Chereads / Tachibana Palace / Chapter 4 - Ken Tachibana

Chapter 4 - Ken Tachibana

Tachibana puts gloves on Tori since everything he touches he freezes but the doctor said it's perfectly fine.

He carries Tori into the building who yawns and falls asleep in his arms. They never slept because he took him from expert to expert to try and figure out how to handle his ability.

It's rare for one to manifest so soon and the earlier it manifests the more powerful it will be, but most doctors mentioned that abilities that manifest in children this soon end up killing the child. 

It's absolutely dreaded by doctors when a child is born with an ability because most never make it past the one year mark.

The right age for an ability to manifest is 3 years and upwards. Sooner than that doctors hope and pray for a miracle, but at the moment they are still hoping and praying. They do not know how to fix the early ability problem.

Yuno runs to Tachibana and watches Tori sleep.

"I take it you're done with Mr Ryujin?"

"Yes sir, though could you explain why you kidnapped Bobo. I was worried sick, literally."

He rolls his eyes and hands the boy over to her walking to his office. He has back to back meetings scheduled. The first one is with Setsuno Suzuki, he has the ability of plant manipulation.

Tachibana wants to upgrade his hotel by having a beautiful floral theme all year round, with his ability he can keep the roses and plants bright and blossoming January to December.

After that it's a meeting with the head of the Kagawa prefecture about the misappropriated funds and a possible solution that doesn't involve just letting the contract die just like that.

Mr Roman will be coming to him about his business with the Roman High academy. Currently it's the only school that accommodates children with abilities without prejudice. 

Tachibana will be donating funds to the school to make the fees more affordable for other children with special abilities.

Most of the teachers there can relate to the struggle of being ostracized so those children will find a home there.

Yuno takes a nap and wakes up to find Tori gone. She wonders the building only to find out he's been kidnapped by Tachibana again, "Oi, Miss Sensen, did he explain to you where he's been with Tori?"

"No, they're leaving again in fact."

Yuno's face pales she can appreciate him helping, but this is straight A kidnapping, "Did he say where they're going and when they'll be back?"

"Not a single word."

~

Tachibana gets in the car and drives to his first meeting.

"Can you explain to me why we've kidnapped this boy?" His Personal Assistant asks. He's the only person that isn't afraid of Tachibana. Most employees are afraid of him more than the actual boss.

He stares at the baby holding a set of plastic keys wiggling them up and down. The Personal Assistant does not understand why Tachibana let him tag along.

"He freezes everything he touches and there's a new law that everyone with a new ability has to get tested and registered.

"The Kaminari Corp has built a new system that identifies people with abilities very easily and today they will start putting them up all over Japan.

"Hitori has to be registered either wise everywhere he goes alarms will sound and more bullshit."

"Oh, you mean that crazy rule that those with abilities will only be allowed to visit certain areas is going to be officially dropped?"

"Maybe, you do know that almost all of the men and women in power have no abilities so we're still being led by cowards who fear special abilities, but the reason he's tagging along is because at the Head House these systems have already been put up, and well, I can't hide my ability anymore."

The male at the back sighs in disappointment, "Are you seriously going to use this child as a shield to bluff your way past the doors?"

"Don't be an idiot, why else would I bring along a toddler? Besides his ability was labelled as absolute Zero you know what that means right?"

"He can freeze anything at a molecular level including the air itself."

"That's not as far as that ability goes though, he can freeze anyone he touches to ashes. His ability manifesting at such a young age can only mean trouble for Yuno.

"THEY won't hesitate to take him away claiming jurisdiction over the child like he's not a human being."

Thr personal assistant smiles at Tori, "You better hurry up with your super big plan to save the next generation than because at the rate you're going by the time you have an actual solution in the works it will be too late."

"I'm working at a pace that fits quit nicely actually so your worries don't bother me at all. I should throw you out for bringing your negativity into my car."

"Wow, I am so scared." Ackerman replies in a dry monotone and watches Tori stare blankly around the car babbling almost saying Bobo, but it's coming out as Momo.

