Robotic City, Poetic Love
Chapter 3: "Konbawaii, Aya-kun!!!"
"Omi, where do you find the night bloomers? They are extinct!" Kiba asks.
"A botanist recorded the DNA of over 7000 different kinds of dying flowers about 60 years ago. He hope that some days someone with the knowledge and passions to recreate them. And here I am. Ta-Da! The Obsessive Compulsive Floral Conjurer." Omi bows cutely.
"Hi, Omitchi." A guy comes in with a basket in his hand.
"Hi, Ken-kun. This is Toboe-chan's friend, Kiba." Omi says to the guy.
Ken takes out what seems like a bunch of onions from the basket and says, "Omitchi, these daffodils aren't growing at all. I think there are some problems in the creation process." Ken says to the petite 'floral conjurer'.
"I don't understand…I will check on the data tomorrow." Omi says.
"No need. It's fine. Do you have a pond in you garden? and a knife?" Kiba says.
Omi gets a knife and takes Kiba to the pond. Kiba takes out of the seeds, cuts it open and puts it into the pond. He turns around and says to Omi, "This is not land daffodils. This is water daffodils from China. Chinese people used to grow them every Chinese New year to bring them good luck. They call it the fairy of the water. All you need is to cut them open and soak them in water. They will start spouting." Kiba says.
"You seem to know a lot about flowers." Omi says.
"My mom loved flowers. She used to plant flowers on the balcony at my old home. She talked to me about flowers all the time. Before I know it I start to love gardening too." Kiba says.
"Hey, there are some Lotus and Sakura in the storage. Can you help me plant them?" Ken asks Kiba.
"I leave you alone for a couple of minutes and you're already cheating on me?" A blonde man walks up to Ken and says.
Ken smiles to the blonde and says, "hi, Youji. This is Toboe's friend, Kiba. He is teaching me how to plant the daffodils."
"Hmm…Toboe, you surely have good taste. Your boyfriend is very good looking." Youji says.
Toboe's face turns bright red. Kiba shakes his head and says, "no! no! I'm not his boyfriend. We just met today. I just arrived at Future City yesterday, and Toboe is showing me around. I like flowers so Toboe takes me here."
Youji rubs his head and says, "oh, I'm so sorry. I don't mean to jump to conclusion. It's just…Toboe never bring anyone here. This is the first time I see Toboe with anyone other than Hige. I thought you're his special someone…"
Toboe lowers his head. Omi looks at Toboe and smiles, "Why don't we go and get the Sakura and the Lotus?"
They get on the cart and heads toward the storage. Youji asks Kiba, "so, Kiba, what makes you come to Future City?"
"My dad's job." Kiba says.
Omi nods, "what are your plans here, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I don't know yet. I'm going to check the schools around here, after I get enrolled, I will look for a job." Kiba says.
"Did you hear something?" Ken stands up.
"I didn't hear anything?" Youji shrugs.
"Must be my imagination then." Ken mutters when he sees someone moving at the corner of his eyes.
"I saw something! Someone is here! I'm sure!" Ken shouts.
"Someone must have sneak into the lab to steal our experiment." Youji says.
"Let's go find him." Ken and Youji gets off the cart. Kiba says, "I will go with them."
"Becareful, you guys." Omi says.
Toboe looks at Kiba. His beautiful, sparkling eyes seem to be saying a thousand words; pleading Kiba to stay. Kiba ruffles Toboe's hair and says, "Don't worry, little one. I will be back, okay?"
Kiba runs off with Ken and Youji. Omi asks, "Toboe-chan, you like him, don't you?"
Toboe looks at Omi; Omi smiles to the quiet boy.
Yuoji walks around in the lab. He sees a blur of red going across the room. Youji goes after the blur and sees a guy with red hair looking at all the flowers. The guy picks up one of the flowers.
"Put that down, you thief! You're not stealing anything today! You thief!" Youji shouts.
"I'm no thief!" The red head says.
