Chapter 8—Death's Fangs

I woke up the next morning with a bit of a stress-headache. Romano stirred awake beside me.

"Buongiorno, fratellone." I muttered, stretching out my aches and stiffness.

"Buongiorno, fratellino. Headache again?" He asked.

"Si... just a little one, though." I stated. He leaned over, and checked my forehead for a temperature.

"You're good. No fever." He told me, before climbing out of bed and helping me up. We got dressed before we went to the kitchen to start breakfast for everyone.

Morning... I hear a sleepy voice in my mind.

Well, good morning to you, too, sleepy head. I mentally chuckle.

Yang was a... sort of split in my mind. He was formed during a very stressful and... well, bloodstained time of my life. We'd started off as bitter enemies, but after a lot of time, we'd grown fairly close to one another. I now consider him my annoying kid brother. The only problem is that I was physically unable to explain his presence, so even Romano didn't know about him.

Wait... where the fuck are we? I couldn't help but chuckle at Yang's confusion.

If you'd bothered to wake up yesterday instead of sleep through all this shit, you'd know. We got hit by a weird spell yesterday, and now have to watch my life. All of it. From birth to present, with my Group present.

Wait... if you mean...? Even that place?

Yup. I stop, a sudden thought occurring to me. W-wait! You don't think that'd violate the Contract, do you?! I half-panicked as Yang sent me waves of calm.

Ying! Hush. You're fine. It said, 'within your power'. This is obviously not within your power or ability, so... I'm guessing we've found ourselves a loophole. Does that mean I can come out?

No. Not yet. They'd have far too many questions. We're still on my first childhood.

Damn! That far back?

Yeah. Now shut up, fratello's talking again.

I'm fratello, too, you know.

Yeah. Annoying Fratellino. I mentally stuck out my tongue as I tuned back into what Romano was saying.

"You feeling okay today?" He asked me, likely concerned because I'd spaced out.

"Si, I'm feeling just fine. I think it has something to do with the memories, but I've actually been feeing quite a bit better~!" I explained. Maybe this'll be good... let go of a bunch of emotional baggage and all that...

Don't jinx it. You've gotta relive a ton of bad stuff, too.

Yang? Shut up.

So we're back to that. He crossed his arms within our mindscape and pouted.

"Good... I think. Damn, I just wish that we didn't have to watch all these memories." Romano sighed. Hmm... I need to cheer him up...

Oh, I know that train of thought~! This is gonna be good!

"Ve~ Lovi~ I want to surprise everyone, wanna help me?" I asked with a mischievous smile. Romano quirked an eyebrow.

"Depends... What sort of... surprise?"

"Come on, I'll show you! Just get the camera ready~!" I said, already starting the preparations.

When the other nations finally meandered their way down to breakfast, they stared in shock. In front of them, lay each of their favorite breakfast dishes from their home countries. Made flawlessly. CLICK! Romano took the picture with a flash, startling the others out of their stupor.

"H-how...?" China stuttered.

"Ve~ I looked up the recipes one time~ I thought that, after yesterday, you'd all appreciate a little taste of home, so Romano and I made this for you guys~!" I was acutely aware of Romano snapping more than a few pictures of their shocked faces. That's one for the scrapbook~

Along with the other thousand photos of their reactions to the same freaking thing.

Yang? Don't be a spoil-sport.

"Thank you, Italy; Romano." England said, truly grateful for some food from his house—though it was modified greatly. I'm Italian! I can't just make British food of all things! I have standards, regardless of what I'm making!

Everyone was very impressed with our cooking skills, to say the least. They dug in with great fervor. China and America offered to do the dishes, since we cooked.

"America?! You're offering to do the dishes without being told to?!" England gasped.

"Oh, shut up, Iggy! I do have manners, you know! I just don't use them at your place!" America shot back with a grin, before retreating into the kitchen after China, intent on finishing the task at hand.

"Ve~" I said quietly to Romano.

"Chigi." He replied.

"Well, to continue the memories, we just need to head out through that door. We'll be able to return here whenever we need to, so don't worry about that." England said as he pointed to a white door connected to the living room.

I sighed. I didn't want to watch more of my past. It was kind of depressing, after all... And judging by the start of that last memory, the next one will be about the next village...

