((Sorry for the short chapter. Also, slight feels... maybe. I'm never sure.))
Gilbert was sleeping quietly on America's couch. Germany had laid him there on top of a blanket so that the couch didn't get covered in his brother's blood. Japan had calmed down and was sitting in the kitchen sipping at some tea Germany had made for him.
Germany, on the other hand, was chugging down all the beer America had in his house. Japan chose not to say anything to him about it and kept quietly drinking his tea in thought.
Soon Gilbert began to stir. A quiet 'mmmn' was the first noise he had made, soon followed by a long yawn. Germany was already rushing to his brother's side. Gilbert looked over and saw his brother knelling by him.
"Ludwig?" Gilbert asked. Germany nodded- still upset by whatever possessed his brother to call him that. It felt unnatural. Like it was some sort of punishment. "Where are we?"
"At America's house."
"What…? You mean a house in America?" Gilbert asked. So he had forgotten about all the countries.
"Ja… a house in America…"
"Why are we in America?" Gilbert asked. Did he realize that a few hours ago he had been in Russia? Or was he just wondering why they had gone to America instead of Germany…?
"We're staying at A-Alfred's house while we figure this all out."
"Who's Alfred?" Gilbert asked. Germany froze. Prussia had known America's human name, didn't he? He must have, he trained America before his revolution, it must have come up at some point- someone must have said it somewhere along the line. "Is Alfred your boyfriend? Ha! Did my little bruder finally get laid?"
"What? No, no!" Germany said, finally snapping back to the present.
"Sure, Lud, suuurreee," Gilbert said teasingly, obviously oblivious to his brother's concern. Prussia hadn't just forgotten about them being countries: he had forgotten about some of them entirely.
"Um, Gilbert… You remember… Kiku, correct?" Germany said, motioning for Japan to join him by the couch.
"Eh? No, I don't think so. Why?"
"No reason," Germany said saddened. "Does you head hurt?" He reached for the wound on Gilbert's forehead. It was a scratch, nothing that would have caused memory loss.
"The cut there doesn't hurt much, but I do have a bit of a headache I guess…" Gilbert said, rubbing his temples a bit.
"What do you remember?"
"Huh? About what?" It looked like Gilbert was about to say something more, but had forgotten whatever it was…
"Anything. Where you were an hour ago, where you were a year ago- anything at all!" Germany said loudly- clearly in a panic.
"I-I can't… I-" Gilbert paused to rub his temples more- his headache was obviously getting worse. "I honestly can't remember… I know that you're my bruder… And we live in Germany…. And…"
Germany was in tears. He suddenly wrapped his arms around Gilbert- much to the latter's surprise. He obviously remembered that his brother wasn't easily so moved. Would he remember any of the countries? He didn't even remember America… Would he remember Italy?
"L-Ludwig?" Gilbert asked his brother, concerned.
"Call me 'West'…" Germany mumbled.
"What?"
"Call me 'West!'" Germany said a bit clearer. Gilbert paused.
"Are you okay… West?" He finally said. Germany nodded. But it was all lies. It wasn't alright. This didn't sound like his brother at all, even if he called him 'West' like he always did. It was forced. It wasn't real. Prussia, as Germany knew him, was gone. Germany wanted to hope that is memory would return. That somehow he could make it return. But he had to heal first. He couldn't force him… Gilbert had to heal before Germany could re-teach him…