Chapter 44: Betrayal and Conviction

I woke up the next morning feeling sick. I'd suffered dreadful nightmares of the Mansion all night, and hardly got any rest. When I woke, I panicked, unable to hear the breathing of my group. My panic only grew when I realized that I couldn't move. I couldn't even open my eyes. My limbs felt like they were dead, and I wondered if I might've been killed this loop, and somehow not fully died yet.

I heard someone shift next to me, but I didn't recognize the rhythm of their heartbeat. I felt an odd tugging sensation from my mind, and a small thump was heard.

"Oi!" Yang's voice called out, and the three people around me startled awake.

I could feel someone's gaze on me. "Come on, Ying!" I felt him touch my arm, and I clung to the sensation.

"What's going on?" Flavio sounded worried as I felt hands lift me up. I realized suddenly it was Luciano.

"Here we go, come on." He said, and I finally was able to crack open my eyes. "He sometimes gets bouts of sleep paralysis. Usually after a really bad nightmare."

"Great." I muttered, my voice sounded thick and heavy with sleep. "...'m bl'nked out..."

Someone held something up to my lips. "Drink." Luciano instructed, and I greedily drank half the bottle of water, the cold liquid helped wake me up. I took in a deep breath and stretched.

"Grazie, Yang. Luciano." I smiled at them, even though I couldn't see them.

"How long has this been going on for?" Romano asked me, concerned.

"Ever since the Mansion, fratello." I sighed, looking over in the direction of Yang. "Since I'm Blinked Out, can I...?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure." A moment later, I felt Yang back in my mind, and my vision returned.

"Grazie." I smiled, and Yang re-materialized non-corporeally next to me.

"Wait, why are you...?" Romano tilted his head, waving a hand through Yang, making him glare.

"So this idiot can see. I'm letting him use my eyes, which is why they're a little more blue than gold." Yang pointed to my eyes, which were now swirled icy blue instead of flecked.

"He can't physically appear completely while he's doing this." I explained. "He has to stay in my head in some major capacity to keep my vision going like this."

"You're really stressed out by whatever this next memory is going to show." Flavio noted, tones of worry prominent in his voice.

"Oh, you don't know the half of it." Luciano muttered to his twin, a dark expression on his face.

"And when you do, please don't murder your 1P." He added, keeping Romano out of the conversation.

"Wh-what?! Murder my 1P?! Why would I do that?!"

"Just... just don't. He'll need you."

"Luciano's right." I chimed in. "You'll need to support him. He won't do well if he's left alone, and... unfortunately, if it shows what I think it'll show, then he won't want to talk to me." I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

I was scared. I was terrified. Once was bad enough... twice was unnecessarily cruel. But a third time? I wasn't sure if I could keep what little sanity I had left.

Just remember. I'm here for you, Ying. Don't worry. I gotcha. Yang grinned.

Yeah. And you're the catalyst of this entire mess. I reminded him, making his grin falter.

Aw, c-can't we just forgive and forget? It was millennia ago!

Oh, I've forgiven... But I will never forget. Yang let out a sigh. Don't worry, Fratellino. I sent him a tired smile. You're not on my shit list anymore. He laughed as we headed down to the kitchen.

I didn't eat much at breakfast. Though the room was lively and the atmosphere was light, Luciano, Yang and I remained quiet. While the others went off to chat about what we've seen thus far, and about the prank from last night, I dug through my bag, curious to see what I'd brought with me. I suppose being in a coma isn't that bad of a thing if I can bring stuff.

I smiled when I found my iPod. It was old... nano, gen 3. The screen was scratched, and there were several bloodstains on it, but that was because this little godsend went through the Mansion with me.

I put in my headphones, scrolling past the playlists labeled 'Better Times', "Celtic", 'Gentle Despair', and 'Mansion'. Instead, I clicked on the playlist labeled "Fuck Everything". Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by 'Set it Off' started playing, and I grinned, bobbing my head as my foot tapped to the catchy beat. I mentally laughed, as I mouthed the words. The lyrics felt like something I'd have written during That Loop.

I let time slip away from me, submerging myself completely in the music I was listening to. At some point, I switched over to my Celtic playlist and closed my eyes, letting the waves of music wash over me. The harp gently played as the flute drifted peacefully over my head. A bubbling creek could be heard in the background of the song, and I felt a small smile spread across my lips. The stress flowed out of my body like a shed skin, and for the first time since we arrived in this place, I felt at ease.

I used this time to center myself. I concentrated on my breathing, my heartbeat, my life. And I didn't really think. I just was.

I was startled out of my peaceful state when Luciano reluctantly nudged my shoulder. I cracked open a blue-specked eye, realizing that I'd blinked back in at some point during my meditation.

"Come on." Luciano said, and he looked over towards the door where the other nations were waiting with expressions ranging from impatient to nervous.

"Oh." I sighed, pulling out my earbuds and putting my iPod away. I took one more breath, letting my mask fall back into place. I knew what was about to be shown, and there was no way I could get through this without that mask.

Romano shifted uncomfortably when he saw my stony expression, void of emotion. Luciano shared a look with the now solid Yang, but neither said anything.

"Let's get this over with." I sighed.

"How bad is this going to be?" Prussia asked, looking somewhat green.

"Not gory. In fact. Nobody even died." I laughed bitterly to myself, as the others shared confused looks. Well, not physically, at least.

"Then why turn back time?" England's giant eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"Ah, well. Canada had been poisoned, you see."

"Poisoned?! Now there are poisons there?!" Jason ranted.

Germany looked at Japan suspiciously for a moment. "Didn't you give me some questionable water at some point?" He muttered, but Japan just shrugged.

"I don't really remember details like that just yet. Sumimasen."

"Oh... that's right. You guys have only seen the normal Things so far." Luciano tapped his chin idly. "Sucks for you. Watch and find out."

"Fratello! That's mean!" Flavio lectured lightly.

"Who ever said I was nice?" He shot back.

"I believe I did." I jumped in, a cool smirk on my face as Luciano huffed.

"Besides, we've already told ya we can't talk about this kind of stuff." Yang itched his ear.

"Look, are we gonna do this sometime today?" Markus raised an eyebrow. He was leaning on his hockey stick impatiently.

"Sorry. Didn't think you were in such a hurry to see the most emotionally scarring loop I'd ever been through. I suppose my pain serves as something of an entertainment for you." I shot him a glare, and Markus did a double take.

"Luciano, your 1P is a little..." Markus stopped when he saw my glare intensify.

"You don't want to finish that." I warned him.

"Fucked up?" Jason laughed. A knife embedded itself into the wall just centimeters from his face, and blood dripped from the shallow cut it gave him on his cheek. He gulped and followed the trail back with his eyes to me, where I was casually flipping a second knife.

"Say that again, and I won't miss my target." I deliberately lowered my gaze to his testicles, and he shuddered involuntarily.

"R-right, let's get a move on, then. Sorry, Italy, but we must see this memory. If we don't we'll never get out of here." England sighed.

"I know." I walked passed them and opened the door myself, letting the Break Room melt away.

Once more, we found ourselves back in the Mansion. Feliciano was humming to some tune in his head as he walked behind Gilbert, Antonio, Lovino, and Kiku. I felt my pulse quicken in anticipation, and clamped down harder on my emotions.

Antonio, Gilbert and Lovino were talking about something, and Kiku was nodding along politely. It looked to be fairly early in the Loop, as nobody had any major injuries.

I'm so happy you're here, Yang... It's like having a best friend around all the time! Finally, someone can understand... Feliciano thought, a slight bounce in his step.

Yeah. And you know... I'm not affected by you jumping back in time, Italy. So I'll always be here for you.

"Wow. He sounded so genuine." Flavio noted, looking between the memory and our Yang.

"Look. My past self is going to do something really stupid here. And I regret it." Yang spoke up, catching the group's attention. "At the time, I really didn't care about anyone but myself, but... I'm different now."

Romano's eyes narrowed. "What did you do to my brother?"

"Me?" Yang scoffed. "No. I may have hurt him, but... What I did was only part of the trauma. I caused the situation, but I don't carry sole responsibility for it. At least I've made my amends." He sent a glare to the other 1Ps, and they shifted in confusion.

"What are you talking about? Are you accusing us of having hurt Ita?" Prussia sent Yang a glare of his own. "We would never!"

"Stop it." I stated, my voice harsh. "That's enough, Prussia." I sent him a look. "Please. Don't speak of things you do not understand."

The nations sent me a confused and somewhat alarmed look, as a growing sense of dread spread throughout the group. I ignored it with a practiced ease. "I suggest you all pay attention, now.

The nations watched as Feli and Yang continued speaking. I was wondering... What, exactly, are you? Why are you here? Are you from another world like Luciano, or are you just a voice in my head? You're not a 3P are you?

A couple nations shivered at the thought. "Don't even joke!" Kuro glared.

"It's not like 3Ps are even possible, so lets not think about it, aru." China crossed his arms.

Hahaha... Relax. I'm not a 2P or a 3P. I was made from you. I'm a personification of you.

What?! Of me? Why do I need a personification?!

I was made to help you shoulder your burdens. Romano's eyes narrowed at those words. They were lies. If there was one thing Romano knew, beyond a doubt, it was when someone was lying. He always described it as a feeling of imperfection, or wrongness when someone lied. It tickled the back of his head, like someone holding a hand just inside your aura. He'd always gotten really annoyed when someone lied to his face.

Oh... So you're a personification of me to help me? Feliciano continued, blissfully ignorant of the other's lie.

Exactly.

Feliciano took a moment to watch the three before him sadly. Why do I always lag behind?

Hm? What was that? There was a pause. You know what? I think I'm done. I'm getting bored of this game.

"Bored?" Oliver's eyes narrowed. He had an uncharacteristically serious look on his face. "That is not good."

"What's up?" America eyed the scene.

"I've met people like Yang before. This isn't going to be pretty." Oliver stated, and refused to elaborate further. "For anyone, least of all, Feli..." He muttered, expression dark.

Hm? Done? Game? Were you napping or something?

No. I'm done with you. Feliciano's step faltered, and his expression flashed to hurt and confused, before a nervous smile flitted back upon his features.

Wh-what? C-come on, now, Yang. That's not funny.

It isn't a joke. I've gotten bored of this charade. It was fun toyin with ya, though. Memory Yang laughed, while our Yang looked repulsed by his past self's behavior. I grabbed Yang's hand and squeezed, letting him know I was there for him, too. He sent me a small smile and squeezed back before releasing my hand.

B-but you... you have to be joking! Friends don't betray each other! I flinched at Feliciano's thoughts. "Yeah, right." I scoffed under my breath. W-wait! You're me, right? Surely you aren't serious! You said you were part of me! A personification of me!

Yes. I am. I am the personification of your hatred and anger and murderous intent. I am not nice. I am not kind. I am not your friend. I never was. I only strung you along until I deemed it boring. It looks like you and your friends might get out this Loop. But I haven't had enough fun yet. I think...

The nations suddenly got the distinct impression that something had changed. Something was wrong. I shuddered hard, and leaned against Luciano, who wrapped his arms around me protectively. I knew it was silly... but I still had nightmares of being unable to control my body. Of being trapped within my own skin.

I'll destroy this loop. A dark smirk came onto Feliciano's face, as the icy blue flecks overtook the golden color of Feliciano's eyes. Now, his eyes were icy blue with golden flecks.

Help! Fratello! Prussia! Spain! Japan! Someone! I can't control my body!! Feliciano's panicked voice rang out loudly, and the aforementioned nations winced, knowing that their past selves could not hear him.

Give it up. They can't hear you. I'm in control, now. Yang brought up his hand and flexed it.

What?! Since when can you do that!?

Hmm... I think I like having a body. I'll keep it.

You can't! It's my body!

Not anymore, Italy... no... Ying. I'll call you Ying. I'm Italy, now. He laughed.

Yang smirked as he fingered the blade that rested at Feliciano's side. "Hmmm..." He hummed aloud, testing his control. "Oh, yes." His gaze zeroed in on Lovino.

NO! Please! I'll do anything! Feliciano pleaded.

Haha! Anything, you say? What do you have to barter with?! Control? I already have that. You don't call the shots anymore, Ying. I do. He drew his blade and charged at Lovino without warning. Antonio noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, and shoved Lovino roughly out of the way, taking the hit instead.

I flinched when the blade struck, and Feliciano cried out. The entire room, both memory and present, was silent.

Aww~ Look at what you did! You just killed Spain!

No! No! I... I didn't! It was you!

You were the one in control. Not me.

You BASTARD! Feliciano's voice roared in fury, but only mentally. Physically, the body laughed, as Yang relished in the sudden control. The three stared at Feliciano with horror and disbelief.

Gilbert cautiously bent down, and sighed with relief. "He's alive!"

"Mein Gott..." Prussia stared at our Yang, who looked down in shame. "You..."

Romano decked Yang across the face, hard enough that he fell to the ground. "You fucking bastard! You really did that to my brother?!" He glared.

"Hit me again if it makes you feel better. Just don't kill me." Yang said.

"Why should I spare your life?"

"Because we don't know how it'll affect Feli..." Yang answered, making Romano pause.

"That was low." Kuro spat, glaring at Yang.

"Hate to agree, but..." Jason sent me a mild glare, as if it was my fault he was agreeing with Kuro.

"Such a terrible thing, to have such a basic freedom ripped away without warning." Louis sighed, taking a long drag. He leaned back in his chair and looked at me. He didn't say anything more, but his expression said enough. I'm here, it told me.

"Grazie." I gave him a small smile in return, before looking over at Yang. "Come here, you brat." I smirked as Yang sighed and complied.

"Yes, mama." He mocked, earning a flick to his ear. "Ow!"

"Don't you 'yes mama' me! Now stand still so I can see..." I double checked to make sure nothing was broken. Aside from a few burns, he was okay. And luckily, the burns were only first degree. Romano held back.

"I'm shocked that you still care about him after that..." China watched the situation with wide eyes.

"I've had a very long time to come to terms with what happened, and he's had just as long to redeem himself. I've forgiven him." I stated coolly. And I've forgiven you, too...

"This isn't all." Oliver suddenly spoke up, even as Kiku locked blades with Memory Yang in an attempt to stop him from attacking Lovino again. "No, this was traumatic, I'm sure... but..." He gave me a searching look. For a moment, he seemed puzzled, and I idly noted how much like his 1P he looked with such a serious expression. In all honesty, Oliver was rather scary without his smile.

A moment later, his expression changed to one of horrified realization. "No..." He gasped, glancing at the nations around him. "They...?" He then gave me a look that easily portrayed his shocked revelation. And his sudden horror made the nations shift warily. Nothing really horrified Oliver, as the 2Ps knew very well.

"Si." I nodded, and his expression quickly changed from shock to a cold fury, making the 2Ps and 1Ps alike shudder and take a step back.

"I see." He didn't say anything else, but his signature smile remained absent, unsettling the entire group.

"What you're about to see..." I took a deep breath... steadying my nerves and steeling my mask. "Is something I'd never wished to reveal to you." I looked at my group. "All I ask, is that nobody kill each other. Or themselves."

"What?" England asked, taken aback. Most of my group looked disturbed by my words of warning, but I didn't elaborate further.

The next scene faded in slowly, with muffled voices. "–told you that he's been up to something!" America? Alfred's voice floated around the darkness.

"Spain's.... because of h...." Romano? What's wrong with Spain?

"...should live....hurt pretty bad, though, aru." Yao said. He sounded concerned, but their voices were clearer, now.

