#even though he's always called the Yuen family by their first names

[parkjmini]

a wasted youth - 01 | bts

highschool!au: bts understanding the concept of love becomes harder to grasp as you and seven boys struggle with your own individual issues and the fear of becoming a wasted youth. word count: 1994 genre: angst? possibly unknown ?? does not guarantee happy endings  warnings: explicit language 

a/n: read this before proceeding !!! chapter 2 will be uploaded on @peachiejihoonie‘s blog and the link will be added here once she posts it!!

It was going to be your final year of high school --- senior year. It was the year that was set between starting young adulthood and enjoying the last year of your youth. It was the year to make everything count, no more room for procrastination or messing up. 

This last year will be the epitome of high school memories. There will never be a time as sweet as your senior year. It was important, however, you didn’t recognize its importance. 

You walked into your high school and felt as if it was any other day. Your best friend, Hoseok, hurried up at your side to greet you after the long summer vacation. “Hey sunshine! Are you excited!? It’s our last year of high school. We’re seniors.” A sheer glisten covered his doll eyes.

You groaned, a shrug following your response. “Honestly Hoseok, I don’t really care. It’s just another school year filled with stress and annoying people.” 

“You’re not going to have a fun time with that attitude. Cheer up! It’s our final year of high school, the ultimate year!” He chimed enthusiastically. 

You two parted ways when you arrived at your first class. Hoseok had already expressed his disappointment of only having one class with you. The rest of your classes, you were alone and that forced you to interacted with other people. 

“Jungkook!” Someone pushed you forward to get past. Your attention drew towards the mention of the familiar name. Eyes locked, Jungkook stared at you over the many heads that dare blocked him. 

Hurrying to sit down, you dropped your things onto the nearest desk. The classroom was bustling with noise and laughter. A few people came up to greet you and asked about your summer. Small talk droned on until you weren’t sure what to say anymore.

“It almost felt like you were avoiding me.” Jungkook randomly popped up next to you. He planted himself in the other seat, interrupting your boring conversation with an acquaintance. Rolling your eyes, you groaned at how rude he was being.

“I’m talking to someone, Jungkook.” You sighed and your friend excused herself, lightly fanatic about Jungkook being a few feet away from her.

“Well, you’re talking to me now. Is that okay with you?” Jungkook turned your seat around to face him. His legs spread open for you to fill the gap.

Jungkook, the heartthrob. Jungkook, the hot popular jock. Jungkook, the flirt. There were many titles that he lived up to. His crew was the most popular group in school, consisting of him, Kim Taehyung, and Park Jimin. They were the all-star athletes, the school’s prized possessions, the winners. Jungkook, Jimin, and Taehyung were top three in their division for Track and Field. 

Sports were apparently a huge thing in high school culture, yet you never bothered to show any interest. You were athletic, but not to the point of trying out for sports. It was either you do sports and you’re popular, or you don’t and you’re practically a nobody. That was how things were around your school.

Now why was a somebody talking to a nobody? You and Jungkook shared many classes in the past years of school, to the point where you’re completely sick of seeing his smug smiles. His sociable personality captivated you as well as many others. There was something about how his words danced out of his mouth or how his eyes never seem to grow tired.

His eyes held the galaxies, and he, himself, was a star. He was number one in everything he did. He was academically impressive and incredibly vigilant in athletics. Some may even argue that he was first in charm and looks. You noticed, however, it never really stayed in your head. You merely saw him as Jungkook. 

“I have nothing to say to you.” You scoffed and crossed your arms.

Jungkook pouted, blinking his round puppy eyes. “But I have a lot to say to you. Let me start of by saying that you look better from what I remember. Is that mascara you’re wearing?” 

“Like you know anything about makeup.” Rolling your eyes, you kicked yourself around and out of his trap.

“I know everything about you.” He smirked, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his exposed knees. 

You rubbed your temples to show that you were getting annoyed with his flirtatious behavior. It was only the first twenty minutes of your senior year, and Jungkook was already flirting up a storm with you. “I hope we don’t have any other classes together because I will not be able to stand seeing your face all the time.”

“Lighten up, it’s our senior year. You’ll miss me, I know you will.” He grabbed your class schedule out of your hand and paired it next to his. He laughed, and pointed to a class toward the bottom of the sheet. “Period 6, Health.”

“I knew I should’ve taken it over the summer with Hoseok when I had the chance.” You groaned, but he shook his head.

“It’s not with me, babe. You have that with Tae. You also have AP Language with Jimin.” He analyzed and handed it back to you. 

You scoffed, “Taehyung, I understand. Jimin, in AP Language? That I am surprised at.” 

“Hey, leave my boys alone. Jimin is a smart guy, maybe not the brightest, but he’s still pretty intelligent.” Jungkook whispered as your Psychology teacher introduced herself to the class.

“He tries to make himself seem intelligent.” You mumbled and Jungkook rolled his eyes. “And I won’t miss you one bit after high school, Kook.” 

He smirked, “the more you deny it, the more I’m going to believe you’ll miss me.” 

You hurried to your next class before the mob of underclassmen filled the tight halls. A few of your old acquaintances waved to you as you sped by. You didn’t have many friends, but you were very sociable. No one ever lasted like Hoseok did. 

Hoseok was your best friend ever since preschool. Your families were close because your parents couldn’t afford day care, so that meant daily trade offs. However, you didn’t mind and Hoseok didn’t either. 

You two were inseparable, grew up going to the same schools and meeting the same people. He was always there and stuck with you through every moody day. 

Hoseok knew every quirk, every horrible habit, every ugly moment, every single thing about you. You two practically lived at each other’s houses. If you weren’t home, you were over at Hoseok’s, who lived five minutes away. 

You were grateful for him, even though you never told him enough. Hoseok could be anyone’s best friend, but he chose to stay your’s. He wasn’t awkward or ever come off as cold. He was the definition of happiness and the literal sun of your life, but he’s super stubborn that you are his.

Everyone loved Hoseok, if you didn’t, then it meant that you were the asshole. He had no bad bone in his body and possessed the greatest qualities. He made everyone feel comfortable and happy. That was the person he was and you hoped that he’d remain by your side for a long time. 

And while you knew you were fucked for college, you promised Hoseok that you didn’t think that far and to live in the moment. 

You stepped into the crowded room and your Calculus teacher mindlessly sat at his computer. Namjoon peered up from his seat at the front and then at the empty spot next to him, the only seat left. 

Groaning, you dragged your heavy body to his side and scooted over a little more away from him. “I don’t bite, (Y/N).” 

