Party

Another normal morning or as normal as it can be began once again. Eisei got the mail to find the annual invitation for a party. Trying to ignore it, Eisei threw it in the junk mail pile. Unknowingly to Eisei, Moc took the letter and opened it in front of Jin and Zenki.

The invitation was for the Doctors' recognition party to award the greatest doctor of the year. Moc slapped his head on his forehead realizing that Eisei wasn't planning to go… Again.

"I can't believe she is going to pass up the party again! She has been invited since she was eleven and she refuses each time. Then a week letter I get the message to pick up the trophy that she had failed to go to receive," Moc ranted. Zenki and Jin wanted to console Moc, but they were afraid that Moc's anger would turn on to them.

"That's because I don't care. I don't want to go to some snooty party to get a stupid trophy that just takes up space. And Mr. Uragirimono is there. Do I need to continue?"

The men jumped at the voice of the doctor as she was passing to throw out the junk mail. She looked annoyed with Moc and the letter.

"But I probably do need to go this year. My current invention is tricky to work, and no one will believe it without a demonstration. I will need an escort too," Eisei mentally battled herself, talking out loud.

"I'll go with you!" Moc said. His eyes gleamed in excitement of his mother's first party.

"I would let you, but other doctors will call foul play and discredit my invention," Eisei sighed. Everyone finally understood why Eisei hasn't been going to the parties. Eisei gets nervous around strangers without someone familiar like Moc to be with her.

"I'll go if Moc can't," Zenki said. Everyone stared at him for a moment. Eisei started to debate with herself again and it was a bit scary with Eisei pacing back and forth and then completely zoning out.

"Zenki, you are going to need a suit."


The party was loud and warm. Filled with doctors in formal wear with their white coat resting on their shoulders. Eisei wasn't too different. She wore a simple light blue dress with her coat covering her arm.

Zenki and Eisei got separated from each other in the crowd. Bombarded with other famous doctors, Eisei was trapped for a while. Zenki, on the other hand, was ignored for the most part. He would get occasional glares and whispers of how he wasn't a doctor or any medical specialist. Others talked with Zenki and made jokes. Enjoying the party, he decided to explore some crowds. Eventually, he found a some-what familiar face.

"Hey it's you!"

"Gyah! Don't tell me that you're a doctor too!" The older man cried out. Zenki would have beaten the man's face in but remembered where he was.

"No, no, I'm here with a friend. She's the doctor," Zenki said. He was still embarrassed to call Eisei his girlfriend.

"She must be some nutjo—" His mumbles vanished when he spotted Eisei in the crowd walking towards them.

"Zenki, are you enjoying the party?" Eisei walked over with two cups of punch in her hands. She handed one to Zenki.

"Yeah. I thought it was going to be a lot more formal than this, but it turned out to be so much fun," Zenki said.

Eisei smiled, "I must admit, being my first party, I also thought it was going to be boring. Then again, I didn't expect all those people to swarm me." Zenki snickered.

"Dr. Hei! A pleasure to meet you!" the man said. Respect and embarrassment was written all over his face as he shook Eisei's hand. "It's such a shame that you no longer have your successful job at the hospital." The man glared at Zenki as if he was the cause of Eisei's job change, which is not wrong.

"Thank you for your concern, but leaving was my choice. Everyone else might have thought that I was very successful then, but success, in my opinion, should be based on one's feelings of happiness and content. I can say that I am truly happy in my current job as a cyborg technologist," Eisei smiled. Zenki got a bit jealous that Eisei was getting a lot of attention. He didn't care if he wasn't but Eisei was his love, not anyone else's.

Eisei, my Goddess! I didn't expect to see you here!" A voice called across the room. Eisei's smile went from gentle to annoyed in record time. Speak of the devil.

"Dr. Teki, good evening. I didn't expect to see you here," Eisei said with a fake smile plastered on her face.

"Would you care to dance with me?" he bowed and held out his hand. Zenki was about to hit him when someone cut in between them.

"Miss. My I have the honor?" He kissed her hand. Eisei looked shocked for a moment, but smiled and curtsied in return.

