bopdog111: Well Atem got together with the Shiroganes.
Ulrich362: True, he did... what happened to Ashley was terrible but he has loving parents and a sister... even if they're technically his uncle and cousin.
bopdog111: Of course, like Igor's prediction for the Moon, and Hanged Man both in downward positions another tragedy falls where he will have a hard time opening up.
Ulrich362: A very hard time opening up, but as for what happens there's only one way to find out. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V or Persona 4 but we own the OCs!
Naoto, and Atem were sitting together in a building where Kuroki, and Karin are signing some things.
"Alright, and if you'll just sign here and have him sign his name below we can make the adoption official." mentioned an older woman sitting at the other side of a desk.
Kuroki signed his, and Karin's name as the woman called, "Hey Atem?" He looked up as she explained, "Come sign your name here." Atem walked over where Kuroki handed the clipboard to him which he signed his name on it, and handed it back before Kuroki gave it to the woman.
"Well, it's official Mr. and Mrs. Shirogane Atem is now your adoptive son. I trust you both will take good care of him." the woman mentioned calmly. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Kuroki smiled taking Atem's shoulder as they head off.
They driven over the shopping district parking, and then walked down a road arriving at a joint called Chinese Diner Aiya as Kuroki smiled to Atem, "Now Atem don't be afraid of ordering what you want to eat. Your free to choose what you want?"
"What I want?" Atem asked hearing that.
"That's right, though I wouldn't recommend the mega beef bowl, nobody can eat that much." Karin chuckled.
"Mega Beef Bowl?" Atem asked confused why it's called that.
"More meat than you've ever seen." Naoto explained only to pause and giggle slightly.
They walked in as the owner looked over, and smiled, "Ah Detective Shirogane, pleasure to see you again. Usual?"
"That's right, and whatever my new son Atem wants." Kuroki nodded. "I only wish we could stay longer to enjoy your food."
"Well Detective work is no simple business that much is certain." the owner shrugged from this. "Oh by the way, Officer Dojima had said wonderful news last night, and thought you gone by here."
"Oh, what did he say?" Kuroki inquired.
"He, and his wife Chisato are gonna be expecting parents." the owner answered with a smile.
"You don't say, that's wonderful news." Kuroki smiled. "I should stop by and congratulate him before leaving."
"You should also probably remind him that even though he's gonna be a father, doesn't meant he should start getting soft." Karin said with a playful grin towards Kuroki for his stern personality at training Dojima to be a serious, and successful Detective.
"I'll keep that in mind." he chuckled.
The owner turned to Atem, "So you must be Detective Shirogane's new child. Well, I say, your in good hands with someone like Detective Shirogane keeping an eye on ya, no bad-guy is gonna think twice about leaving you alone."
"I don't know... I mean, I am getting this little mixed feeling for a while now." Atem admitted to him.
"Well if it's something serious, you should tell your new father about it. You can trust him, he's one of the best Detectives in the country, and this small town although not much is his home turf." the owner assured with a smile. "Though he mindful if he drinks cause-"
"Your saying too much now." Karin quickly cuts him off. "Me, Naoto, and Kuroki will have our usual. Atem will have whatever he wants to order."
"Ah of course, sorry about that." the owner nodded with a smile before turning to Atem, "So Atem any thoughts?"
Atem stared before turning to Kuroki, and Karin if it is really alright for him to pick what he wants to order.
"Go ahead, whatever you want." Karin smiled.
Atem stared before looking back at the menu looking over before answering, "N-Number 4?"
"Ah the Chachu Miso Ramen Bowl." the owner smiled hearing that before asking, "Anything you want with it?"
"Uh... some extra Chachu?" Atem requested.
"Coming right up." the owner nodded smiling getting to work.
"Good choice." Kuroki smiled.
Atem blushed at that before asking, "S-So... about this feeling I mentioned."
"Yes?" Kuroki asked. "What is it?"
Atem gave thought before saying, "Well... I feel... that my real mom... will do something."
