Memories of Old

Chapter 52: Smoke and Mirrors

Chapter 52: Smoke and Mirrors

"That was..." England didn't quite know how to put what they'd just seen.

"Depressing?" Canada suggested.

"Like this whole mess hasn't been?" Markus raised an eyebrow.

"I am so sorry, Italie..." France turned towards me. "I should never have blamed you."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Given the evidence you had and what little you knew of the situation, it's understandable. Honestly, I'd be worried if you hadn't blamed me."

The next scene faded in, but this time it started at the end of a loop. Feliciano stood in the Annex, heading for the Grandfather Clock Room. He wore an exasperated expression, even as the tears dripped from his eyes.

"I know I've made my mistakes. Nobody is perfect..." He moaned softly to himself. "But how many times are you going to forget to lock the door? Japan, please." He cried.

"I... I'm sorry, Itary-nii." Japan apologized.

"Don't worry about it. I just hadn't figured out a way to subtly plant a suggestion to you to lock doors yet." I waved off his apology.

Feliciano pushed open the door. The Thing stood there, looking pleased. It made no move to attack the Ryuuzu. "Christ, here we go again." Feliciano sighed. "I'm so done with this bullshit." He shook his head. "Timeline reset fuck me. I hate everything."

Despite the situation, Luciano and Yang couldn't help but chuckle. "You are just so fucking done with everything, it's kinda funny." Luciano explained.

"I remember this. I couldn't stop laughing for hours!" Yang grinned.

"So glad you two could find humor in my misery." I stated flatly.

"You know you do the same with us." Luciano playfully shoved me, causing me to crack a smile.

"Fair enough."

"I still don't understand how you can find humor in this kind of situation." England glanced around as the next scene faded in. He half expected to see blood all over the place, but instead the entire room was spotless, as per usual.

"Because they have to." America answered. "If they don't find some kind of relief from the pain and seriousness of everything they'd go nuts. I kinda understand, at least that much."

"You would, wouldn't you?" Canada shot his brother a somewhat guilty look.

"I feel like we're missing something here." I whispered to Romano, who nodded his head.

"Me too."

While nobody had been paying attention, the next scene had faded in. Feliciano looked quite thouroughly dead inside, and was in the downstairs bathroom. He was covered in blood, and had a nasty cut on his left cheek, that had some half-heartedly placed butterfly bandages in place of what should've been stitches.

"That is not how you treat an injury." China huffed.

"Please spare me the lecture." I replied dryly. "I was about to loop back again. In all honesty, I'm amazed that I even bothered to do that much."

Japan sighed. "Baka-nii."

"Bloody git." England shook his head fondly, and I couldn't help but smile softly at the two. They really did have soft spots for me.

"Wait a second..." Luciano's eyes narrowed as his gaze landed on me. "Don't tell me..."

"Hm?" Feliciano's attention was drawn to the mirror where, in the reflection that should've shown Feliciano, Luci stood. He stared at Feliciano in shock and fierce concern.