Road to Redemption: A new life...a new beginning

I head towards Dojima and what seems to be a young girl in a pink outfit with brown hair fitted with two small pony tails...must be his daughter he was talking about. Living with a kid that young will be a bit of a pain but...oh well...what can I do?

"Well you're more handsome out of the hospital than you are covered in bandages." He comments with a smirk. I blush a tad bit as no one besides my previous family hardly says anything that complimentary...though I guess he's now family so I guess that's doesn't matter.

"Yeah don't remind me...nice to finally get out of that place." I grunt reminiscing on my former predicament.

"Welcome to Inaba Kuro. From this day onward for a year I'll be looking after you." He says as he then gestures down to who I assume is his daughter. "This here's my daughter. Y'know the one I'd always tell you about when I'd come to visit. Come on, Nanako, introduce yourself to Mr. Kuro." He asks her as she simply looks down...

she's not even looking at me when all I can here come from her mouth is. "...lo"...after that she scurries back behind her father from what appears to be shyness...come on now I'm not that intimidating am I? Sure I have a bit of stubble on my face and my face is pretty deep and bass...that and my not very charming sunken stormy grey eyes and my messy jet black hair don't make me very...fit for looking un-intimidating in child's eyes...oh...It must be because of the scars...The scar that overlappes my left eye and the smaller one horizontally across my right cheek does make me a bit...unattractive.

"...She seems to be a bit scared of me." I comment deadpanned.

Dojima however seems to find this rather amusing as he chuckles a little. "What're you so shy for?" he asks with an amused smirk.

Nanako however seems to fail in finding the humor in this and smacks her dad's backside and pouts.

"Ow! hahaha...what was that for." Dojima asks...

"...snkr..." I couldn't help but find that rather funny.

"Oh you think it's funny do you?" he asks cocking an eyebrow..."Alright you two Let's get going. My car's over there." He says as I make my way over to his grayish car. However before I can proceed I'm stopped by some girl with black hair black and white stockings, white shirt, and red skirt...she grabs my arm and shoves a piece of paper into me...?...the hell...?

"You dropped this." She says a tad forcibly...when the hell did I drop this...what's she talkin about?

"Um...It's not mine it-

"Whatever. All I did was pick it up." she said before huffing and walking off...the hell is her problem? Before I can even look at what she gave me or give her a wise ass comment Dojima calls for me.

"Hey come on I'm sure you don't want to stay here any longer than you have to!" he says from his car.

"Shoot. Coming Dojima!" I say hurriedly making my way to his car.

*Flashback*

"...ugh...Dafuq am I?...?" A groaning in pain boy wrapped in bandages complained as he found himself surrounded by white plastered walls in a hospital gown laying on a bed.

"urgh...uh" He simply groaned in pain as he attempted to move.

"...Finally awake huh?...Doctors were worried you were gonna go into a comatose." The boy heard a man say. He slowly turned his head to the left as much as it allowed him to see a tanned man with lightly with short black hair and a light stubble on his chin.

"..."

"Not talkin much huh? Can't blame ya since your probably in shock wondering where you are...To answer your obvious question...Your in a hospital...Near Okina station...Why you ask?" The Man leaned in closer to the boy staring him in the eyes...almost analyzing. "I was hoping you could tell us.

"...Wh-..ung" the boy strained his throat feeling like it had sawdust shoved down. "Who-...wh-who are you?" The bandaged wrapped boy finally asked.

"I'm...a private Investigator...Ryotaro Dojima...I've given you my name...why don't you give me yours?" Dojima asked the boy.

The boy opened his mouth for a moment as if to give him an answer...but stopped as if he realized something...his eyes widened in concern and then began to tremble.

"Is something wrong kid?" Dojima asked in concern.

"...I...I can't remember." The boy said. Dojima's eyes widened.

