"There are two kinds of secrets. The ones we keep from others and the ones we keep from ourselves."-Frank Warren

Chapter Two:

I let both of the countries: Germany and Japan-inside my beloved home. They looked around my cluttered house and looked back at me worriedly.

I haven't exactly cleaned the house in so long since the nightmares started to roll in. Romano couldn't help me with his lame excuses to go visit Spain every now and then. I sometimes don't understand why he tells me hates him when he visits him a lot. Does he really hate me that much as a brother? Does he like Spain more than me?

I painfully gave both of my friends a forced smile. This hasn't been the first time in ages when I gave a fake smile to someone.I first started doing this ever since Holy Roman Empire disappeared. Hungary noticed and Austria...well I guess he sort of did at the time. But with a little love, everything was back to the way it was!

Except, now....

"Italy...? Are you okay?"

"Huh?" I blinked a few times and looked up to see dark brown eyes in my vision, "Oh sorry Japan, I was just...thinking." I smiled again.

The small Japanese man eyes me curiously and sighs. "He's not himself Germany." He mumbles, barely audible to my hearing as he continued to whisper to Germany of what was probably something non-important.

The German nodded and politely asked me to sit on the couch while Japan made us some warming tea. I politely obliged and sat across from Germany. I nervously played with my fuzzy pajama pants I had on and sighed over dramatically.

I couldn't even look at him. I couldn't even look at my best friend...

After everything that we've encountered in the past years, I couldn't even tell him about this problem. Not even about my nightmares, ever.

I drew circles lightly with my index finger on my pajama pants. The minutes dragged on to what felt like hours of silence. I didn't bother looking up at Germany since he would start to ask me questions on my health and how I've been able to survive and whatever. I mean, Germany is a nice guy and all but...he just reminds me of how Holy a Roman Empire would used to care about me.

Every little thing he did just reminded me of the actions of how my friends do with me. I shiver and mentally slapped myself for bringing up the name again. It was like a curse to my own memory to even bring up at a time like this!

The air smelt in an instant of drawing flavors that were inviting to my stomach. The beast inside it's cages roared for something to be fed. I blushed, embarrassed even to hear my stomach rumble. Did I even eat the morning pasta I made? I thought back into it, but Japan stopped my thinking to even process.

"I brought the tea, is everything going fine here?" He asked curiously at both of us.

Germany shook his head and sighed. "Nothing, nothing at all."

Japan strangely looked at us both and sat next to Germany. "Italy, if you may, ever since we've got here...all we've seen is just something that looked off from you. I could even sense you're in shock or something so I think it is best if you told us what is wrong."

"After all, you did scream for help on the phone like you always do." Germany mumbled to himself, earning a whack from the Japanese man.

I sighed and looked up; slowly meeting both their attention. "There's been something I have been hiding from both of you...something I should have told you a long time ago." I whispered the last few words as my vision started to blur.

"Italy..." Germany instantly got up and cradled me in his arms,"You can tell us, you can tell us anything, remember?"

I nodded and wiped away the falling tears. We made a pact as we became the Axis of the century. We were unstoppable and happy even. I made new friends and Germany was even nicer to me than anyone has ever been! I smiled softly and murmured the next few words that flowed out of my mouth.

"Have you ever heard of the name Holy Roman Empire?"

Japan:

It seemed like the fragile Italian took his time telling his tale. It was almost like a tale China used to tell me as a little boy. I watched as the man still in the hands of Germany finished telling his story in a sobbing manner.

This was the first time I have ever seen Italy this upset. He has never acted up like this bad since Spain ate all of Italy's pasta...but this was something worse.

Germany's eyes flicked back at me and back at Italy. He sighed, brushing Italy's hair softly and mumbled words to him-to calm the poor man down.

I tugged at the ends of my pants and breathed out through my nose. I guess these are just mysteries that all of us need to find together...but I still feel as though there was something wrong, and I mean, very wrong.

I got and up and used my senses to find this 'bad' feeling. It didn't take long though, Italy finally stopped crying and I found something uncommon that poked from under my seat.

It was a bouquet of roses and a note attached to it. Italy must have hid it under here for none of us to look at it, but being as the curious person I was, I decided to take the lead and look at it first.

I opened the note read to myself alone, hidden in the kitchen. Italy and Germany were probably talking amongst themselves so it wouldn't matter if I took a peak, right?

Dear Italia,

It was nice seeing you again in so long. I missed you so much and I know I hurt you badly back when we were children. But I promise you, things will get better.

After all, I did keep my promise that I was coming back to see you again, and that promise is just the beginning.

I can't wait to see you again my dear Italy...until we meet again, I just want you to know I have always been here...watching after you...

It's just been hard to find a way to you, but now I have!

I've always loved you since the 900s...and I always will...

Sincerely,

HRE

(( Hey guys! So what do you think of the story so far? I know it ain't much, but I'm trying to be a little original here. I won't put in Germany's POV yet, it would kinda give a dead give away and I didn't want to spoil you guys so much! Besides, this a bit more about Italy at the moment and Germany's parts will come in soon enough!

So vote, comment, and share away! Love you my little readers! :D

Also, I ALMOST have 100 reads! Thank you guys SO much! I feel that this story could be hit! Maybe...))