"Kiku's people believe that, attached to a person's left pinkie is an invisible red thread called the Red String of Fate... And, the end that's not tied to your pinkie is tied to your soulmate's" Germany stirred the onions around the bratwurst. "it's really a cute story, and it's such a nice way to make soulmates seem like a reasonable thing..."

Italy felt his face heat up as he started making the pasta and listening to Germany's story. "That's adorable." He said softly. "Who do you hope your string is attached to?" He asked, already knowing his own answer to the question, and wishing to know who Germany felt so strongly about.

"Im not sure, but I do hope that it's connected to who I hope it's connected to..." he looked at the food in the frying pan and flipped the wurst again, making sure the heat spread throughout the meat

Italy laughed nervously. "I'm confused. So you don't know who you hope your soul mate is, but you hope it's who you want it to be? I don't think that makes a lot of sense." He thought his brain might explode of he kept trying to figure it out. He sighed a little. "I guess I don't know who it is and I don't think I know who I hope it is either." He lied, glancing at Germany A bit. "Besides. It's just a story right? We don't really have soul mates do we?"

"I think there's someon for everyone. You know, other half of the heart, meaning for living..." he shrugged and put the wurst on a plate. "I do hope the string is true... Or at least soulmate part..."

"What if the string breaks? Then a person would be alone for forever. What ig someone who really wanted to have someone else wasn't their right soul mate and the one person had to watch the other be happy with another person instead of them?" He'd even confused himself a little with that sentence. He knew what he'd been trying to say, just not if he'd said it right.

"hm... I'm not sure..." he thought for a moment "Italy, I have a question for you"

He looked up at Germany with innocent eyes. "Ok. I'll answer it." He said and smiled faintly.

"Who do you want tied to the end of your string?" Germany asked as he poured the dirty oil into a empty bottle so he could throw it away.

Italy blushed a little, not sure what to say. "Eh..I don't know.." He was blushing an he looked down at the pasta.

"oh, really? Okay then..." Germany sighed and washed his pan

Italy looked up at Germany for a moment. "Do you know who you want Germany?" He asked, cursing how hopeful he sounded.

"yeah... I kinda do... But it does not matter." he shrugged and dried the pan

Italy's eyes went wide for a second and he hug tackled Germany. "No! I want to know." He stared into Germany's eyes, begging him silently to tell.

"w-well" he coughed "the person... The person is... Oh forget it, it's not worth it..."

Italy frowned. "Why won't you trust me? It's not like I'm going to go tell anyone." He was getting slightly annoyed. He'd thought they were good enough friends for Germany to trust him. "Nevermind." He just started mixing the brats into the pasta. He felt gloomy.

"... Feliciano Vargas is who..." was all Germany said as he walked out of the kitchen and out to the gardens.

Feliciano felt like he might die of happiness. "L-Ludwig!" He ran after him, managing to trip himself. "Oof..." He fell hard and bit down on his lip, making it bleed. "Ekk..." He tried to stand back up, looking at his bloody knees. "Dang..." He went to find Germany.

Ludwig looked around in the garden, debating on even going and facin Italy, who must surely hate him by now. "stupid idiot!" he groaned and sat on a bench, raking his fingers through his hair, making it fall from its slicked back style

Italy ran around a bit, trying to find Germany. He had blood running down the front of his legs and drizzling down his chin at this point, making him look even more like a child. "Germany?.." He finally found him sitting on a bench with his hair all down. E looked so sexy and Italy was blushing again. "Why did you run off?" He asked.

"hm? Oh, no reason..." he looked at Italy and saw the blood. "Italy!" he tugged his shirt off and gently wiped the blood off of Feliciano's chin. "what happened?" He sat him down gently to get the blood off his legs and knees.

He shrugged. "I fell over." he said as if it was nothing. he ran his hands through Germany's hair and looked at him in the eyes. "I lied." He frowned. "I didn't think you felt the way I do." He was blushing. "I guess we really do have a string attaching us."

It took Germany a moment to realize what the Italian had said. "eh-what?" he looked up at Feliciano. "our strings..." he smiled at Italy and hugged him "I see... I'm glad"

Italy smiled and kissed Germany's cheek. "I never knew you felt that way before. I thought you'd just see me as a silly child."

"no. You are silly at times..." he ruffled Italy's hair "but I like that... He smiled. "you're way more fun to be around when your happy, and given that I'm so... Well you know, it's a nice thing" Germany trailed off, realizing he was rambling