Mmm...partway through I realized that I messed up some parts of the timeline. Ah well, it's an AU. (Nenene was too young to me, anyway.)
Star Otaku: The 'I will kill you' scene, I didn't really like it either. But Donii had priorities - if Yomiko ran, STN-J would likely capture her, and, well, that's just not acceptable.
And it's reviews like yours that really make me want to update.
Chapter Four: 21 and Invincible
Yomiko's eyes widened in joy as she stared at the stacks of books in the British Library. Donii was amused to listen to her ramble to herself as she darted back and forth, looking at all the wonderful things the Library had to offer.
"Yomiko, over here," he said, opening the door to a small room. Upon entrance Yomiko found herself in a small lecture hall; thirty or so desks surrounded a raised dais bearing a lectern.
"Ano, Donii-san?" Yomiko asked, confused. She turned to see the older man shutting and locking the door. "What's going on?"
"I'm going to take you to see Gentleman," he said. "Where we're going is a little more private - the general public should stay unaware of this." Donii crooked his finger, signalling to Yomiko to join him at the dais.
Yomiko approached and peered curiously at the lectern. Embedded in its surface was a switch and a keypad. "Ano?"
Donii tapped at the keypad, then clicked the switch. Yomiko yelped as the floor beneath them shuddered, then smoothly slid into the ground, transporting them into some underground place. The young girl clutched at Donii's sleeve, clearly terrified, and Donii gave her an affectionate ruffle of the hair.
When the doors finally opened Yomiko gasped. Books piled to the ceiling of a cavernous underground room, maintained by dozens of uniformed people. Some shelves were so massive that they were driven around on complicated vehicles. Younger aides darted around, picking up discarded teacups.
"Wow..." Yomiko sighed.
Donii was about to join her in absent-minded wandering when someone called for him: "The Paper!" He turned around to see a blond man in a light blue suit walking towards him. Under that he wore the standard library uniform, a brown vest over a white shirt.
Donii acknowledged the other man's presence with a polite smile and nod. "Ah, Joker-san, how have you been?" he asked.
"Fine, thank you," Joker answered, returning the smile and nod. "I trust that your trip to Japan was successful?"
"Lots of books," Donii said.
"I meant the mission."
Donii blinked. "Mission...oh." He coloured slightly in embarrassment. "Yes, it was a success."
"Where is the future Paper?" Joker asked.
"Right..." Donii turned to see an empty spot where Yomiko had been last seen. He turned again, puzzled. "Yomiko?"
"AAH!"
There was a wail and the unmistakeable sound of something very heavy toppling over. Donii rushed over to the source of the commotion; a pile of thick and heavy books were piled over someone, and workers were frantically trying to remove books. Poking out of the pile was a slim hand. Donii's eyes widened in shock, and the books split into two piles and flew apart, revealing a very dazed Japanese girl.
"What the - are you all right, Yomiko?" Donii asked frantically, grabbing the girl's arm and helping her up.
It took a few moments for Yomiko to regain her senses. When she did, pink spots of colour appeared on her cheeks.
"Ano...I'm sorry, Donii-san, I saw a book," she mumbled apologetically. Donii picked up a book and examined it with a sigh.
"These are some very old books, Yomiko," he said. "And you shouldn't just wander off alone, this is a restricted area!"
"Ano..." Yomiko lowered her head in shame and humiliation. Donii sighed again and tucked the book under his arm while taking Yomiko's hand with the other.
"Come on, let's go see Gentleman," the Paper said, gently leading Yomiko away. She cast a mournful look at the books on the floor as they moved away. They walked down a small passage and Donii opened the door. This room, like the others, was lined with books, but possessed an air of English elegance. At the end of the room, behind a low desk, sat an old man with a long greay beard and engraved eyepiece. He appeared to have been in conversation with a blond man wearing a blue suit before their entrance.
The old man looked up and smiled. "Ah, you must be Yomiko Readman," he said, smiling kindly. He nodded to the blond. "We will continue this later, Joker?"
"Of course," answered Joker with a bow. He nodded to Donii and Yomiko as he left; Yomiko missed the slight cringe Donii gave.
"So you are the young Paper Master-to-be," Gentleman said when the door shut. He extended a gnarled hand. "Come now, child; I won't bite." Yomiko whimpered a bit when Donii nudged her towards the desk.
"Ano...nice to meet you!" Yomiko yelped. She turned her head slightly to see Donii retreat into a corner, leaving her to face the scary man all by herself. Gentleman uncharacteristically roared with laughter at seeing Yomiko's pained expression.
"What's wrong now, do I scare you?" he chuckled.
"Ano...well, yes," Yomiko yelped. Her response got another laugh from Gentleman.
"You're so much like Donii when he first came," he smiled again. "Hold out your hands, child, I'd like to see them." For several minutes Gentleman quizzed Yomiko about her life, from her background and family to the make of her school uniform (which she happened to be wearing) and the prescription of her glasses.
"Mmm," Gentleman grunted at Yomiko's response. "It sounds similar to Donii's, it must be the books." He nodded to the corner and Yomiko turned to see Donii curled in a chair. The man had clearly not heard a word of the exchange; he absently turned a page in the book he was reading as the two of them watched.
