Hello everyone :D This is my first ever Iggychu fanfic :3 collaborating with a friend of mine, she's helping me provide you readers with this

new story ^_^ I do hope you'd like it and you don't really need to leave reviews, but it would be splendid if we stumble upon some soon

/slapped xD Do have a good day and thank you for reading :D

P.S= i do not own any characters nor hetalia here xD

Chapter 1: Distant Memories

A bright and sunny day it has been, with fewer clouds to cover the light blue sky. A gentle breeze blew through the village, a calming feeling it is. The cattle graze alongside the sheep, the sheepdogs busily keeping the flocks together. The sweet smell of freshly baked bread wafts through the air, children following the aroma and the baker is happy enough to give some away. Despite such a lovely weather, people are quite busy at work, yet their smiles radiate to each and every one. Above the rolling hills and past the great river, nestled a quaint house. Its red ornaments sway with the wind, the chimes ring a melodic tone. A rather large golden dragon statue lay at its gates, a kind of security entrance for visitors. The village was known for its wide assortment of flowers, each coming from different places and countries, be it a gift or bought through travel.

Yet no one has had any better than his.

The garden has been growing beautifully, and the produce has been known to be high quality and the freshest you can buy. The bamboos stood tall and sturdy, although its supply continues to dwindle with all those pandas eating it daily. He made sure that he has enough to feed them all, because grumpy pandas are not a pretty sight. He pulled back a stray lock of hair from his face and sighed tiredly. It was a hard time trimming all the weeds away and watering all the vegetation. But the annual garden festival is drawing near, and staying champion is one way of making ends meet, a cash prize of over thirty thousand Yuan. Planting the Peony flowers was truly a great addition to his collection, and they have proven to bloom into such lovely flowers. The chrysanthemums have yet to fail in pleasing the judges, but that doesn't mean they would not grow tired of liking them. He surveyed each one, in case there is any pruning to be done. One particular bunch of flowers made him wrinkle his nose in distaste. Its pink colour mocks him, how weak it looks surrounded by the others. Blossoms looked plain and small, nothing quite special about it. Now why would it bother him so?

..How he was used to be called by that name..

He shrugged the thoughts and went back to work. No time for reminiscing. It's not like he would remember anyway. Thirteen? Fourteen? Fifteen years was it? That idiot probably forgot what happened. But at least he got the boy back. He was happy enough to keep him with him until now. No more begging for him to return the child to him. No more deals. No more sacrifices. He may have taken much from him, yet look at him now! Standing on his own two feet and one of the greatest nations everyone has ever known, down to the history books it did. Those who challenged him he faced head on, fighting to keep his home from those vultures that now struggle to keep afloat amidst the crisis. Secrets handed down from generation to generation; he perfected them all. Why, he even made all of them himself. He can do well just fine without anyone else.

After tending all of his pandas, he went inside and washed his hands. He smiled as he finally finished his work outside, and now he can relax and be at ease. He went to the living room and looked around. It seems that he couldn't find him anywhere, not even his room where he usually was. He looked out the window and a small patch of hair was sticking out from the grass. He chuckled to himself, so cute he was.

A boy with dark brown hair and gold eyes sat on their yard, playing listlessly with one of the baby pandas. Forever quiet he was, sadly; though he wasn't always that way. Happy go lucky he runs around, arms spread wide, yearning for a hug. He plays with the pandas every day, and they often get angry because of how he'd jump onto them and pull on their fur. Sometimes he caught him taking a nap on one of the panda's backs and he almost got sat on if he didn't get him off. Although he can be a handful, he made him so happy. Together, the three of them lived a rather quiet life.

Taking off his silk clothes, he left them neatly folded on the rack and got a towel from the shelves. He cut open a pack of jasmine flowers and placed them on a container, lighting the candle below and letting the aroma flood the bathroom. He turned on the shower head and got in, letting the warm water heat up his cooled flesh. He honestly did try to get buffer to relieve himself from his feminine built, but his body fails to do and he still had those curves he kept wondering where they came from.

"..At least the village knows that I am a man and no one has mistaken me for a lady yet aru.." He told himself.

He squirted out some shampoo into his hands and lathered his long hair gently. Never did he have thought to cut it off, it is like his trademark. No one has criticized him about it anyway and some even complimented that it suited him well.

..like how he complimented that it looked lovely..

This time he slapped himself for it and got shampoo on his eye. "..Aiyah!.." He exclaimed, washing his eye vigorously, cursing in Chinese. How unwise it was to keep thinking about it. He would end up hurting himself with the smallest of things if he doesn't get his head straight. Now annoyed, he rinsed his hair and soaped himself quickly before washing the suds off and grabbing the towel. Though it has been sunny recently, the breeze has made it quite chilly, making him shiver as he dries himself off.

"..A nice cup of tea would be good aru.." He thought, smiling as he anticipated an afternoon snack.

Carefully he wears new silk robes and stores his old ones into the laundry basket. Grabbing his favourite pair of shinatty-chan slippers and wore them, chuckling to himself as he walked downstairs to the kitchen. While the kettle boils, he reached into his cupboard and brought out one of his storage pots.

[..Oolong tea would be great today aru..] He thought. The kettle whistles, and in turn he brought out two cups with their respective saucers. Transferring the hot water into a teapot, he threw in the leaves and closed it tight; leaving it to brew. He waits patiently, looking around the kitchen until he finally noticed something peculiar. He stared at the tea set intently, thinking. Now why would he bring out two cups and saucers?

[..i-it's...it's for Hong aru!..yes for Hong..just Hong..] He thought, forcing his subconscious to take in the lame excuse for the real answer. Satisfied, he poured himself a full cup of oolong tea and sipped slowly. Suddenly he was at ease, its aroma calming his distress. Tea always helped him in these kinds of situations, and he was glad he had about twenty more jars of different varieties to match his mood.

[..He also liked Tea as much as I did..] He thought.

He brought the tea cup down gently before slamming his fist on the table. "..AYIAH! HE DOES NOT AND I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE WHO LIKES TEA AS MUCH AS ME!" he yelled in exasperation, eye twitching.

Great golden dragon what has gotten into him? He knew full well that his sanity has been kept at bay just enough, but that doesn't mean he hasn't thought about it. Every day at least one thought has wandered into the past, how it used to be. Yet those times are over, mere memories that should have been erased! Truly it was a nuisance to him that no matter what he does, that man has his ways of creeping into his psyche and just placed himself there like he was welcomed.

Hong Kong came in and stared at him. He blinked and looked at himself as he had a knife in between two neatly cut pieces of one of the cups, plus the saucer. An awkward silence fills the room as they stared at each other. The boy went closer and lifted the baby panda to him. Though a silent gesture, he took it gently and looked at its face. The baby panda smiled and its large eyes sparkled cutely. China smiled back and lifted the boy up to his lap while the panda climbed onto his head. He hugged him close and stroked his hair, briefly forgetting that he had just sliced one of his chinaware in half. Hong looked ever much like him. The same dark brown hair; the same golden eyes. The only flaw was those hideously thick eyebrows on his face, branding him of another. It reminded him painfully so of the man that once held him dear, like how he holds this boy close.

[..At least.. we are together aru..] He thought.

Fin~ Onward to chapter 2 aru! ( *w*)/