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]

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...?

[Action]

[meilihua]

Well, that thing where we all saw each other's memories was kind of...

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

Oh, that I remember very clearly. [Especially the way she was so affected at seeing some of his childhood.]

But what about other things that I do not remember? Did anything else happen before I returned home? Anything else I did to upset Japan or the family?

[Come on, sis. Don't lie to him when he's looking at you with that face.]

[Action]

[meilihua]

Well... [To be honest, she's more upset about the stuff you've been doing at home. Just saying] I really shouldn't presume to say anything about how the others are feeling.

[Action]

[gochuugoku]

Hong Kong and Macau have already given me their sides of the story, now I am asking for yours. Yet... I have heard many things from the others here on this planet, things you all have been keeping from me.

Why is that?

[Action]

[meilihua]

B-because... [she takes a deep breath] What's the use of dragging out old wounds? If you've forgotten then it's like it never happened, isn't it?

[But of course that's not true. There were still moments when she caught a glimpse of Japan out of the corner of her eye and gives a reflexive shudder, when a stray thought leaves her wanting to hide under her blankets and never come out again, harking back to a world where she doesn't teeter in uncertainty, when she could be outdoors all the time without worrying about her complexion or her GDP or what would happen if those few countries that still semi-acknowledged her withdrew their regard.

In comparison with that, what could China ever do to her here that was so horrible? And that he didn't even remember that that.]

[Action] 1/2

[gochuugoku]

[He actually startles back in surprise at the sudden outburst. He soon regains his composure, however, returning to his former sitting position.]

Because! [He realizes too late that he used too much force in his tone there, so he tones it down to a growling voice.]

Because someone outside our family had to tell me that Japan is upset over exactly that: me not remembering, as though it never happened and only remembering the good things. That's why he didn't like that my first memory of this place was of Stocking.

I should have heard it from my family first and not anyone else! Keeping things from me here is not going to make things go away, it's only going to come back and get worse! [His voice is rising again.] Isn't that what you and the others should have learned all these hundreds of years?! That running away from your problems is not going to help you?!

[He's breathing hard by the end of it.]