“Yeah, I’ve heard otherwise.” You scoffed and looked around at the unfamiliar faces. You were unsure why you were in Calculus, math was never really your strong suit. 

Namjoon, on the other hand, was an Honors student with outstanding grades. He was stuck up and an annoying know it all. He’d be quick to correct someone if they were wrong. The type to remind the teacher about homework. 

While he still had friends, many still disliked him. You were one of those people. It all rooted back when you were up against him for a debate and he made a complete fool of you. The fact wasn’t that he had an excellent deliver and you were unprepared, but how he never bothered to apologize for humiliating you. 

“Rumors never helped with development.” He mumbled, his pencil tapping against his temple.

Rolling your eyes, “we have nothing to develop, Namjoon.” 

“I’d like to be friends one day before we graduate, I don’t particularly like the hostile environment.” 

“Well then maybe you shouldn’t have created it in the first place.” 

Namjoon chuckled, and you thought your eyes were going to permanently stay in the back of your head. “Only you could hold a grudge for three years.”

“And only you could be even more of a prick than you were the previous year.” 

“Welcome to Calculus AB, class. Prepare for absolute death and sleepless nights.” Mr. Yuen happily opened his arms. 

And you sat there in your seat, with the fear planted in your head that you were completely fucked for this class.

“AP Language and Composition stems from being argumentative in your piece of writings. The specific diction used...” Your teacher droned on while going over the overview of the class.

Your attention was more focused Park Jimin staring at you from across the table. Why was he in AP? How did he make it in? Why was he staring at you?

“(Y/N)?” Ms. Madden called out your name for roll call.

“Here.” You rose your hand, and Jimin’s eyes remained glued on you.

“Jimin?” No response. The class looked around for the infamous boy, who blinked helplessly at your figure. “Is Jimin here?” 

You squinted at him, confused at how he sat there motionless. “Park Jimin?”

You kicked him under the table and he jolted out of his trance, “here!” 

“A little dazed there, Jimin?” Ms. Madden giggled and continued with the list.

“Why are you staring at me?” You whispered, bluntly.

Jimin shrugged, “I’m staring at the ground behind you.” His head ducked down and the girl to his right laughed at your question, almost mocking you.

“Like he’d be staring at you. You don’t have much to stare at, (Y/N).” She snickered. Biting your tongue, you fought the urge to lash out. 

Jimin, however, could not resist and turned to her with confused expression. “It’s not about quantity, Rachel, it’s about quality. (Y/N) has the nicest eyes and smile in this class and those could be the only things I stare at for the rest of my life and I’d be completely okay with that.” 

You gulped, unsure how to feel about what Jimin was saying. You and him were never really on speaking terms. You mainly talked to Taehyung and Jungkook because they were the most friendly. Jimin had always been closed off and you’ve always felt this strange hatred he had for you.

He took a glimpse at your confused expression and cleared his throat, “don’t be too flattered, (Y/N). I said this class, not the entire school. It’s because this class is filled with try-hards.” 

“And what does that make you, Jimin?” It was a rhetorical question, seeing that the Almighty Park Jimin was sitting among the many he called try-hards.

“You’re just as try-hard as any one of us, Jimin.” Rachel took her stance to get back at Jimin, but he only waved her off.

“As much as I am one, I will never be one of you.” 

“What’s so wrong with that?” You wanted to keep asking him, seeing how far you can take it before he breaks.

“Well, (Y/N), that’s a conversation for another day.” Tilting his head, a small smirk danced across his face, but his eyes remained empty and cold. 

[vivelamori]

Donnie Yen Autobiography  “All About Donnie  (問丹心)” Translation Ch.1(pt 1-3)

Guess what... I have translated more of the content of Donnie’s autobiography. I’m planning to translate the first two chapters of his book, which are about his childhood and his experiences when he was early into the show business. 

There are 5 parts in the first chapter “My Personal Development” and 4 parts in the second chapter “Into the Show Business”. 

The previous post I made I had translated part 2 of chapter 2. 

Once again, BIG THANK YOU to my dear beta Dream @evocating for her generosity and patience. My work looks legible because of you. Also thank my real life friend Asura for helping me to clear my mind and translating a few but important sentences for me. 

Crappy photos of the original text taken by me are attached with this post below for reference. Baby Donnie is ADORABLE OKAY!???

Reminder: This post is so damn long with words and pictures. 

Chapter 1: My Personal Development

Part 1: “The Mystery of Destiny”

        In a life of a man, somehow what you do and face is destined and written by fate. For me to write a book published by Sing Tao News Corporation Limited seems to be heaven’s will as well. My father Klyster Yen had worked as an editor for the International Sing Tao Daily in Boston, USA for 30 years. With that in fact, it seems that my affinity with Sing Tao seems to have existed for a long time. Many people assume that since I grew up overseas, I would not be fluent in Chinese. Actually, when I was young, I would run over to my father’s workplace and read the Chinese newspaper published by the Sing Tao. In that way, I gradually acquired the language through such self-taught process. In recent years, I have a growing realization of the mystery of destiny. As if life has hidden the clue of who I am today, now the path unfolds and I must follow step-by-step to where destiny might lead.

 “A Family Splitting Apart”

          My father and mother met when they were both part of the Guangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra. My father was a violinist and my mother was a soprano. Life is however fickle. Later the family was forced to split apart during the turbulent times.

          At that time, it was hard for a Mainlander to migrate to Hong Kong. At the age of two, I was approved but only one of my parents was allowed to accompany me to live in Hong Kong. Finally, my father brought me here. However, the family of three was divided: one in Guangzhou and the other two in Hong Kong. Only heaven knew the day of our reunion with my mother.

 “My Favourite Show ‘Enjoy Yourself Tonight(EYT)’”

          When we first arrived, my family condition was rather poor. I still remember that I lived in a squatter’s residence at King’s Park in Kowloon (a region in HK). My father and uncle shared a bunk bed. Grandmother also lived with us. And I would just sleep on the floor. I also remember that we had to share with the neighbours.

          At that time, “EYT (1967-2002)”(a famous variety TV show in HK) just started broadcasting. Like many children of the time, I loved to crouch in front of the gate of my neighbour’s flats, peeking through the bars of the gate to watch the black-and-white television. Even though the signal of the TV was poor, it was the best entertainment for me as a kid. Later, my family condition was becoming better. After my uncle got married, together with my father and grandmother, we moved to a new flat in Yuet Wah Street in Kwuntong (a region in HK). Afterwards, when my father bought a flat near my uncle’s, we finally escaped the life of an over-crowded household.

