The two flinched at the sudden loud noise, only Japan bothering to look over his shoulder to see what it was.
Just like several times before, America stood atop the large cliff near their base camp, looking over the both of them as he was ready to set out an attack. Japan slowly pulled himself away from Germany and pushed himself to his feet, drawing out his blood stained sword without a word. Speak of the devil.
"At last, the hero is here!" America proclaimed proudly, setting his hands on his hips in triumph of just being there before he threw out a hand. "China! I choose you!"
And also just like the many times prior, China rushed out from behind the foliage and sprung from the cliff to attack the Axis. Though once he touched down and swung his wok back to attack, he stopped. This… looked much different from the other times they had attacked. The main thing that caught his attention was Japan's sword. It was bloody and put in a position of defense, not attack like usual.
"…Japan?" He hesitantly asked, glancing to the side to even see the usually manly Germany quivering in a pathetic heap next to his little brother.
"Leave us. You will run away as always. Save yourself the trouble." Japan said to him, almost as a threat as he side stepped in front of Germany, knowing that the other was looking at him.
China looked between the two, raising his wok up to attack again but for whatever reason, it just didn't feel right. "…Where is that Italy boy?"
"Italien ist tot." Germany finally said aloud, keeping back yet another gut wrenching sob.
The older nation raised an eyebrow, not really sure what those words really meant, so he looked up to Japan for answers. Japan gave a glance downwards before back to his brother, knowing that since Germany tried to tell him, he might as well say it. "Italy is dead. Leave."
"…Dead?" He blinked, not really sure if this was a trap or not. It must be, there was no way a nation could die. Well, a nation that wasn't on the brink of collapse like the Roman Empire. Though as he mentioned it, he faintly smelled something rotting. No, no, it couldn't be that. Maybe it was an animal or something.
"China! What the heck are you doing down there?! The plan was to attack!"
Japan's attention moved up to America at the exclaim, seeing some of the Allies come out of their hiding spots from the jungle to stand on top of the cliff as well. He gripped the hilt of his sword tighter, spreading his feet at a defensive fighting stance. They were clearly outnumbered and Germany was not in the best mental condition to fight. It was up to him.
China watched him carefully, seeing the serious determined look in his eye as he looked to the enemies a few meters away from them. If they attacked him now, there was a good chance he would stab for a vital area; this was completely different than usual. Best try to defuse this situation before anyone got hurt. Well, before anyone important got hurt. He pivoted on his heel, looking back up to them.
"Everyone, stop! Don't attack them!"
America blinked at this, pursing his lips in an annoyed fashion down at the smaller Asian. "Are you defecting on us?!"
"No, I'm trying to save you! Japan is acting different, I don't think now is the best time!" China called out to the cliff, looking over his shoulder to the stoic island nation. He had seen him only in this atmosphere once before, when he had rebelled and left his house. One attempt to attack and he would slice his opponent down, no matter who it was. He still had the scar on his back to prove it.
"Mm, what do you think, comrades?" Russia said, smiling as he looked to the other blonde nations near him. This was strange situation to say the least. Having things randomly appear to spare the three was one thing, but their own person to do so? France tapped his stubble chin curiously, looking over the situation carefully.
"Mm... where is Italy?" he asked, noticing one of the three were missing.
"It's probably a trap!" America exclaimed with fervor, almost excited at the possibility there was a surprise attack involved with this. It would make things interesting.
"But to send Italy to do it? That would be stupid." England scoffed at even the idea of it. But it was a little unnerving this time with just the two, especially since it didn't look like the other had just run away to hide. Even when they did attack, Italy always kept by his allies in want of protection, not leave them behind. America looked to his group, sighing in almost frustration of the show not getting on the road like he had so brilliantly planned.
"Yo!" he called out down there once more, not seeming too unnerved at getting Japan's serious gaze set on him. "Where's that Italy dude?"
"He—"
"Italy is dead."
Japan jumped lightly as Germany suddenly stood up behind him, surprising even him. Germany stepped forward so he was standing next to his ally, not even caring at this point that he was looking the enemies straight in the face with red eyes and cheeks damp with tears like some weak child.
"He is dead! We killed him!" He lashed out to his side and took Japans sword by the blade, careful of the sharp edge being away from his hand. "With this sword! This is his blood!" At that, he dropped the blade, it falling with a silent thud against the sand below them as he grabbed Japans wrist's and thrusted them up so everyone could see. "Both of our hands are stained with his blood! They will not wash away until he comes back to life! And he can't! He's dead! DEAD."
