Main Pairing: Rochu (Ivan x Yao) | Genre: School, Romance, Humour, Drama | Rating: PG-13

Characters: Rochu-centric with many side pairings, supporting characters and cameos from other nations

Synopsis: In Hetalia Gakuen, Ivan, a notorious school bully, meets & falls in love with Yao, a student councilor who resolves to tame him of his bullying ways. Hilarity, chaos & fluff ensue as Yao braves Ivan's romantic but perverted pursuit to take him into hand.

Disclaimer: The following story is a derivative work of APH and shares no relation to actual countries, political ideologies, history or events. Characters are copyright to Hidekaz Hiramuya, but the storyline and writing are copyright to me. You may share the link to my story, but you may not repost my writings without my permission.

特别感谢 sufater (fluffybuddy) 把这篇文翻译成中文：http:河蟹/河蟹/hi.河蟹baidu.河蟹com/腹黑熊爱傲娇耀/blog/item/599c961c2269050d8618bf87.河蟹html （把河蟹拿掉）

Chapter 2: Touched by an Angel

Ivan woke up with a throbbing pain in his skull. It would take awhile for his eyes to adjust to the darkness in his new surroundings, but a strong whiff of disinfectant informed him that he was in some kind of hospital or clinic environment. Would this be his last stop in Tokyo? He could not help wondering what his family would say when he turned up at their door step, barely two days after he left the country.

The room door clicked open and a pale shaft of light fell into the room, followed by two long shadows. As light from the corridor fell upon their faces, Ivan identified one of his visitors as the grouchy student councilor called Arthur. The shorter man beside Arthur with dark hair pulled back in a pony tail and soft features, Ivan did not recognize. He would have mistaken him for a girl if not for his school uniform.

Bright light suddenly flooded the room, forcing Ivan to shut his eyes.

"Aiya! Why did you switch on the light! He might still be asleep aru!"

"About high time he awoke then. Even that bastard Francis was wide awake when I visited him," Arthur said briskly. Ivan saw movement towards his bed through his half-opened eyes and hastily pinched his eyes close. At this moment, he was not in the mood for reprimands.

"Unbelievable, Yao, he really is still asleep!"

"Alfred did hit him pretty hard aru. How's Francis?"

"He's surviving, but he received some really nasty bruises so I suppose he won't be able to get naked for a while. Good for us. However, he'll have to be put on a feeding tube for two weeks until his tongue heals from that vicious bite. The poor man will have a fit in his stomach. You know how much he enjoys fine dining," Arthur said gravely.

"He deserved it," Yao huffed. "No good ever comes out from such indecency. This should teach him a lesson to kiss anyone who stands still long enough aru."

Ivan's heart skipped a beat. Did he hear right? For once, someone was actually taking his side instead of going straight to him with furious accusations.

"Francis was just greeting him according to his custom. The new student completely overreacted. He hit me too, mind you. Check out these bruises on my arm," Arthur said grumpily.

"That does look bad aru," Yao said sympathetically. "Francis must have scared the poor boy badly."

"Are you still taking his side?" Arthur's thick eyebrows knitted together. "Ivan Braginski's a nutcase. Fancy landing someone in hospital on his very first day! I can wager that he was expelled from his previous college, and old Roma, as usual, takes in about anyone with cold hard cash to buy him over. Heavens knows what sort of trouble he'll create for me in future!"

"Don't be so paranoid," Yao scoffed. "I'm sure the boy's not dangerous. I'd probably have reacted in the same way aru."

"On the contrary, I think you'd stamp your feet and swing your wok around but you wouldn't commit homicide," Arthur smirked. He knew that Yao was too nice and tolerant for his own good to actually mean any of his threats and harsh words.

Yao retorted, "At least I don't make something out of nothing. Homicide is an exaggerated claim."

"Oh yes? Then why did you leave this room when you were supposed to remain in here until he woke up? Isn't it because you're afraid to be alone with him?" Arthur sneered.

"Aiya what nonsense! I just went to get him some food from the school cafeteria. I figured he'd be hungry since it's been a long day aru," Yao lifted a large styrofoam bowl out of his carrier.

