Prussia retched over the toilet in a jagged motion, pulling himself back from emptying the contents of his stomach twice. He trembled as he set his head onto his folded arms on the toilet bowls edge, not even wanting to look at the vomit he had expelled from when we first got home. He shakily reached over and pulled down the handle, flushing away the half digested breakfast from earlier that day and to give a clean slate to the porcelain bowl.

He pulled his head back, giving deep breaths upwards as he knew the worst of it was over. He flinched though as he felt something plop onto his shoulder, not taking much to look to see it was the damp rag he had put on Germany's head not too long ago. He furrowed his eyes, seeing through the bathroom door that Germany was looking at him concerned, though once being noticed he looked back to the ceiling. Did he throw it at him? For being weak in bed, he sure had an arm on him.

The albino pushed himself up and gently patted the rag on his own forehead and his cheeks, wiping away the small amount of tears that had been shed from the violent act of his body. He quietly sighed and went over to Germany, frowning a little before lightly dabbing the rag in the bowl of warm water nearby and setting it back on his brother's head.

"You need it more than I do, West."

From the moment that Prussia found Germany's dissected body in Romano's home, he had been holding back his sickness of the horrid grotesque sight. When he had gotten back to the house, he had found an odd small black silk bag that had a pouch with a liquid with a needle attached with a note to use it on him. He honestly wasn't sure what was happening but he was in too much of a rush to think about it and gave it to him. Though at least he had the decency to wait until after they gotten home and bandaged Germany's torso before finally giving in to vomiting.

He pulled up a chair next to the bed, taking a seat and tapping his fingers together. He was actually surprised that he had woken up after the bandaging process, but it was for the best, perhaps it was because of the drug? But since he was awake now, what exactly could he say?

"… What happened?" Yea that was a good place to start.

Germany frowned, his eyelids drooping in an almost painful manner as he continued to stare upwards,

"Romano drugged me by surprise on my way home from Japans. I woke up in his basement and he just…" he paused, sighing as he finally turned his head to look at Prussia, "well, you can see what he did. He did it to me this morning, but I was able to escape."

"How?"

Germany opened his mouth, though soon shutting it. How could he even explain what actually happened? That Italy's ghost freaked the hell out of Romano so he could distract him enough to free him? As if. That was a one way to the Looney bin.

"I… don't remember. Everything's kind of a blur."

Prussia's brows furrowed a little before he just sighed, leaning back in his seat. Not like there was anything he could do with that kind of information.

"Why did he do it? Was it because of the island?"

"Yes. He wanted revenge for what I did to Italy by…" he faltered, looking back up to the ceiling, but really looking at Italy in his peripheral vision who sat on the other side of the bed as him, still smiling with support, "by doing exactly to me what I did to him."

Prussia sharply inhaled through his teeth in a small cringe at that, not even being able to imagine what that was like. He reached over and gently adjusted the cloth on the German's head for a moment before leaning back. He sighed through his nose once again, though this time a bit more forceful out of anger.

"God fucking dammit. I was at his house with the police yesterday, too. We were looking for you and he said he had no—" He paused, his eyes suddenly widening in a realization. He sat up some more, zoning out for a moment as he suddenly recalled back then. "That red all over him. That wasn't just tomatoes was it?"

"Mm."Germany nodded very slightly in affirmation before closing his eyes. "Where was Romano when you found me?"

"Tch, no idea. You were only one in the house when I got there, door was wide open. Little bastard probably ran off when you got out." Prussia lowly growled under his breath before he stood up, raising his hands up to gently rub his temples. "God dammit. God fucking dammit. I was right there. Right there. And I... I couldn't…"

"Bruder."

Prussia looked up a bit at being called to, his features softening a little as his gaze met with Germany's.

"Little brother… I'm so sorry. Ever since you came back I've let you down time and time again. The harassment, the beatings, the attempted suicide, your hallucinations and... and now this, I…" His lower lip quivered, softly biting it in trying to stop himself. He shouldn't cry, he had to be strong for his baby brother. One of them had to be. "I've let you down so much. I wish there was something I could do for you more than just, then just be an unsuccessful guardian. You've been through so much for me and… and this is how I repay you."

With a small shaky breath, Prussia stepped forward and kneeled down next to the bed, gently taking one of Germany's hands into both of his own. He blinked a few times, trying to push back the obvious glimmerings in his eye to try to keep the façade that he was still going to be okay.

"Germany. I'm so so sorry. I want to help you, I do. I just… I keep messing up and that's not fair to you. Is there anything I can do? Anything at all? I want to help."

