Dinner had been more complicated than any meal Kanoa had ever been apart of. True, she had been forced to endure her sister Virginia's old-fashioned dinner parties, but those were a walk in the park compared to China's dinner style and rules. She had eaten Chinese food many times and knew how to eat with chopsticks. Chinese Etiquette was something she knew nothing about. From the moment she had sat down beside China, she had messed up.
China was an old nation that still held respect for tradition. Dinning Etiquette was one such thing he still practiced and expected her to do the same. So dinner became a lesson and, after her second mistake, it quickly became a class.
"Who knew eating supper could be so exhausting", Kanoa sighed as she stared out her bedroom window.
The moon was high and the night was still. China and Hong Kong had gone to bed hours ago, so Kanoa knew she was the only one awake in the house. Staring out at the bamboo forest that covered all of China's backyard for several acres, Kanoa thought about running away. Who would stop her? Everyone was asleep and she was not locked in or chained up.
With this in mind, Kanoa climbed out her window and walked silently into the bamboo forest. Why wasn't she running? She was outside, she could run away and find a way back to her island. So why wasn't she running?
Still keeping an even pace, Kanoa walked into the bamboo forest, but only walked a few feet in before she sank down to her knees. What was she doing? Even if she some how got back to her islands, she would still be a Chinese Territory and no one would be there to stop China from taking her back to his house. It was pointless to run away when she knew it would only end with her being dragged back to where she had began. What good would running away do her now? She had no where to run and her family was no longer her family. She was all alone.
Kanoa, so lost in her own sad thoughts, she did not notice someone or something drawing closer to her. At least she didn't notice it til the footsteps were only a few feet from her. Fearing she had been discovered by China, or worse Hong Kong, she looked up hoping to apologize and explain herself, but stopped when she saw who or rather what it was. It was a panda.
A little panda cub had been the one to find her and now stood there with its head tilted curiously at her. Its black fur stayed hidden by the shadow, but its white fur and little eyes shined brightly as if reflected the moonlight. The panda stood there for a time like an omen, either good or bad, Kanoa could not tell. It only stood there staring at her as if waiting to see what she would do. What would she do? At the moment she didn't know what she would do. She could still run and try her damnedest to keep China from bringing her back while trying to convince her father to fight back. Either that or she could accept her current situation and make the best of it until such time she could find a better solution.
As she sat there thinking of her options she watched the cub move closer to her. One step at a time he drew closer until he was within reaching distance. If Kanoa had wanted, she could have reached out and petted the cub, but did not attempt it in case she scared him away. It was nice to have a little company that was not watching her every move and criticizing it. China had been patient with her for the most part, but he still watched her with judging eyes and lessons at the ready for her to learn. Hong Kong criticized her and every move she made. He no longer voiced it, but he eyes spoke for him. He did not like her and only tolerated her because of China.
"I can't go home and I'm not really wanted here", she thought aloud as the cub moved close enough to sniff her leg, "I don't know what to do."
The cub, as if understanding her words, climbed into her lap. This surprised her, but she did not dare move out of fear of startling the cub. The cub, however, was being far from cautious now. He sniffed her face before giving her cheek a small lick before nuzzling into her neck. Kanoa could not believe a little panda cub was comforting her, but she was grateful for it all the same.
Tears she did not even know she still had in her, began to flow down her face. They were not just her tears, no they were the tears of her people. Those who called her islands home were crying. Their sorrow, their fear, and their love of their home; she could feel it all deep within her heart. That is what it meant to be a state or nation. One was able to feel the collected emotions of their people when those people were on the same emotional wavelength. Hawaii was filled with fear and sorrow, but some still held hope for their island home. It was those people who raised their voices within her heart. Those people whom gave Kanoa hope for her island home and herself.
"Aloha-oe, aloha-oe, ikeona ona noho ikanipo
One fond embrace ahoea ea
Until we meet again"
After her sad song was done, the cub that had been nuzzling her neck was asleep in her arms. She was still crying, but she no longer cared that the tears now flowed from her eyes like lava from her island's volcanoes. She could feel her people's sorrow and it only fueled her own. She was no longer a State in the United States. She was no longer on her island home. Hawaii was now a Chinese Territory. She was a prisoner in China's home. Even if she was not locked up, she was still a prisoner. China knew she could not leave his land, so why would he lock her up. Legally, she was his now. Her and her land belonged to him now and she could do nothing about it.
Soon Kanoa had cried herself to sleep, with the panda cub curled up next to her. The two of them slept on, unaware of two pairs of eyes staring at the island girl from the darkness. Hong Kong had seen Hawaii walk across the backyard and into the bamboo forest. Thinking she was trying to escape, he had quickly woke China and rushed after her. The two of them stood there in the dark listening to her talk to the panda cub as tears streamed down her face. It had been her song however that had knocked the wind out of them.
She had sang so beautifully and so sorrowfully that it nearly broke their hearts to pieces. China felt horrible as he listened to the cries of the island girl; the cries of her people. He did not regret taking her as collateral for America's debt. That spoiled nation owed him a lot of money and would pay it one way or another. He did not regret his business choices, he never did. He did regret Hawaii's pain. She was only a chain of islands that had once been a state. Only a child whom had been dragged into an adult's dispute.
