The Rappleberry Caper
An Astro Boy Fan Fiction
By Dan Rush
Astro Boy © 2003 Sony Pictures/Tezuka Productions. © 2009 Imagi Studios
Original story by Osamu Tezuka. All rights deeply respected. This story is a non-profit fandom enjoyment only.
Background: The living Daichi Tokugawa is a young man on the cusp. Dutiful son of a great industrial magnate. Loving twinkle to a recently deceased mother. Growing rebellious biker. But could a chance meeting with Astro take him in a different direction?
1am
West Metro City
The excitement was too much! Daichi sat holding his chest and gasping for breath as he and the other three bikers floated in the darkness of an alleyway while the police cars screamed by the gap between buildings.
They had to be pissed. Especially after the six pack of eggs he threw creamed one of the cops in the face!
"Nice shot man." Honbra snickered as he patted Daichi's back. "How do you like the initiation so far?"
"Awesome!" Daichi replied with a thumbs up. "So…what's next?"
"Nothing more tonight." Honbra replied as he gave Daichi an arm punch. "Next Saturday's gonna be the climax! You get through that and you'll earn your patch and jacket. Just don't get caught going home."
Daichi watched as one by one the other gang members drifted towards the alley opening and screamed off into the night. He looked at his watch and pursed his lips, the night wasn't over just yet. Another hour of cruising around and he'd go back home.
"I should check out the Kamakura District." He thought as he coasted around the streets. Kamakura was only a jump away from Metro City and the bike races should still be in full summer swing till around 5am. Daichi nodded to himself, turned his bike around and started back down the street towards the entrance ramp of the route 16 transport tube when he passed by someone walking on the sidewalk.
He slowed the bike a little bit and did a double take on the small figure before he turned the bike around and cruised up next to him. "Yo….hey?.....are you a little deaf or what?"
Astro stopped and looked at the hovering bike curiously. "I can hear you just fine."
Daichi smiled a little bit. "I know you. What's got you out here so late? The police?"
"Uh uh…" Astro replied shaking his head. "I just wanted to go out. See what the city was like when everyone's asleep."
"That's not a smart thing to do." Daichi replied as he swung himself around and sat side saddle on his bike. "See…this late at night? Robots get rolled pretty easy out here, it happens a lot. Does anyone know you're out here?"
Astro smirked. "I think I can more than handle any trouble. I left a note for my sister and our guardian. Besides, you're what? 16? Do your parents know you're out hanging around with trouble making bikers?"
Daichi's eyebrows jumped with surprise. "Perceptive! Aren't we? But I bet you'll be in hot water for coming out here on just a note on the bed."
Astro chuckled. "I should take you to the police but since you're Daichi Tokugawa I wouldn't want to be responsible for letting you get injured. I don't know who'd be worse, the police or your dad."
Daichi pulled out his cell phone. "By some dumb luck? My dad put in the Ministry of Science's telephone number. Now what would happen if I got off a call to tell them you're out here in the middle of the night in a bad part of the city?"
Astro shrugged and bounced on his tip toes. "We kinda got each other in a vice huh?"
Daichi rubbed his chin. "How about this? You come back to my house and I'll cover for you and vice versa? At the least, you can hang with me and I can keep you from getting into trouble."
Astro gave Daichi a smirk. "How about….we go find the policeman you egged, pay for him to have a big fat breakfast, then go to your house and I'll just forget about dropping a dime on you? Otherwise I'll give you a head start before I catch you and drag you to the police box by a wedgie?"
"Tough choice." Daichi said before he snatched Astro by an arm and lifted him onto the back of his bike seat. "Man you're light! So breakfast huh? I don't suppose 7/11 will cut it?"
Astro shook his head. "That gets you the free phone call. Better make it Volks steak house."
"Hmph…An experience scam operator you are. You and my Dad would get along just fine." Daichi said as he started his bike.
"I'd like your Dad as much as I'd like a 2 million megawatt cable up my butt." Astro said with a snicker.
"Language!" Daichi said as he kicked his bike into gear.
"I'm in High School!" Astro replied. "Wow…hanging around with a freshman could be a death sentence don't you think?"
"Don't push it!" Daichi snorted back. "Really…what were you doing out this late?"