"That's incredibly nice of you," Arthur said, half-impressed, half-exasperated. "Well, I'll leave you to mollycoddle him. I have to help the freshmen settle in. I'm really short-handed, what with Francis out of action and the large intake of Europeans this year." Arthur stretched his arms and yawned widely.

"Sure, leave him to me aru," Yao replied.

"Thanks, " Arthur replied as he blushed slightly. "Although he's supposed to be under my charge..."

"Aiya, it's nothing," Yao waved him off.

"Would you like Minty to stay with you?"

"Er… who aru?"

"My companion… you know, the mint bunny with the fairy wings?" He gestured at thin air.

Yao did not know. Neither could he see. But all the same, he replied, "Nah… it's all right, I don't mind staying here alone aru."

"Scream loudly if he attacks you," Arthur called as he stepped out of the room.

"Aiya! I can protect myself aru!"

Ivan twitched his nose as a familiar smell of Borscht, his favourite food in the world, wafted into his nostrils. He turned to the source of the smell, and saw Yao sitting next to the bed counter beside him, fanning at the steam that was issuing from a styrofoam bowl with its cap off.

When Ivan first laid eyes on Yao, he thought him pretty. Now, upon seeing Yao's side profile up-close, he concluded that he was not just pretty. Yao was beautiful. Silky black tresses framed the soft round face, starkly contrasting against pale skin. Those gentle amber eyes glowed with warmth that he never knew.

"Aiya!" Yao nearly spilled the Borscht when he turned and saw Ivan staring at him with glazed eyes. "You're awake!"

Ivan felt his face grow warm at being caught in the act of staring. What an alien sensation this was! Ivan was usually a thick-skinned and daring person. Embarrassment was a strange new feeling to him.

"How's your head aru?" Yao set aside the Borscht and helped Ivan to sit up in his bed.

"It hurts a little, but the pain is going away," Ivan replied truthfully. "Where am I?"

"You're in the school clinic aru. We took you to the hospital to do a CAT scan just now. Don't worry, the doctor said that you're fit as a fiddle! You can return to your dormitory first thing tomorrow morning," Yao beamed. Ivan nodded smilingly in appreciation of the information.

"Listen," Yao said seriously. "I apologize on behalf of the student council for this morning's incident. As assistant head councilor of the European cohort, Francis is usually quite sensible, but he's also fond of doing stupid things like that because he thinks they're romantic aru. He's French you see." A slight look of irritation crossed Yao's benign face.

"It's ok~ I understand. You don't have to apologize for him~" Ivan said sweetly. After all, if anyone was to pay further for this misdeed, it would only be the Frenchman himself. Kolkolkolkol~

Yao smiled gratefully at him, causing butterflies to erupt in his stomach.

"Thank you aru. Anyway, my name is Wang Yao and I'm the head student councilor of the Asian cohort. I graduated from this school last year and I'm doing my Masters now. Nice to meet you aru," he held out his hand for Ivan to shake. Ivan shook it, and as he did, felt a jolt of electricity course through his hand, quickening his pulse momentarily. Yao's hand felt so soft and warm, he felt he could hold it forever.

But Yao had no intentions of letting him do so.

"Your hands are so cold aru! No wonder you're wearing so much clothing even in Spring!" Yao exclaimed as he withdrew his hand immediately after Ivan had took it. "Is it really very cold in Russia?"

"The winters in Russia are very cold da," Ivan nodded. "I grew up in Yakutsk. The summers are warm but short, and the winters are long and freezing cold."

"I think winters in Russia are beautiful aru," Yao replied, thinking of the postcards he had seen at the book store.

"Yes, they make for dramatic photographs," Ivan smiled somewhat grudgingly. "Where are you from? Your hands are so warm da~"

"I'm from China. It's not as warm as the tropical countries, and some of our cities experience rather heavy snow in winters, but on the whole, we don't really get extreme temperatures, so I guess my weather is reasonably warm compared to yours aru."

A low rumble rang out as Ivan's stomach protested against neglect.