Spain's hurt? Why? What happen—?! Feliciano's eyes flew open. "I...? I'm in control again?!" He whispered to himself. It was then that the nations took in where we were. We were in the Safe Room with the others, but Feliciano was tied to a wooden chair, like a prisoner.

The room around me froze. My group took in the scene with shock and disbelief. The 2Ps sent startled looks to their 1Ps.

"And you call us bloodthirsty." Jason muttered. "At least we don't take our allies prisoner."

Che... So I'm back in here? The fuck?! Damnit! Yang's voice sounded.

Where you damn well belong, Yang. Feliciano shot back.

"He's awake." Ludwig noted, standing up to come over to Feliciano. A few of the others trailed after him.

I carefully gauged the reactions of the nations around me, as they took in the hate-filled angry glares of their past selves with shock, guilt, and disbelief. I quietly made my way to stand with the 2Ps, dragging Japan with me. Nobody noticed, because they were too caught up in the scene, but some of the 2Ps gave me odd looks as I went to stand with them.

"I'd rather not be around them at the moment." I muttered.

"Understandable." Kuro twitched. "I should hope my 1P had more sense than those..." He glared, unable to find a suitable insult for the 1Ps.

"Don't worry, Kuro." I sent him a smirk. "Your 1P did you proud."

"Hn." Kuro nodded sharply, satisfied.

Feliciano looked up at Ludwig in shock as he took in the furious expressions of his friends. "G-Germa...ny...?" He called out in a small, scared voice. Ludwig sneered and backhanded Feliciano hard across the face, making Germany and the other nations pale.

"Don't EVER call me by that name again." Ludwig spat.

"N-nein... I... why would I...?" Germany shook his head slowly as tears ran down his cheeks.

"It's a good thing Lutz isn't here." Klaus noted under his breath. "He'd be so disappointed in his 1P." He looked at Germany for a moment before muttering again. "I'm disappointed in his 1P..."

"Bu-but Germany, we're friends... Right...?" SMACK! Another backhand. Feliciano started to cry, tears flowed thickly down his cheeks as an angry black and purple bruise started to form. The nations watching flinched.

"I would never be friends with the likes of you. You thought it was funny, huh? Did our supposed 'friendship' mean nothing to you?! Well, DID IT?! How long were you laughing at me behind mein back?! How long were you just pretending to be mein friend?!" Ludwig roared. Feliciano reeled back, terrified, and Germany's heart broke.

"No... I'm supposed to protect him... he shouldn't be... scared of me..."

Ludwig suddenly sighed, and all the anger drained out of his being; a severe disappointment took its place. "I thought that you were a good friend... Apparently I was wrong... And I'm so disappointed in you... But even more so, I'm disappointed in me for not seeing you for what you really were." Ludwig then turned his back on Feliciano, and walked away, where Gilbert was waiting to comfort his baby brother. He barely spared Feliciano a disappointed look before walking around the corner towards the beds.

My past self hadn't caught it, but several thousand more loops worth of improved hearing allowed me to catch a snippet of Gilbert and Ludwig's conversation.

"...doesn't make sense, West... I don't think Ita would do this without a good reason! Just think about it!" Gilbert whispered to his brother.

"Nein! He's a traitor! And has been all along... he's such a coward... he'd make a deal with the enemy if it assured his survival. Loyalty means nothing to cowards like him." Ludwig stated firmly. I sighed, looking at Gilbert's reaction. So he believed me all along, too? Hmm... It makes sense. Out of all of us, he was the closest to human to begin with... so his thinking hasn't changed much... He just probably didn't speak up about it like Japan did...

I looked up and locked eyes with Prussia, who startled. He went to look away, and I shook my head, before coming over to him. The other 1Ps were too absorbed in the scene and their own shock to notice.

"You believed in me." I said softly. "You may not have stood up for me, but you still believed in me. Thank you, for that."

"I... I'd apologize, but I haven't seen everything yet. So I'll apologize when I know exactly what I've done." He gave me a bitter smile.

"That's all right." I sent him a soft smile, before returning to stand with the 2Ps. Klaus gave me a questioning look.

"He may not have believed me, but he believed in me. He still stopped to question why." I noted, and Klaus smiled softly.

"I see..."

Ivan suddenly stepped up towards Feliciano, pipe in hand. Russia shrank in on himself in shame. "I am thinking that we are needing the answers now, Дa? I am the one who was chosen to get them from you." Ivan smiled.

Feliciano went dangerously pale, and explained, as best he could, everything. He explained about the Looping, hearing the rumors, about Yang, and even about the Journal, which was laying on the table along with Feliciano's other items, such as his sword.

Feliciano was so busy trying to explain, that he didn't notice the darkening expression on the Russian's face until the pipe connected with his torso with a sickening crack. Feli cried out, and Yao held up the chair so it didn't fall.

He coughed, trying to regain his breath, as he stared in shock at the group. Didn't they want the truth?! "W-why?" Feliciano choked out, but his answer was another harsh swing from the pipe.

"We are wanting the truth. Not silly made up lie." Ivan warned him with a low, dangerous tone.

"It is the truth!" Feliciano cried out desperately, but Ivan swung again, causing blood to fly out of Feli's mouth.

Russia looked quite sick at the scene, as he watched himself torture someone he considered a friend.

"Don't lie. This is all your fault, дa?" Ivan glared. Feliciano looked desperately towards Alfred, who also glared at the little Italian.

"This is all your fault, Italy." Alfred spat his name like a curse. "You dragged us here, and you probably wanted to kill us, didn't you? Just say the truth and save us the trouble of dragging it out of you."

What?! Feliciano stared in shock. What happened to your justice?

America flinched. "How could I...?" He whispered to himself. "I know Italy's trustworthy! If I'd had any doubts... I never would've shown him my kids..."

"But you didn't remember them, there, right, Al?" Canada pointed out softly. "Maybe... maybe we all forgot what made Italy our friend in that place?" He suggested, a little louder. "Like Germany forgot about the World Wars... and America forgot about the time he spent with Feli, Lovi, and his kids... I forgot the hockey games we'd play together..." He looked around at the group, noticing the expressions of realization.

"I... I'd forgotten... about the time we'd spent as brothers..." Prussia looked absolutely horrified.

"It would appear..." England started. "That being the Ryuuzu does more than simply make the others forget about what happened during the loops... but it also distances the memories that the group has of that Ryuuzu."

"That makes sense." Oliver nodded.

"Wait! So you mean... that we forgot who Italy was?!" France cried out in disbelief.

"No... not exactly." Japan stepped in. "I think it's more that we forgot the specific memories of what makes him so important and trustworthy to us, so if that trust was ever called into question, we couldn't pull upon those memories, but instead, we remembered the bad times."

Yang nodded. "We can't say anything more, but I think it's fairly safe to say you've hit the nail on the head."

"Oh..." America blinked. Before anyone else could say anything else, Feliciano's thoughts cut through our conversation.

Prussia, surely! After all we've been through?! He's like a second brother to me! Feliciano looked towards the albino. Gilbert looked up and met Feli's gaze with his own conflicted one. Ultimately, he looked away, and in doing so, broke the little Italian's heart and trust.

Prussia winced, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. "I'm pathetic." He spat.

Feliciano looked towards Francis, who simply spat and turned his head. Feli started to gain an odd look to his eye, but very few nations noticed. It was a strange mixture of desperation, despair, and something else that they couldn't name.

France cried. "Not once, but twice, I've betrayed Italie... how can I ever look him in the eye again?"

China's obviously for this... He's holding my chair, for fuck's sake!

China glared at his feet. "I broke my oath as a healer. And I hurt a friend. I'm supposed to be the adult, so why...?" South Korea just placed a hand on his older brother's shoulder.

Canada?! He has a good concept of right and wrong! Surely... He'd question the morality of this? Feliciano looked towards Matthew, who had a pained look on his face. He winced in sympathy, and when he looked at Feli, he didn't glare like the others. However, he was unable to hold Feliciano's gaze, and looked away in shame, choosing to ignore the situation. He's as good as condemned me.

"How could I just ignore that?!" Canada gasped. He'd expected more of himself.

Feli turned towards Arthur, who simply glared before turning back to his conversation with Alfred. Tears flowed harder and thicker from Feliciano's eyes.

No... no... Surely, Fratello?! Feliciano finally looked towards his twin. Lovino sent him the most hate-filled glare of the room. "Hit it again."

Romano's breath left him. Of all things, he always knew he'd stand by his brother, no matter what. So why was he... why was he betraying his own twin?!

Flavio turned towards his 1P in disbelief. He forgot to breathe. He'd expected it about as much as Feliciano had, which is to say, not at all. Emotions whirled around the blond haired man's mind, as he attempted to make sense of the situation. The four of them were brothers, and had been incredibly close... especially to their respective twins. So... why would... his 1P do such a thing?! How could he possibly betray the only person that's been there for him throughout everything?!

It...? I'm an... it? Romano? No... this... isn't real... Feliciano's thoughts were interrupted by the pipe again. The torture went on until Feliciano finally lost consciousness, and the memory fell into darkness.

In the inky black of the memory transition, nobody said a word. Everyone was trying to process everything they'd just witnessed.

Jason was the first to move. The hotheaded man marched right up to his 1P, and punched him with all his might, sending America stumbling away. "I may hate the little turd, but even I wouldn't stoop that low." He glared. America did nothing to defend himself, instead he looked down in shame.

"I don't know why... I'd do that." He admitted.

"Of course you don't. None of you do." I spoke up, and every eye snapped to me. Yang stood by my side supportively, which now actively confused the others, though they made no comment. Many of them thought themselves to be worse than Yang (or how they viewed him, at least).

"What do you mean, fratello?" Flavio spoke up, being the only one brave enough—or calm enough—to do so.

"The Mansion made us mortal. This you know. But it did something else, too. Other than the memory suppression we discussed earlier." I stated.

"You can't say because of that stupid contract..." Jason sighed.

"Hey..." Klaus spoke up suddenly, and every eye turned to him. "Do you think... I mean, I know it sounds crazy, but... Did that place... make us... Human?"

"H-human?!" China gasped. "That's not possible, aru!"

I stayed silent, as did Yang and Luciano. Our expressions said it all.

"Mein Gott..." Germany breathed.

"That means you thought like a human. As nations, you are born with a mind that is capable of holding the thoughts, voices, and emotions of millions of people." I explained. "Hundreds of years of history, thousands of betrayals and alliances and so. Much. Death. Our minds are predisposed to handle such things. But let me ask you this." I paused, making sure I had everyone's attention. "What do you think would happen, if you took that... and downgraded to the mind of a mortal human? A mind hardwired for survival above all else. Wired for a century at most, a small amount of death, and a mind that could only handle one set of emotions? Ah, but of course, you are not humans, right? But there, you were. Your mind and your ability to control your emotions were rendered to no more than a human teenager." I stressed. "In all the confusion, you couldn't process what had happened. You were unable to cope with the sudden anger and betrayal you'd perceived, and you needed to point the finger at someone for this entire mess."

"So we chose you." America finally met my gaze, and when he saw no trace of anger, his own expression changed to surprise.

"Si. You did. And I don't blame you. Not anymore."

"H-how? How can you not be angry with them?" South Korea spoke up, startling half the group, who'd forgotten that he was there. Austria looked livid, and was glaring at the others, and Hungary looked ready to smash some skulls in with her frying pan. But they both held themselves back—rather, South Korea held them back—physically.

"You must remember..." I sighed. "It's been a very long time for me. And I'll admit, it took me millennia to finally reach a place where I could forgive you. But I have forgiven you." I looked at Romano, forcing him to meet my gaze. "All of you."

"I betrayed you, Fel—Veneziano... How could you ever call me brother again?" He looked devastated.

Oh, boy. We haven't even hit his true betrayal, yet... I mentally sighed.

"Fratello." I looked at Romano. "Please. Don't beat yourself up too hard. Especially after the next scene or two."

"It gets worse?!" Klaus' eyebrows shot up.

"The worst is yet to come." Luciano sighed.

"It's my worst memory." I admitted, unsuccessfully fighting off the shiver of fear that ran down my spine.

"Hey." Luciano put an arm around my shoulder. "Sometimes, the best memories are the worst ones, because you know they will never happen again."

"You're right, Luci..." I turned into his shoulder, as he wrapped his arms around me in a protective hug. "But I still don't want to see it another time. Twice was enough."

The 2Ps stared. They'd never seen Luciano so... gentle. He was always coarse, brash, loud, and violent. He wasn't gentle. He wasn't caring, or so soft-spoken. He never initiated hugs, and usually dug a knife into anyone who tried.

But here... now... He looked like the protective older brother that Romano, Flavio and I knew him to be.

"If I'd known the repercussions of my actions..." Yang looked down, tears spilling over the edges of his eyes.

"Oh, Yang." I smiled softly, brushing away his tears. "You never cry."

"That's not true." He gave me a bittersweet smile. "I cried for you."

"And you were an idiot for pulling that stunt." I reminded him.

Before we could say anything else, the next scene faded in. It was night, and Feliciano was still tied to the chair.

"–just kill him..." Germany...?

Germany winced, looking absolutely devastated by his past self's words.

"We can't just kill him outright! He's a nation, whether we like it or not!" Alfred stated firmly, and Feli's face held a small glimmer of hope. "It's not right, no matter how much of a traitor he is."

America looked over at me. "For what it's worth... I'm sorry."

I smiled. "It's worth more than you know, America. I forgive you. Now you just have to forgive yourself." He stared at me in shock for a moment. I knew my forgiveness was the last thing he expected.

"Thank you." He relaxed a bit, content in the knowledge that I was no longer holding this against him.

"Nein! He is likely working with those Things!" Ludwig yelled, fuming. "If we kill him, they might leave us alone. At least they wouldn't find us as easily. I'm willing to bet that he's why they find us so quickly." Why?! Don't you trust me?! After all we've been through?!

"I don't know... Something about this doesn't feel right..." Gilbert's voice was laced with trepidation, but he didn't speak up again.

"Da. I agree with Germany." Ivan's voice was strong and sure, and Russia looked crushed.

"I agree. Eliminate the enemy while they're weak!" China, too?

"I say we can't just kill him. Killing is wrong, no matter who it is. We should just kick him out of the Safe Room. If he really is working with those Things, then he'll be fine." Alfred argued.

"And if he's not?" Francis asked sounding none-too-concerned.

"Then the traitor will die, but he'll have a fighting chance." Alfred replied easily.

"Oui. Let him out." Francis stated,

"Sure. Release him." Matthew said coldly. What did I ever do to you? Is it because this is all my fault? I got us into the Mansion, after all... It is my fault... isn't it?

"It isn't your fault." Luciano reminded me, and I couldn't help but scoff.

"Yeah. Sure."

"Release him, I say. He may be a traitor, but he's still a nation. Even still, he shouldn't last long with those injuries. Nice work, Russia." Arthur complimented casually.

Oliver sent his 1P a fierce glare, and England looked sorely disappointed in his past self. "How could I have done that?"

"A little too easily, dear brother." Oliver hissed, and his eyes were several shades darker than usual. Instead of the normal cotton candy blue and pink swirls, it was a dark blue and blood red color swirled together... It was honestly terrifying, and I was immensely glad that his anger wasn't directed at me.

But...?! I'm sorry! I'm trying to fix my mistake! Feliciano's thoughts screamed. He was too injured and too out of sorts to give voice to them.

"I say, kill him." The room froze as Lovino's words coldly pierced the silence. Romano? He... wants me dead? My own twin brother? After all we've been through?

"No..." Romano shook his head. "How could I...?"

Flavio shot him a glare, but he didn't notice. "Flavio." I reached out to him through the Link. He looked up at me.

