The Chikamori Selfacy (A Reboot)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-451kWfI6hzI/X8bPPtEyeVI/AAAAAAAAk54/KB3_SyRJ73IFG8EkSAmOkYAyCBOz1giwgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/ChikamoriSelfacyReboot_banner.png Prologue: June 12, 1970; Sacred Spleen Hospital...
Forum Discussion
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Generation One
Chapter Seven - "Haruo and River"
(Part Four)
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River smiled a knowing smile as she brushed him lightly, her hand caressing his chest through the t-shirt, her voice a soft growl, "Oh, you don't know just how bad I want you right now...".
Haruo's eyebrows nearly met his hairline while his lips curled up in a wicked smile thinking of all the plays on those words that his erstwhile chaste mind, after having taken a rather direct path straight into the gutter, could come up with, no pun intended.
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After a while, Haruo asked River, “Y’know...I was wondering...” he paused for a moment while, the pregnant pause causing River to raise an eyebrow in expectation of the continuation of his statement, “well...um...if you were hungry...”
“Are you?” River asked tossing the ball right back in his court.
“Uh...kind of...”
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“Well, then don’t you think we should make our way back down and try and find something to eat?” River suggested, an impish look on her face.
Haruo smirked at her, “Yeah...maybe...we should, don’tcha think?”
River grinned back at him, “Yeah, I think we should...” she took his arm and they walked back down the trail to the road where they hailed a taxi which had parked there to wait for fares that were at the local watering hole.
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Considering they hadn’t eaten since late morning, their stomachs were growling, eagerly demanding to be fed. All through the taxi-ride, it was embarrassing as one stomach growled and the other one growled in sympathetic response. Thankfully, the taxi-driver made no comment as they got out of the cab at Hogan’s.
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When they got out, it appeared as though the food odours had attracted the local wildlife, since two raccoons were prowling the parking lot; whether they were looking for food the customers had dropped or not it wasn’t certain, but River and Haruo gave the raccoons a wide berth as they could be carrying diseases such as rabies, parvovirus and t. gondii otherwise known as toxoplasmosis. Although cute, these little ring-tailed ruffians were a royal pain as they would come around at night and knock over garbage cans; luckily the trash bins were a bit too high for them to get into.
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“Awwww, honey, look...raccoons.” River gushed at seeing the little masked pests.
Haruo grumbled, “They’re walking petri dishes for parvoviralenteritis; sweetheart, I wouldn’t go near them if I were you.” he cautioned.
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“How do you know all that? I thought biology wasn’t your best subject.” River, startled, looked over at him.
“I do read, y’know...” he grinned at her. “If Canadians were allowed to be on Jeopardy, I’d be a shoe-in...with all the useless facts my head is crammed with.”
River smirked at him, “So...Tom Clancy isn’t the only author you read...?” as they walked towards the restaurant doors. “Ever since you got the book Hunt for Red October...that’s all I’ve seen you carry around...”
“Hey... I read Red Storm Rising and Patriot Games.” Haruo said indignantly. “And Red Pheonix...that’s by Larry Bond, y’know.."
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“I rest my case...” River had a triumphant grin on her face and nudged him shoulder-to-shoulder with an affectionate side-step towards him. Haruo put his arm around her waist and that was how they walked towards the Hogan’s Diner entrance. Though they may have had to split apart to get through the single opening door; the other was locked, they managed to go in and get seated.
Chikamori Residence – the next morning
Fiona had come downstairs to find Dorie at the door, “Dorie...what is it?”
“I just needed to tell you something, even though it’s kind of a shock...” Dorie looked over at Fiona, a look of concern etched on her face. She paused for a long moment, reluctant to continue, but finally, “It’s that...Bebe’s all grown up...and we feel that she needs her space. She’s making good money at work and well, we figured that it was finally time to let her be by herself. Y’know, gain some independence and spread her wings? Gus and I were planning to move out...and find ourselves another place.” Dorie didn’t say it, but she knew that Bebe was sweet on Torao and that eventually their only child would be a member of the most wealthy family in Sunset Valley. Despite Dorie’s reputation as absent-minded; she was observant, especially when it came to her only child.
