IDK I JUST WANT TO KEEP COMMENTFICCING THIS FOREVER.
The first time they met each other properly, as adults, it was in a foreign country.
Yuna had become Yuna. Mao couldn't see why herself, but she'd been assured that Yuna could no longer be formally known as "Yeon-ah" now that she was going to become queen.
The Tsar of Russia had decided there must be a party, and had thrown a huge bash to commemorate the coming of the new year, but really everyone knew it was to celebrate Yuna's upcoming coronation. The Emperor and Empress of China were there too, with their new baby. Mao was relieved. That would be two extra people she actually knew and liked, and she was grateful to them for allowing her to grow up at their court.
(She liked being back in Japan, of course, but sometimes she missed the Chinese court more than was proper to admit.)
"You must look your best," she had been told, and she knew it was because Yuna would undoubtedly also be there looking her best. But Mao did like dressing up, and so she wore her new kimono without any fuss, and put on her makeup as carefully as she could.
"I like it," her sister said. "You look gorgeous, Mao!"
She'd been at the ball for twenty minutes when Yuna's name was announced. Unbidden, everyone turned to look as the great doors swung open. And there in the doorway -- not even half the doors' height -- was Yuna. Mao's breath caught in her throat.
Well, she's beautiful, Mao thought. She was surprised to find that there was nothing -- no jealousy, no bitterness -- in that thought except wonder.
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The first time they met each other properly, as adults, it was in a foreign country.
Yuna had become Yuna. Mao couldn't see why herself, but she'd been assured that Yuna could no longer be formally known as "Yeon-ah" now that she was going to become queen.
The Tsar of Russia had decided there must be a party, and had thrown a huge bash to commemorate the coming of the new year, but really everyone knew it was to celebrate Yuna's upcoming coronation. The Emperor and Empress of China were there too, with their new baby. Mao was relieved. That would be two extra people she actually knew and liked, and she was grateful to them for allowing her to grow up at their court.
(She liked being back in Japan, of course, but sometimes she missed the Chinese court more than was proper to admit.)
"You must look your best," she had been told, and she knew it was because Yuna would undoubtedly also be there looking her best. But Mao did like dressing up, and so she wore her new kimono without any fuss, and put on her makeup as carefully as she could.
"I like it," her sister said. "You look gorgeous, Mao!"
She'd been at the ball for twenty minutes when Yuna's name was announced. Unbidden, everyone turned to look as the great doors swung open. And there in the doorway -- not even half the doors' height -- was Yuna. Mao's breath caught in her throat.
Well, she's beautiful, Mao thought. She was surprised to find that there was nothing -- no jealousy, no bitterness -- in that thought except wonder.