"Carol?" Kuroki asked frowning. "I don't see how she could do anything."
"Of course, let's make sure we don't let our guard down." Karin suggested to Kuroki.
"Probably a good idea, actually after we see Officer Dojima I think Atem should get to see a real master detective... who just so happens to be his grandfather." Kuroki smiled.
So after the food was served everyone got back in the car riding down to a small corner in Inaba walking down a small house which Atem looks seeing the interior before Kuroki ringed the doorbell. A young man opened the door as his eyes widened. "Detective Shirogane sir, what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I heard the news from Aiya." Kuroki smiled to him, "May we come in, or are we interrupting something?"
"Not at all, Chisato we have guests." he smiled.
They walked in where they see a woman wearing a pink shirt with a white opened jacket over it with a flower necklace, and purple skirt who was looking at the TV sitting down in front of a table looked over seeing them, and smiled, "Detective Shirogane, thanks for dropping by again."
"It's no trouble Chisato." Kuroki said with a smile before asking her, "I heard from the owner at Aiya, that you, and Ryotaro are gonna have a miracle?"
"We are." Chisato smiled putting a hand on her stomach only to blink seeing Atem. "Who's this?"
"Ah." Kuroki softly brings Atem in front of him placing his hands on his shoulders introducing, "Ryotaro, Chisato this is me, and Ashley's nephew from Paradise City, Atem. Atem these two are the Dojimas, Ryotaro, and his wife Chisato. Ryotaro is my junior detective who I am training myself to have him be a successful Detective when I'm not around."
Atem gave a small wave to them.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Atem." Dojima smiled gently.
"Maybe you, and our baby can be fast friends." Chisato smiled to Atem.
"Well actually me, and Kuroki adopted him today." Karin said to them which confused them. She explained it to them. "Life back home got tough for Atem. Recently a case of arson happened at the house he was staying with Ashley. He survived but Ashley didn't, and the culprit was none other then Atem's mother."
"His... how can someone do something that horrible?" Chisato asked in shock.
"It might have been for money, or they were keeping a secret and didn't want mom to tell anyone." Naoto guessed.
"But don't worry we caught her, and put her away." Kuroki said to them before frowning, "Then his father came in the hospital he's staying, and became drunk. He tried hitting me which I arrested him on the spot. We got back here to Inaba, and then signed the adoption papers the next day before we leave. We heard of your good news so we came here to see you two before we leave."
"Well, hopefully everything is ok now." Dojima mentioned.
Kuroki gestured Dojima to follow him, "Ryotaro come with me."
He blinked before nodding and following Kuroki. They walked upstairs where Kuroki looks stern, "Now Ryotaro... you know how much responsibility it comes with childcare right?"
"Yeah, I do." Dojima nodded.
"Well that being said even if your gonna be a father, don't let your guard down." Kuroki ordered him like the hard tough love teacher he is.
"I won't." Dojima nodded.
They walked down where they see Atem, and Naoto feeling around Chisato's belly. Even if they won't feel anything, they were curious if they can right now as Karin asked Chisato with a smile, "So Chisato, do you, and Ryotaro have any names planned?"
"Nothing yet, but we're thinking." Chisato smiled.
"Actually I think of something if it's a girl." Dojima mentioned walking sitting beside Chisato before smiling, "If it's a girl how about, 'Nanako'?"
"Nanako?" Chisato asked before smiling. "That's a lovely name."
"Nanako..." Atem trailed off recalling something before asking, "That's suppose to mean Rainbow doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does." Kuroki nodded.
Karin then spoke up, "Well sorry for leaving. We wanted to check on your two after hearing the news at Aiya. Hopefully we will see how Nanako grows up later in life. And maybe Atem, and Naoto would be close friends with her."
"Well we're off. We want to take Atem to see his Grandfather before we move." Kuroki smiled to them.
With that after bidding the Dojimas farewell they entered the car as it rode off. Meanwhile someone was watching them as she spat angerly, "Stealing my son will you? Well now you all will die for crossing me Shirogane." She walked off from this.
