So as you are reading this title, considering my Moemon Adventures: Kanto story is perhaps a bit tad too dark, given the concerns of one such Guest review, my intention for the story wasn't simply dark and edgy for the sake of it. Rather, I wanted to represent an anthropomorphized Pokemon story that deviated from the games and the lighthearted tone set by the few other Moemon stories, as all of them being the main source of inspiration was that they were far too lighthearted and captured the same tone as Pokemon itself, with heavy smut thrown in the plot. Realism in the series is effectively sacrificed as a result. Pokemon itself is an extremely dark series that I think many people forget upon reading Pokemon entries within the Pokedex and when taken into context or the massive implications behind it.

I will not be changing how Moemon Adventures: Kanto and future sequel stories go simply because its far too dark for one's liking. The story is meant to fulfill both two tropes in the Pokemon community: Moemon, which is an obscure genre, and a darker AU Pokemon retelling.

However, this story serves as an alternative: A Moemon retelling of Detective Pikachu. I have watched the entire movie back long before I drafted Moemon Adventures: Kanto outline during two years prior, and if I'm being honest, it was kind of mid.

Now before a few of you go and type an angry rant that Detective Pikachu is one of the few only good anime movies because it was faithful to the source material and I'm a cunt who doesn't know good movies from bad, I am aware of that. However, I didn't like the plot or a few of the cast members for various reasons. There are a few good things I liked from the movie.

Just hear me out first.

-Lucy. Her entire role was simply relegated to being Tim's possible love interest and a sidekick and if I'm being fair, she didn't add much of anything to the movie. I am not saying she was useless, but she was far underutilized.

-Mewtwo's battle with Pikachu and Pokemon Battles in general. This needs to be explained. Pokemon is known for its large number of battles, and in the movie, most of the time it was spent with Pikachu unable to battle because he couldn't utilize any of his moves. I was actually disappointed when watching the movie in the theater. There was hardly any battles because either the main cast spent their times running away. The only one that could be called such was the climactic battle between Pikachu and Mewtwo. Other than that, there was no battle. I am aware that Detective Pikachu is also based off the Nintendo 3DS game of the same title and that game was largely puzzle based and a spinoff from the mainline Pokemon games as with PMD. Given however, that a large majority of the Pokemon fanbase are in for battles, the movie should have had a couple of battles before the final battle with Mewtwo. Alas, we didn't get such, and now we have to wait for a sequel if the producers are interested in making one.

There were a few good things. Ryan made Pikachu worth watching and his character was honestly fun as hell. He made the entire movie worth watching, as Tim was somewhat bland as the main protagonist of the film.

This Moemon retelling of Detective Pikachu will capture the same lighthearted tone as with multiple other Moemon stories and title movies and is in no way affiliated shape or form with Moemon Adventures: Kanto for those who are concerned. They merely use the same fan concept as other Moemon stories.

Rather, it's a spinoff set in a separate universe as with the movie to the game. This story will also fix the plot holes in film that I find absurd or didn't explain at all or well enough, and form it into a cohesive story from start to finish.

I will warn that while the story will be as lighthearted as the movie, it will be somewhat dark and angsty depending on the mood of the story, but will not be as dark as Moemon Adventures: Kanto, and will therefore be as light as the original movie and other Moemon stories.

There will be mature themes, however. So I am advising readers on that.

In the tall, lushness of the wild, the sun hung over its few denizens, beating down harshly as a sign of early morning. Its rays pierced through the darkness of the night, basking those within its infinite grasp. As it shone brightly and intensely, it gave off a sense of security, as it was a start to a new day. A start where every being could refresh themselves. It was often said that while a day prior could be bad, a new day could be the start of something far more full of hope. It was why people graviated towards the light rather than the dark. The darkness gave off a sense of foreboding, a wary distrust that something could go wrong in some shape or form. It could never provide the relative safe comfort that the morning always seemed to have.

