Disclaimer: Blah, blah all characters in this story are my besides the mentioning of K.
I'm so sorry this is late I've been busy and had terrible writer's block.
I'm writing the sixth chapter now I hope to finish it soon.
Beta'd by cutelilpuppieyez.
Chapter Five: A Quick History of De Luca Kenji
In a hotel somewhere in downtown Tokyo, Kenji slammed his palm on the beeping alarm clock. Groaning he sat up, rubbing his eyes. He gazed at the alarm: 7:00 am. Sitting in bed, he reminisced on how he became a documenter.
His father Otello had been a reporter from Italy who had met his mother Kyoko in Yamaguchi. Her father had found some ancient treasure.
Otello worked for the RAI. One day, his boss called him in his office. Signore Greco was graying, wide set man. He rolled his black leather chair closer to his desk as Otello entered.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Signore De Luca, I've heard you're the best reporter in this news station." Signore Greco said, his voice a raspy baritone.
Otello fiddled his fingers, looking down at the floor. "Well I don't really know about that. I think I'm okay."
Greco laughed and smiled a kindly smile at him. "Hahahahoho…there's no need to be modest."
"Si, what do you want me to do?"(1)
Greco pointed to a chair, folded his hands and started to talk.
Otello sat down, looking intently at his employer.
"Last week in Japan, a farmer by the name of Obayashi found some ancient treasure. I want you to go there and get information on it."
Otello looked bewildered. "Che, why do you want me in Japan?"(2)
"Well I thought it would be nice if Italy got a slice of the story. I'm sure America and England and other parts of Europe are going to go, plus Asia. The good thing is that no one else knows yet; that's why I wanted you to be the first one there. And you know Japanese. I am very proud that you work here."
Otello swelled with pride and stood up. "Si signore I'll leave as soon as possible."
"Pack your bags, because you're leaving tonight." Greco held out an airplane ticket grinning.
Kenji smiled to himself. The story of how his parents met was his favorite as a boy.
"Gate A7, flight 77 to London, please board." A voice said over an intercom. Otello sat at gate C12, Ascoli Piceno to Tokyo, Japan.
He fidgeted in the uncomfortable wooden chair. 'Ahh I hate airplanes.' (3) Otello complained in his head. He gazed at his watch; he still had twenty minutes untill he had to board. Making a tattoo on the arm of the chair, he sighed. 'This going be a long flight; I hope I get a raise for this.'
What seemed like ages later, a voice announced that flight 47, Ascoli Piceno to Tokyo, Japan was now boarding. He picked up his red carry-on tow bag, shifting his body slightly to the side because of it's weight.
He felt like burning holes with his eyes at the person in front of him. Said person was a giggling blonde who talked animatedly on her cell phone.
Otello watched her go to the platform relived. 'I hope I don't have to sit next to her.'
He gazed up at the recipient, a dark skinned man with shining white teeth. "Good day signore. May I see your ticket please?" Otello show it to him. "Thank you and have nice flight." The recipient's smile widened after he had spoken.
Otello nodded and thought to himself as he boarded, '"You're the best reporter here"...yeah right. I'm such a sucker, why couldn't someone else go? …Oh yeah, because I know Japanese and no one else does. Well, that's life.'
Kenji sat up and started to look for what he wanted to wear. Still reminiscing, he smiled.
In what seem like endless switching of planes, Otello landed in Yamaguchi. Walking towards the baggage claim, he looked for the person he was to meet, remembering that his boss told him that the daughter of Obayashi's was going to meet him.
After picking up his suitcase he gazed around and spotted his name written in sloppy English lettering on a white poster board. Otello took in a sharp intake of breath when he saw Obayashi's daughter. She was a petite young woman with long flowing black hair and vibrant jade green eyes. He waved, then walked over to her. They greeted each other at almost the same time.
"Ohayo gozaimasu."
"Boungiorno."
They both stared blankly at one another for a moment, then laughed.
"I'm Otello; do you know Italian?" Otello asked in Japanese.
The woman shrugged. "A little bit, I learn some to greet you. I'm Obayashi Kyoko."
Otello bowed to her smiling. Kyoko did the same to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you. All the same…come on, my father's waiting to meet you."
Kenji rubbed his chin, wondering what he should wear. 'Black slacks or khakis?' He held up the two items, examining them. 'Wait! Damn it, I still have pick out a shirt.'
Growling in frustration, he went back to the wardrobe in the corner of his room. (4)
"It's very nice of you to come here De Luca-san," said Obayashi Akito, a wide-set balding man with gray hair and brown eyes.
Otello bowed, "It's very nice of you to invite me in your home. Where, if I may ask, are the other reporters?"
Akito replied as Kyoko entered the room, bearing a tea tray. "They're staying at a hotel. And before you ask why you aren't, it's because I can tell that my Kyoko likes you."
After hearing his statement, Kyoko dropped the tray. Her face was a blazing red, as was Otello's. "O…otousan I…I-"
Akito started laughing, slapping the two on the back. "Ahohohohoha…you two are going to make such a good couple."
Otello was speechless and stunned. Kyoko's shy demure vanished in a blink of an eye. "Otousan! How dare you embarrass me like that? I am not some object to give away!" Kyoko yelled, scaring her father.
Akito snickered, bending down to pick up the broken tea pieces. "I was only joking."
Otello bent down to help Akito. "Sorry to ask right now, but when do you want to do the interview?"
"How about now? I'll show you the treasure."
"I'm going to bed good night." Kyoko said, as Akito took Otello out of the room.
"Good night Kyoko-san."
Kyoko opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Akito dragged Otello off. 'Oh well.' She thought, before heading to her room.
Downstairs Otello gaped; he had never seen anything so 'shiny' before, the word he chose to describe the treasure he was currently looking at. There were gold and silver trinkets, silver platters with gold trim on them, goblets, jewelry, weapons, and other wonderful things.
"H…how did you find all of this?" Otello asked, reaching for a note pad and a pen.
"Well one day when I was digging…"
Half an hour passed as Akito told Otello how he had found the treasure while plowing. Putting his pen away, Otello smiled and yawned. "That's a really interesting story Obayashi-san, but I think I'll head to bed. See you in the morning."
"Night."
Several days passed and the other reporters got their stories. Otello and Kyoko had become good friends. He had decided to stay a little longer with the Obayashis.
Otello and Kyoko eventually fell in love and got married. (5)
Kenji didn't know how his parent had actually fallen in love. They each gave him different versions. Sighing, he held up the shirt he had chosen. A blue short sleeved collared shirt. He had decided on the khakis and a pair of white shoes. Gathering everything into a pile on the bed, he sighed with relief. He was feeling very nervous, and he wanted to look good since this was his first 'normal' job in a while.
'Thank god it's not ducks or fishing rods.'
Prring, prring! The phone rang, making Kenji jump at it suddenness.
"Pronto." (6)
"Oh K-san I'll be right over."
"No, there's no need. I'll call a cab, thanks though."
"Ciao."
Kenji placed the phone in its cradle. Looking out of the window briefly, he headed off for the shower.
t.b.c
(1) Yes
(2) What
(3) I do too sometimes maybe because my ears don't pop which is very painful.
(4) Kenji's picking hehehe. I was going to make him an obsessive compulsive but
I changed my mind. If anyone wants him to be, just ask. It might be kind of interesting.
(5) I'm too lazy and bored to write more about Kenji's parents. Yes I know the story's kind of cheesy but it was the only thing I could think of.
(6) Hello on the phone.