"Oh! You must be hungry aru!" Yao handed the steaming bowl of Borscht to Ivan. "I wasn't sure what you would like, but I thought you might want something familiar aru."

"Thank you, I love Borscht da~!" Ivan gratefully accepted the bowl. As Yao's hand grazed his own, he felt another bout of electric current enter his fingers. He could not explain the strange sensation he was feeling, but he knew it was certainly not attributed to the dry air in the room, and that it felt pleasant.

"Well I'll leave you to eat in peace then aru," Yao made a motion to get up from his chair.

"Wait!" Ivan grabbed Yao's wrist impulsively. It felt so delicate in his own large hands.

"Yes aru?"

Ivan sensed the small wrist twitch uncomfortably in his grip. A twinge of panic crossed his heart. Was Yao merely not comfortable with physical contact, or did he despise his touch? If it was the latter… well, he would soon find out.

"My hands feel weak and numb," Ivan balanced the bowl of Borscht gingerly on his lap and made a great show of rubbing his hands.

"From the cold? Aiya you have a really cold constitution aru! And I'm sure it can't all be your weather's fault! Have you heard the saying 'Food is medicine'? Personally, as someone who prioritizes food above everything else, for a good reason of course, I say you're lacking something in your diet aru. I know of a good Chinese herbal brew that will help to improve your constitution if you take it regularly. You just boil Dang Gui with red ginseng and…"

Ivan's stomach emitted another growl, forcing Yao to abandon his recital.

"Aiya I'm so sorry! I get carried away each time I talk about food," Yao blushed. "Can't you even hold your spoon?"

Ivan shrugged helplessly as the plastic spoon that came with the bowl of Borscht trembled violently in his hand.

"I suppose we shouldn't have removed your gloves and coat. What can I do to help you?" Yao fretted.

"Well… you could… you could feed me da~?" Ivan said hopefully.

"Feed you?" Yao scratched his head, wondering if he had heard right. As a doting older brother to two siblings, Yao liked babying his younger brother and sister, but they always chided him for treating them like children when he did so. He couldn't imagine a big guy like Ivan, and a total stranger at that, allowing him to treat him like a child.

"It's all right if you don't want to…" Privately thinking that it was not all right at all, Ivan felt a pang in his heart as purple haze obscured his vision.

A merry chuckle escaped the Chinese boy's lips, dispelling the purple haze.

"Aiya, I don't mind at all! I would have suggested it myself, but I was afraid I'd offend you aru. My younger sister complains and tries to hit me whenever I coax her to eat when she's ill," Yao shook his head. He took the bowl of Borscht from Ivan's lap.

"I won't complain or hit you. I'll be still and quiet, trust me da~!" Ivan said eagerly.

"All right then," Yao scooped up a spoonful of Borscht, blew at it gently and brought it to Ivan's mouth. Ivan opened his mouth obediently and swallowed the spoonful.

"Is it good aru?"

"Da~! It's the warmest and most delicious Borscht I've ever tasted!" Ivan nodded earnestly.

"Really? That's great," Yao said, surprised and glad. "I was worried that it wouldn't be authentic enough for you."

"You have a scary younger sister too da?" Ivan asked as Yao scooped up another spoonful of Borscht.

"Oh she's not scary, she's just rather headstrong and willful aru. She's actually quite lovely when she doesn't act like a spitfire," Yao said laughingly. "Do you have a scary younger sister?"

"… I'd rather not talk about that da," Ivan said in a trembling voice, putting an abrupt end to the topic of scary younger sisters.

True to his words, Ivan was very compliant, keeping very still and quiet as Yao continued to feed him. In truth, the silence was beginning to make Yao feel awkward, especially since all Ivan did was stare sappily at him. Bothered by the dead air and for lack of a better conversation topic - he supposed he could tell Ivan all about his homeland China, but he didn't want to appear self-centered - Yao proceeded to tell Ivan all about the school rules at Hetalia Gakuen. It was rather boring, but Ivan did not mind. He listened hungrily to Yao's reassuring voice, and only vaguely registered the content. Most of it went in one ear and out through another.

