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]

[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...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

Oh... We had just started dating that time you saw us at the cafe. That's why.

But Taiwan, please don't try to distract me from what I was asking you earlier, especially by using Stocking. [Don't really appreciate that, even if it was unintentional.]

Now what happened when I was here last time? You can go slowly if you'd like.

[Action]

[meilihua]

[She looks...really reluctant to say anything] I mean...a lot of things happened, it's not like you can expect me to remember everything...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

I know, I never I expected you to remember everything. I just want to know everything that you do remember.

[A pause before he adds, and he really means it:] It's the only way I will be able to make amends with our family.

[Action]

[meilihua]

[She is silent again for several long moments, looking thoughtful and pensive]

If you don't remember what happened... [Was it really fair to keep blaming him? Even if he was responsible for those actions, could this really be the same person? And this place did such strange things...]

I-it was 1967 for you when I first arrived but you kept changing times...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

Did I? I know I was from 1967, but I don't know the whole story.

Please go on.

[Action]

[meilihua]

Y-yeah, that really surprised me! I mean...since I was from a lot later on and... there were...

[It had been tempting, somewhat, to leave things as they had stood at the time, the clear-cut lines, the obvious hostility, her seat on the UN] But um...I mean, with the way time seems to work here...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

It's strange, I know. People tell me that when I came back from 2012, I was only gone for a week on Fortuna.

But what else happened besides time changes?

[Action]

[meilihua]

Well...lots of things. You turned into a dragon, you got a Pokemon...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

I turned into a dragon, really?

[Action]

[meilihua]

Yeah, a lot of people turned into...weird creatures...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

Why did I turn into a dragon, though. And why did everyone transform for that matter?

[Action]

[meilihua]

It's...it's just the way this place is! All kinds of weird things happen! Like...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

Like...?