I just started watching Black Jack series a while ago and thought of this.
This dramatic anime is about to get a whole lot more dramatic by the time I'm done with it.
PS: I do not own any of the Black Jack series or know any medical stuff.
So don't complain if some stuff don't make sense!
Besides this thing was weird from the start!
Enjoy!
Black Jack sat in his home as usual, staring out at the storm. Pinoko looked at him through the doorway, wondering what he was thinking about for the millionth time. He had just returned from another job yesterday, earning 10M for another successful operation. As usual, when he had gotten home, he had told her how it had happened. This was simply how he acted until a while after the job, waiting for the next high paying costumer.
However, Black Jack felt something. He felt as if something was going to happen, like fate had another thing in store for him.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Actually, knocking would be an understatement. It sounded as though someone was throwing multiple sticks at the door. Black Jack immediately sat up, walking briskly to the door. Pinoko ran to beat him there, but the moment she was about to touch the knob, the heavy knocking had worsened, sounding like someone trying to break it down. There was a loud clap of thunder as she jumped back and squealed, hearing a voice outside.
"Hello?! Is someone in there?! I'm looking for Dr. Black Jack! Please, let me in!" Pinoko looked back at Black Jack, her face scared and worried. he was standing a few feet away from her in the dark, but she could see him nod. She grabbed the knob and quickly unlocked it, grunting as she opened the door.
As another bolt of lightning pierced the sky, a body fell onto the floor, a puddle already forming under it. The body had only been there for a few seconds, but Black Jack had already analyzed its appearance. It was a young lady, height of 5 foot 4, Japanese like him, around age fifteen, had long, wavy black hair parted slightly to the right with two streaks of scarlet red on each side that shaped her head, and judging by the way she was holding herself, in pain.
The girl looked up while holding her upper body from the floor, her long black hair covering her face, dripping water. He couldn't see her eyes, but judging from her tone she was probably terrified.
"Dr. Black Jack... Thank goodness... I've been looking for you... for so long..." He watched as her arm caved in, her body slumping onto the now wet floor. Black Jack's eyes widened for a moment, then he gave an order to Pinoko. "Get the operation room ready." She nodded, running to the operation room.
Black Jack kneeled down, grabbing his black coat in the process. He could see that her body was already gaining a bit of hypothermia from the rain as he wrapped it around her body. That was not a shock to him, considering her outfit. She only wore a blue jean jacket over a crimson zip-up hoodie, a black shirt, dark skinny jeans, and black combats that covered most of her lower legs. As he picked her up and held her bridal style, he looked around to see if there was anyone else. All he was were two suitcases.
As he was about to grab one of them, Pinoko had returned. "Operation room is ready! And I turned the heat up a little so she'll warm up." Black Jack gave a nod of approval. "Good. Now bring her bags in and meet me there." Pinoko nodded again, already starting to drag one in.
Black Jack quickly walked to the makeshift operating room. He placed the unidentified girl on the bed, her body shivering violently with his body heat gone. He immediately wheeled a heat lamp over, shining it down on her. After a moment or two, her shivering diminished, and she slowly opened her eyes.
She didn't open them enough for him to see her, and a lock of her black and red hair was covering them as she made an effort to sit up. "Don't move," Black Jack ordered immediately. She slumped down with those orders, groaning. "My... my back," she moaned. "What's wrong?" "I... I don't know... It began... last week... A while... after I started looking for you..." Black Jack's brows raised slightly. So she isn't here for treatment, he said as he took off her jacket and hoodie.
"I'll need to take off your shirt," he said, looking for approval. "Go ahead... Just... make it stop!" She cried out as she curled up in pain, making Black Jack have to gently pull off her shirt. When he did so, she was shivering again and whimpering. "Miss, are you alright?" "N-not exactly... I... I can't f-f-feel anything... Wh-why haven't you started the operation..?" Black Jack knew that the hypothermia was getting serious, making him turn the heat lamp up.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but you are in no condition to go under yet. When your skin regains a bit more color and the shivering subsides, I will begin immediately." "The girl tried to look at him again, and gave a slight nod. "Oh... r-right..." Black Jack nodded as he prepared himself to look at the girl.
After ten minutes of having her lie in her jeans, shoes, and bra, her skin became less pale. when that happened, he injected anesthetics into her, rolling her onto her stomach while it took affect. "Ma'am, where is the pain located?" Her reply was weak and drowsy as she went under."N-near the... center of my back..." He nodded glad he would not have to assume where the pain was. He grabbed a scalpel and began cutting to reveal the muscle tissue near the spine.
After two minutes of searching, he found a cyst located near her spine. His first thought was to wonder how a cyst could form there. And in such a young and healthy-looking lady as well. But he pushed it out of the way for later, focusing on removing the cyst and relieving the girl of pain.
After ten minutes, the cyst was in a dish, the area was stitched up, and the cyst in a dish, he carefully placed the girl's shirt on. He placed her jackets over her and picked her up again, taking her to the guest room and laying her on the bed.
