Yao's Curse [Nichu]

Stains

(Kiku's Point of view)

I'm Sorry

     I tried to say as I turned around to leave. However, my lips didn't move at all, instead my jaw quivered for a few seconds as if it was cold outside before giving up on speaking at all. My back faced the weeping Jiangshi like a wall between us. Doing that also shielded my eyes from a sudden blinding light behind me. I sighed, at least my plan worked. A sick risky plan, but it worked.

I have literally slain the Jianshi in him.

     As I continued to walk away from the Chinese home, the crying was getting lower and lower as the distance grew. But, was it worth it to hurt him like that? It's a yes and a no at the same time. Yes because he no longer has to transform into a life drenching monster, and No because even as that monster, he has saved my life. He was still Yao, or at least he would struggle to keep being himself.

     Later, after I forced myself to return to base. A not-so-comfortable bed awaited me. I tossed both of my blades, the katana clanged as soon as the floor came in contact, but the peach sword didn't make any noise. Then I collapsed on the flat surface, my head laying on the pillow. For the next couple hours, I stared at an old coin from two-hundred years ago, they weren't all scattered to the ground, this one I kept for myself as a memory. I hope that someday...Yao could forgive me...

     "Child, your drawings are so adorable aru. Look at that little rabbit~"  A cheerful voice came from behind my shoulder, and also from above. I tilted my head to look up at my elder, then back down at my rather simple drawing of a rabbit.

     "It's not that adorable, China-san" I spoke softly, if I accepted his compliment, I might appear as a self-absorbed boy to the pony-tailed man.

     He chuckled and stroked my feathery black hair. "Please, call me Yao aru. You should try to avoid calling me or yourself as the nations that we are. At least in public aru."

     "Why? Yao-san?"

     "Because...If everyone knows who you are, it might make you vulnerable to danger if another scary nation wants to hurt you aru."

     "Ah...okay" I nodded slowly, comprehending his explanation, then returned to my drawing. Until my tiny elbow accidentally spilled the small container of ink. Ruining my drawing and paper.

     I let out a short gasp and watched as the black ink spread around the table, a few drops fell to my clothing when it reached the edge. It was not long before my eyes watered, and quiet sobs begin to come out.

     "Oh no! It's okay! It's okay aru!" Yao quickly moved me away from the dripping edges and looked for a piece of cloth to clean up all that staining ink. Even though that was really hard.

     Despite the 'It's okay's, I couldn't help but look down in shame. Now Yao's table is stained with difficult to remove ink because of my clumsiness. I tried rubbing my eyes with my kimono, but the tears just wouldn't stop.

     Yao paused his cleaning as soon as he heard my innocent weeping. He furrowed his eyebrows, embraced me into a hug and rubbed circles behind my back. Along with a soothing voice that spoke "It's alright, little one, you can try to make a new drawing aru~"

"N-no, I...I-I ruined your table" I said between sobs.

"The table? Oh" He chuckled. "I was about to replace that old thing anyways aru. Don't worry! Now come on, we should change your clothes aru"

     He pulled away from the hug and took my hand so we could go to my bedroom. I stopped crying during our way there, not to mention that a cute panda was taking a nap right there. So his fluffy fur distracted me from weeping any more about the stained table. Meanwhile, Yao took out a tiny kimono he sewed himself. It wasn't easy, but he managed to get the details correct.

"Look, Kiku, your favorite outfit aru!"

"Yao-san, you found it." I switched my gaze to the bluish clothing. It was exciting to see it again, I thought it was lost.

"Here, I'll put it on the bed so you can change. After that, come back down so you can eat dinner aru."

"What are we going to eat?"

"It's a surprise aru." He chuckled joyfully before returning downstairs.

     Now that he was out of sight, a microscopic smile appeared on my face as if it was Lunar New Year already. "Mrs.Panda, please look away while I change" I told the sleepy bear, she only yawned and laid her head back down, eyes closed.

     "Thank you, Mrs. Panda." I giggled and replaced my stained clothing with the clean one. It smells like the nearby river, Yao sure is a nice elder, just like an older brother. I've only been here for a year, and he's really kind!

     Later, when I stumbled upon the yummy smelling kitchen, Yao had already set the table with the food and everything. There was a big blanket covering the wooden surface though, maybe he couldn't remove the stains...

"Kiku, dinner's ready. We should eat early today aru~"

     I nodded and sat by the table to have a better look at what the Chinese man cooked this evening. Only to realize that he made one of my most preferred food choices.

     "Rice balls!" I exclaimed. "Thank you for the food, Yao-san" I said before chowing down on my plate with chopsticks in hand.

     "Your welcome aru..." He petted my raven hair before someone knocked on the door. "Let me get that, you can keep eating aru~"

     Yao rushed to answer the door, ushered the strange visitors to come in, and the all walked towards me.

"Kiku! This is the Emperor, in other words, my boss aru. The other two men are his soldiers, for protection."

"O-oh...Hello, Mr. Emperor or Mr. Boss. Hello Mr. Soldiers" I told the strangers.

     The Emperor let out a small happy laugh at my greeting, it's his first time meeting me after all. The soldiers looked at each other and tried to keep their serious demeanor. "I can see now why he is your little bundle of joy, Wang Yao" their boss said.

     Yao smiled and quickly nodded, then kneeled next to me. "Kiku...he will be looking over you tonight. I need to...er...run some errands aru."

"How long will it take?" I set down my chopsticks.

"It's only until morning, but make sure to behave while I'm not here okay aru?"

I nodded "Yes, Yao-san."

     Then I watched as Mr. Emperor gave Yao a concerned look, who furrowed his eyebrows and sighed before running out the door as the sun was setting. He seemed to be in a hurry. I switched my attention to the meal and continued to eat once more.

     Mr. Emperor and his soldiers stayed inside the house to look after me for the night. One of them even narrated a story for me before bed time. I yawned, snuggled the panda next to me and closed my eyes.

"Japan, Japan, wake up! You're late for today's training!!!" An angry german yelled.

"Ve~ I've never seen Japan wake up so late, this is amazing!"

I immediately stood up from my bed. "O-Oh...Please forgive me." I said while bowing. But my mind was still half asleep. However, I have completely forgotten of last night's dream.