Where Thou Art, That Is Home (Hetalia Fanfic)

Chapter 16~!

So, Italy has lost his memories. Wonderful.

He seems to have forgotten some of his past as well as the present, yet he knew everyone's names. Well, their country names. And he was surprised to see me there once again. I told him who I was, and it seemed to click for a second before drifting away on the wind.

Damn amnesia. I thought we were getting out soon.

Oh, I also had to explain to Romano and Spain who I was. No big deal, really. Romano seemed to trust me, and Spain was his usual happy-go-lucky self while we talked briefly. The short burst of normalcy made me nostalgic, sending a pang through my heart.

The vision flood had receded, allowing me to think clearly. Thank god... Maybe Italy and I were connected, and when he lost his memories I also lost the visions? Who knows, really. Steve probably knows. After he gave me that creepy smile a while ago, I was starting to think that he had a hand in what was happening to me.

Now I was missing my ring more than anything else. It was a comforting thing to have, like a worry stone but better. And with everyone else distracted with talking to Italy and each other, I found my chance to slip away and look for it.

Speaking of slipping, I took off the dog tags I'd filched from America before and set them on the table quietly. Maybe it'd be enough to tell them where I'd gone.

It felt incredible to get away from the confusion of it all. So much was happening all at once, and my being in the center of it didn't help make things any more understandable. Once in the main hallway of the second floor, I sighed deeply and started for the downstairs.

'Alright, Alice, let's figure this all out. Or, well, try to. You came here in your bathroom. Said bathroom vanished when you stepped out of it and shut the door behind you. So, it was like a portal of sorts. Next, you started hearing things. Voices, whispers that made no sense in the beginning. They still don't make a lot of sense, but they seem to have stopped for the time being.

'Nosebleeds... Magic overload. I was unintentionally using up magic I don't have? How does that work? Ugh... Oh well. It could be a reaction to my being here when I don't actually exist in this dimension. My presence might be burning up magic as I go. And that would explain why I get fatigued so much after fighting and using magic. I just don't have the spiritual stamina for this kind of thing. Not yet. Ha! I'll be more powerful one day. I know it.'

The door creaked open under my touch and I stepped inside, heading down the maze of hallways to find the damned cell that held America, France, and Prussia captive not long before. I didn't really want to go inside it, but it was a necessity if I wanted to properly search for my ring.

'How could it have slipped off my finger so easily, anyway? It's not too big for me, not at all! One of this mansion's mysteries? Maybe...'

Suddenly, there was a heavy footstep. Heavy breathing to match, and another three steps toward me. My own rapid breath hitched in my throat, and a cold sweat beaded on my brow. 'No...'

But it was exactly who I thought it was. Steve...

His fat, gray lips pulled back in a wolfish grin, and he slowly lifted one hand. Palm laid out flat, a gold band glittered like a jewel. My gold band.

"H-Hey!" I yelped, whirling to face him and glaring. "Damn you, was this a trap from the start?"

"Yes..." he rumbled, tossing me the ring. I caught it between both hands and fumbled before hooking my pinkie finger through it. It fit around my left ring finger like it was supposed to, and I was almost able to relax now that it was returned to me.