"Your name?...you can't remember your name?" He asked carefully not to startle him

"Anything...My name...My God...I can't...I can't...I can't remember anything!?...I-I-I-AGH! the boy suddenly coughed and wheezed

"Hey! Hey calm down!" Dojima said putting an arm on the boys bandaged chest to get him to relax.

"Panicking won't do any good...the bullet wounds you sustained have made you very weak." He explained slowly and calmly.

"...Bullet...wounds?" The boy asked his eyes with genuine concern...the Dojima sighed.

"I'd better explain huh...You were found in the middle of a supermarket called Junes...bleeding...near death...I'm trying to find out why...Does that ring any bells to you?" Dojima asked with hope.

The boy looked thoughtful for a second but, then sighed. "...No...I"m sorry...I...I just...everything is just a blur...I...I can't." The boy seemed on the edge of tears.

"Hey relax...you need to be calm...we'll figure this out...look I'm gonna get a doctor so that I can find out more about your condition, I'll be back in a second okay?..." Dojima asked fatherly to the boy...the boy nodded his throat now to hurt to speak. Dojima placed a hand on the boys unwounded shoulder and said.

"We'll figure this out...Don't worry...We'll find the guys who did this and get you justice." He said before momentarily leaving...as soon as he left the room the boy breathed a sigh of relief.

...He bought it...I can't believe it but...He bought it...

...

After driving for a bit we stop at a gas station to get some...gas obviously while nanako makes her way to the bathroom. I step out of the car to stretch my legs and to give off a guttural yawn to get some of the car sickness outta me. I look up in the sky and reminisce on how I truly have dodged a bullet...It's really happening...my new life isn't far off...I can put everything behind me soon enough.

"Say...are you in high school?" I hear the gas station attendant ask me...

So I offer an answer and a question. " Yeah so what?" I say gruffly. Not really in much of a talking mood.

If he was put off by my blunt comment he doesn't show it has continues on talking.
"Does it surprise a city boy to see how little there is out here? There's so little to do, I'm sure you'll get bored fast. You'll either be hanging out with your friends or doing part-time jobs." he says. So that seems to be the rundown of the town I'm in...Meh...not much of a bother to me.

"Well whatever I'll live. I'm not much of a giddy socialite in the first place so I don't really hang out with people...as in what I can do to kill time...I'll just play video games like I usually do...Oh and by the way...I ain't from much of a big city." I reply setting the record straight.

"Oh? So are you a foreinor then? You don't look Japanese." He asks apparently curious about my origins...I'm a bit guarded about where I'm from but, at this point I suppose it doesn't matter...eh fuck it. I doubt I'll be seeing him much anyways. What's the harm? after all in my policy...when in doubt...always fuck it.

"Yeah I'm from America actually...Concord, California to be exact." I say layin down the facts.

"Ah I see interesting...Must refreshing to be in a new country...what brings someone like you all the way to the sticks? Are you a study abroad student?" he asks with more curiosity...I won't tell him the full truth...half the truth should suffice.

"Sort of yeah...I'll be staying here for a year until I can get to a better school." I say giving part of my truth.

"Intersting...Oh by the way, we're actually looking for part-time help right now. Give it some thought, why don't you? We don't mind if you're a student." He says then offering his hand...which I return the gesture by shaking it. "Oh, I should get back to work." as he leaves I feel a sharp pain in my head and my gut...and images flush into my mind...images of...back then...goddamnit why am I seeing this shit now?... I suddenly feel very ill.

"...Are you okay? Did you get carsick? You don't look too good..." I hear nanako ask me as I look down to her to give me a reply...It's true I don't feel all that good...can't be just because I remembered that...regardless after some worrying from Dojima and Nanako we go back to the car and head to our destination.

The Dojima residence.

As I get out of the car and look at the house...It finally dawns on me that this is where I will live for the next year...Better get used to it I suppose...I sigh and move my luggage inside.

...

As soon as I drop my stuff off in my new room upstairs I head down to find Dojima only to find Nanako instead with food on the table meant for three...where's Dojima?

