Friday, January 30, 2015

Chiyo and the Lolicon: An Azumanga Daioh Fan Fiction Story

The little, brown haired apparition, pigtails
bouncing, stepped purposefully ...

Will he do right by Chiyo-chan ... Or will he "do" Chiyo-chan ... right? Yes, THIS is a story about THAT. A riff off a doujinshi I stumbled across on the net which, in turn, was a riff off scenes from episodes 10 and 14 of Azumanga Daioh. As "turn about is fair play" ... Please read this in its' entirety before jumping to conclusions.


Chiyo and the Lolicon

by

C V Ford


Jotaro Taniguchi still couldn't believe his good fortune. Yes, he did study ... HARD ... to get accepted into this school. All that intense work paid off and though this accomplishment was to open many doors, his beforehand doubts made him write himself off in advance, giving up hope. So his acceptance came as a complete surprise.

Another surprise was about to hit.

It was his first day as a 1st year high school student. Lunch hour, the 16 year old decided on a walk around campus to aquaint himself with the place. Even though it was for second year students, he decided to take a look on that upper floor of the main class building. Already rounding the landing between and partway up, he couldn't help but notice something singularly peculiar.

Descending the steps was a ... kid ... A little kid! Wearing one of the schools' uniforms. One in miniature but school colors all the same.

Her ... A student ... HERE?

The little, brown haired apparition, pigtails bouncing, stepped purposefully, determined frown on her face. She didn't look to be in any mood for talking, seeming quite perturbed at the moment. It was more than plain to see she was ticked off about something.

On passing, Jotaro without thinking, said aloud to no one in particular, "what's a kid doing here?"

The "kid" stopped on hitting the landing, clenching her fists.

"Man, she really looks pissed!" Taniguchi exclaimed to himself.

The young man was taken aback as the youngster spun around and climbed the steps toward him.

Stopping directly in front, she addressed him.

"You're new here to this school, aren't you!?"

"Mmm ... yeah."

"My name is Chiyo Mihama. I'm second year!" A commanding arm swept out, ending in a forefinger pointing pistol-like, seemingly THROUGH him. "That's SENIOR Mihama to you!"

"Uh ... yeah ... Okay." Jotaro replied, not quite sure what to make of it.

He couldn't decide wether to laugh out loud or take this seriously. Before him was an adorably cute little girl acting like an adult, albeit a very cross one. The anger only added to the charm though something told him to treat the situation with care.

The girl turned on her heel, resuming her descent, a thoroughly satisfied look on her face.

Senior?

xxxxx

At a library table, Taniguchi sat deep in thought. Third period algebra finished, he had to take a very needed breather and decided to spend lunch period in the library. He absolutely HATED algebra.

Basic practical math he was excellent at but when it came to arithmetic hooking up with the alphabet ... All (alpha)bets were off! This just wouldn't do.

No getting around it, he would just have to knuckle down and-

"Oh, excuse me?"

Jotaro looked up from the math text and jumped inwardly from surprise.

"I'm sorry about earlier today," the tiny one from the stairs incident said standing before him. "It wasn't very mature of me."

"Oh ... no problem-"

"But I-"

"You must have had some heavy things on your mind."

Though the girl was some years younger, (He was later to learn it was by five.) something inside the young man made him decide to talk to the girl as a peer. As he was to find later, she wasn't a peer but, intellectually speaking, a superior in all but life experience.

"Yes I did."

"Wanna' ... talk about it?"

The words just slipped out. Ordinarily, Jotaro wouldn't have dreamed of sharing conversation with what should have been, at least in appearance, a grade schooler. But ... At that moment, the kid intrigued him somehow.

The girl, with the trusting soul many her young age had, sat down to chat. It was the start of a most interesting relationship.

And no ... In spite of her age and what people thought of her ... Well ... She had the "mind" of a child but the "intellect" of an adult.

And she was still ... well ... CUTE!

xxxxx

Name: Chiyo Mihama, everyone (Including me!) calls her Chiyo-chan.

Age: 11.

Height: 135 cm

Wt: XX

In asking around I found she was some kind of genius. IQ WAY up there. Is well known, even sorta' famous at the school. Was tested extensively in elementary school. Evaluation concluded high school the next step. Skipped ahead five grades and right into high school.

Even here in high school she got, not almost but PERFECT grade scores, and no doubt, was one day going to be class valedectorian.

I know, if I'm to graduate and get in a top college, I'd need all the help I can get. Could this "kid" be a possible help or resource?

xxxxx

This DAMN algebra was ... IMPOSSIBLE!

Jotaro sighed loudly, enough that others in the library turned their heads. Noting who it was, all but one turned back to their studies.

"Trouble?"

The young man turned his head in the direction of the soft, immature sounding voice coming from down the long table.

"Oh ... Chiyo-chan ... uh ... Hi!"

"You sound like you're having trouble with your homework."

"Thought I'd try to get some of it done lunch hour. Less to do later 'n all."

"Algebra?"

"Uh ... Yeah."