They were peacefully driving off while Atem gets a nervous feeling, and holds Naoto's hand.
"Atem?" she asked feeling that. "What's wrong, your hand feels all clammy."
"I... I feel like... something bad is about to happen." Atem admitted nervously.
"It's ok, we won't let anything bad happen to you." Naoto reassured him with a small smile.
Atem looked at her hearing that as the red light flared which Kuroki bumped the brakes, and blinked bumping the brakes again not stopping which Karin notices there not slowing down.
"Kuroki? Kuroki what's going on stop the car." she told him.
"I'm trying... the freaken brakes won't work!" Kuroki struggled keep bumping the brakes as they passed.
HONK!
Kuroki turned seeing a trunk was fast speeding on there left.
"Daddy the emergency brake!" Naoto screamed fearfully.
Kuroki tried pressing that but it wouldn't work as Kuroki kept struggling before the truck hit the Shirogane car as it tumbled around landing upside down on the road.
Atem coughed groaning experiencing a major headache as he looked around with shaking vision in his spot in the car. He saw Kuroki, Karin, and Naoto were all out cold. He crawled painfully getting close to Naoto, "N-Nao...to..." He passed out before hearing sirens approaching.
4 days later...
The work involved was long, and hard with the Shirogane Accident occurring. They weren't able to find who had done it since the perpetrator was experienced enough to cover there tracks, and not leave any evidence. Naoto's condition was from shock but she's okay. Atem however suffered a concussion from the impact of the truck onto them, not to mention a broken leg with a piece of glass in his shoulder which he been on medication, and operation for several days passed out. Kuroki, and Karin however were killed in the crash which meant only the kids in the Shirogane car survived.
During which after hearing the news Dojima ordered a urgent investigation to figure out what had happened while the Shirogane Patriarch, Atem, and Naoto's Grandfather gave his own insight from being a master detective to them. So far they only know the brakes were sabotaged but don't have any leads who had done it.
Right now Chisato was with Atem, and Naoto in there room where Naoto was silently staring at the celling in shock while Atem has a cast in his leg held up, and bandage around his head, and bandages around his shoulder. Soon Chisato starts to notice Atem slowly waking up after several days of no response.
"Atem?" she asked seeing that.
Atem slowly opened his eyes groaning feeling sick, "W-Where am I...?"
"The hospital, do you remember anything about what happened?" asked an older male voice.
"W-What happened?" Atem rubbed his head with his hand, "L-Last I know... the car wasn't stopping, and..." His eyes shot open crying, "A truck!"
"There was an accident, you were badly injured and Naoto passed out from shock though her injuries were minor." the man mentioned before looking down. "Kuroki and Karin however..."
He just trailed off at that.
"U-Uncle Kuroki... and Aunt Karin are..." Atem trailed off hearing that.
"I'm sorry." the man whispered.
Atem looked down from this just as the news announced, "And here we are for a breaking news bulletin. Recent criminal, Carol James, has escaped prison."
Atem froze hearing that.
The man, and Chisato turned over where the news anchor explained, "After being caught burning a house where her sister-in-law, and son had been staying, she had been sent to prison but Carol had managed to break a hole into her cell allowing her to escape. No-one knows where she is now, but she is somewhere on the run. If there's anyone who sees her please call the authorities immediately."
A picture of Carol shows on the TV from this.
"She..." Atem started before trembling.
"Carol James... Atem isn't she..." Chisato started turning to Atem before growing shocked at him, "Atem?"
Atem was looking down with tears, "So... now she came here, and sabotaged the car to take away my new family...?" He gave a weak laugh, "Well now... what's the point of me having happiness now? She's just gonna take it away again... does this world hate me?"
"No, and do you want the proof of that?" the male voice asked him. "Look at the other bed."
Atem stayed looking down before weakly giving a glance to the other bed. He saw Naoto who was awake but staring at the ceiling silently.