 “Mother Practicing Martial Arts to Combat Loneliness”

          Very quickly, a few years passed. Although our living standards were improving, my mother was still staying in Guangzhou alone. I was too young to understand the bitterness of my separation from my mother. I could only remember I would receive a letter from her every few weeks. She wrote about how much she missed me, and she would use rhetoric words like “Ji Dan Chai (子丹仔)” and “Kiss you(吻您)”(*) to call me and express her love.

 (*Translator’s notes: After a discussion between me and beta Dream at 3:30am, we concluded that “Ji Dan Chai (子丹仔)” was probably a Cantonese pun for “egglet/egg puff*(雞蛋仔)”, a famous traditional snack in HK. Furthermore, 吻 means “kiss” and 您 means “you” which is usually used as a polite form but his mom used it because she wanted to insert hearts to express her love towards her son.)

          Can you imagine how a woman can withstand the loneliness of those long years separated from her husband and son? Due to this, she threw herself into practicing kung fu, strengthening her spirit through the movies to gain confidence and power, and also supporting herself and her mother’s family.

          Later my mother told me that in those nine years, she would apply for coming to HK every now and then, only failing each time. My father knew that my mother missed me very much. When I was nine, he asked his brother-in-law(姨丈) to bring me back to Guangzhou to visit my mother. At last, I met her. As early as I can remember, that was the first time I met my mother.

          My strongest memories of that one and a half weeks are of her hugging and kissing me every day. She also dragged me over to meet her master Fu Wing-fai (傳永輝) and her classmates. At that time, the mother of grand master Fu was a foot-bound lady (a cruel pedantic practice on women in old China). However, I could remember clearly that when she swung the spear, she looked very handsome and moved powerfully.

 “First Experience of Real Martial Arts”

          When I was young, my father loved to bring me to Yue-Man Square in Kwuntong to watch movies during weekends when I didn’t have to go to school. We watched the films produced by Shaw Brothers (HK) Limited like “The One-Armed Swordsman (獨臂刀)” (1967), “The Bloody Fists (蕩寇灘)” (1972) and “The Heroic Ones(十三太保)” (1970), etc. Though I watched them on the big screen, they really were the first time I witnessed real martial arts in action.

          After those days of waiting and waiting, and then finally getting to meet my mother, everything seemed to fall back into normalcy again. My father was working behind the desk at a garment factory. Once, in the name of a business trip for the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, he went back to Guangzhou to visit his wife.  

          One day, the good news finally arrived after nine years of waiting. My father excitedly told us that mother’s approval of coming to HK was granted and there would be a new member of the family… It was because my father intentionally knocked my mother up during that trip, so that the first week my sister was born, she and our mother were permitted to enter and stay in Hong Kong. That’s also why my parents always regard my sister as the “lucky star”.

          In life, there are times when we are together with our loved ones, and times when we are apart. During our separation, my mother became a master of Tai Chi. After the reunion, I followed her to practice martial arts. Everything seemed to be according to heaven’s will.  

  Part 2: “I am ‘Fong Sai-yuk’(方世玉)”

          My mother had arrived in Hong Kong, so our family had reunited. During the time of waiting as she was waiting for her immigrant visa to the USA to be approved, she would go to the park located at the nearby Yuet Wah Street to teach students. In the beginning, she had only two to three students. Later, the number of students increased. At the age of ten, I was like the teaching assistant. Every early morning at 5 or 6, I would follow my mother and teach her students.

          Some days before, Madame Helena Law Lan (羅蘭)(a famous actress in HK who was born in 1934) told me that her master Lee Yuen-king (李婉瓊), from whom she learned Tai Chi, was one of my mother’s students from that class. She joked that, in terms of hierarchy, I am kind of her grand master(師公/師伯)! Chinese kung fu came from China. The art belongs to everyone. It truly connects people around the world!

 “The Heir of Kung Fu”

          My mother Bow Sim Mak (麥寶嬋) practices martial arts. She values it highly and thus is determined to pass down her skill and techniques. Of course, she has great expectation on her son. She was like the “Miu Chui-fa” (苗翠花) and I was “Fong Sai-yuk” (方世玉)(*). Every morning before school, she would drag me off my bed at 5 and asked me to do splits, stretches and go through the forms. If I whinedo r complained or made any mistakes, she would scold me with her wooden sword immediately.

 (*Translator’s note: Miu Chui-fa was a famous and highly skilled woman in martial arts in Qing Dynasty. Her son Fong Sai-yuk was also a talented kung fu master who was excelled in Shaolin boxing.)

          My path to learning martial arts began after the reunion of my mother. My road towards the show business also began at that time.

          My mother would teach Tai Chi in the morning and sing soprano at the Mira Hotel at night. Coincidently, people from the Yuen’s stunt team(袁家班) also performed Peking Opera there. Heroes are drawn to each other. Later, a few of them started taking lessons in kung fu from my mother. This had helped me to set the destiny of meeting my master Yuen Woo-ping in the future, getting into the show business through acting in his film “Drunken Tai Chi (笑太極)” (1984).

 “Boycott by Other Schools of Martial Arts”

          At the age of 11, our whole family migrated to Boston in USA. During the 60s and 70s, it was very common to open a school of martial arts in Chinatown. After settling down, my mother also opened one and named her school as “ Chinese Wushu Research Institute (中國功夫研究所)” because she took promoting Chinese martial arts to the world as her responsibility.

         Nevertheless, there were a few people who were narrow-minded. They thought the name of the school was intended to include all the types of Chinese martial arts. Thus, my mother was boycotted by other schools. They even nitpicked her logo – a figure holding swords, posing and stepping on the Bagua Diagram. They said, “Bao Sim Mak, are you really that ‘good’? Able to step on the Bagua School? ” Even some meddlers came here and tried to make a fuss by throwing stones at my mother’s school.

          However, it took some time, my mother’s hard work was not wasted. She proved her skills to other schools and earned their recognition. She was able to make the practice of martial arts become universal. Many Westerners came to her to learn. Her students included the undergraduates of the Universities of Boston and Harvard.

         At that time, the largest and most popular martial arts school in Chinatown was opened by Master Kwong Tit-fu (鄺鐵夫) who taught Hung-styled boxing (洪拳). Every festival or celebration like the Chinese New Year, his most senior student, John Tsang (曾俊華), aka the current Financial Secretary of HKSAR, would carry a lion head and lead the kids from different martial arts schools to perform the lion dance on streets. I was about 12 or 13 at that time and I often followed the lion dancers led by this “big brother” around. I joined for fun and sometimes I would perform Chinese boxing to liven things up.

