A/N: Thank you to everyone who read the first chapter of Trapped Within! I would especially like to thank the reviewers, The Singing Maiden, IReadFanficsOnly, and Min Kagamine. I appreciate your feedback. Thanks also go out to everyone who added this to their story alert or favorites list. :'D It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

That being said, enjoy this chapter of Trapped Within!

For nearly thirty minutes, Japan had sat here with his ear against the door to the library, listening for any signs of the monster he'd just encountered. It was peculiar. He didn't hear any sound of it, but he hadn't seen it leave.

In his hands, he held the onigiri he'd found on the table earlier. Having grown up in China's house, Japan had come to know quite a bit about identifying things with medicinal properties. The onigiri he was currently grasping smelled as if it contained some sort of natural remedy, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Placing the onigiri in a small pack he'd found while searching the house, Japan returned to listening in the room. Still nothing. A little peak wouldn't hurt, would it?

Unlocking the door, he cautiously poked his head in. There was no sign of the monster so far. Being a bit bolder, the Asian nation walked into the room, this time being sure to keep the key close to him at all times.

Walking around the library, he still found no sign of the creature. Actually, now that he thought about it, it seemed like the lights were no longer as dim as they'd been when he was in here previously.

Something shiny caught his eye on the table in the corner of the room. Nearing it, he saw that it was a key. A key to what…? Picking it up, he brought it to his face to get a closer look. It was golden in color with a little scribble on the top… He could see the romaji "I" and "V" together. IV? What did that mean…?

Oh! Looking at the key he'd used to open the library, he saw that on the top of it, there was also a scribble. It was a lone "I." Of course…they were roman numerals! If the roman numeral for the number one was on the key he'd used to open this room, perhaps the numbers were meant to match keys to floors. If that was the case, the key he'd just found on the table must belong to one of the doors on the fourth floor. He decided to keep the key, putting it in another pocket of the pack he'd found. (1)

Still neither hearing nor seeing the monster anywhere, Japan looked at the bookshelves. He sighed. "If only I wasn't in such a hurry… I would really enjoy reading these books. There are so many." He idly wondered if there were any manga or doujinshi in the shelves.

"…Well, just one wouldn't hurt, would it?"

Opening the first book available, he leafed through it, seeing that it seemed to be outlining certain techniques and attacks. Interesting. One specific technique caught his attention due to the fact that it looked to have originated from his country.

"Dissmisal?" He lightly chuckled at the description of the attack. "I don't want to see your face." Ha!

Looking through the instructions on how to perform it, all it entailed was a few Shinto chants. Easy enough. It looked like it could be useful. Although he made a mental note of all the steps of the technique, he decided to carefully rip the page from the book and also place it in is pack to be safe. If he ever saw that creature again, he would test out its effectiveness.

"Well, it seems as though I've spent enough time in here. I need to go find Italy and Prussia…"

As he left the room, he decided he'd check out the third floor next. Arriving at the top of the stairs on the second floor, he briskly turned the corner to meet the next staircase.

Upon reaching the third floor, he noticed three rooms as well as another staircase that lead up to the fourth floor, which he assumed to be an attic. The doors were all locked, just as he expected.

"I hope they aren't hiding in any of the rooms with locked doors…" Japan mused. "It wouldn't surprise me. It would be logical that if they were running from that monster, they'd hide in a room and lock the door. I imagine the last place I can check is the fourth floor. I do have a key for a room up there…"

There were two rooms on the fourth floor. He imagined he'd try the eastern door first. Approaching it, he found it to also be locked. Reaching in his pack and retrieving the key, he was pleased when it slid into the keyhole with ease.

"It seems I was correct that the markings were roman numerals for the floors."

The room was rather Spartan. Despite its large size, the only pieces of furniture were two cabinets, a chair, a desk, and a chest of drawers. He ran a finger over the oak desk. Lifting it to his face, he found that it was, yet again, completely clean. Not even a molecule of dust…

He jumped when he heard a squeak resound across the room. Grasping his katana, he asked, "Who's there?" His only answer was another squeak, which he was able to pinpoint as coming from behind one of the cabinets.

