A Different Perspective Ch. 1

In a small living room, Kiku Honda wore his cleaning attire, and he already got right to work scrubbing down the floor. He scrubbed back and forth, then in circle motions. The floor was quite big, making this a tedious task, but he enjoyed cleaning, and did so often.

A territory came down the stairs in a low pace; his skin tone was very pale, and sickly. It wasn't the norm for him. This wasn't one of Japan's territories. It was none other than Hong Kong, and he had a white mask covering the majority of his face. Only his mouth and nose. It looked more like a surgical mask. He was sick and wasn't going to have anyone catch his cold. Kaoru made his way over to the couch and slowly lay down, resting his head on a pillow. He felt just awful.

Japan saw him come down and glanced over briefly, but he saw enough to make him know something was up. He set the brush down and walked right over him. "Hong Kong? Are you alright?" Both of them were currently in a relationship, one that had lasted for a while now. They're both rather happy, and hadn't really fought over anything. Their relationship was good.

~ ~ ~

There was that one detail that was brought up every once in a while; that being what these two had gone through during WWII. Japan wasn't as kind as he was nowadays. With the power he had, Japan became a monster. After the war Japan had distanced himself from Hong Kong for the longest time, Hong Kong on the other hand tried to get onto good terms with the Japanese man again. The poor guy loathed himself. Hong Kong could tell he was hurting inside. Time and Time again Japan would tell him it's impossible to forgive him for such actions. Hong Kong would always say back, "It is possible to forgive...But I cannot forget what happened." Before Japan had sunk into his own depression Hong Kong continued. "An additional option is to move on. To be stuck in the past you'll literally stop moving. Your mind is stuck in it." He reached his hand out to Japan for his. "Well, I forgive you. I feel everyone deserves a second chance, to redeem themselves in life. Focus on your future Japan." Such words brought Kiku to into tears, pools of tears formed underneath this eyes. That was all he ever wanted: Forgiveness, plus a second chance. Taking Karou's hand he shook it gently. He was so happy, so relieved Hong Kong had forgiven him. Over the years Japan had changed back to his kind self, before that terrible war. Like Hong Kong said; he wanted to keep his past behind him now.

~ ~ ~

Hong Kong shook his head. "N-No I'm sick. I don't want you to catch it." His words were a tad bit muffled with the mask over his mouth.

It wasn't too hard to tell. Japan took a seat on the floor and felt his boyfriend's forehead. It was very warm. The Chinese man wasn't too thrilled about Japan touching his forehead. Now he could catch his germs. Still he said nothing in return.

"You really have a fever..." He frowned at this. "Maybe I can make you some Tea or some soup to help you feel better?" Japan took a seat on the opposite side of the couch, which made Hong Kong sit up rather quickly.

"I-I don't want you to c-catc--achoo!" He sneezed, but thank god he had that white mask covering his nose. On habit, his hand, or more, his really long sleeve was also trying to cover where his nose was. He sniffled while wearing an upset expression. Karou curled up into a ball on the couch, eyes staring at the clean floor.

Japan got up from his spot and sat back down where he was before; on the floor right next to Hong
Kong. His hand reached over and stroked the other's hair, running his fingers through his hair. "I don't mind Hong Kong. I just want to see you get better." He smiled lightly at him. "I'll go make you some soup okay?"

Kaoru was silent at first, but he nodded. It was generous of the other to drop everything he was doing for the sake of his own boyfriend. A smile played on Hong Kong's face as well, but unfortunately it was covered by the mask.

"Alright. I'll have it done in less than five minutes." Then Japan left him to make the soup in the kitchen.

Hong Kong sighed to himself, being he was the only person left in the room. He had this thing where he didn't really like people fretting so much over him. Being with Japan for so long, he was slowly getting used to it...But not completely.

A small dog casually walked into the room. It stopped at the couch where Hong Kong remained and stared right up at him, with his tiny beady eyes. The dog's tail was also wagging, not too fast though.

Hong Kong picked the dog up and set the creature on his lap, petting him gently. "Ohayo Pochi." Hong Kong did know Japanese. He was kind of forced to learn it in WWII, but he was thankful he did now. "I don't want everyone to get sick..." Then Hong Kong got an idea. England gave him a bunch of magic potions after he was returned back to China. Maybe one of them could help cure his sickness!

