Hello, everyone! Welcome to the next chapter of "Zootopia: When They Cry". Last chapter, we met Mion who met Judy's family. Now here's another Bunnyburrow chapter. This time, it's going to be focused on Gideon Grey. If the chapter name didn't give it away, you can probably guess who he's going to meet. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Now without further ado, let's begin. Disclaimer: I DO NOT own "Zootopia" or "Higurashi: When They Cry". All rights go to their respective owners.
Chapter 3: Gideon Grey and the Houjou Children
Somewhere in Bunnyburrow, a fox named Gideon Grey was closing up his bakery, "Gideon Grey's Good Baked Stuff", for the night. As he flipped the sign from "Open" to "Closed", he saw the rain outside. He turned and went to the coat rack to get his blue rain coat. His pink umbrella was there too. He chuckled as he put on his coat and got his umbrella.
"Good thing I brought these with me." He said to himself.
He walks to the entrance while humming the tune of "I Love a Rainy Night". Outside, a boy with shaggy blonde hair and pink eyes was running to get out of the rain. Following him was a girl with the same hair and eye color. She was a little shorter than him. The boy was wearing a white short-sleeved dress shirt along with a light blue undershirt. He was also wearing black pants and white shoes. The girl was wearing brown shoes, blue jean shorts, and a pink sleeveless. She also had a hairband in her hair.
"How long is it gonna be for us to find shelter?" She asked.
The boy glanced at her.
"I don't know, Satoko. But I really hope we find some soon." He replied.
He looked forward again. After a few minutes of running, Satoko slipped and fell. She got up and tried to run, but felt a sharp pain in her left leg. She winces. The boy, hearing her, turned and ran over to her. He put his arm around her as she put her arm around him.
"Thanks, Nii-Nii." Satoko said.
"You're welcome. Now let's keep going." Said the boy.
They start running again. After running some distance, they see a building ahead of them.
"There's a building over there. Maybe we can take shelter." The boy said.
They ran towards it. When they were getting a bit close to it, they could see a pink van parked in front of it. They also saw one of the front doors of the building open. Someone walked out carrying a pink umbrella. After closing and locking the door, the stranger opened the umbrella.
gasp* "Nii-Nii, someone walked out!" Satoko said.
The boy glanced at her.
"Huh?"
"Someone came out of the building! Do you think whoever it is can help us?"
He looked at the building with an unsure look.
"I don't know. Only one way to find out." The boy said.
They hurried towards the stranger. Meanwhile, Gideon walked to his van. He was about to get in, but he heard a voice.
"Hey!"
He got a look of surprise and slowly starts to turn around. As he was doing so, he heard footsteps coming toward him. He heard another voice yell, "Hey!" as well. The boy and Satoko were still hurrying towards the stranger. They were halfway there when he completely turned around. When they saw the stranger's face, they stopped in their tracks. Their faces went from hopeful to shocked. Gideon looks at the two creatures in confusion. He drops his keys. There was silence for a minute. Finally, Satoko spoke.
"Nii-Nii? Is that... a fox?" She asked, still shocked.
"I think so, Satoko." The boy said, shocked as well.
Gideon was still silent.
"What are these creatures?" He thought, "They don't look like any animal I've ever seen. But I can tell by looking the short one looks hurt. I guess I should help them."
He speaks.
"Um... H-hey. Can I help you two?" He asked.
The boy snapped out of his shock and spoke as well.
"Yes, sir. My sister and I were just trying to find some shelter from the rain. We thought we could hold up in that building. But when we saw you come out, we thought that maybe you could help us." He said.
"Sure. I can help." Said Gideon, "If you're looking for shelter, you can spend the night at my place. However, the cab of my van can only carry the driver and one passenger. So one of you is gonna have to ride in the back."
The boy nodded.
"Alright."
Gideon picked up his keys and walked to the back of the van. When he got there, he started to unlock the back doors. The boy and Satoko walked to him. He opened the doors. The duo glanced at each other.
"You think you can get in?"
"I'll try."
Satoko lets go of her brother. She walks to the van, wincing as she does so. She tried to climb into the van. But as soon as she felt the sting in her leg, she groaned in pain. She fell backwards on the ground. Her brother and Gideon got looks of concern.
"Satoko!"
They rushed over to her and help her up.
"Are you okay?" Gideon asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just hurt my leg along the way." Said Satoko.
After dusting her off, they managed to get her in.
"I'm sure it's a sprain." Gideon said, "Stay off the leg for a couple of days and you should be fine."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Satoko."
Gideon and the boy got out. The fox shut and locked the doors. He went around to the driver's side of the cab and the boy went around to the passenger side. Gideon closed his umbrella and opened the door. He got in and set the umbrella between the seats. He shut the door and pushed the unlock button. The boy opened the door on the right. He got in and shut it. They fastened their seatbelts and Gideon started the van. They soon drove away. After a minute, Gideon breaks the silence.
"So, what are you two? Are you hairless monkeys or something?" He asked, curiously.
The boy looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"I was just wondering. Because I've never seen animals like you before. Especially around these parts."
"Well, actually, we're not animals. We're humans." The boy said.
Gideon was the next to get confused.
"Humans? I've never heard of those. What are they?" He asked.