For morning, it was a sign of multiple things. For parents, it was a sign to head off to work, cooking breakfast to tend to their children, going over a mental checklist of what to bring, what to wear. Fathers kissing children before they drove off in their vehicles. Mothers packing lunches and snacks for their children and bringing them along to a school bus, waving them goodbye.

For two young men, it was to capture powerful creatures lurking about, living in the wild known as Moemon.

Moemons, were to simply put, creatures with powerful and abnormal abilities. Ranging from height, they could either be tall or short. What made them far considered the term, abnormal, was their appearances. Taking on the form of young girls to older women, they were almost considered humans, were it not for the various features on their bodies. For example, a Pidgey in the form of a young girl would have the appearance of such, along with wings that sprouted from their backs and attached to their arms, along with feathers on their features. When matured into Pidgeots, they would appear as older women, having the same figure as an adult human female while retaining the traits.

Despite their relatively near human appearance, humanity had long considered them creatures, as early studies and humankind had proved that Moemons lacked the necessary intelligence as humans did. While they were a highly versatile and adaptable species like humans, it was widely considered only so that humanity had played a large role in working alongside these creatures that they were able to function with them.

Soon, humanity inducted Moemons into society, and both species flourished as a result of this. Due to Moemons human like appearances and their versatile nature, they were able to fit into multiple roles that humanity required. Soon, Moemons were found in multiple roles, ranging from construction workers, to labor and even celebrity artists. A few Moemons with their sturdy and more powerful bodies were able to perform work that humans were physically incapable of, in return being allowed to grant their own homes. It was a mutual work that benefited both parties. With the technological advancements made by the brilliant mind of men and the Moemons vast range of abilities that no humans were ever able to perform, it made for a combination that pushed the societies beyond what they ever thought possible.

Though what made it quite interesting was that all Moemons in recorded history had been female. There had been no sign of a male Moemon, as the anatomical nature of them had been the same as a female human. Moemons simply breed by with another of the same species.

The two young men in question, hunched over, took slow steps towards through the thick glaves of the sea of green. Their footsteps made a low crunching noise as their boots made contact with the green. A few certain Moemons had an exceptional hearing that far surpassed those of humans, so they relied mainly on moving slowly, pausing a few seconds or so to scan around for any Moemons in the territory before moving on.

"Jack. This is taking too long. Can we hurry up?"

The first of the two young men voiced his displeasure, his choice of words and tone showing the amount of his impatience.

"Just hold on, Tim." The other voice spoke up to his irritated friend, his voice a measure of relative calm. His eyes scanned around the field intently.

The first man who spoke up of his impatience groaned, huffing. "Can you tell me what are we looking for at least?"

Jack turned around to face his friend, a wide grin on his face pulling the corners of his mouth up. Tim groaned. He knew that look. For the past ten or so years, he knew that look from Jack. It meant he had a plan. And of course, it meant he was going to be lumped into it.

Tim knew Jack since the moment he stepped into the town ten years prior. Both had been friends when he had first arrived. Though the two became instant friends, Tim slowly began to know Jack as someone who would take dares and risks, along with concocting plans and schemes that he would be dragged, but more like forced, into.

During a day off from his occupation as an insurance company worker, Tim hadn't planned on doing anything relatively special. Instead, he decided to spend his days simply browsing the web, looking up news, and grabbing a bite to eat. He was about to head out when surprise, surprise, Jack was at the front door of his complex.

Which brought him to the current moment as of now.

Tim watched as his friend slowly whip his head across the horizon, as comprehension slowly began to dawn on him why both of them were out in the middle of nowhere. He did not recognize it sooner, but now he did. "Jack. Don't tell me…"

"Tim. Come on. It'll be good for you."

He knew it. The man shook his head to his friend's begging. "No. I'm not doing it."

"Why not?! Come on, Tim!"

"I don't want a Moemon. You already know this. I told you this."

"And as your friend, I'm inclined to ignore what you say for your wellbeing." Tim began to walk away, giving a roll of his eyes as Jack indignantly cried. "Wait! Come on, Tim! I don't see what the problem is. You're just giving it a shot!"

"I told you I'm fine without one, Jack. It's not like I need a Moemon in life."

