Hetaoni: ENDGAME

Chapter 5 ~ Finding Italy

   They had finally reached the fourth floor, and Japan showed them to the room where the mochi was stuck. "What an odd looking creature.." Germany said as they walked into the room. "You can say that again." Hungary agreed. Germany walked over to inspect the mochi, Prussia watching as he sat in the throne. Hungary sat on the edge of the table, Japan by the doorway. "Can you do it Germany-San?" Japan asked. "It is stuck pretty deep. Good luck with this one West." Prussia piped. "I couldn't even get him out." Hungary added. Germany took a deep breath, and got a good grip on the bizarre mochi.

"Hugggn!!! .... Sorry Japan- I can't do it with my bare hands. Maybe with some tools?" Japan nodded. "I'll go look around. It's a big house. I'll be back as soon as I find anything useful." He offered. "Thanks Japan." Germany tried to get another good hold on the mochis body, preparing to pull again. "Looks like we're gonna have to split up again. Oh well. Be careful Japan!" Prussia cautioned, not wanting his team mates to get lost in that massive maze they called a house. "Be back soon!" Hungary chimed in with a wave.

"NGGH...... WOOOOAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!" Germany failed again, the mochi barely budging.

Prussia laughed. "Awesome face West!" Hungary rolled her eyes. "Well then, I'll get going." Japan made his leave as Hungary and Prussia waved goodbye to him.

Japan exited the room and looked around, entering one of the rooms to the upper left of the staircase. "Hm? A lever?" He walked over to the metal lever on the wall, reading over the note right next to it. It read: "Up is Heaven. Middle is Earth. Down is Hell." Japan raised an eyebrow at the paper, puzzled. Not knowing what to do, he pulled the lever all the way down, hoping it wasn't some complex puzzle he needed to solve. With a snap, the lever broke. Japan turned his head in surprise as the box at the end of the room move, exposing a hole in the floorboards. "What is th-" He was cut off as he fell down the hole, falling and landing with an "Ouch!" on the next floor.

He looked up, surprised to see a piano in the middle of the room. Raising an eyebrow, he walked around the room, suspicious. With curiosity taking over, he took a seat at the piano and tested out the keys. They weren't too off tune, and even if it was, it still played a good melody. His fingers rushed across the keys as he played one of his favorite songs, Insanity. It always made him think of family. He didn't know why; it just did. He sighed. It was times like these when he wished he had met his parents. Oh well. Now wasn't the best time to get nostalgic. Japan stood up from the piano, and looked behind him. He felt like there was someone watching him... Not in the creepy stalker way, but as if they were... Protecting him. He brushed off his weird thoughts and walked into the next room. "I'm just on edge, that's all." He told himself, still not understanding the true meaning of the presence.

Japan walked into the next room, a massive library brimming with books of all colors and titles. And in the midst of it all, stood Italy.

"I-Italy?!" Japan called out.

"Japan! You're okay!" Italy cheered as he turned around, a huge smile on his face as he hugged the poor country. Japan smiled back shyly, hugging back, thinking just this one time was appropriate. "Surprisingly, I pulled through, thank God." Japan modestly answered, a small chuckle.

"Oh! After you left, a monster suddenly appeared out of nowhere and attacked us! Germany was the first to scream. You... You heard him right?" Italy asked. "No, not all." Japan replied, surprised to hear a story that involved Germany screaming in fear.

"I see. Well Germany's scream surprised even me too, and I was so confused at the time, so I ran away and I had to leave you behind. I'm so sorry Japan... But the front door wouldn't open, and there was no way to get out! We all split up while running, so I lost the others." He informed, apologizing for something he didn't need to.