         After many years, when I met the Financial Secretary again, he revealed to me that he already noticed me at that time. He said I was skilled in martial arts in a certain level with such a young age. To have received such high praise from someone like him, this Donnie really don’t deserve it!

  Part 3: “Imitating Bruce Lee”

          Overseas Chinese growing up in the foreign countries are often more aware of their racial and national identity than local Hong Kongers or Mainlanders. I, as a Chinese American citizen, was often belittled by others who called me names like “chink”. I thus strived to search for my identity of nationality.

 “Learning Kung Fu through Watching Movies”

          There were only two cinemas in Chinatown and they were smelly and filthy. There were always drunkards wandering around and they were stinky and dirty. Despite all that, I would still escape school and buy a ticket to watch the same movie again and again. After I finished watching the “Drunken Master (醉拳)”(1978) and “Snakes in the Eagle’s Shadow (蛇形刁手)” (1978), I would immediately rush back home to practice the drunken and snake moves. After watching “36th Chamber of Shaolin (少林三十六房)” (1978), I would practice the three-section cudgel immediately. I had watched the “Way of the Dragon (猛龍過江)” (1972) and “Enter the Dragon (龍爭虎鬥)” (1973) thousands of times. As a kid with some talent, my moves looked like those from the movies even though all I did was watch!

         At around that time, I remember that my mother still had not found an official place for her school and so she rented the buildings of other martial arts schools to teach her classes. They had all kinds of tools and weapons. I loved to pick them up and practice.

         Once, before my mother arrived, I naughtily picked up a nunchakus l to imitate the Bruce Lee’s moves. I was using it powerful enough that my every move made whirring sounds. Unexpectedly, the screw of the connecting joint of the nunchakus was loosened and one part of the pair flew across the room and hit one my mother’s female students. The girl wailed and a bruise appeared obviously on her head. I immediately knew that I was in huge trouble. Of course, my mother scolded and punished me so terribly.

 “Carrying Nunchakus Everywhere”

          In the 70s, Bruce Lee was very popular. I would wear his outfit – an orange sweatpants with sunglasses or black Chinese traditional clothes with kung fu shoes– to school every day. I would saw off the staff of a broomstick into two parts and connect the two with a rope to make my own nunchakus. I put it into my long socks along with me so that I could whip them out anytime, anywhere. At that time, no matter the Chinese or Western classmates, they loved to call me “Bruce”. I would sometimes perform nunchakus and show off footwork to entertain myself and others.

         At that time, there was a black substitute teacher who got along with the students very well. He always asked me to show off, “Hey, Bruce, show me the kick!” Once, I joked that I could kick his face thrice and he would not be able to dodge. I hadn’t waited for the teacher’s reply, “Really?” and I kicked him. Ping! Ping! Ping! I had already left three footprints on his face. The black substitute teacher was tall and bulky. Having kicked on the face three times without warningmust have made him felt a little bit of embarrassment and anger. He threw and hanged me, who was small, onto a wall to warn me.

         With regards to my relationships with the other students, I occasionally received letters daring to challenge me. Even though I was not the strongest, and both wins and losses were common in fighting, the swiftness of my body and movements meant that any opponents would have to endure my heavy punches and kicks.

         My obsession towards kung fu grew to its peak as I worshipped and idolized Bruce Lee. I always focused on my footwork, wishing my movements to be as quick, fierce and precise. I would escape from school with my friends, hiding in the park practicing “sticking hands” of Wing Chun in the afternoon. Honestly, we were just messing around.

         I was really obsessed with martial arts when I was younger. Looking back now, was I laughably naïve or cutely innocently?

[chanoyu-to-wa]

Nampō Roku, Book 2 (46):  (1587) Eighth Month, Second Day, Morning.

46) Eighth Month, Second Day; Morning¹.

◦ Two-mat room².

◦ [Guests:]  Yazō [彌三]³, Sōkei [宗惠]⁴.

Sho [初]⁵.

◦ Kokei saiji [古溪 細字]⁶.

◦ Unryū [雲龍], [arranged] in a small furo [小風爐]⁷.

◦ On the tana, habōki ・ kōgō [羽帚 ・ 香合]⁸.

▵ Shiru saku-saku [汁 サク〰]⁹.

▵ Mosso [モツソ]¹⁰.

▵ Haya [鰷]¹¹.

▵ Nimono matsu-dake [煮物 松茸]¹².

▵ Senbei ・ kuri [センヘイ ・ クリ]¹³.

[Go [後]¹⁴.]

◦ Take-zutsu [竹筒]¹⁵.

◦ On the tana, Rinzai futaoki [臨濟蓋置], by itself¹⁶.

◦ Chaire ko-natsume [茶入 小ナツメ]¹⁷.

◦ Chawan Hikigi-no-saya [茶碗 引木ノサヤ]¹⁸ -- the chawan was carried out [at the beginning of the temae]¹⁹.

◦ Mizusashi Shigaraki [水指 シカラキ], on top of which was [placed] the hishaku [ヒシヤク]²⁰.

_________________________

¹Hachi-gatsu futsu-ka, asa [八月二日、 朝].

    According to the corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar, this chakai took place on September 4, 1587.

    The purpose of this chakai was probably to encourage the support of the Sakai tea community* for the upcoming Kitano ō-cha-no-e [北野大茶の會]. __________ *Because Hideyoshi had a reputation for asking for famous tea utensils, it seems that there was reluctance to participate in certain quarters:  in order to preserve their reputations, the chajin would have had to use their best things; so fear of loosing them to Hideyoshi's avarice may have had a dampening effect on their enthusiasm.

    Then, too, since Rikyū was obviously at least partly to blame for giving Hideyoshi this idea, the faction that was beginning to resent his growing influence over Hideyoshi may have also started to give voice to their reluctance to participate -- since a successful event would only redound to Rikyū's credit.

    Thus Rikyū had to make a concerted effort to move the leaders of the tea community toward participating -- since once their spots were reserved, it would be much easier to cajole the others into joining the event, too.

²Nijō shiki [二疊敷].

    This was the two-mat tearoom in Rikyū's official residence.

³Yazō [彌三].

