"Hm...This should probably go there, and that...Ah, what to do, aru?"

The house was decorated in colourful gold and red paper lanterns, incense, and general festive items. There was a small bundle of fire crackers left for a future date. A lot of things yet to be put up were strewn across the floor and tables, waiting for their turn to be put up.

"I wish I had help, aru," China mumbled to himself, picking up a mandarin orange and inspecting it. He set it down again, frowning. He was looking at an empty corner of the room, as if it was missing something. "Where could it have gone?" he asked.

China began to search the house for the missing object, but instead found Hong Kong. "Oh! You scared me, aru," China tittered, looking down at Hong Kong. "Have you seen the doll?"

"Which doll?" Hong Kong asked, hands behind his back.

"The Tiger."

"For the new year?"

"Yes, Aru."

"I have it."

China looked a little surprised. "Why is that?" he asked, the corners of his mouth turning slightly downward.

"Because." Hong Kong wasn't making this easy.

"May I have it back?" Hong Kong shook his head no.

"I need it. Just for today? I'll give it back later." Hong Kong certainly did not seem like he was feeling any guilt. 'insolent brat,' China thought to himself, but smiled.

"What do you intend to do with it, aru?"

Hong Kong rocked back and forth with his feet. "I...I want to show Taiwan."

Oh! So he wanted to impress Taiwan? How cute.

Well...Alright, aru. As soon as you're done bring it back right away." China was about to go back into the unfinished room when he remebered something. Fishing into his pocket, he pulled out a pair red envelopes. "Here, aru. And there's one for Taiwan, too, so make sure to give it to her as well, alright, aru?"

Hong Kong nodded, snatching up the envelopes and running out of the house.

England had finally arrived into China. It was his turn to look after Hong Kong for a week, or at least that's what he and China had agreed on. The city flourished with decorations, all tiger-themed. Some sort of neighborhood gathering, the Englishman presumed.

As he arrived at the Chinese man's door, he knocked on the door, waiting for a response.

China, too busy setting up lanterns, called out, "Come in!" His mind was preoccupied with not falling off the chair he was standing on, but he did have the small questioning of "Who?"

Was it Hong kong, back already from meeting up with Taiwan (they better not be touching one another in public. God forbid they kiss!)?

England had heard China and decided to open the door, walking inside. There, he saw the massive display China had made. He blinked and saw the other standing on the chair.

" . .Yao?" he called out as he walked towards the other man.

'Ohhhh no. Not you,' China thought bitterly. "I'm busy and Hong Kong's out right now, Aru. What is it?"

He kept his back turned as he as fixed more lanterns onto the twine stretched from one wall to the opposite. China stepped down off the chair to pick up another lantern. "Well? I told you he's not here, aru."

But, as if to contradict China, Hong Kong burst through the door with the tiger doll in hand. "Here's the doll back," he said, bowing slightly and holding out the decoration with both hands.

'Aiya!' China's heart skipped a beat. "J-just put it back where you found it, aru."

England gave the other a scowl and crossed his arms as he spoke. "You know well enough why I'm here. It's my turn to have Hong Kong. . . " he said to him. His attention soon turned towards Hong Kong, patting his hair, he smiled at him softly.

He then turned back at China. "So what's with the decorations? Is something going on?" he asked.

Hong Kong smiled a bit as he got a loving pat on the head, then quickly left to gather his things.

China, with no reply, gave England a red envelope. "Here, aru."

When Hong Kong came back and notice the envelope, he remembered he was supposed to tell China that Taiwan gave her regards. However given that the two adults were upset, he said nothing.

"If you must know, it's preperations for the new year, aru. Year of the Tiger."

England took the envelope in confussion.

"Year of the- What? Are you daft? New Year was a month ago. . .!" he replied back, rolling his eyes as he tucked in the letter in his pocket.

"The WESTERN new year was a month ago, aru. I don't follow the Gregorian calender. Again, I'm busy, so if you're not going to help me I suggest you leave. And I was hoping that Hong Kong could stay for the holidays, aru."

"Ah I see . ." England nodded. He looked at Hong Kong, who was standing there, and smiled.

"If he wants to celebrate this then, I'll take him tomorrow. . . .It ends tomorrow, right?" he asked, looking back at China.

China started to laugh, shaking his head no. Hong Kong found the situation a little funny, as well, but he only smiled. "It ends with the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day, aru. I think even Alfred knows that."

England blushed, embarassed for him to not know something that even the stupid yankee knew.

"Oh. Well," he began to think. As much as he wanted to spend time with the kid, but he wouldn't want to disturb such an important gathering.

He bent down and smiled at Hong Kong. "How about if I stay to celebrate as well, is that okay with you?" he asked the boy.

"E-excuse me? You can't just invite yourself in, aru! That's rude." China huffed, folding his arms. "Besides, I don't have a bed for you to sleep on," he justified.

But when HK [A/n typing "Hong Kong" all the time was tiring] glanced over to China with pleading eyes, he couldn't say no.

"I-...I suppose..." he mumbled the rest of the words.

"What?" HK asked, not catching it. He was sure England didn't hear it as well.

"He can stay, aru," China begrudgingly said. "But!" he added, "he has to help me with the decorations/preperations, and he'll have to sleep on the floor, aru."

"Alright then," England shruged at the idea. He then stood up, his hand resting on the back of his own neck.

"I can help with the interior, but I refuse to sleep on the floor." he demanded, glaring at the Chinese nation.

"You're not sleeping in HK's room, so what does that leave, aru? It's not like I was expecting company for two weeks. Speaking of which..." China trailed off, looking England up and down, "What will you do for clothing?"

England scoffed at the other's comment. "I might as well sleep in your bed and make you take the floor. And I think your fine silk clothing will be good enough for me, I suppose?" he asked the other, giving an unsatisfied look.

China's cheeks turned red at the thought. "No such thing will happen, aru! Besides you'd never fit into my clothing, you Europeans are too tall and wide. Just use the money I gave you to buy some clothes and a bed, aru."

By now, HK had slipped into his room to avoid the argument.

England looked puzzled "You mean this thing?" he asked, pulling out the red envelope. "How much money is in here anyways! It's definately not enough to buy those things!" he argued back.

Sighing, China explained that there was at least enough money to buy a few sets of clothing. "And...I'll see what I can do about the sleeping arrangements, aru. In the meantime have HK help you get some clothes."

He made a hand motion that looked like a backwards beckoning to Hong Kong (who was peeking from his room). HK came out and stood by England.

"Look around town with Arthur, okay, aru? Find some cheap clothing for him, because he likes to do things last minute." The last part was obviously directed at England with venom.

England scoffed at the last part of the sentance. He looked at HK and smiled. "Shall we go now?" he asked, holding his hand out to the younger boy.

Hong Kong didn't exactly know what to do with the gesture, other then take Arthur's hand and shake it lightly. China had taught HK that general contact with other people wasn't in good taste, and that really the only acceptable behavior was shaking someone's hand.

China cracked a grin, laughing behind his hand.

England looked at the Chinese nation, red from embarassment as he glared at him to stop laughing. He got behind HK and pushed him lightly, signaling him to leave "Let's go, HK . ." he told him.

"O-okay...?" Hong kong didn't know what exactly he did wrong to make England so upset and China in a laughing fit.

Watching the two leave, China took a glance at a clock hanging on the wall. The hands of the clock made a vertical line. "Aiya! It's that time already? Arthur's bed will have to wait, I needed to make dinner a half hour ago, aru."