his dulled eyes. Romano shifted his gaze from the celling to focus a little more on the Japanese man by moving his head to the right side to face him better before he began talking.

"Spain's right in the room across the hall…It's ok Romano. We are just trying to help you guys, and fix both of you up."

"T-that bastards probably scared to death…but he's alive again…I'm so glad, he scared me for a while there." Romano exhaled and heaved a sigh of great relief.

"I know he scared us too, but England's been taking care of him… We're all trying to put our differences aside for once and help out one another as much as we can, just like America wanted. Though I don't think this is how he expected things to work out. What happened to you and Spain anyway? You guys were in terrible shape! How did you manage to get here? Please tell me everything you know." Romano sighed and took a deep breath before beginning. The least he could do was tell them everything he knew, for helping them out.

"Well…after the avalanche came, Antonio and I got separated, you see." Romano began as Japan just nodded. "I awoke and Antonio was nowhere to be found. I searched and searched for hours until I finally came across a small looking building in the distance." Romano paused to let out a small fit of coughs. "I was so relieved that I found shelter, but my happiness came and gone just like that when I found out that inside this building Antonio, MY ANTONIO, was getting tortured by…by…by- THAT TURKISH BASTARD!" Romano raised his voice in a strangled expression as he tried to shift upwards into a sitting position.

"Turkey…did that to him?" Kiku expressed fearfully with wide eyes.

"Si…that bastardo had Antonio chained up and blindfolded and he…he did something to his leg before I got there and was in the process of whipping him! I…I came too late. I should have got there sooner…if I did then Antonio…" Romano quietly sobbed, turning away and bringing one of his unsteady hands up to wipe away his face.

"Romano…it's not your fault, and as for Turkey we'll have a talk." Japan said in a cooing manner, but just then Romano twisted back around trying not to slide down.

"LIKE HELL WE WILL TALK, NO WAY! I'M GOING TO KILL HIM FIRST!...I mean I did chain him up before we left because of what he did to Toni and my head. That bastard shoved my head into a wall, and practically killed Antonio!" Romano strained his voice, huffing and dry heaving, lifting his hand up to place it on his forehead, it burned.

"Whoa, Romano, you need to calm down! Your fever's just settled down. Don't give it a reason to skyrocket back up again! Here, just lie down, and gently tell me the rest. Like, where was this building at?" Japan exclaimed trying to calm Romano. The southern Italian looked down to see the washcloth that was on his forehead, now currently residing on his lap. He grabbed it and tried to lie back down before passing out. He felt slightly dizzy, as he replaced the nice cold cloth back on his head, he continued, sliding back down. Romano took a short breath and continued,

"Well after I saved Toni, we trudged on for ages trying to find our way back home and ended up stumbling on a cave. Inside the cave though we saw Y-" Romano stopped, how could he bring himself to tell the poor man that helped him and Spain out that his precious lover is…dead. There was no good way to do this…

"What? You saw what? What's wrong" Japan asked seeing the Italian looking paled.

"Oh, umm…about that...Japan…there is something I have to tell you about Yao…" Romano said not being cruel, mean, or plain out ignoring others feelings, just being honest. Romano had to tell him, if it was Spain out there and Romano was where Kiku was, he'd want to know everything right away. It was only fair to tell him.

"YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS?! Where Romano? Where is he?" Japan blurted out not acknowledging formalities anymore. Romano shocked at first from the sudden outburst, continued

"Um, he's in a cave a few miles away from here." Romano honestly said.

"Oh, well why didn't he just come back with you then?" The small Japanese man questioned. "Oh I know he's hurt right and you came back to the cabin to get help. Thanks for your help Romano!" Japan excitedly exclaimed rising from his chair only to feel Romano's hand grasp around his wrist.

"He didn't come back with us, Kiku…because Yao's dead…"

Silence filled the room.

"I-I wanted to tell you earlier but, well, I kind of fainted, I guess. I'm so sorry Japan…I knew you guys were really close." Romano said openly toward the shocked looking man. Japan fell back into the chair, frozen. Mouth slowly ajar, Kiku looked at Romano with eye widened as a tear strolled off his face.

"D..E..A…D? H-how could he be dead?!" Kiku was shaken, almost unable to speak.

"Well, he…" Lovino gulped "He was torn apart…I know you don't want to hear this, but we think that either a bear mulled him or a pack of wolves' that attacked him…there were bite marks and flesh everywhere; it was an awful sight."

"B-bears…wolves. Oh my gosh my poor China, why wasn't I with him?!" Japan, frustrated with himself hit his fist into the bedside table, as Romano winced.