Germany's brows bent upwards at the sincere display of affection in front of him, grunting lightly as he moved his hand over to rest on top of Prussia's hands.

"Prussia, you all ready do so much for me. If anything, I should apologize for being such a burden to you. I don't mean it if I snap at you or if I end up taking things out on others. It's just… hard." He took a side glance, pausing for a moment to think about what to say next. He wasn't exactly used to these heart-felt moments. "I am getting better though. Even though it doesn't seem like it, I am. And I am very, very grateful I have you to look after me. I probably would have actually died if it wasn't for your support, whether it be from my own or someone else's hands."

"Germany…" Prussia trailed off, not helping a tear to trail down his cheeks at such a tender show of emotion. This was so unlike him but, he knew he meant every word. Without much other words to be able to say, he leaned forward and gently set his forehead against the top of Germany's hand.

The both of them remained in silence for a good while, once in a while Germany noticing Prussia's shoulders shake accompanied by a sharp intake of breath. But after some time, Germany's ears perked as he heard very softly,

"…Es tut mir leid, bruder… I-ich liebe dich… es tut mir leid…"

Germany softly smiled down at him, unable to help feel warmth building up in his eyes. Very gently, he pulled his hand away from under Prussia and leaned a little forward; pausing as in his current state he couldn't push himself very far. It wasn't long though until he felt a gentle cold pressure on his back moving him forward, giving him enough momentum to fully reach over and put his arm around Prussia's head to give him a one arm hugged, resting his head very lightly on top of his.

"Ich liebe dich auch, bruder."

More silence accompanied the two brothers, other than a soft sniffle or withheld small sob, for a while before slowly Prussia pulled away. Without much of a word, he gently moved Germany so he was lying on his back again with his rag back on his forehead. He wiped his face for a good few moments before just trying to smile again.

"I'll make us some dinner, been wanting to make pork chops for a while. I know how much you like those." He said with a grin before turning on his heel to head out of his room to give him some peace and quiet.

Germany closed his eyes after Prussia left, being able to just finally relax in his own thoughts for a while. Well except for the fact Italy was still there next to him, but he figured he would understand just needing some quiet time in his condition.

"…Euh? Berlitz? Where did—Augh! Berlitz no, come back you stupid dog! Waaait!"

Slam!

Germany jumped as he heard the slamming of the front door, blinking a few times before looking up to Italy curiously.

"I think Berlitz ran out outside… not sure how though?" Italy said, looking up to Germany's closed bedroom door in a bit of confusion himself. Silently he got up onto his feet and rounded around the bed, "I'll see what happened. Just stay here and rest."

Germany smiled and nodded, letting Italy phase through the door to go see what happened. He closed his eyes once again and leaned into the pillow under him and rested in his lonesome silence.

Creeeeak…

Germany's ears lightly perked at hearing his bedroom door open. Was Prussia back all ready? That was quick. He decided to remain still, though at hearing something sit in the chair beside him, he frowned. There was no possible way Prussia would be back all ready.

Hesitantly, he opened his eyes and looked over, freezing up instantly.

"Mm. Good. You're up. I wanted to talk to you about something, potato bastard."

The German dryly gulped, knowing at this point he was entirely helpless to the suddenly appearing Italian. Both Prussia and Italy was gone, was it because of a distraction he made?

"How… did you get in here?"

"Tch, you think my brother's the only one who knows how to get into your house undetected?"

He tensed up at this, knowing fully well how Italy used to be able to- still is able to sneak into his house, though mostly his bed. Romano was capable of that too? It'd make sense how he knew where to find him though. Course that information just made the situation worse. He glanced over to the door, knowing Romano blocked the way over there. He honestly didn't want to ask if he was going to kidnap him again, not wanting to accidentally plant ideas into his head.

"Veneziano."

He perked at this, blinking a bit of almost confusion. That was what he called Italy, right? Right before they left him in the basement he said that too. Subconsciously, he pulled up his blanket a bit more over him, warily watching as Romano just stared at his own knees in thought. Nothing was said for a while before he finally looked Germany in the eye,

"What happened in the basement wasn't a coincidence, was it? That was Veneziano, wasn't it?"

"….."

"And don't fucking lie to me either. I let that dog of yours outside and he was fucking speedy, it'll take your brother forever to catch up. I can easily get to the kitchen and finished what I started if you start to get smart with me."

At this rate, Germany was looking around for any possible means of escape possible. The windows were locked, Romano was in the way, and he was still too weak to fight him off at this point. He had no choice but to comply. With a soft sigh, Germany gave a slight nod.