"She is not as I thought she would be", Hong Kong said in a quiet voice, but China could hear the sympathy in his voice.
China nodded before approaching the girl. He had intended to take her back to her room and place her in her bed, but he was suddenly stopped by an unhappy looking panda cub. The cub had woken up to their voices and now stood in front of the sleeping girl growling at them. China was shocked to say the least. Never had any of his pandas growled at him. Yet this little one stood there defending the heartbroken island girl just daring China to make a move towards her.
"Panda, why do you turn against me?!", China asked worriedly, but the cub only growled at him.
China, not wishing to have one of his pandas upset with him, slowly lowered himself down on his knees before the panda cub. The cub watched his every move, teeth bared to warn him of what he would do should he try to harm the girl. China was more intrigued by this cub's behavior than he was in Hawaii at the moment. How had this girl earned the loyalty of one of his pandas? She had only been outside for a short time and all she had done was hold the cub and cry. Was it because the cub felt pity for her? Did the cub wish to protect her because it felt sympathy towards the crying child?
"Gēgē, would it be so wrong to allow Hawaii to remain on her islands?", Hong Kong suddenly asked still looking down at the sleeping girl.
China was shocked once again. Where had this come from? First it was the panda cub, now it was Xiang whom had made it clear he disliked the girl the moment he met her. Just what kind of sorcery was this girl weaving in his home?
"Why do you ask this, Dìdì? Is it because you feel sympathy for her or is it you do not wish her in our home?", China needed to know why Xiang had decided to begin singing a different song so suddenly.
"I feel no sympathy towards that beastly child, but I do not wish for her to remain in our home. I said so before and I stand by what I have said", Hong Kong said turning away from China, but China was certain he had seen the pity in Hong Kong's eyes.
"She is to remain here in my house Xiang. If I allowed her to remain on the islands then America would have access to her and could easily hide her from me. So long as she remains here, then her land and our deal will stand firm. I do not wish to go to war with America should he decide to fight back. So long as she is in my care he will not attack for fear of causing an international crisis. His debt is to be paid and Hawaii is that payment until such a time he can gather the money to pay my country back. Until then, Hawaii is mine and she will remain in my house", China said turning his gaze back to the panda that was still watching his every move.
Hong Kong nodded his understanding, though China did not see it. Not wanting to be outside any longer, Xiang bid his brother good night and returned to his room. China however sat there for a long time just watching the panda that guarded his newest charge. Pandas were one of China's symbols, so having one of his own defining symbols growling at him was unsettling. He would admit that Hawaii's people were most likely descended from his own, but that did not mean that she was as close to him as his siblings were. If anything she was the farthest down the line of relation to him. Yet here was one of his pandas protecting her as if she were the personification of China instead of him. The pandas were not even this close to Hong Kong or Japan whom were perhaps his closest relations.
"How is it you are always surprising me, Hawaii?", China asked as the cub finally backed off and curled up beside the sleeping girl.
China sighed as he stood back up and went back into the house to retrieve a blanket for her. The cub would not allow him to move her, but hopefully he would allow China to at least cover the girl up so that she would not catch cold. It was summer in China, but fall would soon be setting in soon enough. It would not do for the little island girl to catch a cold on her first night in his country. After returning with the blanket, he found Hawaii had moved only a little in her sleep. Her arms now wrapped around the now sleeping cub and her face was buried in the soft black and white fur of the panda's head. The picture of innocence they made caused China to smile as he gently laid the blanket over their sleeping forms.
"Perhaps there is more to you than meets the eye, Hawaii", China said before returning to the house to seek his own rest.
The sun had only just peeked over the horizon when Hawaii woke up. The chill of the morning air as well as the dew that had collected on her face woke her up. Sitting up quickly, she looked around to find she was still in the bamboo forest, but two things were different. One: the panda cub was still curled up beside her and two: there was a blanket draped over the both of them. The cub had probably stayed asleep after she too fell asleep, but someone had to have brought the blanket out to cover them up. It certainly wasn't Hong Kong, he disliked her too much to do anything nice like that. So that only left China, but surely he would have woken he up and scolded her for sleeping outside if it had been him. Yet, if it was not China, then who else could it have been? She did not get the chance to ponder whom had given her the blanket for long as Hong Kong came into view startling her out of her thoughts.
"Gēgē, wants you inside for breakfast in ten minutes. I suggest you get moving", he said before turning around and returning to the house.
"Aokuewa", Kanoa growled out as she stood up, her movement waking the panda cub.
"Kala mai ia'u.", she said apologizing to the cub for waking it, reaching down to pet its head to show she was sorry for waking it.
The cub only nuzzled her hand and yawned cutely. Feeling she had been forgiven, Hawaii shook clean and folded up the blanket before making her way back to the house, the cub following her like a shadow. Hawaii giggled lightly at the cub's cuteness, but doubted that China would want a panda in his house. After they reached the house, Hawaii turned to face her little shadow and petted his head one more time.
