Title: Kitchen of the Future

Author: Sephira jo (contact: sephirajo@yahoo.com)

Series: Chobits

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Me no owny. Sue not. :P

Archive: with permission only.

Author's Notes: Nothing really, after writing this fic months ago for NewType USA then never sending it in, I decided to post it here. ^_^ I hope you all enjoy!

Hehehe

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I'm not sure what to make of this. Chi is sitting down, humming to herself with Sumomo dancing on the side, her standby mode kicked on. God knows what Kotoko is thinking. Chi smiles, amused at something only she knows is there.

Modern conveniences are supposed to make life easier. Like the 'kitchen of the future' videos you always see when you watch old tv programs. When people honestly thought everything would be easier, thanks to technology. Because of some miracle that makes food taste fresher and washes your dishes.

Chi can't wash dishes on her own. I'm too afraid she'll break them and I can't afford any more. Especially not on the wages I make at Yourokunde. Chi would buy them in a moment if she thought I needed it, if she thought it would make me happy . . . but . . .

She's just an appliance. I know that. I shouldn't see her as anything. Like a television she should just be there. Just circuits, wiring and programing. Nothing but ones and zeros. I know that. But then she smiles.

God! Why does a machine have to look like her? It's like some kind of joke. Chi is soft. Chi is warm. Chi sleeps next to me. She's a computer. Computer, computer, computer. Just a program, just an appliance. That mantra doesn't work any more. I mean, my toaster doesn't affect me this way, my alarm clock, my telephone.

Chi laughs, and I can't convince myself that it's just a program. She smiles at me with those large amber eyes and I can't say it's just ones and zeros anymore. I can't lump her in with the rest. Chi, my Chi.

Someone help me, this isn't right. I think I'm in love with my "kitchen of the future," my simple household appliance means more to me than anyone else. I didn't even see Yumi this way.

But god help me, when Chi smiles, when her eyes light up in that way, my heart skips a beat. Kitchen of the future, huh? Simple household appliance, huh? She's so much more to me. So much more.

But is this right? I don't know. And as time goes on, I don't care. Chi is Chi is Chi. And that is all I need.

Then suddenly, everything is all right again. The world moves, Chi laughs. Chi stops, the world dies. And that is everything. What am I going to do? Minoru warned me about this. Everyone warned me about this. She isn't human . . . she isn't human.

See how wonderful life is in the kitchen of the future? Where you no longer need to lift a finger on mundane chores, where mechanical servants do it all, and do it better, so you don't have to. The kitchen of the future has everything you need . . .

. . .But the answers. Tell me, when she can't do anything a normal com can do, where do I look for the answers?

"Hideki!"

I turn around. Chi holds out a magazine proudly, her amber eyes shining in pride. I take the magazine and look down, only to fall backwards in shock, blood gushing from my nose. Why does she always find me these?

"Hibiya-san says surprises cheer people up, was Hideki surprised?" she asks in her lilting, singsong, way.

Getting up I nodded dumbly. Chi never fails to surprise me. I think I see my answer in her eyes. The eyes of my kitchen of the future hold the secrets I've been looking for. But am I ready? Is anyone ever read for this kind of thing?

Why did it have to be Chi?