Jack crossed his arms. "So you're fine without someone in your life? Without any Moemon?"

Interspecies relationships between human and Moemons were initially, while not frowned upon, made it quite confusing for the human race initially. Regulations and laws were set in place to make sure that both humans and Moemon had equal opportunities. The possibility of both species cross breeding was an concept still being explored, combining DNA from both to create an entirely new, hybrid species. The DNA splicing projects was largely still in development.

Tim shrugged, "Worked out for the past or so years. And I'm not interested in fucking one. No thank you."

It was not because Tim didn't find the concept of human-Moemon interspecies relationships revolting. In fact, he didn't mind. But as far as relationships with the opposite gender went, Tim never had any interests. He had a few interests in school as any teenager with developing hormones went, but as far as an official long lasting relationship, there was nothing. Even Moemons with some… should he say: risque outfits and anatomy, they did not awaken anything within him.

"You know what I meant. Besides that."

Tim still was adamant. He had long since given up becoming a Moemon Trainer. Capturing one for the sake of self gratification, to form a meaningful bond with a Moemon, or recognition as a Trainer who captured and utilized them for battle, was hardly his desire. "I'm going to have to stop you there and say no."

Perhaps it had been once in Tim Goodman's life that his wish to be a Trainer as many within his hometown did, but now? Tim couldn't be bothered. The childish enthusiasm he displayed in his youth was replaced with a modicum of indifference to the idea.

"Tim! Everyone else has a Moemon. You're just wasting your life away without anyone to share your thoughts and feelings with."

"And suddenly you're my therapist?"

"Regardless man, you need a Moemon." He jabbed a finger at him, an intense look on his face. "And as your amazing, awesome, caring-" He ignored him when Tim added 'ignorant'. "Best friend. I say you need a Moemon."

"And I say you have no respect for my privacy for getting into my life."

"We're friends!"

As if that was an excuse to ignore the privacy of such. "Friends also respect each other's privacy!"

"They also care about each other!"

"And understand to give distance to those and respect their individual privacy."

Jack sighed, "So you're just gonna waste your life away in some insurance company that barely passes minimum wage stuck in some office signing off some papers mindlessly and think about what exciting things you could do and enjoy doing instead, like capturing a Moemon-" He indicated by waving a Moeball around. "And battling!"

Even if the offer of more money made with an occupation of a Moemon Trainer, it still didn't draw Tim in, as what it did offer simply was something he no longer cared for.

Jack seemed to read his thoughts, and he exhaled once more. "Look, man. Just give it a shot. Okay? Just once? We came all the way out here anyway and there's nothing else to do. The wild's just teeming with Moemons and it's just a waste to watch them go." He held out the Moeball for Tim to take.

Tim considered his options, then nodded. "Fine. Don't have anything better to do anyway" He decided he owed his friend after all. It was even as Jack stated. What was the harm in trying? "Where are they anyway?"

Jack smiled once more, and he held up a hand. "Be patient, ol chap. Once you hear one, you immediately go. Move quickly but silently. That is the key."

Tim scoffed slightly at his friend's dramatical explanation, but silenced himself as both he and Jack focused, their footsteps crunching grass the only indication of noise, as wildlife and Mother Nature was the only source of sound as Tim followed his more experienced friend down the lush wilderness.

With a sudden halt, Jack simultaneously raised his hand, forcing Tim to pause as well, as a grin formed on his face. Tim simply stared at the expression he gave. "Well?"

A feminine voice rang out the emptiness, and Jack snapped his fingers, a smirk settling in. "Let's go."

They moved once more towards the feminine voice, and the two friends moved alongside the hill as they crouched low to make themselves as hidden and undetected as possible. The female voice sounded out once more, and as Tim followed behind, Jack abruptly halted, Tim nearly bumping into his back. "There she is!"