"Yes. Italy was the one who rescued me from you. His spirit follows me around now a days to try to help me find his body. He doesn't know where it is though, but it helps."

Romano clicked his tongue, simultaneously raising an eyebrow and crossing his legs and arms at the outlandish claim. He looked upwards vaguely in thought for a moment before back down to the German, reaching out with his foot and nudging the man's shoulder with it.

"And? Is he here?"

"Well-"

"AI-YE-YE-YE-YE!"

Germany looked up just in time to see Romano bashed into by his ghostly brother, the living Italian pushed out of the chair, which fell over anyway with the momentum of the tackle. His jaw dropped at the sudden rash action, propping himself onto his elbows to look over the bed to see Italy having Romano's arms held behind his back.

"What the fuck is happening?!

"I won't let you hurt Germany, fratello! Germany, quick, get out! Call Prussia!"

"Italy, wait-"

"Veneziano!? I-Is that you?! Veneziano! Veneziano it's me, Romano! Can you hear me!?"

Italy leaned up a bit at this, looking down at Romano for a moment in confusion before back up at Germany.

"Can… he see me?"

Germany pursed his lips in thought for a moment before shaking his head,

"No, but he knows you're here."

"What's he saying?!"

"Italy isn't exactly happy with you being here. He doesn't want you to hurt me again." Germany rolled his eyes for a moment before lying on the side of the bed to still be able to look at them. "He won't let you go unless you're harmless. He'll probably go get Prussia if you try anything."

"Tch!" Romano looked away for a moment to contemplate the situation before he just sighed, "I mean no god damn harm. Now get the hell off of me!"

Italy frowned a bit at being addressed so rudely but soon slipped off of him, letting Romano set the chair back up and sit in it. He looked between the two for a moment before standing near Germany, knowing he had to be prepared unless Romano changed his word.

"Veneziano," Romano said, looking around the vague space around him in hopes he could be able to actually talk to his brother, in a way. "Why the hell did you stop me from killing this guy? After what he did to you, this guy shouldn't still be breathing after the fucking hell he put you through! He is a sack of shit and you wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for—"

Smack!

Romano blinked as suddenly his head was whipped to the side, gingerly touching his reddening cheek as it began to sting. "Did you just fucking hit me—"

Smack Smack!

"Fucking stop it! God damn, I get it, I get it. Fucking god damn, that smarts." Romano rubbed his cheeks, both becoming very red and sore at this point. Italy sighed as he looked at his brother, gently rubbing his hands together as he looked down at Germany.

"I'm really sorry about him. He's… just kinda-"

"It's fine, I understand. He has a reason to be mad at me." Germany said, waving his hand slightly in a motion that he didn't need to explain further.

Romano grumbled under his breath for a moment before looking at mostly Germany.

"So, you said he doesn't know where his body is?"

"Mm. If we could be near it, maybe he can sense where it could be but we're not sure."

"And you said it was in the ocean?"

"Right."

Romano rubbed his chin a bit, puffing out his cheeks in thought before he pushed on his knees to stand up. "I own a boat, Veneziano knows where it is. When you finally get your god damn act together and start searching for him, you're free to use it. Just call me before you do and I'll hand over the key."

Germany blinked, actually caught off guard by the offer.

"... Why?"

"I want to find my brother just as much as you. You obviously have more advantage with Veneziano with you. Not to mention I need to lay low from the cops for a while, they have a warrant for my arrest." With that, Romano turned on his heel to start heading out of the room. "I'll be at Spain's house, if you want the boat key, call his place."

"All right, thank you," Germany noted, still glancing between the two Italian brothers as he wasn't actually sure if he should actually feel comfortable with such a deal. But it was a big help for whenever they would start the search. He leaned back onto his spot of the middle of the bed, figuring he was going to just leave. He smiled very lightly in gratitude as he felt Italy pull up his covers a little bit.

"Veneziano."

Italy perked up a bit at being called to, turning around to see Romano looking practically right at him from the doorframe. He frowned, seeing that since looking at him last, Romano's eyes had gotten a lot shimmerier than before.

"… I'm sorry about everything. Truly, I am. Just… please. Come home soon."

And with that, he was gone, sneaking his way out of the house as Italy once did several months ago. Italy sighed, nodding lightly before sitting in the chair Romano was previously in.

"Germany… I don't want to stress you out but… while we're on the subject of coming together to find my body… there's something I need to tell you about Japan…"