CHIYO-CHICHI: THE LEGACY
A new saga by Kenji, of sakako-kenji.
After writing the two preceeding chapters, a notion occured to me - the notion that Chiyo-chichi could, in fact, be a very interesting character to "work with", and manipulate to achieve my own corrupt ends... So that was the impetus for this new, two, or perhaps three chapter saga, consisting of random events in the man's domestic life, as well as the dramatic Gravitation crossover/subplot which... doesn't really relate to anything. I would like to explore the relationship between Chichi and his daughter, as well as his cohort, Eiri. Perhaps I will throw in a romantic interest in the form of Yomi's mother... hahaha...
Chiyo-Chichi sighed with resignation. The operation had gone completely haywire, and the author had wasted two potentially interesting chapters on a plot that wasn't progressing – even slightly. Ah well – let's not dwell on the past… or perhaps we'd better…
Chiyo-chichi, the responsible father
The eccentric entity pulled into the front driveway of his lavish Koenji abode in his customized Ahüül-type Mazda, absent-mindedly tapping the steering wheel to the beat of "Night & Day" – one of his favourite 80's pop tunes. He waved cheerfully at his daughter, who was peering out of the window on the second floor, as he parked the car in the cluttered garage.
"Daddy!" yelled Chiyo, his own little angel.
"Ah! Chiyo! It is good to be home!" he responded, and as he got out of the gorgeous vehicle she leapt into his arms.
"I hope you don't mind, but a few of my friends have come over. We're just studying at the moment, so we won't need anything."
"Ah. Your friends? No, that will be fine. Incidentally, I would like to meet them, if you would introduce me?"
"Of course daddy! Follow me!"
"Do lead on!"
As he watched his lively young daughter hurtle into the house, he couldn't help but think, in an incredibly clichéd manner – how good it is to be a father.
Introductions
"Miss Sakaki! Tomo! Kaorin! Miss Kagura! Yomi! My dad's home!"
All five girls looked up at the door, only one realizing the true significance of this event. A vaguely recognizable figure stood there, winking knowingly at Sakaki, who merely shuddered, recalling the bizarre, incommunicable delusions that related to that somehow frightening fellow, who was now seated comfortably at the table, with a halcyon Chiyo in his embrace. He bowed slightly.
"I thank each and every one of you for being so good to my daughter. I was worried that she would be all alone in her new school, but it is nice to see how many friends she has made in only a few weeks."
A few of the girls raised their eyebrows.
"Um… daddy… I've been going to that school for two years now…" Chiyo mumbled anxiously.
"What!" he exclaimed, and his skin tone cycled through a colour metamorphosis, before settling on the ordinary orange hue.
"I see. That is good to hear. Would any of you like some tea? Or perhaps some red things?"
Crossover!
Chiyo-chichi was engrossed in a hefty political novel when there was a resounding knock on the doorframe. He beckoned the new arrival, and indicated an armchair opposite him.
"Eiri! It has been too long! What can I do for you, good man?"
The figure smiled vacillatingly.
"Ah. Is there something on your mind?" Chiyo-chichi enquired, placing a consoling hand on the crestfallen man's shoulder. Eiri nodded, and lit Chiyo-chichi's proffered cigarette. He took a long draw, and then mustered his willpower.
"Well, apart from a ghastly writer's block, Shuichi's been avoiding me lately. Although there's a chance that he's simply too involved with Bad Luck, I'm rather concerned. He only came over once this week, and I didn't answer the door… He must have thought I was out, and left a note. Perhaps it's callous acts like that which dissuade him…"
Chiyo-chichi nodded judiciously, the very image of wisdom
"I understand. Though I would like to help you, I do not think I should settle this independently. I will, however, in contact with Bad Luck's manager, and will contact Shuichi through him. Wait out in the loungeroom, if you please – and do feel free to make yourself an espresso."
Eiri bowed fervently, hints of tears in his eyes. He departed without a word, and threw himself onto a leather couch, emotions swelling. Chiyo-chichi frowned at this sight, but knew he could repair this situation. He snatched his phone from the mantelpiece and speed-dialled his old work colleague, K (they were involved in some kind of foreign conflict… or something).
"Salut! Ich heiße K! What do you want!"
The effervescent, narcissistic voice was mildly aggravating, but Chiyo-chichi maintained his composure… for now.
"Hello K. I would like to speak to Shuichi Shindou."
"Chiyo-chichi! It's nice to hear from you, meine freunde!"
"Cease the linguistic experimentation, if you would."
"Yes, yes, of course. You wanted Shindou? Wait a moment."
After several minutes…
"Hey, this is Shuichi. Who's this?"
"Never mind who I am. Your presence is required – urgently – at 33 Yuigahama Street.
"Yuigahama Street? Where the hell's that!"
"It is located in Koenji. A certain someone is expecting to see you here within the next half hour. Goodbye."
"What? But ho-"
Chiyo-chichi slammed down the phone irritably, and lit up a ridiculously priced Cuban cigar.
"I wonder how this will turn out…"
Kenji's post-script ramble: I don't normally get particularly serious in my "prose", but I thought I'd attempt it here. Eiri and Chichi were both intelligence agents in the Japanese army, operating in the jungles of Vietnam to take down local syndicate kingpins. Sakaki, Kaorin and Yomi's parents were also part of their "platoon", if you like. Nyamo was originally a Chinese dissident working against their cause, but had an epiphany at the last minute and joined forces with them. Yukari was probably just watching Simpsons re-runs in Saigon. Perhaps a plot that I might delve into later - though I might leave it for someone else to write, hehe