I accidentally put a typo in this chapter, so it has been fixed. As a couple of reviews correctly pointed out that twenty thousand yen would be way too much for the item in question because the exchange rate would make it a cost of two thousand dollars. When I originally calculated the cost I figured a 'twenty' dollar price tag for the toy at an exchange rate of around ninety yen to one dollar and then just rounded up for ease of an even number which would be two thousand yen. But then apparently I had a sudden attack of dyslexia and typed 'twenty' thousand and just never noticed the mistake. Thanks for the nice reviews and for catching that one.
Red Suoh and the Eldritch Library
Chapter 4
"Morning Red." Toshiro said as he wheeled a chair into her hospital room. "No breakfast today, we have several scans we need to take before you can eat."
"What!? How long is that going ta take? I'm hungry!" Red said
"Most of the morning, but if your good I will take you out of the hospital for any food available in town." Toshiro said with a smile."
With a leap, she landed in the chair. "What are we waiting for; the sooner we get this done the sooner we eat!"
After a brief trip through the halls of the hospital they came to the CT scan facility.
"Ok Red, you're going to have to lie very still when you are on this machine. It will move you into that narrow tube or 'doughnut hole' and it will take very complete pictures of your insides. This is going to take at least an hour for your girl side and then another hour with your boy side to finish up. And at times we will have to ask you to hold your breath. Think you can do that?" Toshiro said as he turned a smile in the young girl's direction.
"Jus' don't be surprised if I get bored and fall asleep." She said with a yawn.
"We are going to have to hook up an IV to your arm that contains a dye that will allow us to get a better reading." Toshiro said. "Nurse Yuki will be here shortly to hook you up. Meanwhile we need you to get out of that gi and put on this gown but keep your under wear on. Please make sure you are not wearing any metal objects."
"Kay!" Red said as she started to take off her clothes.
"Umm, I meant behind the curtain. Young ladies should have some feminine modesty and not change in front of men or boys." Toshiro said as he steered her into a changing room.
"Oh. Don't really see the difference, this gown don't cover much." Red said as she moved into the changing room.
"It's the principle of the thing." Toshiro replied.
"After a couple of minutes she returned to the main area just in time for Nurse Yuki to come bustling in.
"Hello Sweetie." She said with a smile. "If you will sit in that chair, we will get you hooked up."
Stepping over to a supply cabinet Yuki took an IV needle, some tubing and some tape out. After closing the cabinet, she placed things on to a rolling stainless steel tray that she wheeled over by the girl and seated herself on a black padded stool that sat on four small casters. Reaching into a front pocket on her uniform she pulled out a pair of scissors and cut off two lengths of tape that she hung from the edge of the tray.
"This is going to sting a little bit Sweetie, but I understand you're tough and brave so it shouldn't be a problem for you." She smiled as she picked up a sterilization packet, took out the small swab and swabbed the inside of her left elbow.
Tossing the packet and its contents into the trash, she picked up the IV needle and carefully inserted it into her patient's arm and then secured it in place with some tape. After a brief examination of her work, she nodded her head and then moved back over to the supply cabinet, took out a drip IV bag, placed it on an electronic drip feed stand and finished hooking the tubing up to Red's arm.
After about 20 minutes the nurse disconnected the drip feed and removed the IV needle. While holding a cotton ball in place, she covered it with a Totoro bandage to stop the bleeding from the IV.
"Ok Dearie, you're all wired for sound. Good luck." Nurse Yuki winked as she hustled back out the door.
Toshiro gestured at the CAT scan. "All right Red, lie down on this table and we will get started. First we get scans with you as a girl, and then we will get you rescanned as a boy."
With a sigh of resignation Red stood up and headed for the bench and laid down on it. "May as well get this over with."
Hiding a smile Toshiro moved to the control panel and started the scan.
A couple of hours later Toshiro looked at a black haired boy with a pigtail who was snoring loudly on the table of the CAT scan. "Hey, wake up we're done."
Sitting up the boy gave a big stretch with wide yawn. "Bout time. Can we eat now?"
"What are you a walking stomach?"
"Hey, a growing kid has ta eat ta keep up their strength."
Toshiro feigned a shocked look "Strength!? I don't think I have seen full grown men as strong as you are."
"Yeah, yeah. Can I change back to the gi so we go to lunch like you promised?"
"Sure, go ahead."
Stepping to the bathroom, the young boy picked up the gi and walked in. After closing the door he walked towards the sink and turned on the cold water. "Man, I really need to go. I think I will turn back, I'm not yet sure I know how to go as a guy."
Grabbing a double handful of water he quickly dumped it over his head and thus triggering his change from a he to a she. "Brrr, that's cold"
After a quick tinkle, as she was turning to flush the toilet she glanced down and shouted in surprise at what she saw. "AHHHH! It's purple! What's wrong with me? It's not supposed to be purple!"
