He finished the last of his scone, and reached into the basket, grabbing a pear. Biting into it, he was content and it was nice to sit and relax without having to deal with his nation's problems. Enjoying the juices from the fruit and the atmosphere, he looked back to the boy.
"It must be an interesting time to talk with your ancestors? The only thrill in my life right now is dealing with my eldest brothers. They can be very unfair at times. But anyway, tell me something else, have you given any thought as to your changing? Have you felt any problem within your body? Changes and such?" He finished the pear and watched the boy.
Leaning back so he could lay his head on England's lap he looked up at Arthur and sighed a little, before thinking about it.
"Well it hasn't hurt, it only really seems to hurt when I get really upset and talk too much about my family." Yao said softly so as not to upset his body. "I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has trouble with older brothers, are they very bad?" He asked trying to change the topic, he was quite good at it some times.
Letting the child lay his head down, England ran a hand against the boy's fair cheek. He smiled down and kept the boy calm.
"Well little one...I don't want to upset you, so we don't have to talk about your family and your past if you don't want to." He reached over to some grapes that Hughes had packed and popped one into his mouth. Chewing it, he looked down and continued. "Well my brothers, as you know Scotland, Ireland, and Wales and well they would team up on me. They were bad some of the time, much like myself." England smirked. "But Mumsy…er, I mean my mother kept us in line. And then there was Hughes, who was in my life after my mother passed."
China laughed a little at the comment England made about his mother. It seems the elder nation had been close, but then there was the fascination with Hughes. His esteemed butler. Oh how Wang loved that man.
"Hughes is a very special person. He is very Tai Hao Le." China said with a soft sound of wonder and awe for the butler. "I think in another life he must have been a very powerful dragon or maybe an emperor of China." Yao said with a smile, and then looked back up again at Arthur. "Your brother's sound similar to my brother." China sighed again. "I hate that I had to end up beating him up and defeating him. But he was hurting so many, I couldn't allow it." China grunted with mental pain at the memory of that and rolled to his side. "I guess all families have problems."
Sighing England agreed. He threw some of the grapes in the air, and a couple landed in his mouth, while some fell to the ground. Hearing what the boy was saying, he wondered slightly about his butler's past.
"You know...I have had him in my life for such a long time, but in his younger years, I am not entirely sure little one. Maybe that is something he can divulge to you." He suddenly coughed, and then spit out a random pit. Grazing the top of the boy's head, he continued. "Yeah, my brother's wanted equality for certain areas. It was a long battle with Scotland at times. Such a wanker he is...err...pardon my language." He looked straight at the child and clasped his hands together. "Shall we continue on the trail, head back, or what do you want to do, stay here for a little while longer?"
The boy looked up, regarding England's first question. The last thing China wanted to do was disrupt and annoy the butler.
"Hmm, I don't want to bother Hughes, you know if he doesn't want to tell me." Yao mumbled then listened to England continue and sighed a little. "Its hard with older brothers. I like it here, can we stay? Maybe, swim in the water?" Yao asked hopefully and sat up to get his answer. He liked the way the water looked it seemed perfect and not to deep as far as he could see.
"I am sure Hughes is not bothered by your questions. He has taken a real liking to you young chap. And I know it killed him to give your bottom a smacking. But...well he is only concerned about your well being."
"You think so?" Yao asked worried that he truly had killed some part of Hughes by being bad, and he swallowed hard trying to remind himself now to not do that again. Sitting up now, England took in the smell of the air.
"We can stay longer. I am sure dinner will not be for a long while, and it is nice enough to take a nice dip in the water. It does look very beauteous."
"Yes…I'd like a swim." Yao tried not to worry about Hughes now and just enjoy the idea of being in the water, and with that said he got up and headed over getting to the waters edge.
"Yes, I very much think so." Alright little one, let's go ahead." England followed the boy, and got down on all fours and peered into the water. The water was very clear and still. Sensing that the water might be somewhat deep, really having no idea, Arthur just went ahead and jumped in. "Arghhhhhhh! Ooooh its...its slightly colder than I had thought, but ahhh it's nice." He looked to the boy, and held out his arms. "Little one, I know you are old enough to swim I take it, but here, let me help you get into the water, as even I can not reach the bottom alone." He smiled at the boy and waited.