The little girl scooped up her books and proceeded up to where he sat. For reasons Jotaro was wanting to keep from the front of his mind, he was glad she was on the other side of the big table.

Reaching for his Algebra text she said, "just what is it you're having trouble with?" Then leafed through his notes.

"These look pretty easy."

Easy!?

"Well ... I've finally have the concept of using Romanji with numbers down," coming out from under her 'easy' remark,  "but I can't get the hang of in what order to do these equations, I-"

"Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally."

Jotaro paused in exasperation, " ... uh ... What?"

"Please excuse my dear aunt Sally." Smiling.

"I ... uh ... heard you the first time, I don't-"

"Uh ... With these equations you use a hierarchical structure of order."

"I know THAT. I just can't remember the right order and-"

"P E M D A S. Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. Please ... Everything in parenthesis first-"

Jotaro then realized she was doing an explanation.

 "Excuse ... then do all the exponentiation. My ... The multiplication comes next. Dear ... All the division after. Aunt ... Then the addition. Sally ... finally the subtraction."

He mulled it over a few seconds.

"This also means I do all the 'please excuseses' Within the parentheses first then.?"

"Right!" Laughing.

Normally Jotaro disliked being laughed at but as it was coming musically from the bright little girl ...

The young man grinned asking, "so what's so funny?"

"That's the first time I've heard it referred to as 'please excuseses'," giggling some more.

Jotaro was sure this one would be a BIG help in the future.

xxxxx

After that day, Jotaro would see her often, usually library or sometimes cafeteria if she didn't bring her lunch that day. Though self concious of it, he would, at times, ask her for advice on his work and at other times, even helped in study usually in the library.

Every so often they had lunch together in the cafeteria. Their talks would be interesting. Though tops in history, Jotaro found most of her knowledge in that subject to be rote and not really of interest to her. Her forte being in math and sciences. His being a military history buff in particular as well as general knowledge, helped in his "filling in the blanks" for her, making it more than just names, facts and dates.

It was on one of the rare occasions she made her own lunch AND went to the cafeteria that something other than math and history came up in conversation. Her self made lunches had a variety and richness about them that Jotaro couldn't but, in jest without thinking, help but comment in asking:

"Senior Chiyo ... ," he smiling, "Please marry me?"

The little girls' face took on a bright red hue.

"Uh ... um ... I'd have ... to talk ... to my mom and dad first ... This ... I ... uh ..."

The young man instantly regretted what he said. He had forgotten. Her being intellectually above par even for high schoolers made Jotaro forget Chiyo-chan still had the sensibilities of a child and thus wouldn't take such a comment as the joke it was meant to be. Then ... There were those other thoughts.

Jotaro almost was in a panic. If word got around-

"No! ... eh ... Chiyo-chan ... I was only kidding ... It was just a joke ... It ... "

His voice trailed off as he observed the pre-teens' facial expression, fluctuatiing from heavy nervoussness to "blank" contemplation to a faint smile on realisation. He let out a sigh of relief as her smile broadened.

"Oh ... It's been some time since anyone proposed. Not since Hideki Fujiwara in fourth grade."

"Fourth ... grade ... ?" Definitely NOT so long ago.

"Of course he was quite a bit more sincere about it than you."

This confirmed to Jotaro, Chiyos' acceptance of the levity of his remark.

For the rest of the semester, Jotaro made sure to check his tongue ... and thoughts ... around Chiyo-chan, keeping what relationship there was as kohai/sempai as possible.

xxxxx

Summer vacation came and went faster than Jotaro would have liked. As it was, it went well. His grades were (Partly in thanks to the help from Chiyo-chan as well as his being inspired by her to put out effort.) more than good enough to satisfy his parents thus pressure being off for him to enjoy the time off.

Nonetheless, he took advantage of his free time in getting the required vacation homework done the first couple weeks in and then supplementing his studies by going over what was to be ahead the following semester.

Next semester arrived too soon for Jotaro. He resolved to get on with his studies and felt confident what with his preparation of the last few weeks.

And with Chiyo-chan being more than a help to him ...

It was about a week of sorting out and settling in that Chiyo and Jotaro picked back up on their casual relationship. In the library they were alternately going over his math studies and relating their vacation experiences.

"You even have a summer home?"

Jotaro was taken somewhat aback. Though he knew the Mihama family was up in the tech industry and thus well off, he had no idea as to how wealthy they might be. The child didn't act the way he thought children from a such a priviledged background might, so it never occured to him that her family was so well heeled.

"Yes. My friends and I spent almost a week there this summer. Just before they left, mom, dad and Mr. Tadakichi came in and I stayed a few more days."

"Must be ... nice," the lad remarked, "though I'd think the place must have been quite a mess when your parents arrived."

"Not at all. Even Tomo can be orderly ... up to a point ... when she has to be and we had Miss Yukari and Miss Kurosawa supervising as well."