"…Germany-san." Japan almost cooed to the larger nation, the other still quivering and now just reduced to silence. Carefully, he slipped his hands out of his grip and set a hand on his back, gently rubbing it in an attempt to comfort him.
Meanwhile, the four on the cliff looked to each other in almost confusion. They had never seen the German have an outburst like that before. Sure they've seen him scream and yell out of anger, but never in tears. And that the two of them had killed Italy? What for?
"..Why did you kill him?" France suddenly asked, wringing his gloved hands together in fear they were actually telling the truth and not just delusional on sea water. Japan looked over Germany for a moment, knowing he was once again not in the right mind to speak to them anymore. With a soft sigh, he turned his attention back up to everyone else, projecting his voice so all could hear.
"We did it because of you. We knew you would be back to attack us. We had no more food; we had no more strength left. We did not want to be weak or die of starvation and be vulnerable to you. So we… we drowned Italy. We sliced him up and ate his organs." All flinched at the monotone telling of the grizzly story, still unsure to even believe it or not. But how the two were acting it was starting to become more believable.
"Why on Earth would you choose Italy?" England asked, almost curious of the small details of all of this.
"He was the weakest. He did the most little work and he fought the least." Japan explained, knowing just the day before he said the exact same thing to Germany to get him on board with the plan.
"I don't believe you!" France suddenly exclaimed, now tugging at his previously unwrinkled uniform. There was no way Italy's only friends would turn on him like that. "If he is dead, show us proof!"
"You want proof!?" Germany practically screeched, yanking himself away from Japan's side back to the fire pit. Japan opened his mouth to stop him, but he knew they had nothing left to lose anymore. "Here is your gottverdamm proof!" The blonde exclaimed before shoving upwards one of the sticks they had used for last night, a half eaten liver still attached firmly on it.
At seeing this, the group stepped back in shock, especially China since he was right there to see and smell it. He covered his nose with his long sleeve, able to detect the scent of rotting body coming from it. It was almost too much to even bear, but it did explain the stench from earlier.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys?!" America exclaimed, looking away to not look at the piece of Italy's innards. "God damn!"
Russia leaned forward, trying to get a good view of it from where he was standing. "Well, what do you know, there looks like there is some bite marks in it. They are telling the truth."
"M…M-Mon Dieu.." France stammered, paling at even the thought such a horrific thing being done to his own little brother. England however only watched silently, not taken back too much by the organ as he still studied the situation around them.
"Where is he now, then? He is a nation; he cannot just simply die for good."
"The tide washed his corpse away last night. He is lost at sea at the moment." Japan replied stoicly, setting a hand back on Germany's back as the other just stared intently at the organ on a stick in his trembling hands. "He cannot come back to life until we find him."
England nodded in understanding, everyone looking to each other at this new information. This could certainly be an advantage over them, they were weak and distraught. But at the same time…
Without warning, France leapt off from his spot on the cliff and ran over to the two Axis, a look of panic being obvious on his face. "You have to find him! Y-You just have to!"
"We can't do anything about it, remember?" Japan said, almost coldly to him before looking back to the German, who at this point wasn't even paying attention to anyone else. "We are stuck here, no rations, no rescue, no anything." France moved his hands back and forth as if trying to say something, but still didn't seem to know what he would say to them. He turned back to look at everyone up at the cliff.
"Please! Let's just give up this time and take them back home! We need to find him!"
"Settle down, frog. We are not helping the enemy. He may be your brother but that does not mean-"
"Let's do it."
Both England and America whipped around to Russia, eyes widened at such a command from the larger one. "What?!" Russia looked up to the two of them, lips pursed innocently as he just put his hands together.
"Let's take them home. It is not like they can do anything in this condition. They are weak, distraught, and obviously driven to the point of cannibalism. Once this is all over, I'm sure helping them like this could benefit us. Nothing better than blackmail or a guilt trip to help us win the battle, if not the war."
England furrowed his thick brows at this, but once he looked back at the two, he sighed. He didn't want to, but the plan made sense. "Fine. Come on, let's head to the docks." He stated, turning back and going back into the jungle, Russia following after him. Course once America stamped his foot a few times in a small tantrum of his awesome plan not working, but eventually he followed too.
China and France soon headed to the slope that went up the cliff, pausing to make sure the other two followed. Japan and Germany stayed still for a while, seeming to try to comprehend they were actually going home. While Japan went around and picked up both of their things scattered around, Germany just stared at the ocean silently before slowly following Japan as they let the Allies lead the way to their rescue.
I will find you… I will make all of this up to you… I'm sorry…