Tim focused his sight to where Jack pointed, and he watched as a chestnut haired figure stroll aimlessly around, her gaze wandering imperceptibly across the field with a boredom in her eyes. What made her stand out, however, was the skull that she donned on her head, not entirely covering the rather attractive face that all Moemons seemingly had. In fact, Tim noted that all Moemons had an ideal figure and features that was perhaps the desire of every female human out there. He swore that Arceus, who was considered the progineitor of Moemon, and even considered a goddess, solely did this to fuck with humanity and mess with the minds of the perverted kind of humanity. Having an idealistic body proportion made female humans jealous, and often attracted the male kind. This particular Moemon, if it wasn't already startling enough that a bony skull laid on her forehead, also held a bone in her hand, as a weapon to defend herself from other Moemons and humans alike. While it seemed small and fragile, Tim had already watched enough battles that the bone acted as a lethal projectile to disorient and offbalance.

This Moemon was a Cubone, one of the many Ground types of the Kanto region.

"Well?" Jack questioned. "A Cubone right there, just sitting there and waiting to be captured! Am I the best friend or what?"

Tim couldn't help but smile, and even excitement built up in his own breast. This was the first time he was capturing a Moemon. "Yeah, yeah. Sure."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, man! I'll be sitting right here!"

"Go capture her?"

"Yeah, duh! Go on! Go! You won't be able to capture her with the Moeball from this distance! Move closer!"

Following his friend's advice, Tim trekked closer, his heart pounding slowly in his chest as the Cubone watched without any concentration on her part, still yet to notice him. The Cubone, looking off to the distant skies, adjusted the skull on her forehead, placing it entirely over her face. As she turned to face him, Tim froze, and his heart stilled in his chest for that moment, before she turned to look away once more. He released a breath he did not realize he was holding, and moved forward once more. It wasn't until about thirty or so feet away that the Cubone spoke up.

"You do realize I saw you long before right? You humans are so easy to fool…"

Tim froze, and he could only stare uncomprehending at the skull covered face, save for the slits. But that shouldn't be, unless… Tim narrowed his gaze and realized that even despite how small the slits were for eye sockets, the gaze of the Cubone still burned through.

He had been tricked by the Cubone to believe that she could not see him through her skull mask. Tim cursed himself for falling into such a trap, and cursed his lack of foreknowledge, that Cubones often placed their skulls over their masks for intimidation or to pretend that they could not see. She had made him to believe that, and so he failed.

"Well?" She eyed him with a suspicious gaze.

"Umm…" Tim was out of options, and the only one he ever had was to capture her without her suspecting, but now that plan failed even before he could enact it, and so he was left scrambling what to do. "I'm just… I'm just taking a stroll." Even he noticed how pathetic he sounded.

"Yeah, great. A human that is creeping up towards a lone Cubone standing out in the middle of nowhere says he's taking a stroll." The biting sarcasm rolled off, along with a hefty dose of disbelief and mocking. "You don't expect me to believe that crap the slightest bit, right?"

Tim glared back at the hiding Jack for support for a brief moment, and Jack rapidly waved his arms to indicate a throwing motion, before throwing himself behind the bush, and Tim was left by himself once more.

Thanks Jack.

Turning back, Tim opened his mouth once more to explain, to possibly give an explanation that would sound plausible as possible, but her suspicious gaze already let him know that there was little to no explanation that would be adequate. "Um… No?" He steadily moved away. "I'll…I'll just leave now then. Leave you… alone."

It seemed like he would not capture a Moemon.

"Yeah, great. You do that." The Cubone waved her bone at him, and he could also hear the whisper under her breath. "Pervert."

Tim scrapped together the remaining bits of his dignity and pride as he walked off, cursing himself for having no backbone and chucking the damn device at the Cubone earlier. He could see Jack laughing now as he turned to see his hiding place, except the man wasn't. He was still crouched low, looking intently at where the Cubone was.

"Tim! What the fuck are you doing?! Why are you leaving?! Go and chuck the fucking thing at her! Her back's turned! You aren't just gonna give up early are you?"

Tim turned to see and the Cubone was faced away, hunched over as she fiddled with her bone.