"Certainly," she said. They waltzed across the room, talking and laughing. Meanwhile, Zenki fumed at the sight. Why would Eisei agree to that man? He thought. Soon the song came to an end and Eisei and the man walked over to Zenki, hand in hand.

"Zenki, long time no see. It's been about a year now hasn't it?" the man said.

"What?" Zenki asked, clearly confused. It took a moment longer for Zenki to realize who the mystery man was. "Simo? Is that really you?"

"Sh! No one really knows that I'm here so be quiet," Simo said. Zenki stared in disbelief as his old friend stood in front of him after a year. "I'm glad that you've found another great doctor to replace me at Steam n Cogs though. I was a bit surprised to see that it was the Child Prodigy, Eisei Hei."

"I didn't expect to see you either," Zenki said. "Here, let me get us some more punch!" Zenki ran off to the table across the room, but with the crowds of people, it looked like it would be minutes before he would ever reach the table.

"So you work at Steam n Cogs now?" Simo asked. It really wasn't a question as it was a statement.

"Yeah, working there has been a great time compared with working under Mr. Uragirimono," Eisei replied.

"I can see, but I feel like I need to warn you about you and your work as a doctor," Simo said. Eisei looked over with a questioning look. Simo continued, "The mainstream medical world will never accept me.

For one, my methods are by no means 'acceptable,' and for two, for every doctor who truly want to do benefit others, there is a handful that wish to make a profit. I will end up doing more good for the world if I never step into the light, that's why I loved working for the shop. If you are wise, you too will slink into the shadows."

Eisei stood and listened. She didn't reply for a long time. When Zenki finally came back, Eisei gave her reply.

"I thank you for the concern, but I love working for the shop as you have did but for a different reason: I've enjoyed being with the people there. And as of the doing better for the world in shadows, I cannot do that. I cannot turn my head away from the people who inspire me to do my work."

Eisei paused, reflecting, "The looks of joy and happiness continue my projects. Sure, there are those who would just want to make money, but that is why I cannot hide. I am needed to show an example for future generations of doctors. If I don't, who will? That is why I shall stay in the light even if it means my life."

Eisei took a glass of punch from Zenki and whispered a thank you.

"All participating doctors in the ceremony tonight shall head backstage now to prepare," the intercom buzzed.

"That's my cue. I'll see you later Zenki," Eisei said. She weaved through the crowd to prepare as the intercom instructed.

Simo stared and thought. Simo whispered over to Zenki, "You have an amazing girlfriend, Zenki."

"I—I wouldn't call her my girlfriend—"

"Really? I might ask her out then."

"No! What I mean is… Yes, she is my girlfriend." Zenki lowered his head in defeat. Simo laughed.

"Don't worry. I already have a girl back in homeland. But I wonder who was the person who inspired her to have that type of philosophy as a doctor."

Zenki watched where Eisei was playing small games with the children. "I think that her parents, Kokoro and Tamashi Hei. Eisei keeps little things from them all the time. Like her clothes for example, her normal T-shirt was her mother's while the lab coat was her father's."

Simo stared at Zenki for a moment. "She must have loved them a lot."

"She did," a voice said. They turned around to see Shi, Eisei's overprotective brother. Zenki froze remembering their last encounter on the snowy mountains. Shi dressed in a tuxedo like the other men, but his had splotches of red. It looked cool and scary at the same time.

"Who are you?" Simo asked not knowing any better of the situation. Zenki tried to stay calm, but room was getting warmer with every moment.

"Shi Hei, Eisei's older brother. A pleasure to meet you Mr. Simo," Shi bowed his head. "And it's nice to see you again Zenki. Moc told me a lot about you."

"Moc? Not from Eisei?" Zenki asked, a bit afraid of the answer.

Shi chuckled, "Yeah, Eisei is pretty shy when I ask about you in my letters. Speaking of which, I'm sorry about last time. I was just so worried about Eisei at that point that I forgot to think of her feelings."

Zenki began to relax. Shi actually seemed to accept him in Eisei's life. Shi said, "Although it surprised me that Eisei yelled at me about it right back."

