---Chapter XIV: Goodbye (Part 3)---

Italy and Germany, who were still stuck in the second time loop, searched around the mansion for the missing journal. When they were down in the second floor, they walked to the bottom left hall and went inside a room that had bookshelves they could browse through, but to no avail. The journal was still nowhere to be found.

"The journal is not here..." Italy sighed. They decided to exit the room and look somewhere else, just then, they heard voices on the other side of the hall.

Italy gasped. "Oh, no! They're right over there! Hide, Germany!" he said, pulling Germany to a hall farther from where the past countries were.

"...Is there some kind of trouble? They're making quite a ruckus." Germany wondered.




-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-

Some of the nations of the second time loop were gathered in the right hall nearby the stairs.

"Italy is...dead?" Past Russia asked in a low voice.

Past America looked away. "...You'd better not look. England is preparing the room now, but...It looks really bad..."

Just then, Past England exits the bottom room in front of the fireplace room. "England!" Past Japan exclaimed in surprise.

"I've taken care of the room. And his wounds, too, sort of. France has been holding up pretty well, but...Germany is still very disoriented..." Past England told them, rubbing his arm nervously.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Italy creased his forehead upon hearing the past nation's conversation. "I'm...dead?"

"Well, you told me this was the second time loop, but maybe you were mistaken?" Germany suggested.

Italy shook his head and frowned. "No way! I'm sure this is the second time loop!"

"Quiet! They'll hear you." Germany hushed him.

Italy covered his mouth on reflex. After a moment, he spoke, "Sorry...Now that I think about it, Japan and America did say that I'd died in the second time loop. Maybe...That's it? But wait...Then, the one I know is..."

-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Past England held up a book in his hands and turned it to the first page. "Italy Veneziano...The name of the journal's owner...no, that can't be it. This looks more like a...a contract sign." he recited, growing confused at what he read. He decided to turn to the next page. "Let's see what's written inside...What the hell!? R-Ruse to go back in time?" he exclaimed.

-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Ah. They're talking about your journal." Germany confirmed.

Italy nodded, but then looked up in thought. "Yeah. If I died, that means there's no one to go back in time, right? I wonder what that means..."

-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"West, wait!! Listen to me!!" Past Prussia yelled.

Slamming the door open, Past Germany exited the room in front of the fireplace room. Past Japan approached his comrade. "G-Germany..."

"Japan...Do you know...where Italy is?" Past Germany asked, making Past Japan step aback, shocked by what was asked.

Past Germany looked completely disoriented. He grabbed Past Japan's sleeve and spoke, "My brother told me Italy is gone...You...know it isn't true, right?"

"Um...he...he's..." Past Japan looked away, not knowing how to answer.

Suddenly, Past Prussia also exited the room and walked towards the other past countries.

Past Russia sighed and turned to the stairs."...Let's go to another room. We have other things to do. We have to find out the meaning of that journal--" 

"Why? We still have to look for Italy. Are you saying that he doesn't matter?" Past Germany asked angrily.

Past Russia faced him and spoke, "No...That's not what I meant...I know you don't want to accept it, but if you don't accept that he's dead, how much time do you think we're going to waste-"

"Don't you dare say the same thing as my brother!!" Past Germany shouted, full of rage.

Sensing the situation was getting out of hand, Past Canada tried to speak up, "R-Russia-"

"It's okay, I can handle this better." Past Russia said. Turning to Past Germany, he spoke in a low voice. "He's dead. If you have nothing better to do than stand there, then you should try finding a way to get out of here as quickly as possible. He's not coming back!"

"You son of a bitch!!" Past Germany snapped, about to charge after Past Russia.

Past Prussia went in front of Past Germany and scolded him. "That's enough, West!!" he said, slapping his younger brother's cheek.

"Are you numb?! You're misjudging an accurate decision!" Past Prussia told him.

Past China looked away and spoke in a soft voice. "You're not the only one who's grieving."

Upon hearing their words, Past Germany fell silent.

"Let's go. We'd better go to another room to investigate about the journal." Past Prussia told them.

Past Japan faced Past Germany and spoke, "...We will be...waiting for you."

The past nations went up the stairs. Past Japan remained for a moment and repeated what he told Past Germany,  "...We will be...waiting for you.", then he continued to walk up the stairs to follow the others.

-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-




"You're falling apart, Germany...I think that was the first time I saw Prussia get so mad at you." Italy pointed out.

Germany covered his face. "...Ugh, shut up. I'm so pathetic...I wish a hole would open and swallow me up."

"Pff! You, Germany?!" Italy chuckled a bit.

All of a sudden, they heard another voice from down the hall. "Italy?"

"Oh...!" Italy jumped when he turned around to see Past Germany walking towards him.

Germany raised an eyebrow and whispered, "Idiot! What do you think you're doing?! You're overreacting!"

Italy turned to his left and faced Germany with an alarmed expression. "B-but, Germany, you--"

"Italy...you were there all along...I knew you were alive..." Past Germany slowly told him.