The boy then describes what humans are and where they're from. He also explains how animals are in the human world. After he finished, Gideon was astonished.
"Hm. Some world." He said.
A small smile formed on the boy's face as he chuckled.
"Yeah. Also, when the lightning flashed, I saw a smiling pie painted on your van." He said.
Gideon laughed a bit.
"That's because I'm a baker."
The boy was surprised.
"Really?"
"Uh-huh." Gideon said, "In fact, some would say that I turned into one of the top pastry chefs in the tri-burrows."
"So that means..."
"Yep. The building you and your sister saw was my bakery."
"Wow. Judging from what I'm hearing, your business must be pretty successful." The boy said.
"It is. By the way, my name's Gideon. Gideon Grey. What's your name, son?" The fox asked.
"Satoshi. Satoshi Houjou."
Gideon was confused by the name.
"Satoshi Houjou? That's an unusual name." He said.
"Heh, I know." Said Satoshi.
Gideon was silent for a second, then spoke.
"How did you and your sister end up here?" He asked.
Satoshi got a straight look and sighed.
sigh* "I don't know." He said, "Satoko and I just somehow woke up somewhere and tried to get out of the rain. Where are we anyway?"
Gideon chuckles.
"Why, you're in Bunnyburrow."
"Bunnyburrow?"
He nodded and began to tell Satoshi about what kind of town Bunnyburrow is. He was shocked when he finished.
"That's a lot of bunnies in a small town." Satoshi said.
Gideon chuckles again.
"You're tellin' me."
A couple of minutes later, he spoke again.
"Hey, it's Satoshi right?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"Where are your parents? Knowing you two are out here on your own, they must be worried." Gideon said.
Satoshi got a look of sadness and sighed.
sigh* "They're dead." He said.
Gideon glanced at him with a questioning look.
"Excuse me?"
"Our parents are dead."
Hearing that, his expression went from questioning to shock and concern.
"Oh. I'm sorry. How did that happen?" He asked.
Satoshi sighs again.
sigh* "Well, Gideon, it's a long story and there's no happy ending." He told him.
The boy told him about the Hinamizawa dam project and how so many people in the village were against it. The only ones who supported the project were their parents. He then talked about how the project was eventually cancelled and that strange murders soon occurred. He soon told Gideon that their parents were eventually murdered.
"Oh my gosh. That must've affected you and your sister a great deal." Gideon said.
"It did. But it all goes downhill from here." Said Satoshi.
He went on to explain that they were taken in by their aunt and uncle. He also told him about how they were both emotionally and physically abused by them and how he took some of it defending Satoko.
"I would tell you more, but it's just other things I don't ever want to remember." He said.
Gideon was shocked and saddened by Satoshi's story. He glanced at him with sympathy in his eyes. Eventually, Gideon pulled up to his house.
"We're here."
He gets out of the van and opens his umbrella. Satoshi gets out as well. They go to the back of the van. Gideon unlocks and opens it to find a sleeping Satoko. Satoshi climbs in and picks up his sister in his arms. After he gets out, Gideon shuts and locks the doors. They walk to the house. Gideon closes his umbrella. Once they were inside, he locked the door. He took off his rain gear and apron and hung them on the coat rack near the door. He then turned back to Satoshi. He gestured to the couch.
"You can set your sister on the couch." He told him.
Satoshi nodded.
"Thanks."
He gently lowered Satoko on to the couch. He removed her shoes and socks and placed them beside the couch. He turned to Gideon.
"Is there anything to cover her up with?" He asked.
The fox nodded. He pointed to a recliner on the right side of the living room.
"There's a blanket on top of the recliner. You can use that." He said.
Satoshi walked over to the chair and got the blanket. After covering his sister, he turned back to Gideon who motioned for him to follow him. He did so. They walked upstairs and Gideon opened a door to a room.
"This is the spare room. You're welcome to sleep here." He said.
Satoshi walks in. He stops and glances at Gideon.
"Hey, thanks for helping us, Gideon." He said.
"You're welcome, son." Said Gideon.
When he looked away, Gideon spoke again.
"Satoshi."
He turned to the fox again. Gideon walked towards him. Satoshi got a look of surprise when Gideon suddenly hugged him.
"I just want you to know that whether your parents supported the project or not, you two never deserved the misery that happened to you. I want you and Satoko to stay strong. I'm sure that's what your parents want as well." He sternly told him.
Gideon released him. He turned and walked to the doorway. He stopped and glanced at the boy.
"I'm across the hall if either of you need me. Goodnight." He said.
"Goodnight, Gideon." Said Satoshi.
He walked out, closing the door. Satoshi went over to the bed and sat down. After taking off his shoes and socks, he got under the covers. He looked at the ceiling in thought.
"Whatever world we're in, Satoko, it sure is a whole lot different from our world." He thought, "But Gideon's right. We have to stay strong. I have to stay strong. I promise, Satoko. I promise I will never leave you again."
He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Author's Note: Well, that's a wrap for this chapter. Sorry for the long update. Anyway, I hope you're enjoying this story and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please be sure to read and review. Constructive criticism is welcome. Be sure to keep watch for chapter 4. Until then, see ya later, my fellow bronies and pegasisters!
