The winds of winter were not as cold today.

Daisuke, now 21, looking at the cloudy skies as he stood by a bus stop near a road.

Taller, but currently a bit on the thin side. The once soccer muscular frame gone. His skin a bit pale as if he had not eaten too. His hair was as long as ever, flowing in the wind. He wore a long sleeve shirt, denim pants and sandals. Despite the lack of clothing, he did not shiver. Instead smiling happily as the bus drew near, "I'm coming home… everyone…"

Nearly Five Years Ago, Daisuke went missing, today is the day he returns.

He sat looking down, now on a train as it crossed through a tunnel. A bright light beginning to appear and when he looked out upon the light bursting. A slight smile came from his lips, seeing the city of Odaiba.

And he got up, expecting the train to stop soon.

Once it did, Daisuke lightly jogged out the door. On a hill area, he looked into the town of Odaiba. Still growing and looking bigger than ever, "I'm home…"

Starless Redux

Chapter 1: Home

Daisuke's muddy eyes widened. "What?"

"Yes, Kanao and Ayako Motomiya have moved out nearly four years ago from the data."

"Oh…" Daisuke lowered his head.

"And may I ask who you are, sir?" The attendant at the front asked.

"My name is Daisuke Motomiya. I was their son, I wanted to see them."

The woman raised a brow, "have you tried calling them?"

Daisuke shook his head, "I don't have a number. I recently returned to town and I thought they would still be here."

The woman hummed, "I'm not supposed to do this, but…" she typed something into her keyboard. "Since you knew their names and apartment number. I believe you that you are their son. I can give you a number to contact them."

Daisuke smiled before clapping his friends, "t-thank you very much!"

The woman was surprised at this gesture for a bit. "Okay, I'll write the number down for you. And there is a phone in that waiting room. You could use it." She handed him a slip with the number.

Daisuke gave a bow of happiness. He went into the room. It was quiet and with just a couple of chairs. Daisuke remembered this was once the worst waiting room. Now, looks comfy. He took the phone and dialed the number.

Waiting a bit, Daisuke became nervous before someone answer.

"Hello?" a male voice.

Daisuke's eyes watered, "D-dad?"

Silence, utter silence on the other end. "Dad?"

Ayako, his father, voice shuttered, "Daisuke-san?"

Daisuke smiled and nodded, "yeah, it's me."

Ayako paused, Daisuke wiping his eyes a bit, "I… I thought you… where are you?"

Daisuke chuckled, "at the apartment complex… I mean where you and mom used to live. I'm in the waiting room, the front lady was nice enough to give me your number that was registered and I—."

"Wait… uh… if you're over there… did you meet…" the father slowly spoke.

Daisuke blinked, "Jun? I asked for her, but she isn't living here. Is she? Did maybe she marry someone and her name changed?" Silence once again, "Dad?"

Ayako spoke once again with a deep breath, "Daisuke-san… can you meet me at the coffee shop near the apartment… I'll be there as soon as I can."

Daisuke replied, "sure, dad. I can't wait to see you."

And Ayako's voice trembled, ready to sob, "yes, my son, I can't wait to see you."

Daisuke awkwardly sat at a table. Embarrassed he was wearing sandals. A single glass of water in front of him since he doesn't have the money to afford any other drinks.

Daisuke heard the door ring and looked over like he has since he arrived. And he only saw a random couple cheerfully arrive.

He lowered his head until he saw his dad moving in.

Daisuke quickly got up.

Upon making eye contact, Daisuke froze now. He put his head down. Expecting not a warm welcome for being gone.

Footsteps and they got closer each step. Daisuke gulped once before feeling a hand on his shoulder. Daisuke noticed how he was slightly taller than him. "Dad…"

Ayako smiled, "it's really you. Daisuke-san."

Daisuke smiled warmly and nodded before his father pulled him in for a hug. Daisuke flinched on the hug at first before accepting it. Closing his eyes, a single tear starting to form. "Dad, I missed you."

"As did I son," his father was on the verge of weeping.

The hug broke and Daisuke could take a deep breath. "Sit," Daisuke invited.

His father sat down as did Daisuke. Both looking at each other with a smile. "I… you grown…" Ayako laughed.

