Author's note: Hi! Time, at last, for the final chapter.

Holy scheisse, this thing is enormous. XD At least, compared to my usual standard. I don't wanna cut any off, though, so I'll just leave it as it is.

I hope you like it!

Chapter Five: Dissolve

Italy grinned to himself as he stirred the contents of the boiling water around the pot. After a few moments, he switched pots and stirred that one.

Romano entered the kitchen. "Hey, fratello-" he began, but paused. "Urgh! What-a the hell is that smell?"

"It's mine and Germany's dinner!" Italy replied happily.

"What?" Romano stormed over and stared into the pot. "Is that-a what I think it is?"

"Si!"

"What-a the hell, fratello? No way I'm-a touching that crap!"

"I figured as much, so I bought-a some extra pasta!"

"Hmph! Damn-a straight you did!"

"I also bought-a you some fresh tomatoes!"

"... Tch. Fine. Whatever."

Romano stormed out of the kitchen. Still smiling, Italy continued stirring.

"Germany~!" Italy called up the stairs. "Dinner's ready~!"

"Ja, coming!" Germany replied.

A short while later, the German wandered into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

"... Zat doesn't smell like pasta..."

Italy grinned at him as he brought the plates over. "Here you go, Germany~!" He put them on the table.

Germany's eyes grew very wide as he stared at his plate. He said nothing.

"And that's not all!"

Italy darted away again, bringing back two pint glasses with cans of German beer stuffed inside them. He placed them on the table, then sat down.

After a moment's silence, Germany looked up at him, still wide-eyed. "Vhat is zis?"

"Your favourite! Sausages and mashed potatoes! And some weird German beer I saw you drinking once."

"Italy..."

"I hope I cooked it right... I tried-a really hard!" He grinned. "I had to run all the way to Germany to get the ingredients, because the stores in Italy didn't have them... they're mostly stocked-a with pizza and pasta... and I had to take a shortcut across Switzerland's yard... hence-a the bullet holes in my jacket... so I hope it's okay!"

Germany looked down at his plate, his expression never changing.

"Hmm? Germany?"

Germany's form shook slightly. "Vh..."

"Hmm? Oh, wait, I should pour-a your drink for you! One second!"

He stood up, pulled the can out of Germany's pint glass and cracked it open. He poured the sizzling liquid into the glass. After discarding the can, he did the same for his own drink, then sat back down.

"There we go! Buon appetito!"

"Vhat... did I do to deserve zis?"

"Hmm? Well, just-a for being you, Germany!"

Germany gave him a look of disbelief. "Vha...?"

"Eat up!" Italy grabbed his cutlery and cut off a piece of wurst. He put it in his mouth and chewed. "Mmm..." He swallowed it. "It's not-a bad!"

Still saying nothing, Germany mimicked him. Upon putting the wurst in his mouth, his expression melted into one of pure bliss.

Italy beamed at him. It'd been a long time since he'd seen him so happy.

"So, how is it? Is it okay?"

Germany swallowed the wurst. "Ja... es ist gut."

"Evviva! I'm so glad!"

Germany moved onto the mashed potatoes, the crease in his brow barely visible anymore.

They ate their dinner in peaceful silence. Once the plates were eventually clear, Germany began to sip his beer.

Italy took a sip of his own beer, then cringed. After a moment, he took another sip.

"Danke for ze meal, Italy..."

"You're welcome! I wasn't sure I cooked it the way you like it, since I've never cooked wurst and potatoes before, but-"

"But vhat vas it for?"

"Huh?"

"... You've fed me nozing but pasta and pizza for ze past monz... Vhy suddenly change to wurst and potatoes?"

"Oh, well, uh... you were probably getting sick of pasta and pizza!" Italy laughed nervously.

Germany looked up at him with a suspicious gaze. "Right... so you made me my favourite meal, instead..."

"Well, uh..."

"And you also made it for yourself... vhen you barely even like it. Vhy?"

"I do too like it!" Italy paused a moment, fiddling with the handle of his pint glass. "Well, I was hoping to butter you up a bit before asking if we could-a be friends again..." He looked up with a grin. "Did it work?"

Germany stared at him. "F... Friends?"

"Si! I really miss being your friend, Germany. I mean, I know you've been in my house for a month now, but we've barely felt-a like friends!"

Germany flinched. "Vell..."

"Can we be friends again?"

Germany looked away, a conflicted look on his face. "But... I..."

"Please, Germany! There's no reason not to be friends anymore, right? Since you took a leaf from mybook and waved a white flag?"

"... Vell, nein, but..."