   Yazō [小西彌三]* appears to be a childhood nickname (both this man and Rikyū were from Sakai).  This entry probably refers to Konishi Ryūsa [小西隆佐; ? ~ 1592], a wealthy merchant from Sakai who was a vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi -- who appointed him Governor of Izumi (Izumi no kami [和泉守]).  Ryūsa, then, was both a daimyō and a nobleman (since provincial governors held the junior grade of the Fifth Court Rank).  He was also a Christian; and while Konishi Ryūsa died in the Ninth Month of 1592†, his son Yukinaga participated in Hideyoshi's first invasion of the continent.

  That said, Hisamatsu Shin-ichi sensei states in his comments that this refers to someone called Mozu-ya Yazō [萬代屋彌三; his dates are unknown]‡, who -- he says -- was a chajin from Sakai**.  The name is not otherwise known, and both Tanaka Senshō and Shibayama Fugen subscribe to the notion that this refers to Konishi Ryūsa, based on their several (independent) sources. __________ *This is how the name is written in the kaiki.  There is some confusion over who this person might be:  some scholars have suggested the name Konishi Yasaburō [小西彌三郎], though that name is not found in the Konishi family genealogy.  Yakurō [彌九郎] (not Yasaburō [彌三郎]) was the childhood name of Konishi Ryūsa.

†Perhaps on account of his age, experience (he had been a wealthy merchant before entering Hideyoshi’s service), and administrative abilities, Konishi Ryūsa was assigned the job of financial commissioner at Nagoya Castle in Hizen (western Kyūshū), where he was charged with overseeing the financial aspects of the expedition; but was taken sick and returned to Kyōto (traveling by sea, by way of Sakai), where he died.  He bequeathed 2000 ryō of gold (around 84 kilograms) to the Catholic Church in Kyōto.

‡It does not seem that this person can be identified with Rikyū's life-long friend (and husband of one of his daughters) Mozu-ya Sōan [萬代屋宗安; ? ~ 1594] -- though Sōan is mentioned under several different names in the contemporary records, Yazō does not appear to be one of them.

**“Yazō  Sakai no chajin.  Mozuya.” [彌三 堺の茶人。万代屋。]  This is the entirety of Hisamatsu sensei’s comment.

    It is impossible to guess what his source for proposing this identification (if any) may have been.

⁴Sōkei [宗惠].

    This refers to Mizuochi Sōkei [水落宗惠; dates of birth and death unknown], who was another respected machi-shū chajin from Sakai*.  

    Mizuochi Sōkei was also the father of one of Rikyū's sons-in-law, Sen no Jōji [千 紹二]†. __________ *Some suggest that he was also one of Rikyū's disciples (though it is more likely that he was a member of the group that formed around Rikyū in the years after Jōō’s death -- given Sōkei’s contemporary reputation as a chajin -- and that Sōkei had actually been initiated by Jōō).

†Sōkei's son is commonly known as Sen no Jōji because Rikyū adopted him into the Sen family upon his marriage to Rikyū's daughter (Rikyū having only one biological son -- which, for a member of the merchant class, was akin to putting all of ones eggs in one basket).

⁵Sho [初].

    The shoza.

    With respect to the kane-wari:

- the toko held the scroll, and so was han [半];

- the room had the ō-ita furo, and so was han [半] as well;

- and the tana supported both the habōki and the kōgō, arranged so that each of them contacted a different kane, making the tana consequently chō [調].

    Han + han + chō is chō, which is appropriate for the shoza of a chakai that is being held during the daytime.

⁶Kokei saiji [古溪 細字].

    This refers to the scroll -- a hōgo [法語], written by Kokei oshō -- shown below.  The text is addressed to “Sōeki [宗易] of Sen-nan [泉南]” (the part of Izumi Province where the city-state of Sakai was located) -- hence, it contains Kokei’s words to Rikyū.

⁷Unryū ko-furo ni [雲龍 小風爐ニ]*.

    This was the second small unryū-gama, with an iron lid and matsu-gasa kan-tsuki, shown below.

    The expression “ko-furo” [小風爐] was generally used, during this period, to mean a furo made of metal.  Thus, this entry probably refers to the small Chōsen-buro [小朝鮮風爐] that had formerly belonged to Jōō.

    A “small furo” was always placed on an ō-ita [大板]. ___________ *In the version of the manuscript to which Shibayama Fugen referred, the space between the words unryū [雲龍] and ko-furo [小風爐] was apparently missing.  Thus he interpreted this entry to be unryū-ko-furo ni [雲龍小風爐ニ], meaning “on the small unryū-furo.”  This “unryū-furo” [雲龍風爐] is the same lacquered clay furo that Rikyū referred to as the yuen-buro [油煙風爐].  This interpretation means that the kama is no longer named -- which Fugen dispenses with using the comment “naturally the kama was the unryū-gama.”

    The problem with this is that the name “unryū-furo” does not seem to have been used until the Edo period; certainly it was not used by Rikyū (who, as indicated above, called this furo his yuen-buro).

    Tanaka Senshō‘s manuscript included the space, so his interpretation matches what I have given above in the body of the footnote.

⁸Tana ni habōki ・ kōgō [棚ニ 羽帚 ・ 香合].

    This most probably refers to Rikyū's ruri-suzume kōgō [瑠璃雀香合], since that was the kōgō that he used on ordinary occasions, and a go-sun-hane [五寸羽].

    As usual, it is not possible to say what kind of feathers were used for the habōki.

⁹Shiru saku-saku [汁 サク〰].

    This was miso-shiru containing coarsely chopped greens from the kitchen-garden.

    The fresh greens were put into the soup just before it was served, so they would still be crisp and crunchy when eaten.

¹⁰Mosso [モツソ].

    This appears to be a miscopying (by Tachibana Jitsuzan*).  A mossō [物相]† is an object, usually resembling an oversized cookie cutter (with a wooden plunger that exactly fits its inner shape) used to measure rice (originally in the temple setting, so that each monk would get precisely the same portion of rice at each meal).  A mossō cannot be used to serve rice (it is not in any way a variety of hanki [飯器] -- a large lidded vessel in which cooked rice is offered to the guests so that they can help themselves to more); and there is no reason that such an object would be brought out into the tearoom (even though Rikyū used a mossō to measure out the portion of rice offered to each of the guests‡).

    According to both Shibayama Fugen and Tanaka Senshō, the word should be mozuku [モツク = モヅク = 海蘊]**, which is the name of a kind of free-floating seaweed (Cladosiphon okamuranus):  this seaweed is filamentous, and green in color.  Though it can be cooked, it is often served as a su-no-mono [酢の物] (that is raw and dressed with rice vinegar†† -- sometimes with sliced cucumbers -- and garnished with grated ginger); and it seems most likely that Rikyū offered it to his guests in this way, as a sort of salad course. ___________ *The entry in the Enkaku-ji version of the text clearly reads mo-tsu-so [モツソ], which is the way Rikyū would have “spelled” the word mosso (= mossō).  Jitsuzan apparently misread the final kana ku [ク] to be so [ソ] (through the loss of the horizontal part of the second stroke of ku).