Jotaro cocked his head to one side in disbelief. Not only some of the more attractive (Albeit, somewhat STRANGE.) girls in the school were friends with this little prodigy but two of the foxier looking teachers were along as well. While Yukari was something of a loose cannon what with her "unique" teaching non-style, that didn't stop most of the boys in school from turning their heads as she passed by. Miss Kurosawa, with her athletic good looks, would elicit many a comment among the young men.

"If I had the money," Jotaro gasped involuntarily, "I ... I would have paid to have been there."

It was Chiyos' turn to look puzzled but only momentarily. She more than remembered an incident during that last summer home stay. In fact it was indelibly engraved on a "file" in a special corner of her mind. So much so she made it a point in "researching" after she got home that summer. Though she had the "mechanics" of the things that were brought up pretty much set down in her eleven year old mind, it was still a mystery as to what it was the adults and older kids were going on about.

Could this boy be able to clue her in about it? She felt she knew Jotaro enough to trust him with an answer.

"Jotaro-kun?"

"Uh ... wha-," the lad was shaken out of his thoughts.

"Could I ask you a question?"

"Mmm ... sure?"

"Actually ... A lot of questions ... And I'm not sure how to ask ... "

Jotaros' mind, at that moment, was a confusing jumble. Warning lights and bells were going off inside his head. From the changed tone of her voice, he sensed ... right off ... there was a possibility of forbidden ground about to be trodden. The role reversal of kohai/sempai was also hitting him hard. Now it was the little girl seeking answers HE might have. Answers perhaps not in keeping with his position of a sixteen year old young man vis a vis an eleven year old girl.

And yet ...

Jotaro looked about, making sure no one else was within earshot. The nearest was several tables away. The next nearest were the two librarians at their counter.

"Um ... try me," he said shakily. "Just what is it you'd ... like to ... uh ... know?"

The little girl launched into her inquiry.

Past experience in fruitless attempts in discussion with others about what she was going to ask, prompted her to lower her voice below even the volume of the recommended library level.

Jotaro knew he shouldn't have started listening to Chiyo. Her detailed description of the incident with Miss Kurosawa, though comical, he felt might be the prelude to something more far reaching than a humorous story.

xxxxx

It was the end of a day of drive, swimming and summer festival, Chiyo-chan, her friends and teachers returned to the summer house. Instead of retiring early, the teachers were easily persuaded to let the girls stay up late.

Some beer produced by Tomo, was quickly confiscated by Miss Yukari who was going to drink it instead. Knowing Yukari would go silly in no time, Miss Kurosawa snatched it in turn. A bottle of sake revealed by Yukari was also grabbed by Nyamo before her fellow teacher started to consume.

Miss Kurosawa took it upon herself to protect the kids from both booze and Yukari by drinking it herself. Though she could hold her liquor better than her fellow teacher, the alcohol soon took its' effect and the unfolding spectacle fascinated the kids. Both by the PE teachers' rambling on about any and every thing and of one rambling in particular.

When asked by Tomo about adult relationships and wether or not how "pervy" it could get, Nyamo, by then very much loosened up by the rice whisky, made for a very interesting lecturer on the subject.

The girls were more than fascinated, hanging
on every word the PE teacher spoke.
The girls were more than fascinated, hanging on every word the PE teacher spoke. Their reactions ranging from enthusiastic attention to Miss Yukaris' amusement to Sakakis' embarrassment on hearing the more than explicit detail Kurosawa was dishing out.

Not the least of which was Chiyo-chan. Though her mind was more than brilliant, the very young girl had next to no understanding of what Miss Kurosawa was saying. She did know it was VERY detailed and in her own unknowing way ... found it fascinating ... the well developed film of her photographic mind retaining every word.

After the PE teacher finally collapsed into a stupor, Miss Yukari, still quite amused at the spectacle, called it a night and everyone retired. Chiyo, full of questions, was dismissed by one and all as too young to understand, passing her off with variations of "wait 'til you get older".

This contributed to a mounting frustration in the little girl that had been simmering since her admittance to high school. Her being treated as "cute" and "different" meant to her as being treated like a little kid. Not even the last thing she wanted was to be left "out of the loop" or excluded from knowledge.

The following morning revealed a VERY hung over and bewildered Kurosawa. A still embarrassed and sensitive Sakaki FLED the living room on being hailed by the teacher staggering in. A puzzled teeth brushing Chiyo, also present and seeing her chance, started asking.

Miss Kurosawas' hung over reaction to Chiyos' explicitly detailed inquiries puzzled the inquisitive pre-teen even more. After all, she was only repeating the same narrative and terminologies from the night before.

"Chi-yo-CHAN! ... Where ... Where did you HEAR that!" The PE teachers' hands shaking and in grasping mode.

"From you!" A very stern and SOBER, for a change, language teacher declared on entering the living room.

"Huh!? ... What!?"

"FROM YOU! ... Last night."

"Wh- ... What- ... What happened last night? I-"

"Ha!" Yukari turned away from Nyamo, a grin of gleeful, sadistic satisfaction on her beaming face, leaving her fellow teacher in more than tense suspense.

It was then the othe four girls trooped in heading for the kitchen and breakfast.