"Studying!" Astro replied as he pressed himself into Daichi's back. "The more I know about how humans act at certain times of the day and night, the better I can respond to what they need!"
Daichi nodded his head. "Maybe a good thing…but it won't help anyone if you ended up a thousand busted parts in the middle of the road. Next time give me a call so you can have someone to cover your back!"
"Like I said! I don't think I need a babysitter!" Astro replied huffing.
"Not another word. As an upper classman it's my responsibility to look after you." Daichi said as he gunned his engine and sped down route 16 in a blur of contrailing color. He could feel Astro trying to dig his face into his back. "Afraid of a little speed?"
"When I do it no…but the idea of becoming instant street pizza's got me annoyed, slow down!" Astro said with a yelp.
"Relax…we're here." Daichi said as his bike cruised to a stop in front of his house.
Astro pulled his head back from Daichi's jacket and smirked. "Got enough people per room?" He said sarcastically.
"This is only one house." Daichi replied as he climbed off and met the robot butler coming down the steps. "Morning Lewis."
(Note: Lewis is an NS-5 designed bot from the I-Robot movie)
"Good morning Master Daichi. Your father called from Shimbushi wondering about your activities. He sounded most vexed."
Daichi smirked. "Obviously. And I'm sure he called you like fifty times asking why my cell phone wasn't working?"
"Of course. He threatened to send Artimus and Cimeron to collect you. You don't know what I had to do to convince him otherwise."
Daichi dropped his keys into Lewis's hand. "I'm sure it wasn't too painful? You're still here. By the way, I'm sure you know my guest? Make sure the guest room is ready, he's sleeping overnight."
Lewis looked at Astro and rubbed his head. "Sir? Your father might not be too entertaining of the idea."
Daichi rubbed his hand over Astro's head. "I don't care what my father thinks. Make sure Astro is treated properly?"
The guest room was kinda nice, heck the tub was practically an Olympic swimming pool in its own right! Astro sat folding his clothes into a neat pile next to the futon after putting on the thick PJ's when Daichi poked his head in through the sliding paper door.
"Everything ok?" He asked.
"Yeah!" Astro replied. "The tub in the bathroom is humungous! You should put a diving board in there."
Daichi knelt down and sat on the tutami matted floor. "I called Doctor Tenma, just to let him know you're ok."
Astro sighed. "Not happy huh?"
"Nope. Even worse when I told him who I was. On a scale of least liked? I'm worse than Herman Goering. "I swear if anything bad happens to Astro Tokugawa!" You could hear his fists shaking."
"Maybe the note wasn't such a hot idea." Astro said frowning.
"Don't let it bite you." Daichi replied smirking. "You can't be so perfect all the time! Actually it's healthy to drive our parents nuts sometimes. If we were perfect angels 24 hours a day our parents would get board, over-indulge in food and become fat and lazy. Screaming after us is a good form of exercise."
Astro chuckled a little. "You're sure your Dad won't mind me staying over? I know my reputation doesn't sit well with him."
Daichi snorted back. "You're my guest, this is my house too. If my Dad starts barking at you, just call me."
Daichi watched as Astro slipped under the thick red comforter blanket and rolled over to fall asleep…or what robots considered their state of sleep. He got up and softly closed the sliding panel as Lewis came walking up behind him.
"Might I remind the young Master about his father's security policy?"
Daichi turned and softly tapped Lewis's chest. "I find out so much as one picture or even a mili-second of x-ray was taken of Astro while he was sleeping Lewis? Guess who's going to be standing out in the street thumbing for a ride to the nearest employment agency?"
Lewis gestured as Daichi walked past him. "I was only referring to the Master's…"
"I will handle what my father wishes with my own patience Lewis. While Astro's a guest in my house however? I make the shots….got it? Leave Astro alone."
"Yes…Master Daichi." Lewis replied as he bowed and took his leave.
Morning
Astro stirred when a pair of fingers lightly tweeked his nose. Daichi was leaning over him with a cup of coffee in his hand. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" He asked as Astro sat up and yawned.
"Mmm!" Astro replied with a nod.
"So what would you like for breakfast? A bowl of oil? Hot grease? A cup of WD-40?" Daichi asked.