    The same error is found in the kaiki of several other gatherings.

†The interpretation of these three kana as mossō [物相], however, is suggested only by Hisamatsu Shinichi [久松真一; 1889 ~ 1980], the editor of the Sadō Ko-ten Zen-shu [茶道古典全集] version of the text (who includes that word, written in kanji so there can be no doubt about his meaning, in his notes). And, in every case, it appears that Hisamatsu Shin-ichi sensei is arguing that Rikyū was (for some unexplained reason) bringing out a mossō [物相] -- a measuring device that is used (in the kitchen) to portion out the rice.

‡Even if cooked rice was brought out in a hanki so that the guests could help themselves to more (a practice, acknowledged by Rikyū in his densho, but for which there is no evidence that Rikyū himself ever put into practice in his own chakai), the idea would be that they help themselves to as much rice as they need to satisfy their hunger.  Thus, to also give them a measuring device at the same time (which was intended to restrict the size of the portion so measured) would be nonsense, if not actually insulting.

**Shibayama Fugen and Tanaka Senshō had access to different manuscripts of the Nampō Roku -- Tanaka Senshō, worked from Jitsuzan’s original copy (the copy made from the original Shū-un-an papers, from which Jitsuzan subsequently recopied the text into the notebooks that he presented to the Enkaku-ji; making this version closer to the original Shū-un-an documents); while Shibayama Fugen had recourse to copies made by contemporaries of Tachibana Jitsuzan (some of whom were still alive when he began his studies, so that he was able to question them directly) who had been present during the discussions on the manuscript that followed Jitsuzan’s presentation of the work to the Enkaku-ji (however, since it was a rule that nothing could be written down while in the Enkaku-ji, these copies were made from memory once the person had gotten outside the gate:  still, the accuracy, when compared with the Enkaku-ji manuscript, is often quite surprising).  In questions like these, their sources should sometimes be considered definitive -- especially when they are in agreement, yet together differ from the Enkaku-ji version of the text on a given point.

††Usually “flavored” (and diluted) by the addition of sake and mirin.

¹¹Haya* [鰷].

    Both Shibayama Fugen and Tanaka Sensho give ayu [鮎].

    Ayu, which is sometimes called the sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis), is usually roasted on a skewer over a charcoal fire, while being basted with salted water.  Ayu was “in season” at this time.

    Haya [鰷] means the minnow; it is unclear how this kind of fish might have been served. __________ *Hisamatsu Shin-ichi [久松真一] sensei, gives the (uncommon) reading of hae [鰷] for this kanji.

¹²Nimono matsu-take [煮物 松茸].

    Matsu-take [松茸], the pine mushroom, is in season from late August to early October.  The Japanese consider the matsu-take to be the king of the mushrooms -- and, when used for modern-day kaiseki ryōri, different parts of the mushroom are used for several different courses.

    This mushroom must be used as soon after being gathered as possible, since it starts to loose its fragrance after a day.  This is part of the reason why it is considered such a rare delicacy.

¹³Senbei ・ kuri [センヘイ ・ クリ].

    These were the kashi.

    Senbei [煎餅] are rice crackers*; and kuri [栗] probably refers to yaki-guri [焼き栗], roast chestnuts. __________ *They were usually procured from a specialty shop, rather than being made at home.

¹⁴The word go [後], referring to the goza, does not appear in the Enkaku-ji manuscript version of this kaiki.  It is, however, implied by the context.

    As for the kane-wari for the goza:

- the tokonoma contained the chabana*, arranged in a bamboo vase that was standing on an usu-ita on the floor of the toko, and so was han [半];

- the room contained the ō-ita furo, as well as the mizusashi (with the ko-natsume placed on the mat in front of it, and the hishaku resting on top), and so was chō [調];

- and the tana contained the meibutsu Rinzai-in futaoki [臨濟印蓋置], placed in the exact center of the tana, meaning that the tana was chō [調] (since the futaoki will not contact any of the kane when arranged in this way†).

    Han + chō + chō is han, which is correct for the goza of a gathering that is held during the daytime. __________ *While Rikyū does not mention a flower, surely one would have been arranged in the take-zutsu.  Prior to the siege of Odawara, all take-zutsu were oki-zutsu [置き筒] -- that is, they were stood on the floor of the tokonoma.  The first hanging bamboo hanaire (the ichi-jū-giri [一重切] and ni-jū-giri [二重切]) were created, from Nirayama [韮山] bamboo, for use at an all-night flower-arranging competition that Hideyoshi organized to pass the time while waiting for news from the front.

†The meibutsu futaoki was placed in the exact center of the tsuri-dana.  Because the tana partakes of the kane associated with the fukuro-dana (from which it was derived), as shown in the above sketch, a futaoki placed in the center of the tana will not contact any of the kane.  Thus, the tana would be chō.

   This sketch will be referred to again below.

¹⁵Take-zutsu [竹筒].

    This was an oki-zutsu [置き筒], a bamboo hanaire intended to be stood on the floor of the toko (resting on an usu-ita*).

    While the hanaire is mentioned, Rikyū failed to say what kind of flower was arranged in it†.  This was possibly a negligence caused by his preoccupation with the plans for the upcoming Kitano ō-cha-no-e (and perhaps the comments that his plans elicited from the guests). __________ *As always, the usu-ita was of the type now referred to as the yahazu-ita [矢筈板].  The usu-ita was based on the copy of a meibutsu nagabon made by Haneda Gorō, so the edge is not an “arrow notch” (as it is usually described), but alluded to the rim and foot of the nagabon (which is why one of them -- the upper one representing the rim of the tray -- is wider than the other).

    It measured 1-shaku 3-sun 6-bu from side to side, and 9-sun 6-bu from front to back, and was painted with shin-nuri.  This was the only usu-ita that Rikyū used

†Nevertheless, we can be certain that Rikyū did arrange some sort of flower in it.  Perhaps he used one (or several) autumn grasses whose name(s) he did not know (or the names were too many to write out, or remember).  At any rate, since the hanaire was placed on the floor of the toko, the flower(s) would have been something that naturally blooms below eye-level.