Slowly approaching it, he carefully moved the cabinet slightly to the side. He was rewarded with another squeak.

"...A mochi?"

Indeed, he had found the source of the squeaking. There hidden behind the cabinet was a small white mochi, it's blue eyes shining up at him. He could see that it was stuck in a break in the wall.

"Are you stuck?" He asked. His answer was a curt nod from the little creature. With it looking at him, it's eyes watering and looking so pathetic, Japan couldn't help feeling sorry for it.

"Let me see if I can help you." Grasping the mochi by it's sides, he attempted to pull it out of the break in the wall it was caught in. It was really stuck in a tight spot. He grunted from his efforts before letting go and letting out a sigh.

"I'm sorry. I can't get you out." He apologized. "Germany-san may be able to get you out though. I wonder if he'd come here for that?"

Remembering the terrified look on Germany's face and how he seemed to not want to leave the room he'd quarantined himself in… "Then again, maybe I will have to drag him out. Anyway, I'll ask him."

Returning to the second floor, he hoped that Germany had shaken off his terror from earlier. Seeing Germany like that still gave Japan the creeps. Germany was always very good at concealing any fear he felt.

After entering the bedroom, he made his way to the back corner where the door resided that Germany had toppled out from earlier. Too his surprise, he found the door to be made out of iron.

"What? I'm almost positive this door wasn't iron earlier…" He thought as he knocked. "Germany-san, do you have a minute?"

Instead of opening the door, Germany answered him from behind it. "Is that you, Japan? What's the matter?" He spoke quietly, as if afraid that talking much above a whisper would alert the creature of their whereabouts.

"You see, there's a mysterious mochi stuck in the wall in a room on the fourth floor." The Asian answered. " I feel sorry for it, so I was wondering if you could get it out…"

A pause. "…I see. Okay. I'll go and get it out." Another pause. "…I do have a favor to ask of you though, Japan."

Japan nodded, but then remembered the other nation couldn't see him. "Ah, sure, if it's something I can do."

"When I was running from that thing, I dropped my whip." Germany answered. "I think we should have some sort of weapon in case that….thing shows up again. If it's not too much trouble, could you please go look for it?"

"What a coincidence!" Japan grabbed the whip from his pack. "Actually, I found your whip a while ago!"

"Really?"

"Here, I'll give it back to you."

The door opened, but only enough for Germany to stick his hand out. Japan blinked. He was incredibly confused by Germany's behavior. This didn't seem very much like him.

Passing the whip to the other nation, Japan said, "It was lying on the bed next to the door."

Germany's hand receded out of sight behind the door after he received the whip. "Oh, I see. Uhhh…thanks."

"It was not a problem. I only found it by chance, after all." Reaching for the door to open it, Japan called, "Now, let's go to the fourth floor-"

"Oh! Japan! I'm sorry, but…"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Ah…I'm sorry, but…actually, I'm hungry. Don't you have anything to eat?"

"To eat…" He remembered the onigiri he'd found earlier, but decided against telling Germany about it. With It's medicinal properties, the onigiri was better off saved in case of an emergency. "I'm sorry, but I didn't bring any food with me. I don't have anything that could be used as an ingredient either…"

"I see. If it's not too much trouble, could you please go look for something to eat?"

Japan sweat dropped. Of course Germany would suddenly have to need food when they were in the middle of a haunted mansion with a monster running loose. Perfect timing, honestly. "Germany-san, how could I possibly find food in this place?"

"I have no strength right now." Germany answered. He really needed food and besides that, he needed to distract Japan from him for a little while. "Anything is fine; just find me something, okay?"

Japan just stared at the door. Was Germany really serious? After a few seconds paused, he figured he'd gotten his answer. "….Alright. I'll look around. I need to find Italy anyhow."

"Thank you, Japan."

The European nation went quiet for a few seconds. Believing the conversation was over, Japan turned to leave.

As he was about to walk away, Germany again called to him. "By the way, did you find my brother?"