"Just put that down and get out of here." Youji shouts.
"Kiba! Becareful!!!" Kiba jumps on top of the red head and holds him down.
"What are you doing? Get off me!" The red head shouts.
"You were gonna attack him. You had a pair of scissor in your hand!" Kiba shouts to the red head.
"Kiba! Youji! What happened?" Ken runs in.
"Stay away! He is trying to kill us! He got a scissor in his hand!" Youji screams.
"I was trying to cut off the dead leaves. I'm the new technician." The red head says.
"No one told me about the new technician, who hired you?" Omi blinks.
"You uncle, Mr. Schuichi, asked me to come here to work for you." The red head says to Omi.
"He didn't mention it to me." Omi says as he takes out his cell phone to call his uncle.
"Now can you get off me?" The red head yells at Kiba.
"Next time, don't walk in someone place and start picking up sharp objects without introducing yourself." Kiba says.
"No one was here." Aya says.
"Sorry, it was my fault. I jumped to conclusion. A lot of people are trying to steal our subjects." Youji says.
"My uncle said he did hire you. Sorry about that. You are Aya, right?" Omi asks.
"Hn." The red head says.
"Welcome to the lab, Aya-kun. We look forward to be working with you." Omi extends his hand and gives out his signature bright smile.
Aya looks at Omi, then looks at Omi's hand. Everyone thinks Aya is going to be rude to Omi. Youji and Ken are ready to yell at Aya if the red head does anything that is impolite.
Surprisingly, Aya just shakes Omi's hand and mutters, "I will work hard."
Omi turns to Kiba and says, "Say, Kiba-kun. Why don't you come and work with us, too? You love flowers, right? We can surely use you here. You can get your College Tech degree here too!"
"No, it's okay. I don't want to intrude." Kiba says.
Omi walks up to Kiba and whispers, "Omi-chan comes here everyday to let his cat plays in the garden. It will make him happy to see you here. Give my proposition some consideration, Kiba-kun, okay?"
Aya looks as Omi whispers to Kiba. For some reason Kiba really bugs him.
Kiba nods to Omi and says, "I will think about it. Thanks for the offer."
"Anytime you want to work here, just give me a call." Omi says.
"Well, I think my dad is ready to go home. I will see you guys tomorrow." Kiba says.
"Goodbye. Come back soon!" Omi says.
Toboe nods to Omi before heading out the door. Omi is happy to see Toboe looking at him again. Omi had been looking at the floor for the past year. Once in a while, Toboe will lift his head; but those eyes are unfocused, and there is nothing but emptiness and coldness. But just now, when Toboe looks at Omi, Omi can sees life in those eyes again.
(Toboe-chan. I hope Kiba can make you smile again.) Omi thinks.
Kiba looks at Aya before heading out the door. Aya glares at him. Kiba can feel the fire in Aya's glares. He can tell Aya doesn't like him much.
"Well, it's pass working hours. So you guys should head out. I will be going home soon." Omi says.
"Oh, no. We are not going to leave until you do. Last time you said that to us you stayed until 4 am. You fell asleep in the lab and almost catch a cold. We're not leaving until we see you leave the lab." Ken says to Omi.
"You guys, I am 16 already. You don't have to baby me!!!" Omi pouts.
"Fine. We'll go. Come on, KenKen, let's go and have some fun at the clubs." Youji says.
"Go! I'm going home right now, I promise." Omi says. Ken and Youji walk out of the lab. Aya mutters a goodnight and head out too.
Omi gathers his things and get ready to go when he sees the data on his computer. "Hey…it worked! I finally find out the way to remake African violet!!!" Omi sits down in front of the computer and starts typing.
"Let's see…if I do this….and then this…and then this… " Omi keeps typing on the computer.
"A-HEM!" Some one let out a loud fake cough. Omi exclaims, "Uh-oh…"
The small boy turns around and sees Ken and Youji standing there. They had their arms crossed in front of them, and they are looking at Omi madly, Very Madly.