Italy took a step back and said, "Oh...er...I-I'm sorry!" Then, he runs down the right hall quickly and entered the top room. "H-hey! Don't go-Wait!" Germany called out, following Italy into the room.

-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Nooo! Germany saw me!" Italy panicked.

Germany placed a hand on Italy's shoulder. "C-calm down! Why did you even come here, anyway? Our house isn't even finished yet!"

"I knooow! But my feet just brought me here! What are we going to do?! What are we going to do?! We have to hide!" Italy said frantically.

Germany sighed.  "Fine! Let's just hide behind that curtain! Hide yourself!"

Italy nodded and pushed Germany towards the curtain. "I see! Right! Then you go there, Germany! I'll hide somewhere else-"

"That's impossible! There's nowhere else to hide-Look, let's just hide there together!" Germany suggested. 

Italy shook his head. "We can't!! There's barely enough room for you! We won't both fit in there!"

"B-but-"

"Just do it! It'll be worse if there's another Germany! Go, go!!" Italy told him, pushing him behind the curtain. "Hey, stop pushing me!" Germany said as he got concealed behind the curtain.

After that, Italy walked to the centre of the room to think about how he was solve this dilemma of his. Before he could even think of something, Past Germany entered the room, behind him.

"I-I couldn't make it in time-" Italy muttered under his breath.

Past Germany spoke, his voice cracking. "I-Italy-"

"Aaargh! What am I going to do? I'm surrounded by Germanies!! What am I giong to tell him?!" Italy thought frantically.

Walking over to Italy, Past Germany sighed in relief.  "Th-thank God...I thought you were...dead...Hahah! It was just...a dream..."

"No...I..." Italy turned around to face Past Germany.

Past Germany began to smile crookedly and run his fingers through his hair. "Yes...you couldn't...possibly die...You're a nation...It was just a dream! Isn't that right, Italy?!" he said, grabbing his arm with a little force.

Italy winced at the pressure on his arm. "Ow! Wait-hey, Germany! Listen to me! I-"

"Yes, that's right. I did find it...odd...that someone useless like you...Hahah! That'd be odd, Italy...Everyone thought you were dead..." Germany laughed, seeming to be out of himself.

"Germany..." Italy removed the past nation's grip on him.

Taking a step back, Past Germany spoke, "Everyone thought you were dead...Prussia, Japan...everyone...Right? Isn't that odd?"

"Um..." Italy answered, not knowing what to do.

Pointing to the door, Past Germany spoke to Italy.  "Let's go back, Italy. We have to prove to them that you're alive...Come on, let's go back, okay?"

"...Germany?" Italy said in a questioning tone, feeling something off about the man in front of him. "There's something different about him. But what?" he thought.

"Let's go back, Italy. We made a promise, remember? You promised you would wait for me...and I promised I would come back." Past Germany told him with a smile.

Upon hearing those words, Italy's eyes widened. 

He knew there was one thing he could do.

Taking a deep breath, Italy slapped Past Germany.

Both of them had a surprised look on their face after Italy's action. Past Germany felt stunned by what just happened. "I-Italy?"

"Hold on, Germany!! You're not like that!! You wouldn't say things like that!!" Italy shouted at him. It wasn't the Germany he knew. If anything he was...he was acting like he was....

Italy's whole body shook. He then pointed at Past Germany and spoke, "Y-you!! You're ridiculously serious! You only do what manuals say, a-and you raise dogs, and you're buff, and you're hobby is making sweets-"

"You...You...you did die." Past Germany said, thinking he knew it was the only explanation for that.

Italy suddenly forgot his rage and sighed. "...Yes."

"I see...I'm sorry..." Past Germany apologised.

Raising an eyebrow, Italy asked, "What...?"

"I'm pathetic...I couldn't even...let you rest in peace." Past Germany resented, burying his face with his hands.

Italy took a step back. "Wait, what? Does he think I'm a ghost? ...Oh, but this could work in my favour... he thought. Clearing his throat, he got the attention of the man in front of him.  "G-Germany...I just wanted to...um...protect everyone..."

"--I promised." Germany said, looking at Italy eye-to-eye.

Italy tilted his head. "Hm?"

"Beds for everyone. a large table. A kitchen...and...what else?" Past Germany asked.

Italy didn't know what to say. "Oh...well..."

"It'll take some time, but I want you to wait. I'll definitely keep my promise to our friends." Past Germany reassured him.

Italy smiled and saluted with his left hand. "Ve! It's a promise!"

"Huh, idiot...you have your right hand...And I ended up falling behind...I'm sorry, but I have to join the others. They'll get worried..." Past Germany told him.

Italy nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I can go back."

"I see...I'm sorry I made you worry. I'm all right now." Past Germany smiled. A sad, but genuine smile.

Past Germany starts to walk out of the room. Just before he exited the room, Italy spoke

,

"I know...Goodbye, Germany."