Happy Chinese New Year

“Mother, what exactly is so important about the New Year here in China? In Korea it was a big deal, but…they seem to have such a long New Year celebration here,” a small girl asked her mother who was straightening up her daughter’s room.1

“Chinese New Year is important to the people of China because it is the beginning of the Lunar Calendar and also one of the celebrated days is everyone's birthday,” a teenage boy explained as he walked into the room. He was wearing a traditional Chinese robe and pants in shades of blue and black. He had a small dragon stuffed animal in his hand and threw it at his sister. She glared at him and then put it in her lap. His mother turned around and smiled at him; he bowed in respect and sat on the floor.2

“Kyun is correct Airi, the New Year Celebration in China is an important holiday in China and the Emperor has invited our family to join him and others in the city to celebrate with him,” her mother sat on the bed next to her daughter and began brushing her hair.”You’ll get to wear something like Lady Mei-Lien does, and since you have been dancing with Mi Cha and Mei-Lien they invited you to dance with them for the Emperor.” Airi’s eyes lit up and she nodded quickly not realizing her mother was brushing her hair and winced at the painful pulling of her knotted hair. 3

“When does the New Year begin?” Kyun asked his mother and she looked at him.4

“Tomorrow, that’s why we must do our cleaning and such today, it’s bad luck to clean on the New Year,” he nodded and got up to leave. Airi jumped off of her bed and ran after her brother.5

“Kyun will you help me clean my room please?” she looked at him with big puppy dog eyes and he chuckled and nodded. “I get to dance with Mi Cha and Mei-Lien! Are you going to come watch?” he kneeled down in front of his little sister and pat her head.6

“Anything for my favorite sister,” she hugged her brother and followed him around their home. They both began cleaning up their father’s mess of scrolls and calligraphy. Their home was small but was quaint. Being part of the imperial city, it was set up like the homes for the Emperor’s workers. There were a few small rooms for family members and a small area to cook and eat. Kyun’s room faced a hallway which had lead to a courtyard which joined to the other quarters of the inhabitants of the city. He always enjoyed watching the small birds play in the bird baths, and when it was the full moon he would sit outside and gaze at the moon. 7

“Kyun what’s this?” Airi asked as she picked up a small paper with calligraphy on it. She had a habit of going through his things. He looked at the paper and quickly snatched it from her.8

“Nothing….it's nothing” he stuffed the paper into his pocket and sighed, his little sister hadn't read it. It was a letter from Mei and her spirit guide Seth; he didn’t want Airi learning about his life involving the Spirit World and Mei. 9

“Oh come on Kyun…what was in that note?” she begged him and he refused. He wasn’t going to tell her no matter how much she begged. She kept annoying him until he threw a pillow at her and she pouted. He laughed at her, her face was adorable when she pouted.10

“Come on let’s go clean your room, my room is hopeless,” he suggested and Airi nodded knowing she wasn’t going to get an answer. 11

When Airi and her brother walked into her room they saw their mother putting a red hanfu on her bed. Kyun smiled when he saw Airi run over to their mother and hug her. Her mother asked if she wanted to try on her new outfit and she couldn’t say yes fast enough. Kyun left the room while Airi changed. He sat on the floor outside of her room and a small white fox known as Miko, who was his Spirit Guide, changed into her human form and sat next to him.12

“It’s your first time celebrating Chinese New Year isn’t it?” she asked and he nodded. “You’ll enjoy it, especially when you get to watch your princess dance.” Miko teased him and he smirked. 13

“I suppose…how many New Year’s have you celebrated here?” he asked remembering that Miko had been in China before.14

“One too many,” she giggled. “I love this holiday though! And it looks as though your sister is ready,” Kyun heard his sister call him back in and he and Miko went into the room and there stood his little sister looking like a little princess.15

“Do I look pretty?” she asked and Kyun who couldn’t help but smile. She was wearing a strapless red dress with a gold butterfly embroidered on the top center. She wore two robes, one made of a soft red brocade with a gold phoenix pattern the other was sheer. The belt was made of silk and was completely gold. Her hair wasn’t put up yet but Kyun knew his mother would do that tomorrow. 16

“You look beautiful,” Kyun complimented her. She smiled and giggled. Although she was almost 13, she acted like a little girl and it was a shining point in her personality. 17

“Here take your clothing and change. Then go to practice your dance with Mi Cha and Mei-Lien, they are in the garden, don’t get lost!” her mother told her. She nodded and took her clothes and ran out of the room. “Leave your hanfu in my room!” she called hoping the small girl heard her. 18

“She looks more like you every day Mother,” Kyun said sitting down next to his mother on the bed moving the stuffed animals. She smiled and nodded. 19

“She’s cute…she’s growing up so fast. I hope this year brings us all good fortune,” she clasped her hands in her lap and Kyun put his hand on top of his mother’s and smiled.20

“Of course it will, I’ll clean Airi’s room, you rest. Everything will be cleaned tomorrow I promise,” his mother smiled. She loved her son so much, he took so many responsibilities most sons wouldn’t even think of. She got up and kissed him before leaving. He sighed and took one of the stuffed animals and set in in his lap.21

“You’re such a good son!” Miko exclaimed and Kyun smiled.22

“I try…now,” he paused. “You’re helping me clean!” he threw the stuffed animal from his hand at her, who gave him disapproving look, but helped clean anyways. 23

The next day Airi woke up to the sound of Mi Cha complaining, how she didn’t want to dance with Airi, who just ignored her older sister and tried to return to sleep. Kyun walked into her room and kneeled infront her bed. He gently shook his sister and she slowly opened her eyes to see her brother. She buried herself under the covers and turned over hoping he would leave.24

