Hetalia Oneshots

Thousand Years...

〔A/N: Hey, it's still the same as the last story, the fonts I mean.〕

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.

A scream filled the forest, echoing and sending the animals scurrying into their homes. "No... No! No! This-a can't be!" Tears streamed down the little Italian's cheeks upon discovering the dead body of his friend, his crush. "Holy Rome! Wake up!" He yelled, shaking the bloodied and bruised body of the blond. His tears, dropping an pooling at the corpse. Inside, he knew that what was gone, could never be returned.

He mourned for weeks, the death taking a toll on him. He'd barely step out of his room, refuse the food, even Austria was getting concerned. During those days, he grew deathly pale and anorexic thin. It was only a month after that did he really eat. But his wounds were still open. Holy Rome was never mentioned around him, for they knew it was a sensitive topic. He never really got better, even until now.

One step closer

Years, decades, centuries passed by after Holy Rome's death, yet, Italy Veneziano could never get over it. Hiding the pain and sadness had become a daily thing for him.

Of course, at the beginning, he wasn't very good at it, but now, you wouldn't even know he was depressed. And the sad thing is, he can't even die. He was a country. If he died, his people would too. And that meant leaving his brother alone. Again. They have already been separated for so long, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving. So he continued dying, a little bit every day. The part of his heart just chipping away like old paint. But he still clung onto that little thread of hope, that little light that illuminated at least a tiny part. Nobody could repaint his heart yet, nobody could light up his whole heart. Nobody until HE came.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Upon meeting him for the first time, Feliciano was at a loss for words. This... this new country, Germany, looked like a carbon copy of Holy Rome... Though admittedly buffer, his appearance was horrifyingly a replica. The buff German waved a hand in front of the Italian's face, effectively bringing him out of his trance. Plastering a smile to his face, he cheerfully greeted himself, formal titles and all.

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

Feliciano's clock finally started ticking again. After years of standing still, never really moving when the one making them move disappeared, he finally reappeared again. Though a different person, deep down, the auburn haired man knew that this was Holy Rome... his Holy Rome. And this time, he wouldn't let anything separate them ever again.

One step closer

Over the years, Italy and Germany grew closer. His wounds were finally beginning to heal. After years and years of waiting, his 'hero', as Alfred liked to call it, finally came and saved him from himself. Their clocks, ticking in sync, never once missing each other's beat. It was a symphony, a melody that consisted of the pain, the sufferings, most importantly, there's happiness, hope, and love mixed in it, creating a song called life.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

His fake smiles gradually lessened. Slowly, but surely. But that wasn't the happy ending yet. His brother disapproved of the relationship and tried to force them apart. Germany could do nothing, as he did not really want to get involved. Feli though, had the opposite reaction. For once, he stood up for himself.

"Why do you want us to be separated so badly?! Don't you see I want to be with him?!" Came his voice, choking back the stammering and making his voice as firm as possible. Romano wasn't having any of that though.

"Why?! I'm protecting you! Do you know how fucking painful it was for me to watch you suffer when Holy Rome died?! DO you think I'm just doing this for the fucking fun of it, Veneziano?! I'm keeping you away from Germany because I don't want to see you suffer the way you did before if something happens to Ludwig!" He yelled back, finally releasing the feelings he'd been bottling up. His younger brother could only stare at him, speechless, as he watched his older brother break down. He had never seen Romano cry before. In his eyes, his brother was always so strong. Never did he know how he really felt. Guilt flooded over him like waters from a dam when he realized, he didn't even bother asking how Romano felt.

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

His brother and him talked about the issue, and soon, Lovino began to slowly accept 'potato-bastard', as he liked to call him.

Then, came the tragic episode. Everybody started to fade away, being forgotten. First China, then Britain, then everybody else. The other people replaced them, explained why to Italy. Since they were the first ones, they didn't really experience these. But time was moving so very quickly. The first heartbreak, his brother disappeared. Sure, they may have fought a lot, but inside, they still care for each other. Few weeks later, Japan... Then... Germany. It was like history repeating itself again. Why hadn't he disappeared yet? Why was life so cruel?

One step closer
One step closer

Finally, months after the last country, other than Veneziano vanished, he woke up to find himself fading. His skin wasn't the usual opaque peach, no, it was becoming more and more transparent. He smiled to himself and whispered something, something that hopefully, his successor would be able to hear and apply. Finally turning into nothing more than specks of light, his consciousness faded as the wind carried his voice to the new born North Italy.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Now, they finally got their happy ending. At long last, they weren't countries anymore, sure. They're dead. They're gone, with nobody to remember them other than their successors. The role of being the personification, passed on. The cruel cycle would forever continue, but at least they were happy now. With all their friends reunited. Life had it's ups and downs for Feliciano. But honestly, the cheerful and former Italy Veneziano couldn't have it any other way. Because, what's life without it's rollercoasters? One can never really appreciate the beauty and happiness of life without seeing the pains and sadness of it. That's the lesson he learned.

That is the reason, why he'll always smile through the tears. Because he learned that while it may get worse, life will always pull you up and it'll get better. Just hang on to that fragile string of hope and wait.

Even if it takes a Thousand Years.

Because if you really are certain, certain that something, somewhere if worth the wait, you wouldn't mind waiting.

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more