Chapter 4. Trap

As I had predicted, the kitchen was of little use. The cupboards were bare and the fridge still had that poisonous gunk left inside. Frustrated, Japan had slammed the door shut, the fridge even swaying from the force. I fiddled with my pocket knife before asking, "Did… did one of your friends have some food with them, Japan?"

Hopefully they had, so it would be a win-win situation. I had begun to doubt Mireya had brought any bag or food with her, but the idea had helped at least. "Itary-kun might… he usually is prepared with pasta wherever he goes."

…Interesting.

With this in mind we had trudged the first floor, searching and calling out for Italy. The library had held a ruined rice ball; sadly we had to leave it behind and still with no Italy in sight. The next to be checked had been a type of Japanese room, though with only one door and it had been locked. The door near the entrance way had also been locked and so we continued on around the corner where I recalled the bathroom being.

For a moment Japan and I stared at the last door within the first floor. It was cracked open. I glanced over towards Japan and I could see momentarily on his face, a flicker of doubt. He didn't want to go inside and seemed to hesitate before he moved forward.

Gulping, he opened the door a little bit more. It was dark inside pitch black as Japan then entered. I could hear him stumbling around, muttering about the light switch. "Japan?" I called out, inching into the bathroom cautiously. I wouldn't wish to tumble into the Asian. "Do you need help –?" I squeaked as the door suddenly shut behind me. "Th-the door – Japan, have you found the light switch, yet?"

"Hai, I berieve it's, aha!" Without another word he flipped the switch. The light though seemed to flicker on and off before settling into a bright bathed light that filled the room. I barely had enough time to curse before I was then sent crashing into the wall. Stunned I tried to make sense of what had occurred before realization struck that Japan and I were cornered by that… that monster.

"You won't…escape…"

Suddenly the monster had attacked and I was startled to find myself in pain. The creature hadn't even moved but some strange power was curled around my body, surrounding me on all sides. It felt like thorns were piercing through my skin, sharp edged as it cut through delicate flesh. For a moment that was all I knew and it took me another minute to realize that my throat was hurting, I was screaming.

Then all at once it had stopped. I was once more on the floor, gasping and trembling, trying to get my bearings as Japan cursed. I glanced up and noticed him countering the creatures attack with one of his own.

"Watashi wa anata no kao o mite no unzarida!"

I couldn't tell what Japan had said, but I did realize that he was angry, very angry. His face contorted and flushed as he aimed his sword at the creature. The creature stumbled back, appearing almost shocked that Japan had attacked it. Japan took this chance to lash out once more, muttering under his breath while the blade of his katana seemed to emanate a blue color.

The attack caused the creature to stumble once more before it snarled. "YoU…WOn't…ESc…aPe!" It raised its arms up and the strange energy it had emanated before shot out, curling around Japan. For a single second I stared, mesmerized by the strange electrical current that seemed to fill out from the monster.

It was nothing I had ever seen before but then again neither was the monster. It was something out of nightmares, a thing that should have stayed as a nightmare. Jaw tightening I struggled onto my feet, holding tightly onto the pocket knife in my hand. I had to do something! Japan was struggling to free himself from the attack, eyes pinched in pain and here I was watching as he was harmed.

The place was so small though how would I be able to aim an attack and especially with such a small weapon. But then I noticed how the creature's arms had raised and pressed into the walls. It was almost like a stepping stone heading up its face.

I then did something very brave and very stupid: I took a great leap and managed to catch myself on the creature's arms, startling it from its attack on Japan as it turned its attention onto me. Though it barely had time react as I used the momentum of its arms rising in order to fling myself and plunge the blade into one of its eyes.

It shrieked, howling and throwing me off as it grasped onto the handle. The beast though seemed to flinch and scream again, shaking its head as the little knife lodged in its eye ripped right through. Its scream was almost animalistic and I flinched as it roared. It was in agony but so were we. Then the creature stopped and after a second charged forward.

Japan whom had been watching, mouth agape slammed into my side, rolling us out of the way as the creature ran and crashed into the wall. The lights were suddenly gone and I panicked. Would it attack us in the darkness? I groped blindly around for the switch, ears pricked and alert showed the monster attack while Japan and I were blind.

