England woke early this time, groaning as he slowly pulled China's arms away from him and got off the bed. Still groggy, he walked outside the room, seeing if Hong Kong woke up already. "Lad?" he called out, looking around the living room.
Hong Kong pulled a pillow over his head. For some reason he didn't sleep as well as he had for a while. And he certainly didn't want to be up now. However, he was taught to come when called. Humming in tiredness, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and shakily stood up. "Yes?" he called back.
England walked towards the younger one. "Ah, I was wondering what day it was today- ..." he paused as he examined the other. "Lad, are you okay?" he asked.
"I just woke up," Hong Kong said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and yawning. "Today's the sixth day. There's nothing really to do except freely visit friends and family, and generally praying. In fact, that's what's going to be happening until the tenth day." Another yawn. "But today's just a "do whatever" day more then anything. Nothing's planned out."
"Ah I see. So today is just pretty pointless, I presume." England sighed. "Well then, I guess I'll let China sleep. I'll be at the bathhouse then" And with that he went back to the room, grabbing another new set of clothing and walked out, leaving the house.
Hong Kong gathered his own set of clothes, running after England. "Wait up," he said, trailing behind the Englishman.
England stopped and slowed down his pace, waiting for Hong Kong to catch up. "Alright, Alright, lad." he muttered.
"You've...You've got rice all over you." Hong Kong pointed out, a little perturbed. "Why?"
England looked away from Hong Kong. "Ah, well I- . . . .Well. China started it. . " he muttered, crossing his arms.
Hong Kong was more confused. "Started what?" Honestly, if you're going to tell a story, explain it better, he thought to himself.
"Well," England started. "I got him mad for some reason and he threw a bowl of rice at me . . ." he chuckled. "Though I don't know why he got mad anyways . . ." he added.
Hong Kong made a face. "About what, exactly? What did you say? Or do...?"
"Ur," England thought. "I . . . forgot about it, honestly." he lied, chuckling a little.
Hong Kong took the bait, and moved on to the next question. "Well...Why on earth did you agree to stay here in the first place? It's...not like you."
England stopped and looked at Hong Kong. "I wanted to spend time with you of course. . " he answered, frowning. ". . Do you not want me here?" he asked back.
"You could have just as easily disallowed me staying here. That and you haven't spent much time with me, other then the fireworks on the first night and yesterday. And of course I want you here." Hong Kong walked ahead of England to hold the door to the bathhouse open.
"Oh, I'm sure you wanted to celebrate this holiday though. . ." he responded back. He grabbed the door first, letting the young one enter first.
Hong Kong gave a sigh, signaling that he wasn't done with this conversation, but would stop for the moment. Walking into the bathhouse, he asked, "So how have you taken to the city?"
"Oh well," he paused to take off his clothing one by one. "I haven't really visited the city much. But it's not bad at all . ." he answered. He soon got into the water slowly, trying to adjust to the temperature. Once he got in he dipped his whole head, trying to get rid of the rice that probably stuck to his hair.
England laughed and patted the boy's hair. "Sounds like a good plan then." he commented. He let go of the other and moved away, getting rid of more of the rice. "Anything else you'd like to talk about?" he asked, frowning to himself.
Hong Kong fidgeted in the water at the touch, because that was probably the most awkward thing to do. "I can't think of anything else," he said, washing his hair.
England sighed. "Alright then. That's fine. ." he said back to him. He was soon quiet after that, washing himself off. He had his back turned on the other, not knowing what else to say
Hong Kong had about enough of the silence and got out of the water to dry off. He was finished, anyways.
"I'm going back," he said, zipping up his pants.
England nodded. "Okay, I'll be there in a few. ." England answered back, staying just where he is.
Hong Kong walked back home, continuing to think why China would get so mad as to throw rice at England. He normally wasn't one to be so wasteful of food.
England sighed and stayed there in the bath, contemplating. "To be honest, the lad does have a point . ." he commented to himself. He got up and dried himself off, changing into his new clothing. He shrugged the thought off and left the bathhouse.
"Gege, are you awake?" Hong Kong asked as soon as he got through the door.
Of course not.
Hong Kong, however, called out to China again, and finally a third time, before giving up and throwing his clothes in his room.
After a very long (and dragging) walk, England entered the house. "Yao?" he called out and walked into the room. He sighed, seeing the Asian still sleeping- A small chuckled came out as he saw the rice all over the other's hair. He set the old clothing down and left the room, trying not to laugh even more.
Hong Kong was sitting on the couch, reading A Tale of Two Cities; he had brought it from England's house earlier. "What are you laughing about?" he asked England questioningly.
England stopped laughing, seeing Hong Kong on the couch. "Oh…oh. It's nothing." he chuckled. He sat down next to the young boy. Seeing the title of the book, he smiled. "I see you're still reading in English. . ." he commented.