"I'm sorry, Hoaloha, but you can't follow me in", she said hoping the cub understood her.
The cub tilted its head as he looked up at her with large brown eyes. It was far too cute, but Hawaii did not want to upset China anymore than he probably already was with her. He, no doubt, was not pleased that she had fallen asleep outside and most likely thought she might have been trying to run away, so she was in the dog house as far as she was concerned. The cub, however, did not know this so he tried to follow her into the house.
"You cannot follow me here", she said picking the cub up off the porch and placed him back down in the grass.
Kanoa petted his head once more before turning to go back in the house, but once again the cub rushed to follow her in. She sat him back out in the grass two more times before giving up and kneeling down to the cub's eye level hoping to make him understand.
"You. Cannot. Follow. Me. In. To. The. House.", she said each word slowly, knowing the cub probably had no idea what she was saying, but hoped it would get the idea to stay outside.
"China is a very clean person and he would not want a panda walking around his house. I'm sure you are a good panda who would not make a big mess, but I don't want to make China upset with me. I'm already going to get lectured for sleeping outside, so I don't need him to jump my case anymore than he already is. Please stay out here and I'll bring you some sugar cane later", she pleaded with the little cub before trying once more to go into the house, but the cub followed her anyway.
"`A`ole!", she whined, "Noho!"
Kanoa continued to argue with the cub whom refused to listen. A pair of eyes watched her through the door as she continued to fuss with the cub who would not do as he was told. The sight was cute and comical, it was all China could do to keep from laughing or fangirling at the adorable sight. Kanoa had obviously formed a kind of bond to the little cub who now followed her like a shadow, but she seemed to have the wrong idea about China. He was very traditional, but that did not mean he was a heartless country...at least outside of the boardroom he wasn't.
"If your friend wishes to come in, he may", China said startling Hawaii so much that she fell over into the grass beside the cub.
Kanoa quickly sat up and turned to China wanting to say she was sorry for making him wait, but nothing came out of her mouth. She was shocked to see China smiling at her and looking like he was on the verge of laughing himself silly. Just what was so funny? Wasn't he mad at her for trying to run away and sleeping outside? Just what was she missing here?!
"Huh?!", was the only intelligent thing she could say right then.
"It would seem he has made his choice to stay with you. So long as you look after him, I have no problem allowing him into my house, at least until he is bigger. Once he is grown, he will no longer be allowed in the house. A cub is one thing, a full grown panda is another", China said before disappearing back into the house and calling back to Hawaii, "Now hurry up before breakfast is cold. No one enjoys cold congee!"
Kanoa for the first time since she arrived laughed. She was relieved to see that she was not in trouble and that China could be rather funny when he wanted to be. China smiled as he took his seat at the table, having heard Hawaii's laughter had pleased him. Perhaps she would grow used to living with them soon. It would not be ease, but he had taken the first step to show her that they were not unnecessarily cruel or unreasonable. Perhaps giving her the cub as a responsibility would prove to help her adjust to her new government and home.
"Come on then, Keaka", Hawaii said as she came and sat down at the table with the cub rushing to her side and curling up at her side.
"It would seem we will have one more at the table", China said as he place a bowl of water and a few sticks of bamboo down beside him.
"I don't know why he is following me, but he won't stop now matter what I do", she said as the cub began to eat the leaves off of the bamboo.
"Perhaps it is because, like you, he is also without his family", China said knowing that the cub's mother had died in child-birth, leaving the little one on its own.
Kanoa looked down at the cub eating away at the bamboo leaves and felt a wave of compassion flood her heart. The little cub was just like her, without a family. Her family had turned away from her and allowed China to take her without a fight. Seeing this cub, she saw herself now. Alone and latching on to the first thing that felt like family; kindred spirit whose pain mirror their own. Keaka continued to eat the bamboo and did not pay Kanoa any mind, but Kanoa smiled down at the cub in understanding before turning to her meal. China was being very understanding and kind to her, it would only be right to return the favor by doing her best to follow his rules at the dining table.
It would be hard, but perhaps she and the nation currently governing her could come to a compromise. True, Hong Kong would be harder to get along with, but she would get to that bridge when she came to it. China had made the first move to show her that he was willing to make her stay easier. He was not cruel outside of his business deals, but he was still very traditional and wished to keep to his traditions as much as possible within his home. Having a panda in his home was a stretch, but in doing so he showed her that he was willing to make a few minor changes to make her feel comfortable in his home. For this, Kanoa was grateful and hoped that her stay here would continue to be pleasant until her father was able to get her back. She hoped he was trying to get her back. She really did miss her islands and being connected to the nation she had come to call Father.
Translations:
Gege- older brother
Didi- younger brother
Aokuewa- worthless land (a rather big insult to someone who is a nation, region, or state)
Kala mai ia'u- I'm sorry
Hoaloha- friend
`A`ole- no
Noho- stay
congee- Chinese porriage, also called jook.
Keaka- Hawaiian for 'Shadow'