I couldn't seem to find it and I wondered if this is where we would die. The thought immediately flicked out of my head when the lights suddenly flickered on. It was brighter and most of all, the creature….

"It's… gone." I crumbled in relief and pressed my forehead against the wall. Slowly the realization of what I had done to the creature had caught up to the rest of my body and I trembled. Dear god… I was on the creature; I had been much closure than previously before. I had even plunged a pocket knife into its god forsaken eye. Had even watched in a daze as the creature howled in pain… Oh dear god I think I'm going to be sick.

My eyes shut and I tried to quell my unsettled stomach, with thoughts that I was alive and so was Japan. Moments passed as I rested against the wall, neither worried of moving or seeing if Japan had recovered. I was quite content to stay where I was at least until Japan tapped my shoulder lightly.

I peered up at him and noted how pale he was. He even had a few wounds, a single cut on his cheek that was bleeding and his arm that was slowly spilling blood. His kimono was ripped too, more so then before, almost in shreds as it dangled on his frame as best as it could.

Blood….

"A-are you alright?" I shot up and quickly aimed to see his wounds but he stopped me, grasping my wrists as he stared. He exhaled, "I'rr be fine. They wirr hear, yours…. Wirr take time." Mine…? It was then as I pondered his words in confusion, did I suddenly feel the probing pain upon my body. Most everything either felt numb or was burning, inflamed from the attack the creature had bestowed upon me.

There were cuts, having ripped through parts of my clothing, reaching even without it to the skin of my body. Some were small barely of note and others hurt, much like the wrapped and jagged thin line racing up my calf or the three tiny slices that rested on my shoulder. I hadn't even realized.

Japan led me towards the sink and it was only then did I notice that the room was another bathroom. Why was there a second bathroom when one resided just right next to it? I stayed silent though while Japan rummaged through a cabinet, showing that there were an assortment of medical supplies and gauze's.

The water from this sink was much clearer and cleaner. The fascination did not stay when Japan pulled out the bottle of beer and popped it open, leveling it with my wounds and allowing it to spill. It burned, it really did and for a moment I wished to yank away and smack Japan. Instead I hissed and clenched my jaw, trying to even my breathing as he took care of me.

"That was very stupid you know." Japan suddenly commented. I sent a glare at him and I was surprised when he smiled, wrapping the gauze and tying it down. "Thank you, nonetheress, Natarie-san. Though perhaps next time, reave the fighting to me."

"Then perhaps you shouldn't go into a dark room next time… and… and we really need to take care of those wounds."

"Ah, no that will…" Japan trailed off and stared at his arm. The blood was still flowing and Japan seemed confused, as if having not expected the wound to still be bleeding. "It should have arready…"

"You got hurt. It's not going to heal in the matter of seconds, now give me that bottle."

"Shikashi…"

"Shut up Japan."

The silence settled as I reenacted the same treatment onto Japan, careful as I treated his main wounds. He seemed to flinch a lot, his eyes cloudy with both pain and confusion. Once I was finished, Japan took one look around the bathroom while I cleaned off the pocket knife that had miraculously fallen, found a silver key in the bathtub, and then we left.

The key seemed to lead to one of the bedrooms as it mentioned with the note tied to it. It didn't seem to specify though and so we once again checked all the locked doors on the first floor before heading upwards. There were only three doors that were still locked on the second floor; the one at the very end of the hall was the winner.

As I tried to follow after Japan suddenly stopped, raising his arm and gesturing for me to stay put. I sent him a confused look but then I noticed, as Japan cautiously made his way over towards the beds, that there seemed to be a bump under one of the bed covers. It was pretty suspicious actually but on closer look I noticed that it seemed to be the shape of a human lump, small and certainly no monster.(Might want to mention Japan locking the door somewhere in this paragraph, otherwise might imply the bad ending is coming up)

A sudden chill settled over me and I glanced over my shoulder. Had Japan locked the door? Unsure, I quickly did so myself. The cold slowly left me and I sagged in relief; no point in being ambushed after the fight with the creature just minutes before –

"Vho's there?!"