He set Japan's dog on the ground and ran up to his own room. He soon learned that wasn't such a good idea, for it made his stomach feel queasy. It was a short wave of sickness, and it went away quickly. Hong Kong entered his room and searched his closet, a found a big box labeled 'important.' He didn't want it to be obvious to anyone with labeling it Potions. He opened it and slowly dug his way though vials to find any potions to cure sickness.

Pochi squeezed though the opening of the door, (With it being left open just a crack.) and walked over, curiously watching what Hong Kong was doing.

"Found it." He held in his hand a vial labeled 'Instant cure of sickness.' From what he remembered England told him specifically to drink the whole vial in order for any of these potions to work. He took off his mask and set it on the bed. Before he was about to drink it he noticed Pochi's eyes right on him. "How did you-?" The he spotted the door was opened. He shrugged it off and just chugged the potion down. He set the vial on the bed next to the box.

"..." Nothing had happened. Hong Kong sighed deeply. Well, this was unfair. He looked back down at Pochi. "Oh well it didn't work. Well, I tried." "...A-Ah!!!" Suddenly he felt strange, actually it was more he couldn't feel anything at all. His soul was leaving his body. "W-What!?" He tried to reach back, to try grabbing onto his body, but he kept moving away from it. His eyes widened seeing another soul in front of him. It was Pochi's! Pochi's soul was heading right for his body. "W-Wait!" Hong's soul went right into Pochi's body.

Hong Kong opened his eyes finding himself lower to the ground, and he had little paws, and fur. "Oh no! I must have taken the wrong vial!" He thought in his mind. He was pretty sure he read the label correctly. England must have mixed up the labels. "P-Pochi?" He spoke, but in return it only came out as a squeaky, light bark.

Pochi within Hong Kong's body had fallen over from being not used to standing up right. He got right back up but was in the position of a dog. It looked really strange, and it made the actual Hong Kong cringe. "Oh no!"

Hong Kong scampered down the stairs, while Pochi was quick to follow him. Pochi had fallen over from running down the stairs in such a weird way. He lost his footing and toppled down the steps. Hong Kong got caught in the tumbling and fell down the stairs along with him.

Kaoru was quick to get up and run into the kitchen. "I have to tell Japan! He'll help fix this!"

"...What on Earth? What was that?" Japan heard a loud thud, and was about to check where it came from. He was stopped by Pochi who was frantically running around. What Japan didn't know was it was actually Hong Kong.

"Japan! Japan! Please help! I drank this potion given to me by England and something went wrong! I swapped bodies with Pochi! I need your help to fix this and-"

Kiku stared as Pochi ran around on the kitchen floor. He was silent at first but chuckled a little. He picked up his little Shiba dog. "You're so cute Pochi~" He pet the top of Hong Kong's head.

"...?" Great, just wonderful. Japan couldn't understand him. He had a feeling all Japan could hear was senseless barking. Strangely enough he was enjoying the top of his head being petted. Being small though had its disadvantages. He wanted to get out of Japan's arms. That wasn't going to happen anytime soon, not that he minded it. Also being this small, Japan's heart was bigger, so big that he could actually feel the Others heartbeat while being held closer to the other. As the dog, Hong Kong couldn't help but blush.

Japan wandered into the other room only to see Hong Kong on the ground, and in a painful position. "H-Hong Kong!" He shouted out, rushing to his aid. "D-Did you fall down the stairs? Are your okay? D-Do you want me to help you up?"

Pochi heard Japan's voice and quickly got up, in a squatting position that sort of resembled a dog's way of walking, but the key thing was Pochi was now in a human body, and it made him appear awkward. Pochi rushed closer to Japan and started to give him little doggy kisses on his face. Hong Kong's eyes twitched witnessing this.

This was pretty shocking to anyone. Japan was laughing at this. It was wasn't loud, but to just hear the small man laugh, it was rare, and for such a long time too. "S-Stop it Hong Kong! T-T-That tickles!" Kiku actually had to push Pochi away. The dog wondered what was wrong and started to rub his head against Japan's arm.

"Uhh...Hong Kong? It's cute that you're trying to pretend you're a dog and all, but I think that's enough. You need to rest."

Pochi just stood there confused. Was that command for him to do or something? He titled his head to the side.

Japan did his best to stifle his laugh this time. "You're so funny Hong Kong." He gave his boyfriend a hug.

Pochi loved hugs. Hugs meant he was being good and his friend liked him. Because Pochi was in a odd position he licked Japan's ear instead. Since the body he was currently in had a tongue much larger than a dog's tongue this posed a problem.