    While Rikyū is said to have displayed his meibutsu bronze Tsuru no hito-koe [鶴の一聲] hanaire (which was also known as Tsuru no hashi [鶴の波子]) without a flower on one occasion during his earlier period (albeit filled with water, so the guests would not be tempted to pick it up), a bamboo hanaire (which was usually used only once, and certainly never an object of appreciation in any case) would never have been handled in this manner.

¹⁶Tana ni Rinzai futaoki hitotsu [棚ニ 臨濟蓋置一ツ].

    This was the meibutsu Rinzai-in [臨濟印] -- the bronze name-seal that had been presented to the great Chán monk Linji Yixuan [臨濟義玄; ? ~ 866] by the Emperor of China -- that had been first used as a futaoki by Nōami.  It has apparently been lost.

    Hitotsu [一ツ] is an abbreviation of hitotsu-mono [一つ物], meaning that the futaoki was placed in the exact center of the tana (which, consequently, meant that it would not contact any of the kane).

¹⁷Chaire ko-natsume [茶入 小ナツメ].

    This was a plain, black-lacquered ko-natsume*.

   It would have been tied in a shifuku, to protect the tea†.

    The above sketch shows the kazari, but adding an explanation might make the readers better aware of what they are seeing.  The natsume is placed 2-sun away from the front of the mizusashi, and rests with the “foot” (the point where the natsume touches the mat) immediately to the right of the line that bisects the exact center of the mizusashi.  Practically speaking, this means that the natsume “overlaps” this line by one-third.  The hishaku was placed on top of the mizusashi, with its handle to the right of the knob of the lid.  Interestingly -- it is a consequence of the sizes of the utensils -- the handle of the hishaku passes just to the right of the right side of the natsume, and the end of the handle lies exactly on the second kane, and so indicates the kane clearly to the host.

    Therefore, when the chawan is brought out at the beginning of the koicha-temae, it is temporarily rested on the left side of the mat.  Then the natsume is moved forward (to the near-side of the yū-yo [有余] -- the near side of this space is represented by the heavy dashed horizontal line), and placed immediately to the right of the handle of the hishaku (which, thus, associates it properly with its kane).  Then the chawan is moved to stand to the left of the natsume, separated from it by a distance of 2-sun.

    Then the futaoki would be taken down carefully from the tana using both hands, and rested on the mat near the front right corner of the ō-ita, and finally the hishaku was lifted off the mizusashi and rested on the futoki.  Followed by the sō-rei.

◎ And, as a reminder, even when nothing was displayed on the ō-ita (except for the kama-furo), the chakin, the chashaku, and the lid of the chaire, should always be placed on the ita during the temae. __________ *Rikyū’s ko-natsume measures 1-sun 9-bu in diameter.

†The purpose of the shifuku is to protect the tea by pressing the lid tightly against the mouth of the tea container.  This is true whether the container is ceramic, or lacquerware.

¹⁸Chawan Hikigi-no-saya [茶碗 引木ノサヤ].

    This was the Korean tsutsu-chawan shown below.

    Use of this deep bowl allowed Rikyū to make the koicha as cool as necessary*, while insuring that it would not cool further before it was drunk.

    Though not mentioned, Rikyū would have used an ori-tame [折撓]†, of his own making, as the chashaku. __________ *Once the year begins to warm enough to make the change to the furo necessary, the leaf tea stored in the cha-tsubo begins to degrade more and more each time the lid of the jar is opened.  By early September, the remaining tea would be so weak that the water would have to be nearly tepid, otherwise the remaining flavor would dissipate as soon as the hot water was poured over the matcha.

†The word ori-tame [折撓] means a bent-branch.  It refers to a chashaku, carved so that the node is located at the center of balance, with a slight bend at the node.  The name is an humorous reference to a branch that is bent downward under the weight of the fruit it bears.  (The scoop end of the chashaku seems to be bent downward under the weight of the matcha that is scooped up with it.)

¹⁹Chawan ha hakobu [茶碗ハハコブ].

    In other words, the chawan was carried out from the katte at the beginning of the koicha-temae, rather than being displayed in the room (as was often the case during this period).

    It seems that Rikyū may have originally intended to display it, and then decided not to do so (perhaps out of consideration for the kane-wari).

    Usually, in this kaiki, when something (such as the chawan) is going to be brought out later, the entry is prefaced by the katakana su [ス] (which, in turn, is supposed to imply mata [又], “and again”).

²⁰Mizusashi Shigaraki, ue ni hishaku [水指 シカラキ、上ニ��シヤク].

    This was Rikyū's Shigaraki mizusashi.

   As mentioned above, the hishaku was rested on top of the mizusashi (with the cup facing downward), and with its handle ending exactly at the second kane.  The end of the handle, thus, showed the host precisely where to place the natsume when it was moved forward at the beginning of the temae.

    And, in addition to the things mentioned above, Rikyū would have used a mentsū [面桶] as his mizu-koboshi -- since this is the most appropriate koboshi for use in the small room.

[kairoskrp]

                                             — On the wicked wings of time, thy kingdom comes

Meet [ Moon Seungwoo ]

He is a [ twenty-five ] year old  [ lifeguard at ahnjin health and fitness & cashier at chapter one ] currently residing in [ studio 57, #408 ]. Visit  and greet  him today!

Personality:

Having everything he loved taken away from him, Seungwoo now starts appreciating the smaller things in life that he always dubbed as insignificant. He does everything is a simple pace, where he works efficiently but admires the beauty of his surroundings. He comes off as that typical man who enjoys his Sunday afternoons looking out from his balcony while taking a sip of warm coffee, but under those thick layers of kindness is fear. He is always cautious of what he does and says, and never fights back, even when others belittle him. He blames himself for everything he did in the past, and for this, he is now afraid of ever crossing with people again. He’s not afraid of letting people in his life, and is more than willing to fill up the holes in his shattered heart. He also gets depressed quite easily, and aside from his Sunday afternoon coffee, he would frequent to the Han River and take photos, still in love with the beauty of it.

Spirit: Thetis

Power: Shapeshifting

Having the spirit of Thetis, Seungwoo is able to shapeshift. He can transform his body into any animals he has ever touched for more than 5 seconds. He has a database of the animals he has touched; however, this database is reliant on his brain’s long-term memories. (Meaning, he doesn’t necessarily remember every animal he’s ever touched, but his power has access through his long-term memories.) He hasn’t fully practiced his powers yet, but he’s not in any hurry to use them either. He also noticed how it takes such a large strain on his body, especially when he transforms in non-aquatic animals.