I spun around; knife raised only to realize the one that shouted seemed to be an albino man. Prussia, I realized after examining the man. His hair was a raven-white and his eyes a deep red, he was even wearing the same dark blue military uniform.

"Woah, wait! Calm down, Prussia-san! It's only me!"

I cocked my head and watched while Prussia wilted, shoulders sagging in relief as he murmured an apology. This was certainly familiar. Eyes narrowed, I realized the entire situation was once again hauntingly similar to HetaOni.

Nibbling my lip, I realized that this time the idea wouldn't leave. It was there now, taunting and chuckling at my dismay and uncertainty. I gripped tightly to myself, pressing my back against the door frame. But that was silly… it was silly wasn't it?

An RPG game… come to life? Laughable! But I couldn't seem to deter the thought now. I couldn't dispel the notion as a figment of my own silly whims. I was retracing the events that had happened since I had met Japan – no, since I had woken up in that piano room.

This place was much too familiar, these people I had met too familiar and not in just appearance but in voice as well. The mochi, the monster, even the conversations that had occurred and were occurring. They were much too similar…. My heart raced and I gulped. Silly, laughable even… wasn't it?

"They say it's abandoned."

"You have to admit that it looks just like it…"

The sounds of someone moving on dead grass – a door creaking open – a joyous and teasing giggle –

Abandoned she had said…familiar she had even admitted. Mireya may have only seen the first few chapters of HetaOni but even she had known and realized how similar the manor looked. It was a joke though, wasn't it? An offhand observation, hadn't it?

"Holy crap! An actual Mochi!"

The sound of someone moving across a room – a squeak and purring – a door closing shut –

"Isn't that a little… too similar though –"

Similar, everything was too similar. The note in the library had then come to mind. What had been scribbled out? There was something more that the writer wanted to convey, a secret about the manor –

But…I'm sure… you already know that – don't you?

The last words… it was as if the writer knew someone else would come along, that I would read it. But if that was true, then was it possible that they had left more than just that single page behind? Would it all be gathered in the library or would it be scattered around the manor? I glanced over towards the shelves. Would they also be in the same locations, like the last one perhaps?

"..an?"

"…Arie-san?"

"Natarie-san?"

I jumped, startled to find Japan staring at me worriedly, even Prussia. Had they been calling me? How long had they been doing so? I was sure that they had still been talking to each other – something about mushrooms. Yes, mushrooms, I'm sure of that.

"A-ah… nothing… what, um is it?" I swallowed. "Are you two done?"

"…Hai… though it seems that Prussia-san hasn't seen Itary-kun either or has come across anyone that could be your cousin."

"A-ah, I see… then I suppose we should keep looking…" I trailed off and Prussia's eyes narrowed. What was that sound? Something coming from outside the door… in the hallway… heavy footsteps – I spun around to stare and paled. Someone was coming closer.

"Natarie-san?"

"…Don't you hear that?" I slowly stepped away.

"Ja… the sound of something… getting closer?"

For a moment there was silence in the room aside from the faint footsteps coming clearer and clearer as the seconds ticked by, there was even a heavy breathing accompanied with them.

"Natarie-san… get away from the door…" Japan commanded. But I couldn't seem to move, I was rooted in place, ears straining to listen, while my heart pounded and seemed ready to burst from my chest. The monster, it was coming back!

"Natarie-san…Now!" I quickly scurried away from the door, pulling out my pocket knife, my eyes trained for any movement. Japan had already pulled out his katana and Prussia held up what seemed to be a rusted sword. The knob turned violently and I jumped, biting on my tongue to keep the squeak safely inside. I wasn't ready for another battle, I didn't want another battle.

Just the very thought sent my wounds throbbing, as if the cuts themselves seemed to remember how they had been formed. But then it was quite. There was no other sound. Then footsteps that seemed to be fading….

A drop of sweat slid down my forehead and I inched one step closer towards the door. Was it gone?

"…Is it gone?" Prussia voiced my thoughts.

Is it? I gulped, stepping another inch forwards. Is it really gone? Something in me doubted the very notion. If this is really…. I didn't want to think of it. That where I was now and what I was experiencing, this fear and this monster and this pain, it was all from that game. But if it was and if it had become real then…. then the thing has to still be waiting. "Only a few steps – should have been more."