"Oh! Miss Kurosawa ... Good morning to you!" They greeted in enthusiastic unison with a bow.

"I really wanted to thank you for last night." Yomi

"It was extremely educational!" Tomo

"Miss Kurosawa, I ADMIRE you!" Osaka

"I can't thank you enough coach!" Kagura

"Wait! ... Wh- ... What?" The PE teachers' mind in a turmoil, her pleas accompanied by a cackling Yukari. "What happened last night? Sombody! ... Tell meeeeeee ... !"

xxxxx

"I don't know what the problem is. I mean, Miss Kurosawa gave a really good and detailed explanation of everything the night before. I couldn't understand what she had to be worried about."

Jotaro just sat there staring in shocked disbelief. A little pre-teen girl had just told him ... well ... From what Miss Kurosawa had spouted off while drunk, amounted to one of the hottest confessions rivaling any porn or doujinshi he'd ever read, seen ... or downloaded and posessed ... which was considerable.

"Miss Kurosawa is one dedicated teacher," the lad thought to himself. "Even in ... THAT."

"At the time I didn't get it, still don't. After getting back home, I started looking up things ... on the net."

The net! Jotaro could only imagine what the kid found there.

"I have the 'mechanics' of the thing sorted out but ..."

Mechanics!? Jotaro broke into a sweat and shifted his weight on his chair to relieve the mounting physical pressure. The very young girl and her more than suggestive account were definitely having their effect.

"All those photos and stories have it pretty well mapped out and ... "

Her seemingly distant, clinical and contrasting anxious approach made Jotaro all the more ... "interested". The paradox of super intelligence and a childs' naivete ... wrapped  up in one extremely cute and adorable bundle. It was all the young man could do to keep from shaking in his shoes.

The kawais' next statement almost had him flying out of them.

"And I was wondering if ... if ... someone ... Someone like you maybe-"

Jotaros' eyes widened even more.

"-could tell... show me ... What it's exactly about."

SHOW!?

"Chiyo-chan ... I-"

"I asked my parents already. Mom and Dad have explained the process to me of course-"

Process? That's what she's calling it? ... Oh God!

"-but said I wouldn't really care or understand about the 'other part' until I got older."

Eleven years old and already is wondering about the "other part". Older!? She's caring about it NOW!?

"I don't dare ask my friends," her voice took on a peeved tone. "They just smile and say the same thing. I walk away and I hear them laughing quiet-like ... Except Tomo ... She doesn't care if the whole school hears her!

"Everyone treats me like a little kid!-"

You ARE a little kid ... At least physically ... Physically you're ... Oh God!

Jotaros' uneasiness approached max. Here ... literally in his reach ... The very personification of the stuff a lolicons' wildest manga dreams were made of.

"So ... please ...  " The wide eyes of the pleading tiny one were more than having their effect.

Jotaro made a last desparate attempt at breaking it off, resistance starting to fail in the face of an all too good opportunity with someone he truly did have affections ... and forbidden desires ... for.

"Senior Chiyo ... Chiyo-chan ... It's really not ... my place ... to tell, let alone show-"

SHOW!?

"-you anything on that ... It really is too early-"

SHOW!

"-for you ..."

Show.

Instead of launching into a semi-whining tirade as expected, Chiyo let out a sigh of exasperation, head hanging, looking down at the jumble of textbooks crowding their little section of the table.

In the space of a few eternal moments, Jotaro finalised his decision.

Show?

"No ... way in hell am I going to-," struggling inwardly with himself and finding a last erg of resolve, "-take advantage of a ... a kid ... A little kid! Good God NO!"

Yes ... There were his fantasies. His growing stash of porn, including LOTS of lolicon in various formats, fueled them. Cultivating desires he should not have. Some ... many ... of which ... involved Chiyo.

Up 'till now, he was quite happy to only be near the little girl and look on it as a side benefit to her helping him in his studies. It only peripherally occured to him that there could be a chance of it going further than that. But now ...

THIS ... was "in his face" reality. Words have meaning. Actions have consequences ... repercussions. In this case ... heavy ones. Even if ... No matter how careful and discrete he and Chiyo would be about it, the chance of others discovering would hang heavy overhead like the weight of megatonnage it was, doujinshi fantasies notwithstanding.

And the law ... In spite of Chiyos' seeming maturity, would hold her blameless ... Would assume Jotaro would "know better" and the little girl not. At worse, she would only get "counseling" but the TOTAL onus of guilt and punishment would be ALL ... his.

"I'm ... sorry," he said, getting up and hastily gathering his books. "I ... gotta' go ... now ..."

xxxxx

"Miss Kurosawa?"

The PE teacher looked up from her desk-shelf space in the teachers communal office.
Jotaro, felt some kind of proactive action needed. While nothing had come of it, he felt it best to "nip it" even before the possibility of anything of it becoming a bud. Reporting it at once to a person in authority was the best course and who better than the one who "innocently" set things in motion weeks before.

"You probably don't know me, I-"

"Of course I do. Jotaro Taniguchi, isn't it? Chiyo-chans 'boyfriend'!"

