"What do you mean, China?" Switzerland asked, confusion and irritation evident in his voice. "You… You guys went missing for three fucking weeks and then you're going to return out of nowhere and then tell us that Japan is fucking dead?! What is happening here?!"

China only sobbed in Hong Kong's arms before answering in a voice that no one knew he could make. A small and fragile voice compared to his rather loud and somehow bubbly voice. "We… We went to this mansion that was rumored to be dangerous and no one would ever go out alive once you get in there…"

"YOU GUYS DID WHAT?!" Romano exploded, pure anger was seen on his eyes. "The ten of you went inside that forbidden mansion?! IT WAS FORBIDDEN FOR A REASON, CHINA! I THOUGHT YOU GUYS HAD MORE SENSE THAN THAT! AND NOW LOOK WHAT HAPPE-"

"I know how you feel Romano, but don't take it out on Yao-nii." Hong Kong said in a stern manner but everyone knew that his voice was breaking, they knew he was trying not to cry and was trying to be strong. "You and Switzerland lost a bestfriend. Spain lost a friend. China, Korea and I lost a brother."

"Wh-where are the others, aru?" China asked them, looking around the room.

"They're somewhere in the building." Romano answered icily. "I heard from Greece that England, America and Canada were in the room across ours."

"Canada had Japan when England transported us here…" Russia's voice was suddenly heard, making everyone in the room jump. "But he's with Germany and the others when we got here. They're on their way here, da."

As if on cue, the doors opened and revealed the other nations, the ones who came from the mansion were reeking of blood and sweat. America had the unconscious England on his arms while Germany had… Germany laid Japan at the floor beside China, and the other nations noticed how the dry trails of tears on the nations' faces.

"Japan…" Switzerland muttered in despair. He may have acted rashly and shouted at Japan often but they knew that's how their friendship works. He slowly approached Japan and flinched at the coldness of Japan's face when he touched his cheek.

Romano only stared with a hurt look on his face, not really able to get near at Japan while Spain only watched sadly.

Hong Kong still couldn't cry. He wanted to, now that he saw what his older brother. But he still couldn't bring himself to cry.

Greece and Turkey were staring at something on the room, not looking at Japan for the fear of starting to cry in front of the other nations but what they notice was tears were already flowing down their cheeks.

"Iggy exhausted himself," America said as he sat down in order to make England comfortable on his arms.

What everyone didn't expect was to see Korea launching himself at Japan's body and hugged it tightly, while crying harshly.

Not knowing what to say, China only placed a comforting hand on Korea's shoulder when Korea suddenly said:

"Aniki… I wasn't able to, you know." Korea said between sobs. "I wasn't able to tell him that i already forgave him after he apologized! I made my pride get in the way…! I… I always thought he would be always here… I always thought 'As long as I will be able to see him every meeting, everything'll be fine.' and… and… one day I'll tell him I already forgave him… but that day will never come anymore…"

Knowing the pain that the Korean was expressing right in front of him, China hugged his brother in a futile attempt to make his sobs lessen, even for a little. He wasn't even finishing his sentences with his trademark "Da ze."

"I… I wasn't even able to call him Kiku-nii just like back then… " Korea muttered. "Kiku-nii! Wake up… WAKE UP! THIS IS JUST A NIGHTMARE RIGHT?! A NIGHTMARE THAT MY SUBCONSCIOUS MADE OUT OF WORRY FOR YOU GUYS! I'M GOING TO WAKE UP ANY TIME NOW AND I'LL SEE YOU GUYS ALL WELL!"

While Korea was ranting about this out of desperation and denial, everyone around him was slowly crying.

Even they were praying that this was only a nightmare.

After everyone has calmed down, they were preparing for the funeral and was calling every single nation in the world.

While the other nations were surprised about the news, some even crying, the Asian nations didn't take the news lightly.

Taiwan was crying loudly over the phone.

Thailand threw the phone across the room but Korea heard him scream loudly in anger and sadness.

Macau only was only quiet before disconnecting the call, but China knew that he's crying as well.

And the same thing happened to the other Asian nations.

While the others were preparing for the funeral, Hong Kong was assigned to clean Japan's body, fully knowing that he wanted to say something but wasn't able to express it as openly as China and Korea did.

"Nee… Kiku-nii," Hong Kong said blankly as he wiped the blood from Japan's face. "Remember when we were young? When Yao-nii wasn't around, you'll be the one to clean my wounds if I scraped my knee or something… remember the promise I made?"

A tear.

Followed by another.

"That one day, I'll be the one to clean your wounds too… but…"

Another tear.

Followed by another. And another.

"I didn't expect that it'll be… just… like this…"

Finishing the blood cleaning, he hugged Japan's cold body.

"Why did it have to be like this, Kiku-nii?"

The funeral was a quiet one.

Though their tears screamed their sadness, agony, grief and… regret.

Canada was standing beside Japan's coffin with France, England and China.

"I can't believe that even for a moment or two… I forgot my own boyfriend…"

It was true, but I wasn't just Canada.

Everyone who entered the mansion forgot Japan the moment he went to that room.

That room where he was killed.

And they were angry at themselves.

"I'm going to play Japan's favorite song," Canada said before the song started playing

Don't say anymore!
In a little while
I will make that door open for me

Streaming from the windowshade
Like falls of daybreak
I recall the time we met
(nostalgic days)
The hundreds of footprints
On the path we walked together
Seem like they were lost, searching for a dream

The last thing I can do
Is say goodbye with a smile
No matter how lonely it may be
I have to go
If my tears should happen to fall
I wouldn't be able to move forward, so
Yes, let's meet again
In the future

More tears started flowing down their cheeks

Your gaze is gentle
I can't turn my back on you
There's still so much I want to say to you (about what happens from now on)
You've been by my side
For so long
In my heart, I feel like I've forgotten to take something with me

The last words I want to say
Are of thanks
When I look back now
I feel nothing but gratitude
If I had never met you
I wouldn't be here
That's right, this isn't the end
It's just a new beginning

The last thing I can do
Is say goodbye with a smile
No matter how lonely it may be
I have to go
If my tears should happen to fall
I wouldn't be able to move forward, so
Yes, let's meet again
In the future

I'll be waiting…
In the future

They were going to heal, both emotionally and mentally.

But for now, their bosses gave them time to mourn, especially Japan's "families."

They just needed time.

What they didn't know was someone was standing beside them, just at the corner of the room.

There stood Japan's ghost, crying along with the rest of them. Feeling their own current emotions. He didn't want to die, he didn't want to put them on what they're going through right now. But the injuries he sustained was too much for it and he knew that it was his time to go.

Canada told everyone the promise he made with Japan when they became a couple.

Bury him under the cherry blossom where they became a couple.

And they did.