"I'm sorry for what my 1P did."

"It gets worse. But I've forgiven him... please... don't be angry with him."

"How can I not be?! He ABANDONED you! He HURT you! He... He put himself before family... his own twin..."

"I know. And like I said... he does something that you will see as truly unforgivable, but... you must be there for him. He was confused... unsure... his ability to detect lies didn't work there, so he became blinded by his own emotions. He could not sense his own lies, and... Please. I don't want to lose my brother to himself."

"... All right. But only because you asked me to, Feli."

"Grazie, Lavi." I smiled at him.

"WAIT!!" Kiku cried out desperately. Please... Don't leave me, too. I can't take your betrayal as well, Japan...

Kuro and Japan shifted, each unsure of how Kiku would react.

"I think Itary-kun is telling the truth!" He cried out, and the nations all blinked in surprise. Japan... believes me?

Japan let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I did manage to stay true." Kuro patted him on the shoulder.

"When I engaged him in combat earlier, I saw that his eyes were a different color." Kiku continued, an edge of anger and worry in his tone.

"Were they fuchsia?" Lovino asked dully.

"You really thought I'd do that?" Luciano bristled angrily, glaring at Romano, who only shook his head as he fell more into his own despair. Flavio hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up gratefully at his 2P.

"No. They were a sharp, icy-blue color with golden flecks. But they weren't Itary-kun's eyes. I believe him. I believe that this 'Yang' character is actually in his mind, and somehow took control of him. Like a split personality." Kiku stated. Thank you Japan. Your trust means more to me than you will ever know. But I doubt they'll believe even you.

"If they weren't fuchsia, then it wasn't his damned fucking 2P. Damnit! Even that damned 2P of his is a better fucking person than that Damned Italy." Lovino growled, and the four of us flinched.

"You... you really called him...?" Luciano stared at Romano, slack-jawed. Romano swayed dangerously on his feet, unable to comprehend his own words.

"I... why would I...? I..." Romano looked physically ill, and I reached out gently through our Link, making sure he didn't really notice as I sent him calm.

"Why is that such a big deal?" Klaus whispered to me.

"For any of us to refer to the other as Italy... it's like saying you aren't worthy of being my brother. It's just about the worst insult we could give one another, and is pretty unforgivable." I explained quietly, making sure the other 2Ps could hear me, too. I knew they wouldn't have known that.

The others in the memory slipped off to bed, leaving Feliciano to his own thoughts. The decision had been made to kick him out of the Safe Room, rather than kill him.

Why? I know I brought them here, but I didn't mean any harm! Is this all I'm worth to them? Am I simply a tool to be used and thrown away as they see fit? I've been trying so hard to rectify my mistake... is it an unforgivable sin? They wouldn't all turn against me for without a good reason, right? Even my own twin brother has forsaken me! It hurts... I didn't know loneliness could hurt this bad... my heart... feels hollow... Is it still there? I can't check. I'm still bound by the ropes... I... I made another mistake... A terrible mistake... I'm not sure if I can ever fix this one...

I felt a hand gently grab mine, and found Louis sitting beside me. "Loneliness is truly painful." He said quietly. I nodded. "Especially when the one you love... leaves you of their own free will."

"You, too?" I asked quietly.

"Her name was Jeanette." He smiled softly... fondly. "I loved her... She loved me... and then..." He looked down sadly. "After years together, I finally told her that I was a nation. I was terrified, but she was hesitantly acceptant of it. Then there was the crash... I'd been driving us to a local bookstore as a surprise for her birthday... and this truck came out of nowhere. I couldn't swerve out of the way fast enough, and it cost me my legs. I still practiced, though. Saving lives. Jeanette was hurt, too, but she'd recovered... or I thought she had. We missed something, and when she collapsed months later after a rather nasty argument we'd had..." He took a shaky breath and squeezed my hand. "She walked out that door and before she even reached her car, she was down. After three hours on my table, she passed. The last thing I said to her, was 'you can disappear for all I care.' I've never regretted my words as much as I had that day."

"I'm truly sorry..." I squeezed back. I noticed France glance at us out of the corner of his eye; a relieved expression flitted across his features.

"Louis... grazie... for telling me."

"Merci." He looked up, sensing some movement in the memory.

"Italy." Lovino spat the word with more venom than a snake as he stalked out of the shadows towards Feliciano.

Luciano looked at me. "You didn't tell me he said anything."

"It was something I wasn't comfortable repeating." I replied. "And you were angry enough. I did want you to forgive him at some point." Luciano stared, face set in stone as the scene unfolded. An odd twisting sensation in his gut told him that he really wasn't going to like what Lovino had to say.

"Spain is famiglia." Lovino stated. "You know the rules. Famiglia before all."

I shuddered hard at those words, my free hand travelling up to my left eye. I hesitated a moment before releasing my permanent glamour spell, revealing the nasty scar. It started just above my left eyebrow, travelled down smoothly over the center of my eye and came to a stop just below the corner of my lip.

Louis stared for a moment, taking in the injury with a calm anger. "Wow. You got Louis to get mad. That's new." Luciano complimented. Flavio glanced over, and stared in shock for a moment, before glancing at his 1P. I nodded minutely. And I watched as he reigned in his anger.

Luckily, nobody else noticed. Everyone was too fixated on the memory.

Feliciano drew back, terrified. He paled rapidly when he saw the knife in Lovino's hand; the blade glinted menacingly in the dim moonlight.

Lovino smirked, gagging Feliciano with practiced precision. He dragged the blade across the helpless man's neck in a show of power and control, hard enough to sting, but soft enough to only draw a trickle of blood.

"You..." He stopped before his helpless twin, who was crying hard into the gag.

"Fratello!" Feli called out around the cloth, the sound coming out muffled.

Lovino's expression lit up with fury, as he slapped him, open-palmed. Feliciano stared. He... slapped me?

Romano flinched back as if he'd been hit himself. I could see him mouthing a prayer under his breath, but I knew the outcome of this memory. Praying for Lovino was a lost cause. Me, even more so. But it was like a train wreck. Nobody could look away.

Asher shifted, uncomfortably. This wasn't the Romano he knew... the man he'd bonded to all those centuries ago wasn't like this... He leaned against his Romano. The man who was just as horrified by this look-alike's actions.

"You... have no right to use that name. Vargas, indeed. I DISOWN you as my brother! You are no longer part of this family! You are a disgrace! Grandpa Rome would be livid with you. Beyond disappointed in you. And Holy Rome would be disgusted with you. My mother would never have wanted a wretched creature like you! You foul demon! You shall die nameless, and in shame. I strip you of both the Vargas name, and all those bestowed upon you by my mother." Lovino's voice was simultaneously furious and calm. The anger was controlled, showing that he'd meant every word... delivered deliberately so as to hurt his once-brother all the more.

Romano thought that what he'd said before was bad, but never... never in his long life, did he ever believe he'd disown his twin for any reason. He didn't recognize the man that stood before him in this memory. It wasn't him. It was a monster. A demon. And Romano was terrified.

Asher growled lowly. This was pack. Why was pack hurting pack?! It wasn't right! It didn't make sense, and if he'd been a normal wolf, he'd be terribly confused. As it was, with centuries of experience in the ways of humans, he could understand... to an extent.

His presence helped calm Romano down a bit, despite the situation.

Flavio couldn't believe his ears. He knew that whatever his 1P had said was going to be bad, but this... this was beyond forbidden territory. This was... How could he stand by his 1P when he didn't even want to look at him? But... Feli asked me to stay by his side... that he'd already forgiven him... Only Feli has a heart big enough to forgive the one who hurt him like this.

Luciano was so stiff I feared that he'd forgotten to breathe. I knew that if he hadn't had his arm wrapped around me in a half-hug of protectiveness, he'd be pummeling Romano to a bloody pulp right now, so I tightened my hold on my 2P.

"How... dare... he..." Luciano growled—almost literally. "He has no right to disown you." He looked at me. "Do you hear me?! You will always be a Vargas, and you will always be our brother." Flavio gave a stern nod of agreement to Luciano's statement, and I smiled. Romano shrunk in on himself, tears flowing thickly down his face.

Lovino raised the knife on his shell-shocked ex-brother, a mad gleam in his green eyes.

"ROMANO-SAN!! IIE!!" Kiku cried, pulling Lovino back just as he swung down. Blood flew through the air, and Feliciano gave a reflexive cry of pain and confusion. The commotion awoke the other nations, who held back the furious Italian.

My brother just tried to kill me... he just blinded me in my left eye... My brother just tried to kill me... he... he disowned me... he's... not my...fratello...anymore...

Romano let out a sob. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it! I— I would never—!" He fell to his knees, even as his past self spouted profanities that had even the ex-pirates in the group flushing. "Veneziano... Felice..."

At some point, Feliciano's chair had fallen to the floor, but he looked so out of it, he probably didn't even realize... In the attack, his gag had been cut, and was now laying on the floor beside his bloodied face. Tears mixed with his blood as they flowed in crimson streams down his cheeks as everything started to sink in.

A terrible, agonizing scream filled the air as Feliciano finally registered what happened. The nations watched as something in Feli, finally snapped.

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!" He screamed, bashing his skull against the floor so hard that blood started to splatter on the wood. "Wake up!" His sobs started to quiet as his energy drained. "Please....please... somebody... anybody... wake me up..."

Feliciano laid there, in a daze—though only partially due to the concussion. Yao roughly treated his eye, only pausing to remove the mutilated eyeball before stuffing the empty socket with gauze and wrapping it up.

"That is... so wrong." China cried.

Once the commotion had died down, and everyone had gone back to bed, Kiku made his way over to his friend, who was still unresponsive. "Itary-kun?" He gently placed a hand on his shoulder, but Feliciano didn't react. He just sat there, defeated.

"Oh, Itary-kun... I believe you. How could I not? After all we've been through... all you've done for me... You are my best friend." He sighed, cutting loose the ropes that bound him, but Feliciano still didn't react. "They have broken you. But they have not defeated you." He looked around himself, to make sure nobody was watching. "I will always stand by you, Itary-kun. And so for now, I will stay here, with the others, so I can sneak food to you when you're outside. Please... I will find you. Please, forgive me for not being able to protect you... for failing my nakama."

The scene faded once more, but not completely. Feliciano had fallen asleep, or as close to sleep as he could get, yet the memory was still visible. I knew why, but the others were confused, as Lovino was also asleep.

"How?" England furrowed his massive brows. "Feliciano's unconscious, so..."

Kiku stood watch over Feliciano throughout the night, and when the other nations started to stir, he slipped something into Feli's pocket and went to the beds as well, pretending to sleep as well.

The scene returned to full vibrancy a moment later, when Ivan roughly pulled Feliciano to his feet, startling the other awake with a quiet whimper of pain. He then pulled him by the collar of his shirt out of the Safe Room, and to the top of the Second Floor Staircase. He sent Feliciano a glare, as did Lovino, who'd followed the two. Ivan released his grip, and Feliciano just stood there. He wasn't quite as out of it as earlier, but he still was unresponsive. He stood there, looking lost.

Lovino growled, and stood in front of Feliciano, before he kicked him hard in the chest, sending Feliciano tumbling backwards down the staircase with a startled yelp.

The memory blurred out for a moment, becoming so unrecognizable that the watching nations feared Feliciano had died. When it faded back in, Feliciano was still laying in the same position he'd fallen in, and his eyes were a dark shade of aged-gold.

Why should I save them? They don't care about me. I could leave this place myself. His tone was cold, detached, analytical... It was emotionless and it scared the nations, even the 2Ps.

But... they're your friends. You got them into this mess... the least you can do is get them out. This voice sounded like Old Feli, and the nations gave me nervous glances. After all, hearing voices like this was something that rarely, if ever, happened to a nation. This wasn't one of my people, after all. Besides, the last time I heard voices, it was Yang.

Friends? What friends? What have they done for me? Blinded me. Tried to kill me. They've hit me, disowned me, tortured me for information that I already gave to them... They don't trust me anymore. Did they ever truly trust me? What kind of friends turn on one another so easily? Answer that for me, oh-mysterious voice. Why should I get them out? What do I owe them? Several of the 1Ps sighed, unable to argue with my past self's logic. I noted that several 2Ps were nodding along.

Japan believes in you. He trusts you. Are you going to betray him, just as the others did you? Old Feli thought back. Japan looked at me with surprise.

"I was...?"

"You were what kept me going, Japan. You kept my heart alive." I smiled. "Arigatou." I kindly ignored the small blush that spread across his cheeks at the heartfelt thanks. I figured I'd embarrassed him enough for the moment.

NO! Of course I would NEVER betray Japan! Feliciano's thoughts were angry, and the emotionless state from before suddenly became abruptly preferable.

Then don't. Japan wouldn't forgive you if you only got him and yourself out. He believes that you're still the kind nation that you once were. I'm still in here, you know. You just need to find me. Save them. They've already betrayed you, and left you for dead. What more do you have to lose? Let me ask you this; would Acel or your Grandfather be proud of you saving only yourself? Or your mother? After all this torture you've put yourself through, even if they aren't true friends, are you going to throw all that away? Save them. For yourself. For Japan.

Feli laid there, unable to find an argument. Fine. He finally replied. I'll save them. This will be the last time. Heh... I can finally save them at the cost of my own pathetic life, and they won't come back for me. They'll just keep running. Isn't that what I wanted?

Feliciano was quiet for a moment, before he started shaking. At first, they thought he was crying again, but then he started to laugh. It was unhinged, cold, and far worse than the laughter they'd heard in Loop One. He laughed hysterically, even as tears streamed from his eye. He laughed until he fell asleep, and the scene finally faded out, leaving the eerie silence to echo around the nations.

"Grazie, Japan." I said, looking at the man beside me. "You were the only one who stood by me."

"You've already thanked me..."

"But I really can't thank you enough. Especially now that you know the full weight of what happened to me."

The next scene faded in. Feliciano groaned as he awoke, but his expression was oddly blank. His eyes had a dull look, and he barely even winced as he staggered to his feet.

Huh... I feel so empty. I don't care about anything at all. I wonder if this is how Yang feels?

No, I'm full of anger and boredom and crap. You... you're just... numb. Empty. It's actually weirding me out.

"Oh... You're still here? Shame. Thought I was finally rid of you." Feliciano sighed.

Like I said; I'll be here for as long as you live. You're stuck with me for the rest of your life. Yang replied.

"Is that so? How disappointing." Feliciano replied, sounding none-too bothered.

Fuck, care a bit! Damn, and I thought you were annoying before! Now you're actually concerning me! You're so... you feel nothing right now.

"Nothing, huh? How fitting. I am nothing. I have no name, no friends, no past... and soon I will have no life." He gave a small, emotionless smile, as if he was vaguely amused by his own words.

No life?! Don't tell me you're gonna off yourself! Yang replied, somewhat panicked.

"Of course I am. What, you really think I'd let something as twisted as you exist in this world?" Feli laughed hollowly. "I suppose we were right, as children. I really shouldn't have ever existed. If I had never been born, this would've never happened."

Romano looked physically pained hearing me say such words, but he felt he was in no position to correct me after the stunt his past self had pulled. Instead, Flavio spoke up.

"I know you think the same, Luci..." He looked at his brother, who flushed lightly and averted his gaze.

"Of course I do. Feli and I were never supposed to exist." He muttered, and several of the 2Ps stared in surprise. I couldn't blame them. Luciano was normally so confident and sure of himself... hearing him admit such a thing was surprising, to say the least.