Nobody really wanted to continue the memories. It was an invasion of privacy, and everyone knew it. Even Russia seemed more than reluctant to go back to watching them, but the spell was already invoked. The die have been cast. I wonder if this is also part of my price? How terrible that they should also have to shoulder my burdens. Especially fratello. I shuddered slightly, fully aware of my brother watching me protectively.

"Alright, the dishes are done." America said, coming out of the kitchen with the others.

"I suppose we have to continue watching, don't we?" France asked tiredly.

"I'm really against this, dudes. We've already seen too much..." America pointed out.

"I'm so sorry... there's no other way..." England reminded us gently.

"I know... It's okay, really!" I said, smile on my face. The others froze. They knew the smile was fake—it had to be—but even though their minds told them that it was fake, it looked absolutely genuine. If they didn't know better, they would've believed that I was truly happy.

"Stop it. You'll break them; they don't know how good you are at acting..." Romano reminded me, though I could tell that even he was surprised by how well I was acting.

No, keep going~! I wanna see what they think of how good you really are.

"Oh, you're right. Sorry..." I smiled sheepishly. A few thousand years of practice can go a long ways. I thought dully to myself, as my hand gripped my Journal just a little tighter, before I slipped it back into the shoulder bag I'd happened to have grabbed just before the spell hit.

"Alright... Let's just get this shit over with. Judging by the memories, we're just over halfway through our first childhood." Romano said.

"Only halfway?!" America cried out.

"Wait... What do you mean, 'first childhood', aru?" China asked, confused.

"Oh, well we weren't connected to our nation yet, so we continued to grow at a semi-constant rate. We were teenagers when we finally connected, and then shrunk. We call our second childhood our 'chibi-years'." I explained.

"Chibi...? Where did Itary-kun learn about that?" Japan muttered to himself, unaware that I could hear him. I decided to let it slide.

Romano pushed the door open, and we all stepped through with varying amounts of hesitance. Before long, we found ourselves in yet another village.

Feliciano and Lovino still appeared the same age—8—as they walked throughout the village.

"Ve... Vino I'm scared... The kids here are so mean... They'll beat me up again, I know it!" Feliciano said, obviously scared.

"Not while I'm around!" Lovino declared.

"They beat you up last time too..." He pointed out.

"W-Well... I was just having an off day! That's all! Next time I'll get them for sure!" Lovino stated.

"Oh no... They're here..." Feliciano's voice was small and timid as he clung to his fratello, his body shaking. Lovino also looked scared, but he put on a brave face for his brother.

"Hey! Demon Spawn! What are you still doing here!? I thought we told you to go back to Hell!" A child—no older than 8—yelled viciously.

"How terrible!" France whispered out. All the nations have seen children being bullied, but they usually put a stop to it when they could. But it was something completely different to see someone they knew being bullied as children. The fact that those children being bullied were nations didn't make it any better. Even Yang moved about my mind uncomfortably.

There was a group of roughly 7 children coming towards the twins. They stopped a few feet away, hesitant to go nearer.

"Get outta here! Demons!"

"Devils!"

"Witches!"

"Evil!"

They started throwing rocks and sticks at the twins. Feliciano looked petrified. A particularly sharp rock cut his cheek. "Felice!" Lovino cried, shielding his brother with his own body. "Let's go home..." He finally relented, leading Feliciano home again.

"That's right! Go back to hell!"

I flinched at the cruel words. I'm a devil? Demon? Evil? I should return to hell? Heh... Sorry, but Hell hasn't been built yet, you little shit. I know... I've been there.

You're being a bit overly dramatic again, Ying.

So? I think I've the right to be dramatic in my own mind, Yang.

Fair point.

The nations watched sadly as Feliciano and Lovino stumbled home, tired and worn.

"Again?" Emma asked, medical kit already out.

"Yeah... They don't like us..." Feliciano mumbled.

"That's an understatement..." Lovino muttered.

Emma treated their wounds with a tender touch and a loving hand. "Now, I'll talk to their parents again. Just try to steer clear of the village. Give them a few weeks to settle down. They'll probably be mad that they got in trouble again, so you should avoid that place as much as you can, alright?" The twins nodded their heads solemnly.

"Momma...?" Feliciano started timidly. "Why... Why do they hate us?" His question was simple, but it hurt the nations to hear such a broken tone on such a happy child.

"Oh, Felice... They don't hate you. They just..." She searched for the right words, bringing her two sons into a hug. "They just don't understand. They know you're different, and they don't understand it. They don't want to understand it. People can be like that at times. When they don't understand something, they hurt it. I don't really understand why myself, but that's just how some people are. That's why we move so often, so they won't see just how different we are."

