Chiyoko: The 1 000 Generations Child

Chapter 8: Baby

The evening fell. The sun painted the sky shades of scarlet as Kenji filled up the van carefully listening to Yoshito's instructions.

"And now you put the ladder in the left back corner. Watch out for the paint," Yoshito ordered.

"Yes, sir."

Kenji struggled the ladder into the van. As he tried not to scratch the indoor paint job, he heard an unfamiliar voice.

"Yoshito-san, long time no see."

"It's been a long time indeed, Emiko-san. I'm glad you called. What do you say we'll hit the old karaoke bar tonight?"

Kenji rolled his eyes. Again that lousy bar. The drinks are average and the singing horrible. Why does he like that place so much?

Kenji secured the ladder as his eyes widened.

The old witch wanted to redecorate the shrine tonight...

The bar or spending time with the scary old witch? Which one would be worse?

Emiko laughed. "The old karaoke bar it is, my friend. I wonder if they still have Baby on their playlist."

The world around Kenji dissappeared as sheer terror crossed his face.

Baby.

The night before Yoshito and several other old geezers had climbed the stage singing...

ᴮᵃᵇʸヽ('-・-｀)ﾉ♬ ᵇᵃᵇʸ♪ ヾ( = . =)ﾉ ᵒʰ
☆*.:.*☆ /. . / ☆**☆ᵇᵃᵇʸ ☆*☆\- - \☆*.:.*☆
☆*.:.*☆ \ |☆*.:.*☆☆*.:.*☆ | |☆*.:.*☆

... while slowly loosening the buttons on their clothes and looking as constipated as possible.

A shiver ran through Kenji's spine.

Spending time with the old witch seems not so bad after all...

He got out of the van, greeted Emiko and feigned just remembering he had a previous appointment that night.

Kenji bowed profusely as he excused himself over and over again.

"My hands are bound, Yoshito-sama, Emiko-sama. Kuyu Azami-dono expects me home tonight."

"Kuyu Azami-chan?" Yoshito rubbed his chin. "Is she still as beautiful as back in the days, Kenji-kun?"

A smile crossed Yoshito's lips. He poked Emiko with his elbow. "She really did her name honour when we were young, right Emiko-san?"

Emiko mused. "All the men's hearts skipped a beat whenever they heard her voice. So soft, so fragile. So full of love."

Soft? Fragile? Full of love? Is he talking about the old witch? The Kuyu Azami I know is a real thistle, Kenji thought.

Yoshito nodded. "Too bad she married Kuyu."

"Didn't you know, Yoshito-san? Kuyu-san died three years ago."

Yoshito let the information sink in for a moment. Fire lurked in his eyes as his eyebrows formed tiny horns. "He died, now did he?"

Yoshito rubbed his hands. He then casually walked towards Kenji and laid his arm around Kenji's shoulder as he guided him away from Emiko.

"Say, Kenji-kun," he whispered, "if you can put in a good word for me with Azami-chan consider yourself up for promotion."

He patted Kenji's back and pushed him away. "Now off you go. We don't want to let her wait, now do we?"

Yoshito turned around, held his hand in the air to say goodbye and walked away.

He laid his arm on Emiko's shoulder and the old geezers quickly were engulfed in an animated conversation.

Kenji watched them head to the bar.

He shook his head thinking about Yoshito's offer.

The old witch doesn't like me enough for me to safely do any suggestions about her love life... And if I liked her enough, I'd never even consider his offer.

Men getting women like that are never to be trusted. The next thing you know they'd want your wife.

Kenji shrugged as he held up his arms.

Guess no promotions for me.

🔹꒰ঌ😈໒꒱🔹

Kenji wandered the streets staring at the setting sun as his phone rang.

"Hello?"

A voice shouted:"Don't forget my salt!"

Kenji broke off the connection. Defeat clouded his gaze and he slumped.

She's back.