"Red! Hey Red! It's only the dye from the tests. Things go back to normal in a couple of days." Toshiro knocked. "Sorry, I forgot to warn you about that."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Kay, I'll be out in a moment." Red said with relief.
With a smile, she dropped the ugly gown in a corner and started to put on her gi. As she dressed she day dreamed about what she wanted to eat to satiate her growling stomach. She needed enough food to satiate her extreme appetite without having to be greedy and order too many things at the same time. After a brief review of food choices she came to a decision.
Stepping from the bathroom Red grinned up at Toshiro and announced. "I want all you can eat sushi!"
"Sounds good, I know a good place that's just a couple of blocks from here. We can walk."
Without any warning she quickly scooped Toshiro up, leaped to the windows, rapidly opened one and then enthusiastically jumped out before he could begin to lodge a protest.
"Great! Let's go!"
"Ahhh! Wait! We're on the third floor! Oh no! Tooo Laaaaaaate!" Toshiro screamed as they fell.
With a grunt and a quick bounce Red landed and then placed Toshiro back on his own two feet.
"What was that you said?" She asked with her head tilted to one side and a puzzled expression on her face.
"Ummm nothing" Toshiro sheepishly said as he examined himself. "Ummm, I didn't wet my pants on the way down did I?"
"Nope, you look fine ta me. Let's go." She said as she reached out and took his hand.
"All right, this way." Toshiro said as he shakily pointed down the side walk.
Before he could finish pointing, she took off at a run while towing Toshiro behind her like a kite on a string.
"All right! Let's hurry!" She enthusiastically yelled as she ran down the street.
After a couple of blocks she screeched to a halt in front of a building proclaiming itself to be "Hikaru's all you can eat sushi."
"We're here, we're here!" Red exclaimed with excitement as she jumped up and down.
"Can we please enjoy the walk next time instead of acting like a bullet train?" Toshiro asked with a quaver in his voice.
"Sorry." Red said as she apologetically looked down and kicked at the ground with one foot. "Can we go in now? I'm really hungry."
"Sure, let's go."
Pushing open the doors they were greeted with a bow by a young woman wearing a lavender kimono with pink flowers. "Welcome, is there just the two of you?"
"Yes. If you would, may we have seats by the conveyor?" Toshiro replied with a small bow.
"Of course sir, right this way." The hostess said as she led them past a series of tables towards the back of the restaurant. Winding its way through the restaurant was a stainless steel conveyor belt carrying small dishes of fresh sushi, sashimi and desserts such as sweet red bean paste filled pastries. With a small bow she indicated a small table that gave them easy access to the assortment of foods wending their way along its course. "Please be seated. May I have tea brought to you?"
"Yes please, and I would also like a little saki." Toshiro said.
"Of course sir, you may help yourselves." She said as she bowed again and retreated back through the restaurant.
"Oh Boy! Eels, shrimp, tuna, roe, maki, and octopus! Can I, can I, can I?" Red exclaimed.
"Go ahead, but leave some for the other customers. The chefs here are good, but I doubt they can keep up with your appetite." Toshiro said as he removed some dishes for himself.
With a great blur, Red quickly chose several dishes and set them in front of herself.
With a frown, a waitress set down a highly decorative iron pot filled with tea and two white ivory porcelain cups along with a small bottle of saki and a small saki cup. "We encourage children to only take as much as they can eat and to not get greedy. Please control your daughter sir."
"First off, she is not my daughter and second she can easily eat what is in front of her as well as a great deal more." Toshiro replied sternly.
With those words Red looked up at the waitress with a cocky grin, picked up her chopsticks, took a deep breath and the food disappeared off her plates with a speed that appeared to make it vanish. In the course of about thirty seconds she emptied every plate in front of her so fast that you couldn't even see her eat. With a small burp, she glared up at the waitress with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
"Is that good enough for ya?"
"Red, I know she probably deserved the lesson, but please slow down. I can't eat that fast." Toshiro smiled as he poured tea for both of them.
"Kay! Oh boy! Octopus puffs! Wait, how come these are here, they aren't sushi? Oh well, doesn't really matter." Red said as she started to pile the empty plates up in front of the waitress and put more food in front of herself.
With a quick "Excuse me." The waitress picked up the empty plates and started to take them to the kitchen.
Taking his time and enjoying his food, Toshiro stared in amazement as the petite girl in front of him demolished plate after plate of food. As he was quietly finishing the last of his saki, an angry looking stout built man in an ill-fitting navy blue suit and a red tie that was partially loose around his neck came up to the table, put his hands on his hips and glared at them.