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“I understand, Dorie...” Fiona smiled at her friend, knowing that she was making a hard decision. A parent wants the best for their children, though sometimes the path of the child differs from what the parent wants and that is where the parent has to realize that when their child is old enough, it is their life to do with and the parent has to lay down the reins and watch from a distance as their child negotiates the trials of life. “It is hard to let go, isn’t it?”
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“Oh, definitely...” Dorie had the hint of tears in her eyes and a catch in her voice. “They’re young for only a short amount of time and then you have to let them go. It’s hard, but necessary...” she sniffled a bit, “But it doesn’t make the decision any easier, for us at least.”
“Same here, Dorie, It’s the fact that we see our children as small tiny babies and then they grow up and don’t need us any more.” Fiona nodded acknowledging the pain and heart-ache that Dorie was going through. “I’m going to go through the same with River.” she said. “But at least I know that who she’s with is who she has been with for eighteen years.”
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“Not like someone just off the street, right?” Dorie asked. “You at least know who his character is as a man.”
“And...he’ll be good for her...” Fiona replied, then contemplated the situation at hand that Dorie needed to have solved, “I think we’ll have to talk to Yasunobu about how we’re going to do the hand-over of the third interest...or is Bebe taking over your third of the mortgage?
“We managed to get a mortgage on a house just down the way. I guess the fact that we’ve been paying our third of the mortgage has affected our credit rating in a positive way. So what I think we’ll do is make sure that Bebe has enough to cover the mortgage for this month and next and we’ll cover our own mortgage; Gus has been a little more responsible with his work...the and he’s managed to get a raise so we’ll be fine and the two months of mortgage payments to help Bebe get a financial leg up, won’t harm us.” Dorie said... “The tough part is dealing with her leaving the nest.” she paused for a moment, “The only thing that I worry about is her being there in our suite completely alone.”
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“Is Bebe seeing Torao?” Fiona asked. Dorie nodded. “Oh, so why not let Bebe and Torao room together and then that way, they have their own little space; at least until they figure out what they’re going to do with their own accommodations. If you’re planning it that way, perhaps, when she does find her own place, she can use that third interest of the triplex as a mortgage helper.”
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Dorie smiled, “Y’know, Fiona, that’s a great idea. Then she and Torao can get a good leg up on life with a solid income helper...and the mortgage is only about §500.00 a month. And rents are skyrocketing here with the immigration and all that and all the people looking for a place to live.” Dorie paused for a moment and asked, “So what are you going to do with an empty nest?”
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“Oh...Japanese families from what Yasunobu tells me is that they take care of their parents from the onset of elder status to the grave; it’s the Japanese way of taking care of their elders.” Fiona looked at her, “I don’t want to be a burden to Haruo and River, but at least I know that they’ll help if I run into financial issues. Right now I have this job and I have no desire to retire until I reach a pinnacle in my occupation.”
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“Doesn’t that sound a bit onerous on the kids, though?” Dorie shook her head, “I wouldn’t want to make them feel like they had to take care of me...”
“I think it is, but Haruo feels differently. I guess...it’s the way that he was raised, that it’s expected.” Fiona explained, “It’s a family obligation to take care of family...no matter how we non-Japanese elders may feel about it. To me, a Westerner, it just reeks of entitlement to what I consider, sponging off our kids, but to each their own, I guess.”
“Heavens be to the Watcher, if he has to take care of that insufferable old bat of a mother...I feel so sorry for him.” Dorie commiserated, “I swear that last screaming match...yesterday took the cake.” she muttered, “I hate to say it, but it cemented our decision to move out though it puts Yasunobu in a bad spot. I hope he can forgive us, but I don’t think we can take any more of Mayumi’s ranting, it’s starting to affect our sleep...and in turn we don’t want to have it affect our jobs.”