Yao blinked at Arthur, and grinned before squirming out of what little cloths he was wearing and then took a running jump toward England in the water and landed with a large splash. it was colder than it looked, but it felt so good, still China's small body found it hard to battle the large body of water and he coughed trying to get his head to the surface on his own.
"Oh careful little one, careful!" England swam near the boy grabbing hold of him and holding him, but still letting the child swim freely. He just wanted to make sure the boy was not going to drown. England supposed it was around four thirty in the afternoon, so they still have some time before dinner would be served at six sharp, a tradition rule set by Hughes ever since Arthur was little. Swimming with the child, England had never felt so relaxed in his whole life. "So...we are swimming nicely...is this how some of the rivers are in your country? Is it relaxed?"
Gratefully and quickly Yao grabbed on to England's hands and started slowly swimming round him, before his body felt tired of splashing so much, and he found himself climbing on to England's back silently asking for a ride by digging his heels into the bigger countries sides.
"Its something like this. Its nice, though sometimes people are too reserved and won't get in the water right away." China huffed at some of that ridiculous rules stuff, enjoying his freedom here away from the politics. Laughing, the nation held the little boy on his back, and was swimming in concentric circles.
"Hang on tight little one, I want to make sure you are not lost." He held the boy on his back and swam a little ways up the water. While he swam, he listened to the words the boy was saying. "How could you not want to get in the water. It is so enjoyable."
"I want to, but some times the rules don't let you." China explained to Arthur as he held on tightly and found a that a whine crept into his voice.
The two swam for a little while longer, but as they both were swimming, it had started to get late, and England noticed his fingers getting slightly wrinkled. He looked at them while keeping a hand on the boy.
"Yao...I suggest we head back. The walk will take a little while, and I suppose our basket might be in danger of some creatures finding it. Come, let's get a move on. We can do this again very soon." He swam with the child still firmly on his back, and got to the river bed opening. Crawling, he laid down on his stomach, letting the child get off first.
"But I'm having so much fun do we have to go now?" He asked not getting off of Arthur's back even though they were on land.
England laid there resting slightly, as the swim had taken him to a new level of exhausted. He rested his arms on the ground, and leaned his chin on top of them, taking in the air. While Arthur was ready to leave, the boy slightly whined because he had wanted to stay.
"I understand you wanting to stay Yao, but Hughes is preparing a very special dinner, he is very anxious for us to return, I mean...you don't want to upset him do you?" He sat up, letting the boy slide to the ground, and looked back with a smile. "Come let's get you dressed, and we'll be on our way. Let me get you dry first."
He walked over to the basket, and pulled out a towel cloth. He walked over to the little boy and wrapped him snugly. Yao sucked in sharply and shook his head with ferocity.
"I-I don't want him and I don't! I…" He stopped to cough. The cold of the water had started to make his chest feel tight and he curled up to finish the coughing fit while Arthur started to towel him off. "He doesn't need more pieces gone."
England dropped the towel and looked at the boy completely bewildered on to why the child would have suddenly gotten so upset. Trying to calm him down, he grabbed the boy by the shoulders and held them firmly.
"China! What is the matter? You're...you're not making any sense...please, calm down little one." He looked into the child's eyes with compassion and put a hand out stroking the side of the boy's cheek. "Come now...what do you mean you don't want him? You are getting yourself upset and...oh!" England noticed that the boy was getting thoroughly upset, and from what the child had stated before, Arthur was now worried and upset himself.
"If, if…I'm bad, he-he might die!" Yao said with sudden emotion and felt himself shivering harder and trying to gasp for air his hands scratching at his chest as if he had choked on something. He had not meant to get so upset but he had taken what Arthur said too literally, and it had truly disturbed him quite a lot.
England quickly grabbed the boy into his arms, and held him tightly. Embracing him, while swaying back and fourth.
