Because even a bickering old couple deserves something special on Christmas!
Christmas
A magical, Occidental Lunar New Year Festival
"But I don't celebrate Christmas!"
•
I plopped into my chair with a huff.
Typical Occident
And their typical customs.
And they have the nerve to call
ME
"Exotic"!
•
Tino frowned his vexing puppy-eyes at me.
•
"But you should try, Yao!"
"And for what reason?"
•
He paused for a moment.
"It's such fun", he insisted.
"You decorate a tree."
"Trees are banned in China."
"The red and green decorations are beautiful."
"Red is beautiful. But with green? Yuck!"
"B-but you give presents!"
"I've been giving them yearly round…
•
"In exchange for a surplus in my economy, of course",
I snickered.
•
He shook his head disapprovingly.
•
"So what's so good about this
'Christmas'
Business anyway!"
I wanted to know.
"It's useless,
The décor is
All wrong,
And I won't be able to celebrate it properly anyway
With my laws intact!"
•
"But Yao;
Christmas
Isn't just about that!"
He pressed.
"Christmas is more than that!"
•
"Yeah?
And what is that?"
•
"Christmas",
Began Tino,
"Is a time to show others
How much you care.
It's a time to celebrate
The joy of giving;
Gratitude
To the things that really matter.
•
"And it's also a time
To be together",
He softened.
"Something I'm sure you'd really like this year."
•
My eyes bulged.
•
"How did you…"
"Everyone knows, Yao."
"That's insensitive."
•
"But if it helps you enjoy yourself,
It is my duty as
Santa
To commit it",
He stood up.
"You're as stubborn as Brewald sometimes.
•
"Yao.
I thought I'd get you
Really involved
In Christmas this year
Because you deserved it.
You've worked so hard
You've
Earned a reward",
He said.
"I know
It might be a little
Whimsical
For your taste.
I know
That
It is implausible for you
To carry out every tradition with
The state you're in.
•
"But",
he retrieved his coat somberly.
"Just think about it,
Will you?
And remember that
Christmas
Is more than just baubles and trees.
•
"Even just calling him
For once
Might do the Christmas magic."
•
And as I watched Tino
Slip out of the conference hall,
I couldn't help but think:
•
Christmas…
•
Is just a Western
Lunar New Year Festival.
•
And Tino knew how much I
Loved
The Lunar New Year Festival.
Dearest Tino.
•
I thank you
From the bottom of my heart.
•
I thought about your offer
And in good intent,
I called
Him,
Just as you suggested.
•
It quickly blossomed into more.
He found out
I
Was spending Christmas
Alone again this year
And came to visit.
We
Got a lot done;
Patched more up
Than we did in any summit
Earlier this year.
•
We spent Christmas eve
Happily
In each other's arms.
•
I think it did it.
I think it brought us closer;
Just another
Tiny step
Towards those better diplomatic ties
We were after.
And I think
I'm confident enough
To think about more for us now.
•
Thank you Tino,
And
I'm sorry I ever doubted you.
•
Christmas truly is magical.
•
Even if I had only
Used it
As an excuse
To be together with Kiku.
Regards from Beijing,
–Yao
Heads up, buddies!
Be sure to check back some time tonight (if it's circa 3:30 p.m. where you are too. Otherwise... Be sure to check back some time this morning!), because there's going to be a second upload today! Not as merrily-themed as Christmas... But not as depressing as some of the other pro-Sino-Japan things I've been cramming into Their Beautiful World as of lately, because I've decided that I'm going to be taking a break from writing those unless I feel like it.
Once again, wishing you all a merry, white (or awesomely rainy) Christmas whether you're celebrating or not!
-Plumeria-hi