Dagashi Crazy

Synopsis:  Just a short fic about Zim and GIR’s vacation in Japan.   They come across a glorious sweet shop on their travels throughout the land of the rising sun.  Kokunatsu only sees him as a little kid with a massive sweet tooth while Hotaru sees through his disguise.   Zim whispers to her to keep his ultimate plan for overthrowing earth and domination a secret.   She agrees.  

Chapter 1--On A Foodie Run

GIR had frequented most of the clubs that night, making friends and busting moves like no companion robot ever could.   He had come home, well, home in this case was a hotel, rather late in the evening.    Zim was preparing to sleep and he looked really hungry.

‘GIR, our rations are unbearably low.   If we’re going to have any luck in our takeover, I need fuel…’, Zim said, his head sinking down into his arms and becoming slurred.    

‘Goin’ for a taco run !’, GIR sung merrily as he traipsed outside.  He went on a full tilt sprint until he came to a tiny convenience store.   While there, he bought all the fixings and embellishments he could carry.   He paid for everything, including his grape ramune soda.   Prying it open, he took a large swig and exclaiming joyously, ‘Man, that is GOOD !’   

‘Hey, little guy !  What’s with all the food ?’, a man with shades and a brightly colored aloha shirt asked.

‘Oh, this ?  I was hungry and my friend was in need.’, GIR began.   Endo bent down to look at GIR and smiled.

‘Nice costume.  Did you go to a con or something ?’, he asked.

‘Not recently, but oddly they are great recruiting centers for all sorts of evil.’, GIR responded with an insidious but innocent grin.   

‘I’m Endo.  Hey, I was thinking, if you and your friend like candy, come on by to my friend’s sweet shop.  Hold on, I’ll write down the directions.’, he said.  He got out a piece of notebook paper and drew up a rather detailed map.

‘This will do wonderfully.   Candies are just what we need !’, GIR said, thanking Endo.  They had already created a good friendship and GIR felt a strange connection with the colorful guy.   He might have been a little odd, but he had given GIR the means of collecting the rations that they had been so desperately seeking.  

Chapter 2-- To the Candy Store !

After a massive taco infusion and long night’s rest, Zim awoke feeling refreshed and reinvigorated.   He heard GIR humming cheerfully and was inquisitive as to why he was so jovial.  

‘What’s up with all the effervescence ?  Drink too much ramune ?’, Zim asked, teasing his companion slightly.  

‘Oh, no, Zim my Lord.   It’s THIS.’, GIR said, unveiling the map that Endo had given him.

‘We head there immediately.  Sooner we do, the faster we can load up the ship and leave this place to return to base and begin Operation: Overlord.’, Zim stated, in a perseverant way.   

‘CANDY STORE !’, GIR shouted victoriously as they followed the map toward their sweet destination.  

Chapter 3--Meeting the Gang

It was another typical day at the candy shop.   Hotaru was doing blind taste tests of all different kinds of candy and giving their histories, origins and tastes, right down to region with such accuracy, Kokonatsu wasn’t certain if he would be able to best his rival, especially since he was more than certain he would be his father’s successor.   Perhaps, just maybe, Hotaru figured, Kokonatsu would even become her mate.   Unless, of course, Saya beat him to it.   What she didn’t know was Endo had a fancy for her, he just never let Saya onto his subtle flirting.   

‘This is it !   It’s a veritable emporium of junk food !’, GIR said.  If he had the ability to salivate, he would’ve done so promptly, and copiously at that.   

‘There they are !   This is GIR.  He’s this young man’s friend.’, Endo said, introducing them.   Zim went by ‘Jim’, rather than giving away his true identity.   Kokonatsu introduced him to every candy and snack that was in the store.  

‘I had no idea there were so many.’, he stated, wide-eyed, astonished.   

‘Kokonatsu is an expert.  I’m a bit of a connoisseur myself, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask me.’, Hotaru said, shaking Zim’s hand.    Zim felt his cheeks turn a little hot after having his hand shaken by a kindred spirit.   He could sense that she too was absolutely nuts about candy.    She was a true ‘sweetheart’.   

‘I don’t know what to choose !’, GIR said, waffling between sweets and snacks.   It was challenging making a decision but they had plenty of yen to get what they needed before making their way back to their ship.    

Hotaru made some suggestions and Zim knew she had exquisite taste.

‘Thank you, purple haired girl.’, he said, kissing her hand in a gallant way.

‘Oh my, how genteel.’, she said, turning red.    Koko Natsu stared daggers at him and Zim backed off.   Apparently Hotaru was no one else’s but his.  Zim respected the unspoken boundaries Kokonatsu had set and bought what he and GIR needed for their mission.   

‘This will be sufficient.   Thank you for everything, it will be most useful for our plans.’, Zim said, a slight hint of mischief in his tone.   As they left, Hotaru came to meet he and GIR before they left Japan for good.   

‘I know your game but don’t worry.  Mum’s the word.’, she said, grinning.  

‘How can you…’, Zim began, completely flummoxed by Hotaru’s powers of deduction.   

‘I know that GIR is in a costume.  I heard his joints were a little rusty and I figured maybe the dagashi fixes that too.   You bought more dagashi than any kid I have ever seen.   You’re not an ordinary kid…’, Hotaru said, smiling cleverly.  

‘Don’t let anyone else know !  I may soon become your Lord and Master !’, Zim said, triumphantly.

‘When that day comes, I will welcome you.  Anyone who loves junk food as much as you do truly can’t be all bad.   Besides, I think this planet is in need of a makeover.’, Hotaru confessed.   

‘Again, thank you.   We owe you a huge debt of gratitude.    When we do overthrow you, I’ll make you a Baroness.   Oh, and Kokunatzu can be a Baron if you so wish.’, Zim stated, with a massive, toothy grin.   Hotaru drew him into one last hug and kissed his cheek.  

‘Take care.’, she said as Zim and GIR departed.    

Epilogue

GIR took the massive stash of dagashi and loaded it into the spaceship.   It was night, so no one would notice it out of its invisibility cloak.   Also, the darkness of the forest made it a perfect shelter and it was all the more inconspicuous to possible snoops.   

‘Someday, yes, I will have all that I have ever wanted.   Sweet loveable, inscrutable Gazlene will rule by my side as my Queen and Earth will be ours.  The Tallest will no longer be able to tease me.  They will be kowtow to ME !’, Zim said, taking off and disappearing into the stratosphere.   GIR was munching on cabbage crisps and downing a watermelon ramune as they left, letting Zim share as they made their way back to HQ to regroup.  Working with the other Irkens would be the best way to go about this he felt.   Maybe not now but someday in the future, Earth and everything on it would be in Irken clutches, but for now, they went back to their interactive whiteboard, formulating the perfect foolproof plan…

To Be Concluded ?