"Your cousin is alive, and she's still with you." the man whispered softly.
Atem stared before looking down shaking his head, "Why bother... she'll take her away if she hasn't already..."
"No she won't, I won't allow her to hurt either of you anymore." the man told him. "I promise it'll be ok."
Atem didn't looked convinced which a doctor who was watching frowned, and told the man, "Mr. Shirogane?" He looked before saying, "Let's talk outside."
The man nodded walking out with the doctor. "Yes?"
The doctor looked down before explaining, "I feel... these could be signs of apathy syndrome."
"Are you certain?" he asked frowning.
"In case you don't know it's to where the afflicted doesn't care what happens anymore, and lacks motivation for it. In your Grandson's case first it started with his parent's treatment of him, then his mother killing his aunt, and now most of his family killed in the accident under the thought she's the culprit." the doctor explained to him. He then sighed, "Well the only thing we can do for this is wait for him to push himself out of this. And at the very least for your part, you, and your comrades should try finding Carol since she might be the cause for his condition as shown from his reaction."
"I agree." he nodded.
"And also be wary... those with apathy often result in nihilistic outlooks." the doctor warned him.
"I'll help him with that, and I'm sure in time Naoto will be able to support him even more than I can." he answered.
The doctor nodded as they heard running finding Dojima running over stopping near them which the doctor nodded to the man walking off, and Dojima asked worried, "D-Detective Shirogane... how is everything with Naoto, and Atem?"
"It could be better, Naoto's shaken and Atem... he's becoming apathetic after everything he's been through."
"I... I heard the news... Atem's mother escaped." Dojima said to him before frowning, "And now... he's thinking she's the reason why the accident happened?"
"He isn't the only one." the man frowned.
They stand there in silence before they walked in where Dojima sees Chisato has tears in her eyes seeing the condition of the Shirogane children, "Chisato..." He walked over hugging her.
She broke down and hugged him close. "Ryotaro... why them, why children?"
"I don't know Chio..." Dojima whispered to her while looking at the two, "I just don't know."
A nurse walked to Naoto silently asking, "Naoto? Can you hear me?"
She barely responded, only slightly shifting her eyes.
"How is your vision?" the nurse asked her softly.
"... fine." Naoto whispered before turning her focus back to the ceiling.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" the nurse asked holding two fingers in front of Naoto's line of sight.
"Two." Naoto answered.
The nurse nodded pulling her hand away, and softly kissed Naoto's forehead, "Ae you hungry?"
"... No." she answered.
The nurse nodded softly before saying, "Just tell us if you need anything... Your brother is in the room if you want some company. He's awake." She gestured to Atem's bed.
Hearing that Naoto turned to look over at Atem. Atem was looking down, looking solemn.
"Atem?" she asked quietly.
Atem looked over to her as the nurse softly asked Naoto, "Do you want to be in the same bed as him?"
After a few moments she nodded. "Yes."
The nurse softly takes Naoto's hand helping her off the bed, and moving her over to Atem's bed helping her climb on sitting beside him.
"Atem?" Naoto asked quietly.
Atem turned over, "Naoto... I'm so sorry..."
"It isn't your fault." Naoto whispered as she hugged him.
"But... my mom... she took away Uncle Kuroki, and Aunt Karin from us..." he whispered saying that.
"She didn't take away grandpa, or us." Naoto pointed out.
"She will eventually..." Atem kept looking down. "Anytime I get happiness she takes away..."
Ulrich362: Poor Atem.
bopdog111: Just to make it clear me, and Ulrich hadn't worked on Apathy/Nihilistic outlooks ourselves so this is our first time. If there's anyone who knows it better for us to get some tips, and insights feel free to inform us.
Ulrich362: Agreed, so what's next?
bopdog111: Well next be a timeskip to where how Atem spends his life now on to where Souji makes his trip here in Inaba. And as for Carol... we will get to her later but be assured she will be a major antagonist here.
Ulrich362: Sounds interesting, see you in the next chapter.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!