"Poppet...calm down, please, you are going to cause yourself harm." he rubbed the child's back, and talked softly to him. "Listen to me...you are not doing anything wrong, I am sure Hughes would not be really upset if we stayed a little longer, but you know him by now, he likes to prepare for the two of us. He is not going to die little one, I assure you." The upset child, caused England to be upset. He did not want anything to happen to the boy now, as he was getting accustomed. "Um...China...with you getting this upset...are you going to change? I shan't think I would like to see you grow up now...you are the sunshine in both of our lives. Hughes is truly alive again."
China held tightly to Arthur and tried not to let himself become so worked up. Slowly his coughing and wheezing chest slowed and he felt his lungs able to take in the air without pain. His tiny body relaxed finally in Arthur's arms and he wiped at his face that had collected a few tears of pain and fear.
"I…I don't want to change either. I don't know if I will grow more or not." He gulped trying not to feel anxious. "M-maybe we should go back?" He asked now cuddling closer to Britain.
Kissing the child on the cheek, and wiping his tears with his thumb and forefinger, England nodded.
"I am not sure what will happen, but please do try to calm yourself. If you find a peaceful mind, then I am sure you will be fine. And yes, I so believe that going back to the mansion is a delightful idea. Let me just set you down, while I collect the blanket and basket, and allow me to carry you home little one." He set the child down, but kept him close by. Picking up the blanket, he folded it quickly and packed it into the basket. Then he picked up the boy back into his arms, and then picked the basket up. "Come, let us go home, and get you into your happy place."
Yao nodded slowly. He felt exhausted suddenly and just sat with half lidded eyes hardly watching Arthur as he picked up the blanket and basket putting thing in it hurriedly before coming over and scooping him up. China sighed a little with a leftover cough and hugged Arthur close, resting his head on the country's shoulder.
"I will do my best." He mumbled wondering if he would end up getting older, he wasn't ready yet he hoped maybe nothing would happen.
"Very good." England walked with the boy in his arms. He saw that Yao was going in and out of sleep. The day had been a long one, especially for a child.
Arthur knew that if they stayed any longer, he would have to camp, and that might not be as comfortable as his own bed. He walked back to the mansion and once arriving, England walked in the door. He set the basket on the ground. Hughes hurried down the hall, and met his Master.
"Oh Master Kirkland, I am very glad to see the both of you." He said with a whisper, now knowing the child had fallen asleep. "Here let me take him, I will see about putting him the bed, large and fluffy is something I am sure he will enjoy."
"Er...what about dinner Hughes, you were so anxious."
"It is still early my lord. Let me put the child into bed, perhaps he just needs a little shut eye, and then maybe he will wake up later, and I can give him a bit of dinner." Hughes took the child out of Arthur's arms, and walked up the steps. He arrived in the guest room, took the boy out of his clothing, put on a night shirt, and set him under the cover. He just stared at the child. "Little China...have a rest..."
China felt dizzy when he finally did open his eyes, the world was blurry and a bit darker than he last remembered it being, it was also very soft and fluffy. Trying to sit up but finding his limbs felt heavy with sleep Yao just gave an soft whine and started to think he might have passed on to the other side to be with all the other ancestors, and countries that had died. No that couldn't be right, because Hughes , he was there, just barely in view near the foot of the bed.
"Am I dead?" He asked softly his speech sloppy and limp with sleep. Seeing the boy look lethargic and irritable, Hughes smiled down at the boy He walked over to the bed, and put a hand on the boy's warm cheek.
"Hardly young Lord...do the deceased have a warm feel to them? Not likely. I suppose you were just overtired and I felt it was appropriate to have you a little wink. Did you have a glorious time with Master Arthur?"
Yao grunted again trying once more to move his limbs and his hand only twitched with the effort. He tried licking his lips as if that would get the slowness out of them. Hughes stayed by the child's side, and waited for the boy to respond. As he waited, England walked in and stood by the door, arms folded, and had a semi worried look on his face.
"How are you little chap?"
"It was fun, I started coughing and I feel heavy." He answered them both in a drained sounding pattern. He had to shut his eyes again, the room wanted to spin, and Yao wished he hadn't fallen asleep waking up like this was not worth it. "Is it morning or night?" He then asked his own question trying to decide how long he had been asleep.
England walked forward and looked to Hughes with a serious expression. Hughes still sitting, rubbed the blanket where the boy's legs were and just responded in a gentle tone.