"Hmm…I was just turning off my computer?" Omi says.
"KenKen, pick him up and throws him into my car. I am going to take him to home." Youji says.
"I just need to do this really quick! It's African Violet!!! It's very special!!!" Omi shouts.
"You said that about the black roses…" Youji says.
"…and the peonies…" Ken adds as he picks up Omi.
"…and the orchard…." Youji continues.
"…and the desert lilies…"
"… and the tinklebells…"
Ken and Youji continues to counts as they walk out the door. Omi screams and kicks, "Noooooo!!!!!!! My African Violet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
TBC….
Robotic City, Poetic Love
Chapter 4: The Mysterious Silver Hair Man
Kiba and Toboe get into the elevator and get back to the floor of Kiba's father. The elevator doors open. Kiba walks out and walks down the long hallway. "Oh, I love the scent of those flowers. Not even perfume can smell so wonderful. Thank you, Toboe. That's the most wonderful thing that anyone ever did for me."
Toboe lowers his head. Kiba looks at Toboe. He remembers earlier, when Youji calls him Toboe's boyfriend, Toboe's blushes and lowers his head. Toboe is so cute when he blushes.
"Hmm…I think I hear Omi's screaming…" Kiba suddenly stops and says. Toboe looks up at Kiba and then look around.
"Never mind, it must be my imagination. So, are you ready for ice-cream?" Kiba smiles to Toboe.
Toboe nods. Kiba opens the door to his dad's office and suddenly stops. He knows he hears something.
"I swear I hear Omi's voice. Something about African Violet...Oh, well. Come on. I don't want to keep my dad waiting." Kiba walks into the office.
"Hey, Kiba. Hey, Omi. Did you guys have fun?" Kiba's dad asks them.
"Yeah. Toboe took me to Omi's garden. I love it over there. It is so beautiful. I never imagine a place like that can exist!!! It's like walking into a dream. A fantasy!!!" Kiba says.
"That's what Future City is all about, my boy; Building dreams, building fantasies. We want to make the impossible come true, to make the world a different place… a paradise." Kiba's father says.
"A paradise?" Kiba mutters.
"Yes, my boy. A paradise! The perfect world…that sounds silly, does it? Come on, my son. Let's take Omi to have some ice cream." Kiba's dad walks out the door.
They reach the parking lot and Kiba looks around. "You know, I keep hearing Omi screaming something about African violets. Can you two hear it too?"
"Yeah, we can…" Kiba's dad says.
"What the hell?" Kiba exclaims when he sees KenKen carries Omi on his shoulder. Omi is screaming and kicking.
"Please! Ken-kun, Youji-kun!!! Just one hour. That's all I ask!!! One hour. Please? Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?"
"No!' Ken says as he half throws and half shoves into the sport Car.
"Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee???" Omi is still pleading as Youji starts the car.
"I said tomorrow! If you don't listen to us, you're gonna take a day off tomorrow. You will be lock out of the lab and you will not see your Japanese violet for a whole day…" Youji says.
"It's African violet and Youji-kun you are so meannnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!" Omi winches.
"Do you want to go for two days off? I can make you take the WHOLE weekend off if you want. It's your choose." Youji starts the car.
"Nooooooooo!!!" Omi screams slowly disappear as Youji's car drives off to the garage exit.
"Good night, you three." Kiba's father shouts and waves.
Kiba just stand there, blinking his eyes.
"Oh, don't worry about them. They do that all the time. You'll be use to it in no time. Omi is such a workaholic. Ken and Youji have to be really firm on him, don't just stand there. Let's go." Kiba's father says.
If the city is amazing in the morning, then it's dazzling in the night. There are music everywhere. Any music that you can think of…old school, new age, futuristic…You can find the all here. And there are light bulbs everywhere. Light bulbs with more colour than anyone can imagine, flashing at different speed. The whole sky turns multicolour by the light blubs.
