Disclaimer: I own nothing in the least.
AN: Updates aren't going to be as frequent because I start school on the 29.
Chapter 1
General Sparter blinked. He couldn't possibly have heard Prime right. The 'Bot couldn't possibly want to adopt the child. It was—unheard of. How would a robot be able to take care of a child on the brink of his teenage years, one of the hardest times of a human's life. Most humans couldn't do that.
"What!"
"I'd like to adopt him" Prime repeated evenly.
"How?" he asked still incredulous.
"The same way anybody else would."
"No offense Prime but you aren't human. Nobody would hand a child over to a robot to raise. Especially a robot with as many responsibilities and enemies as you do" Sparter tried to stress this point. If Prime adopted this kid he'd automatically be thrown into the middle of a vicious war and be made a target for Prime's enemies.
"I can protect Koji from whatever threat comes along."
"The kid might not even want to be adopted by someone he barely knows. Did you ever think of that?" Maybe that would convince Prime.
"Koji has been coming to the Autobot base everyday since his father was kidnapped. My men socialize with him and even give him rides to and from school when they can. He is very good friends with three of them in particular. I don't think I qualify as barely knowing Koji. Besides I've already discussed it with him. He's agreed and is at the moment sharing a room with three Autobots at the base until things can be finalized and I can setup proper living arrangements" Prime had already covered all the bases apparently except the Japanese legal system.
"Alright but since the kid has duel citizenship try to get a change of venue to America. You're on better terms with them than you are with the Japanese government.
"So how did it go?"
Optimus turned to see Sideburn standing in the door of his office. The 'Bot's face was uncharacteristically serious. Koji had probably already told the Autobot brothers that it was unlikely that Optimus would actually legally be named Koji's guardian.
"Gen. Sparter has agreed to help but he doubts that anybody would let me adopt Koji." No point in giving false hope.
"It just got even more unlikely. Koji's step-mother got remarried today and her husband wants custody of Koji" Sideburn said.
Optimus sighed. "How is Koji taking it?"
"Not very well. The way he's reacting we think you're right about his step-mom" Sideburn said, his optic narrowing in anger at the thought of the human woman.
"Well if I'm right then we can't let her ever get custody of Koji. No matter what."
"What if she does?" Sideburn asked, wanting to know that Koji would be safe.
"I'd rather not think about that"
"Koji I'd like to talk to you" Optimus said trying to coax the boy out of his hiding place behind one of Teltram1's computer consoles. It wasn't anymore than a crack to him but the boy could easily fit behind it.
"I don't want to" Koji said sounding almost like a three year old.
Optimus sighed again. He really hoped that this wasn't a regular thing parents had to go through because it was getting tiresome. "Koji—'" "No!". He once again marveled at the boys stubbornness and wondered where he'd gotten it from. Dr. Onishi hadn't, from what he heard, been stubborn in the least except about insisting on marrying Koji's mother, US Air Force Colonel/ war hero/ met Dr. Onishi by beating him in a drinking contest, rather than the proper Japanese women his parents had wanted. Thinking back to what he'd heard about the late Col. Onishi he decided he did know where Koji had gotten his stubbornness from.
"Koji please this is important. I spoke to Gen. Sparter."
That got Koji to peek around the edge of the console. "You did?"
"Yes"
"What did he say?"
"He told me to get a change of venue to America so we stand a chance"
Koji nodded. "My aunt's a lawyer there she might help".
"Koji wouldn't your aunt or your mother's family want to get custody of you too?" T-Ai asked, appearing next to Optimus.
Koji shook his head. "She already has five kids to raise. Besides Mom's family didn't approve of her marrying a foreigner. They didn't even come to dad's funeral and they only lived five miles from the cemetery."
"So she'll help though, right?" Optimus asked.
"Yeah she and Mom were close growing up. She's the only one who came to the funeral and she still sends me birthday cards every year."
Optimus nodded and then gave T-Ai a look that said ' I can take it from here'. She nodded and disappeared. Koji saw this look and tried to run back to his hiding spot but Optimus stopped him.
"Koji we need to talk about this now" Optimus said.
"Why! It doesn't matter anymore so just leave it!" Koji yelled. His eyes were suspiciously bright but Optimus didn't question it. This was the closest Koji had come to admitting what had happened and what was going happen.
"Koji if she gets custody it's going to matter a lot. And we have no idea what her new husband is like, he could be even worse than she is" Optimus explained gently, trying tom make Koji see the importance of the situation.
"What makes you think she did anything any way?" Koji said clenching his fists.
"Your medical records, your attitude towards her, the scars on your back. Is there anything that doesn't point directly to it" Optimus quietly but ferociously. Not fury at the boy but at the woman who had hurt him. The woman who would hurt the boy again, worse, if Optimus didn't stop her from getting anywhere near the boy.
The boy's tears started to fall at the 'Bot's tone. Optimus saw and immediately tried to calm him. "It's all right I'm not mad at you" he said like someone would to an infant. "Koji I just need you to tell us what exactly she did to you. It would help our case a lot" he said calmingly.
Koji didn't answer. He just stared at the floor. Optimus was going to ask again but Prowl walked in at that moment.
"Optimus I think you might want to check the human news" he said nervously.
"The newly remarried Mrs.Saka, widow of the late Dr. Onishi, was granted temporary custody of her step-son, Koji Onishi today by local judge---", the newscasters voice was cut off by Optimus slamming his fist through the monitor.
"Damnit! How are we suppose to protect Koji if this entire planet is working against us" he yelled.
"Optimus we can't let her take Koji" Sideburn said.
"We won't"
"But how? Keeping him here won't help us at all" Prowl said.
"We can't keep him from her if we don't have him" Optimus said.
Ignoring the confused stares he was getting he turned to T-Ai.
"Get Ultra Magnus on the line."
AN: I'm using the Col. Onishi from my other story but she died when Koji was three in this story.
R&R or no story