When he returned to the living room, Pinoko was sitting on the floor, playing with one of her toys. He gave a small smile as he sat down in his chair with a sigh. "How is she?" the small girl asked. "She'll be fine. She had a cyst close to her spine, causing pain. I still don't understand how one could form in her body. And she said that the pain only started last week." Pinoko nodded, her face worried. "And the hypothermia?" "I made sure that her body got close to normal temperature before operation. She should be fine by the time she wakes up."
Ten minutes after that statement, they heard footsteps coming from the hall. The young girl walked carefully down the hall, her legs a little shaky and her skin still too pale. Black Jack looked over his shoulder as she neared. "Well, look whose up. I hope you're feeling better." He gestured to the other chair, where she began to head to. "Thank you. I feel much better now," she said, sighing in relief as she sat down. She looked up to Black Jack, who gave a small gasp at the sight of her eyes. They were icy blue, yet there was a warm sense looking into them.
"I suppose you'd like your pay now," the girl said, her voice serious as she crossed her right leg over her left, placing her right elbow on the armchair. "Yes. How much do you want to pay?" The girl gave a small smirk, her eyes narrowing. "Name your price." "Any?" "I can pay any price you ask me." "I doubt that." "Dr., you of all people should know that humans are full of surprises," she said, placing her chin in her right palm.
Black Jack gave a small smirk, nodding to let her name the first price. "Ten million," she said automatically. Black Jack's eyes widened a bit and Pinoko laughed. "No way you have that much!" The girl shook her head and chuckled as she reached into her jean jacket's left pocket. What she pulled out was a large wad of yen bills. Pinoko gawked in shock as the girl thumbed the amount she offered. When she finished she handed it to Black Jack, who took it quietly. "There's more where that came from. I drained half of my account before I left home."
"Holy moly you're rich!" Pinoko said, staring bug-eyed at the remaining cash. Black Jack just nodded. "This will be all for now. But I feel you came here for another reason," he said, placing the money in his pocket. The girl nodded. her face returning to being serious.
"Yes. I think the best way to start explaining myself is to give you my name. I don't expect you to know my first name, but my last name should be known well." Black Jack nodded, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin perched on his hands.
"My name is Tomoko Krigaya." Black Jack was surprised at the last name. "You're the daughter of the scientist Akio Krigaya?" "Yes. And like I said, this may be the best way to explain myself."
Black Jack held up a hand to pause her. "I think this will take a while. PInoko," he said, getting the girl's attention. "Would you please get us some tea?" "Right away, Doctor!" she said, jumping up and running to the kitchen. She quickly came back, a tray in hand, a tea pot and three cups on it. "Hope ya like black tea!" She set the tray down and set the drinks, handing the two their individual cups. After thanking her, Tomoko took a long sip before speaking.
"Truth be told, Doctor, I'm very nervous about being here. I've idolized you for so long. My father talks about you to the other scientist with hate. Meanwhile, I talk about you to their daughters- my friends -with fascination." She took a quick sip, setting it on the small table next to her.
"I grew up as the daughter of two scientist. My mother worked for the CIA, and my father for a huge lab. For years I watched them work, wanting to help change the world like they do. Then my mother died when I was eight when she caught a case of hemoptysis that was so serious that even my father and the best doctors couldn't cure. That's why I wanted to become a doctor.
"After my mother died my father was never the same. He first became strict, getting a little angry when I didn't get all A's on my report card. Then he began to yell at me. then, when I was ten, he began to hit me whenever he was really upset. He made me study for hours on end, yelling at me when he thought I was in the way of his work. I despised him for that. He wasn't the kind man he once was anymore. I kept on telling my friends I didn't want to prepare for my medical studies under him, that I wanted to learn from you. Heh, they thought I was crazy."
Tomoko took another sip of her tea, refilling it after. As she prepared the new cup, Black Jack took the opportunity to ask her some questions. "May I ask how old you are, Tomoko?" Tomoko nodded. "Right. I turned fifteen a while back. I skipped several lower grade levels and graduated high school last year. When I did my father made me study under him, saying he would send me off to school when the next school year started." Black Jack nodded, leaning even more forward. "And how much to you know about me?"
Tomoko smiled as she took a small sip of her tea. "I know many things. Like I said, I'm very intelligent and my mother worked for the CIA. I did research on you. I know your real name is Kuro'o Hazama, you lived on an abandoned military base, you've found the cure of many forgotten or unheard of diseases, you don't have a medical license anymore, and that you aren't the greedy man you let the world think you are."
Black Jack smiled at this. "Now I can understand how you know everything else, but how do you know I'm not greedy?" "It was actually a hunch until you just proved it." Pinoko gawked again, unable to believe what was happening. Black Jack smiled, sitting up straight in his chair as Tomoko continued. "You don't have a look of greed in your eyes. You have the look of devotion. You want payment to give back, and you protect yourself with the fake personality the world now knows you by."