"You're both wrong." Flavio stated. "You were meant to exist. Look at all the good you've done! Feli, if you hadn't existed, who knows what would've happened to those street kids! And Kiku! Or Ludwig! And I know I wouldn't be as fabulous as I am if my brother wasn't around. And our people love you, Luciano! I couldn't be half the king you are! Our people would be lost without you, and don't you dare say that I'd 'figure it out', because... honestly... I wouldn't want to live without my twin." Flavio wiped away a few stray tears.

Luciano shifted awkwardly beside me, face bright red, and Jason received a deadly glare when he snickered. Markus was smart enough to hide his snickers behind his brother's.

"T-ti voglio bene, fratellone." Luciano muttered. "A-AND DON'T YOU DARE MAKE ME SAY IT AGAIN!" He yelled, crossing his arms and refusing to meet anyone's gaze. I chuckled.

"Hm?" Feliciano looked up as Kiku approached him warily. He didn't relax until he saw the golden color of Feli's eyes. "Oh, hello, there. What are you doing here."

"Itary-kun? Who are you talking to?" Kiku glanced around, seeing no one.

"Yang. And I'm not Italy anymore. I've been disowned. I have no name. Well... I suppose you could call me Ying." Feli tilted his head, thinking.

"Iie. Rom—"

"Don't you dare mention that motherfucker's name!" Feliciano suddenly snarled with terrifying venom. He blinked at himself in surprise. "Huh. It appears not all emotions are lost. I can feel anger. Interesting."

Kiku sweatdropped, before shaking himself. "As I was saying, that scum has no right to do that. You are, and always will be, Northern Italy, and he does not have the power to take that away from you." He said firmly.

"Japan?" Feliciano asked suddenly. He waited until the other man met his gaze. "Why did you stand up for me?"

"Naze? Why wouldn't I? After all you've done... all you've been through for me... You were there for the bombs, throughout all those wars... I like to think myself a good judge of character. You, Itary-kun, are truly a one-of-a-kind friend, and I would be, not only foolish, but a right bastard to abandon you, or betray you. As long as I've known you, you've been nothing but kind, understanding, and loyal." He smiled softly. "I am also loyal, perhaps to a fault, Huhuhu... You are my nakama... My most precious friend. And I will always stand by you... till the end."

Feliciano reached up when he felt something wet fall onto his hand. He blinked, looking at the tears on his finger with interest. "It appears that my heart is not yet gone. I have you to thank, Japan." He smiled softly, a touch of warmth flowed into his eyes.

"I also thought you might be hungry." He held out a bento towards Feli, who gratefully took it.

"Won't you get in trouble?"

"Only if I'm caught." Kiku smirked. "And a ninja specializes in avoiding detection."

"Indeed, you do." Feli gave him an amused look. The two sat, enjoying their bentos in a companionable silence.

Once the food was gone, Feli spoke, a little warmth in his tone. "You should get back before you're missed. They'll be suspicious if you wonder around alone."

"Ah... about that... They found some objects on you... I only managed to retrieve this..." He held out the Journal, which Feli immediately snatched back, holding it to his chest with a fiercely protective look. "...And your sword." He handed back the aforementioned object, which Feli also took with relief.

"Did they read it?" He asked, eyes narrowed.

"Iie... They couldn't open it. The other item I was unable to retrieve... It's some kind of key..."

"Merde!" Feli cursed, his cold anger returning, snuffing out the warmth of earlier.

"You curse in French?" Markus raised an eyebrow.

"Only when I'm well and truly pissed." I replied easily. "After all, I hated France for a very long time."

France looked down at that, but I was pleased to see that there was a significantly smaller amount of guilt in his eyes.

"Itary-kun?" Kiku tilted his head.

"That's the Master Key..."

"You... had a Master Key?"

"You must understand," Feli continued, his voice now neutral again, "I had to keep it hidden. If they were to go to specific areas too soon... There's more than just the normal Things in this Mansion." Feli sighed. "There are Fire Things, too. They're quite the troublesome monsters. Their claws are somewhere around a few thousand degrees, and they've a blade on their tails instead of spikes."

"THERE'S MORE THAN ONE KIND OF THING?!" America spluttered at the same time as Kiku.

"T-there's more than one of that Thing?!"

"Weren't you listening earlier? I mentioned that there were Elemental Things." I raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry... there's been a lot going on. I must've forgotten."

"Understandable." Canada chimed in.

"Oh, right. You were unaware. There isn't just one. There's hundreds of these monsters crawling around, and the Fire Things are among the most troublesome. Though I've caught glimpses of another Thing in the Annex..." He muttered. "Ah, it's late. I've kept you long enough." Feli looked back up at his only friend. "Please. Take care of yourself, Japan."

"Hai..." Kiku went to walk off, but paused halfway up the stairs. "Oh, and Itary-kun?" Feliciano turned in interest. "Call me Kiku, please." He smirked at Feli's surprised reaction, before turning away and returning to the Safe Room.

"Huh... so he's remembered." Feli smiled again. "How amusing."

The memory faded out once more.

"Should we take a break?" Oliver asked me, a concerned expression on his face. His smile still had yet to return, and it was eerie how much like Arthur he looked.

"No. I'd rather not... We should finish this loop in one go. We can be done for the day after that, as I doubt that most of you can handle another loop without a break." I sighed, as if this entire thing was merely a minor inconvenience.

"Ying..." Yang looked at me, and I turned my attention to my white-haired brother. "Can you ever for—"

"I swear, Yang. If you finish that sentence, I'll give you broccoli for dinner." I glared, and he gulped.

"Trees should not be eaten like that." He shuddered.

"I forgave you a long while ago. You know I did. So please don't waste both our time by apologizing needlessly. You, of all people, should know I hate that." I deadpanned, and he chuckled.

"I suppose you're right." He grinned.

"Wait... after seeing this... how are you not murdering this asshole right now?!" Jason spluttered.

"Yang and I made amends. I see him as another brother, now. He's a Vargas... through and through." I smiled softly, before suddenly pulling him into a headlock and giving him a noogie.

"ACK! Y-YINGG!!!" Yang cried out. "LUCI!! HELP ME~!"

"Ha!" Luciano laughed. "Why? Looks like you're just fine to me."

"Nooo~" Yang whined.

"Oh, stop whining, you spoiled puppy." I smirked, letting him go. He flattened his hair with a pout.

"Puppy, huh? He really does look like one when he pouts." Luciano grinned.

"No!" Yang pouted more. "I don't want that nickname!"

"Too bad. You're stuck with it, now. Pup." Luciano stuck out his tongue, teasingly.

Everyone relaxed at the lighter atmosphere, but it only lasted until the next sequence of scenes.

There were flashes of Feliciano trailing after anyone who left the Safe Room, acting as their Guardian Angel from the shadows. Despite him saving their lives multiple times, whenever they saw him, they treated him as one of the Things, engaging him in combat immediately. Every night, Kiku would come and visit Feli, even if it was simply to keep him company.

They were down in the Basement, much to Feli's displeasure. Feliciano's dark golden eyes could be seen glaring out from the shadows of a corner. Alfred was laughing loudly, and Arthur sighed irritably. Francis and Matthew walked along behind the two.

Feliciano sighed. They're so loud. And the nations wonder how the Things keep finding them.

'Nations...' you say that like you aren't one.

I won't ever be one again. Italy... Northern Italy will die in this place. I'm going to die a human, so why delude myself any longer? Feli flitted through the shadows with a startling silence. Even though he moved gingerly to avoid aggravating his injuries, he made very little sound, and the little noise he did make was easily drowned out by the nations' excessive noise.

Once they got into the Small Square Room, Feliciano tensed. If I remember correctly... the Thing should show up rather quickly once this area has been disturbed. I need to get that Master Key away from them. The less access they have to the Mansion, the better. Feli sighed. Even with my injuries, I could take Francis and Matthew well enough... Arthur's magic will be tricky, but with his weakened magic, I'll be fine as long as I don't get hit by that pesky impedimenta spell of his. I'll need to watch for Canada's sniping abilities, but so long as I keep him in my sights, I'll should be fine. Francis is fast, but I'm still faster, even with a sprained ankle. He uses distraction techniques and yells a lot to try to infuriate his opponent, but mention of Holy Rome should shut him down quickly. If all else fails, hit the lights or block his sight; he's crap at fighting blind. But don't hit his clothes—he'll get pissed, and a pissed France is a focused France.

"That's... absolutely terrifying." England gulped. "You know us far too well. I'd really hate being your enemy." He stopped for a moment when he realized that he had been my enemy. At least, during That Loop.

"You'd be smart to keep yourself in his good books, now that you're there." Luciano advised. "You think that's detailed? That's only after two hundred loops. Imagine how much more he knows, now."

"Dude, how many loops have you been through?" America asked, horrified at what Luciano was implying.

"What, you want me to tell you and spoil my fun?" I asked sardonically, raising an eyebrow. "I think after all I've been through, I'm allowed to keep whatever entertainment I can squeeze out of these memories."

"Fun? How is any of this fun?!" Prussia shuddered.

"Your reactions are certainly entertaining." I smirked.

"Maybe you really did snap in there..." China muttered.

Arthur had gone down to the room just before the Tunnel, and discovered the box with his magic.

Hmmm... so that should bring his magic levels up to 35% or so... unless he's discovered the box in the Safe Room, then that'll make it 55%... Better plan for the worst. 55% it is, then. Feli sighed in irritation.

As the group re-entered the Small Square Room, two Things burst in from the door on the other side. One was a normal Thing, while the other one looked fairly similar.

Its face was elongated, something more jackal-like, and it had red flames dancing across its dark charcoal-colored scales. Dark red eyes glared out from its face, zeroing in on the nations, unable to see Feliciano hiding in the shadows. A long whip-like tail protruded from behind it, a scythe-like blade grew from the end, and an extra joint at the base of the blade allowed it more maneuverability. Its fangs, claws, and blade gave off an insane amount of heat. It snarled, small flames licking out from its mouth.

Feliciano used the distraction to quickly lock the door behind the four nations, so there weren't any more unexpected guests.

"What the hell is that?!" Alfred pointed to the Fire Thing.

"No clue! But be careful! Who knows what this one can do!" Arthur warned him, as the four got ready to fight.

Feliciano stuck to the shadows and observed the battle, hand resting on his blade just in case he needed to intervene. Alfred and Matthew engaged the normal Thing, though they struggled badly. At one point, Matthew tried to fire his arrow at the Fire Thing, but it caught it with surprising speed, and burned it in its grasp.

"F-Fire?! It controls flames?!" Arthur spluttered. "Be careful!"

"Dude, you already said that!" Alfred yelled, barely dodging a hit from the normal Thing.

This isn't good. This matchup is not ideal. France is a lightweight speed-based hitter. He's best used to distract an enemy while slower, heavy hitters like Prussia and Russia move in to do the real damage. Feliciano observed. No... England's also a supporter, not an offensive fighter. And everyone knows you don't put two supporter fighters together... The only heavy hitter we really have here is America, but he's a long-range fighter—despite the switchblade he consistently forgets about. France is the only close-ranged fighter here, and that's not good.

"Wow... quite the strategist." Klaus sent me a smirk.

"Grandpa Rome taught me strategy. I'll admit, most of the lessons didn't stick until we got to the Mansion." I rubbed the back of my head with mild embarrassment.

Alfred gave a cry as the Thing smashed him into the wall, and a loud snap told the nations that his leg had broken. "Fuck!" He cried out, shooting his gun blindly in the Thing's direction. It happened to hit it in the forehead, and it vanished, but nobody was able to tell where the bullet that killed it had hit.

Using the chaos as a distraction, the Fire Thing slipped around Francis and Matthew and made a b-line for Arthur, who had been unable to hit the much faster beast with his spells.

He was halfway through a spell. He won't make it in time. Feliciano observed with mild irritation. Arthur tried to back peddle, but he tripped and fell. The other three nations were all staring in horror at the scene, unaware of their surroundings.

Feliciano dashed out of the shadows, throwing a kunai with just the right wrist motion. A second later, a small fan dropped from the handle of the blade, causing it to swing around and hit the Thing in the forehead. The Thing's fire-coated claws paused inches from Arthur's neck, and as it vanished, he shakily brought up his hand to his neck, which undoubtedly had some mild burns.

"Wow! That was sweet!" Alfred complimented.

"Yeah, that was some really tricky spellwork." Matthew grinned, relieved that Arthur was okay.

"But I didn't..." Arthur protested weakly, his eyes following the path of the kunai. Emerald met startled gold, and Feliciano mentally cursed himself. Fuck... I wanted to stay hidden.

"Not as cool as the HERO, though!" Alfred grinned, drawing Arthur's attention for a split second, which Feliciano used to sneak out of the room, hiding in the shadows beyond the doorway.

When Arthur looked back up, he saw nothing but an empty corner. "Y-yeah... By the way, America. Your leg... it's broken, isn't it?" Arthur quickly picked up the kunai, and hid it from the other three's view.

And just like that, the four continued back to the Safe Room. Feliciano limped back to the Fireplace Room, locking the door behind him, and curling up in a small nest of blankets he made beside the fire. He took out a small first aid kit, and removed his shirt gingerly. One of Alfred's stray bullets had hit his shoulder during the fight, but luckily it went straight through.

"Tch." Feli glared at the wound. "How annoying."

A moment later, a knock came from the door. "It's me." Kiku spoke softly, and Feliciano cautiously opened the door, ushering the Japanese nation inside. Kiku took one look at Feli's injury and, after locking the door behind himself, gestured for Feli to sit.

"Onegai. Let me treat you."

"I can treat myself, Kiku. I'm a big boy." Feli scoffed.

"I don't doubt that, but it's an awkward position. Please? As a friend... iie. As your Aniki, let me help you." Feliciano flinched at Kiku's words.

"Aniki?" He tested the word on his tongue. "Doesn't that mean older brother?"

"Hai."

"I'm older than you." Feli deadpanned.

"Wh-what?! Nani?! H-how?!" Kiku spluttered, causing Feliciano to laugh dryly.

"I was born in 753 BC." Feli stated calmly, and Kiku just stared back at Feliciano blankly.

"... Itary-kun?"

"Yes, Kiku?"

"You're old."

"Fuck you, too." Feli laughed, and Kiku looked so relieved to hear it, even if it was significantly darker and colder than he was used to, that he laughed along with him.

"Fine. Then as your otouto, or little brother, I must make sure my baka Aniki takes care of himself." Kiku stuck out his tongue as he grabbed the medical supplies. "So sit there and let me help you."

"Fine, you win..." Feli had a small, amused smirk on his face. "Fratellino."

The scene faded out again, leaving the group feeling somewhat better.

"You know, I'm not remembering anything from this, like I was with the other memories." America suddenly brought up. "I thought I'd at least remember the busted leg. Or something, as pain seems to be the first thing we remember, but..."

"You won't receive any memories during this Loop." I stated sternly. "I made sure of that."

"How could you make... sure of that...?" England looked at me, puzzled. Oliver also tilted his head, but he made no comment. He wore a scarily blank expression, and very little emotion shone from his eyes. In all honesty, his lack of expression scared me.

The next scene came in with a loud clap of thunder, followed by heavy sheets of rainfall. Feliciano stood in one of the hallways, watching the rain come down like a thick mist, forming millions of ripples on the flooded grounds of the Mansion, making the ground appear to dance. The lightning illuminated his blankly dark expression, and his eyes were dull again.

"Two hundred and twenty one Loops ago, I was running outside in that." He sighed. "I've changed so much. And they, so little. Does that mean they always had the capacity to betray? That it only required the right circumstances?"

How should I know?