"Why's that?" Zenki asked. Eisei seemed very capable of yelling at anyone especially when it came to Moc or Hiro's misbehavings.

"Well. Ever since we were little, Eisei had never yelled at me. After our parents' death, she never disagreed with me. She would always listen to me, but I'm glad that she didn't keep her promise," Shi said. He gave a playful wink towards Zenki.

Simo checked his watch and said, "Sorry Zenki, but I have to go now. I still need to stay hidden. See ya." Simo walked off and disappeared.

"So what caused you to be here Shi?" Zenki asked.

"Well, Eisei invited me. She said that the hard work of our parents will finally come to fruition today: their greatest invention."

"Do you know what—"

"Ladies and Gentlemen! We welcome you tonight to see the greatest improvements to the medical society," the intercom boomed. "Now, let us begin with a young but famous doctor, Eisei Hei!" Everyone clapped as the spotlight focused on Eisei holding a small clear cup.

"My invention is on a special metal alloy that can mimic the human tissues such as skin. Scars can disappear, muscles can be repaired, and it can hide the machinery that replaced the original ligament. I call the alloy 'Chameleon!'" Eisei announced. Applause filled the room as whispers traveled across.

"Prove it. This 'Chameleon' must be some major miracle!" A doctor shouted from the crowd.

Eisei smiled. The long sleeved coat was removed in a flare. Her sudden movement caused her hair to reveal her hidden eye. Everyone gasped in horror to see the damaged body. Shi remained quiet but glared at anyone who turned away.

When everyone quieted down, Eisei took the glass and dipped her fingertips into the clear liquid. It slid up her arm and to her eye. The liquid changed into the same color of her skin. Her eye was covered and turned from red to the ocean blue of her other eye.

Zenki's jaw dropped. Eisei was beautiful when she still had her mechanical eye and arm, but in her disguised form, she was absolutely stunning. Everyone applauded and some walked up to touch her arm.

"Thank you. I thank my parents and brother, Shirai, for coming up with 'Chameleon.' Also I would like to thank all my coworkers at Steam n Cogs; I wouldn't have finished the alloy without them."

Eisei walked off staged and the next person walked on. The rest of the presentations were pretty dull. Some involved improvements on tools like the lato Eisei always carries. After the last guy walked off, the intercom boomed again, "Now, it's time to announce the winner! This year it is Dr. Eisei Hei and her 'Chameleon!'"

The crowd roared as Eisei walked to accept her prize. Zenki stood up and cheered. Eisei saw and waved over at him. Her body looked so normal especially the mask on her face. It blushed with her and it evened scrunched in the right ways when she smiled.

After the huge commotion died down, Eisei walked up to Zenki and sat down next to him. Zenki held her hand: the alloyed covered one. Shi laughed at the blush on Eisei's face when she noticed him.

Shi headlocked Eisei and said, "I'm proud of you, but did you have to use my full name?" Eisei smiled and struggled a bit.

"Yes, just to cause you anguish in front of everyone," Eisei said in a monotone voice. Shi pouted and released Eisei.

Eisei stopped laughing and grabbed Zenki's arm and guided him to face Shi. Eisei stared straight at Shi and said, "Shi. This is the man I love, Zenki. I apologize that I didn't introduce you properly to him last time, but this is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with." Zenki's face burst into a new flush. Shi gazed upon his sister with gentle look.

"I'm glad that you tell me this now, or I would have asked Moc in our letters. Mi hermana, lo siento. I was wrong to make you a promise like that. I bet Mama and Papa are proud of you and your love. Promise me to let me walk you down the aisle when you two get married," Shi hugged Eisei again and pulled Zenki into the hug too.

Eisei and Zenki didn't pull away because they didn't want Shi to see the heat on their faces. Eisei out of the corner of her eye spotted Simo smiling at the exit of the room. Eisei smiled.

Once Shi finally detached himself, Zenki whispers in Eisei's ear, "You know, you look pretty with the 'Chameleon,' but I find your true body godly beautiful."

Eisei blushed and hugged Zenki, leading him towards the dance floor for the final dance of the night.