"It is early yet, maybe a little after seven in the evening. You have only been asleep for little while little one." England stared at the child and thought perhaps being in bed was for the best. "You know Hughes...he really hasn't had much sleep since he was changed." He bent down to the boy. "Perhaps more rest is what you need. I suggest you stay in bed Yao." Shaking his head alongside the nation, Hughes turned back to the child.
"I think that is a wise decision, and then I can bring you some green tea and some broth." He tried nodding his head and ended up just sighing.
"Alright." He let his eyes slide half way down to tired to worry about why he was so heavy and why he couldn't make the world stand still. "Can I have more pears?" He asked after a second. He really liked those pears and they sounded so good to him right now. Besides that Yao didn't want to ask if he was going to be alright, he wanted to pretend that he was, and just believe the bigger nations when they said he was just tired. "Can you stay a while?" He asked them both not sure who could stay or not stay but he would ask. Even tired he didn't like the thought of being alone. Hughes shook his head, and leaned down to the child.
"Of course you can. I will go whip up a batch right now. You stay there and rest sweet boy." He got up from the bed, and walked out of the room, and headed down to the kitchens. England then walked over, to the side of the bed that was empty, and sat down next to the boy. He put his legs up, and cast an arm around China.
"While Hughes is preparing your pears, I will stay here. And no worried little one, we won't leave. Nothing is going to cause harm to you. Would you care to hear a story?" Hughes prepared the tea and dessert down in the kitchen with precise ease. Loading it up on a silver platter tray, he walked began to walk up the stairs, but there was a knock on the front door. Hughes set down the tray on a nearby table, and opened the doors. To his surprise it was Japan.
Yao had watched Hughes leave and then once England had taken a seat on the bed leaned his face slowly to one side of his pillow that was closest to England and nodded.
"Yes, will you tell me one?" He asked quietly. Responding to England's question. Finding the light was hard to bear and so shut his eyes and tried to just be still hoping the throb and spinning in his head would stop after a while. He worried inwardly this was just the sign of things changing again, and his time as a chibi was not going to last much longer.
Hughes stood staring at Japan with his hands to his side. He was sure the nation still had some words to say to his brother, and the butler just questioned him like it was any other day.
"Master Honda...to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" The butler gave the nation a straight faced expression. Japan cleared his throat.
"Mister Hughes, I wish to come forward, see my brother and give him my apologies." Hughes nodded and proceeded to lead the nation towards the bedroom while grabbing up the platter.
"This way sir..." England held the boy close, and recited the tale of Jack the Giant Killer to the boy, very worried because China was moaning and not looking so well. Arriving down the hall, and walking up the stairs, Hughes did not say anything to the nation. Once arriving, Japan walked ahead of the butler, and stood by the door.
"Brother...how unwell you look!" The child's eyes slowly opened a little to stare at the blurry image of his brother and he tried to smile.
"Thank you Nihon." He said softly and let his eyes slowly close again he could speak without looking. "I suppose grown nations are not meant to stay young forever, it was like a fountain of youth, only better, I could be small, cared for and loved." Yao had to stop talking and take slow breaths. If he didn't know better, he would swear he was dieing. Maybe he was supposed to stay this size. Still Yao wished he didn't have to get big yet.
England got up from the bed, and slowly walked over to Japan. He held his hand to his mouth, and uttered a slight little gasp. Japan watched the boy breathing in slow and deep.
"Perhaps this is not forever brother, but you need to accept the ways of nature...and magic...or whatever has happened." Hughes stood with the tray and set it down. He was very concerned by the child, and stepped forward standing near England.
"Oh dear me...looks like something is happening. Its just terribly dis concerning right now." Hughes put a finger to his temple, and proceeded to become visibly upset. England put an arm around him.
"Its alright old chap...he will be fine...just have to let this take its course and...ooooh!" England and the other two just watched.
China heard there talking like one hears things through a hat that is pulled over your ears, muffled and distant not clear at all. He knew they were all worried about him. He was worried for himself too, still there was something nice about having people care about you. He was about to try and say something along the lines of its alright, when he felt more fitful and his lungs felt to tight, he tried to breath in more quickly but it didn't seem to do any good, which caused his face to flush in a panic.