His determination revitalized with the new discovery, Tim clutched the device once more, approaching an acceptable range that would allow him to ensnare her within it, giving a nod to his friend. He swore by after capturing her, he would thank his friend properly after this.

Drawing his arm back and letting himself take a deep breath in preparation, Tim focused his entire gaze on the Cubone, before he hurled his arm entirely forward and released the device, sailing it towards her.

He watched as the ball moved as a curve as it descended down, before smacking her on the back of the head with a loud crack. The Cubone stumbled forward by the force of the thrown object received, a cry of confusion and surprise as the ball bounced off, ricocheting off the skull mask, before its interior opened up, revealing nothing but an empty metallic rounded interior. The Cubone barely had time to scramble to her feet and turn around as a pulse of red energy crackled from the object and onto her body, as she was dragged into the ball. The last thing he heard was a cry escaping from her as it snapped shut, a loud pinging noise as it closed, and the ball, accompanied by gravity, fell with a crack to the earth.

Tim stared in disbelief, watching the event unfold seconds earlier, before a crying whoop sounded out behind him, and Jack ran up, a smile splitting across his face widely. "Tim! You did it! You caught her!"

Tim watched, as if he couldn't believe it himself. Then he allowed himself to smile, a look of relief and his own happiness filling him up, as the realization suddenly hit him.

He caught a Moemon. He was now a Moemon Trainer.

Tim never believed it before. But now… Maybe he could be a Trainer. And it was all thanks to Jack that he was able to.

"Thanks, Jack. Seriously."

Jack puffed himself up in pride, rubbing his nose. "Well look who suddenly changed his mind! Come on, admit it!"

Tim laughed, "All right. All right. I was wrong." He couldn't help his elation as he moved to approach his newly caught Moemon. "You were right."

With a smirk, Jack adjusted his backpack. "Well, aren't you going to name her? Highly recommended, from my expert advice. Not all Trainers have to."

Tim rolled his eyes. "Let me get her first, then we'll decide."

"Of course. You do you."

Both the two men moved to where the ball rested as Jack eagerly boasted about what Tim could do now with his life, now that he had a Moemon.

"Now I was thinking… Since I have a Zigzagoon and you a Cubone now. We could do a battle now. I don't think I have to teach you about that, do I? Oh! How about exchanging thoughts and dreams? Most Trainers do that."

Tim gave a look of mock concern. "If I'm being honest, Tim. I'm starting to be concerned about your obsession to understand Moemon." He bent down to pick up the ball that held Cubone. The ball oddly felt warm, when it had been cool before capture, and he swore it was shaking in his hand. But he dismissed it.

"Alright then. How about making out then. My Zigzagoon and I are testing things out. Nothing official yet, of course. We could-"

Yep. That was it. "Nope! Not hearing it! Get your mind out the gutter and keep your fantasies to yourself."

"Aww, Tim! Come on, Tim!" Tim ignored him, and held the device holding Cubone in his hand. The device still felt warm, and was beginning to grow hot in his hand and began to burn and shake even further as Tim felt like he was dipping his hand into a furnace, and he released the ball, cursing as it flew violently out of his hands. "Shit! What the fuck!"

Jack was immediately by his side, concern replacing his joking humor immediately. "Tim! What's wrong?!"

Tim jabbed a finger at the violently shaking object. "The ball fucking burns and its shaking now! Is it supposed to even do that?!"

Jack looked at the ball as he stared at it, only confusion at what was happening. Then, slow realization morphed his face, and fear now replaced it. Tim's concern grew. "Jack! What's wrong with the Moeball?! Tell me!"

Tim turned to him, a look of pure embarrassment and fear on his face. "Uhh, so you know I brought some Moeballs to get you a freshly caught wild Moemon, correct?"

"And?"

"And we don't have any Moemons on us? I mean, I don't have my Zigzagoon on me?"

"Get to the point!" Tim watched with abject fear on his face and panic in his voice. When Jack didn't speak, Tim had to repeat himself. "Jack! Get to the point! What?!"

