Hetalia x Hitsuji de Oyasumi Vol 4: Japan & China – Track 01 “No, but I must take my leave…”

Japan: Honeybee CD collection.

China: Hetalia x Sleeping by Sheep Counting Series.

Japan China: “Though the Moon Rabbit may Have a Different Task, We All Sleep Under the Same Moon.”

*crickets chirp*

China: I’m sorry for the wait, Japan. I’ve brought a few watermelon slices with me.

Japan: You need not be so considerate, China. I am about to return home.

China: Don’t be so reserved now. This is the first time in a long while that you’ve visited me. You should take it easy.

Japan: I am truly grateful for your hospitality, but it has grown late. I must go.

China: Don’t hesitate now! Here, eat one of my special confectionaries. It is especially delictable with a cup of tea.

Japan: Thank you very much. I shall then help myself to just one more helping.

*eats and drinks*

China: Was it delicious?

Japan: Yes. Very much so.

China: I’m happy to hear that!

Japan: The moon is beautiful tonight. The view of the moon from your home is especially charming.

China: Yeah… It’s really beautiful tonight. Look there, Japan! The Moon rabbit is making medicine on the moon again.

Japan: I believe it is pounding mochi (rice cake).

China: Hm? Haven’t I talked to you about this? The Moon rabbit is making the elixir of immortality up there. Remember that well!

Japan: In my home, it is said that the Moon rabbit is pounding mochi on the moon.

China: Noo, it’s making medicine on the moon! We even have a well known legend about it so there’s no mistaking it!

Japan: A legend?

China: Yes! *sighs* Looks like I have no choice. As long as we’re discussing this, I shall tell you the tale personally!

Japan: Ahh…

China: It’s a very ancient story. There are many versions of this tale, so please listen carefully!

China: *clears throat* A long time ago, there was a beautiful moon goddess named Chang’e. She had a husband named Houyi, who was a god of war and his skilles with a bow were unrivaled. One day, the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the heavens, saw that there was trouble in the mortal world. Hearing of his great skills with a bow, the Jade Emperor summoned Houyi and ordered him to remove the disaster plaguing the mortal world. Houyi and his wife descended to the mortal world afterwards.

Japan: Lady Chang’e accompanied Sir Houyi?

China: Yes! The valiant Houyi soon reached the surface of the Earth but…

China: When they both landed, they found that there were 10 suns burning in the sky and causing great troubles and pains for the mortals!

Japan: *wince* Just imagining it makes me feel hot.

China: Houyi shot down all of the suns except for one and saved the mortal world!

Japan: And they all lived happily ever after, correct?

China: You would think so but there was a problem! The 9 suns that Houyi shot down were also the Jade Emperor’s sons!

Japan: Having suns as children… This story has quite the twist.

China: Angered by the death of nine of his sons, the Jade Emperor banished Houyi and his wife from the heavens and to live as mortals on earth! Afterwards, Houyi used his great skills during this time to serve and help all of humanity but…

Japan: Was there a problem?

China: His wife, Chang’e, was miserable and wanted to return to her life in the heavens. Sometimes she would just explode at Houyi for shooting down the nine suns.

Japan: I do understand how Chang’e feels, but Houyi had to do his job to the end. Did the couple spend the rest of their days as mortals?

China: No. Houyi began to search for a way to regain their immortality and return to the heavens. His search brought him to a god named Xi Wang Mu that resided in the Kunlun Mountains. It was said that Xi Wang Mu had a secret medicine that would allow them the immortality back.

Japan: Well, that was certainly an excellent stroke of luck.

China: You would think so but there was another problem! Xi Wang Mu only had one bottle of the elixir! Houyi decided to hide the elixir from sight after hating the thought about either of them leaving each other to go back to the heavens. He tried to hide it but…

Japan: I have a bad feeling about this…

China: Chang’e managed to find the elixir and used it!

Japan: Ahhh… I think I can see how this will all end!

China: Chang’e became immortal again after drinking it and ran away to the moon. Chang’e turned into a rabbit and, even till this very day, is still making the elixir of immortality on the moon. And that’s the story!

Japan: So your Moon Rabbit, the medicine making rabbit, is really Lady Chang’e?

China: As I said when I started, there are many conclusions and variations to this story. For example, Chang’e, while returning to the heavens, had a rabbit accompanying her. Lady Chang’e became the goddess of the moon once again and the rabbit makes the medicine on the moon. There’s also a variation in which the rabbit was already living on the moon and was, in fact, the one who made the elixir held by Xi Wang Mu. No matter which tale you hear, there is no mistake that the Moon rabbit is making medicine on the moon!

Japan: Is that so… Well, I did have a chance to hear a most interesting story so I shall not ask further questions.

China: Japan… Do you have any legends or tales that pertain to the moon?

Japan: Let me think… There is a well-known tale related to the moon in my home. By chance, I happen to be carrying a book with that same tale. Would you like to see it?

China: Aiya! I do!

Japan: *chuckle* Please wait a moment. I believe it was here…*looks through bag* Ahh, there it is! It is called “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari)”. Please read it at your leisure.

China: What an elegant cover! I can’t wait to read what’s inside! Let’s see here…

Japan: It’s a story about an old bamboo cutter called Taketori no Okina (The Old Man who Harvests Bamboo) and how he finds a shining bamboo stalk. When he cut it open, he found a beautiful baby girl within the stalk.

China: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! What’s with this book?! The kanji is being mixed with the hiragana and it’s a big, disorderly mess!

Japan: Ahh… I believe it goes without saying, but this is standard in my home.

China: Seriously, I taught you about kanji and then you make this hiragana out of nowhere! You even denied that you were my little brother when I introduced you, even when I was so proud of you! You haven’t been adorable lately, you know!

Japan: I believe I have been this way since the olden days…

China: That’s not true! You were so adorable when we first met! You were so tiny winy and you even introduced yourself properly! …Hmm…Mmm?

Japan: Uh…Huh? China?

China: Speaking of introductions… I think you said, “Hello China, whom the sun sets upon,” or something rude and not nice to say when I met you! You weren’t that adorable to begin with!

Japan: I am truly sorry. *drinks tea*

China: Have you already finished drinking your tea? Please help yourself to more!

Japan: Ahh, no thank you. It’s quite late so I shall take my leave now.

China: Ohh, is it that late? Do you really have to go?

Japan: Yes! There has been some amazing cultural findings and new breakthroughs in technology in my home. I wish to return home fast and study these findings and apply demonic modifi- *coughs* I mean, create parts to improve this new technology. *coughs* I thank you for the tea. Please excuse me.

China: Wait, Japan!

Japan: Uh, yes, what is it?

China: You’re planning to go to work again when you go home?

Japan: That was my intention.

China: Japan…You’re working far too much!

Japan: Do you really think so?

China: Of course I do! You have so much on your mind and you’re taking up so much work! I am proud that you’re growing so fast, but aren’t you pushing yourself too much? Since you’ve come so far to visit my home, why not just forgot about work for a while and take it easy and have fun!

Japan: I am thankful for your concern. However, I must strike while the iron is hot, as they say.

China: You should stop thinking about all these stressful things! It’s important to take it easy and take breaks once in a while!

Japan: Uhh, I’ll think about it.

China: Whenever you say that, not once did you even consider what I said! NOT ONCE, NOT A SINGLE TIME, NOT EVER did you follow through! Just come with me over here!

Japan: China, where are you going?

China: A bedroom! If you’re going to act this way, then I’ll…just have to…get you to rest today!

Japan: Please wait, China! Please let go of my hand. I-I have to…

China: Just follow me and no complaining now!

*troubled Japan sounds*