Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the HERO.

Disclaimer: Hetalia and its characters belong to Himaruya.

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"Welcome to my place, aru~!" Yao said with a big smile on his face. "Although it was an unexpected visit."

"Well, we were in a hurry so we couldn't call ahead." Alfred replied, making himself comfortable. After Arthur had mysteriously disappeared Alfred thought that it was his duty to find his former guardian. Dragging Matthew along, they discovered Francis' flower in Arthur's house and, after breaking into they house, a strange list of names in Francis' home. Sensing that this was a clue to Arthur's disappearance, he and Matthew had rushed over to China, as his name was at the top of the list.

"That's alright. I didn't have any plans anyway, aru! Oh, I should go get us something to drink." He stood up from the table and walked off into the kitchen, leaving the North American brothers alone.

Matthew turned to his brother. "Why'd we have to come to China? We could've gone to Italy or Japan to get information."

Shaking his head, Alfred draped an arm around his brother's shoulders. "Oh, Matthew. This is why you're only the sidekick! Yao was the first on the list, so we can safely assume that he was the first of Francis' 'victims'. Therefore we must go to him first to ask about what was done to him. Chronological order, my friend."

"You just wanted to see the pandas."

"Well if you want to talk to an angry Romano about Francis, you go ahead." Alfred smiled triumphantly. Talking to Romano about the Frenchman could land you in the hospital, and although he had the whole free healthcare thing going on, that was something Matthew avoided.

Before Matthew could respond Yao reappeared again, this time carrying a tray laden with snacks and two cups of tea. He set it down on the table and took a seat. "Here you go, aru."

"Thanks," Alfred said and grabbed a cup. Matthew was about to reach for the other but Yao took it before him.

"So why the visit, aru?" He asked.

"Oh, you know, foreign relations and all that." Alfred smiled. He took a sip from his cup and spat it out in disgust.

"Ugh! Alfred!" Matthew moved Kumajirou, who had sat in between the two, away from his brother.

"Ew! It's tea!" Alfred said, wiping his mouth. "You're just like Arthur. What's wrong with coffee?"

"Aiyah! You didn't have to spit it out, aru!" Yao hastily grabbed some napkins and attempted to clean the mess up.

Matthew reached over to help when he noticed a vase of flowers behind Yao. "Oh, are those roses? They're beautiful!"

Startled, Yao looked over his shoulder. "Ah, thank you."

"But are those roses indigenous to China?" Alfred asked. "They look a lot like the roses I've seen in France."

"Yes, I think they were brought over from there, I can't really remember."

Seeing what Alfred was doing, Matthew asked, "Did Francis bring them over?"

"Well, maybe, although I –"

"Speaking of Francis," Alfred interrupted, "Has he come over lately? You know, for a visit over the past month?"

Yao looked at him, suspicion shadowing his face. "Why do you ask, aru?"

"Just wondering." Alfred replied. "So has he?"

"Yes," Yao answered carefully.

"Oh, so he has!" Alfred flashed a smile at Matthew.

He chose his next words carefully. "What did you two do? I'm just curious about what a French man and a Chinese man might do together."

"We'd do what any other people would do." Yao answered.

"Like what?" Matthew pushed on. "Any activities or visits to places…?"

"Wait a minute, aru! I know what you're trying to do!" Yao exclaimed.

Alfred put on a mask of innocence. "What do you mean?"

"You want me to tell you what Francis did to me! Well I'm not telling, aru!"

They wouldn't be able to get the information they needed if he went on like this. "What did he do, Yao?" Matthew asked. "Was it that bad? Maybe we could help."

Yao shook his head. "No way, aru. He made me promise not to tell anyone. Besides, I don't want to talk about it, aru!"

"Oh come on, whatever Francis did can't be anything we haven't heard of." Alfred said.

"Yeah, I was raised by him for years." They moved closer to Yao, who seemed torn on whether or not to tell.

But before he could open his mouth to speak there was a knock on the door. "Who could that be, aru?" Yao asked, getting up to open it.