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“I understand, and I think Yasunobu will understand too.” Fiona countered letting Dorie know that it was going to be positive, “And I think you’re making a good decision to get away from all this. Mayumi’s ranting wasn’t something you signed up for to be part and parcel of the family dysfunction.”
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“Well, if Bebe goes with Torao...and River goes with Haruo, then we’ll all be family dysfunction together.” Dorie laughed and Fiona joined in.
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Yasunobu came in from harvesting the trees, raising his eyebrows when he saw Fiona and Dorie conversing in animated gestures and laughing, “Oh...hello, Dorie... How you, ne?”
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“Oh, I’m good, Yasunobu...Gus and I needed let you know that we were intending on transferring our interest in the house to Bebe, now that she has a job. We were approved for a mortgage and we put in an offer on a house just down the road from you.” Yasunobu raised his right eyebrow even further, “The offer was accepted and we’re now the owners of the house at the end of the block...the one facing the street we’re currently on.” Dorie informed him.
“Oh...good. Nice house...lots more room than this. Good.” he nodded. “Bebe take over mortgage?”
“We’ll be paying her next two months then after that she gets to carry it.” Dorie stated, explaining what she and Gus were planning on doing. , “She’ll need some time to get her financial footing under her and well, Gus is doing well...and my political career seems to be going on an up-swing. So we can carry our own mortgage now. I just hate leaving you in a tough spot.”
“No...no...that’s ok... my son...he become writer or...try find job collecting. He show me gemstone he, Franz collect...don’t tell ex-wife.” he winked, “I sure he do good.” Yasunobu was the supportive father, Dorie thought, unlike his miserable shrew of an, what was it, ex-wife now. “I talk to lawyer, she no touch his money...mine...too...lawyer say he draw up paper...I go pick up tomorrow. So we be OK.”
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“Well, that’s good to hear, Yasunobu, I just didn’t want us to end up leaving you in dire financial straits which it appears like this won’t. I’m glad to hear it.” Dorie stated. “I hope you and Haruo manage to get through this; meaning you and Mayumi separating.”
“Thank you.” Yasunobu nodded his head. “Good luck to you...neh...new house...”
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(end Part Four)
Generation One
Chapter Seven - "Haruo and River"
(Part Four)
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River smiled a knowing smile as she brushed him lightly, her hand caressing his chest through the t-shirt, her voice a soft growl, "Oh, you don't know just how bad I want you right now...".
Haruo's eyebrows nearly met his hairline while his lips curled up in a wicked smile thinking of all the plays on those words that his erstwhile chaste mind, after having taken a rather direct path straight into the gutter, could come up with, no pun intended.
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After a while, Haruo asked River, “Y’know...I was wondering...” he paused for a moment while, the pregnant pause causing River to raise an eyebrow in expectation of the continuation of his statement, “well...um...if you were hungry...”
“Are you?” River asked tossing the ball right back in his court.
“Uh...kind of...”
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“Well, then don’t you think we should make our way back down and try and find something to eat?” River suggested, an impish look on her face.
Haruo smirked at her, “Yeah...maybe...we should, don’tcha think?”
River grinned back at him, “Yeah, I think we should...” she took his arm and they walked back down the trail to the road where they hailed a taxi which had parked there to wait for fares that were at the local watering hole.
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Considering they hadn’t eaten since late morning, their stomachs were growling, eagerly demanding to be fed. All through the taxi-ride, it was embarrassing as one stomach growled and the other one growled in sympathetic response. Thankfully, the taxi-driver made no comment as they got out of the cab at Hogan’s.
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When they got out, it appeared as though the food odours had attracted the local wildlife, since two raccoons were prowling the parking lot; whether they were looking for food the customers had dropped or not it wasn’t certain, but River and Haruo gave the raccoons a wide berth as they could be carrying diseases such as rabies, parvovirus and t. gondii otherwise known as toxoplasmosis. Although cute, these little ring-tailed ruffians were a royal pain as they would come around at night and knock over garbage cans; luckily the trash bins were a bit too high for them to get into.