As if reading my thoughts Nanako answers my question.
"He went out...He had to go to work..." She said sounding sad...Must happen a lot...Dojima never really did tell me what he did...just that he investigated stuff for a living...

"Your food's gonna get cold." Nanako reminds me interrupting my train of thought as I then sit down to eat the meal prepared...It's gonna be tough getting used to living in a Japanese styled house...killer on my back just sitting on the floor...As we eat I can practically feel nanako boring curious holes into my skull just lookin at me. Whenever I look at her however she just looks down and continues her meal...This is pretty awkward...why is she so scared to just talk...she's a kid for Christ sake you'd think she'd be interested to know why there's a stranger living in her house for a year now...Am I really that intimidating?

"..."

"..."

Ok this is getting uncomftorable...maybe...I should break the silence before I choke on the oppressiveness.

"So...how old are you?" I ask...oh God why do I feel like an old perv asking a little girl how old she is?"

"...I'm six..." she says still looking at me uneasily...at least I'm getting somewhere...Jesus this kid is wound tighter than my fuckin back...and it's wound up pretty damn tight.

"Well...I'm curious...Nanako...What does your dad do?" I ask with genuine curiosity.

"He...investigates stuff. Like crime scenes. My dad's a detective."THE FUCK!? HE'S A DETECTIVE!? At this new information I choke on the water I was just drinking and sputter! Shit I thought he was just a private investigator! A police Detective is a whole different ball game!

"H-hey are you alright!?" I hear Nanako ask me snapping me out of my surprised stupor to just look at her with shocked eyes before quickly coming up with an excuse for my instant reaction.

"Ugggghh...yeah I'm just surprised he ugh...has a big job that's all...must be dangerous catching the bad guys and all." I said smiling a bit and scratching my head to play off my surprise like nothing...and failing at it.

"And now for the local news." Oh! God yes a way to avoid having this conversation any longer than I have to while I compose myself!

"City council secretary Taro Namatame is under fire for an alleged relationship with a female reporter." I cock an eyebrow in confusion. So?...what the hell's wrong with a secretary having a relationship. I swear the media jumps over the smallest friggin thi-

"His wife, enka ballad sensation Misuzu Hiiragi, revealed to this station that she will likely pursue damages." Oh...that's why they're jumping over this...whelp. You cheat on your wife that's what you get...honestly some people in politics...You'd think someone like that would be smarter with decisions like that. At the very least he could've tried not to get caught.

"In response, Eye Television has decided to cancel all of announcer Mayumi Yamano's televised appearances. Until allegation of an affair with Mr. Namatame are resolved, she'll remain off the air and out of the public eye." So she's the one he was screwin on the side huh? She actually not that bad looki- wait...why do I get the feeling I've seen her somewhere before?

"...This is boring." Nanako says clearly showing her span of a child and changing the channel. To what seemed like a commercial.

"At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!" I don't pay much attention to the commercial but, my attention is grabbed once Nanako sings a familiar toon.

"Every day's great at your Junes!" she sings...That...was actually pretty cute...that's the liveliest and happiest I've ever seen her actually. She then turns to me frowning however.

"...Aren't you going to eat?" Huh? I look down alarmed due to the possibility that my food got cold. I quickly finish it off to prevent that and head up to my new room hastily to turn in for the night.

...

When I get most of my belongings in my room set up I change into my boxers and a plain white t-shirt and head to my futon...a bit different from a conventional American styled bed but it'll do...I can feel the soreness in my moaning and poor body with the wounds I sustained getting to Japan. I lay down on the said futon with the covers over battered body reminiscing on past events.

...Dojima to this day has no idea how I sustained these injuries...at the time when I was hospitalized he told me he was some sort of investigator looking into my possible assault...I told him I didn't remember...not just about the attack but, anything...my name...my origins...nothing...I lied feigning amnesia...and he bought it...so did the doctors to my surprise...I guess he felt sorry for me cause with me being a sixteen year old with no family or friends claiming me and all he offered to be my guardian...I accepted with no other place to go...I couldn't go home...not after what I did...

