Upon waking up China found himself in a bamboo forest.
"What the.. I don't remember coming here aru.."
China froze, "This looks a lot like the place where I found Japan.. But that can't be.. Most of it has been cut down.."
Nearby, Japan woke up bleary eyed.
"Where am I?" he wondered.
His gaze then shifted to China sitting upright some distance away, looking around in a confused and alert way.
"What is China-San doing here?"
Japan was even more confused.
"China-san!" he called out, only to be ignored completely.
Either China was really mad at him or could not hear him.
But he didn't remember them having a serious fight lately and China was only a few meters away so why couldn't he hear him?
Japan stood up and leaned against the nearby bamboo for support while wondering whether he should approach China.
To his surprise, his hand passed right through the bamboo.
Japan carefully withdrew his hand while panic started to build up inside him.
"It's okay.. This is just a dream.." he repeated within his head while taking deep breaths in order to calm his nerves.
Meanwhile a tiny figure was approaching them.
China gave a start when he recognized who it was.
It was little Japan.
"Yao gege?" asked little Japan, surprised, "I thought you were making lunch.."
China gulped. It had been so long since Japan had called him that.
"But I'm happy too see you," continued little Japan breaking into a smile.
"Yao gege?" little Japan frowned on noticing the additional lines on Yao's face. He stroked Yao's forehead to smooth out the creases.
"You work too much!" he exclaimed animatedly.
Yao finally broke into a smile. He laughed while tears formed in his eyes, in a way that he had not for a long long time.
He knew he would be sad for the next few days. A mix up of the past and present was a dangerous thing and he had just learnt to keep them apart.
But for now, he was just glad to have his little nihon back, even if it was for just for a moment.
Little Japan smiled too, even though he was a little confused.
Japan stood watching China and and his little self.
He watched as China wrapped his arms around his little self with tears in his eyes.
He watched as his little self smiled back and leaned forward making their foreheads touch.
He was practically a ghost at that moment but he felt as if he had been punched in the gut.