二十二 ❀

[naicha]

✿ action 1
<sub>[ When the cherry blossoms disappear, Taiwan holds her breath. Japan always adored things that come and go so easily. Now he was one, too. She should've known better than to expect this the least. Watching his figure put on his coat and walk out the door, Taiwan knows it's not him. And stay out! Taiwan thinks as she slams the door shut. She feels like flicking his drone on the forehead for his remarks. "Be a good wife and make him dinner?" Ooh, the nerve! ... This makes her miss the real Japan already. Hm? What? She's not going to cry, that's silly. Even so, no matter how many times she's learned how to stand on her own, she can't help but feel abandoned. It's okay, though. Not that it hasn't happened before.

At the cafe, it's business as usual. Employees will find that there are no costumes for them to wear, though, if they don't already bring their own. Behind the counter isn't Japan typing away on his computer, but Taiwan, accounting everything by hand. She lifts her head up whenever a customer passes by. ]</sub>

Welcome!

_{[ With no makeup masking her troubled state, Taiwan quickly ducks back into her work again. She isn't even eating anything. She does try her best to put a smile on her face, though. Look! It's as if nothing happened at all. ]}

✿ action 2
_{[ Two siblings are walking around town together, but there's something odd about their dynamic today. ]}

And he was like, "Ah, is that so." And then I was like, "Yes! Yes, it is so!" Ooh, but I tried and tried and he still wouldn't let me and I was so mad that I could... _{[ p-punches her palm ]} hit him...! But I didn't 'cause I'd feel a little bad, you know. Oh! I was gonna say sorry for calling him a stupidhead today, but when I woke up and checked on him, all his stuff was gone! Just like that. It's not fair, you know, I mean- _{[ She waits for a witty, candid response, but nothing. Her voice is full of anger. ]} Hey! _{[ Then worry. ]} Hey, say something...

_{[ It goes on like this until Hong Kong's drone arrives at work. Very upset with this turn of events, Taiwan starts her walk home looking a little glum. She's not exactly looking where she's going, so she might bump into you, a drone or a pole. A detour she makes to the elementary school's playground is where others may find her hanging upside down on the monkey bars. ]}

✿ phone/action for 1245 williams road

Hello... Um, _{[ There's the sound of Taiwan wiping her face with her sleeve. ]} um! _{[ She takes in a deep breath. ]} Japan's... gone and stuff. If anyone wants to hit him, you don't have to, 'cause I already did. If anyone's worried about the cafe, I'm taking over, you know! I mean, until he comes back...

Ahaha, I feel a little dizzy! I think I'll go lie down now.

_{[ But she can't stay still! After the call, she'll be around the house, arranging all the clothes they have by color and sorting the records and books alphabetically. ]}

Comments

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

[That's going to give Kyoko pause, and Taiwan earns a rather perplexed face at the question]

I know the country, but I didn't realize there was a person by that name.

[naicha]

Oh, no, he is the country. _{[ As if it's the most normal thing in the world. ]}

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

[That perplexed look? It's increased a little, although she is not perhaps as shocked as others might be.]

The country itself has a spirit? I know the Gods exists, but I didn't realize that.

[naicha]

No, no, no, he's a person, too! Oh, well, I guess you could call him a spirit in a way. Like, the spirit of the Japanese people! Ah, wait, I think that's a different kind of spirit...

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

[Kyoko blinks, then laughs a little] So basically the people of Japan taken form? Usually we would call that the Emperor where I come from.

[naicha]

Eh!? No, the Emperor's his boss! ... Wait, no, the Prime Minister is. _{[ She clicks her tongue. ]} Oh, I shouldn't forget stuff like that, I'm only four hundred!

...I'm so sorry. This girl talks to a Goddess so...

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

[Kyoko's going to look at Taiwan here, to see if she's being honest. Since the girl obviously is, Kyoko smiles]

You look very good for four-hundred!

haha it's fine!

[naicha]

Ehehe, thank you! _{[ She preens a little and idly swings her feet more. ]} I think it's 'cause I age slowly, though. But Japan's even slower, since he's super old and he still looks like he's in his twenties! I hope I age just a bit so I don't look like his niece anymore. Anyway, yeah! We're countries.

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

How interesting. What country are you? I don't know many, mostly Germany and Japan, since I live there.

[naicha]

I'm Taiwan. My place is right below Japan's! You should go there when you can! So you're one of Japan's people?

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

I don't think that the country would like me doing so, but yes. My name is Ry... ah, I suppose here it's first name first huh? Kyoko Ryuzaki, though this place gave me another name.

[naicha]

It's okay, we don't pay a lot of attention to those names anyway. Sometimes names don't mean anything at all. I mean, it's stupid, changing your name doesn't change who you are, but other people make such a big deal out of it, and...

_{[ She realizes she's just rambling, so she stops there. ]}

Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Kyoko!

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

Yes, they do make a very big deal of names sometimes. [A flash of frustration crosses Kyoko's face, but then disappears. She bows a bit to Taiwan] It is an honor to meet you, Taiwan.

[naicha]

Hehe. It's a shame Japan left before you got to meet him. He'd be very happy to meet another citizen of his, you know. Mm... Well, he'll be back. _{[ She pushes herself off the bars and lands on her feet. ]}

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

It would be interesting to meet him. [Watches Taiwan, before offering another faint smile] Do you feel a bit better now?

[naicha]

Hmm. _{[ That's neither a yes or a no. She swings her arms and looks at Kyoko. ]} I've always been on my own and stuff.

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

It doesn't mean you like it. [Looks at the bars, then at Taiwan] Here, tell me if you can do this.

[Kyoko moves, using the steps so that she can get herself standing on the top of the monkey bars. She begins walking across them swiftly, obviously having no issues in balance even with the spaces between the bars]

[naicha]

_{[ Whoa, that looks fun and kind of cool. There's a sparkle in Taiwan's eyes. ]}

I can try! <sub>[ Taiwan doesn't wait for Kyoko's reply - she quickly makes her way to the top. Heights don't faze her, so she walks across the bars without hesitation. Cautious isn't a word to describe her, though. Taiwan is in such a rush that she misses a bar and yelps as her foot falls through the gap.

She catches herself by latching on to the bars in front of her before she completely loses balance. ]</sub>

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

[Kyoko watches, amused. She was trying to get the girl to play a bit, but as she goes to lose balance, Kyoko moves over to try and grab Taiwan so she doesn't fall off the bars.]

[naicha]

_{[laughs sheepishly when Kyoko helps her]} I slipped... _{[not exactly, but she almost fell...]}

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

It happens. It's not so easy to do is it? [Have a smile] Of course, this isn't as difficult as walking a thin tree branch like my brothers used to challenge me with.

[naicha]

Why would they do that? Were they trying to kill you!?

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

[Kyoko shakes her head, laughing] No. It was part of training.

[naicha]

Training for what? _{[ She sits herself up on the bars. ]}

[ralschild.livejournal.com]

[Sort of squats on the bars; balance, she has it]

Ah, I'm a ninja. We used to play in the rafters a lot too. If I remember, brother Kiyami is best at balance, but he's also just sort of special.