Waiting for the child to respond, they suddenly saw the child go into a panic. England, and Japan went to lunge forward, when Hughes ran to the child's beside, and sat down beside him. He grabbed the boy into his arms and sat with him, holding him tightly and stating that he was going to be fine.
"Young Master...you are going to be fine, I promise you. Whether you grow older, or stay your current height status, I need you to be strong." It was just a waiting game right now.
"I don't want to go." Yao wheezed tears starting to slip down his face and he shuddered in the butlers arms. "I'll miss you! I, I won't get to be small again…I!" He paused to gasp again, the rush of words making it difficult to continue breathing even a little bit. He knew he was fighting the transformation, he wanted to be like this forever with Hughes and England he feared growing back to his size would change how close they were, would change everything that had felt so good.
Hugging him back, Hughes started to get teary eyed and held the boy closer. He could feel the nation changing, growing if you will. He had not wanted this change as much as the boy.
"Little Master...Little Master...oh..." He rocked the slowly changing nation back and fourth. This position would be sadly missed. England grabbed hold of Japan and spoke to him gently.
"Honda...Honda, the magic process...its not going to change him back to his original size forever is it? I mean...the little bugger...he was a pain at first, and him and I butt heads, but...but it can't end...he is just too perfect...and..." England was getting shaky and very upset. Japan turned to him and took him by the shoulders.
"Get a hold of yourself Mister England...we need to be patient, as this process might take a while...he is going to change back, and its going to happen whether you like it or not."
"Bye!" China whispered reaching a small shaky hand towards England as he held to Hughes and felt his breath stop as magic engulfed him.
For a moment he was nothing but one bright glowing form of magic as his body shifted and change, then as quickly as it began it faded and in its place was Yao, a very handsome youth, no fully an adult not eight years old like he was, but rather a handsome thirteen year boy. For a while China lay there with his long hair dripping around his shoulders, but he was not breathing yet.
The two nations stared and Hughes who was holding the now teenage nation in his arms breathed a slight sigh, knowing that the boy was not harmed, but still...he had grown in size. Still cradling Yao, Hughes looked over to England and Japan with slight panic and for once in his life, gave the orders.
"Master Arthur...please fetch some warm water, and a cloth. Master Honda, please bring the tea over, and set it on the table beside Master Wang." He continued holding the nation and was now worried as he was not breathing. England ran at once, and went to the kitchen. Japan got the tea and walked to the bedside. Returning as quickly as he left, England set the water, and cloth in Hughes grips. Hughes reached into his coat inside pocket and pulled out a small medicinal bottle of an elixir. Grabbing the cloth, he douched the fabric, and then dipped it into the water. "Come now Master Yao...it is time to wake up." He rubbed the cloth over the boy's forehead, and alongside his cheeks. The smell was of eucalyptus and juniper. It looked like color was forming back into his cheeks. "Come now lad...make me proud."
The smell was not entirely unpleasant, but it was very strong and stung the back of Yao's throat and seemed to find its way inside his nose and lungs burning all the way with its powerful aroma. Wang Yao struggled suddenly in Hughes arms and ended up turning on his die to cough sucking in sharp in a strangled gasp for air, as the cough jarred his form. The coughing fit seemed to last a while and Yao now fully awake was afraid he really would strangle on it, until finally it subsided and he placed a hand on his chest in relief.
"I…I don't want to do that again!" He sighed and then suddenly glanced at his body, surprised it was not fully grown but not unhappy either. "Hughes?"
Hughes watched as China had a slight coughing fit. He assured the nation it would be okay and still held him like he was small in his arms. Slightly upset, the butler had to hold back his emotions.
"Young...er...um Master Yao...glad to see you are alright...and I am sorry I had to use drastic measures. The elixir is nothing more than an extremely potent form of smelling salts." He slowly got up. Allowing the nation to lie back into the pillow. Stepping back he let Japan and England come forward. Honda walked to the bed and put his hand on his brother's chest.
"Brother...I am glad to see you getting back to your normal self. But I must go. We will talk later." He bowed, and then smiling at Hughes and Arthur he left. England then walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Are you alright young chap?" He stared at the nation, and then looked to Hughes who seemed very upset.