A/N: Hey there readers! This was something I actually wrote for a school assignment XD Anyways, please enjoy!

"What if countries were personified?"

Expensive leather shoes clacked down the marble hallway. Eventually, the footsteps stopped outside a deep, rich umber coloured mahogany door. One figure opened the door and both figures stepped in.

The room was was warm. Maybe a bit too warm for such a vast room. But then again, the vast, bright room was full of nervous, murmuring politicians. When the distressed politicians finally noticed the two figures standing stiffly in the middle of the room(and it took awhile), the muttering ceased instantly.

One portly man in a peanut coloured suit that was obviously too small for him, stood up, cleared his throat and said:

"Welcome personifications of North and South Italy. On the 18th of February 1861, we are gathered here to discuss one grave matter: one of your deaths!"

After he finished his announcement, he collapsed back into his seat, a light layer of sweat apparent on his face. Now, every one's attention was on the two brothers.

The older twin, with dark chestnut coloured hair, raised an eyebrow cynically. He was South Italy, the grumpy one. His brother however, was panicking, fiddling with his valuable suit and stammering gibberish.

Even though he was acting like this, thought South Italy resentfully, his brother was still far more useful and mature than he was, reflecting the fact that North Italy(the actual landmass) was far more prosperous than South Italy.

Finally, someone decided to break the heavily pregnant silence that laced the room.

Another senator rose.

"You will be given seven days to decide who dies. Have a discussion, have a duel. We don't care. As long as the matter is resolved. That's it. The meeting is adjourned."

People began to rise, eager to exit the room.

The two brothers retreated, strolling around Rome together. It was rather sunny today. Rather ironic, since today was the day one of them was going to die. They ended up sitting in front of a random fountain.

"Oi fratello. Want me to go buy some gelato?"

North Italy looked up with a troubled expression.

"Eh? Oh. Sure"

South Italy "hmphed" and stalked away. On his way to the vendor, he passed a newspaper stand. The first page caught his eye. He picked it up. And then he dramatically choked on his spit. on the front page was a discussion on which twin was going to die. And all the arrows were pointing at him. He dropped it and sprinted to his apartment, his heart tearing and throbbing and tears streaming down his face. How dare his people betray him? How dare they?!

Meanwhile back at the fountain, North Italy was getting worried.

Big Brother is taking so long.

No. Something's wrong. He too off. As he was running around, he passed the same news paper stand that South Italy had just been too. As he peeked at the front page, he felt a cold sweat break out over his body.

"Fratello...fratello must have seen this."

And he took off again. Except, this time in the direction of South Italy's apartment.

South Italy was sprawled out on his bed, contemplating his whole life. Even when he was young, people prized his younger twin more than him, even his grandpa. He was treated as an outcast, while his brother shone in the spotlight. He-

BANG. BANG. BANG.

"Fratello, are you there? Fratello?"

Damn. just the person he didn't want to see right now. He felt the dam of feelings inside him break, directing itself in a rushing torrent at North Italy.

"GO AWAY YOU IDIOT! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU FOR TAKING AWAY EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME!"

Then he cried. Cried harder than he ever had. Then he allowed his bottomless pit of despair and darkness to swallow him. To envelop his entire being.

I'm Going to Die.

Outside, North Italy had heard his outburst, his mouth open in shock. He stepped back, whimpering. His brother thought of him like this? Then he ran, ran trying to leave his thoughts in the wind. But it was no use.

A week passed in the blink of an eye and soon both brothers were in the same room where they had heard the death sentence. Both of them were looking incredibly morbid. Blood shot eyes, gaunt skin and incredibly lethargic.

The silence was suffocating. Then suddenly, North Italy pulled out a gun and trained it on his brother.

South Italy closed his eyes, feeling a strange sense of peace wash over him.

"Arrivederci, Fratello."

And... I die.

He heard a gunshot and braced himself for the impact. There was none. He tentatively opened his eyes to see his brother's body, waver, then slump to the floor, a hole in his head and a gun in his hand. South Italy froze, felt nothing. Then the tidal wave of emotions slammed into him. Anger, fear, sadness, love and a million others.

He scrambled over to his brother's corpse.

"BROTHER! BROTHER! NO, DON'T LEAVE ME!"

He sobbed, screamed and wailed, his emotions creating a storm inside him, ripping his mind apart.

Then, he saw a warm, soft light float out of his brother's body.

His Soul.