New story! I wanted to try something outside the American Revolution world, and the first thing that came to mind was... a pandemic outbreak in the world. Inspired by the flash game Pandemic II, here is my newest story: Crimson Thorns. Featuring Higurashi and Umineko no Naku Koro Ni, this is in the third person P.o.V. of China. Enjoy!

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

The little girl with long brown hair, and pleading amber eyes ran around the large crowd of people, tears gushing down her face. She was reaching a hand out to multiple crowds of people, apologizing over and over again, hoping they would hear her. She was sobbing almost uncontrollably; her eyes were red and swollen and her face flushed a dark color. "I'm sorry, sir! I'm sorry, miss! I'm really sorry!"

Despite the wails from the child, no one seemed to pay her any attention. Everyone sauntered past her, not even considering stopping to console her. A few glances were shot at her, but no one did anything else. One person had the audacity to tell her to shut up, but the girl continued to cry.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed, trying to wipe her tears away, "I'm sorry…"

"Hey, what's the matter?"

The little girl looked up to see an effeminate man with long dark hair pulled back into a pony tail and a thin build, his brown eyes searching her in deep concern. "Why are you crying? Are you lost?"

The girl sniffed, trying to compose herself. "What's your name?"

The man smiled. "I am Yao Wang," he introduced himself politely. "And yours?"

"Taeko," she answered softly.

Yao blinked. "Where are you from, Taeko?"

"I am from a village in Japan."

"Japan?" Yao's smile faltered. "You are from Japan? Then what are you doing here in China? It's a sea apart from where you are from."

The girl's bottom lip quivered. "I know. I was looking for someone."

"… Really…?" The Chinese man stooped down to meet her eye level. "You were just apologizing to different people. Why?"

"They'll find out, and they'll hate me forever," she mumbled in despair. "You will, too."

Yao shook his head. "I don't understand. Why would I hate you? You did me no harm."

"Not yet," she corrected.

"What do you mean?"

Taeko ignored the question. She gave Yao the saddest gaze yet. "Do you know who China is?"

Yao blinked. "What a silly question. Of course I know who China is! It is my home. This country, the soil I stand on, the people, the power, the dream… This," he raised his arms up with pride, "is China."

"No," she shook her head. "Not the nation… the person… Do you know who the ambassador of China is?"

The man stopped to look at her closely. How did she know personified countries existed? Sure there are a handful of people who know, like those in power in the government, but the fact that this little girl from a remote village in Japan knows that they exist was enough to leave him dumbfounded. Has she met Kiku Honda, the human version of Japan? "… I… know who he is…" he replied absently, pointing at himself. "… It's me…"

"You…?" Taeko's eyes shifted to meet his. "You are China?"

"… Yes…"

Taeko's eyes welled up with tears again. She released a choked, "I'm sorry," as she leaned in to press a soft kiss where Yao's Jugular vein was on the left side of his throat. Yao watched in awe as the girl wailed again before pivoting on her heels and running away into the huge crowd of people.

"Taeko! Wait!" Yao called, trying to run after her. He followed her up the street, hoping to catch the child and get her to explain herself. He watched her take a sharp right turn and grinned. That alley was a dead end. She had nowhere else to run. "I've got you-"

She was gone.

Yao skidded to a stop and stared at the empty space ahead of him. The girl that had called herself Taeko ran into this alley and just… vanished. There were no doors or ladders around, so there was no way she could have escaped the dead end so quickly. At first he doubted if she was real to begin with, but no… she was definitely real… she kissed him. He felt her lips, her cold but soft lips, on his flesh and on his vein. The feeling was still there, and he knew she was real.

But… why did she kiss him?

Yao leaned against the wall and released a sigh, running his fingers in his hair. His hand ran down the area where Taeko's lips met his skin, and he felt something… wet? It was wet and warm… The first thing that came to mind was saliva, and he grimaced at the thought. It didn't seem like it was a sloppy kiss that she had given him, but it was the only explanation. That or sweat… but it was cold today… He pulled back his hand to gaze at the mysterious liquid, and his heart stopped.

"… Is this… blood?"