Ashley Williams, 50, and Karin Yokomichi, 48,

“My father and mother setteled in Japan, helping to rebuild the cities in the 50s. I was born as their only son, and went to school with the Japanese students like all the other kids.”

“He was bullied, everyone mistaking him as an American instead of an Englishman.”

“I wanted to get out of Japan as soon as I could in college, so I went to King’s.”

“We met for the first time in London. I was there to study English, and he was there to meet a girl.”

“We didn’t like each other the first time we met. I said something about the war, and she nearly hit me.”

“You didn’t say anything about the war, you made racist comments!”

“Anyways, we met for only that one day. I forgot about her until five years later, where I was a doctor transferring to a small town in Japan. My parents were talking about me marrying, being twenty-seven and a doctor, I should marry. Apparently, they wanted me to meet this girl. They said she was very small, and very kind.”

“My parents wanted me to marry this guy because he was a doctor. They didn’t care that his hair was blonde, or that his eyes were blue, they just wanted me to get marry and out of the house!”

“So we met, and I couldn’t believe it was the same girl I met in London! She was way more beautiful in her kimono. I couldn’t help but think I was an idiot for making a bad first impression!”

“I still didn’t like him, but after being forced on many dates, he was really sweet and very handsome. We married a month later after we met for the second time, and it will be twenty-five since we wedded.”

2008

Kris waited as his class left for lunch, leaving him to walk to his small office to eat lunch and stat grading papers.

He was on his fourth paper when he heard a knock, and looked up to see Teacher Zhang, the elementary school’s music teacher, “ Huan Meilin and Li Taoshin are fighting!”

Immeidatley getting up, he jogged with the teacher to the lunch room, where a bunch of students were circling the two children, throwing punches and screaming at each other. Kris couldn’t help but think to himself that this was the pain of teaching in Quingdao, there were many students who wanted to use their martial arts to fight each other. The man even knew the art was used for defense and discipline, not to beat everyone up (even though that’s what the end result looks like).

He walked into the circle and grabbed the boy, who was at this point ready to kick the girl in the face. She already had tears down her face and few bruises were showing up. The boy’s one eye was rimmed red, and Kris was mentally applauding the girl for at least getting one punch in.

He held the boy at his hand, pinching the nerve in between the thumb and forefinger, casuing the boy to scrunch in pain.

It was enough to hall the boy over his shoulder and hold the girl’s hand as they walked to the nurses, Teacher Zhang walking behind.

“Call their parents,” Kris said, looking at the music teacher, “I believe Taoshin needs to take up the proper punishment by the principle and his mother.”

“I didn’t even start the fight! Meilin did!”

“You were bullying my brother!”

“It doesn’t matter who started it,” Kris said as he hauled the children to the main office, “You both fought, which you know is against school rules.”

He walked turned into the nurse’s office, who looked up from her computer, “Oh, no.”

“Oh, yes,” the teacher commented, letting go of Meilin’s hand, who walked over to the nurse to get her bruises check out, and placed Taoshin on the ground, “According to what they were saying, Taoshin was bullying Meilin’s younger brother, in which she got inbetween abd punched Taoshin, whch resulted him to fight back.”

“Huh,” the nurse hummed as she looked at Taoshin’s brusied eye, “Well, one thing’s for sure, Meilin sure can pack a punch for a ten year old girl.”

Kris didn’t bother attending the set up meeting between Taoshin and Meilin’s parents. He walked back to his office to continue grading papers and eating his lunch before the hour was up.

Twenty minutes later, Teacher Zhang opened the door, and said, “Uh, Meilin’s mother would like to speak to you.”

Kris huffed in annoyance, clearly thinking he wasn’t going to get any work done, “Thanks, Yixing. Just send her in.”

He first saw the woman walk in, then Meilin and then another man, a familiar face to him. He let the family sit down on chairs he had  in the office, and  sat in his chair.

“Mr. Wu, I apologize for interrupting your prep period,” the mother  smiled slightly, “Meilin’s brother has been bullied for a bit because he’s smaller than the majority of his boys in class. I don’t apologize that Meilin punched Li Taoshin, I believe he sort of had it coming.”

“Well, she did punch him pretty hard. I don’t want to see them fighting again.”

“Understood,” the mother said as she stood up, “Thank you, Mr. Wu.”

The mother left with Meilin in hand, but the familiar man stayed. Kris looked at him, eying him as the other did so to. There was quite a difference between the last times they’ve seen each other. This man died his hair blonde, with shaved sides. He wore fewer rings and didn’t seem to have as many dark clothing on.

“I teach my niece some martial arts,” the man said, “I didn’t expect her to actually use it.”

Kris raised a brow, “She’s not your daughter?”

The man laughed, “No, Kris. Her mother is one of my older sisters. I haven’t married. I’m only twenty four.”

“Never too early to marry,” Kris stated, “Just try to keep her away from the stick, Tao. I don’t want to see her suddenly entertaining the class with a ruler.”

Tao leaned on his knees, “You look better. Your hair definitely suits you.”

“I thought you said I looked handsome.”

“Yes, but your were border lining anime handsome,” Tao laughed, “I like the blonde better.”

“Well, you look like you passed your Goth stage, too,” Kris stated, “Things have changed in the past four years.”

“Definitely. Found a pretty girl yet?”

Kris laughed, “No. No. My boyfriend wouldn’t like to be called a pretty girl.”

Tao’s brows rose, clearly surprised, “You’re gay? Since when?”

“Since I met Lu Han,” Kris shrugged, “I met him a costume party and he was dressed up like Sailor Moon. I thought he was a girl, so I obviously chatted him up. We sort of made out and when he told me he wanted to talk, I let him. It was only when we were o our first date, he came up to me in normal guy clothes and I ignored the fact that I was interested in a guy.”

Tao nodded, “So, are you honestly, hundred percent gay, or situational gay?”

Kris laughed, leaning against the back of his chair, “Second one.”

“So you’re not biual?” Tao asked, “I thought you didn’t like the idea of having a in your .”

“Who said I was the one getting it?”

“Well,” Tao smiled, “That’s great that you and your boyfriend are happy together.”

Kris shrugged, “Still not attached? What happened to Tran?”

Tao gave a confused look, clearly unaware of what he was talking about.

“Tran. Tran Thiri?”

Tao nodded, “Well, last time I saw her, she was married with a kid on the way. Things change after college. I haven’t dated since I got here.”

A beep was heard, and Tao fished out his phone, looking at it, “I got to go. My sister is waiting for us. I’ll see you around, Kris.”

“Take care, Zitao.”