audio/action Sad China is Sad

[gochuugoku]

[There's sounds of China playing his bamboo flute. No specific song, just a couple of notes. However, some of the notes begin to fail. There's a tremble in them until they come out as nothing more than a raspy sound. Unseen by others, China takes his flute away from his lips.]

I never got to tell her what I wanted I say.

[If anyone wants to run into him, he's sitting on a tree branch within Discedo's Horizon Park.]

Comments

[Action]

[meilihua]

[She is walking outside in the park when she hears something strange. She looks all around for a few minutes, completely confused, until she glances up] E-eh?! Teacher, what are you doing up there?

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

[He looks down at her, but doesn't budge from where he is.]

Nihao, Taiwan...

[Action]

[meilihua]

Do I need to call the fire department, Teacher?

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

[He shakes his head.]

No, I can get down, I just don't wish to get down at the moment. I've been thinking.

[Action]

[meilihua]

Oh, no that's not- [She halts the automatic teasing and peers up at him a little more closely, shading her eyes against the sun, squinting to see him more clearly] Okay, what happened?

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

[He looks down at his legs.]

Stocking has been sent home...

[Action]

[meilihua]

[Taiwan is silent for a moment, looking up at him, and then she shakes her head a moment and starts rolling up her sleeves] I'm coming up-!

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

Okay. [He even scoots over a little to give her some room to sit beside him.]

Please be careful.

[Action]

[meilihua]

[She clambers up perhaps a bit too proficiently, though she has a bit of trouble with her skirts. In almost no time at all, she is sitting perched on the branch beside him] Of course I'll be carefu-! [Perhaps a bit too excited, she nearly overbalances, but catches herself before she falls]

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

[He'll be putting his hands on her waist to help steady herself too.]

See. I told you to be careful. [He scolds her gently.]

[Action]

[meilihua]

I'm fine, I'm fine, you don't have to fuss... [She doesn't protest though, shifting so that she has a solid seating]

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

[He lets go of her and goes back to staring at Stocking's pendant, the one he's holding right now in the palm of his hand.]

Just when I was starting to remember more things, they sent her home.

[Action]

[meilihua]

[She looks stricken, and shifts a little closer to put her hand over his in a gesture meant to be comforting] Maybe she'll come back...this place does things like that all the time.

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

That is true. [He at least lifts his eyes to look back at her.]

Taiwan, I wish to ask you something.

[Action]

[meilihua]

She looks a little nervous about that, but answers immediately] O-okay, what is it?

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

[He fully faces her now.]

I want you to tell me everything that happened during my last two stays. Anything you know, please. I have already asked Hong Kong and Macau for their sides of the story, and I plan to do the same with Japan.]

[A pause before he adds:] It's the only way I will remember faster.

[Action]

[meilihua]

W-why all of a sudden-?

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

I'm anxious not remembering all these things and... do you remember when people were able to see memories that were not their own?

[Action]

[meilihua]

Oh-! [Strangely, she looks quite guilty about this, and shifts uneasily on the tree branch] I...I guess I remember that a bit...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

Well, during that time, I saw many memories from others that stirred my own.

[He leans in closer, looking her right in the eyes.] I remember now about my disowning of Kiku here, but that's all. I don't remember the rest of the story surrounding that, besides the fact I was from 1967. [Probably one of the hardest years in his life.]

And I know that is why he's upset that I remembered Stocking first and not whatever I did to our family.

[Action]

[meilihua]

W-well, yes I mean... he was pretty upset about that but... This place messes around with time a lot and it's not...

[She really has no idea what to say. On the one hand, kneejerk tease Teacher reaction; on the other...]

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

What about the rest of you? Did I do anything here to upset you, Hong Kong, and Macau?

You must tell me, Taiwan, it will help not just me, but Japan and our whole family too.

[Action]

[meilihua]

Ah...me?

[She thinks briefly, but she has to conclude:]

Actually, you've been semi-bearable here, mostly! At least to me. Though I was kind of upset you didn't tell me about- [She gasps a little and claps her hand over her mouth]

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

About...? [He looks at her, putting all his focus on her. No pressure.]

[Action]

[meilihua]

About Stocking...