"I miss you training-a me and yelling at me and calling me a hopeless dum... doom... whatever that funny German word is that you always use around me! So, please be my friend again!"

"... But... I don't really deserve zat, now, do I?"

Italy tilted his head. "Hmm?"

"After all zat I've done... how could you possibly vant me to be your friend again?"

"What do you mean, Germany?"

Germany frowned. "You dummkopf! I pointed a gun at you! Tvice! I..." Another conflicted look appeared on his face.

"Si. So?"

Germany gave him an incredulous look. "Vhat do you mean 'So?'? I could have shot you! I could have killed you!"

Italy straightened his head and smiled. "But you didn't!"

Germany blinked. "Huh?"

"Both times, you were poised to shoot-a me... but you didn't! So it's okay!"

Germany blinked again. After a long pause, he heaved a sigh. "You're impossible..."

"So, are we friends now?"

"... You really zink it's zat simple?"

"Si!"

"... But I..."

"Hmm?"

Germany looked away. "I don't deserve your friendship. Not anymore."

Italy's face fell slightly. "What do you mean?"

Germany huffed. "... I vas stubborn. Incredibly stubborn. Vhen you svitched sides, I should have just ended ze var right zere... but I didn't. I turned my back on you, vhen I said I'd alvays be zere for you. I have no right to be your friend, Italy."

"Germany..." There was a pause. Then Italy chuckled. "Oh, Germany, it's not-a your fault! If anything, it's me who doesn't deserve to be your friend!"

Germany turned to him with a confused look. "Vhat do you mean?"

"Well, if I hadn't-a switched sides in the first place, this would never have happened! You'd still-a be yelling at me... we'd still-a be sleeping in the same bed... and we might have even won the war!"

"Pfft. Nein. It vouldn't have made any difference. Ze Axis vere screwed, vhezer or not you'd stayed viz us. You vere probably better off on ze vinning side, anyvay."

"Aww, Germany..."

"I'll admit, it's been... qviet vizout you..."

Italy brightened up. "You missed-a me, too?"

Germany looked away awkwardly. "Vell... ja..."

"Aww, Germany!"

"I'm just... sorry I acted ze vay I did."

"Aww, I'm sorry, too! I never should have left in the first place! It was mainly out of hunger... and world peace! But mainly hunger."

"Ja and I shouldn't have been such a stubborn idiot... Sometimes, I just don't know vhen to qvit."

"Si, except-a when you did that epic dive off the cliff!"

Germany looked back at Italy. "... You liked zat?"

"Oh, si! It was very scary, but very cool! Seeing you surrender was one of the most terrifying things I'd ever seen!"

Germany gave a light chuckle in response. "Ja, I'll bet. I did not make zat decision lightly..."

"I'll bet-a you didn't! So, can we be friends again?" Italy planted his elbow on the table and held out his pinky finger.

Germany stared at it. "Vell..."

"Come on, Germany! I don't-a want to lose the first friend I made in three hundred years!"

Germany gave him that incredulous look again. "Zree hundred years?"

"Si! I've not had-a many friends in my life. Other countries prefer to beat-a me up, instead. I must radiate a punchable aura, or something!"

After a pause, Germany looked back down at the pinky finger. "I haven't had many friends, eizer..." He paused again. "In fact, you..." He paused a third time. "You vere ze first friend I can ever recall having."

"... Really?"

"Ja... as annoying and hopeless as you are... especially on ze battlefield... you vere my first friend."

Italy smiled. "So then we've every reason to be friends again! What do you think, Germany? Friends?" He waved his hand around on the table.

Germany was silent for a while, continuing to stare at the outstretched pinky finger. Eventually, he gave a deep sigh, planted his elbow on the table and held out his own pinky finger. Much like the first time, it was shaking slightly.

Beaming from ear to ear, Italy linked them together.

The next two months passed by with relative comfort. Italy had gone back to sleeping in the same bed as Germany and the two hung out and chatted the way they used to. Only without the war hanging over their shoulders.

Romano had been rather pissed off about the news that Italy and Germany were friends again, though he'd eventually let the matter slide. Somewhat. After a huge rant about how your prisoners should not be your friends. And how Italy could do much better than that kraut-face. He'd also developed a habit of glaring at Germany every morning before leaving to work on his fruit stall.

Italy, on the other hand, had taken to making wurst spaghetti on odd days, to suit both of their tastes. The only thing he didn't like was crossing Switzerland's yard to get the ingredients. One time, however, Liechtenstein had been kind enough to bandage him up after a run-in with her big brother. 'Switzy' hadn't looked too happy about it, but he'd kept quiet.