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“Awwww, honey, look...raccoons.” River gushed at seeing the little masked pests.
Haruo grumbled, “They’re walking petri dishes for parvoviralenteritis; sweetheart, I wouldn’t go near them if I were you.” he cautioned.
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“How do you know all that? I thought biology wasn’t your best subject.” River, startled, looked over at him.
“I do read, y’know...” he grinned at her. “If Canadians were allowed to be on Jeopardy, I’d be a shoe-in...with all the useless facts my head is crammed with.”
River smirked at him, “So...Tom Clancy isn’t the only author you read...?” as they walked towards the restaurant doors. “Ever since you got the book Hunt for Red October...that’s all I’ve seen you carry around...”
“Hey... I read Red Storm Rising and Patriot Games.” Haruo said indignantly. “And Red Pheonix...that’s by Larry Bond, y’know.."
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“I rest my case...” River had a triumphant grin on her face and nudged him shoulder-to-shoulder with an affectionate side-step towards him. Haruo put his arm around her waist and that was how they walked towards the Hogan’s Diner entrance. Though they may have had to split apart to get through the single opening door; the other was locked, they managed to go in and get seated.
Chikamori Residence – the next morning
Fiona had come downstairs to find Dorie at the door, “Dorie...what is it?”
“I just needed to tell you something, even though it’s kind of a shock...” Dorie looked over at Fiona, a look of concern etched on her face. She paused for a long moment, reluctant to continue, but finally, “It’s that...Bebe’s all grown up...and we feel that she needs her space. She’s making good money at work and well, we figured that it was finally time to let her be by herself. Y’know, gain some independence and spread her wings? Gus and I were planning to move out...and find ourselves another place.” Dorie didn’t say it, but she knew that Bebe was sweet on Torao and that eventually their only child would be a member of the most wealthy family in Sunset Valley. Despite Dorie’s reputation as absent-minded; she was observant, especially when it came to her only child.
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“I understand, Dorie...” Fiona smiled at her friend, knowing that she was making a hard decision. A parent wants the best for their children, though sometimes the path of the child differs from what the parent wants and that is where the parent has to realize that when their child is old enough, it is their life to do with and the parent has to lay down the reins and watch from a distance as their child negotiates the trials of life. “It is hard to let go, isn’t it?”
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“Oh, definitely...” Dorie had the hint of tears in her eyes and a catch in her voice. “They’re young for only a short amount of time and then you have to let them go. It’s hard, but necessary...” she sniffled a bit, “But it doesn’t make the decision any easier, for us at least.”
“Same here, Dorie, It’s the fact that we see our children as small tiny babies and then they grow up and don’t need us any more.” Fiona nodded acknowledging the pain and heart-ache that Dorie was going through. “I’m going to go through the same with River.” she said. “But at least I know that who she’s with is who she has been with for eighteen years.”
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“Not like someone just off the street, right?” Dorie asked. “You at least know who his character is as a man.”
“And...he’ll be good for her...” Fiona replied, then contemplated the situation at hand that Dorie needed to have solved, “I think we’ll have to talk to Yasunobu about how we’re going to do the hand-over of the third interest...or is Bebe taking over your third of the mortgage?
“We managed to get a mortgage on a house just down the way. I guess the fact that we’ve been paying our third of the mortgage has affected our credit rating in a positive way. So what I think we’ll do is make sure that Bebe has enough to cover the mortgage for this month and next and we’ll cover our own mortgage; Gus has been a little more responsible with his work...the and he’s managed to get a raise so we’ll be fine and the two months of mortgage payments to help Bebe get a financial leg up, won’t harm us.” Dorie said... “The tough part is dealing with her leaving the nest.” she paused for a moment, “The only thing that I worry about is her being there in our suite completely alone.”