"You wouldn't. You're me, after all. If I don't have the answers, then you wouldn't either."

You realize that talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity, right?

"We both knew a long time ago that we weren't sane. Why are you bringing this up, now?"

No real reason, just trying to get a fucking REACTION out of you.

Feliciano scoffed. "Good luck with that, Yang." He stared down at his Journal, tracing over some of the bloodstained pages. "So much... I've sacrificed everything, and this is their answer."

You're still dwelling on it.

"How could I not? I've been here for over four years... and then... all these centuries that they've known me, and they had so little faith in me all along? How could I not, Yang?" Feliciano closed his Journal with a snap, and turned on his good heel. He walked off purposefully towards the Third Floor. "Might as well make some progress."

The scene faded out again. More scenes were shown of Feliciano shadowing the nations, even the group of Ivan, Alfred, Ludwig, and Kiku down to the Basement, as they inadvertently discovered the Tunnels.

Upon discovering the ladder, Ludwig and Ivan became angered, and then Ludwig did the most idiotic thing he could've done. In his anger, he slammed his fist into the wall beside him, electing a hiss of disapproval from within.

You idiot, now look at what you've done. Feliciano commented mentally dryly. You woke them up.

Germany shrunk back a bit, seeing his past self's actions. "Nein... I..." He shook his head.

A Fire Thing emerged from the crack with an excited gleam in its red eye, causing Alfred to inform the others that this was the Thing that nearly killed Arthur a few days prior.

That's when a second Thing crawled out of the hole. This one was such a pale grey, that it was nearly white. It had gentle icy-blue markings like someone misted it over with light blue paint. Its face was elongated like the Fire Thing, but instead of a blade on its tail, it had what looked like a spiked mace. It opened its mouth, and a small cloud of subzero temperatures formed into a mist before the ice crystals melted in the warmer air.

The nations tried to fight it. Ivan matched himself against the Fire Thing alongside Alfred, while Ludwig and Kiku tried to take down the Ice Thing.

What stupid matchups. Russia would be better to fight the Ice Thing because he's not as affected by colder temperatures, while Germany should fight the Fire Thing because— Feliciano's thoughts were cut off as Ludwig wrapped his whip around the Ice Thing's arm, stopping an attack that Kiku was ready to dodge. Ice started to creep along his whip, much to his shock, and the Ice Thing shattered it with its other hand, leaving the blond man without a weapon. Because of that. Feliciano finished dryly.

Aren't you going to help them? Yang asked, curiously.

No. They're still under the idiotic impression that I'm weak. The longer they believe that, the more freedom of movement I'll have. Besides. I'm curious to see how they handle two Elemental Things at once. I'll jump in if anyone's about to die. Feliciano replied casually, watching his once-friends fighting for their lives.

"Wow. I mean, I understand, but that's still cold." Prussia gulped.

Alfred and Ivan tried to rush the Fire Thing together, and Feli shook his head in dismay. They're idiots.

Alfred was caught in the side by the Fire Thing's tail. He let loose a strangled scream as the injury was cauterized instantly.

"Америка!" Ivan called out, but his distraction nearly cost him his left arm, as the Fire Thing took a very fast swipe at him. At that moment, Ivan slipped on a rock, lessening the damage dealt by the blow. He growled lowly in pain as his injury was also cauterized. His left arm hung limply at his side, and Feliciano idly wondered if it was now entirely useless.

Russia rubbed his left arm, wondering if it truly hurt that much. He'd never been injured by fire, before... or heat. So he didn't know if it was as painful as people made it out to be. Judging by the expression his memory-self wore, he didn't want to know.

Meanwhile, Kiku and Ludwig weren't faring any better. Now that Ludwig was without a weapon, he was essentially useless, and Kiku was doing the fighting and protecting for both of them. When a well-aimed swipe nearly took off the Japanese man's head, Feli tensed.

The Ice Thing then caught Kiku with its tail as he tried to move Ludwig out of the way of a feint attack—which he failed to recognize as such. The spikes caught him in the midsection, as he was slammed into the wall with Ludwig.

Kiku shakily stood up, Ludwig entirely unconscious, and threw himself back into battle before the Ice Thing could gang up on Ivan and Alfred.

If I stay here, Japan will die. But if I intervene, they could view him as a traitor, too... Feliciano smirked. Time to put on a show, then.

Without wasting a second more, Feliciano dashed out from the shadows, blocking the bladed tail of the Fire Thing that would've lobbed off Ivan's head, as they hadn't realized that the tail had an extra joint, just below the base of the blade, allowing it to curve around like a wrist.

Feli used the element of surprise to his advantage and caught the Fire Thing in the forehead, dispatching within seconds, an enemy that Ivan and Alfred had struggled against for the better part of half an hour.

"Well... Experience is life's best teacher, I suppose." Flavio shrugged, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

Kiku struggled badly against his Ice Thing, and Feliciano immediately threw himself at Kiku, knocking him to the ground and saving his life. The others, though, misread Feliciano's intentions, and saw the tackle as an attack.

"A-arigatou." He panted quietly. Hm... more training required. Feli noted.

A sudden bang ran out, and Feli flinched as the bullet tore through his bad shoulder. Oh, sure, because shooting me once wasn't enough. Feli mentally scoffed, before he suddenly jumped high into the air, narrowly avoiding what a few nations noticed was a hand in the dirt. He then spring boarded off the wall and attempted to cut the forehead of the Ice Thing, but missed when it moved. Kiku, quick to notice where Feli was aiming, threw a kunai, killing it instantly.

"Japan! You all right?!" Alfred called out. "He didn't hit you, did he?"

"I-I'm fine." Kiku replied, hiding the twitch of annoyance. How dare he insinuate that Itary-kun would attack me! Kiku's thoughts echoed throughout the memory, and several nations jumped.

"W-wait! Since when...?" England's voice was lost amongst the chaos, however, when Ivan ran forward with an angry cry.

Feliciano easily blocked the obvious blow, and neatly dodged the punch from Alfred, as his bullets were currently out. Thank Time for that. There was a pause as Feliciano took in Ivan and Alfred's glares.

"So I'm truly no more than a Thing to you?" He scoffed. "I suppose you truly weren't good people, after all." He sighed, pushing Ivan's blade away with his own. He quickly jumped back, and once more disappeared into the shadows.

The scene faded, and when it came back, Feli was just getting out his first aid kit in the Fireplace Room. He rummaged through it, shirtless, for a moment, before growling in frustration. "Damn. Out of disinfectant. I'm running low on other supplies, too."

That's your own fault for getting hurt so fucking much, asswad. Yang bit out. Feliciano was about to spit out a scathing reply, when a voice interrupted him.

"Knock, knock." Kiku called out through the door. Feliciano's expression softened a bit as he unlocked the door.

"Ciao, Kiku." Feli's lips twitched, and a bit of warmth entered his eyes.

"I figured you were running low on supplies." He held up a first aid kit of his own. "Come, now, Feli... Sit." He smiled kindly, gesturing to the nest of blankets. "Though why do you not use the beds?"

"It gets too cold here, sitting by the fireplace helps, and since I'm using it with magic, I don't need to worry about running out of things to burn." Feli shrugged. "Plus, the beds are too close to the door. So how'd the others take my earlier intervention?"

"Ah... they still see you as a traitor, unfortunately." He sighed. "I tried to point out reason to them, but... it's really no use. Though Igirisu does seem to be second-guessing himself. I think he saw you save him or something, because he even distracted that bastard Romano before he noticed me take the kit."

"Indeed, I did see you save me." Arthur spoke up suddenly. He stood with his back to the still-locked door, and his book of spells lay quietly on the table, far out of his reach. His hands were held up in the universal symbol of surrender.

Kiku whirled around in shock, sword out and to Arthur's neck in an instant, causing the Englishman to swallow nervously. Feliciano, on the other hand, stood with a deceivingly relaxed and calm posture.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you where you stand." Feliciano's expression was colder than ice, and the nations watching were abruptly reminded of his being General Winter.

"Because I believe you." Arthur stated calmly. "And I came to apologize. I was wrong. So... so wrong... And I don't deserve forgiveness, but you deserve an apology." He got down on his knees and bowed his head. "I'm truly, truly sorry, Italy. For hurting you, betraying you, and not standing up for you. And I'll do whatever it takes to make up for that. And if killing me makes it better, then accept my life as penance."

Feli paused, staring at Arthur in surprise. "Hmm..." He drew his blade, as Kiku stepped back. Feli held it up to Arthur's neck for a moment. "Your life is a very high price... Are you sure you're willing to sacrifice such a precious thing for a traitor like me?"

"I am. You are no traitor, Italy. And I was wrong... stupid to ever think such a thing." Arthur did not flinch away from the blade, even as Feliciano pressed it harder against his neck, drawing a small trickle of blood. He shivered, hard, but kept his head bowed. "I'm sorry."

Feli chuckled coldly, before he removed the blade. He sat back in a chair and started laughing hysterically. It was cold and high, and was most assuredly unhinged. Arthur shifted uncomfortably, a look of realization on his face.

By god, we truly fucked up. The group of watching nations jumped badly when Arthur's thoughts were projected for us to hear.

"How on Earth!?" England flushed, embarrassed. "Th-this happened earlier, too!"

"Oh..." Oliver had this look of dawning realization. "You didn't." He sent me a chastising glare.

"Oh? You figured it out?" I raised an eyebrow, even in the face of Oliver's disappointed glare.

"Of course I did. It isn't that hard to figure out, given the information. But how? Even you shouldn't have the magical capacity... to..." His gaze traveled to Yang in realization. His eyes widened as he looked at me in stunned disbelief.

"Let the others figure it out on their own." Yang advised. "I'd rather watch them realize the full weight of what they did."

The other nations looked ready to protest, but ended up biting their tongues and keeping quiet.

Feliciano's laughter started to die out, and Arthur looked somewhat scared. We truly broke him. What we did... was unforgivable. I don't believe I can ever make this up to him, but at least I'm better off than his brother. Arthur thought.

England flushed bright red as Romano sent him a glare. "I can't control what I think." He reminded him.

"No... no, it's... it's true." Romano sighed in despair.

"I will not kill you, England." Feliciano finally stated. "And I will not yet forgive you. I'm a very long ways from that." Arthur winced. "However... When the time comes to forgive... you will be among the first." Feli smirked, and hope flew into Arthur's eyes.

"Please... let me know what I can do to help you."

"You don't even know what I'm trying to do." Feli raised an eyebrow sardonically.

"I-I assume you're trying to escape with everyone." He blinked.

"Ha... assuming is what got you into this mess. You'd think you'd learn." Feli scoffed. "But no. I'm trying to get you all out. Not get out with you."

"Pardon?" Arthur startled and Kiku sighed.

I wish he'd forget that idiotic plan of his. Kiku's thoughts echoed, and Japan flushed bright red.

"How is this possible?!" America cried out, but nobody answered him, mostly because the only ones who held the answers were unwilling to say.

"This is a golden opportunity, England!" Feli grinned madly. "You see, everyone hates me! They want to damn me to hell! It's wonderful! If I die, they won't give a damn! Hell, they'll dance on my grave in joy! You all can escape, and when the nations ask where I am, they'll be told that I'm a filthy traitor. I'll be forgotten, and my death won't hurt the people I care for. Sealand won't understand at first, but he'll eventually get over it. Austria and Hungary will pretend they never had a son, and South Korea will find a new pranking partner... I'll disappear, and nobody will ever come back for me. It's an ideal situation!" He grinned.

"We would never!" Austria cried out, offended. Hungary burst into tears, and I felt bad... I'd honestly forgotten that they were there.

"And me? Find a new pranking buddy?! No way!" South Korea huffed, crossing his arms.

"Well, to be fair, I was thinking like a human, too. I didn't think about the possibility of anyone reevaluating the situation thereafter and realizing that I was innocent." I rubbed my chin in thought, noting that I needed to shave again. My stubble was coming back.

"We would've come back for you..." England stated.

"But would you have been allowed to?" I retorted.

"What?" Prussia tilted his head.

"Would the Mansion have allowed you to return for me?" I said again.

"Wait... Mansion...? Itary-kun, are you insinuating that there's someone running that place?!" Japan cried out in horror.

"No! Don't be stupid!" Jason glared. "Nobody's able to create something like that!"

Luciano and I shared a look. "We can't say much more on the topic. To speak about such things could invoke the terms of the Magical Contract." Luciano reminded them.

"Right... I'd forgotten about that." England nodded.

"Hey... Question." Jason looked at Luciano. "Do you have any idea what happened to whoever held that Journal before you? I mean, you two can't be the first, right?"

"Fuck, no! Of course we aren't the first Ryuuzu." I laughed, and Luciano laughed right alongside me.

"Though it would've been a hell of a lot easier if we had been." Luciano shuddered. "I'm glad we didn't fail, knowing now what we know."

"No joke. Though I do wonder how that would've turned out?"

"I'm lost." Klaus announced.

"That's a good thing." Yang shuddered hard. "You don't want to know what happened to the Failed Ryuuzu no Ko."

"Wait... Failed Ryuuzu...?" Prussia blinked.

"There have been hundreds of Ryuuzu no Ko before us." Luciano sighed. "Perhaps thousands, we're really not sure. Of them all, only 7 have ever escaped with their entire Original Group alive. We bring that number up to nine."

"That's... actually rather terrifying. You mean to say the odds of us all getting out alive were truly so small?" England gaped.

"Yup." Yang sent a look towards the nations. "So you'd better be grateful that Ying and Ling both went through so much. They both broke the previous Looping number records by a long shot. Especially Ying. So you'd better be fucking grateful."

"I don't want to hear it from you." Flavio glared, surprising Luciano.

"Oi, now... you're not normally the short-tempered one."

"Well, after what I've just seen... how can you consider him a brother?" Flavio looked at Yang with distrust.

"It took me a long time. But you must remember... all of you..." I looked at my group. "It's been millennia for me, not just days. These memories may be new to you, but I've long since come to terms with what happened to me, even if I'm still traumatized by them. I've forgiven you all. Including you, fratello... Vino." I looked at Romano, who not-so-discreetly wiped away a tear.

"G-grazie... I suppose I now need to forgive myself..." He sighed.

"That's usually a good first step." I nodded. "But to answer your question, Flavio, Yang has proven himself trustworthy. If I hadn't considered him as such, then he wouldn't be out right now. He's changed. He's not who he was."

"I should hope not." Yang sneered. "My past self was a selfish ass."

"No kidding." I smirked, sending Yang a playful glare. "I swear that if you could, you would've pulled a Poland and painted the entire place a hipster pink just to piss me off."

"Maybe not pink, I was thinking more orange... Neon..."

"Goodness, you really are nuts." Perhaps it should've bothered me more that this statement was muttered by Oliver, of all people.

That's so wrong... he truly wants to die, and it's all our fault... even now, he's doing everything he can to help us... I feel truly ashamed. Arthur's thoughts echoed again, and now that the nations were paying attention, they noticed that his thoughts sounded a little farther away than Feli's did.

"I should also say thank you, Italy. For saving my life." Arthur said. "You... you're a lot stronger than people think."

Feliciano scoffed. "Of course I am. I've been at this for over four years, you know—over 200 Loops." He went to cross his arms, only to receive a light slap on his good arm from Kiku, who was still treating his gunshot wound from earlier.

"Hold still, baka-Nii."

"Sorry, fratellino." Feli chuckled, a bit of warmth seeping into his voice, surprising Arthur. Wisely, he said nothing.

I... I really messed up. But I'm glad that Japan, at least, was able to retain his head, and trust him. Italy deserves that trust. We never should've doubted him. Arthur thought with a heavy sigh.