"Okay, dudes..." America said, slapping a hand on the blackboard. Next to his hand was a drawing of Japan's face. "Here's our next plan of attack..."

Suddenly, the doors of the meeting room burst open. Every head snapped around to see Japan standing there, bent over and panting heavily. His normally pristine white uniform was stained with dirt and scuff marks.

"Japan!" Italy cried.

After a moment, Japan raised his head. His eyes were wide and his face was covered in cuts and bruises. "I surrender!" he yelled.

Everyone stared at him.

"... Wait, what?" America asked.

Japan took a few deep breaths, then straightened himself. He produced a small white flag and waved it around slowly. "I surrender."

Three people in the room jumped out of their seats.

"... You what?" Britain cried.

"Sacré bleu!" France cried.

"Is dis a dream?" China asked.

America stared at the intruder, speechless.

"Oh, then I guess the fighting's over," Russia said with a smile. "Too bad."

"... Japan?" Italy asked.

Japan took a moment to compose himself, then he bowed. "I have spoken wis my boss," he said. "He and I are in agreement sat it is time for se war to end."

"... Dude," America said, "are you serious?"

"Hai. Very serious." Japan paused. "For many decades, my country has forrowed se way of se samurai... but perhaps it is not... se onry way..."

"... So... you actually surrender?"

"Hai." He paused again, then waved the white flag. "... I am waving sis correctry, right?"

"Y-Yeah..."

Japan breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, good. I have never used one before, so I was not certain I was doing it correctry."

"... Well, dat big relief!" China said.

"Oui!" France agreed. "Ze war! She is finally over!"

"It's over..." America said, shocked. "It's actually over..." He paused a moment. Then a huge grin appeared on his face. "It's over! The Allies won!" He threw his arms in the air. "Woooooo!"

"Well, that's World War Two over with, at last..." Britain said. "With any luck, there won't be a World War Three..." He paused. "By the way, Japan, old chap... why do you look like you've been run over by at least fifty vehicles?"

"I aporogise for se unsightry manner of my crosing," Japan replied. He turned to America. "America, I concede sat your rast-minute technique was superior to my rast-minute technique." He bowed.

"... You mean you're the reason he looks like this?"

America gave a nervous laugh. "Yeaaaah, sorry about that..." he replied. "I kinda went overboard on the counterattacks..."

"No wonder 'e surrendered," France said. "Look at ze state of 'is clothes!"

"Aiya..." China said, "he need long bath and nice massage..." He smiled. "I provide the acupuncture!"

"Oh, that sound fun!" Russia said.

"Oh, that's right," Britain said, turning to Italy. "Now that Japan's surrendered, Germany doesn't need to be our prisoner anymore."

Italy beamed. "Really?" he asked.

"Yes, really." Britain paused. "Actually, while we're on the subject, go and get him, will you?"

Italy saluted. "Si!"

Italy burst through the front door of his house, waving his arms wildly. "Germany!" he yelled happily. "Germany!"

Germany came running around the corner, looking worried. "Vhat is it?" he asked.

"Japan surrendered!"

Germany's eyes widened. "Vhat? Really?"

"Si! Si!" Italy grabbed Germany's arm and started dragging him out the door. "Come on, let's go!"

"Vait, go vhere?"

When Italy and Germany finally reached the meeting room, the Allies were sitting around the table, discussing peace negotiations with Japan. Upon hearing someone approaching, Japan looked up, then immediately froze.

"... Konnichiwa, Germany..." he said.

"... Guten tag, Japan..." Germany replied.

Britain looked between the two of them. "... Well, this is awkward..." he said.

"Alright, dudes," America said, "we don't have the paperwork right now to deal with these surrenders properly... so, in the meantime, I got a great idea!"

"Oh?" France asked.

"What's dat?" China asked.

"Does it involve more war?" Russia asked.

"Nope!" America replied. "In honour of this Allied victory... I declare, as the official leader of the group..."

"Oh, please..." Britain said.

America threw his arms in the air. "Party at my house!"

"... You know, zat actually sounds like a good idea," France said.

"... For once, I agree with the buggers," Britain said.

"Sure," Russia said. "Sounds like fun."

"Aiya!" China said happily. "I bring all my best dishes!"

"Let's go, then!" America cried. "To my house for a hoppin' party!"

Chatting excitedly, the five of them began to pile out of the room.

Italy looked awkwardly between the Allies and the former Axis, conflicted. Germany and Japan looked in opposite directions.