Astro laid back and played with his lips for a moment. "Pancakes?" He said smiling.
"Alright. Come to the dining room when you're ready." Daichi replied nodding before he walked to the kitchen and started to take ingredients from the cupboards.
As he started to mix up a bowl of batter, Daichi felt the imposing presence of his father as he walked up behind him. "Good morning Father." Daichi said respectfully. "I made some fresh coffee."
Though short in stature, Tadyo Tokugawa was not a man to be disrespected by anyone. His serious gaze made his son fidget. He poured himself a cup of coffee and stood silent and still for the moment as his son started pouring the pancakes.
"You didn't answer your phone last night." Tadyo said emotionlessly.
"I was on my motorcycle most of the time." Daichi replied. "If you're worried about my studies? I completed every task you asked of me."
Tadyo walked over to the small kitchen table and leaned against it. "Want to explain to me why that robot is in my house?"
"Astro? I found him walking alone at night and invited him to stay over." Daichi replied.
"You know how I feel about that robot Daichi. And why did you violate my rules?"
Daichi scooped the last pancake into a hot pan. "Because this is my house too and he's no more a danger to you than the cat."
"I want him out of here by noon. Do you understand me?" Tadyo pushed. "I'm sorry if I'm coming off a little gruff but I've had a long trip and a very short temper to match. We'll talk more about this in the afternoon."
Daichi watched his father walk away as he set the table. "It's not my fault you stayed up all night working." He said quietly to himself as he walked to the guest room. He met Astro as he came out.
"I'm sorry if I'm causing you any grief. Maybe I should go." Astro said quietly.
Daichi snorted. "No. I promised you pancakes and you can have all you want! Don't let my father intimidate you."
Astro searched his thoughts and feelings again. Tadyo Tokugawa was defiantly not trustworthy. But he couldn't detect anything wrong with Daichi at all. If he had an alterior motive at work to have Astro over his house? It wasn't showing up.
As they walked down the hallway towards the kitchen, Astro stopped to look at a picture on the wall. It had been taken years ago when Daichi was 4 or 5 years old, a birthday obviously. Daichi sat between his father and a women.
"Your mom?" Astro asked as he pointed.
"Yeah…" Daichi replied lowly. "She passed away three months ago."
"Oh…sorry." Astro said as they walked on into the kitchen.
Daichi placed a platter of pancakes on the table. "It's ok. She was sick for a few years. Cancer." He said as he served Astro a plate. "With all this technology, they still can't stop the common cold, let alone cancer."
Astro ate a fork full of pancakes, took a moment to chew, then ate another fork full and smiled widely…"What's on these?"
"Just jam." Daichi replied as he watched Astro "enjoy" his pancakes. "Ok….stop with the silly exaggerations, I know you're trying to make me feel good."
"No!" Astro said as he spooned a helping of jam on the remaining lumps of pancake and enjoyed more of it. "This jam's fantastic!"
"Oh come on." Daichi huffed. "There's no way you can tell just how good anything is. Robots can't make choices like that, my father knows enough about robot technology and he says the variables to give robots any kind of human feeling is way too complex."
Astro rested his head on a hand and smiled. "Then I guess my Dad's just a grade school punk huh?"
Astro sipped a glass of oil and swirled the glass in his hand. "Yeah, it's difficult to come up with the variables and all the programming but between my Dad, Doctor Elifun and my friend Reno they had a program that works pretty well ready for me in six months. I don't think you want me to stay all day and explain every nuance but I can tell when something's too sweet, too tart or burns a stomach like gasoline."
Astro took a spoonful of the jam and ate it. "So…what's this jam?"
Daichi smiled. "My mom loved to make it for us. She called it Rappleberry."
"Mmmm….ever thought of doing something with it?" Astro asked.
"As in what?" Daichi replied.
"Well?....If I could prove to you that I'm right about how good it is, maybe you could market it? I bet it would sell."
Daichi pursed his lips. "I'm not sure my Dad would like that idea but you do have me curious about your abilities. I'll give you a bottle of it."
"Deal." Astro replied with a nod. "I'll see you in school tomorrow morning then?"