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“Is Bebe seeing Torao?” Fiona asked. Dorie nodded. “Oh, so why not let Bebe and Torao room together and then that way, they have their own little space; at least until they figure out what they’re going to do with their own accommodations. If you’re planning it that way, perhaps, when she does find her own place, she can use that third interest of the triplex as a mortgage helper.”
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Dorie smiled, “Y’know, Fiona, that’s a great idea. Then she and Torao can get a good leg up on life with a solid income helper...and the mortgage is only about §500.00 a month. And rents are skyrocketing here with the immigration and all that and all the people looking for a place to live.” Dorie paused for a moment and asked, “So what are you going to do with an empty nest?”
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“Oh...Japanese families from what Yasunobu tells me is that they take care of their parents from the onset of elder status to the grave; it’s the Japanese way of taking care of their elders.” Fiona looked at her, “I don’t want to be a burden to Haruo and River, but at least I know that they’ll help if I run into financial issues. Right now I have this job and I have no desire to retire until I reach a pinnacle in my occupation.”
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“Doesn’t that sound a bit onerous on the kids, though?” Dorie shook her head, “I wouldn’t want to make them feel like they had to take care of me...”
“I think it is, but Haruo feels differently. I guess...it’s the way that he was raised, that it’s expected.” Fiona explained, “It’s a family obligation to take care of family...no matter how we non-Japanese elders may feel about it. To me, a Westerner, it just reeks of entitlement to what I consider, sponging off our kids, but to each their own, I guess.”
“Heavens be to the Watcher, if he has to take care of that insufferable old bat of a mother...I feel so sorry for him.” Dorie commiserated, “I swear that last screaming match...yesterday took the cake.” she muttered, “I hate to say it, but it cemented our decision to move out though it puts Yasunobu in a bad spot. I hope he can forgive us, but I don’t think we can take any more of Mayumi’s ranting, it’s starting to affect our sleep...and in turn we don’t want to have it affect our jobs.”
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“I understand, and I think Yasunobu will understand too.” Fiona countered letting Dorie know that it was going to be positive, “And I think you’re making a good decision to get away from all this. Mayumi’s ranting wasn’t something you signed up for to be part and parcel of the family dysfunction.”
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“Well, if Bebe goes with Torao...and River goes with Haruo, then we’ll all be family dysfunction together.” Dorie laughed and Fiona joined in.
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Yasunobu came in from harvesting the trees, raising his eyebrows when he saw Fiona and Dorie conversing in animated gestures and laughing, “Oh...hello, Dorie... How you, ne?”
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“Oh, I’m good, Yasunobu...Gus and I needed let you know that we were intending on transferring our interest in the house to Bebe, now that she has a job. We were approved for a mortgage and we put in an offer on a house just down the road from you.” Yasunobu raised his right eyebrow even further, “The offer was accepted and we’re now the owners of the house at the end of the block...the one facing the street we’re currently on.” Dorie informed him.
“Oh...good. Nice house...lots more room than this. Good.” he nodded. “Bebe take over mortgage?”
“We’ll be paying her next two months then after that she gets to carry it.” Dorie stated, explaining what she and Gus were planning on doing. , “She’ll need some time to get her financial footing under her and well, Gus is doing well...and my political career seems to be going on an up-swing. So we can carry our own mortgage now. I just hate leaving you in a tough spot.”
“No...no...that’s ok... my son...he become writer or...try find job collecting. He show me gemstone he, Franz collect...don’t tell ex-wife.” he winked, “I sure he do good.” Yasunobu was the supportive father, Dorie thought, unlike his miserable shrew of an, what was it, ex-wife now. “I talk to lawyer, she no touch his money...mine...too...lawyer say he draw up paper...I go pick up tomorrow. So we be OK.”
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“Well, that’s good to hear, Yasunobu, I just didn’t want us to end up leaving you in dire financial straits which it appears like this won’t. I’m glad to hear it.” Dorie stated. “I hope you and Haruo manage to get through this; meaning you and Mayumi separating.”
“Thank you.” Yasunobu nodded his head. “Good luck to you...neh...new house...”
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(end Part Four)