Big grin on her face.

Though he knew she was joking, this confirmed his present course to be the correct one. And none too soon! His being "tutored" by Chiyo in the past hadn't gone un-noticed by one and all. Every so often eliciting remarks.

"Uh ... That's what I want to talk to you about, Ma'am."

"Oh ... ," a now more serious Nyamo indicating an empty chair. "Better sit down and we can talk."

xxxxx

A RELIEVED Jotaro Taniguchi stepped off the school grounds heading in the direction of home. As an added precaution, he recorded on paper, time, date, and details he could recollect about what took place in both library and teachers' office. The paper lay reassuringly nestled in the satchel slung over his shoulder.

In assessment, he decided to ditch some (LOTS!) of the porn in his stash. At the very least, a couple of the categorized flash drives snugged in the bottom of his satchel had to go.

He, of course, resolved to have as little to do (NONE!) with Chiyo in the future as possible which was too bad. She had been a BIG help in his studies. A resource no more.

END

Storyline (only) copyright © 1-30-15 C V Ford



xxxxx

C V Fords' profile page and anime fanfiction stories list on Fan Fiction dot net here.

Fan Fiction dot net here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.


Disclaimer: The preceding is a NON-PROFIT work of fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. I make no claim to ownership of the copyrighted names/characters, places, and events of other works mentioned in this work. They are the sole properties of  their respective owners. Please, by all means support the owners of such properties in the purchase and enjoyment of their works.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Pokemon: Vampires! ... Gotta' Stake 'em All!

"ALUCARD! ... I CHOOSE YOU!"

Pokemon: Vampires! ... Gotta' Stake 'em All!


Was wandering about the net and stumbled onto this. Not a fan of Pokemon (The babes in their late teens/early twenties doing Misty cosplay certainly turn ones' head though!) but, as a fan of horror films, I thought this was kinda' cute. Misty van Helsing ... Yeah ... Riiight!

Hmm ... do crosses work on vampires formerly Shinto and Bhuddist? Or atheists for that matter?

On another note, about a couple months ago, I looked out a window and, for a second there, I thought I spotted a pikachu. It was actually a chipmunk, but the way the sunlight hit the critter and it's black markings contrasting the yellowish cast, I did a double take.

Nope ... no such critter ...

Jus' sayin' ...

"And don'd efen 'tink of trying to stuv me into vun ov dose leedle fishing bobbers!"
Bela Lugosi Disapproves by Evertide on Deviantart.

Wikipedia Pokemon article here.

Evertide Deviantart entry here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Thank GOD It's (Joe) Friday!

"Just the facts, Ma'am ... Just the facts."

Thank GOD It's (Joe) Friday!


Just thought I'd post this.

DUM da DUM DUM! DUM da DUM DUM daaaa ...

The story you are about to see is true ...


Wikipedia article on Dragnet here.

Wikipedia bio of Jack Webb here.

Ex-Army blog article where I got the photo idea here. Don't necessarily agree with the last few sentences but the article is other-wise sound.

Clean Copper Clappers! here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Je Suis Charlie ... Martel!



Je Suis Charlie ... Martel!


If you know your history, you know what this is about.

Interestingly enough, about one in 15 Europeans are descendants of Charles Martel. He saved Europe in more ways than one!

Vive la France!

Vlad "Dracula" Tepes aka Vlad the Impaler. Another
favorite of mine. He knew how to handle the situation.

French national anthem La Marseillaise here.

French national anthem scene from the film Casablanca here. Nothing against Wacht am Rhine. I'm a movie buff after all.

Link to shirts 'n other goodies with the "Martel cross" here. I don't have any interest in that company of any kind. I just like the goodies. Gonna' get me a hat!

Link to the cartoon that inspired it here.

Ex-Army blog main page here.


Go to Jays Tee Vee blog main page here. Yer already there if there's other articles under this 'un.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Steins Gate: What the Hell's Going On! ... And Why Should I Care?

We all knew someone like this in school. And we
all wanted to beat the krap out of him. Still do ...

Steins Gate: What the Hell's Going On! ... And Why Should I Care?

Folks have been saying for several years now, that I should be giving this one a look see. I tried and ... well ... after two and a half episodes, I ditched it.

Now, I've nothing against shows that make me think. The Ghost in the Shell franchise, Serial Experiments Lain and several others are favorites of mine. What I don't like are shows that make me think ... that I have to take lots of notes in order to keep track of all the double/triple headers going on at once.

All I know from this mess is SOMETHING is going on with time, a microwave oven and a cell phone ... And that everyone is excited about ... something.

Not to mention the main character, a one Rintaro Okabe Kyoma Hooin whatever, is a LOUD, obnoxious, annoying jerk. That and a paranoiac as well. Pretty much the same reasons I don't care much for Trigun or Irresponsible Captain Tylor. Characters like Vash and Tylor get on the nerves. So does this show.

Jus' sayin' ...


Wikipedia article on Steins Gate here.

Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Friday, January 9, 2015

In Gods' Good Time: Chapter Twenty of an Angel Beats Fan Fiction Story



In Gods' Good Time

by

C V Ford


Chapter 20: Jacks' Story


"Mmmm ... Smells wonderful."

The aroma of popping corn wafted through Rachels' modest apartment, more than favorably registering on her olfactory sense.

"Yeah. The aroma of REAL popcorn ... ," the man answered as he helped with the dishes.  "'Course it doesn't compare anywhere near to that great Lasagna of yours."

The meal that evening had gone beautifully. The lasagna Rachel prepared was as every bit as excellent as she made Jack expect it to be. The two cafeteria salads, supplemented with the dressing from her kitchen and the red wine, rounded the meal out perfectly.

She turned from the sink, eyeing the near empty wine bottle on the table.

"That's about the last of it."

Duffy nodded toward the fridge.

"Managed to scrounge up the last four bottles of Coke for the movies. Been conserving it best I could. Special occasion and all. I'm glad it's this one."

"Wine, Coca-cola or no ... As long as it's you and me ... " pausing, looking at him, "that's what matters."

He looked down at the dish towel he held, frowning.

"Is something wrong?" Her concern surfacing.

"Yeah ... maybe ."

"What could-"

"That 'you and me' business."

Hesitantly, Rachel put her left hand over the two of his now tightly clutching the towel.

"Have I-?"

"That's just it ... Nothing wrong with you hon."

He looked up from her hand on his.

"The problem's with me."

"How so?"

"Maybe we should sit down first."

A few short steps to the dining area, they resumed their seats opposite, candles still lit.

"Just what could be the matter with YOU of all people, Jack? Ever since my arrival here in this crazy place, you've been wonderful. Not just in helping me adjust but-"

She stopped on his waving it off and noticing the pained expression on his face.

"It's something I kept putting off thinking about until ... Right after, in fact, you took me up on this ... uh ... date of ours."

She returned his look with a gently firm one of her own.

"You've something on your mind and think there's something in your past I should know ... that it might affect us both in some way?"

"Exactly ... There's some things I feel I MUST tell you before we let things go any further."

"All ... right."

Duffy took a deep breath, letting out half before continuing.

"I was ... considered by a lot of folks to be a strange kid ... I had ... 'problems'. Mostly school ... I ... "

"It's okay Jack."

"Oh ... Hell. I'm cutting right to it ... I ... I was institutionalised for a couple years ... They had me there- ... I was just a kid! ... Ten years old and they ... they put me away! Just like that ... I-"

The effect of Rachels' hands enfolding Jacks' was electric. He pulled away abruptly.

"I-I'm sorry! I-"

With no hesitation, the teachers' hands firmly regrabbed the mans'.

"Don't be," she said softly. "You've no reason to be. Go on."

The direct look in her eyes told Jack she to be sympathetic.

"Alright."

The awkward hurdle jumped, Duffy calmed and continued.

"Like I said, I was something of an awkward, weird kid. Obsessive ... episodic fits of temper ... overactive imagination. Given to wild fantasies about things I guess. I really don't remember much about what happened then except my parents alluding to several incidents at school ... again, I don't remember much ... prompted them to seek ... 'help' ... something about schizophrenia ...  At least that's what the ... uh ....experts ... called it.

"The so-called 'experts' suggested I be held for uh ... 'observation' ... in a place I'd rather not name. It was two years of so-called therapy with its' ... drugs, manipulation, mind games and ... abuse ... And what I mean by abuse I mean ... in every sense of the word."

"Oh Jack!"

"Yeah ... When it started going in THAT direction ... I ... I managed to spill it to my parents on a home visit. Dad took some action and I was out of there for a summer ... but ...

"They sent me back! They sent me back there ... that damn place. Guess the 'experts' convinced them other wise or they had a legal hold of some kind. But I was back there ... God ... DAMN them! ... the experts I mean ... I-

"Well ... my ... uh ... 'therapist' stopped doing what he was ... doing ... Probably thought I'd report on him again. And ... I was out after a few more months.

"Many years later, I found copies of some records stored by my parents. The bastard had signed off a clean bill of health on me ... to get rid of me I guess ... and I was out of there at age twelve. I was ten when I was put in ... just a ... kid ... "

"You HAVE been hurt. That much is plain. But you've been out of there many years now."

"In body, yes. In mind, I've kept myself there and let it get to me the rest of my life. Let it have a constant say in life and the fault is mine.

"That isn't quite all there is to it though."

"Oh?"

"My stay in that miniature looney bin was followed by a three year stint in a military school. Damn experts said there wasn't actually anything wrong with me and that my real problem was discipline and suggested I go there. Less said about that the better. All I'll say about it is it wasn't very good as a military academy ... Bullies and bedwetters supervised by nuns. All they did was pound into me the non-virtue of standing around waiting for orders ... To show initiative was to disrupt the order of things.