"I came for a surprise visit! You are surprised, da?" At the doorway stood the towering figure of Ivan. He beamed down at Yao, who seemed to shrink in his presence.

"O-oh, Ivan, aru. What a s-surprise to see you." Yao returned the smile weakly.

The Russian nodded in response then spotted the two blondes. "Oh, you already have visitors!" He smiled at them and Alfred and Matthew felt a chill go through them.

"Y-yeah, aru. You already know them, right? Of course you do. Alfred and…er…" He paused and stared at Matthew. "Er… who are you again, aru?"

"Matthew!" He shouted. "I'm Matthew! Ca-na-da!"

Ivan stepped towards Matthew. "Ah, Matthew! Good hockey game last time, da?"

At the sound of the name of his national sport Matthew immediately brightened. "Yeah, real good game!" He smiled.

"But we'll destroy you next game, da?" Despite his friendly smile Ivan had a menacing aura around him that sent shivers down their spines.

"Eheheh…s-sure." Matthew laughed nervously. "You can try."

"So why have you visited Yao?" Ivan asked, sitting himself down.

"Foreign relations." Alfred answered automatically.

"Actually," Matthew began. Alfred turned to him, wondering what he was playing at. "We came to ask him about Francis' visit."

Yao shifted uncomfortably but Ivan looked thoughtful. "Oh, he's visited me too."

"He has?" Alfred asked, shocked. The thought of Francis trying anything with the intimidating Russian was baffling.

"Yup!" Ivan replied. "It was unexpected, but I welcome him because I rarely get visitors."

"What did he do? Did he take you anywhere?" Matthew asked.

But Ivan shook his head. "He said that I couldn't tell anyone, and I have to listen to him. Otherwise, if I don't, he may put up more of a struggle to become one with Russia, da?"

"Oh yeah, and you wouldn't want that." Alfred said and Ivan nodded.

"Speaking of which, do you two want to become one with mother Russia?" Ivan asked the North Americans.

"Er, no thank you."

"I'll pass."

"Who?"

Ivan kept the serene smile on his face. "Okay, maybe some other time then, da?"

Suddenly, Alfred leapt to his feet. "Oh, is that the time? Well, Mattie and I had better get going."

"No, you two can stay, aru." Yao said, an almost pleading look in his eyes.

"Sorry, but duty calls. We, um, have other stuff planned. So see you guys later!" He grabbed Matthew's wrist and practically ran out of the house without giving Matthew a chance to say good-bye.

Once a safe distance away from Yao's house Alfred let go of him. Rubbing his aching wrist, Matthew said, "Al, we didn't have anything else planned."

"I know." Panted Alfred. "But that Ivan gives me the creeps."

He quickly regained his composure and stood up straight with a smile on his face. "But this little visit was quite informative. Now we know for sure that Francis is up to something."

"Yeah, but what?" Matthew asked. "Yao and Ivan refused to say anything."

"You forgot, little brother. We have the list of names. Yao and Ivan may not have been willing to share but maybe the rest will."

"So where to next? Italy? Their names were after Yao's." Matthew said, taking out the list. "Or maybe to Greece, since Heracles' name comes right before Arthur's."

"Yes, yes, that would be a good idea. But first, I want to see the pandas!" Alfred pointed at a nearby sign advertising a nearby zoo. "I hope they sell hamburgers there because I'm starved! Hamburgers with cheese. Oh, and it has to have bacon in it, too. Say, how would Canadian bacon taste in an American hamburger? Would it add to the awesome?"

Still rambling on about the awesomeness of a hamburger, Alfred walked ahead. Matthew shook his head and smiled. No matter what the situation, Alfred would still be Alfred. Jogging up next to his brother, he commented on how he hoped they served fries with gravy as well.

[End Chapter 10]

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Canadian bacon in an American hamburger. Does such a thing exist? I've never had one before. I have had poutine before, and I highly doubt they'd have any in a Chinese zoo. Sorry Matt, maybe in the next country.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Leave me a review, I love to feast on your thoughts~