People with millions different styles of outfits roam the streets, going in and out of the night clubs, cyber cafés and game place. Even places like old fashion book stores and Barbra shops are still open. The city is every bit as bright and busy as it is during the day.
"Future city never sleeps. All the stores are open 24 hour a day, 7 days a weeks, 365 days a year." Kiba's dad told Kiba that. They get off the car and try to get through the streets that are packed with people.
Kiba notice Toboe is walking closer to him, almost touching him. Toboe is trying to be close to Kiba so he has some sort of protection. This might not means much for other people, but coming from Toboe, it means a hell of the world. It's like Toboe is calling to Kiba, telling Kiba that he trusts Kiba, and wants Kiba to help him.
Kiba gently takes Toboe by the shoulder and pulls Toboe closer to him. When Toboe doesn't rejects to Kiba's touch, Kiba pulls Toboe closer and leads Toboe through the crowds protectively. People keep bumping into Kiba because the street is so tightly packed. But Toboe remain untouched by anyone except for Kiba, since Toboe is in Kiba's arms.
Finally, they arrive at a ice-cream place. The place is again packed. There are girls every where, sitting and talking. Some of them are checking Kiba out while giggling and whispering lightly. His dad laughs and says, "look like you're quite popular among the girls, my son."
"Not really." Kiba says. He lets go of Toboe with a little bit of disappointment. He wishes to be able to hold Toboe in his arms longer. It just feels so right, holding Toboe, caring and loving the petite boy.
"Loving? Did I just say loving Toboe?" Kiba blanks.
Someone pays the table and stands up. Kiba's father sits down at the table and asks Toboe, "so, what do you like to eat, Toboe? Is banana spilt okay?"
Toboe nods. Kiba's dad smiles kindly. "You always loved banana spilt. How about you, son? You want a mango sundae? You like that, right?"
"yeah, but I feel like a hot cocoa tonight." Kiba says.
"Alright then, a banana spilt, a hot cocoa and a decaf hot tea with lemon, please," Kiba's dad says to the table.
"Banana spilt, hot cocoa and decaf hot tea with lemon, coming right up." The table says. Kiba stares at the table.
Toboe takes his kitty out of his pocket and lets his kitty sits on the table. The kitty licks it's pawn and smiles to everyone, "meow…"
A girls walks up to Kiba and says "hi".
Kiba looks up when the girl suddenly kisses him and then runs away to a group of girls. The whole group of girls laughs and walks out of the door. Kiba's father laughs, "And you say you're not really popular with the girls."
"They are just playing around. They don't even know who I am." Kiba says. The table opens in the middle and the order comes up. Kiba takes it and puts it in front of Toboe. Toboe gives some to his kitty before he starts eating. Kiba drinks some cocoa and looks out the window.
"How come you're not having a mango sundae? Are you not feeling well?" Kiba's father asks Kiba.
"No, I feel fine. It's just too cold to eat ice cream for me, that's all. I'm not use to the cold weather around here. I thought the city is temperature controlled." Kiba says.
"Yeah, we keep it at around 60 degree at day and 55 at night. I know it's a little cold but it's the optimal temperature. It's where germs can't grow, and also, human's biological defense systems function the best at this temperature. I'm sorry if it's uncomfortable for you."
"Don't be sorry. I just need a little adjustment, that's all. I will be fine after a while." Kiba says.
"Your mother used to say it feels like a hospital here, always air conditioned, always smells like disinfection, that's why she doesn't want to move here." Kiba's dad sighs.
Kiba can tell how much his dad missed him mom. Toboe looks at the two of them, he then lowers his head and eats his banana spilt. Kiba looks out the window and see a guy with short silver hair. Even though there must be a thousand people out there on the street, the guy just stand out in Kiba's eyes. It seems like the guy is watching him.
The guy notices Kiba's looking at thim and walks away. Kiba's father asks, "Kiba, are you okay?"
"Yes, I am fine. I thought some one is looking at me, that's all." Kiba says as he sips his cocoa.