"I figured out later in life that that's one way how some others get ahead. Beat it into the heads of potential competition that thinking and action on your part is wrong, thus helping clear the way for them. While they have you convinced you'd be doing wrong so's to keep you from even trying, they'd be doing the same things and succeeding.

"And, to make it short, that's what I'd been doing the rest of my life. Waiting for the approval and consent of others ... Waiting for orders and having no initiative because I thought I'd be punished or penalised in some way. Things were just something to endure ... get through. Hell ... At the end of high school I didn't even attend the graduation  ceremony ...  Just another thing to get through.

"So ... for me ... life was just a series of things to slide through ... didn't apply myself much to anything. Was bad at relationships ... Wasn't the best boy friend in the world with what few women I'd been with ... Even my relationship with the Lord, I took the wrong attitude. Repentance requires living in a manner I wasn't much committed to. Salvation is empty and meaningless without that commitment.

"Thus, my life is ... was ... empty and meaningless ...

"I'm a loser Rachel. A loser because I let something from ... way ... back ... dictate the rest of my life to me. I knew all along that was the case but didn't care.

"There's a lot more to it but it comes down to the fault being all mine ... For not getting up on my hind legs and making a fight of it so to speak.

"So I'd understand it if you'd not want anything to do with me other than the work to be done here, I-"

"Sorry to disappoint you Jack."

"Say what?" The man looked up and into the eyes of a stern, determined looking Rachel O'Hara.

"You're really down on yourself, aren't you?"

"I'm-"

"You really like to punish yourself, don't you!"

"!?"

"Maybe you're one of those masochistic types who think breaking up is much more satisfying than hooking up. Maybe-"

"Now just a sec-"

"THEN MAYBE NOT!"

"Look! I-"

"NO! ... You look.

"Jack." She made his name sound like a definite statement. "Don't sell yourself short."

"Wait a-"

"You are NOT a loser."

"I-"

"If you were, I'd have no interest in you."

"But I-"

"Listen Jack and listen good." She waited to see if he'd try to speak again. Seeing he wasn't, she continued. "Up to this moment, I had doubts ... about myself."

"Your ... self?"

"Yes. I was thinking I wasn't uh ... for the want of a better word, ... 'worthy' ... to be near you until you just reminded me of something."

Jack cocked his head to the side with a questioning look.

"Look," Rachel continued. "My life isn't what you'd call Ideal or pristine either ... Everyone here ... you ... me ... all these kids ... are here for different reasons but they all involve sins of omission as well sins of comission. We're here because not only of things we did or didn't do but of things others did to or didn't do for us. If we were the perfect beings and had the ideal lives we would have liked, then ... Not only no one would be here but this place ... this school ... wouldn't even exist.

"You once said this place might be a test of some kind and I've concluded it is. If I were the one grading you, with the exception of the last few artificially pathetic minutes, I'd give you a perfect score."

"Rea-lly ..." He was dubious to say the least. "How so?"

"I've asked around. From what Yuri and the others say ... even Tachibana ... well ... When you came here they said you immediately took charge of your situation, took matters into your own hands. You started reconoitering the area ... assesed the situation and took measures."

"They looked on me as some kind of threat."

"At first, yes. Some thought you might've been the advance guard of an invasion of some kind."

"I guess they would at that ... what has this got to do with-"

"When you tried direct contact, you didn't push your weight around. You were calm, collected and polite in so far as the circumstances allowed. I understand you were even in a position once to gun them all down but didn't. That and the way you handled Kanade after made something of an impression."

"When was that?"

"The night when you first saw them coming back from one of their ... uh ... meal ticket runs," she giggled some.

"What's so funny?"

"Yuri said you were hiding in the bushes like some kind of commando or something."

"Never told them anything about that, how could- ... Had to be Shiina."

"Yuri and Noda watched at a distance but it was that strange girl ... Shiina ... who filled them in on it. Is she as good as they say she is?"

"Better ... Probably was standing right next to me the whole time for all I know ... I still don't understand how this has anything to do with-"

"YOU ... are more capable a man than you give yourself credit for. After you got here, you threw yourself into your work. From what I understand you more than earn your wages. You also aren't content to sit around on your time off. From what I've been told, you've done a lot of exploration of the surrounding area on top of your own interests. Much more than you've let on to me."

"Just filling in time, I-"

"Still down on yourself? That shouldn't be like you. Not at all-"

"Just a-"

"Let me make my point Jack."

"Just like a red head!" Exclaiming inwardly.

"What I'm trying to say is this ... After the ... When I came here ... I ... was ... scared ... I had no idea as to what was going on. I wake up in ... Japan ... Only to find it's not. First Tachibana then Yuri and her uh ... brigade ..."

Both gave out a laugh. Jack earlier noted Rachel also had Yuris' not so favorite anime in her collection.

"They give me the low down on an unbelievable situation. In spite of my being here so far, I still find it hard to take it all in. Though they told me all they could, a lot of blanks needed filling.

"So there I am. It's my second day here. Still can't  wrap my head quite around it. I'm in the cafeteria being absolutely GRILLED by what seems half the female population about where I'm from, when in walks up this ... GUY.

