Prussia clutched the head of his cane as he stared up to the elevator indicator, tapping his foot very lightly in impatience before straightening up as he finally reached the floor he wanted. He stepped out, his cane following his walking pattern to keep him stable as he made his way down the hospital halls. The one he needed had to be around here, he knew it.

It had been about a month since he had last seen his brother, and it had been about a week or so ago he had recovered enough from the car accident to actually start walking around, albeit still needing the assistance of a cane to walk around properly. Even so it did hurt quite a bit to walk around; he knew he had to come here as soon as he could when he got the phone call about Japan finally waking from his coma.

He faltered in his step, pressing his cane hard on the ground to keep him from going forward, seeing a window into one of the hospital rooms, and a familiar small man with a long ponytail. Though his biggest concern was the man in the hospital bed he was talking to. Bingo. He put up a big grin as he raised his cane knock against the door to the room a couple times before coming inside.

"Eeey, there's sleeping beauty! How's our favorite little patient?"

China frowned at the loud entrance of the albino, while Japan raised his head a little with a very small smile on his face. He lightly propped himself up with his elbows, wanting to get a better look at the other.

"Fine… tired…"

"You? Tired?" Pssssh, nah, can't be!" Prussia chuckled as he went over and grabbed a nearby chair to pull up next to where China was sitting, this making the Chinese man scooch away a bit in just not wanting to be near him. "I don't think you'd be needin some shut eye for a good week or so now! Kesesese!"

"What do you want, Prussia?"

Prussia's smile faltered as he looked over to China, seeing that he was being glared at by the smaller nation. He pressed his cane to stand between his legs, folding his hands to rest on the top over it before setting his chin on top of it. He cracked a grin to Japan though, watching the groggy nation just lay back down in his bed, matching gazes with him.

"I just want to have a little chat with Japan here."

"Can it wait? He hasn't been awake for more than a day, whatever you might need can wait. He needs rest."

"Germany's gone missing. I just want to know where he is."

Japan blinked at this, furrowing his brows worriedly before lightly pushing to try to sit up. Though he didn't get far before China got up out of his chair to gently make Japan settle back down on the bed.

"Oh no you don't, you need to just lie down and be calm." China insisted, backing up once his little brother decided to just lay there. Though he was only back one or two steps before Japan tried once again to sit up, making China just sigh and try again. "Japan, stop it."

"What happened to them? Where'd they go?"

"They?" Prussia blinked at this, leaning forward to perhaps hear more, but he leaned back immediately as China waved a hand towards him in a motion to 'shoo', which mostly meant for him to be quiet.

"You don't need to worry about that, you just need to rela—"

"Oi oi," Prussia half smiled as he reached over with his cane to tap China's shoulder, though the half of the smile fell as the man whipped around and smacked the cane right off of him, giving enough force to make it slip from Prussia's hands and hit the floor. "… Well that was rude."

"What's rude is hitting me with a decorated stick! Did you bring that just to mess with us or something?" China half shouted, though he faltered and made his voice quieter, remembering where he was. "For all I know you could be like that brute that made Japan like this in the first place and put him in another coma with that thing."

Prussia glanced down to his discarded cane for a moment before he quietly sighed. He clenched and unclenched his hands as he thought about just being a man and going over to pick it up. On the other hand…

"The last time I saw Germany, Romano hit me with a car, drove it down the street and smashed me into a building so he could get away. I've just now been able to actually walk again." Prussia finally outright stated, seeing both of the Asian's face go blank at the abrupt story. "So if you wouldn't mind, I'd rather not make an unawesome fool of myself and hurt myself to go get it." He cracked another grin as he just looked over to it as he set his hands on his knees, "I can wait."

The room was filled with a quite an awkward air for a bit, China not really moving from his spot at looking at the Prussian, caught in a moment of 'is he lying or telling the truth'. However, within a minute of stagnant movement, he jumped seeing the cane handed back to Prussia.

"Eeh? Japan! You shouldn't be out of bed at—"

"China, may I please have a moment alone with Prussia?"

"Aru?" China blinked in surprise at the request, opening his mouth to tell him no before just shutting it and sighing very loudly. "Ai-yah, fine! I'm going to go out for a walk. I'll be back in a half hour. We have to head to rehabilitation clinic to check you in before we miss our time." With a few more grumbled Chinese mutterings, China made his way out of the hospital room to leave to two of them be, slightly slamming the door behind him.

Prussia gripped the top of his cane as he set it back down to stand on the ground with his hands over it again. He waited until Japan went back into his bed and got comfortable before he sat up a bit more in his own chair.