"Tell him that I'd like a word with him, if you don't mind," Gentleman said to Yomiko. The girl knew a dismissal when she heard it, and politely bowed to Gentleman before turning to leave. As she walked by Donii Yomiko noticed that he still hadn't moved.
"Donii-san?" No response.
"Donii-san, Gentleman-san would like to speak to you." Still no reponse.
Yomiko frowned, then leaned forward to life away the novel from Donii's hands. Donii's face crumpled into a confused frown and he leaned forward to retrieve the book, only to meet Yomiko's smiling face.
Donii blinked. "Uh, hi Yomiko!"
"Gentleman-san would like to speak to you."
"...Of course. Would you mind waiting outside?"
Yomiko's response was a distracted shake of her head as she curiously opened the book. Donii made sure she got out the door before shutting it and approaching Gentleman.
"The child who reads..." Gentleman mused to himself. He looked up at Donii. "You plan to train her as your successor?"
Donii nodded. "Yes."
"Hmm." Gentleman gave Donii a thoughtful look. "You do realize the sacrifice you are making."
"Yes."
"And you will continue your duties as the Paper until then?"
"Of course."
"Mmm. She is a good girl. I doubt that she will turn out like Kanzeyori. Yomiko will stay with you as you train her. You may go now."
Donii bowed, then left the room. He was surprised to see Yomiko standing in the middle of the hallway, as thought rooted to the spot. Donii walked around her and found her reading his book and her face flushed with pleasure. Gently he plucked the book from her hands and drew it behind his back. With a cry of dismay Yomiko attempted to follow the book, only to stare up at Donii's chest.
"Ano, Donii-san!"
"Hello, Yomiko."
"So, um, what did Gentleman-san say?"
"You will be staying with me," Donii said, patting Yomiko's head, "and training to become a Paper Master."
Yomiko's eyes sparkled with joy. "Really, Donii-san?" Seeing him nod, she leapt up and wrapped her arms around Donii. "Thank you, Donii-san!"
"It's nothing," Donii said, embarassed. He ruffled her hair as she released him. "Let's go now."
They walked in silence until Yomiko asked: "Donii, may you please give me back my book?"
"Yomiko, this is my book."
Ah, about the title. Before, some chapters of this fic were like songfics. The lyrics inserted here (and later chapters) originally were Something Corporate's 21 and Invincible; hence, the title.
I'm going to try and update every time a chapter gets a new review. Or two. If I'm not lazy. So.
REVIEW!
REVIEW!
REV - ::BRICK!::
Star Otaku: The 'I will kill you' scene, I didn't really like it either. But Donii had priorities - if Yomiko ran, STN-J would likely capture her, and, well, that's just not acceptable.
And it's reviews like yours that really make me want to update.
Chapter Four: 21 and Invincible
Yomiko's eyes widened in joy as she stared at the stacks of books in the British Library. Donii was amused to listen to her ramble to herself as she darted back and forth, looking at all the wonderful things the Library had to offer.
"Yomiko, over here," he said, opening the door to a small room. Upon entrance Yomiko found herself in a small lecture hall; thirty or so desks surrounded a raised dais bearing a lectern.
"Ano, Donii-san?" Yomiko asked, confused. She turned to see the older man shutting and locking the door. "What's going on?"
"I'm going to take you to see Gentleman," he said. "Where we're going is a little more private - the general public should stay unaware of this." Donii crooked his finger, signalling to Yomiko to join him at the dais.
Yomiko approached and peered curiously at the lectern. Embedded in its surface was a switch and a keypad. "Ano?"
Donii tapped at the keypad, then clicked the switch. Yomiko yelped as the floor beneath them shuddered, then smoothly slid into the ground, transporting them into some underground place. The young girl clutched at Donii's sleeve, clearly terrified, and Donii gave her an affectionate ruffle of the hair.
When the doors finally opened Yomiko gasped. Books piled to the ceiling of a cavernous underground room, maintained by dozens of uniformed people. Some shelves were so massive that they were driven around on complicated vehicles. Younger aides darted around, picking up discarded teacups.
"Wow..." Yomiko sighed.
Donii was about to join her in absent-minded wandering when someone called for him: "The Paper!" He turned around to see a blond man in a light blue suit walking towards him. Under that he wore the standard library uniform, a brown vest over a white shirt.
Donii acknowledged the other man's presence with a polite smile and nod. "Ah, Joker-san, how have you been?" he asked.
"Fine, thank you," Joker answered, returning the smile and nod. "I trust that your trip to Japan was successful?"
"Lots of books," Donii said.
"I meant the mission."
Donii blinked. "Mission...oh." He coloured slightly in embarrassment. "Yes, it was a success."
"Where is the future Paper?" Joker asked.
"Right..." Donii turned to see an empty spot where Yomiko had been last seen. He turned again, puzzled. "Yomiko?"
"AAH!"