The scene faded into a cut scene of sorts. It showed Feliciano shadowing the nations, and both Kiku and Arthur helping him where they could. Arthur was also discreetly planting ideas in the heads of the other nations of Feliciano's innocence. It showed the two coming to visit him in shifts, nearly every night, to treat injuries or just keep him updated on what everyone was up to.

I caught England's eye, and gestured for him to stand over with myself and the 2Ps. He blinked in surprise, but followed my motions anyways.

The moment he was close enough, Oliver slapped him upside the head, hard. And while England winced, he didn't protest. "I deserved that."

"Indeed." Oliver scowled, and in that moment, something clicked.

"You two... You're like Luciano and I... Like Romano and Flavio. You're brothers." I blinked.

"Yes, it took you long enough, Dearie." Oliver smiled softly. "We met one another early on, and grew up together. Before we realized that we were 1P and 2P, we thought we were twins separated at birth or something of the sort." He laughed quietly.

"Quite." England nodded. "So despite everything, we're brothers, more than 1P and 2P." Several 1Ps and 2Ps stared at the pair. It was very rare for a 1P and a 2P to become close enough to refer to one another as brother, so having several—myself and Luciano, Flavio and Romano, Arthur and Oliver, and though quietly, Kiku and Kuro. Even Klaus and Gilbert were very good friends.

"That makes a lot more sense." I nodded.

"I'm sorry. He never lets go of that key." Arthur sighed, looking to be much more at ease around Feliciano than he was when he first came to beg him for forgiveness.

"Of course not." Feliciano sighed. "That would be too easy. I appreciate the information, regardless, Arthur." Feliciano sent him a small—very small—smile.

Arthur lit up like a Christmas tree. Finally! I'm finally starting to make up for what I did! And if I'm having this hard of a time when I came to apologize within four days... and it's already been four weeks of hard work... He gulped. The others really are screwed. I mean, I was never close to Feliciano to begin with, and...

"Yes, Arthur." Feliciano cut off his train of thought. "They really are screwed. And you're doing a wonderful job of working your way into my good books again." He smirked at Arthur's startled look. "Just an educated guess."

"By George, don't startle me like that! I truly feared you could read minds for a moment!" Arthur breathed.

Feli chuckled, amused. "No. Although I'm good enough at reading you all that I may as well be able to read your minds."

"Ah, Feli-nii." Kiku came in with a rather grave expression. "I have news."

"Kiku? What's wrong?" Feliciano's face also became stony.

"They plan to explore the Annex. The group has already left, and I was only just able to slip away."

"Fucking idiotic assholes... They're going to get themselves murdered." Feli muttered angrily, before looking up at his companions. "That's where the Elemental Things live." The two paled drastically.

"Bloody hell... that's literally what it's going to become." Arthur gulped.

"I've been training the two of you in how to fight these Things. Kiku, Arthur. Tonight we must take a gamble. It's the only time I can get the two of you without suspicion. Do we go after the Front Door Key? Or do we chance the other's safety?" He thought hard for a moment, before he finally heaved a sigh and shook his head. "There's no way they can survive down there alone. Who went?"

"America, Him, Prussia, and Russia." Arthur informed him.

"Not too bad of a group, but putting Prussia and America together will only encourage them to be unnecessarily noisy. They'll surely attract the Things' attention." Feliciano sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose to ward off the oncoming headache.

"If I may?" Arthur spoke up. "You said you need two people to get into that room, right?" Feli nodded. "Yes... why?"

"Erm... I believe I've managed to convince Canada of your innocence."

"You have? Well, he was fairly on the fence in the beginning, so I suppose he'd be the first to break." Feli mused. "But you weren't supposed to be convincing the others of my innocence." He shot Arthur a mildly reprimanding glare.

"If you truly plan to die in this place all alone, the least I can do is make sure they apologize for what we've done to you. For if I am unable to convince them here, then I shall most assuredly convince them once we're out." Arthur replied with conviction. Feliciano held his gaze for a moment before he sighed.

"Fine. Do whatever you wish." He paused. "You said Canada is willing to help?"

"I believe so. I can sneak him here to you?"

"No. To lead a possible enemy to my dwelling is foolish." Feliciano dismissed immediately. "Tell him to meet me on the Fourth Floor."

"Very well. If I may?" Arthur asked, glancing to the door.

"Of course. And once you've sent him my way, try your best to protect the others." Feliciano tossed him what appeared to be a saber.

"Where did you...?" He shook his head. "Thank you." Best not to question him. He knows best, after all. I should listen to my Ryuuzu.

"If only that was a lesson that stuck with you through more than just one loop." I sighed.

"How did you procure that?" England asked.

"Magic." I smirked.

"Dude, not a real answer." America huffed, crossing his arms.

"Sure it is." I grinned. "Just because you haven't seen my spells in the memories yet, doesn't mean that I can't use magic to transform, say, an old pipe or some other piece of metal into a saber." I shrugged.

"A-are you talking about alchemy?!" England gasped. "But people who are magically gifted are supposed to be absolutely horrendous at Alchemy!"

"They are." I nodded. "But I'm no alchemist. What I did was a temporary magical transformation spell. Unlike Alchemy, it isn't permanent, nor is it as strong as a real saber. But it's strong enough, and the spell was set to last one week, which was plenty of time." I explained.

"Ah. I see, now." England nodded. "Thank you, for telling me. And for providing me with a physical weapon."

"Grazie. Please... be careful." Feliciano said, looking at Arthur seriously.

"Be careful, Feliciano." Arthur smirked. "Someone might accidentally take that for concern."

"Shut up and get out." Feliciano growled, and Arthur barked out a laugh as he left the room. Feli smirked lightly before turning to Kiku. "Come. We need to hurry."

There was a scene shift, and Kiku and Feli were standing in room on the Fourth Floor. Matthew entered alone. "Italy..." He looked, seeing the bandaged, stony face of the once warm and cheerful nation. "God, we were so wrong, weren't we?" He wouldn't be so mad if it was just us guessing right... no... he really was innocent, wasn't he? How could I perceive such an error?

"That's so strange." Canada flushed as his admittedly loud thoughts were echoed. Much like Arthur's his were somewhat far away.

"It doesn't matter. Though you were correct to blame me. I did hear those rumors after all." Feliciano sneered. "Now if you're here to help as Arthur claims you are, then follow me." He bent down and placed two Metal Pieces into the hole behind the bookcase. He waited a moment. "Three... two... one...." He pushed them in at the exact moment that a flash of lightning lit up the room.

"What are...?!" Matthew's words were cut off when a thunderous rumble—which was perfectly timed with an actual rumble of thunder from the coming storm—sounded from just outside the door.

"And therein lies the hidden Fifth Floor." Feliciano stated. "Kiku."

"Hai." The Japanese nation was instantly at his friend's side, while Matthew trailed behind them, unsure.

Feliciano led the two up the staircase and into a small white square room. The walls were smeared with blood, and the floor had several blood splatters and dried blood puddles.

"What happened?! Last time... it was clean!" France gasped, looking around, sickened.

"Don't worry. Most of it's mine." Feliciano answered nonchalantly, walking across the room without a second glance.

"That doesn't make us feel any better!" America cried out, mistaking Feliciano's answer for mine.

"You're talking to a memory, Al." Canada reminded his brother.

"Oh..."

"That's... disconcerting." Matthew muttered.

He says that so casually. Matthew and Kiku thought in sync, making the viewing nations chuckle despite themselves.

"So... if this is your blood... shouldn't you be... you know?" Matthew awkwardly said as he followed Feli and Kiku across the room.

"Dead?" Feli laughed. "No. I've left these bloodstains throughout the last four years I've been looping here."

"F-four years?!" He choked, nearly missing a step. "That's insane!"

"Yes, yes I am. Even the voice in my head says so. Thank you kindly for pointing that out." Feliciano replied dryly. "Hurry, now. Lives literally hang in the balance."

"R-right... England never really explained what it was you needed..."

"I expect not. I instructed him to send you up here and protect the others, not sit down and explain things to you. The group heading to the Annex is walking into the Elemental Things' nest. We're here to grab the Front Door Key before they die, and draw the attention of the Things to us instead."

"W-what?! W-we have to stop them!" Matthew panicked. Al... He's down there, too! A-and he's hurt! That idiot, couldn't he have stayed behind?!

"This is our stopping them. Besides, what would you tell them? The traitor told you so? They'd laugh in your face at best." Feli retorted, causing Matthew to look down ashamed.

"What we did was wrong. I... I'm sorry." If I could undo what's been done... We were so wrong...

"Gee, what was your first clue?" Feliciano spat back, malice evident in his cold tone. "When your friend of several centuries was sobbing his eyes out? Or perhaps when he was laying on the floor, traumatized, after his twin brother took out his eye in a murder attempt? Oh! It could also be when his supposed friends kicked him out of the only safe room in the house that was fucking built for him." He glared so fiercely at Matthew, that the blond-haired man nearly pissed himself. "But no." Feliciano suddenly grinned, a fake chipper tone to his voice. Somehow the expression was twice as frightening as the glare. "Couldn't be any of that, now, could it? Ve~" Feli went through the doorway, not even bothering to look back behind him to see if the two were following him.

Kiku stopped Matthew, sending him an uncharacteristically fierce glare. "Listen to me, bastard." He hissed, startling Matthew even further. "I am far less forgiving than Feliciano. If you put one toe out of line, my sword will remove what makes you the pathetic excuse for a man you are." He rested his hand on the handle of his katana for emphasis before he spun on his heel, following Feliciano with a determined gait.

Matthew stood frozen in fear for a moment before he hesitantly followed the angered Japanese man. I'm going to die by his sword someday. Maybe not permanently, but... No... most definitely not permanently. That honor lies with Italy.

Upon entering the next room, the nations were greeted with a much larger white room that was fairly clean, sans the outline of a clock with roman numerals drawn in blood on the floor.

Feliciano instructed the two on where to stand, and the doorway opened. They could see, from where they stood, a cage within filled with all different kinds of misfit Things.

"W-what?!" Matthew shuddered.

"I'll handle this. Go back to the Safe Room." Feliciano sighed.

"Are you sure you don't need our help?" Kiku asked; eyes narrowed.

"I've got time before that door opens. I need to run in, grab the key, and get back out." He sent Kiku a reassuring look. "Don't worry, just go. I'll survive." They almost missed his muttered "I always do."

He walked through the doorway alone, and shut the door behind him. There was a brief pause as the Things took notice of his presence. "Yes, yes. You can eat me soon, you damn gluttons." Feliciano flipped off the cage of Things as he headed towards the other door. He gave a sigh of relief when the Front Door Key was there. "Thank Time. I don't know what I'd do if it was in the Annex this time."

The Nations shivered when they saw the giant Slow Thing guarding the Key, and I mentally scoffed. Feliciano cautiously made his way to the Key. He hesitated a moment, preparing himself to run. The instant he grabbed the key, he took off at a fast run, before a horrific roar screeched throughout the hallways of the entire Mansion. Feliciano smirked wickedly, gripping the key tightly as several dozen Things flooded the room.

His path became blocked when more poured out into the hall. "Oh, changing the rules? Fine. Let's dance." He snarled at the Things, who grinned back.

Feli drew his blade and killed three monsters with one slash, even as he ducked under several swipes. He was unable to avoid the spiked tail to the gut, and was thrown backwards into another Thing, which he immediately stabbed in the forehead.

He rolled forward, narrowly avoiding a tail-swipe before springing up on the balls of his feet, easily clearing a 9-foot-tall Thing, and landing on it's overgrown head. He stabbed the forehead, killing it, before leaping from Thing to Thing, killing each one he touched.

The battle continued for what felt like forever, trading blows and hits at record speed. "DIE!!" One of the Things called, and the lights went out. A malevolent purple ball of energy flew at Feli and hit him in the chest. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground, before forcing himself to focus enough to dodge the next attack.

"yOU wOn't EscApE!" Another Thing cried, and a yellow rope of thorns wrapped around his left arm, and electricity danced along its path.

Feliciano gave another cry of pain as he was electrocuted. "Humph. What a wimp." I noted aloud. "I suppose I hadn't met the Lightning Things by then, though, and I hadn't exactly been electrocuted before... but still."

"Hey, be a little easier on yourself." Klaus spoke up. "You were still learning, right? Besides, you're allowed to admit when something hurts." He winced as Feliciano was thrown into a wall. "And that's gotta hurt."

"Ve... ve... ve..." Feliciano panted. His grip around the silver key tightened and a fierce determination entered his golden eyes, alight with the thrill of battle. He smirked, even as one of the Things nearly took of his head. He charged back into the fight with a fierce battle cry, purposefully yelling loudly to try to attract as many Things as he could and prevent them from attacking the group in the Annex.

Soon, he was down to three Things, the others had all been killed, and he was splattered with the viscous, grey, grainy blood of the Things. His own red blood soaked through his blue military outfit in several places, indicating some rather serious injuries. Even still, his smirk didn't fade.

"You're terrifying." France muttered, watching Feliciano fight was like watching a man possessed. Even some of the 2Ps were unnerved at how much Feliciano seemed to be enjoying the fight.

"Thank you." I grinned, and he shuddered.

Feliciano barely dodged the incoming bladed tail-swipe from behind him. The Elemental Things had shown up. "It's about time, I was starting to think you'd rejected my invitation." He taunted, panting moderately.

"You're in that kind of situation... and you're taunting them?" England raised a brow.

"Well, let's just say that it's a situation I'm very used to." I replied.

Feliciano was unable to completely dodge a swipe from the Fire Thing's claws, but he didn't scream out, even as the new gash in his side was cauterized shut. "That was rude..." He accused. "Tenderizing the meat when you haven't even had hors d'oeuvres yet!" He smirked, slicing its head in half at the mouth with one fast, swift motion.

He cackled at his own joke, even as he jumped over a tail swipe from a newly arrived Ice Thing, who snarled in distaste. "Oh, come, now Jeffery~! Don't be that way! You know you love the taste of Italian!" He laughed, looking more than a little insane, covered in blood and injuries with a large grin.

"Truly... you do look rather insane." Oliver stated, a pensive look on his face.

Several 2Ps stopped and stared at the strawberry-blond. "You are calling someone else insane?" Jason asked in disbelief.

"What? It takes one to know one, does it not?" He grinned, pulling out a brightly colored cupcake with a strange white powder sprinkled over top. "Cupcake?" He offered me.

"No thank you." I refused flatly. "I don't fancy dying by... is that rat poison?"

"Oh, no! Goodness no! Cyanide and rat poison most assuredly do not taste good together! Wouldn't dream of it!" He grinned.

"Right..." I sighed, twitching slightly. For whatever reason, being called insane by Oliver irked me.

It took the better part of two hours for Feliciano to finally get the remaining Things taken care of. "Now if only you'd stay dead." He clicked his tongue in disappointment, kicking the severed hand of one of the monsters.

"Now." He looked down at the silver bloodstained key in his left hand with a victorious smirk. "Now to get them home... at last."

He exited the room, limping badly and clutching his broken ribs. When he got to the Blood Room, he trailed a bloodied hand along the wall, even drawing a smiley face. When he got to the Fireplace Room, a worried Arthur, and Kiku awaited him. They nearly went into a frenzy upon seeing his injuries, but Feli waved them off.

"I have the key." He smirked, tossing it to Kiku in a way very reminiscent to how Ludwig had thrown the key to Feli in Loop One.

"I fear you've come too late." Arthur looked down, ashamed. "There were these new Things... I was able to protect them enough, and it was only a scratch, but..."