“Airi it’s time to wake up, it’s morning,” she muttered something from under the covers and clenched her eyes shut. “Do I really have to wake you up this way?” she said nothing hoping her brother wasn’t going to do what she thought he was. “I suppose I have too…” Kyun began to tickle his little sister and she laughed and squirmed around in pure glee. 25

“Are you up now?” she nodded quickly and quieted her giggles. He pat her on the head and left her room so she could get ready. As he walked into the hallway, he smiled. “It works every time. Now I need to go get ready so we can see Mei.” 26

Once Airi and Kyun had finished getting ready, they were both off to see Mei. Airi looked beautiful, yet retained some of her childish charm. Kyun was wearing a similar outfit to the one from before except it was of the same rich colors as Airi's. 27

Airi clung to her brother, not used to going to Mei’s home since it was farther in the city and nothing would make her let go of her brother unless he told her to.28

“Shen you’re here!” Mei exclaimed when she saw him. She ran over to him and hugged him. She looked down at Airi and smiled sweetly. Airi was confused on why Mei had called her brother a different name. 29

“Kyun…why did Mei-Lien call you another name?” Airi asked innocently. Kyun smirked; he forgot that Airi had never heard his new name before.30

“Because Mei gave it to me, like how I call her Mei instead of Mei-Lien, she calls me by a Chinese name. Understand?” Airi nodded not really understanding the full extent of the new name but she let it be. 31

Mei was a gorgeous girl; she had soft features and a loving smile. She was sweet and had a caring personality, enhanced by her looks. She had long black hair and ruby eyes. She was wearing a gorgeous red and gold hanfu, embroidered with butterflies and dragons. Her hair was arranged in an elegant up-do and had beautiful butterfly ornaments adorning her hair. 32

“Kyun did you tell your sister?” he gave Mei a questioning look; he didn’t know what she was talking about. “Little Airi, your sister doesn’t want to dance with us, it will be just you and me.” Airi’s eyes brightened and let go of her brother. Mei kneeled down in front of the small girl.33

“Really? Just you and me?” Mei nodded and whispered something to Airi. She giggled and nodded occasionally with a smile on her face. Miko was standing with Seth who was a wolf spirit but was in his human form.34

“Shen, we’ll see you later. I’ll be taking your sister to practice, thank you for bringing her,” and quietly added. “...and Seth…will be going with you,” Mei took Airi’s hand and the two walked into her home. 35

Airi had never been in Mei’s home before; it was different and larger than hers. Animals were running around and servants were everywhere. There was a stale scent from some incense that had been burned that morning. Mei kept walking with Airi down the hallways without paying attention to anyone. 36

“So Airi do you want to do a fan or ribbon dance with me?” Mei asked not making eye contact.37

“…could we do a sleeve dance?” Airi asked nervously. Mei looked at Airi for a moment, surprised she even knew how to sleeve dance. Airi mentioned that Mi Cha taught her. 38

“Then we’ll do a sleeve dance, come on, we only have a few hours to practice.” 39

That evening, Airi and Mei were to perform for the Emperor and the others living in the city. Mei was unfazed amount of people, she had done it since she was little, but Airi on the other hand, was nervous. Mei told her it was alright and she would be wonderful. Many people were performing for the Emperor, it was a common thing to see, he always wanted to see the women dance for him. But today was special, for it was the first day of the grand celebration.40

When Mei and Airi finally were up to dance Airi’s nervousness left when both of them began to dance. Airi and Mei were together in most of what they did, not off by even the slightest beat, or the illusion they were giving made it seem that way. No one knew that Airi wasn’t Chinese, she looked like a little Chinese girl dancing with her older sister and all she could do was smile the whole time not believing she was dancing for so many people! Not to mention the Imperial Family.41

Kyun watched his little sister dance; he knew that Airi loved dancing especially with Mei, who had treated her as a little sister. Mi Cha watched in not impressed. Kyun told her to stop being miserable and be proud of her little sister, but she would have none of it. When the two girls had finished their dance they got their applause and hurried off so the next performers could go on. They went through the group of people and found Kyun and at the same time Mei and Airi hugged him. He smiled and hugged them back telling them how well they had done. Mei pulled both of them off quietly away so they could all go to the garden, she didn’t want to sit through the rest of the performances. 42

It was dark out and the stars shown brightly in the sky. They walked around the city until they reached the garden and Mei sat down by a tree and rested for a moment. She asked Airi to come sit with her who obliged without a second thought. They both watched the stars in the sky and Mei began to tell the story of how the Chinese Zodiac animals were picked. Kyun listened in on the story remembering it so if he ever needed to tell a story this would be stored away. 43

“I hope you both have a wonderful year here in China,” Mei told both of them. “I hope the year brings your family wealth, prosperity and luck. And for you Little Airi I have something for you,” Mei pulled out a light blue hair comb with a crystal butterfly resting on top of it. It was similar to Mei’s that she had given to Kyun when they first met. “Take care of that alright, it’s yours now.” Airi thanked Mei she had never been given something of such value in her life. Mei took the comb and put it in Airi’s hair and smiled.44

“You look like a princess, maybe…even a High Priestess,” Kyun looked at Mei who was looking over at him and he smirked. Mei just had to bring that up in some way. “Now…you know your way home from here correct? Shen will meet you at home soon, take care little Airi I hope we can dance together again soon.” Mei got up to hug Airi before she left and watched the girl run off. “Your sister is so sweet.”45

“I know…I don’t think I could live without having her in my life. She’s like you, yet…” Mei nodded slowly and sat down next to Kyun and rested her head on his chest.46

“Happy New Year Shen…may the new year bring us and the Spirit World happiness if nothing else.” 47