"You're supposed to battle wild Moemons in order to capture them! I forgot to bring my Zigzagoon with me!" Jack finally spoke, just as the ball violently exploded in a bright light.

Tim realized it just as his friend said it, watching as the light that blinded them momentarily died down, and standing was an enraged Cubone.

Jack, you fucking idiot.

The Cubone spoke soon as the field was no longer in a haze of bright light. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the human pervert and what's this, I see? His friend, who is just as bad as him."

She stepped towards them as the two boys were frozen in place. "I was annoyed by your behavior. I really was. But I decided to simply give you a chance to leave instead of straight out attacking you in my territory." She spoke in such a low tone that it sent shivers down the two boys' spines.

"Instead, I was captured in the device." Her disgust was palpable through the open field, as the bone skull mask created a visage of pain and death that was sure to follow. "Captured, presumably, to fulfill your disgusting fantasies."

"Well, you see. Not all of us humans do that, so I can totally understand if you feel that way, but not all of us-" She titled her gaze to the owner of the voice.

"Oh. Then what's this I heard earlier from both you humans about a Zigzagoon inside that prison. From you?" She pointed to Jack with her bone, and Tim watched as his friend paled considerably, his knees shaking.

"Umm, that was a joke! Ha! Yeah! A joke!" Jack snapped his fingers and laughed nervously as his knees trembled. "I would never do that to my Zigzagoon! She's like a little sister to me! That's it! Haha!"

You idiot! Shut up! You're only making this even worse!

"So you're attached to younger of our species then…" Tim heard the rage and anger in her voice, but before he could even ease the situation, Jack spoke up once more.

"Exactly!" Jack smiled, failing to detect the currents of fury. "So can we just put this behind us and you could just let us go and we'll never come back?" He raised his hands placatingly as a gesture of peace.

The only response he got was a blur of something that went by his cheek, and Tim swore by then that the man pissed his pants. Jack wiped his hand across, and to both men's horror, watched as it was smeared with blood.

"Jack. Run."

Jack turned to face Tim for a brief second, then back to the Cubone, the skull like mask of her visage staring down at her prey. "What?!"

"Run, you idiot!"

Tim turned to see the Cubone lunge at the both of them before he turned around and sprinted away from the Moemon. Jack was not so lucky as he whipped his head to see Tim run, before fear formed on his face once more as he turned back to see the Cubone throwing something once more, and he followed his friend, the Cubone out for the blood of two humans who dared to interrupt her peace.

"You know, Tim."

"What?"

"Can I just say it?"

"Say what?"

"I don't think you're cut out for the life of a Moemon Trainer."

For some reason, that stung Tim's pride, but he quickly retorted with his own comment. "Says the man who failed to bring his Moemon out for the purpose of capturing another Moemon."

The man grinned painfully, wincing as he clutched his shoulder. "Touche."

Tim sighed as he placed a hand on his chest. Both thankfully, weren't injured by the Cubone far much so. But both had been hit by some attacks of the Cubone and required both into the nearest Moemon Center, after a chase that lasted for five hours and the remainder of morning. The Moemon Center of their home served as both a hospital for humand and Moemon alike, giving treatment to both. For humans however, they were required to sign a document and as both friends did so, the nurse questioned what both had been doing that gave them their wounds, and Jack, being the moronic dumbass that he was, told her what they had been doing.

Their checkup and treatment only lasted for about four or so hours, and after treating them, both were told not to perform any intensive activity with the wound, but Tim could see what the nurse that performed the checkup thought them as she glanced over the bandages that covered their bodies as Jack told her they had been trying to capture a Moemon without one on hand.

Idiots.

Both now sat in the waiting room where a few other humans and Moemons were awaiting treatment, and occupied themselves by watching the television, where a reporter spoke of the Ryme City's new advancements in technology.

"And now for the weather report."

Jack, for some reason, was then unusually silent. Tim decided to speak up. "Something wrong, man?"

Jack turned to face him, smiling. "Nah, its just…" He shook his head. "Sorry man."

"Sorry?"