After a few moments, America stopped and looked around at them. "Hmm? Hey, dudes! You're invited too, you know!"

All three of them looked up at him. "Ja?" Germany asked.

"Rearry?" Japan asked.

"Hell yeah!" America replied. "The more the merrier! Besides, it's not a world peace party without the world, right? So, come on!"

The three of them looked at each other. After a moment, they stood up and followed America out of the meeting room.

At America's house, all eight countries were spread out around the kitchen, chatting and eating their favourite dishes, with glasses of their favourite drinks nearby. France was telling Britain and America lewd stories – while one was pulling disgusted faces and the other was laughing loudly – and Russia was telling China about how he might start another war, just for the fun of it, while the latter was shaking his head in disbelief.

In one corner of the kitchen, the former Axis Powers were huddled together.

Italy gave Japan the best smile he could muster. "Hey, Japan?" he said. "Me and Germany are friends again... and, well, since you've surrendered, too..."

Japan blinked at him. "You want to be friends again?" he asked.

"Si! I never wanted to fight-a with you guys in the first place... and I'm really sorry for being an idiota and switching sides."

Japan paused a moment, then looked away. "No... it is I who should aporogise... It was... very dishouraburu for me to point my katana at you rike sat... I am deepry ashamed."

"Oh, it's okay! I mean, it scared-a the beejeezus out of me, sure, but you didn't hurt me!"

"Hai, but I sreatened to..."

"Germany did the same thing, but he didn't hurt me either!"

"... Ja," Germany said, "I never intended to. At least ze first time..."

"You didn't?"

"Nein."

"... Me neiser," Japan said. "But I know you so werru, Itary... sat I knew se fastest way to stop you from coming back..."

"Vas to zreaten you."

Italy stared at them both. "... That's-a what you were doing?" he asked.

"Hai," Japan said.

"Ja," Germany said. He paused. "In a var, vonce ties are broken, zey must stay broken."

"And we knew you would not stay away oserwise." Japan paused. "It seems Germany and I had se same idea, wisout conferring wis one anoser first."

Italy paused, then smiled. "Wow, you two must be psychotically linked!" he said.

"Psychically," Germany corrected, "and nein. Ve just know you too vell."

"So, can we be friends again, Japan? All three of us?"

"Werru...!" Japan replied fretfully. "Onry if you sink I am worsy of your friendship again!"

"Of course you are! Right, Germany?"

Germany nodded. "Ja," he replied.

Japan looked shocked for a moment, then his eyes softened. "Arigatou," he said.

"Dude!" America cried. "Japan! Guess what I got!"

Japan turned to him. "Nani?"

America pulled the drape off a large object. "Tadaaaa!"

Japan's eyes widened. "A taiko drum?"

"Yup! I ordered it specially off the internet for just such an occasion!"

"... But we are in nineteen-forty-five..."

"Details, details!" He winked at him. "Fancy a bon dance, my friend?"

Japan stood up straight. "Hai! I wirru do my best!" He made a motion to put down his plate of salted salmon.

"Ah-ah-ah! You need a rest! Fortunately, yours truly has been taking taiko drum lessons! Also ordered off the internet!" He paused. "I kinda skimmed through the manual, though. It was more boring than Britain's history stories."

"Oy!" Britain yelled. "Bloody wanker!"

After getting the drumsticks ready, America began to pound out some manner of rhythm on the taiko drum. Everyone stared at him.

"It sounds rike no bon dance I have ever heard..." Japan said.

Eventually, after many attempts, and many different rhythms, America finally manage to pound out something that sounded vaguely familiar. As Italy slurped his pasta, he tried to figure out where he'd heard it before.

Suddenly, Japan started humming. After a few moments, he began to sing quietly to himself.

"Wa wa waaaaaa, waaaarudo..."

Italy stared at him in awe for a second. Then he smiled and sang along. "Wa wa waaaaaa, waaaarudo~!"

Japan looked up at him with raised eyebrows.

A few moments later, everyone started singing. "Wa wa waaaaaa, waaaarudo~! Wa wa waaaaaa, waaaarudo~!" Japan smiled and joined in. "Let's form a circle and then let's all form a flower! And we'll daaaance the night a-way... to the world's owwwwn beaaaaaaaaaat~!"

America stopped pounding the taiko drum and everyone in the room started laughing. Some, like America and Italy, were giving full-belly laughter. Others, like Germany and Japan, were merely chuckling.

When the laughter eventually died down, the singing continued. With all the eating, singing, dancing, laughing and drinking, the party lasted well into the night.

The End