Black Jack smiled as another bolt of lightning pierced the sky. "You still didn't answer Black Jack's question!" Pinoko said, breaking the brief silence. Tomoko looked at the little girl and stood up, making direct eye contact with Black Jack.
"Doctor, I've wanted to be a doctor ever since I was little. but when my mother died, it was a wake up call." Another flash, and Tomoko took a lock of her red hair in-between her fingers. "I got these in a lab accident, but that's a story for another time. I grew up in the lab. I watched as my father worked to cure diseases, my mother work on her cases when she came by, and got this small part of me there." She resumed her eye contact with the man.
As her eyes filled with sorrow, determination, longing, and distance, she bowed, her hair covering her face.
"Please, Doctor! I don't want to learn from my father or a college professor! I want to be trained by only the best! I want to be like you. I want to achieve the impossible, defy the limits of science, help people have a future of theirs to make! Please, please teach me! Let me be your student, I'll pay any price you ask and work harder than I have in my entire life to be even close to being as good as you! Please! Be my teacher!"
Black Jack could hear her begin to cry. he let a moment of silence pass, the only sounds being the rain and thunder mixed with the young girl's cries. Pinoko watched with pity as the girl's tears began to be too much, even though they have not made themselves visible.
After what seemed like an hour, Black Jack finally answered.
"Add another million to the price. The devotion you'll show to this line of work will be payment enough."
The girl gasped, looking up at the doctor, her eyes on the verge of crying. "Th... thank you. Thank you so much!" A single tear ran down her cheek as she shook Black Jack's hand. "I promise that you won't regret it!" "I better not. It's still early evening. Dinner will be ready at seven, you can study in the library until then." Tomoko nodded vigorously, preparing to pick up her bags.
"Easy. If you overwork yourself, you'll open up your stitching," he warned. "I got them!" Pinoko said, picking one up. "Put it in the guest room. That'll be your room from now on," Black Jack told Tomoko as she walked down the hall. "The library is down the hall," he called out, watching as Tomoko eagerly found it, practically skipping in.
Fate definitely brought him something interesting this time.
Tomoko had lost track of time. She had walked into the very small library, picked up one of the many, many medical books on there, and couldn't stop. She had read many books on viruses and poisons, but these books were more advanced than anything she's ever read. She dreamed of learning this stuff under the infamous Black Jack, and she was still sure she was dreaming after all of this.
She was in the middle of her third book when she heard a knock on the door before it opened. "Tomoko? Dinner's ready." She hummed in confusion, looking up at him from her book. When she finally processed what he said, she quickly marked her page. "Oh, right, sorry. I just... I've never read most of these books before," she said, jogging to meet him at the door and follow him to the dinning room. "Really? Knowing the lab your father works at I would've thought he'd have some of the best books." Tomoko nodded with a hum as he let her enter first. "He did, but he didn't think I was ready." "Well, considering you read two and a half in an hour, I think he was wrong," he said as she took a seat at the table, a plate with curry in front of her.
"Hope you like curry! It's the doc's favorite food," Pinoko said, sitting in her own seat with help from Black Jack. "Well, I usually don't like spicy foods, but I'll give it a go," she said, picking up her spoon, eying her glass of water in case she needed it. As Black Jack took his third bite, Tomoko closed her mouth around the spoonful of curry.
At first all she could taste was the rice and chicken. But after the third chew, she began to feel her tongue burn up. "Mmph!" She quickly placed her spoon down and grabbed her glass of water, taking a gulp of the cold, icy liquid.
As she did so and fanned her face to keep from crying, Black Jack watched with interest as Pinoko failed to stifle a laughter. When Tomoko's tongue and mouth came back down from the spices, she gave a sigh of relief. She knew the two were waiting for her reaction of whether she liked the dish or not. She couldn't help but laugh at the entire situation.
"Well, that was interesting," she said, wiping her eyes. "I'll admit; this isn't bad!" She took another spoonful and placed it in her mouth, placing another soon after. Pinoko laughed as she returned to feasting on her own plate, while Black Jack himself couldn't help but smile at Tomoko's ability to eat something she wasn't used to. H had to admit that her stamina and determination was very strong. He sipped his tea before digging back into his curry, the entire meal filled with Pinoko laughing each time the spice of the curry got too strong for Tomoko.
After dinner Tomoko had returned to the library, where she stayed until around nine in the evening, where Black Jack leaned on the door railing. he was still in his clothes, only his tie was hanging loosely. "You should go to sleep." "It's nine in the evening. And as a child you require eight hours of sleep. we usually wake up at six-thirty." "So? I'll get nine hours of sleep. That's an extra hour," she said, not looking up from her ninth book. "Come back in an hour," she said, turning the page. He just scoffed as she shook his head in disapproval.
His newest and first ever student was very stubborn.
He came back an hour exactly, where she was on her twelfth book. "You know most of this info is pretty predictable? That's why I'm finishing them quickly," she said when he led her to her room. "Yes, some of them need updating," he said, walking to his own room.
"Good night, Tomoko."
"Good night... Kuro'o."