Jack's face morphed akin to guilt. "I just really wanted you to have a Moemon. You know, since everyone from high school is moving out and either became a specialist in the field of Moemon or Trainers. You… You never did." He winced when he said it. "I don't mean anything by it. It's just that since… you know…"

Your mom…

Comprehension dawned on Tim at the unspoken statement. "Jack, it's fine. I told you. I don't want a Moemon. My mom…" He sighed. "I never even met her, and dad's a damn deadbeat. Not Batman levels bad of how he handled Jason Todd, or even some truly shitstains of a parent out there, but remember elementary school for show and tell?"

He looked down, recalling the experience. "It becomes embarrassing when your parent doesn't even show up. Hell, even Drake from our class was adopted, and both showed up! Dad promised the day before that he would show up, but he didn't."

He sighed, "I understand that work is important to him, but he can't even make a day to just skip work. They say, 'Hey! Harry Goodman! Police detective of Ryne City!' Yeah, fucking swell that you can't recall any information or what he did beyond his work. Fucking great last year that he only visited for winter break just for three days before he was called back to Ryne City."

He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's fine, Jack. You only meant to help. So I don't blame you." The fact that Jack cared enough just for him to capture his own Moemon showed how much he was.

Jack gave a hesitant smile back. "Yeah. I'm still sorry man. Maybe office work in an insurance company works out the best for you."

Tim gave a glare back at the smirk on his friend's face. "You're lucky my arm's still numb from the medicine."

The nurse announced that both could leave, and the two departed as Jack spoke as they exited the automatic doors. "So maybe we could just grab a couple drinks or so-" He was halted as Tim's phone rang.

"Give me a minute."

Curious, Tim answered his phone as he spoke into it. Was it his grandmother? He had texted her that he was out with Jack, so she wouldn't be worried that he was late. The insurance company? "Tim speaking."

"Is this Tim Goodman?"

Tim wasn't familiar with the feminine voice who was calling him. "Yes. This is Tim."

"Okay! Can you hold on the phone for a moment please?" The feminine voice faded into the background noise, as a new voice, one that was masculine and deeper and oddly familiar. "Hello Tim. Had my assistant calling you because I had to deal with something. I'm Hideo Yoshida."

"Hideo Yoshida?" Tim had a strong feeling that he knew who this man was, but he couldn't place his finger on it.

"Yes. I'm your father's, Harry's, friend. Been a while, hasn't it?"

Tim attempted to recall as his eyes widened at the memory he captured. "You were the one calling my dad last winter! Before you picked him up and he had to leave!"

The voice chuckled from the other side. "Yes. Your father took a train and a cab to the town, and I arrived to pick him up. First time I saw you, though I wasn't sure if you would remember me, since that first time moment didn't exactly warrant us a conversation together."

He frowned, "How exactly did you get my number? Why are you calling me now?"

"Ah! Your insurance company sent it to us after we confirmed a number of things! Don't worry, you aren't under arrest. You haven't done anything illegal."

Tim knew he was beating around the bush. "I understand, sir. But why exactly are you calling me?" All it did was fuel the suspicion of Tim.

Silence followed. "Hello?"

"I don't know how to exactly put it the best way…" He heard an audible sigh from the other side. "Tim, your father was in an accident and…

"I'm sorry."

Tim was minutely aware that the voice gave an apology and was sympathetic. But all he could hear was the words "accident" and "I'm sorry" and he knew that moment.

His father was dead.

He barely heard Jack approach the phone that he realized that dropped out his hands, answering into it, his voice soft, before he approached him.

"Tim…"

Tim stared at him. "Jack. I think I'm just going to go now."

Jack attempted to speak, but Tim raised a hand. "It's fine. I'm fine."

"I can help pack your things for Ryne City-" He began, but was cut off.

"It's fine. I can do it."

But the words sounded empty, and all Tim could think about was that his father was gone.

"Okay. But if you need me…"

"I'm fine."

"Okay." Jack walked back to the direction of his home. "Give me a call if you need anything."

Tim watched him leave, before he sat back on a bench, his head in his hands.

"Dad…"