"Japan," He started, taking a slow deep breath as he knew this had to go right, he only had a limited amount of time to talk about this before the other came back to probably kick him out. But what could he address first? "… When I said Germany went missing, why did you say they?"

Japan shifted in his position at the question, lightly pulling back his long bangs behind his ears before looking up to the ceiling above him, giving a few deep breathes as he tried to calculate what he could say before speaking.

"Germany… was not alone. I did not realize this until right before I went to sleep."

"You mean Romano?" Prussia asked, frowning at even the mention of the despicable nation. Why Romano and Germany had seemed to be working together was a reason he couldn't even fathom. If the bastard vivisected his brother, what in god's name could they even achieve with somehow banding together for something so crazy?

"Iie, not him."

"What?" The albino sat up straight, raising an eyebrow at the weird conclusion that brought with it. "Then, what do you mean Germany wasn't alone? I mean, yea he had me of course! But I'm right here, not missing." He flopped back against his chair, raising his cane up to gently tap against the blankets covering over Japan's torso. "You sure you're thinking clearly?"

"For the first time in months," Japan noted, chuckling very lightly at feeling the other poke at him a little. Though that smile faded as he finally looked back to the Prussian, waiting until both their gazes met once again before he decided to speak again,

"You may think I am an old drugged up fool, but I have seen and done a lot of things that could lead men into insane asylums. I have been foolish for so long, so desperate to atone for my sins and make peace with Italy's spirit that I became selfish in my own desires." He paused for a moment, shifting so he could lie on his side to face Prussia a lot more forward. "Germany, at first, was the same as I was. He was so consumed in regret; nothing he could do could make anything right for him again. It was as if with Italy out of the picture, we could no longer be whole again."

Prussia lowered his head a little at the story, though dared not break the solid eye contact with the Asian. He couldn't understand in the least what the two had gone through, but he knew of what he was talking about, how in the beginning Germany was an absolute wreck. He was just distant and seemingly inconsolable about it all, and over time just going over the edge and almost destroying everything he knew.

"But Germany had something I didn't."

The albino nation's ears perked at this, tilting his head slightly as if asking for an elaboration.

"He had forgiveness. That is something I was not able to obtain, something I still am waiting for."

"Forgiveness?" Prussia asked, leaning on his cane while he leaned forward to the Japanese nation. "Forgiveness from whom?"

"From Italy."

"Huh?"

Japan softly smiled, his gaze finally shifting away from the others so he could lie back on his back.

"I noticed while I kept in isolation, he began to approach me again, but not in any malice any longer, but he wished to ask for my forgiveness as well. At the time, I thought nothing of it, the drugs kept me content and, what I thought to be freedom from my own regret. I was as if a butterfly; free to roam in peace in the sun and amongst the flowers." Japan closed his eyes, slowly bringing a stained arm over to gently rub the forearm of his other, being careful not to touch the IV inserted in him. "I was wrong though, I was nothing more than a moth driven to the flame. I mistook it for the sun and never thought it could hurt me, but that it could only keep me warm. But then I got too close… and my wings burned away."

"That's… interesting," Prussia finally managed to comment, side glancing around as he wasn't actually sure what to say to that sort of poetic metaphoric talk of his. "But what does it have to do with Italy?"

"Italy was the one who kept Germany from going down the same path that I had." Japan said, turning his head once more to look at the other nation. "Do you believe in spirits, Prussia-san?"

"Er liike… ghosts?"

"In a way, just, those we love coming back from above or below, or maybe in-between to be with us." Japan explained, nodding once or twice and waiting for Prussia to nod back in understanding before continuing, "Italy was one of them. For whatever reason, he chose to follow Germany since his arrival. But at times when I was to die myself, I could see him too."

"Now, hold on a second," Prussia tapped his cane a few times on the ground, the sound interrupting Japan's speech and making him look up in un divided attentions. "You're not making any sense! Italy's washed out to sea; there is no way he could come back to the dead to haunt West! Tch, you're actually starting to sound a lot like him too."

"Oh? How so?"

"Well like," Prussia huffed as he looked down to the detailed carving on the head of his cane, his thumb gently rubbing against the eagle's head. "Tch, for the longest time he would talk to no one, and sometimes accidently refer to something as Italy, or even acted like he was right there doing something. Most of the time West just sounding like he was… fed up with him…" He began to trail off as something seemed to start to dawn on him. He wasn't exactly sure how yet but… something was adding up…

Things happened both around the house and also to him that he couldn't explain like blankets moving onto things or food moving around without being seen…

Sometimes hearing things…

Germany talking to an apparent Italy a lot…

But ever since talking to it, having become better and almost back to normal ever since then...