"Another fangirl, huh?" His father jokes. Kiba shrugs. He wishes it's just a fangirl, fangirl isn't dangerous.
That silver hair guy looks like he is ready to kill someone. Kiba wonders why the guy will look at him like that. This is Kiba's first day in the city. There is no way the guy wonld have met Kiba before.
"I am just jumpy becuase I'm at a new place, that's all. That guy is probably looking for his girlfriend or something." Kiba says to himself. Toboe's kitty goes 'meow' to get Kiba's attention.
Kiba smiles and pat the kitty. "Are you tired, kitty, you want to go home?"
Kitty goes 'meow' again. Kiba nods and says, "okay then, let's go home."
Kiba's father pays for the food and the three of them head home. When they get back to the mansion, a robot opens the door and greets them, "Good evening, sir. Welcome home."
Kiba blinks. His father says, "His name is Alfred. I know it's hard for you to find your way around the house. So I bought a robot housekeeper. He connected himself to the computer system in the mansion. He knows where everything is."
"You don't have to do that. I could have find my ways around in a couple of days." Kiba says. That's a lie, really, it probably takes Kiba WEEKS. Still, Kiba feels bad his dad gets a housekeeper just because he moved in.
Toboe gets into a room and turns on the light. Kiba's father says to his son. "Do you mind staying at the next room. I want you to be closer to Toboe, in case he needs something."
"Sure, I haven't unpack anyway. It really doesn't matter where I stay. I just end up getting lost in the morning no matter where I stay." Kiba is happy he can be next room to Toboe. He is going to ask his dad to let him have the roo next to Toboe.
"Well, I'm gonna head back to my room and do some more work. You two get onto bed." Kiba's dad says as he leaves.
"Good night, dad." Kiba says to his father.
"Good night, son." Kiba's dad says as he disappears at the corner of the hallway.
"Alfred, can you bring my luggage here, please?" Kiba asks. He hates to ask people to do things for him, but he will probably gets lost tryin to find his old room.
"Right away." The robot says and walks away.
Kiba knocks on Toboe's door, "can I come in?"
Toboe opens the door to let Kiba in. Kiba sees that Toboe has already changed into his sleeping clothes. Toboe has pajamas kept in the room. The pajamas Toboe wearing is blue and it has very cute yellow kitties patterns printed over it. Toboe looks so cute in that pajamas, Kiba wants to walks up and gives him a hug.
Kiba looks around and sees a bunch of kitty plushies on the table. There are also a picture of Toboe and two adults on the nightstand. Kiba figure that's a family picture of Toboe. There is also a blue computer on the table that doesn't match the deco of the room. The background of the computer is a very cute kitty snuggling at a Teddy bear. It's easy to see that the computer is Toboe's belonging also.
Kiba thinks, "dad wasn't kidding when he says Toboe comes here all the time. This must be like a second home to Toboe. He gets everything here."
Kiba looks at the disks next to the computer and sees them marked as Biology, Anatomy and Physiology. "You must be very smart, this is quite intense subject to research on. Anyway, it's time to go to bed, okay?"
Toboe gets on the bed. Kiba pulls the blanket over the boy. Alfred comes in and says, "your luggage is at the next room, sir."
"Thank you." Kiba says to the robot.
"you're welcome, sir." The robot leaves.
"I'll be right back." Kiba says to Toboe. He goes back to his room, gets his pajamas and change into it. He heads back to Toboe's room and sees that Toboe has already fallen asleep.
"Good night, Toboe." Kiba whispers. He is going to leave when he sees Toboe tosses.
"Toboe?" Kiba calls. Toboe continues to toss and turn, tears comes out of Toboe's eyes.
"Toboe…" Kiba pats Toboe's head gently. The touch seems to quiet down Toboe. The small boy quiet down.
"Don't be so sad, Toboe. It hurts me to see you so sad." Kiba sighs before he stands up and gets back to his room.
TBC……