...When Nanako told me he was detective on the force however...this changes everything...he could find out who I really am...What I really did...but, I can't change that now...it's either keep my head down and act inconspicuous for a year...or go on the run...living on the streets...I'd rather much avoid that so I'll have to stick with the former...Damn my luck...I wanted to go to the school where there were dorms and no one looming over me like him but, he insisted that I stay for at least a year at Yasogami High and test the waters...after the year is over he said I can make my own choice of what school I want to go to...I suppose that's as fair a trade as I'll get...one year...I think I can manage...after all I made it fifteen years in America what's stopping me from making one in Japan?

...Christ all this worrying is just hurting my eyes and head...better just call it a day and get ready for tomorrow...It all begins that day...first day of school...So long as I don't fail any classes...I'll live...nothing else matters...friends and family...irrelevant...I've been given the tools to start a new life and I won't waste them...shit I'm still thinking to myself...ok...for real this time...sleep.

I close my eyes and drift off into a slumber.

...

"...Ok...what the hell is it now?" I say as I find myself suddenly enshrouded in fog...wait...why am I wearing the high school uniform?...ok...what's the last thing I remember...relax and think...

...oh yeah...I was sleeping...ok...If I was sleeping...how did I get here...the fog...it's thick...I can barely see in front of myself...I must be dreaming again...Well screw it...If this is a dream I might as well move forward till it's ov-

"Do you seek the truth?" I hear someone say from a direction I couldn't quite pinpoint.

"Who's there!" I say now on edge as I now know someone else is here with me. Is it those spaceship people from my other dream?

"If it's truth you desire, come and find me..." The voice said again almost tauntingly...ok I've had enough weird ass dream to last the rest of my lifetime. I'd better find this jerk-off and find out whatever the hell he wants I suppose...got nothing else to do since I'm stuck in this dream after all...

On that note I move forward for what seems like minutes until I come across a hazy figure deep in the fog...I lean forward to try and make out whoever the hell it is but, the fog is just too deep. Seriously what's with all this damn fog? Is it really steam and we're really in a bathhouse without even realizing it?

"So...You are the one pursuing me..." The figure in the distance says...
"Hmhmhm...Try all you like..." The figure chuckles tauntingly...for some reason I'm getting a bad vibe from this thing...I don't like where this is going...I have the urge to cut this asshole down as I suddenly find myself holding a long sword in my right hand...well this is different...Oh well slice first and ask question later.

With that thought in mind I don't know why but, unlike Igor or Margaret this...person seems like a threat...I don't hesitate to swing my sword at him and I feel like I actually hit them...however the bastard doesn't even budge.

"Hmmm...It seems that you can see a little, despite the fog...I see...Indeed...That is very interesting information...But...You will not catch me so easily...If what you seek is "truth," then your search will be even harder..." The figure rambles on.

"The hell are you talking about!? Who the hell are you!?" I ask and demand but only get met with more fog shrouding the area and further covering the vision of the figure...Ok...I have to admit...the amount of fog in this area is just TOO DAMN HIGH!

I make a another swing at my supposed opponent but, I just whiff air...or fog in this case.

"Everyone sees what they want to...And the fog only deepens...Will we meet again...? At a place other than here...Hmhm...I look forward to it..."

"Enough with the mumbo jumbo rambling crap! You still haven't answered any of my questions! Who the hell are...yoouu...ungh..." As I talk I can feel my vision fading...the hell's going on?

...

A/N: For all those getting impatient with no character interaction worry not for if you have played the game Kuro here get's to go to school for the first time in a year. Why a year you say?

Well then...I suppose you'll have to wait and then read to find out.

(Insert yet another maniacal laugh here)

I'll get out the next chapter as soon as possible so stay tuned my soon to be loyal viewers!...

...If I'll have any.
(PS: I do not own Persona 4 or any characters besides my own main OC)