"But?" Feli's eyes narrowed.

"It hit Canada after he'd returned with Japan. It scratched his arm, and I fear it was fatally poisonous."

"A Poison Thing?" Feliciano's hand clenched in anger. "Merde. They've still got tricks, it would seem." For a moment, ice crept out from Feliciano's feet before he managed to quell his anger.

"Oh... so I could access it even back then? I wonder just how much was suppressed before I released it on that last loop...?"

"No chance of survival?" Feliciano asked.

"None. He's not expected to make it through the night." Arthur let a tear slip down his face as he clenched a fist in anger and frustration.

Feliciano's shoulders sagged with a heavy disappointment as he let out a sigh. Suddenly, he looked centuries older. "Then I need something from you, Arthur." Feliciano stated, and the two looked at him with confusion. "I cannot risk anyone remembering this Loop. If I must continue to Go Back, then I must make sure this never happens again." He scribbled something down in his Journal. He paused a moment before gently tearing the page out with a wince. He clenched his jaw, as if in pain. "Oh, fuck, that hurt."

"That... hurt?" Kiku blinked.

"This Journal is part of me, now. Part of my magic." He handed the page to Arthur, who took it carefully, looking at it with awe.

"I... can feel your magic in this page... It's incredible..."

"I need you to carve this into the floor of the Safe Room exactly as shown. Make absolutely sure it's 100% accurate, or I'll die for nothing."

"Feli-nii?" Kiku asked. "What's going on?"

"B-bloody Hell! Y-you?!" Arthur's eyes widened. If he goes through with this... He'll never be able to live normally again. He'll damage his body beyond even the repair of time, if he hasn't already... But... Who am I to tell him no, after what I did? I'm one of the reasons he has to do this in the first place...

"Yes. It's the only way." Feliciano leveled a steady gaze at the Englishman. "I'm trusting you, Arthur." Don't betray me again.

"I..." Arthur looked like he was caught halfway to tears. "Thank you. I will not fail you." I would never dream of failing you twice.

Kiku chuckled to himself. I wonder if he realizes that this means that he's finally let Arthur-kun into his inner circle? I suppose... I may not forgive you, but... I can still befriend you, Arthur-kun. I'll get there, too... some day.

"Anything else I should know?" Feli asked, looking between the two. They shared an unsure look. "Tell me."

"It's about... Him." Kiku started slowly. Feliciano twitched in anger, but remained silent. He made a 'go on' motion.

"We broke a clock earlier in the Annex, and... it would seem that the memory he received... along with several other nations... has convinced them of your innocence. He's been begging us to tell him where you are. Obviously, we've refused." Arthur explained gently.

"He... wants to apologize?" Feliciano stared incredulously. "After what he did to me?!" His voice nearly rose to a roar, but old habits die hard, and he whispered it menacingly instead.

Romano looked down, shame coloring his cheeks. "I... How can I ever make this right?" Tears built up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. After what he'd done, he believed he shouldn't even have the simple release of crying.

Kiku wore a similar expression of anger, and even Arthur looked mad. How could he possibly... Even I had doubts long before He did... and I hardly knew Italy before now! He'd grown up with him... Arthur's angry thoughts filtered through. In all honesty, I wanted to punch him when he first asked.

Kiku, on the other hand, had thoughts traveling along a darker route. If Feli-nii would allow me to, I'd gladly gouge out his eyes myself. Even the odds... Not that Feli-nii would need it... Still, it would make me feel better... And if Feli-nii won't kill him... then I will.

Romano winced at Kiku's thoughts. But he didn't protest. In fact, he looked like he welcomed that thought.

"Come here, Feli." Arthur said softly. I do hope I'm not overstepping my boundaries by calling him that. Feliciano looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You've never called me Feli before." His expression was unreadable, and Arthur started sweating nervously before Feli chuckled. "I'm glad. You've finally realized that you're in my good books, now."

"I-I am?!" Arthur gasped.

"Si." He gave Arthur a small smile. And while it didn't hold the same warmth as the smiles reserved for Kiku, it was more than Arthur could've hoped for.

He! He's finally!!! I'm... Arthur's thoughts were a mess, but the relief on his face showed it all. "Feli-nii... We should treat those injuries." Kiku spoke up, and Arthur nodded.

"What are you two, my parents?" Feli chuckled at his own joke.

They were in the middle of treating his injuries, when Feli winced. "Feli-nii?" Kiku asked, concerned. Feli clutched his head.

"You can't, you bastard."

Aww, just lemme say 'hi'...

"No."

Arthur shared a startled look with Kiku. "He's speaking to Yang." Kiku explained.

"So... that's Yang?"

"Hai."

"Fine. You want to say hello? Then that's all you can do." Feliciano smirked. A moment later, the air next to him shimmered. A transparent Yang appeared. He looked younger, somehow, than the Yang that stood beside me now. There was just that... look about him. And he seemed very unhinged.

Memory-Yang smirked. "Nice to meet'cha. I'm Yang." He grinned.

"Freckles?" Feli tilted his head, puzzled. "White hair, blue eyes, and freckles?"

"I didn't choose this appearance!" Yang fumed.

"So you're the one who attacked Spain." Kiku observed coolly."

"Yep." Yang smirked. "I've gotta say, Ying... this is interesting. You've never done this before."

"I figured it was worth a try. You can't touch anyone, though." Feli replied, as Yang swished his hand through Feliciano.

"That's irritating. How am I supposed to kill anyone?" Yang glared.

"You aren't. I told you before, and I'll tell you again. You. Are. Not. Coming. Out. I will not have a repeat of this loop." Feliciano shot Yang a vicious glare. "This is technically your fault, after all."

"Ah, but I was merely the catalyst, dear Ying. They've always had the capacity to betray you... they only needed the right opportunity." The white-haired man grinned.

"So you're the one..." Kiku started.

"Who hurt Feli." Arthur finished. The two of them glared death at the white-haired split.

"Ne, Aniki?" Kiku turned to Feliciano suddenly, an innocent smile on his face, making him appear almost childish. Feli blinked in surprise, even as Arthur's grin turned dark. It was something that wouldn't have looked out of place in his pirate days.

"Si...?" Feli raised an eyebrow.

"Do you think you could make him physical for a moment?" Arthur smirked.

A shiver ran down Memory-Yang's spine. "W-wait! Y-Ying, w-w-wait a second!"

Feliciano looked over at Yang, his expression was cold and removed. "Hm? Did you say something, insect?" He then smirked darkly, causing the white-haired man to shudder.

"All right. But me first." Feli stood up as Yang became physical. He approached his white-haired twin with the darkest look the nations had ever seen.

He punched Yang so hard, that the nations could hear the cracking of his cheekbone. Yang cried out in pain, as he fell to the floor. Feli shook out his fist, before turning towards his two companions. "One hit each, and nothing fatal." He instructed.

Kiku, in particular, looked disappointed, but he nodded his head. Kuso... I wish I could kill him... However, what a convenient outlet for my anger...

So this is his split... the man who played an important role in Feliciano's pain... One hit is all I get... Well... Arthur grinned darkly as he walked forward towards the now terrified white-haired man. Without a moment's hesitation, Arthur kicked Yang hard between the legs, causing him to immediately clutch his undoubtedly broken balls. Arthur chuckled as he watched Yang writhe in pain on the floor, and even Feliciano laughed.

Oliver sent his 1P a smile of approval. "That's quite nasty. Were you feeling a bit more like your pirate self?" He questioned.

"Most likely. Though I still can't remember this loop..." England's brows furrowed as he tried to think of a reason why he wouldn't remember, but he ended up with nothing.

Kiku smirked, and waited until Yang was more coherent.

"P-please... no more..." Memory-Yang begged.

Kiku crouched down to his level, and grabbed his jaw. "You listen to me. I will reserve my strike for another day. If you ever hurt Feli-nii again... Then memories or not, I vow I will use that One Hit to make you dearly regret what you've done. Remember this, Yang." Kiku glared, and Yang pissed himself, despite the trauma to his lower regions. "You tread upon thin ice. And when you step out of bounds, I will gladly strike the ground where you stand, and send you into the depths of a place worse than Hell. This is not a warning. This is a promise."

Japan glanced over at our Yang. "You still have your One Hit, you know." Yang said. "And I wouldn't blame you if you used it, after seeing all this."

"You... have changed." Japan observed.

"He truly has. He's grown up a lot, the brat." I smirked, ruffling his hair.

"H-hey!! My hair, you dick!"

I chuckled, even as several nations stared in shock, unable to believe that Memory-Yang and the man I now considered a brother were one and the same. Ah... Time has its way of changing people. They still have no understanding of just how much time has passed...

Nor will they, until we get there, Ying. Yang reminded me.

"I think that's enough, for now." Feliciano nodded, calling Yang back into his mind. "Now, will you listen to me?" He smirked.

Y-Yes! Okay, fine! I-I give, I give! ... Damn... England was wearing steel-toed boots...

"Do you expect me to feel sorry for you?" Feli raised an eyebrow. Yang did not answer. Feli just sighed. "Come on, Kiku. There's something I need to do, and I want you to come with me." Feli looked at Arthur. "I believe you have some preparations to do." He smirked as Arthur nodded, bowed, and then took his leave. The act reminded the nations of how a butler would leave the room.

"Feli-nii?" Kiku tilted his head. "Where are we going?"

"To reset the Clock." Feli replied.

"Reset...?"

"So that when I die, time will still reverse."

"D-die?!" Kiku stopped walking momentarily, before shaking himself and catching back up. "What do you mean, when you die." He seemed rather cross, and Feli sighed.

"Look, either way, this loop is done. Canada's a dead man, and there's no you can escape with him in his current state. Maybe if he had a few days, it'd be worth considering, but less than a night... there's no guarantee that he'll reconnect with his nation quickly enough to save his life. Worst-case scenario, he'll die permanently, and there won't be another loop." Feliciano spoke casually, as if such topics were normal.

"M-maa..." He says that so callously. Though I suppose it's only natural, considering all he's been through... how many more times will he be subjected to this hell? How long will he be alone for?

Japan winced at his past self's thoughts. "Far too long..." He muttered, looking over at me with a heartbroken expression.

"It's okay, Japan. We're out, now. And that's what matters. And everyone's alive." I smiled, and he relaxed.

The two went all the way down to the Basement. "It was down here, this time." Feli noted aloud as they entered the room just before the Tunnels. Pushed up against one corner was the Grandfather Clock. Just like before, it was ticking, but the hands were stuck at 4 O'clock.

Feliciano smiled softly. "Hello, old friend." He reached up and turned the hands counter-clockwise until they were almost at midnight. He then opened his Journal. Let's hope this works... He closed his eyes as he gathered his Magick. He then spoke in the Ryuuzu Tongue. "Death-Time Reset."

Kiku blinked in surprise as the clock glowed. Feli then pushed the hand to midnight. Instead of chiming, it stayed quiet, and Feli let out a breath of relief. "Good, it worked." Kiku stepped forward, and hesitantly touched the side of the clock. Feli stared at him in shock. "Y-you can touch it?"

"H-hai? I'm sorry, was I not supposed to? I felt a pull..."

"No, it's fine... At least, I hope it is. Nobody else has been able to touch it. Sometimes, they don't even see it." Feliciano explained. W-wait! He frantically opened his Journal to the first page, showing his Contract Signature. It was the same as always. He sighed in relief. "Good... you aren't tied to it like me."

"I'm sorry?"

"Ah, never mind. Come on, Kiku. Let's head to the Safe Room." Feliciano turned on his heel and started to walk away. Something caught Kiku's eye, and he turned to look at the Clock. In the glass, Feliciano's reflection was splattered in blood, and when he turned back to look at Kiku, his reflection's eyes were tinged with black shadows, though they were still mostly his own.

The Asian nation quickly whipped around to look at his friend, but Feliciano looked normal.

"What the hell?" Prussia looked back and forth between the reflection and their memory-friend.

"Ah... You've seen my reflection." Feli chuckled humorlessly. "That clock holds my Time. It shows me just how much blood I've stained myself with. Each loop, it becomes more and more red. And my eyes grow darker." He stepped aside so Kiku could see the reflection a little more clearly. "It shows me as I truly am. The Monster I have become."

"Iie. It shows how much this place has wounded you. You are no monster. You are my brother." Kiku firmly denied.

"To each his own." Feli smiled softly, seeing Kiku's clean reflection. "Let's go."

As the two turned to go back upstairs, I noticed a small amount of blood on Kiku's reflection's hand—the same hand that touched the Clock. Ah... so that was when he was chosen.

The two approached the Safe Room's Iron Door, and Arthur was there to greet him. "I must warn you..." He whispered something into Feliciano's ear, and his expression turned sour.

"Grazie. Let me through." Feliciano stated, as Arthur stepped aside for Feli and Kiku to pass. He then closed and locked the door behind them.

"Veneziano..." Lovino stepped out from behind the staircase, his posture was meek and his expression devastated.

Feliciano's eyes flashed angrily before his expression cooled to subzero temperatures. "Italy." He replied coolly, and Lovino flinched badly.

Romano and Flavio both flinched. Even Luciano looked unnerved by the tone that my past self had used.

"I... I'm so so—"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I was you, Italy." He sneered, and Lovino took a step back in shock. "Before you open your mouth and dig your grave deeper, let me remind you of something." He glared. "You came to apologize to your precious fratellino, right?" Lovino nodded vigorously. "What fratellino? You disowned him, remember? You wanted him dead? Well congratulations. He's gone. You killed him when you gave me this scar." Feliciano pointed to his bandaged, missing "You killed him with your own two hands... You, who he trusted above all else... But you couldn't just leave it at that, could you?" Feliciano stopped, pausing to take a breath. He opened his mouth to continue, when a look of fierce disappointment crossed his face. No... this isn't me... I'm not like Him. He stopped to glance at Kiku, who's expression was set in stone, and Arthur, who shifted nervously. The two of them were glaring at Lovino, and Feliciano sighed.

Lovino was in tears by this point, a mess of snot on the floor. He looked pathetic. "I'm not like you. I don't enjoy breaking you down like you did me. So I'll tell you one thing; Feliciano Vargas is still here. He's in here, somewhere. And no, I'm not Yang."

Lovino looked up, hope burning brightly in his eyes. "R-really?"

"Si. But you must understand... You didn't just hurt me, or break me... the nine of you shattered my mind. I'll never be the same person I was. I can never be the same. And the pity is that you'll never know why." Feliciano sighed. "I am going to erase this Loop. This is my mercy to you. You will never remember this, for it would break you as you have broken me. And because you'll never remember, I'll say something that I think you should know." He looked down upon his twin with pity. "Even after all this... even after what you've done to me..." He looked away for a moment to quell his emotions. When he looked up, he locked eyes with Lovino. "Ti voglio bene, fratello. You're still my brother. And I still love you. No matter what." He gave Lovino a soft ghost of a smile.

Lovino burst into fresh sobs, filled with hope and gratefulness. He stared at Feliciano's coolly impassive face like a man seeing the sun for the first time.

"You...?" Romano and Flavio both looked at me with shock. Even Luciano raised an eyebrow.

"You should know... I may have hated you in that moment... but I still loved you, fratello. I still do. I may not have forgiven you by that point, but I certainly never stopped caring about my brother." I smiled.

"Ita... you truly are an incredible person with an unbelievably pure heart." Prussia shook his head.

"More like a pathetic idiot who lets people walk all over him." Jason rolled his eyes.

"You wanna say that to my face, you backwater ashtray?!" I glared.