Biography:

      (tw: self-harm, fighting, blood, mentions of suicide and murder)

Joshua is the only son to an influential family in Dallas, Texas, with his mother’s side of the family being successful in the medical field as doctors, surgeons, and the like, his father’s side of the family were business tycoons. His parents were busy people, with his mother often sleeping at the hospital more than their own home and his father often out for business trips.

When he was 18, Joshua finally found the love of his life. Elise Yuen, the new girl in school. She was beautiful; long locks of natural blonde hair and ocean-blue irises immediately had his jaw dropping at the sight of her. Luckily enough, her family were also influential (of course, if you were in his school, you’d at least have a respectable name). He immediately made moves on her, often walking to school together and walking her home, despite her house being quite farther than his; he’d give her chocolates and often invited her to the music room to hear him play the guitar. It was not hard to fall in love with Joshua, and after a while, Elise surely fell for him. During their prom, Joshua had proposed to her when they were crowned prom king and queen, to which she said yes. It had been the talk of the school for a while, and no one really disapproved of their engagement, even his family approved of the Yuen’s who were very respected in the military. Everything was perfect of Joshua. On June first, they got married, just as Elise wished.

He loved everything about her—their relationship was healthy and beautiful with unending affections for each other. Or for a while it was. After two years of marriage, their shining diamond love slowly became a burden on them. Joshua was in his second year of his medical laboratory scientist bachelor program and was piled up in unbearable amounts of stress, and his self-harming wife didn’t help. When he initially found out, he was all love and caring for her. He dropped everything he studied for just so they could enjoy a date, but as time progressed, his love became a chore and he was always so close to screaming at her.

He erupted sooner than he expected. Before their third-year anniversary, Elise had entered into another depressive episode and started cutting his arms and legs in the bathroom once more. Joshua had just come home from university and it was dead in the night, and he wasn’t going to deal with any of that tonight, not after finishing his day of test after test. The voice from two years ago, came back, and it was stronger than before, but not as strong as the pent-up emotions of his.

They were caught up at the rage of the moment, screaming at each other till their voices were hoarse, slowly escalating to pushing and pulling and a threat to leave, with the other persuading her to leave, even helping her out and shoving the car keys to her. She ran to her car, not caring about the freezing temperature or if she was under dressed, while he screamed and watched her leave. He saw everything. From how her eyes were sullen and red, and how her arms and legs were bare to the cold and dripping blood, how her car quickly left their garage, and how fast it skidded on the ice and crashed head on to the lamp post, and how fire quickly erupted from the engines and the car just explodes.

He remembered how he called the ambulance, hoping that she was still somewhere in that car, as safe as before, despite the multiple cuts and bruises on her. He remembered how they quickly came, the medics and the firemen, and how they quickly tried to turn off the flames. He vividly recalled how they got her, or what remained of her, out of the car, placing her in plastic bags as they already knew that it was already too late for Elise. He still feels those emotions—the intense burning sensation in his eyes and his heart as he realizes that he was beyond redemption. He’ll never see her again, he’ll never hear her again, and she’ll never forgive him; those good morning that always calmly woke him up, along with the strong smell of freshly roasted coffee suddenly became a distant memory. The laughters they shared suddenly became unclear, and he questioned if he ever laughed with her at all.

Joshua became a widower at age 21, a time when most people still had blooming feelings.

Moving one was something he had a hard time doing, especially when he found she was pregnant with what was supposed to be their son on the day of her burial. The sorrow was unbearable, and it showed in his actions. His grades were dropping, he didn’t even bother showing up to classes or club meetings anymore, his friends barely saw him and a lot could barely even remember what his smile looked like. It was horrible, especially for Joshua’s family. It wasn’t as if they cared for his emotions—he was ruining their reputation. His parents gave him some rest time, 2 years maximum, and if he doesn’t get his act together, he can say goodbye to the Hong family.

That night, he had a dream. It was a strange dream—he was under water, and a shore was nearby. It seemed like no one noticed him, because his pleas for help were simply brushed off, so he swam to the shore. Then, a tall warrior in a fashion he could immediately tell as Greek warrior clothing, came by the shore, just a few feet away, and in front of him, tides slowly forming to the physique of a woman. He knew now that it was Achilles and Thetis, his favorite Greek myth, mostly because he’s had dreams of this myth at certain days, though strangely enough, it was the times when Thetis and Achilles talked to each other, and it was more vivid and had way more details than the books. He watched as Thetis sent off her son to her death, reminding him of his own misery, and then another tidal wave forms beside him—there was Thetis. He had questions, but before he could ask, he woke up, his whole body wet, as if his sweat reached impossible levels. Leila, a new servant hired to take care of Joshua while he was on his “vacation period,” saw him awake, and explained how he fell asleep in the water, and he was lucky she came in before he was fully deprived of oxygen.

The next day, Joshua had intentionally tried to sleep in the bath again, hoping to meet Thetis again, however, his dream that day was different. He was in a middle of a large body of water, unsure if it was salt water or fresh water, because the animals that surrounded him were of different varieties and had different habitats (some of them weren’t even aquatic animals). A dolphin came near him, and he remembered the scar on its face. It was the same dolphin he had pet when he went to the aquarium with Elise. It was painful to still see things that reminded him of her, but Joshua softly touched its scar again, feeling sorry that it got hurt. Then, a loud screech woke him up. He saw Leila, but suddenly, she seemed way taller than him. He tried to stand up, but he couldn’t, and his body felt unbelievably moist. He asked her what was wrong, and she screamed at him, at how he was a freak and ran away. He couldn’t understand what she meant by it, but when he tried to lift his legs, he screamed as well. His feet were gone and were replaced with what looked like a dolphin’s tail. He closed his eyes, hoping he was just seeing things; he heard Thetis’ voice once more, telling him to imagine himself in his human form. He finally decided to trust her voice, and when he opened his eyes, his body was normal.

He immediately talked to Leila about this, and how he would run away, and she should too. He would make it so his parents were never find him by making it look like he’d gone mad and killed Leila, along with himself. She was hesitant with his plan, but she accepted anyway, not really sure if she could deal with. Joshua decided to reside in Korea, somewhere near the Han River, because he’d always seen photos of his parents making such silly faces while they posed in front of that river. He’d always wonder whatever happened to his parents, but more than that, his eyes always looked at admiration for the Han River. He changed his name to Moon Seungwoo before he left, hoping that every traces of Hong Joshua would be left in Dallas (however, he needed Hong Joshua’s money with him).