Daisuke nodded, "yeah, a bit… I didn't even notice until now really."

Ayako took it all in, "where have you been?" He finally asked.

Daisuke looked to the side, "I… I been somewhere… I can't say right now."

Ayako questioned, "can't say? Where you on a secret mission or something…"

Daisuke took a deep breath, "I can't say right now, but I promise one day I will." He said with a stern look.

Ayako paused before fixing his posture, "I see… but you returned."

Daisuke nodded, "yes and I'm happy I'm back. How's mom?" His face had a worried look, expecting bad news.

"She working right now. I was actually getting off. She may call me a bit later, but Daisuke-san… uh…"

"What is it? Did something happen to Jun?"

"You sure you didn't see anyone in the apartment?"

"Was Jun supposed to be there? We can go visit her."

"No, I haven't heard from Jun in a bit. I can call her, but… she married Yamato-san."

"Yamato-san," Daisuke blinked, "oh right, it has been a while and they were properly dating. I guess they would be together," he smiled happily, "I'm happy for her."

Ayako still looked down, "you… didn't go looking for…"

Daisuke was now confused, "I went looking for you guys? Was there someone else I should have looked for? Gennai? The other Chosen Children?"

Ayako paused, "no, it's just, I thought you would have called us yourself instead of the number at the apartment complex," he laughed it off.

"I lost my phone so I needed to improvise. Can we go see mom?"

Ayako nodded as he got up, "sure, but let's order some coffee for your mother. We came all this way."

"Speaking of which, why did you move away?"

Ayako hummed, "mother wanted to live near the water… we don't live too far."

Daisuke sat in the passenger seat as his father drove. Daisuke carrying the coffee cups on his laps. "I can't wait to see mom."

"And I bet she can't wait to see you." Ayako looked over, "Daisuke-san, any reason you left?"

Daisuke looked out the window, "I didn't want to leave, it just happened…" he said in a bit of a monotone.

"You left a lot behind… high school graduations… soccer… your friends… your family…"

Daisuke looked down, "I realize I missed out on somethings, but I'm here. I want to just see you and mom and Jun right now."

"Your friends?"

Daisuke shrugged normally, "I mean if they still want to see me. I don't imagine them thinking about me all that much since I left." Ayako bit his lip, "dad… are you or mom mad at me… for not being here."

Ayako groaned, "I wish you said something before leaving."

"I wish I did too, but you're not—."

"You're my son Daisuke-san, a father is supposed to love their child unconditionally. I would never be mad at you."

Daisuke shifted, "and mom?"

"I bet she would be more excited to see you." And a slightly smile came over Daisuke's lips.

The car stopped, "we are here," and the father put the car on park before turning off the engine. Daisuke looked over and was amazed, "a house?" It was small, but still was a house.

"When Jun moved out, we didn't have to worry about taking any of you to school, so we picked this place out. Other than the small kitchen, it's perfect." Ayako got out with Daisuke as they both closed the door. "Your mom isn't here yet, but maybe you need something to eat. You look like you haven't eaten in a while."

"Right, I would say it's no bother, but you or mom wouldn't let me to go out on an empty stomach." Daisuke held onto the coffee cup holder. He looked at the waters leading to the other side of the town. And then looking back at the new skyscrapers. "Home…"

"Hey, Daisuke-san, come in, we don't want the coffee getting too cold." Ayako said loudly to get Daisuke's attention. He saw his father holding the door for him. Daisuke quickly walked over. He took off his sandals on the way in.

"I don't have socks or shoes, sorry."

"I can let you borrow some," Ayako chuckled.

"It's alright, dad, I should get a job and get some on my own…"

Ayako raised a brow, "and where will you go? You have someone you are going to live with?"

Daisuke stopped as he put the coffee on the small table. "I mean… I…"

Ayako shook his head, "you are not going to live on your own with no sweater or even shoes… aren't you cold?"

Daisuke rubbed the back of his head, "not really… but I don't want to inconvenience you and mom, I'm 21."