"He's kind of goofy and nervous at first ... Has a bit of trouble in what to say. 'Speaks' Japanese quite strangely and comes across as an unlikely cross between John Wayne and Woody Allen.

"Yet ... Has a strength about him I know I can trust and rely on. He's straight forward and plain talking on most things ... ," her grip softened then her thumb started caressing the back of his hand.

"But is kind of shy and reserved on others ... I ... I like it when he's around."

Jack held back a gasp. With a knowing twist to the mouth, he raised an eybrow and spoke.

"You trying to get me to disappear?"

"This may be a bit soon but ... If I do try to get you to uh ... disappear ... It's because I want to disappear with you. If we're to meet the Lord to be judged, I want to be before Him with you.

"But until that time comes, I'm quite happy to be spending my time here with you.

"As for your past ... c'mon. Like I said, no one here had perfect lives. You should hear mine sometime ... When I'm darn good and ready of course."

"Baby," Jack replyed, relieved an smiling, "you've got yourself a deal!"

xxxxx

Jack was pleasantly surprised at Rachels' choice of film. An earlier scanning of her collection revealed mostly an assortment of dreaded "womens films".

"Thelma and Louise ... Interesting."

"I felt it was the closest I had to the kind of movie you like. Still kind of a 'chick flick'."

"On the contrary. It's actually a guy flick ... It's only incidental that the two guys in it happen to be chicks."

"Uh ... Chicks, huh?" Right eyebrow raised look.

"Hey, you said it first."

"That I did."

xxxxx

Rachel was right. The few students coming and going by the lounge did add to the "theater experience" with some staying to watch. Soon, half the lounge was full of curious students quietly watching the American made films with the couple.

"Was it really like that in your country Duffy-san?" A curious one asked.

"Over twenty years before my time but yeah. The economy so bad, jobs so scarce ... People desparate for work, going all over to find a paying job. That scene you just saw-"

Jack noted Rachels' responding grimace at the bad grammar.

"-was real. Gable, Colbert and film crew were shooting that scene at the crossing when that train just happened to come by. The men on those flatcars, smiling and waving for the cameras, weren't movie extras. They were actual folks hopping trains, looking for work. The director decided to leave that shot in the film.

"I understand the Depression was even worse in Japan ..."

In watching the students responding to the films, Jack felt reassurance in the Left Behind-like "universal translator" or whatever it was this strange "afterlife" had, doing the same for electronic media as well as normal speech. He noted the odd Front uniforms dotting the audience here and there as well.

A couple off to his and Rachels' left stood out in particular. The girl having a look of curious speculation on her face while viewing the screen. Not being a TV watcher, let alone the possibility she might be from a past era to begin with, even an old black and white film would seem new and interesting to Shiina. The rather "worn" looking young man with her, patiently answered questions about what cars, trains and anything else appearing on the screen puzzling her.

"Poor fellow," Jack thought, chuckling inwardly. "I can only imagine what YOU'VE been through all day."

As if in answer to an unasked question, the lad looked at Duffys' speculative face.

"We thought you could do with some chaperoning." Grinning.

Turning back to the screen, Jack slumped back, neck on the couch while staring at the cieling, sighing and shaking his head.

"What?" Rachel smiling at his perplexed countanance.

"Irony ... all ... Is irony."

To be continued ...

xxxxx

Storyline and original characters (only) copyright © 5-1-14 C V Ford

In Gods' Good Time chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.

Go to C V Fords' profile page and anime fan fiction list at fanfiction.net here.

Go to Fan Fiction dot Net here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here. Ifn' you be seein' articles under this 'un, yer there already!


Disclaimer: The preceding is a NON-PROFIT work of fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. I make no claim to ownership of the names/characters, places, & events mentioned in this work that are the intellectual properties of others. They are the sole properties of their respective owners. Please, by all means support the owners of such properties in the purchase & enjoyment of their works.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Strike Witches: Why Did I Watch This?

Mio Sakamoto and Minna Wilcke seem to be missing from this lineup.
L-R Charlotte/Shirley "Chuck" Yeager, Francessca "Franco" Lucchinni,
Sonya "Lydia" Litvyak, Perinne "Pierre" Closterman, Yoshika Miyafuji,
Eila "llmari" Juutilainen, Lynette Bishop, Gertrude "Gerhard" Barkhorn
and Erica "Eric" Hartmann.

Strike Witches: Why Did I Watch This?


I don't believe I ACTUALLY watched this silly thing! You Tubed it over a period of a few nights.

The historical references kept me glued to it. The Yeager/Lucchinni  buddy pairing was amusing and the confrontation between Barkhorn and Marsaille had me thinking "Wile E. Coyote vs Huckleberrry Hound".

Otherwise it was really nothing more than a lesboboobgrabpantyshotparade. Lucchinnis' enthusiasm in that direction had me wondering.

I'll never get that time spent watching this back, but I was amused enough not to regret it too much.


Wikipedia article on Strike Witches here.

Chuck Yeagers' official website here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.