"I don't know how to read much Chinese, anymore...And I don't understand what Gege says half the time. English is simpler." Hong Kong said matter-of-factly, licking his thumb to turn the page.
England frowned just then, facing away from Hong Kong. "Well . . ." he paused. "Now that you're back here, isn't it time to learn Chinese again?" he questioned.
Hong Kong continued to skim the page. "No point," he said, "Since it's easier to learn things at a young age, when your brain is still developing. It gets harder to learn multiple languages as you age, and since I'm almost full-grown and on my own, anyways, there wouldn't a point, would there?" [A/N: I know, I know, HK residents speak Chinese, but I don't know Cantonese (which is heavily present in Hong Kong), only Mandarin, so I tweaked the story a little.]
England sighed and crossed his arms, leaning back on the couch. Touché, he thought. He looked up at the clock, watching it as if time was going slow for him now. "Tell me," he suddenly spoke. "How long do you want me staying here?" he asked.
"As long as Gege isn't sick of you."
"Sick of whom?" China said from the doorway. He looked fairly tired, like he had gotten out of bed before his body would allow it.
"You're covered in...Rice," Hong Kong looked over at China and made the same observation he did to England. "Strange."
China frowned. "You." He pointed at England in much the same way he did to Hong Kong near the beginning of the new year. "You're helping me get this mess out of my hair."
England suddenly frowned. "I apologize, but who was the one who threw the rice again?" he stated, in a rather obnoxious and sarcastic tone.
"You're still helping me, ahen. Now." China went to the bathroom, leaving the door open. He kept picking at his hair and making faces at the smudged glass.
Hong Kong looked up from his book. "I suggest doing what he asks. He seemed serious about it."
England sighed and got up from the couch, walking to the bathroom to see the Asian picking in front of the mirror. He closed the door behind him and began to help China, grabbing each grain from his hair.
Gold eyes watched England intently, fingers brushing knots out of the clean strands of hair. His thoughts were still cloudy from morning sleep, but China was still making inferences and scenarios.
England continued weaving his fingers with the other's hair, pulling out more rice from the dark hair. His eyes looked back at China's and he flashed a slight smile. "Almost done." he breathed, his hands moving to the other side.
"You better be, ahen. I'm getting impatient." China's hand crossed paths with England's for a moment, and he pulled back. His eyes darted a sideways glance to his hand, then back to the mirror to watch England again.
England stopped smiling and rolled his eyes. 'And he calls me impatient', he thought. He combed through China's hair again, making sure not a single grain was left behind. Bending over, he pecked his lips against China's. "All gone."
A small glare was given to England. "Stop that." He stood up, fingers still twisted in his own hair. "It's your fault, ahen"
England sighed, letting go of the other's hair. "Will you lighten up? I was joking around." he said, frowning.
"Do you deserve it?" China said, trying to move his way out of the bathroom. England's figure was blocking him. Why did he shut the door? It was perfectly fine open! Humph.
England moved out of China's path, letting him walk past him. He didn't respond to the other nor did he look at him, only giving a short grunt.
China felt a little scorn. Maybe that was why he rubbed up against England as he went by, aiming for-
"Hong Kong?"
Hong Kong was on the other side of the door, leaning against the wall in boredom.
"Were you waiting, aru? I'm sorry."
England glared as China walked by, stopping as he saw Hong Kong standing there. "How long were you waiting there?" he asked him.
"About five minutes. I thought you wanted to go about town today. It's why I was waiting."
China gave a little sigh of relief. "Oh, is that all, aru?"
England nodded. "Alright then, lad. We'll go now." he said to him, leaving the bathroom. He turned to China, not giving any expression. "Are you coming with us?" he asked.
Hong Kong tugged at England's shirt. "Of course he is. Get dressed, Gege."
China looked a little surprised to be invited (read: forced) to join the little bonding. "You sure, aru?"
Hong Kong nodded.
"Okay, well, get ready then." England shrugged. He walked towards the front door, grabbing his shoes as he waited.
China huffed at England and strode to his room to change.
Hong Kong glanced at China before returning his attention to England. "Why is he so upset?" he asked as he waited, as well.
England rolled his eyes. "Don't ask me. I have no idea either." he responded. He sat down, slipping both shoes on. "He better be in a good mood though . . ." he mumbled to himself.
China came out in a simple, sleeveless white mandarin shirt and silk pants to match. He looked a little disappointed in what he was wearing, but only said, "Why are you waiting for me, aru? Go on," expecting them to have been out the door already.
England sighed and slowly stood up, walking out the door. He held the door open for the others. Just because China had a foul attitude towards him, didn't mean he can't be courteous.
China gave a side glance to England as he walked out the door, his eyes expressing thanks.
"I think there's a small festival going on. You know, like game booths and things," Hong Kong mentioned.
"Probably, aru," China agreed. "Do you want to see?"
Hong Kong nodded. "It sounds fun."