Ayako laughed as he took out some loaf of sliced bread. "I would not live with myself if I let you go out with what you have. I bet your mother would rather stay in the cold herself with how little clothes you have for years than even send you out in a minute. You're lucky she wasn't the number you ended up calling. She would have bought out the mall to make sure you were warm." Ayako took out some ham and began to make a sandwich.

"Mom can't love me that much," Daisuke said quietly.

"You're wrong, trust me, she looked for you the longest—." And Ayako stopped himself from speaking further as he sipped some water.

"I know I made you and mom worry and I'm sorry."

"You're here now," Ayako smiled as he watch Daisuke take a bite from his sandwich. "And I guess that's all that matters…"

"Yes," Daisuke smiled softly before taking another bite. After chewing and swallowing, "so how are my friends if you know anything about them."

Ayako stared before rubbing the back of his neck. "Well…" He gulped a bit, "they are all fine from last I seen them. As you know, your sister married Yamato-san. Takeru-san married Annia-san. Ken-san and Miyako-san are also married, they might be expecting a child if something Jun-san said were true…" he chuckled, "and I heard Taichi-san and Sora-san were also married. And Hikari-san…" he took a sip of water, "she had a kid recently I guess."

And he looked at his son's facial expression, Daisuke only smiled, "I'm glad everyone is doing alright."

Ayako was in complete awe. "Daisuke-san, you're not sad…"

Daisuke chuckled, "I guess I wish I was there for some of the weddings, but now I am here. Maybe I could catch up with some of them."

Ayako stared down, "Daisuke-san, about—."

And the front door began to creak open, making both Motomiya men look over. "Honey, I'm home, traffic was clear today despite it being cold," a giggle as Daisuke got up and prepped himself. In came his mom, holding her bag. "Work was fun too."

She walked in, "hm?" She immediately made eye contact with Daisuke. Daisuke froze up as his mother, Kanao, stared for a bit. "Daisuke-san…" And she was falling back as her eyes rolled to the side. Quicker than Ayako could react, Daisuke ran up to his mom and prevented her from having a bad fall.

"Kanao…!" Ayako said as Daisuke lifted his mom and placed her on the couch.

Daisuke checking her, "she passed out… dad… can you get me some wet towels…"

Ayako nodded as he went into some cabinets to get small cleaning towels. Immediately turning on the hot water to soak the towels in. Daisuke looking in concern as his mother stirred. But when Ayako arrived to place the towel on her forehead, her eyes opened.

"Daisuke-san? Oh… it's really you…"

"Mom, hey." Daisuke smiled as he slightly flinched as his mother cupping his cheek.

"This isn't a cruel nightmare where I wake to find you gone again," her eyes swelled, "it's you, it's really you. My baby boy is here."

"Yeah mom, it's me. You're not dead either…" he held her hand, "I'm back mom."

Kanao slowly hugged Daisuke around his neck as he took a deep breath before hugging her back. "I missed you so much… Daisuke-san."

"I missed you too mom… I missed you so much." He rested his head on her shoulder.

Ayako knelt down and embraced both his wife and son. Kanao crying, Daisuke tense, but smiling very softly. And even Ayako began to tear up.

"Daisuke-san, you are back…"

Back in the old apartment complex where the Motomiya used to live. The front clerk sighed as he saw some friends text her. Seeing the day being normal, she began to take out some of her lunch.

She heard an error on her computer as she accidentally elbowed a key.

Noticing that 'Ayako Motomiya' was still typed up.

"Right," she put her lunch down. And quickly tried to clear the page, but by being it so quickly, she only took off Ayako. "Dang…" she stopped when she noticed one person with Motomiya surname still registered. She blinked and looked closely. "There is one Motomiya still living here?" She looked closely, "a child age of four…"

And the front lady was suddenly stunned as a small girl popped up from the other side of the desk, "hi!"

"Oh, you scared me…" the front lady recognized the little girl as someone living in the apartment seeing her every other morning.

"Sorry, me and mommy are going to the store. Remember to eat!" The little girl had light raspberry hair color, slightly tan skin and bright brown eyes.

"I am," the lady showed her lunch.

The little girl laughed as she put her hands behind her back.

"Miyuki-san!"

"Oh, that's my mommy, see you soon." The little girl circled and ran out.