"… however, violence is frowned upon in our school and objects that can cause physical harm are prohibited, so Arthur's keeping your water pipe until …"

Ivan choked on the last spoonful of Borscht.

"My water pipe's gone?" he demanded. He had assumed that it was still safely stowed away in his coat which someone, undoubtedly Yao, had folded and placed neatly at the foot of his bed.

"Calm down aru!" Yao cried, alarmed to see darkness marring Ivan's good-natured face. "It's in good hands! Arthur will give it back to you after your detention!"

"Detention? I have to go for detention?" Ivan's violet eyes filled with indignant chagrin. He had absolutely no idea why he had to be penalized. Didn't Yao agree that he was right to punish Francis?

"Yes, because beating up someone is still wrong, even if the other party was at fault," Yao explained. "That's why Arthur's giving you detention aru. Of course, Francis will also go for detention when he's fit enough to do so aru," Yao added hastily.

"Arthur's giving me detention?"

"Yes, but don't worry, we're all busy with orientation so I don't think Arthur will be hard on you aru," Yao hastily said.

"Why am I getting detention from this Arthur and not you? You're a student councilor da?" Ivan asked.

Yao stared back at him, momentarily confused. Then he laughed.

"Why would you want to take detention from me? Because I look friendlier than Arthur? I'll have you know that my juniors think I give the worst detentions out of all the student council heads aru. I assign menial tasks like cleaning the toilets and weeding the peony garden which everyone hates. That's why students in the Asian cohort are the most well-behaved cohort. Arthur, on the other hand, makes people write lines aru," He snorted at the Englishman's feeble attempt at instilling discipline.

"I don't mind. I'll do anything you ask me to," Ivan said, surprising himself and Yao with his own enthusiasm. He usually did everything he could to escape detention or make the experience as unpleasant as possible for his supervisor.

"I'm not your head councilor, so I can't give you detention aru. Arthur's your head councilor and he will be the one you go to whenever you have problems in school. That includes conflicts and disciplinary issues as well," Yao explained.

"So I won't get to see much of you in future?" Ivan asked, crestfallen.

Yao was stunned by the longing he saw in the violet eyes. He was well aware that for some odd reason, many of his juniors nursed a crush on him, but he had not expected it from someone whom he had only just met. He decided to attribute this strange phenomenon to homesickness.

Smilingly, he said, "Of course you will see me. We are in the same school, aren't we? Now go to sleep, or you won't have energy for school tomorrow aru!" Yao took the empty styrofoam bowl from Ivan and put it back into its carrier. Ivan slid down obediently into his bed as Yao covered him with a blanket.

"Er…" Ivan called out when Yao turned to leave.

"Yes aru?"

Ivan was silent for a few seconds. Eventually, he said, "Thanks for… everything…"

"No problem, good night!" Yao put out the lights and headed out of the door.

As the room was plunged into darkness, Ivan regretted being too shy to ask Yao for a goodnight kiss.

To be continued...

Free Talk:

Ivan: No goodnight kiss! What a bummer da~! *pouts*

Yao: It wouldn't be natural for us to start smooching this early unless you want to end up in hospital like Francis aru.

Ivan: That's true~ Good things are worth the wait da?

Yao: Well, this is an old-fashioned feeding scene from a hospital which you typically find in icky romantic Asian dramas aru. Still, I hope it satisfies and that I was as nice and gentle as I should be according to the story. Really, all I wanted to do the whole time was to empty the bowl of Borscht over Ivan's stupid sappy face aru.

Ivan: Just because I didn't ask you to kiss me? ( ; J ; ) But that was the author's fault. But I can ask you now to make up for it~! Yao~ Can I have a goodnight kiss?

Yao: =_= No aru.

Ivan: Aww~ But you're my angel, and angels grant wishes, so you should grant mine da?

Yao: I believe that's a fairy you're thinking of aru.

Ivan: Aww... What's the difference? ( ; J ; )

Yao: Go ask Arthur.

Ivan: Who cares? If I want you to kiss me, I don't actually have to ask, because you're mine anyway *yandere mode*

Yao: Again? You lecherous bear, stop this nonsense now! Noooo aru!

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