"How much food can she eat?" he asked angrily.
"I don't know, she is a hospital patient that I brought with me for lunch. She said she wanted all you can eat sushi, so I brought her here." Toshiro replied and then took a sip of tea.
"But she has eaten enough food for ten people! What is she, a human seal? She's going to bankrupt my business! Where does she put it all anyway?" The owner said with shocked astonishment as he watched her finish off several pieces of sushi and start in on dessert.
"I don't know, astonishing isn't it? However, she seems to be winding down so if we could have the bill." Toshiro said.
"I should charge you extra considering the amount of food she has consumed." The owner said with a frown.
"If you must, but I will complain to the city council if you do so. You advertise all you can eat for one price. If you charge me more, I will take it up with the council as false advertising. You either need to specify a limit or be prepared for customers who can consume far more than you feel they should. What if a famous sumo came in here, would you complain at how much he would consume?"
"Very well, but please don't bring the walking stomach back here again." The owner replied.
"I will bring her back if she wants to come, but I don't think I will return after this treatment." Toshiro said as he got stiffly to his feet and placed the correct of amount of yen on the table. Come Red, let's leave this place."
"Kay." Red burped out as she stood up. "Too bad this place is owned by a jerk, it was a really good lunch."
"Now, now Red; we can leave with dignity. We don't have to stoop to their level."
Bowing her head slightly she shrugged her shoulders, and let out a regretful sigh. "Kay. I'm sorry I got us into a bad situation. I was just really hungry and it does say all you can eat."
"I understand. Now let's leave." Toshiro said as he moved towards the exit.
Red turned and looked at the owner with tears in her eyes. "I really like your restaurant, I'm sorry I upset you. Please have a nice day." She sadly said as she turned and followed Toshiro from the restaurant.
Out on the sidewalk she trudged along behind Toshiro as they walked back towards the hospital. After about a block they were passing a toy store with a large window display when a large stuffed Panda caught her attention. Something about the Panda made her home sick in a way she had never felt before in her limited memory. As she pressed her hands to the glass she cocked her head to one side and then the other. A weird melancholy of anger, longing, grief, disdain and respect washed over her in a tidal wave of emotion that left her gasping and crying at the same time.
"Hey Red, what's the matter? Are you upset about the restaurant?"
With a wail she replied "No, that panda makes me homesick, but I can't figure out why. I can't remember!"
"Ok, come with me." Toshiro said as he took her hand in his and led her into the store.
"Welcome, how may I help you?" a friendly female sales clerk said.
"How much for the Panda" Toshiro questioned the clerk as he pointed at the window display.
"Two thousand yen." The clerk replied.
"I'll take it." Toshiro said as he led the young girl over to the register.
"Do you want that wrapped?" The clerk asked as she retrieved the stuffed animal and headed towards the counter.
"No, we will take it as it is." Toshiro said with a smile as he handed over enough money to pay for the animal. Reaching up he picked up the toy and handed it down to the girl.
"Thank you." Said a very subdued girl as she hugged it to her chest; "Something about this panda just calls out to me when none of the rest of this stuff does." She continued as she pointed around the store.
"You mean you don't want to play with any of the other toys you see here?" Toshiro asked.
"No, they seem kind of childish to me; almost as if I outgrew them a long time ago." Red replied seriously.
"But you want the Panda?"
"Yes, it seems very important ta me, almost as if family is somehow connected to it." Red said slowly. "Let's get back to the hospital; I believe you still need to get X-rays of me."
"Yeah, I had to get special permission just to take you out for lunch. We had better get running . . . um, on second thought, let's just walk." Toshiro as he headed for the door.
"Thank you for coming in." The clerk said as she held the door for them.
"Thank you." The gi clad girl replied as she tearfully hugged the large panda to her chest.
After returning to the hospital through the front doors, Toshiro had her sit in a wheel chair and wheeled her to X-ray where he took several complete X-rays of her as both a boy and a girl. After this was finished he took a subdued girl and her panda back to her room.
"Are you going to be all right Red?" Toshiro worriedly asked as he tucked her in.
"Yah, I'll be all right. I jus' have some thinking ta do." Red replied with a subdued smile.
"All right then, I have some other duties I have to take care of. I'll see you tomorrow." Toshiro replied. "Take good care of that panda."
"Kay."
Taking time for a careful second look at the young girl, Toshiro turned and wheeled the chair from the room with a friendly wave of his hand and pulled the door closed behind him.
After Toshiro left, Red laid back in her in bed and watched some television until she fell asleep. When supper time came, she woke up long enough to eat a couple of trays of food, snuggle her new stuffed companion and then fall back into a restless slumber filled with uneasy dreams of shadowy figures that all seemed to want something from her that she couldn't give them.