"You got a problem with my smokes, ya motherfucker?!" Jason glared back.

"Maybe I do? At least Louis has taste. You buy the cheap crap! Ah, well... I suppose it makes sense. Low-class cigarettes for a low-class man." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Okay, that's enough you two!" Luciano pushed the two of us apart. "No spats right now! We're nearly through this memory."

"Che." Jason turned away and lit another cigarette, before blowing the smoke right into my face.

"Jacie~?" Oliver grinned, and Jason froze. "I do believe that Luci here has kindly asked that you not provoke anyone at this time? So this is your only warning."

"Y-yes, mum..." Jason shuddered. I mentally laughed, but kept my expression carefully blank. Even I knew better than to argue with Oliver.

Our attention was drawn back to the memory when Feliciano spoke again.

"I will get you all out of here alive. And I'll get you out without ever repeating this disaster. I'll never tell you about this horrendous loop. I'll atone, somehow, for my mistakes. And I'll protect you all... for as long as I am able. I'll never give up, no matter how many times I have to go back. I will never surrender. This... I swear, upon the names and graves of the Great Roman Empire, and the Holy Roman Empire. So Mote it be."

The nations all blinked in surprise. "You... swore on something so precious to you?" Luciano asked.

"Si... I needed to make sure... to promise myself any less would be half-hearted and foolish. I had to swear it on them, or I may have given up on myself. I had to remind myself of my vow several times during my Looping." I admitted.

"You did good. Nobody came anywhere close to your record." Luciano chuckled darkly. "In all honesty... that many loops would've broken even me."

"That bad?" Klaus shuddered.

"Worse."

"You keep alluding to it, but... Oh? This memory's not over yet." Oliver pointed to the Safe Room, as Feliciano had left Lovino sobbing at the foot of the stairs.

The moment Feliciano came into the Safe Room, followed by Arthur and Kiku, he found himself faced with six different nations all staring at him in surprise. Arthur and Kiku stood strong on either side of Feliciano, and Matthew smirked from his sickbed.

"So you really did it... I'll be damned." Matthew coughed violently.

"Careful. You're sounding like your 2P." I joked, looking at Canada, who smirked.

"Well, he is part of me, too." Canada remarked.

"More like you are part of me." Markus retorted.

"I-Italien..." Ludwig took a step forward in shock. Feliciano was truly a sorry sight. His clothes were irreparable, and he was covered in bandages and blood. He looked to be favoring his left leg, and his right arm was in a sling, his shoulder had bullet holes in it, and his blue jacket was entirely gone.

Feliciano hardly glanced his direction. "Arthur? I assume all the preparations are in order?"

"Of course, Feliciano." He bowed and smiled. "Everything is in place. But I feel I must point out... even you don't have the magical reserves to pull this off."

"Don't worry so much, Arthur." Feliciano gave him a smirk, but his eyes warmed slightly when he looked at Arthur. Not as much as it did for Kiku, but it shone with acceptance and a hint of forgiveness.

A solitary tear ran down Arthur's cheek in relief when he saw it. He... he finally used my name. Arthur thought with joy.

"I'll take care of that part." Feliciano reassured him.

"W-wait!" Alfred said. "Italy! We're sorry! We didn't know!"

"Oh, cry me a fucking river." Feliciano stonewalled him, shocking the room. "I did tell you the truth. Therefore, you actually did know. So please, save us both some time, and don't make excuses." He turned to glare at him. "Admit it. You fucked up. And now you're not even man enough to own up to your own mistakes. So I suppose that there's really nothing between your legs after all."

"Oooh... Burn." Jason hissed, smirking at his 1P.

"Shut up." America glared at his 2P.

"W-what happened?!" Francis cried out, shocked at the changes Feliciano had undergone in such a short period of time.

"Are you Yang?" Ivan asked, suspiciously. The room suddenly shifted warily.

"No. I am the one you once called friend. The one who was called Italy." Feliciano answered coldly. "I am the one you toyed with and shattered, piece by piece. I am the ruins of Feliciano Vargas."

"N-nein! You're lying!" Ludwig yelled suddenly. "Italien is warm, and loving! He loves pasta and singing and he's always making strange noises and trying to make people happy! He gives the best hugs, and he never listens to me... He runs away from training, and he hates wurst... he loves wine, and cats, and he's always stopping to show me the little things in life, to try to make me happy... and... He's... my best friend..."

Feliciano bowed his head, and for a moment, the nations thought he was crying. But then he threw back his head and laughed. He laughed, and laughed, like someone had told him the funniest joke in the world. Tears fell from his eyes and he gripped his broken ribs in pain. His laugh was cold and crazed, and most certainly not familiar to the nations in the memory.

"Oh, that's rich!" He cackled. "Loving? Warm? I'm lying, am I?! Just like I was lying before?" His smile suddenly vanished; a sneer adorned his delicate features, twisting them into something fierce. "I stopped being that weak, cowardly, pushover Italy the moment I received this scar!" He roughly tore off the bandages over his left eye, revealing the gaping empty eye-socket. Several nations turned green when they saw the sure signs of infection, and the angry barely-healed skin.

"That Italy is gone, and he might not want to come back. Why should he? When all his so-called friends threw him to the wolves? Nearly killed him, and didn't think twice about it until a fucking clock literally spelled it out for you that you were wrong!" He glared; the expression was made three times more terrifying by the missing eye. "Your gall astounds even me." He spat.

"What's that saying you have in your country, America?" Feliciano tilted his head, as if thinking. "Innocent until proven guilty? All men have a right to a fair trial? Something like that, right? Where was my trial? Do my rights have no value because I'm not your citizen?" He glared, and Alfred looked down ashamed.

"And don't even get me started on you France." He sent the blond a fierce glare, and while Francis was confused as to why he was being singled out, the current France was all too aware that Feliciano was referring to Holy Rome.

"And Germany." Feliciano spat his name. "After all we'd been through... the wars, the training, the innocent happy times... Everything... You betrayed me so easily! After all I've done for you!" A flash of Hitler laying dead on the floor. "This is how you repay me?! And you have the nerve to call me the bad friend?!" He was shouting now, face red with anger, and fists clenched. "What would your brother say?" He ignored Ludwig's confused and hurt look. Germany looked down at his feet in despair and guilt. I mentally noted that I'd need to make this right later on with everyone.

"Prussia.... You... You've known me longer than almost anyone else! And you still believed that I would've betrayed you all?!" He glared at the albino fiercely. "Really? I'm practically your brother, you know." Gilbert winced, a look of shame on his face. "But you know what?" Feliciano continued, his anger vanishing abruptly. "None of that matters anymore."

"Kiku." Feliciano turned to his companion. "Arthur." He looked at the bushy-browed man. "It's time. I've reset the clock. Time will go back as soon as I die."

"D-die?!" Lovino gasped, having crawled his way back up the stairs.

"I'm done explaining things to you people. I'm tired of trying to reform friendships only to lose them. Two hundred and twenty-two times I've done this for you. And now... It's on to Loop two hundred and twenty-three, because you couldn't leave well enough alone." He sighed, turning away from the group of startled and concerned nations. "Keep them occupied, and don't let them interfere."

"Hai." Kiku drew his sword, and stood protectively before the circle of runes that Arthur had carved into the wooden floor.

"Of course." Arthur's eyes flashed red for a moment, before he drew his saber. "My Lord." He muttered.

"You did say that!" I accused, turning to England with a mild glare.

"What?" England defended himself. "I said nothing of the sort!"

"Uh, huh. I'm not your lord or master or anything of the sort." I shuddered. "And you're not my butler." I crossed my arms.

"Forgive me, for trying to atone."

"You're an idiot." I gave him a flat look. "You atone by being my friend, not my servant!" England looked away, and Oliver snorted in amusement.

Feliciano walked to the center of the spell circle that Arthur had carved into the floor. The odd runic markings were unfamiliar even to Oliver.

"If you were wondering, that's the Ryuuzu Tongue. The Language of Time itself." I explained, as the others stared in shock.

"Odd... I can't decipher it..." Oliver frowned, causing me to chuckle.

"You wouldn't be able to."

Feli finally knelt down in the middle of the circle, and sliced open his hand. He started chanting in an odd, flowy tongue that nobody but Luciano recognized. The circle glowed, and Feliciano rose up into the air. Abruptly, he switched to Latin, and for a moment, two glows were visible.

A white glow surrounded Feliciano, while a black glow floated around Yang, who was suddenly visible before him. The two clasped hands and merged, black and white forming the traditional yin-yang symbol before the memory shook, and tinged red. Feliciano bit back a scream and continued chanting.

Kiku and Arthur winced, but concentrated on keeping any of the nations from interfering. "Wh-what is he doing?" Matthew asked weakly.

"He's merging his magical core with Yang's." Arthur explained lowly. "So he has enough magic to cast the spell..."

"Spell?" Alfred looked between the three in concern. "What spell?"

"The spell to transfer all of our memories to him." Kiku spoke up. "According to the spell he wrote down, at least. That's my best guess."

"You could understand that?" England turned to Japan in surprise.

"Erm... yeah... couldn't you?"

"No, not at all. In fact, if my past self hadn't been given the symbols to copy, I doubt I would've remembered them at all."

Japan pointed to one of the symbols on the ground. "That's the symbol for memories, and that one over there is for past. The two combined translate to memories of the past."

"Fascinating!" Oliver grinned. "Where did you learn that?!"

"I... I don't know..."

"That's because... Kiku, you're my Secondary." I said slowly. Luckily, my Journal didn't heat up, but Luciano did send me a glare.

"You know you shouldn't be toeing that line." He said. "We aren't supposed to explain anything."

"I think he deserves to know that much." I stated firmly.

"I'm sorry?" Japan turned to me in confusion.

"You're the Secondary Ryuuzu. Meaning if something happened to me, you could go back in my place. Up until Loop 222, it was Arthur, but..." I paused, weighing the words. "The Ryuuzu and his Secondary must have absolute trust in one another. When England betrayed my trust, he forfeited his position as Secondary. But since you were the only one who didn't betray me, you solidified your position as my Secondary. That means that you, to an extent, can also use my Journal, and the Ryuuzu Tongue."

"So who's your secondary?" Flavio asked his brother.

"None of your business." He growled, and nobody pushed him when they saw the glare he gave them.

"Fine, fine. Be that way." Oliver huffed, put out by Luciano's standoffish response.

The light from the spell grew brighter, and finally, the chanting stopped, and Feliciano let out a soul-piercing throat-ripping scream. It was guttural and primal and filled with more pain than one could imagine. Blood trickled from his eye, ears, nose and mouth, making him look like a fallen angel. He fell to the ground in a heap, and Kiku and Arthur were right by his side in an instant.

Kiku cradled the broken bloodied body of his friend. "K-Kiku..." His blurred gaze trailed between the two who stood by him. "You've always stood by me... No matter what... arigatou..." There was a pause. "A-Arthur..." The man looked up, surprised that he was being addressed. "I... forgive you." The man stared in shock. "Just... a little..." Feli chuckled, but Arthur knew what he meant. Feliciano had forgiven him. Enough to consider him a friend again. And he was eternally grateful.

Hello, Death... my old friend... Feliciano's thoughts trailed off as the memory finally faded to black, taking with it the strangled sobs of Arthur and Kiku, grieving for the loss of a friend that had suffered far too much.

"Now... Now we should take a break." I said, looking at England, who still seemed rather exhausted. "Here." I placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed my magic into him, giving him a temporary power boost. He immediately perked up, like America did when he'd had his daily coffee fix.

"That's potent magic." He breathed, flexing his hand. "Thank you." He quickly spoke the spell to bring up the Break Room before the next memory popped up, and everyone let out a tired sigh of relief.

Yang stood by my side and placed a hand on my shoulder in comfort. I smiled softly. "I suppose..." I looked at England and Japan. "Would you two like your memories back?" I asked quietly, so as not to draw any attention.

"Hai. If that's okay?" Japan nodded.

"If it wasn't I wouldn't have offered."

"What about that vow?" England pointed out. "I thought... Though I suppose it is a moot point, now... Oh... that's why our inner thoughts were heard!" He realized.

"Yes. That's what Oliver figured out, too." I chuckled. "Come here." I placed my hands on England's temples first, and muttered a few words in the Ryuuzu Tongue. A moment later, he stumbled back, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Bloody Hell! That's a migraine and a half." He shook himself and recovered by the time I'd put Japan in the same state.

"Itai..." He winced, but didn't say anything beyond that.

"Thank you, Feliciano." England smiled. "For forgiving me." He then bowed, and I rolled my eyes. I suppose that'll be a hard habit to break.

"I've forgiven everyone, now." I said, giving Japan a pointed look.

"Sumimasen... I'm just..."

"You hold grudges like a demon." England deadpanned. I chuckled alongside Yang.

"Oh, there's something I meant to do..." Japan suddenly said, before he walked up to Yang and punched him square in the nose. The loud CRACK! Told us that his nose was now broken.

"Gah!" Yang clutched his bloody nose in shock, staring at Japan with wide eyes.

"If you ever hurt Feli again... Well... let's just say I have ways of torturing people without causing physical harm. I've cashed in on my One Hit." Like Nyan-cat, for example.

I let out a sigh of relief, some of my mental stress faded away along with Japan and England's memories.

"Come on, Yang. Let's make dinner." I said, gesturing for him to follow.

"You mean Lunch, right? Dinner's what usually comes after lunch." He reminded me.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, snowfluff."

"S-snowfluff?!" He cried out in horror. "N-no! Oh, hell no! You are not saddling me with a nickname like that!"

"Too late!" I grinned and ran off to the kitchen. Luciano shook his head at our antics, and Japan and England just sat on the couch together to keep an eye on the rest of the nations.

It feels good... to have That Loop over with... and finally have it out in the open. We'll continue the memories tomorrow, but... for now, at least... For now, we can rest.

A/N: I FINALLY FINISHED THE CHAPTER!!! ToT It took me... about a week. I'm sorry it's taken me so long, but I hope you've enjoyed the nice long chapter. ^^ The length will probably become shorter again, but that would mean more frequent updates.

Another note! My family has kindly pointed out that I am lazy and so now I'm pressured to make more money. I'll be looking for a THIRD job, now, so updates may, again, be less frequent. I'm literally running off 3 hours of sleep right now because I was a dumbass and watched scary shit before bed last night. -_- Yeah...

It's also raining~! Yay!! ^^

Make sure you check out HetaOni: Italy's Story, for a different perspective of Loop 222. Which is also known as Forbidden Loop 1.

Though we've reached this milestone, there are still many... many... many loops to go. Like, seriously... Anyone who's read H:IS would know this. So this story isn't quite done yet~! (Never mind the fact that I technically need to finish writing HetaOni: Italy's Story before I could finish this one...)

Quick shout out to my AMAZING FRIEND GRACE~! She's having a big birthday on the 27th, so this chapter is her birthday present~! (In case I can't actually update on her birthday)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE! YOU ROCK~!

Also... Who would like to see Yang and Feli sing in the next chapter? Just for something a little more light-hearted? Don't worry; that wouldn't be the entire chapter, but a friend and I... er... edited the lyrics of Wolf in Sheep's Clothing to fit them a little better.

(Note, most of this chapter was written while looping the song 'Rewind' from Chronexia.)

And Luciano's quote, "Sometimes the best memories are the worst ones because you know know they will never happen again" was given to me by my friend Anime Doom, who's a wonderful plot-bunny breeder~! ^^ Thanks again, my friend!

Words: 19,608/24,537

Pages: 38/47

Posted: 02/04/2019

Edited: 03/28/2019