Japan's expression dimmed. He'd been through so many rooms in this place and yet he hadn't even seen a sign of Italy or Prussia. "No…but he should be fine. Somehow…"

"Sorry for all the trouble." The door again opened slightly and Germany's hand popped out, this time holding a can. "Oh, and take this with you."

Grabbing the can from Germany, Japan immediately noticed the label on it. He really wasn't sure how this would benefit him any… "A beer, Germany-san?"

"Hn. How do you think I've healed myself in the past?" Germany snorted.

The Asian nation sweat dropped. "…You've healed yourself by drinking beer? Germany-san, you know, there are healthier ways to-"

"Just take it, oaky?"

"…Okay, okay." Japan still didn't understand how a beer would help him… "Thank you very much, Germany-san. I'll be going now."

Right as he neared the door, he suddenly heard banging coming from the room Germany was in. "What exactly is he doing in there…?"

Deciding he had more pressing matters at hand than what Germany was doing alone in that room, Japan left. Going down to the first floor, he still found most of the doors to be locked. Entering the bathroom, he noticed something he had previously missed before. The toilet looked odd.

"…There is a coin slot on top of it...? Wait, there's also a screen…?"

Going up to the toilet, he confirmed what he saw from a distance. There was, in fact, a screen with a coin slot right next to it on top of the toilet. Touching the screen, it immediately sprung to life, displaying several items that he could apparently buy.

"まったく。。。I've officially seen everything." (2)

He was amazed to find that the screen displayed the selections in his own language. The main items he could buy were onigiri and beer. The machine was able to convert any currency into it's "heta." According to it, he was currently carrying sixty "heta" with him. An onigiri was thirty heta and the beer was thirty-five heta.

He sighed. Beer. What was with all of the beer? He pressed the arrow next to "onigiri." Selecting two, he went ahead and put his money in the toilet. He was really looking forward to seeing how the toilet producded the rice balls.

His eyes widened when two onigiri suddenly just appeared on top of the screen. The screen offered him an, "ありがとうございます！" It then shut itself off. (3)

"Weird." He thought as he stood there blinking. This day just kept getting stranger and stranger. He was far too old for this.

Placing the onigiri in his pack, he left the bathroom. Again, he found himself drawn to that room at the end of the hall, the same room he'd seen the creature go in earlier. Somehow, he found himself standing at it, his hand on the handle.

He pushed the door open. Unlocked! As it shut behind him, he was encased in darkness. Where was the light switch…? Feeling around the wall, he finally found it. Flipping it, light illuminated the room.

"Aaah, there. Now I can…see..."

He could see alright, for directly in front of his face was the huge body of the monster. It's large head tilted to the side as it inspected him. It was the first time Japan truly got a good look at it. The first time he encountered it, it had it's back had been to him. The second time, the room was so dim, all he could really make out was it's silhouette and it's large eyes.

The monster was truly something to be feared. Towering far above the short Asian, it stood on two muscular grey legs. It had a large belly. Two long arms ended in sharp, dangerous looking black claws. The creature's neck seemed to stretch to what would surely be an uncomfortable length. On top of it's impossibly long neck sat it's huge head. A small, sharp nose was accompanied by two large, completely pitch black eyes. It's mouth was forming a scowl.

"….." Japan grabbed his katana and stepped back, wanting to put as much room between him and the creature as possible. There was no doubt in his mind that this would be a fight.

He was correct. Less than a second later, the thing lunged at him. Quickly reciting the incantation he'd learned earlier, he declared, "DISSMISAL!"

The monster recoiled as red blades suddenly seemed to shoot down from the air, leaving a scorching mark across it's front. It let out a roar of what seemed to be anger.

Japan didn't have long to observe as suddenly long whips of electricity left the monster and coiled around him. He screamed as he felt every fiber of his being get shocked.

"Aaaagh!" Even as the electricity receded, the Asian still felt pain with every movement. That creature…what was it? Somehow, it vaguely reminded Japan of something.

Bearing through the pain, he pushed himself to his feet. The monster seemed to be a bit winded from his attack on him. Good. That left an opening that Japan couldn't afford not to take.

