Obsession

Story: Toki Go

Summary: Twenty one-shots surrounding everyone’s obsession.

Character: Akikawa

Theme: Birthday

Akikawa did not waste his time with trivial matters; he preferred to think of himself as a practical man. Growing up, he never found himself in intimate relationships – unless, of course, the question of whether or not his nose was having a violent affair with his textbooks came into play. Many assumed it was for this reason that he graduated early, with numerous honors, and an apprenticeship, to boot.

From an early age, Akikawa exhibited an almost unhealthy work ethic, and it was a steady progression. By the age of four, his chores were finished before his parents thought to remind him, and by seven, he had discovered the joys of doing his parent’s chores as well.

The leaky faucet his mother had complained about for years, but his father never got around to fixing was tightened in about five minutes. The flaky light fixture that hadn’t worked since they moved in was repaired in ten.

So, really, his mother shouldn't have been surprised when she realized that none of his toys stayed broken for more than an hour. But regardless of all his efforts to maintain them, Akikawa had discarded all of his toys by the time he was nine.

Akikawa had no time for playing – Maiko would tell him otherwise, insisting that his experiments with Sokumi were just that, but he would hear none of it. He was simply practicing for his debut as a world-renowned inventor. It was upon hearing this bold declaration that his sister would giggle behind her hand and leave him in peace.

But the aspiring inventor didn’t care; it made no difference to him what his sister or anyone else thought because he knew that all of his work would pay off one day. He could think of nothing else, and whatever else there was did not interest him in the slightest.

So as it was, he was nothing short of baffled when one day, Chikara asked him when his birthday was. “I hope we haven’t missed it,” she said, “Natsuoki and I would have to wait another year for it to come around; and we've planned it so well, too.”

Akikawa grimaced. “I don’t want to know what you have planned,” he said. It would undoubtedly send him to his grave, whatever it was. Whether by food-poisoning or bizarre entertainment, he wasn't sure which, but he would know who to blame. With any luck, it would be Natsuoki doing the cooking, and not Chikara. He shuddered as he recalled the steaming plate of what looked like a pile of mud placed before him; he could have sworn the thing twitched at him.

“Oh, right!” said Chikara, winking obnoxiously. “Wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, would we?”

Akikawa rolled his eyes and let the comment slide. Chikara continued to pester him all day about the matter, popping up at the oddest moments to acquire the elusive date. At last he threw his arms in the air and shouted, “April!”

Chikara blinked and flashed her teeth in that god-forsaken grin of hers – the one she always used after winning a battle. “What’s that, Aki-kun?” she asked lightly.

“It’s in April,” he repeated, groaning to himself and wiping his forehead in exasperation. “Can’t you think of anything better to do?” he asked. “Like helping me find a way to get back to the present day?” Presently, he was hovering over a small, primitive box he had constructed from broken pottery and iron.

Chikara’s grin broadened in an awful sort of way, and she told him, “Oh, but we’re already there, aren't we? And to tell you the truth, my ‘present’ is a good three-quarters of a century off from yours, isn’t it?” She paused, taking in his hateful glare. “Besides, Cowhead,” she went on. “You didn’t say when in April.”

“You’ll just have to guess, then.”

This was no problem for her; Chikara found formalities all too boring, and he knew it. At least it would get her off his back for a while. Akikawa had thought this, at least until he heard Chikara call out to Natsuoki. “Oi, Natsu-chan! We’re throwing him a surprise party, after all!”

Damn it all. “How obnoxious,” he mumbled, not caring if they heard him.

It was such a bother worrying over these trivial things.

---

Author's notes: This is mostly an outlet for me to work with these characters when I'm stuck on a chapter. Speaking of which, I'm largely posting this right now is for two reasons: One being that I want to see the reaction, if any, and Two being that I'm still working on the next chapter. I came back to revise this tonight, while brainstorming for that one.

This particular theme was finished way back in April of last year, I think, so there was quite a bit of moving around to do. I know Natsuoki hasn't been introduced yet in the main story, but I don't think there's enough of her here to cause too much confusion. It's mostly just Akikawa and our charming redhead. This is as opposed to posting an entire theme for characters that haven't made an appearance yet.