Almost as if Italy had never left in the first place…

"… Oh mein Gott." Prussia finally muttered, slowly looking back up to the ever staring Japan at him. "Italy's… back. And he's been… With West and…"

Japan didn't even flinch at the clatter of the cane in front of him, pushing himself up into a sitting position as Prussia seemed to collapse into his own hands. Very quietly, he slipped out of his bed, gently taking a hold of the stand that held his IV drip and went over to the Prussian, using his free hand to set a hand on his shoulder. He didn't say a word, but gently squeezed it as a comforting motion.

"This is all my fault! I- I tried to send West to a mental institution! I almost shot him! But he was telling the truth the entire time!" Prussia's voice cracked as he screamed into his hands, able to feel his shoulders shaking in Japan's warm soft grip. "I drove him away... H-He could be dead! He could have killed someone! All because… A-all because of…."

"Because you were trying to be a good brother."

Prussia faltered at hearing this, sniffing and looking up to the shorter man with eyes that were redder than usual from the sudden emotional upset. "W… what?"

"You couldn't have known what was happening around Germany. Italy's spirit was unknown to all but Germany; I was only able to see him when I was to die, with or without the use of the drugs." Japan smiled softly before maneuvering himself to drop down to one knee, being at a closer height to his eye level, though still shorter than his. "I am sure wherever he is; he and Italy are trying to find a way to save Italy's body still. They will come home."

"J-Japan..." Prussia choked out his name quietly, before reaching forward and pulling the man into a hug, maneuvering his head into the crook over the others neck. He stifled a sob or so, not wanting to just fully outright cry, but he wasn't even sure what to feel. Should he feel despaired because he basically drove his brother away? Or should he feel happy that Germany had all along been feeling better and was now out on his own to complete his journey?

"Ai-yah, what the hell did I just walk back into?"

Japan looked up as he noticed China closing the door behind him. On instinct, he hugged the Prussian, being careful of his IV, to make a show that he wanted the man there.

"An epiphany of sorts. Did you have a nice walk?"

"I guess," China muttered, still having a confused brow raised at the odd situation he was suddenly thrown into. He took a step back as soon Prussia pulled away, rubbing his face and reaching for his cane so he could wobble back to standing up on his own feet, Japan following his lead. "Are you two done? I need to get Japan checked out and over to the rehab clinic before we miss our appointment."

"Y-Yea, I think so." Prussia said, sniffling once or twice accompanied by a clearing throat. "I got what I needed."

"Hai," Japan agreed with a nod before heading back into bed and slipping under the covers. "You can go tell the nurse to come and undo this. I'm ready to go when you are." With a nod from the other, China slipped back out to do just that, leaving the two alone once more. Prussia shuffled in his spot a little awkwardly before turning to Japan.

"Well, I should get going. I gotta stop by and get some dinner for Gilbird and me on my way home. Thank you for everything."

"Ah, all right then. You're welcome and have a safe journey home."

Prussia nodded once, flashing a smile down to him before heading out towards the door, gripping a hand on the door knob to get ready to leave.

"Ah chotto, Prussia-san."

"Hm?" He turned around, blinking as he saw Japan sitting up again, smiling at him in an almost content and relieved smile.

"You might want to get a prescription of morphine on your way home too. In small doses, I hear it does wonders for nation regeneration." Japan tilted his head with a small chuckle, in a way seeming pleased that his past mistakes could help someone else. Prussia grinned at the information, giving one more nod before heading out of the door, right when leaving having the nurse and China come back to Japan's side.

Japan offered his arm up to the nurse as she came by his bedside, his warm smile staying in place the entire time as they took the needle out and bandaged his arm. He swore he could feel his cheeks tingling from doing it so much. It really has been so long since he smiled this much naturally.

"Heh, you look like quite a happy camper for someone about to go to rehab," China mused, gently taking his brothers arm to help him up out of the bed and to go grab his things. "It's probably going to be long and not very easy, you ready for that?"

"Hai, I'm quite excited, actually."

"Oh yea?"

Japan nodded, slipping on a casual robe China handed to him. He reached for his gloves for a moment before pausing, he thought for a moment before just putting the gloves in his bags. He was not ashamed of his hands any longer. They were scarred with sin but he knew it would all change soon enough.

"After all, this will be my second chance in finding hope in life again. I know I will succeed this time. We all will."