[Okita clears his throat and starts speaking slowly as he tries to recall the story.]
Once upon a time, a long long time ago, there lived rabbits on the moon. One rabbit fell in love with another rabbit and they played and spent time together in happiness. But the other rabbit soon became popular with the others on the moon and, seeing the first as only a friend, began to play and spend time with the other rabbits, too.
"Why?" thought the first rabbit. "Why play with anyone else when she has me?"
One day, the first rabbit decided to have a party for his beloved. All of the rabbits on the moon gathered and danced and sang and played together. All but the first rabbit who was busy making mochi cakes in a big stone basin. He pounded the white cakes over and over for his beloved, wanting her to see only him.
[Okita pauses and smiles faintly.]
Only there is no rice on the moon, Medic-san, with which to make mochi cakes. Instead, the rabbit used the other rabbits, the ones he was jealous of, to make his cakes.
The rabbits danced and played even as one by one they disappeared into the basin, until all of the rabbits but the first were gone - including his beloved - and his paws were stained red like the moon at night.
[action]
Once upon a time, a long long time ago, there lived rabbits on the moon. One rabbit fell in love with another rabbit and they played and spent time together in happiness. But the other rabbit soon became popular with the others on the moon and, seeing the first as only a friend, began to play and spend time with the other rabbits, too.
"Why?" thought the first rabbit. "Why play with anyone else when she has me?"
One day, the first rabbit decided to have a party for his beloved. All of the rabbits on the moon gathered and danced and sang and played together. All but the first rabbit who was busy making mochi cakes in a big stone basin. He pounded the white cakes over and over for his beloved, wanting her to see only him.
[Okita pauses and smiles faintly.]
Only there is no rice on the moon, Medic-san, with which to make mochi cakes. Instead, the rabbit used the other rabbits, the ones he was jealous of, to make his cakes.
The rabbits danced and played even as one by one they disappeared into the basin, until all of the rabbits but the first were gone - including his beloved - and his paws were stained red like the moon at night.