"I know it's not much, but I did save something for you though. If Go over to my coat pocket and reach in the left hand side. It's proof that I'm not lying." Romano looked away from the confused Japanese man as he slowly got up and walked over towards the Italian's coat in the corner of the room. Japan lifted it up, examining it, reached in, and pulled out a ripped piece of cloth. Cloth from Yao's outfit, red with gold trimmed designs on it forming a sort of flowered pattern, a very small patch of blood in the corner. Kiku looked at it for what seemed like hours but in reality only mere minutes. After a short time, he collapsed to the floor on his knees grabbing that cloth he knew too well and, clutching it in between his chest, sobbing. Tear after tear showering onto the floor.

"WHY? Yao why-why did you have to die?!" Japan whimpered as more tears clouded his eyes. Romano started shaking thinking over in his mind that this is what he'd be doing if Antonio ever died on him. He knew the two Asian countries were very close so this must be harder than ever for the Japanese man, and Romano hated being the bearer of bad news.

"Listen, Kiku…I'm sor-" Romano began and few minutes later but was cut off by Japan standing up and staring at him with sad eyes, and a reddened face bringing some color into his pale skin.

"No…" Japan sobbed "No, Romano, thank you…you brought this back here just for me, and I couldn't have asked you to do any more. I thank you for telling me why China has not showed up here yet, and I will treasure this precious item forever Romano." Lovino turned back around forcing his tears not to fall but to no avail. No one but Spain has ever thanked him before for something like this. No one has ever been this nice about something Romano deep down believed he caused. The Japanese man's words hit him hard as they both cried.

0000000000

Suddenly a few minutes later, Iceland pushed the door open and yelled into the room.

"Japan! Denmark's group is back…and along with them is Lukas, Tino, Berwald, and Alfred…hey…Romano's up I see, but why the sad faces. Oh no…not another death is it?" Iceland observed the two until Japan finally spoke up in a choppy voice.

"Yao…is dead." Japan sniffled out, face red.

"Oh no…Japan….I'm so sorry. I know it's not the best time to tell you this, but America died as well and Finland's paralyzed. England's about to find out about America any second now…"

"No…America too?! How many friends must we have to lose? Now I'm really scared for everyone else's safety…" Japan said distraught.

"Apparently from what I heard, American and Finland fell off a cliff looking for Canada. America ended up dying but Finland hit a ledge and fractured his spine and then rolled off and landed on the ground. It was a miracle that Finland's still alive." Iceland described.

"Iceland? You say America's dead? So does that mean that England's with him?" Romano asked curiously.

"Yeah he just entered the room a little bit ago; I wouldn't go there if I were you guys. He's in mental breakdown mode." Ice stated to the two in the room.

"So is Spain's room free then? I know I'm not anywhere close to being better, but would it be possible for you to help me to Spain's room so I could see him for a few minutes? I think Kiku wants to be by himself for a few minutes.

"Oh, um…sure. I only have one good hand though; you could just put your arm over my shoulder however." Iceland said showing Romano his hand.

"Ok that's fine. Japan, are you okay in here for a while?" Romano asked as the Japanese man just nodded and sat up as he slowly leaned into his hands that were resting on his knees. Romano gradually sat up once again and shifted his body in a sitting position and slowly but surely swung his feet off the bed. Iceland came over and tried to help the stumbling Italian up and the two of them limped out of the room and into the room across the hall.

00000000000

Romano and Iceland quietly opened the door to Spain's room, and Romano face brightened. He looked like a mummy with all his bandages, but he still looked better. Romano stood there while Iceland pulled over a chair next to the bed, and Romano sat grabbing one of Spain's hands in his own. His hands were colder than his were, but they felt nice. Lovino scanned over Antonio's body and his gaze stopped on Spain's leg. It was still bad, but at least there was some sort of bandage on it that made the blood stop oozing out for now.

"Um Romano, I'm going to go back to Denmark and the others for a while. Will you be ok here by yourself?" The small Icelandic country asked and Romano's answer was simple.

"Yes, I'm fine here for now, thank you."

"Ok I'll come by and get you in a little bit." Iceland stated, and with that was out the door. Romano looked from the door then back at his lover, peaceful as always lying there wrapped up.

"Oh Antonio…we made it." Romano exhaled as he scooted his chair up some, then leaned his head on the bed. "At least we're both here and we have each other." Lovino said as he took his hand that was grabbing Antonio's and gave it a little squeeze. Then he took his other hand and caressed Spain's face sweetly. "I heard that America is dead, and then I thought about losing you too and I was scared so I had to come check up on you. But I see now that you look a lot better; that's a relief." Romano paused to lightly cough "I love you Antonio, and I hope you g-get better soon bastard…because I-I can't live without you…" Lovino looked down and sniffled as a lonely tear rolled down his face only to be stopped by a cold familiar touch causing Romano to jerk his head upwards.

"Oh, Lovi, my little Lovi, you're ok. I'm so glad." Antonio whispered out causing Romano to open his teary eyes more widely and look up in shock.