"Momma?" Feliciano asked again, quieter this time. "Am I a demon?"

"Itary-kun." Japan said seriously, looking at me. "Don't ever believe that. You are a nation. You are not a demon or devil or whatever they told you." The other nations nodded their heads.

"I know now... I just didn't understand why I was so different then. But thank you. It means a lot to me." I said with a smile. Romano smiled beside me, bringing me into a one-armed hug. I know I'm not a demon... I know I'm not a devil... I've met him myself... But I am a killer. I kill humans and nations... It's my fault that they died so many times... And Grandpa Rome... and Holy Rome... My fault... it always is... One day, I'm just so terrified that Romano will die, too, and it'll always be my fault. Always.

Hey... I know it may not mean much, but... umm... I don't think you're a killer either... Not like that.

This is surprising. I raised a mental eyebrow. You're trying to comfort me?

D-don't get used to it or anything!!

Tsundere~

Sh-shut up!!

Romano squeezed my arm lightly, knowing where part of my mind was trailing. "It's not your fault, you know. I'm just as much at fault for those deaths as you are." He whispered, referring to our other abilities.

"I... I know, but... I still feel them, fratello..." I whispered hoarsely. Japan gave us a worried glance. So he heard us, huh? Well, it doesn't matter much anymore. They're going to find out soon. That memory's coming up, after all...

You make it sound like it's something terrible. Compared to That Place, it's really not that shocking.

But it may be to them. That's what I'm worried about... I'm different, even for a Nation... what if...

Stop it. So what if you're different? After all that you've done for them... When they find out they'll be thanking you on their timedamned knees. And if they don't, I'll make sure they do.

The memory blurred to show Feliciano and Lovino playing together in a field in the forest with Asher. "Vino~ Asher~ Come on~! Let's go to the river!" Feliciano called, excited. "You promised me you'd teach me to swim!"

"Alright! I'm coming! Just slow down, I don't want you getting in if it's too cold, you know. We don't want you getting sick again." Lovino said, catching up with his twin.

Romano and I winced, remembering this memory. I winced a bit. The first time I almost...

Romano gently squeezed my arm. "Ve." He said. I smiled.

"Chigi." I replied.

The nations watched as Lovino and Feliciano stripped down to the nude, and played in the water, Lovino showing Feliciano how to float first, and then move in the water, both being careful to stay in the gentle current. Asher was acting as a watch-out, making sure neither of the boys strayed into the deeper, more dangerous waters.

Eventually, Feliciano got the hang of it, and was even able to put his face underwater. The boys started a water fight, and were having a blast. Even Asher joined in.

"ACHOO!" Feliciano sneezed, stopping the fun. "Alright, time to go home, then." Lovino said.

"Aww! But fratello~"

"No. You're going to get sick if we continue like this. Now put your clothes on, and we'll head home." He said firmly. Feliciano sighed, and obeyed his brother.

The two walked back through the forest, admiring the natural beauty of the place. Asher seemed on edge for some reason, but the twins didn't notice. The nations did, which set them on edge, too.

Asher suddenly started growling, causing the twins to fall silent. He was growling at something in the grass near Lovino. I gripped Romano's arm, needing the comfort of him being there.

You'd think I'd be used to the idea of my twin being in mortal peril.

Hey, it's been a while. I ain't gonna blame you for being a bit overly protective. Besides, you're kinda out of do-overs.

Am I, though?

"Asher? What's wrong?" Lovino asked, not understanding.

He barked, and growled at the twins, trying to get them to move. Feliciano started pulling his brother away, realizing that there was some danger.

"A-Asher?" Lovino asked, scared that his companion was growling at him like that.

"Fratello... Asher wants us to move... There's something there..." Feliciano pulled again, making his brother stumble towards him and away from Asher.

A terrifying hiss came from the grass, as a snake lunged, attaching itself to Lovino's ankle.

"ARGH!" He cried out in pain, as Asher lunged for the snake, managing to crush it in his jaws without hurting either of the twins.

The nations—especially Spain—were pale. They knew Romano was mortal to poisons, but they had yet to actually see it like they had my illness.

Lovino was on the ground. It took Feliciano a moment to realize something was wrong—drastically wrong.

