China pulled away and picked the puppet back up to go put it away in the shed.

England gave a soft smile right as soon as China hugged him. He sighed, loving the feeling and the appreciation he was getting. What made it better was that he knew what China felt, seeing the note (With the confession or not, that was how he felt unconsciously. So it couldn't have made a difference, right?)

China came back with a small look of concern. "I wonder where Hong Kong has gone off to, aru," he thought out loud. "It's been a bit too long, don't you think?" The last part was directed to England, though China didn't make eye contact nor turn to him.

England shrugged. "Probably he's spending time with that lass still." he said jokingly. "He does have a liking for her."

China blanched a little, but said nothing. "Hmph," he frowned, obviously not finding humor in what England said. "Fine. It's past lunchtime, ahen. Are you hungry?"

Not noticing the Asian's disapproving tone, England gave another shrug before walking towards the house. "I'll just have something light." he said, walking inside.

China skipped ahead of England. "Such as?" he asked. "There's a lot of things you can have as a snack, ahen. Cao mei? Xi gua?"

"What?" England can only say, presenting an awkward stance to the other. "Can you at least tell me what those words are?" he asked persistently.

"Oh, sorry, ahen," China apologized. "Strawberries or watermelon or something?"

"Uh," England slightly tilted his head. "To be quite frank, I'm not in the mood to eat . ." he admitted, taking a seat on the couch.

"Then what, ahen?" China asked, resting a hand on his hip in thought. "You're acting very strange, Arthur. You're saying on thing, doing another. It's all confusing, ahen."

England shrugged once more. "I guess I'm just having and odd day, I guess." he replied to the other. "I'll be fine though, you don't have to worry about it."

China knitted his brows in frustration, but before he couple complain, Hong Kong walked through the front door.

"Hong Kong, aru! What took so long?" China asked the boy, concern evident in his voice.

Hong Kong looked to the side. "I'm sorry."

England turned his head back and sighed. "That's okay, lad." he said. smiling. "Did you have a nice walk?" he asked.

"It was alright." Hong Kong still wasn't making eye-contact.

China noticed this. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Hong Kong said, eyes finally on his elder.

China took the bait. "Alright, aru. Are you hungry?"

"I ate at Taiwan's house."

"Is that what took so long, aru?"

"Yes."

England rolled his eyes, muttering about the Chinese nation overreacting for a second. Until he noticed the uneasiness in Hong Kong himself, making the Brit cock an eyebrow. "Lad, are you okay? You seem uneasy. ." he decided to ask.

Hong Kong shook his head no.

China, feeling England would take care of the problem, went back outside to inspect the other puppets.

Hong Kong sighed deeply when China left.

England waited for China to leave before asking again. "Did something happen while you were out?" he asked, curious now.

Hong Kong shifted uncomfortably. "Nothing happened while I was out," he said, leaving his answer open-ended.

"You seem rather uncomfortable again, lad. . ." England pointed out. "What happened?" he pestered the other once more.

Hong Kong frowned deeply at England now, a bit annoyed by the questioning, but being raised to respect his elders, he answered, "the atmosphere."

England wanted to ask another question, but backed out once he took note of Hong Kong's irritating facial expression. He simply nodded and turned his body back so that he was facing forward again.

Hong Kong studied England for a moment, then left it at that and left to his room, picking up the book he was reading earlier as he did so.

England sighed and stood up as he was just about to re-enter the bedroom. He stopped at the front of the door. 'Maybe I should ask,' he thought. 'He did seem very off about it.' He gave another sigh as he turned his heel, walking to the boy's bedroom door. He knocked first, being polite as he was, before speaking again. "May I come in?" he asked.

"Yes, of course," Hong Kong called back, just now opening his book. Lorrie and Lucy were just now meeting Monsieur Ernest and Madame Therese. He turned the page.

England entered the room, giving an awkward smile to the other as he set beside him. He stayed quiet, not knowing what to say. "Urr," he uttered. "What are you reading there, lad?" he finally asked.

"Same as last time; Tale of Two Cities." Hong Kong looked over to England. "Look, I know you feel bad for showing me that note, but you don't have to try and force small talk on me."

England gave an inward frown. "Wh- . .What are you talking about?" he asked, trying as hard as he could to act innocent for the other.

"That's why you're paying more attention to me at the moment, right? You're feeling guilty?" Hong Kong set the book down and questioningly looked to England.

"What?" England questioned. More importantly, why does Hong Kong still remember that damn note? Bloody dragon, such an arse for pulling a trick like that! England sighed. "I . . I didn't mean to." he finally told him.

"It's alright. I already knew," Hong Kong said absent-mindedly, picking his book back up. "But that doesn't mean it's not the least bit awkward. It's like walking in on your parents having sex. Only your mom is your brother."

"Wait." England gave a confusing look. "You already- . ." His jaw dropped slightly. "Since when?" he asked, frowning with guilt written all over his face.

Hong Kong didn't look up from his book as he answered England. "About...Mm, the night before Chi Gou Ri?" He sounded a bit unsure. "I didn't get a good night's sleep."

England nodded. "Well, you're taking that easy." he commented. He sighed before looking away from the other. "Lad, if you have any protests about this, tell me now, alright?" he asked.

"Alright," Hong Kong said, clearly more interested in the book. He didn't say anything else to signal if he was against the relationship or not. The conversation was clearly over.