[Takasugi] Out of Season

Bai Yunlin is my Chinese name. Bai is my surname, and Yunlin is my given name.

But in this alternate dimension where Japan is Earth, and Earth is the whole world, everyone calls me either Hakumo or Rin. They pronounce my name as Hakumo Rin.

Who wants to be Japanese? Who wants to stay in a place with no electricity, no air conditioning, no internet, and no human rights? I want to go home. No matter what, I have to go home.

Fifteen years ago, I was tireless in my pursuit of that goal.

Fifteen years later, I'm still in this world. When I look up, I see skyscrapers. Neon signs line the streets, and screens show the morning news, commercials, and the latest dramas. Cars stream past me, or sit in endless traffic.

Now, this world has finally come to resemble the one I remember from my previous life.

But all I can think about is:

I want so badly to go back to fifteen years ago.

They say the secret to happiness is to live in the present. Then I'll live in the past forever. I'll always love the world that's gone, and the people who are gone. Today, I cry for yesterday. Tomorrow, I'll cry for today.

I don't belong in the present.

"But I still want to go back to the past," I tell him.

He looks up at the moon, or perhaps at the vast night sky. He taps his pipe, then after a long pause, gives a casual smile, its tail end laced with mockery.

"If you can do it, go ahead."

I wish he would play me a tune of farewell, the one that goes, "Beyond the pavilion, by the old road." But we're no longer close enough to bicker freely and then snuggle up together, acting spoiled.

So, you see, I really do want to go back to the past.

If I can't, then...

I just hope he keeps living. That's all.

*

CP: Ai Shan (the title makes it pretty obvious, come on).

A simple, cheesy, down-to-earth ticket fic. It will have my beloved fake-death trope and an angsty couple's bonus chapter.

The whole thing is written in advance. I'll post it once it's finished.

Theme: Want to love, then love. Just make your actions match your intentions