Daichi passed the bottle across the table. "Don't tell anyone where you got this and please be careful who you show it too? It's like my mom's family recipe."
The Treehouse
Palisade Park in Metro City
Astro passed a spoon of jam to Tamao, Reno, Ken and Abercrombie and sat with his head on his knees waiting to see what would happen.
"Wow!" Reno said as he licked his lips.
"Imagine this on English Muffins?" Tamao chirped.
"If this were in a pastry, I'd eat myself into a beach ball!" Abercrombie said happily.
"You are a beach ball." Tamao snickered in Abercrombie's ear.
"Silence shrimp!" Abercrombie replied with a bop to Tamao's head.
Ken was silent for a little bit, then he wiggled the spoon at Astro. "Where did you find this? It's awesome! And you know what? If you did put this in pastry, it would really sell! My Mom doesn't make jelly this killer."
"Well…I can't tell you where I got it from." Astro said as he scratched his head. "It's a promise I made. See guys, the boy I got it from? He's kinda going down the wrong street and I wanna steer him back in the right direction."
"Pastry sounds like a good place to start." Reno said smiling as he gulped another spoon. "So how old's this kid?"
"16. I think there's a problem though, his Dad's….ummm….a bastard?" Astro chirped out much to the shock of the others.
"Wow! Where did you learn that one?" Tamao said smirking. "Astro, you really need to stay away from the rough parts of town. You use words like that at the wrong time and Doctor O'Shay's gonna zap you!"
"No he won't!" Astro said shooshing his hand. "It's not like Crombie throwing those "F-Bombs" every where he goes. The worst I ever say is "Damn it" anyway."
"His Dad's a real jerk huh?" Crombie snorted. "Hmph! Nothing we couldn't handle huh Astro? You and me will just go over to his house and rough the old man up a little."
"I'd rather do it with less of a mess? Besides…he makes these killer pancakes so I'd rather not get myself uninvited." Astro said as he suddenly stood up.
"Where you going?" Ken asked.
"My job clock just got started. Looks like the police have a suspect held up in a grocery store. No Sunday off for me!" Astro ran out of the clubhouse door and flew into the sky.
Tokugawa Industrial Headquarters
Metro City
Noon
"Another document?" Daichi snorted as he rubbed his forehead. "Ugh…no Sunday rides for me today."
He sat at the oval shaped computer screen making notations on a paper pad while tapping his fingers on the glass with some frustration. It was all in good interest he kept reminding himself. Someday everything around him would be his, it was what drove his father and pleased his mother and if there was one person he intended not to disappoint? It was Mom.
His father on the other hand? Daichi's only effort to show some degree of his own personal torment and displeasure from the claustrophobic measure of his current life was his facial demeanors. So far his father seemed oblivious and Daichi wasn't about to come right out and give his dad the big fat middle finger.
As he signed off on that document and sat back rubbing his face, Daichi felt his father standing aside his chair. "Excellent. Your management skills continue to please me."
"Glad you approve." Daichi said back almost coldly. What he really wanted to say was. "You're chocking me Father! Back the *&(^( off!"
Tadyo looked at the screen for a moment then to his Son. "So…what did you and that robot talk about?"
Daichi turned his head. "Astro" He accented clearly. "And I talked about school. He's a freshman and I was giving him friendly advice."
"Robots." Tadyo snorted. "You should clearly understand by now Daichi that their only purpose is in our service in the places we make for them. School? Robots like that are better suited to moving parts, working foundries, not pushing school books, playing varsity ball or chasing girls skirts."
"I've found Astro to be rather unique actually." Daichi said sternly. "If and when I might run this company father? I want a hundred Astro's representing the best we offer."
Tadyo's face turned mean. "You will do things the way I have shown you and clear your brain of such idiotic concepts. Using sweet talking robots like that may work for brothel owners and Geisha managers but not for a fortune 500 corporation. That's the path of weakness that will make you bankrupt and I didn't raise this company or you to be broke in a month."
Daichi looked at the wall clock. "2pm. I have finished my chores for the day have I not?"
"Yes…you may go. But you had better be home by 5pm for dinner." Tadyo commanded sternly. "I would like to spend a little time with you since I have so little time these days to do so."