"A-Ahhhh!!!" Japan let go of him and rubbed the saliva off his ear with his sleeve. "W-Why did you do that!?"

Pochi whimpered, showing an innocent 'sorry' face to Japan. It caught Kiku's eyes quickly and made him feel really, really, guilty for shouting at him.

"I-I'm sorry Hong Kong, but can we please stop this 'pretending to be a dog?'"

Pochi sensed sadness in his friend's eyes and wanted to help. He moved closer and started to lick Japan's chin, moving up his face. Pochi was trying to give Japan apologetic doggie kisses.

"S-Stop!!!" He shoved Pochi away with more force this time, which made him fall over. "W-What is the matter with you!? C-Can't you see I'm upset Hong Kong!? A-Are you trying to upset me!?" He really didn't like to say these things to Hong Kong of all people, but this was seriously weird!

Pochi whimpered and squatted back into his position. He was being scolded; something he not used to. He was always a good dog. Why was his friend mad at him? It never really occurred to him the licking was making Japan uncomfortable. Pochi was just use to saying sorry with licking his friend.

"W-Why won't you answer me?" What Japan didn't know was that Pochi is unable to.

Hong Kong couldn't believe what he was seeing. Japan must be getting the wrong idea. He was thinking Hong was still within his own body.

Pochi lifted one of his legs up to try and scratch his ears. Doing this in Hong Kong's body, it only made Japan madder.

"T-That does it! Y-You won't stop when I don't feel comfortable with this! I don't like how you're acting like a dog. If you won't stop t-then I'm leaving!" He shook while he shouted at Pochi. He felt awful for yelling, and to Hong Kong of all people. The one he loved.

Japan couldn't bear to look at his face as he left. He picked up Hong Kong who was currently in Pochi's body and left the house. Hong Kong barked a little, trying to tell Japan to go back, but it was no use. Kiku only continued to walk, and he couldn't stop shaking. His conscious wouldn't stop bugging him. He felt terrible for shouting at Hong Kong.

Eventually Japan stopped walked and sat down on an empty bench. Hong Kong was put on his lap. Staring out from where he was sitting, Hong Kong watched the people walk by, only thinking in his mind he had to fix this immediately, somehow. He felt a drop fall in between his eyes, in the middle of his forehead. He looked up to see if it was going to start raining...But it wasn't rain. Japan broke into crying. He sobbed and tried to hide his crying from the people passing by.

Hong Kong felt absolutely horrible. All because of this dumb choice he made, he made Japan cry. This wasn't Pochi's fault at all. The poor dog didn't deserve to be yelled at. Karou pawed at Japan's chest to get his attention, there was a sympathetic look into the tiny doggy eyes he had at the moment.

Japan removed his hand from his face, sniffled and patted Hong Kong's head. "G-Gomen Pochi-kun. I just don't understand why he did that. Was he purposely trying to upset me?"

Hong Kong shook his head as fast as this Dog body would allow him to. His paws were still pawing Japan's chest. He wanted Japan to forgive him. Again he had the same look.

"He wasn't trying to upset me? Maybe he was trying to help? B-But that was a little weird."

Hong Kong shrugged his little paws, and nodded to him.

"Maybe I should apologize, for shouting at him. Maybe you are right Pochi. Maybe he was trying to help. Still it was a little weird…Maybe he's tired from being sick and just needs to lie down and rest..."

Hong Kong nodded, agreeing completely. He was so glad he was able to convince him with this dog body. Suddenly Hong Kong let out a sneeze, and his head shook fast as he sneezed.

Kiku chuckled a little and stroked the Dog's back. "Bless you. Oh...I hope you're not catching Hong Kong's cold. You poor thing..."

Hong Kong never would have guessed his cold would transfer along with his own soul to a different body.

Japan smiled a little and got up. "Alright, let head back and apologize." It was weird but sometimes he felt Pochi understood him, and was a good pal to talk to about his problems; even if he couldn't respond back.

Kiku walked back into the house with Hong Kong in his arms, the actual one that is. "Hong Kong, where are you? I came to apologize." He got no answer back. "...Hong Kong?" He searched around the whole entire house and couldn't find his boyfriend anywhere. "Oh no...He must of left. H-He must h-hate me for yelling at him..."

Hong Kong's little doggy heart sank in his chest. This wasn't good at all. Pochi was missing, and he was still stuck in Hong Kong's body! He could end up lost somewhere and could never find his way back! They had to find him!