"Antonio!? A-are you r-really ok? You scared me…I mean when we first got to the cabin you-you weren't breathing for a while…I-everything was going so fast I just-don't ever do that again!" Romano yelled, all jumbled up.

"Te amo Lovi…but I told you that I would never leave you again my love. Am I right? I-I'm really sorry to scare you; I was drifting off between this world and the next" Spain paused to take a small breath, "But I prayed to stay here, to see you at least one more time." Antonio huffed out in small breaths, eyes barely open, his emerald green eyes slowly starting to fill with life again opening all the way as he tilted his head to the side to see his lover more clearly.

"H-how are you feeling?" Romano asked openly as he scanned Toni up and down once more.

"Ah, well I hurt all over and it's kind of hard to move but I think I'll get over it soon…hopefully." Spain answered.

"Yeah well, just try not to move as much then. By the way, did you hear all of that? You know…what I said before…when I first walked in?" Romano blushed.

"Si, I did! Most of it at least, and it was all very nice Lovi~" The Spanish man admitted smiling, wincing a little when he tried to move his body closer. Romano looked up worried but was stopped when Spain just nodded and smiled at him.

"Oh, so you heard me then…um I…y-you bastard. S-stop eavesdropping on me when I'm saying nice things about you." Romano spluttered as he laid both of his arms upon the bed and set his head down in them, trying to hide his face.

"Hey…there-there; It's okay" Antonio grumbled "I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere, but possibly the hospital later, so please don't hide your beautiful face from me." Spain chuckled, though it was kind of muffled. It was still nice to hear his laugh. It was one of those laughs that could brighten anyone's day as though it was contagious. Spain slowly and painfully lifted up one of his arms, wincing a bit and placed it gently atop of Romano's head petting back and forth.

"Ah…that feels nice Toni…I think I'll just rest for a bit here if that's ok with you." Romano admitted, snuggling his head in between his arms, before slowly closing his eyes.

"I think we both need to rest Lovi." Spain yawned as he laid his head all the way back on the pillow. He was facing Lovino, and he kept stroking Romano's head until they both were asleep.

0000000000

"We're here…" Mathais said to the angered looking Englishman.

"Ok, now will you show me what you wanted to show me a while ago, I don't have all day." Arthur retorted and Denmark sadly looked down and huffed before twisting the knob of the door. The door opened and inside they walked. For a moment, everything was fine. Then England came into the room with Mathias and saw Finland on the bed with Sweden, Lukas, and Iceland next to him. Mathais turned around and went to go tell England about America, but to his surprise Arthur was gone.

"AMERICA! YOU'RE BACK!" England announced happily as he ran up to the American on the couch and fell on his knees.

"Alfred! What's wrong? Your leg…and arm, what happened to you? Come on; let's get you fixed up…" England stopped to grab the American and help him out, and as he did so Denmark appeared only to put a hand on the Englishman's shoulder. England looked up only to see Denmark shaking his head.

"What is your problem? Let me go Alfred needs help! I mean, look at him!" England spat and Denmark deeply sighed.

"England…America-" Mathias started, but was cut off by an irritated Englishman.

"He needs help. America needs help. Why didn't you just tell me Alfred was back?" England interrupted, as he looked back at the American laying before him.

"England I don't…I don't know how to tell you this, but….America's dead."

"WHAT? NO…YOU'RE WRONG! America…can't be dead… there's just no way! Your lying!" Arthur twisted around getting up to yell out in denial.

"We found him by Tino lying in the snow! We checked and… AMERICA HAS NO HEARTBEAT!" Denmark shouted out towards England who looked distraught.

"No…this can't be true…America he can't be-" England paused as tears started falling down his cheeks.

"Alfie?..." England asked, looking back at the American as he was stumbling over to him.

"I-is this true? He's just lying right? I mean you can't be dead. Come on; get up!…" England exclaimed poking at his former lover. Tears were now freely flowing down the creases of his face and onto the floor below as he cried. Mathias, Lukas, and Ice all getting up from their chairs to try and go comfort the Englishman, but to no avail as Arthur pushed them away with a swipe of his hand.

"NO! Get-get away from me!" England shrieked as he buried his face in his hands with a moment or two of whimpering then.

"Come on America; open your eyes! Talk to me, PLEASE!" England, face inflamed and burning, screamed out as he shook his lover.

"Come on…wake up America..." England sniffled once again before laying his hand down on Alfred's heart; only to be broken as the results quickly came…he…he was dead. There was no heartbeat… England felt as though his heart had snapped, breaking in two. How could he be dead? How….? England looked up from his fallen position on the floor next to the couch and let out the saddest screams anyone in that room has ever heard. It was so depressing that it sent chills down everyone's spine, and all looked away trying to hide their tears of sorrow.

"A-" England sniffled "A-ALFRED!"