Catch-22: The Star

By: M14Mouse

Summary: Sojiro makes a phone call.

Disclaimer: Don't own them.

Sojiro knew that it was late.

He knew that he should wait until tomorrow.

Or never.

He flipped the card between his fingers and then paused. He stared at the number and sighed. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the number then stopped.

He stared at the phone.

The damn kid said that his uncle would understand.

Been in his shoes, he said.

It would be nice to talk to someone who understands. Narukami was too calm about everything. Does that kid ever get angry? Maybe, that is a question to ask his uncle.

He finished dialing the number and hit send.

Two rings later, he heard the familiar click.

"Dojima."

"Uhh…hello. This is awkward. My name is Sojiro Sakura. Your nephew may have told you about me."

"Oh, you're the dad of the redhead. The one that got my daughter into some weird dancing, singing anime thing."

"That sounds like Futaba."

"Cute kid. You can keep her."

"Plan to."

"Good."

He sighed as the silence filled the air between them. He wondered for a moment.

"Before you ask…yes, I know. Yu called and asked. He found it strange that the lawyer lady was so invested in your case. While I know a bit and pieces of family law, she can huff and puff all she wants. She really doesn't have much of a leg to stand on especially since your daughter and my nephew have been gathering evidence. I think that Yu has a lawyer for you…just in case."

"They shouldn't be doing that!" He said angrily.

"They are. Good luck on stopping them."

"It is my job to protect her. She…she should be a kid. She shouldn't…"

"Look. I'm not going to tell you how to raise your kid. I have enough trouble with my own. I know one thing. You're her family. Protection works both ways."

There was a moment of silence. He could hear the other words underneath them.

You're smart. Talk to your damn daughter.

He sighed.

"But…that isn't why you called, is it?"

"I found out about…you know…"

Dojima chuckled.

"Did you deny its existence or did you faint?"

"Almost both. I knew enough because of my government work. So, I couldn't really deny it. As soon as her death happened, I ran. I buried my head in the sand. I watched the news. It nagged at me. After I found a calling card in her room, I confronted them. Narukami was right. They are too involved to back out now. I wanted to be supportive but I know what happened….and I don't think I can go through that again," He said.

"I denied it then threw my nephew into a room because I refused to listen. My own damn stubbornness and pride like I knew what the hell was going on. I jumped into it like a goddamn rookie. My daughter and Yu paid the price. Yu burned his hand trying to save her. Hell, I left him in that house for months because she was in the hospital for months. I was in the hospital just as long. Those months were horrible. Everything turned out alright in the end like hell, if I don't still have nightmares about it.," Dojima said.

He felt a sense of relief rush through him.

"That is good."

"Yes and no. Fine or not. My daughter still has nightmares. Sometimes, I stare at her and she has this look in her eyes like she knows. Yu carried a sword around because he is a marked man for some reason. Naoto primarily works on cases dealing with shadows. Kanji has a metal chair by their tv set in his mother's shop. They go into the tv world every day to make sure that it is still safe. They aren't the same. Hell, I'm not the same. Your kids won't be the same. I'm sure that you notice it?"

He took a shaky breath.

"Yes, I noticed," He said softly.

He did. It took him a bit of time. He noticed his kids change in different ways. Both of them have become more confident. Futaba is standing up for herself more. He could see the tension that Ren carried in his shoulders started to disappear. There is a new tension that he is starting to see. One in his eyes.

"So…after…" He added.

"I have no idea. Technically, I'm supposed to arrest them since I know. Too much paperwork. I have enough of that," Dojima said.

He almost dropped the phone.

"Are you…."

"No…we knew that it had been going on for a while. Long before the thieves showed up."

"You knew?"

"I told you before. I'm not the same either. While I don't deal with it on the same level as Naoto and my nephew, I know enough to keep my eye out for it. I work a few cases dealing with the weird shit that the universe likes to throw out there. From what the others told me, they knew something was up but they really didn't have the manpower. There have been a lot of shadow attacks and a lot of unexpected incidents. Not enough people to deal with the threats."

"The world has gone crazy."

Dojima sighed.

"Yes."

"Then why is Narukami here?"

"Of course, he was looking into the breakdown incidents but his boss really wants him to finish his education. It is an ongoing thing for them. I think that this is her third time? She is going to get him to graduate even if she has to drag him," He said with a laugh.

He chuckled.

"Narukami is something," He added.

"He is. He is a good kid to have in your and those kids' corner," Dojima said.

"I noticed that. It looked like I have a lot of work ahead of me. Those kids are going to need all of the support that they can get."

"You do. If you need any help, I'm a phone call away."

"Thank you. I do have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Is your kid always like this? So damn unflappable."

"He was less unflappable when he was younger but not by much. You get over it or have your hair turn gray because of the stuff that comes out of his month," Dojima said.

"I guess that it is a good thing that I already have some. I think that the kids brought a talking cat home."

"Huh? That is new. Apparently, Teddie is a shadow from the tv world."

"How…does that work?"

"You know…I was kind of afraid to ask."

End of The Phone Call

Next Chapter: The Midpoint

A/N: Originally, I was going to have Dojima show up at the cafe to talk to Sojiro. I felt the phone call worked better. (Although, I do have plans for them to meet face to face). It is interesting to see and write the similarities and differences between their experiences. -looks at the next chapter title- If you ask if I am really at the midpoint way of this story, I have no idea. :D Anyway, thank you for the reviews, kudos, favorites etc. You guys are awesome for sticking with me almost 100 chapters. It always impresses me how I get new readers that are willing to jump into a story this long. Read and Review if you wish.