"Vino?! Vino?! Can you hear me?! Are you okay?!" Feliciano asked, on the verge of a freak-out.

"I... I'm fine, idiota... I just... Damn! This fucking bite hurts." Lovino said, grasping the bite, which was still bleeding.

"Y-you need to get that looked at, Roma... J-just go to the hospital..." Spain said, not quite able to comprehend the situation.

"Idiot. There are no hospitals then. You know as well as I do... I'm a dead man." Romano said darkly. I gently punched his shoulder. "And don't call me that!" He added shooting a glare at Spain, who held up his hands in the universal 'I surrender' motion.

"Stop being a dick, fratello. You survived. You're not dead. That's all that matters." I said. "You scared me to death, you know that?"

"Lo siento. Grazie, for saving me." Romano said in a whisper.

"Di niente."

"Y-you're not fine! D-damnit! Asher! Go get mom! HURRY!" Feliciano cried out, looking ready for a panic attack. Asher barked, and ran off for the house, the dead snake still in his mouth.

"R-Roma... Please hang on... Y-you're a nation! You'll be fine! You're immortal in every sense of the word, unlike me! You have to be fine!" Feliciano pleaded.

"N-no... We both know... I'm not immortal to poison... I'm dying Felice... and I won't come back. Like with you being sick." Lovino seemed to be having trouble breathing. Feliciano put his brother's head on his lap as he held him, tears streaming down his face.

"H-hey... Don't cry, Idiota..." Lovino said, raising a hand weakly to brush away the tears.

"You can't die! You can't! You promised me! You promised! Remember? You said you'd always be there for me. That you'd always protect me, and help me whether I wanted you here or not... You can't just break it! You can't!" Feliciano hugged his dying twin tightly.

"C-Can't breathe..." Lovino gasped out, as Feliciano loosened his grip enough for his brother to get some oxygen.

"VINO! FELICE!" Emma's voice called.

"MOMMA! OVER HERE!" Feliciano cried out.

"I'm tired..." Lovino said drowsily.

"NO! Don't fall asleep, Vino! Please! Keep your eyes open!" Feliciano pleaded, shaking him a bit.

"I... I'm trying... But... sooo... tired..." Lovino struggled to keep his heavy lids open.

"MOM! HURRY!" Feliciano cried, as his mother ran into the field.

"Vino! Felice! What's wrong?!" She asked, panicked.

"Vino was... He was bitten by a snake!" Feliciano cried out. "He's not immortal to poisons and venoms! He can die! Please! Please help him!!!" Feliciano gasped out, still trying to keep Lovino from falling asleep.

Emma took Lovino into her arms, as Asher guided Feliciano to the house. The four of them came back to the house with the doctor already waiting there.

He spent about 15 minutes looking over Lovino, before coming out of the room, his face sullen.

"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. Your son is going to die. I estimate that he has about a day at most. You should say your goodbyes now." He said, walking out the door without glancing back.

"No... No, no, no, no, no, no, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!!" Feliciano screamed, chasing after the doctor.

"Felice!" Emma cried, trying to grab his arm before he could do something drastic, but she missed. Feliciano put his famous Italian speed to good use, and caught up with the doctor in a matter of seconds. He didn't stop running. He tackled the doctor, and started pounding on the surprised man's chest.

"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAVE HIM! NOT LEAVE HIM TO DIE! FIX HIM! FIX MIO FRATELLO!" Feliciano yelled, angry tears streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry, boy, but there's nothing I can do. He's going to die." The doctor said gently.

"No... YOU'RE WRONG! YOU DON'T KNOW HIM LIKE I DO! HE'S STRONG! HE'S INVINCIBLE! IMMORTAL! HE WON'T DIE! He... he can't... He promised me he'd stay with me forever... he swore it... he said he'd always be there... he... he can't die! HE CAN'T! YOU CAN'T SAY IT! HE CAN'T DIE! He's mio fratellone... He's too strong... to die..." Feliciano trailed off into sobs and hiccups. Emma finally caught up, scooping up her son with an apology to the doctor, as she carried the despairing child back into the house.

I was silently sobbing; Romano wrapped me up in a tight embrace to remind me that he was still there. The other nations just stared unable to process my utter despair at the mere thought of losing my brother.

You think this is bad? Wait 'till we get to the Mansion. I thought darkly at them.

Yeah, why is this bothering you so much? I mean...

Because... It would've been permanent.

Ah... I see. No do-overs.