The sound of steel running across it's sheath was all the warning the creature had before Japan's katana imbedded itself in it's stomach. It hardly had time to screech before Japan whipped the sword out, making sure to lightly pull up as he brought his weapon out. Drawing it upwards would deal more damage, especially internally, than a simple stab wound.

"…But where is the blood? A stab wound like that…that thing should be bleeding all over this place!"

There was no blood. Instead, all Japan could see that was escaping the wound was some sort of grey dirt or rock. The dirt continued to spill out of wound, covering the floor completely.

"…Is it finished?" Japan wondered.

He soon got his answer as sparks of more electricity crawled out from the monster, rebounded off of the walls, and shocked him yet again. It definitely wasn't as strong as it had been the first time, but it still was enough to bring Japan to his knees yet again.

"…Just…keep moving. Ignore the pain."

Removing an ofuda from his pocket, he raced over to the monster and slammed it on to it's body. It let out a high pitched squeal as it expelled even more electricity from itself. Although the Asian nation managed to miss most of it, a few tendrils hit him head on.

Finding himself slammed across the room on his back, he tried to sit up. His vision was getting blurry. He had to do something quickly. He refused to be defeated. He would not be defeated.

Reaching into his uniform for another ofuda, his hand bumped against something round. Pulling it out, he found it to be the onigiri he'd pocketed when he was in the library; the onigiri that reminded him of the smells of China's natural remedies when he was growing up. Medicine…

Quickly eating it, he was amazed when he suddenly felt quite a bit of his strength return.

"This onigiri…it healed me that quickly?" Japan blinked. He couldn't stop the grin that covered his face nor the next thought that came into his mind, "It…it's just like the senzu beans from Dragonball!"

"...No, no." Japan shook his head, blushing. "Now is not the time to think about anime."

In an instant, the monster was swinging at him again, it's claws sharp and intimidating, heading straight towards Japan's head. Ducking, he slammed his katana through the creature. The momentum of the monster's body rushing towards him made it all the easier for Japan to push the sword all the way through, with the other side poking out of the thing's grey skin of it's back.

Japan readied himself to withdraw his sword when the creature slammed into him, knocking him into the room's dresser. Sitting up, he cursed. That thing now had his sword, but then again, it wasn't exactly in the best position to fight him with his katana currently skewering it.

"One last attack… I may be reaching my limit, but so is it. This should do it."

He recited the incantation he'd learned in the book again, focusing everything into the words. "DISSMISAL!"

Again, the red blades came crushing down on the creature, slashing it's face and neck. By now, practically the whole floor was covered in the dirt it leaked.

The Asian gasped when he noticed that the creature was suddenly transparent. He could see the door on the other side of the room through the monster. He didn't have long to ponder it before the monster slapped the light switch off.

"Is it going to kill me in the dark?"

The next five seconds seemed to draw on for eternity as Japan sat there, an ofuda in his hand, waiting for the creature to make it's move. He nearly jumped out of his skin when the light suddenly came on. What he saw confused him.

The creature was gone and the room looked absolutely untouched. None of the dirt that had covered the floor a few seconds ago was there. The only evidence of the encounter was Japan's lone katana lying where he'd last seen the monster. Crawling over to it, he examined it and found that it was completely stainless, just as it had been when he entered the house. It was as if he'd never even fought with it.

"…What….is going on…?"

(1) The scenes with Japan inspecting the onigiri and the keys were not in the RPG. Because this is a fanfiction, explanations have to be brought up about how the rice balls just magically heal people and how Japan just knew the key was to the fourth floor. In the game, of course, it's just all, "Obtained key to the fourth floor."

(2) まったく – I'd probably translate it as something along the lines of, "…Seriously?"

(3) ありがとうございます – Thank you.

I try not to put too much Japanese into my stories, but with Japan, I sometimes find it fitting. Also, I mean, come on, a toilet that sells beer and onigiri. Who wouldn't lapse into their native language?

A/N: Thank you for reading the second chapter. I hope that it was up to everyone's expectations. If you haven't watched the HetaOni RPG, the first few parts of it are rather Japan-centric. Don't worry, everyone else gets their parts later.

If you have the time, I love receiving feedback. Thank you!