Nü Wa missed her sons dearly.
But no one could deny that her daughter was wonderful.
Mei was like a delicate cherry blossom, yet like a strong oak tree at the same time. She had Yao's beauty, Yong Soo's optimism, and Aroon's warm smile.
She was also tenacious, ready to fight to defend anyone who dared insult her family.
Sure, she may have developed Kiku's obsession with something called "yaoi," and she was (unfortunately) a bit of a daddy's-girl, but that was all forgivable.
All in all, she was truly wonderful.
Nü Wa, however, never told her about her brothers, and she commanded everyone else not to as well. Considering Mei's personality, she would surely fly into rage and get into a fight with her father.
And that never ended well.
Yet Nü Wa could not help but cry every full moon as she remembered gazing at the bright moon with her sons, with Yao's warm voice and Yong Soo's laughter.
It was during one of those nights, as Nü Wa mourned silently, that Mei found her.
"Ma ma!" Mei cried, "What is wrong?"
"M-mei?" Nü Wa stammered, frantically trying to hide her tears. "What are you doing in my room's balcony? G-go back to bed!"
Mei glared at her mother stubbornly. "Not until you tell me what's wrong."
Nü Wa stared desperately at her daughter, unable to form words. For how does one explain all that has transpired?
Mei sighed. "It's okay, ma ma. I already know. I have brothers, right? But dad kicked them out because of me."
"Bao bei…" Nü Wa murmured, still trying to form a coherent sentence.
"Ba ba told me when he was drunk." Mei hugged Nü Wa. "Don't worry, ma ma. I've convinced ba ba to let them live! I'll go bring them back right now, and we can all be one happy family!"
Nü Wa unfroze.
"No!" She snapped, "It's too dangerous!"
Mei pouted, stomping her foot upon the cold, stone floor. "I don't care! It's my life and my brothers!"
Turning her heel, she ran out, a panicked Nü Wa on her heels. But Mei was young and energetic, while Nü Wa was old and weary. Before Mei could be stopped, she ran into the bamboo woods.
As she watched her daughter disappear into the night, Nü Wa fell to the floor and began to weep. Surely this world could not be as cruel as to rob her of yet another child?