There was a wail and the unmistakeable sound of something very heavy toppling over. Donii rushed over to the source of the commotion; a pile of thick and heavy books were piled over someone, and workers were frantically trying to remove books. Poking out of the pile was a slim hand. Donii's eyes widened in shock, and the books split into two piles and flew apart, revealing a very dazed Japanese girl.
"What the - are you all right, Yomiko?" Donii asked frantically, grabbing the girl's arm and helping her up.
It took a few moments for Yomiko to regain her senses. When she did, pink spots of colour appeared on her cheeks.
"Ano...I'm sorry, Donii-san, I saw a book," she mumbled apologetically. Donii picked up a book and examined it with a sigh.
"These are some very old books, Yomiko," he said. "And you shouldn't just wander off alone, this is a restricted area!"
"Ano..." Yomiko lowered her head in shame and humiliation. Donii sighed again and tucked the book under his arm while taking Yomiko's hand with the other.
"Come on, let's go see Gentleman," the Paper said, gently leading Yomiko away. She cast a mournful look at the books on the floor as they moved away. They walked down a small passage and Donii opened the door. This room, like the others, was lined with books, but possessed an air of English elegance. At the end of the room, behind a low desk, sat an old man with a long greay beard and engraved eyepiece. He appeared to have been in conversation with a blond man wearing a blue suit before their entrance.
The old man looked up and smiled. "Ah, you must be Yomiko Readman," he said, smiling kindly. He nodded to the blond. "We will continue this later, Joker?"
"Of course," answered Joker with a bow. He nodded to Donii and Yomiko as he left; Yomiko missed the slight cringe Donii gave.
"So you are the young Paper Master-to-be," Gentleman said when the door shut. He extended a gnarled hand. "Come now, child; I won't bite." Yomiko whimpered a bit when Donii nudged her towards the desk.
"Ano...nice to meet you!" Yomiko yelped. She turned her head slightly to see Donii retreat into a corner, leaving her to face the scary man all by herself. Gentleman uncharacteristically roared with laughter at seeing Yomiko's pained expression.
"What's wrong now, do I scare you?" he chuckled.
"Ano...well, yes," Yomiko yelped. Her response got another laugh from Gentleman.
"You're so much like Donii when he first came," he smiled again. "Hold out your hands, child, I'd like to see them." For several minutes Gentleman quizzed Yomiko about her life, from her background and family to the make of her school uniform (which she happened to be wearing) and the prescription of her glasses.
"Mmm," Gentleman grunted at Yomiko's response. "It sounds similar to Donii's, it must be the books." He nodded to the corner and Yomiko turned to see Donii curled in a chair. The man had clearly not heard a word of the exchange; he absently turned a page in the book he was reading as the two of them watched.
"Tell him that I'd like a word with him, if you don't mind," Gentleman said to Yomiko. The girl knew a dismissal when she heard it, and politely bowed to Gentleman before turning to leave. As she walked by Donii Yomiko noticed that he still hadn't moved.
"Donii-san?" No response.
"Donii-san, Gentleman-san would like to speak to you." Still no reponse.
Yomiko frowned, then leaned forward to life away the novel from Donii's hands. Donii's face crumpled into a confused frown and he leaned forward to retrieve the book, only to meet Yomiko's smiling face.
Donii blinked. "Uh, hi Yomiko!"
"Gentleman-san would like to speak to you."
"...Of course. Would you mind waiting outside?"
Yomiko's response was a distracted shake of her head as she curiously opened the book. Donii made sure she got out the door before shutting it and approaching Gentleman.
"The child who reads..." Gentleman mused to himself. He looked up at Donii. "You plan to train her as your successor?"
Donii nodded. "Yes."
"Hmm." Gentleman gave Donii a thoughtful look. "You do realize the sacrifice you are making."
"Yes."
"And you will continue your duties as the Paper until then?"
"Of course."
"Mmm. She is a good girl. I doubt that she will turn out like Kanzeyori. Yomiko will stay with you as you train her. You may go now."
Donii bowed, then left the room. He was surprised to see Yomiko standing in the middle of the hallway, as thought rooted to the spot. Donii walked around her and found her reading his book and her face flushed with pleasure. Gently he plucked the book from her hands and drew it behind his back. With a cry of dismay Yomiko attempted to follow the book, only to stare up at Donii's chest.
"Ano, Donii-san!"
"Hello, Yomiko."
"So, um, what did Gentleman-san say?"
"You will be staying with me," Donii said, patting Yomiko's head, "and training to become a Paper Master."
Yomiko's eyes sparkled with joy. "Really, Donii-san?" Seeing him nod, she leapt up and wrapped her arms around Donii. "Thank you, Donii-san!"
"It's nothing," Donii said, embarassed. He ruffled her hair as she released him. "Let's go now."
They walked in silence until Yomiko asked: "Donii, may you please give me back my book?"
"Yomiko, this is my book."
Ah, about the title. Before, some chapters of this fic were like songfics. The lyrics inserted here (and later chapters) originally were Something Corporate's 21 and Invincible; hence, the title.
I'm going to try and update every time a chapter gets a new review. Or two. If I'm not lazy. So.
REVIEW!
REVIEW!
REV - ::BRICK!::