Yeah.

The moment his feet touched the floor, Feliciano rushed into the room with Lovino. The nations stared. Lovino lay quite still on the bed, his face both pale and flushed, and he looked to be struggling to breathe. His ankle was wrapped up and visible, as he had kicked off the covers.

"V...Vino...?" Never in his life, had Feliciano ever seen his brother in such a weak, venerable state. It scared him; it terrified him. And he vowed then and there to never see it again.

Emma closed the door, leaving the twins to themselves. Feliciano slowly, mechanically, walked forward, and sat on the wooden chair beside Lovino's bed.

"H-hey... wake up. I... I know you're faking it... The doctor's wrong. He has to be. You don't get sick like me... you're the strong one..."

"Heh... Isn't this ironic? I'm usually the one in the chair..." Lovino said, cracking open an eye.

"Vino! Please, tell me you're playing! You're faking it, right?!" Feliciano's tone was desperate. It visibly hurt the nations to hear it.

"I... I'm sorry. Maybe I should've remained an asshole to you... Then you wouldn't be in pain right now." Lovino said.

"NO! I... You're the one in pain right now, fratello! Get better so we can play again! I had fun today, you know. You need to teach me how to swim!" Feliciano said, trying his best to avoid the inevitable.

"Idiot... Stop trying to kid yourself. I'm dying. I'm going to die, and I won't come back. There's no saving me. Poison is to me what illness is to you."

"NO! You... You can't die!" Feliciano pounded his fists on the bed, tears streaming. The nations watched, hoping for another miracle tear, but they were all normal. No golden tear to make him magically better.

"You're the strong one! The invincible one! The immortal one! You were the one who was meant to be Italy, not me! Please!" His anger faded to only despair, showing that he'd truly accepted the death of his brother. "Please... I can't go on without you. I'll stop fighting, too. You can't die. Please... Didn't you always promise to be there for me? To protect me? Who's going to be there for me with you gone? Momma will die one day... she's only human. We both know that. She won't live to be a thousand like we will. I can't live on forever if I'm alone. I need you here... Don't leave me... please..."

"Feliciano... Oh, Veneziano... Fratellino... Ti voglio bene..." Lovino said quietly.

"Ti voglio bene, fratellone. Ve..."

"Chigi..."

"I..." Feliciano trailed off as he realized that Lovino had fallen asleep. He knew... He knew that Lovino didn't even have a day.

"I... God... I don't know if you're there or not, but I've heard that you're up there somewhere... You're the one who created everything, right? Including us? I... Please! Please!" Feliciano bowed his head in prayer; his own hands clasped around Lovino's pale one. "I can't lose him! Oh, Dio... If you're really there, please bestow upon us one of your divine miracles. Make him live. He has to live. It's not his time, yet. I know it! Please! I believe in you. If you do this one thing... Grant me this one wish, then I swear on all that I am, that I will always follow you. Please... Just don't take my brother away from me. He's all I have... Please..." He trailed off in broken Italian, too upset to form coherent sentences.

Romano cradled me, comforting me as I relived the emotions of the memory. "Shhh, Shhh, I'm still here. I kept my promise. I'm still here. I'm not dying." Romano whispered into my ear, as I tried to quiet my hiccupping body. The tears wouldn't stop flowing.

Even still, I couldn't help but mentally scoff at my past self. If there is a God, then he doesn't care. Not if he lets a place like that exist.

Feliciano, exhausted by his first prayer and emotional breakdown, laid his head down in his arms and started to fall asleep, tears streaming down his face at a steady rate.

"Please, God. I pray to thee... Save my brother. Amen." He whispered. For just an instant, Feliciano glowed a brilliant white, and the nations swore they saw white angelic wings spread from his back. The glow transferred to Lovino. As soon as the glow died down, Lovino took in a deep breath in his sleep. He seemed to be breathing easier. Somehow, Feliciano started sleeping easier, too, as if he knew that somehow, his brother would be okay.

"Grazie..." He whispered in his sleep.

A/N: Hey guys~! Thanks so much for all the comments! I'm so sorry this is late. I meant to update all my stories for New Years, and life got in the way. ^_^;

Please be sure to comment, and let me know what you thought of this chapter!

Anyhow, Happy 2016~! (I feel old, aru!) (now, it's 2019, and I feel even older...)

Pages: 8/9

Words: 3,568/4,159

Edited: 03/05/2019