"…You're right." Prussia murmured. "If it is, then it doesn't know that ve know, so ve von't be caught by surprise."

"Keep your weapons ready." Japan whispered, "Natarie-san, stay behind us."

"But –."

"Keep behind us."

I fell silent and moved to the back of the room, watching warily as the two males went forward, opening the door. I hadn't wanted to be correct, in fact I had wanted to be completely wrong, but as soon as the two stepped out of the room, the monster had attacked.

"Hooolly shiiiiit!" Prussia swore, "It's a lot uglier face to face! Vhat the fuck happened to its eye?" It had come back and it seemed to want revenge. Japan groaned and prepared to strike, his katana once more glowing a brilliant blue. Japan glared daggers at the monster before he ran and struck multiple attacks onto the creature.

"Vow, I didn't know you could move that fast, Japan!" Prussia gaped in amazement.

"Yes werr…"

"Heh, I can't let you take away from my awesome spotlight!" Prussia let loose a Sparta-cry as he ran forward, "Eat this, shithead!"

The thing screeched while Prussia laughed arrogantly. I made my way over towards the door and cautiously peeked out; rolling my eyes as Prussia didn't seemed to notice the creature's mouth parting open. "You won't…escape!"

Immediately Prussia's smile was whipped off and he paled, jumping out of the way as the electrical attack shot off from the creature. "It can talk?" Japan stood between the white-haired male and the monster. Japan then rushed forwards, pulling back his glowing katana and stabbed the creature into the chest.

The monster cried out and staggered back, gasping as it leaned itself onto the wall and slowly slid down. The katana was stuck now, where the heart of the creature should be. Was it over? It had to be, the creature wasn't moving anymore.

"From what I rearned from fighting that thing, never ret your guard down." I hummed in agreement, eyeing the dead creature warily. It should have disappeared now right? If this truly was HetaOni then… I could hear Prussia groan at having been told off by Japan, but my eyes were still trained on the creature.

I paled – it was moving again despite the katana rammed into its heart – the creature had shot forward. I barely had time to really think my actions through as I dropped my knife, shouting and tackling Japan down to the floor. I could feel the air shift above me from the creature's arms having slashed through the same spot Japan had once stood. It had wanted to decapitate the Asian man, and it had almost succeeded.

"Fat chance, shithead." Prussia smirked. I looked up and gaped; Prussia was holding off the claws with his rusty sword. The thing was holding up against the creature and even as Prussia tensed, pushing more pressure in order to push the creature back, I was quite surprised. "That there is one of my little brother's pals and if you even dare to lay your retarded claws on any of them or my bruder, you'll have to get through the avesome me first!"

Prussia then swung his sword, grasping onto the katana now ripped away from the monsters chest as the creature was knocked backwards. The creature though would not be so easily deterred. It's raspy voice bouncing off the walls. It was readying itself again, howling as the first few sparks of its power shot out.

"Prussia – dodge!" But it was too late, the creature had once more let lose an attack. Luckily Prussia had dodged, Japan and I, not so lucky.

It hurt. It hurt a lot as the strange power wrapped around once more, cutting into my clothing and shredding into my skin… adding fresh wounds to the ones I already had. "Japan! Natalie!" Prussia called out but the sound seemed so far away. "Hang on; I'll get you both out…! Mein Gott – let them the fuck go!"

It hurts….

Suddenly the pain was gone and I found myself on the ground, trembling and shaking. Blurry eyed and dazed I looked up, watching numbly as Prussia seemed to have distracted the monster enough to attack. A warm hand settled onto my shoulder and I looked over, Japan wasn't looking so good. His leg was bleeding and his side was cut into.

"We… we have to run. Prussia-san we have to run!"

Japan yanked me up and did just that, we ran. We ran through the hallways and even into bedrooms. But the creature just followed, and for a moment I was sure we would die cornered. Then we ran in different directions, startling the creature as we all darted back into the hallway, slamming the door behind us.

We couldn't stop and we shouldn't stop. I knew that, but then Japan skidded to a halt, stumbling and catching himself on the wall, panting and hand still gripping tightly onto my arm. I was sure that the creature would follow once more but there seemed to be only silence. The creature had ceased.