The two and a half men reach their final destination and walk into the building. The moment they walk through the doors there's a flash of red lights and a ding-ding-ding sound.

"Wow, he really likes being around people doesn't he?" The Personal Assistant comments when Tori chuckles and smiles at the strangers looking their way. Tachibana simply replies with a nod.

"Mr Tachibana and Mr Ackerman we're glad you're early, and who is this little one?"

"That's a Bobo." Mr Ackerman says with an excitable expression on his face while Tachibana is questioning himself on how he still hasn't fired this man.

The woman stares blankly sucking her teeth with a scrunched up facial expression. She simply brushes it off and leads them to the conference room.

Yuno sees Tori on TV and her face feels like it's melting. She can't put two and two together as to why her Bobo is on TV with Mr Tachibana who is supposed to be making a very important announcement in front of the whole country.

How Tori fits into his little issue baffles her.

Tachibana puts Tori on his lap and watches as the lights flash on and off in their direction signalling that the baby has some sort of ability.

"Mr Tachibana is that your child?"

"No, I kidnapped him."

The room goes quiet and no one can tell if he's pulling a joke or he's serious.

Tori sneezes and a white mist shoots from his nose, mouth, and ears. He babbles Momo repeatedly and Tachibana waits for the red lights to switch off before he hands the baby over to his P.A

Yuno watches the conference. Tachibana is quiet half the time it is only towards the end that he stands up and makes a statement.

"All the members involved in the Japan rebuilding projecting will all be suspended and taken for a hearing. The misappropriated funds will be taken from their personal accounts and the permanent contract will remain permanent.

"All those with abilities that can cover up for the material that we lost are being asked to please register your ability and sign up to help rebuild the prefectures.

"The last attack left cities in ruins and many people are still homeless. The Tachibana Corporation will be forming a new team and side branch that specialises in employing and paying all those individuals handsomely to restore our country.

"The days of Ostracising those with abilities will be over.

"These new red flashing lights will be taken down effective and immediately, and all children with a special gift will be getting free education at the Roman high institutes that will start building branch schools all over the country.

"From kindergarten to high school it will be free. The only requirement to enrol will be an ability form, that's all I have to say."

Tori claps and babbles at the back laughing. He's not loud it's just that the room is in complete silence. Everyone at the table beside him is shocked and lost for words.

Ackerman smirks carrying the baby. Tachibana always has a way of getting the timing just right almost like he's been secretly plotting for a long time. The way he phrased his statements made it sound like it's something everyone agrees too.

Killuhua Kaminari is the head of the prefecture. With him being the man he is, he will decide to support Tachibana because he's a man that likes appeasing the crowd.

He knows how to say all the right things, but when it comes to actions he's quiet. He's not above leaching off of Tachibana's investments to stay in power and that's exactly what Tachibana is banking on.

The press start asking questions and Tachibana is silent all over again leaving the other government officials to deal with the situation.

He keeps his smirk in check listening to the others add more and more ideas as to how they'll improve the situation and stop separating people.

Yuno is happy about the announcement like everyone else, but she still doesn't get why her Bobo is on TV,

"Is Tachibana Hitori's father or something?"

Yuno blinks back the confusion,  "I don't know, but that theory is starting to sound viable to me, I mean, why else would he have my Bobo over there?"

"You didn't see it did you?"

"Of course she didn't see it she was getting us drinks."

"See what?" Yuno asks looking confused.

Her two co-workers go on the internet and show her the memes that are already out featuring Tori's sneezing fit. She raises a brow hoping they'll tell her it's photoshopped but she is no idiot she knows exactly what that means.

"Mr Tachibana is that your child?" A voice is heard asking from the TV.

"Wouldn't you like to know."

Yuno mentally falls into a ditch as all eyes are on her. Everyone knows that Tori is her child it's only a few members of the staff who know the truth.

"Well, this is awkward." Yuno jokes and goes to her room waiting for Tachibana to come back and explain himself.

She's not mad, he's no idiot she knows he had a good reason, but his way of just doing things and explaining himself after isn't the way she wants to operate when it involves Bobo