"Is… have ve lost it?" Prussia muttered, still stunned.

"I… I believe so… if it's not then it's not forrowing us…"

"I wonder why…." I murmured, pressing a hand to my forehead. I felt dizzy and I vaguely heard the two males speaking. This is real, I began to think. This is happening. It seemed so surreal when I thought it over, telling myself repeatedly that I was in an RPG game. I really wanted to laugh at the thought. But I couldn't. My limbs were heavy and my mind fuzzy. How could I laugh when the realization is suddenly striking into me?

It's not laughable and it was… god. I closed my eyes, shuddering. This was real. As much as I simply wanted to call myself crazy and delusional, I knew when to give up. I was in an abandoned mansion with a monster after all; I had even met personified nations, and in the end I wasn't sure if I could hope for survival. To them I was human, wasn't I? I was a weak compared to them. Humans die every day, natural or unnatural causes. But would they survive either? The HetaOni game never ended after all.

My stomach felt queasy and I curled into myself, a sudden thought causing me to whimper. Time loops… there were time loops weren't there –?

"Oi, Frau!" I jolted in shock, stumbling back from the warm hands that shook me. It was Prussia. His eyes were shining with worry and he glanced over towards Japan, the Asian male though struck with wounds was also giving me the same look. Why?

"Can you valk?"

Walk… of course I can walk. I wasn't – I flinched and gazed down to my leg. It was bleeding again; it needed to be wrapped up again. But Japan was the same wasn't he? He was hurt too, wasn't he? I didn't have time to voice offhandedly the thought before Prussia suddenly picked me up from my hips. I squeaked and latched onto his shoulders, shaken by the sudden movement.

"What are you doing?! Put me down you…!"

He only laughed. A strange 'kesese' sound as he ignored my flushed face and threw me onto his back. "Oh shush, Frau. The avesome me is going to carry you vhile Japan leads us back to mein bruder."

I was so utterly bewildered, blinking rapidly and struck frozen as I latched onto Prussia. Why were they helping me? They didn't know me, he didn't know me.

They knew I was human… human's die every day, so what's one more to them? Nibbling my lip I pressed my face down, trying to blink away the tears that were threatening to spill.

The gesture left a warm feeling inside my heart. They cared even if my survival was slim, so why? I hadn't even realized I voiced the question until Prussia hummed questioningly, "Did you say something?"

I froze and swallowed heavily, but repeated my unintentional question.I swallowed but repeated my question. "Why do you care?" Prussia halted and I looked up, brows furrowed as I noticed both Japan and Prussia giving me a strange look. It wasn't much of a surprising question; they should have known I would ask it eventually. After all, we were strangers to each other. It was a question that needed to be answered eventually.

"...I'm human aren't I? Humans die every day, unnatural and natural causes. Compared to you guys, I'm just another person in the grand scheme of things. So why…" I trailed off into a squeak, eyes popping as a sharp sting rippled through my thigh. Prussia snorted and smirked; the ass had pinched me!

"Shut up, Frau. You are human but isn't that more reason to take care of you?"

"But –."

"Prussia-san is correct, we are nations. But we aren't cruer," Japan said. "We wouldn't reave someone behind, human or not. Besides, you have famiry waiting outside of here correct, and someone to rook for in this mansion as werr, right? You don't wish to die before you can see them again, do you?"

Family…Mireya… I nibbled my lip and hid my face away. That's right; I do have people waiting for me, people I needed to return to. The entire situation had my nerves shot, skin clammy and mouth dry, but these two were correct. I shouldn't put a gift to the mouth and spit it out. They were helping me stay alive so… I have to be strong…for them.

Welp~ Much Thanks to My beta, the amazing Fk306 whom has been helping with this story, she has been an amazing help. I also do not own the HetaOni franchise, only my own OC's and the plot that will occur. :)

Translations are in the Bottom of this Page:

Japanese (romaji): Watashi wa anata no kao o mite no unzarida!

English: I'm sick of seeing your face!

Japanese (romaji): Shikashi…

English: But…

German: Frau

English: Woman

German: mein bruder

English: my brother