Chapter Text
1986
Morioh, Japan
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Josuke is 3 years old, and he is very, very lost.
He sniffled again as he walked aimlessly around the empty streets, unable to stop tears from streaming down his face.
He listened to his mom, he really did! His mom always told him, "Don't wander off!" And he didn't mean to walk away!!! But he was having so much fun with his friends, and he played hide and seek with, but when it came time to go home, he realized he was in a completely new section of the park.
And, more importantly, he couldn't find his mom.
"Mom!!" He sobbed, hoping someone would hear him. "Mommy, where are you!?"
He eventually had wandered out of the park and into the streets, shuffling down the vacant sidewalks. He knows he's breaking another one of his mom's rules, "Don't walk by the road unless I'm with you," but it's so scary right now, and Josuke knew he couldn't sit still.
He didn't care if he got in trouble, all he wants to do it go home. He wants his grandpa, he wants his mom to tuck him into bed, he doesn't even care that he'll probably be in timeout after this.
His outfit, a long sleeve shirt with bright pink shorts (which his mom had let him pick out!) was doing nothing to stop the cold that the rapidly setting sun ushered in, and he shivered. He continued walking, turning around a street corner.
"Mommy!? Where are yo- oof!" His cry was cut off as he ran into someone, and bouncing right off them and onto the ground.
"I'm sorry, child, are you alright?!" A deep voice asked from above him, and Josuke looked up and was startled by the largest man he had ever seen.
He was sooooooo tall! Josuke was pretty sure that even his grandpa wasn't that tall! He must have been an american, he thought, and he had light olive skin, blond hair and he was so big too! He doesn't think he has every seen someone with that many muscles! Just like on TV! Josuke was starstruck, and stared at the man, mouth agape, before his manners finally kicked in.
"I'm ok!" He chirped as he scrambled off the ground, beaming at the man. "I'm sorry hit you!"
The man chuckled, looking down at Josuke with an amused expression.
"It's ok, I should have watched where I was walking." The man smiled before glancing around, eyes narrowing. He turned back to Josuke.
"Little one, where are you parents? Shouldn't you have someone with you when it's so close to becoming dark?" He asked, and Josuke's expression fell. He had forgotten about his predicament with the excitement of meeting a new person!
The man looked startled as tears begining to roll down Josuke's face again. He began to sob.
"I don't- I can't find her!" He cried, and the man tilted his head in confusion.
"Is it your mom? Did you loose her?" He asked softly, and Josuke nodded sadly, hiccupping at the force of his tears. The man sighed, before crouching down so he was at eye level with Josuke, who had yet to stop crying.
"I was going to meet with my bosses, but I don't think they will mind if I'm late. Would you like to sit with me on that bench," The man pointed at a empty bench a few meters in front of Josuke, "for a moment while we wait for your mom to arrive?"
Josuke paused, eyeing the man suspiciously. His mom told him not to go home with strangers, but if they where only sitting on a bench, maybe that would be ok. He nodded.
"Ok then. Can you tell me your name?" The man continued.
"J-Josuke Higash- shikata." He fumbled out. But the man's words gave him hope "You think she'll come?" He asked, tears not exactly stopping, but slowing down in their intensity.
The man smiled.
"Certainly. Any good parent will find their child, no matter how long it takes." The man stood up, before pausing, hesitantly holding out his hand to Josuke, which he gladly took. Even his hand was big, wrapping around Josuke's own like an oven mitt.
They walked over to the bench and sat down beside each other. Josuke shivered, the sun finally disappearing under the horizon, and with it, the last of the warmth. The man noticed his movement and frowned.
"Are you cold?" He asked, concerned as he looked down at Josuke.
"Yeah, a little..." He confessed, another small shiver coursing through him.
The man hummed, then slipped his own brown jacket off and handed it to Josuke, before continuing, "Here, take this for the time being. The cold does not bother me."
Josuke quickly slid the jacket around him, which wrapped around him like a blanket due for the sheer size of it. It was even still warm, and he pulled the fabric so that only his head was sticking out, legs and all tucked inside.
They were both silent.
"Hey Mister?" Josuke started after a moment, curiosity getting the better of him. "Where are you from?" It was obvious that he wasn't from Morioh, that's for sure, but he didn't look exactly english either.
"I travel alot. You could say I'm from everywhere!" The man replied. "However, I have recently moved here"
Josuke nodded, then continued,
"Why do you work at night?"
The man frowned in confusion.
"And how did you know that?"
"Well you said you're going to meet with your bosses!" Josuke explained, "My mom and grandpa only work during the day. It's so hard to see when it dark, why would you want to work now?"
The man looked stunned for a minute, and Josuke shifted nervously, wondering if he insulted him, before the man burst into laughter. Josuke blinked in confusion.
"My, are you observant!" The man smiled again, and Josuke felt a puff of pride. His mom always said he was good at paying attention! "You are correct, we do work at night. It's simply an old habit of ours, we used to spend all of our time only at night."
"Really? Didn't you get sleepy?"
"No. But a while ago, we where able to go out in the sun's light. My boss loves the day now." The man continued, a fond expression crossing his face. Josuke nodded seriously.
"I like the day too. I want to stay up late sometimes, but I always get in trouble." Josuke wasn't sure, but somehow, whenever he tried to sneak out to the kitchen to eat a snack or to play with his toys, his mom always caught him! Every time!
"You're mom is very wise. You need to sleep since you are still young."
Josuke spun to face the man, indignant at such a suggestion.
"But what if I'm not tired! I told her I can't sleep, but she still won't let me play!"
"Well, you will always need to rest . Playings is only good if you balance it with other things."
Josuke turned back and frowned.
"You sound like my grandpa." He mumbled.
The man snorted, before reaching over to pat Josuke on the back.
"Your grandfather is also wise." The man hummed. "As you grow up Josuke, you are going to have to do alot of things you don't like. But every time you conquer those things, you will grow stronger. If you train yourself, nothing will be able to defeat you."
Josuke looked at the man in awe, but also a little bit of confusion. He wasn't really sure what the man was talking about, but it sounded good! He did want to be strong!
They both fell back into silence, Josuke looking around every few minutes, hoping to catch sight of his mom.
His eyes grew heavy, and he let out a long yawn.
"Getting tired?" The man questions, amusement coloring his tone. Josuke shook his head vehemently. He wasn't tired!
However, another yawn betrayed him.
The man chuckled. "If you shut your eyes for a bit, I do not mind. I will watch for anyone looking for you."
Josuke squinted up at him.
"Fine... But I'm not sleeping!" He protested. "I'm just resting my eyes."
"Ok, just resting your eyes. I believe you." The man assured him.
Josuke let his eyes slip shut and he leaned back into the bench. He's just resting them, he's going to wait for his mom to arrive, he reminded himself.
He was asleep within minutes.
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"JOSUKE?!?! JOSUKE, WHERE ARE YOU!!!" Tomoko screamed as she ran wildly down the sidewalk, narrowly avoiding running into fellow pedestrians as she flew past them, several giving her strange looks. She cursed their lack of action.
Didn't they see that she needed help?!
Her baby boy was missing!!!
The second she found a pay phone, she was calling the police, then her dad. She wanted everyone, and she ment EVERYONE out here helping her look for her son. Nausea rose into her throat as her mind raced, millions of thoughts on what could be happening to her child assaulting her all at once. Someone could have taken him, he could be miles away, what would they do to him? Would they just kill him, or something worse?!! Or what if he was lost, he could have fallen into water, he can't swim well yet! Or maybe-
Wait.
Is that him?
Tomoko skidded to a stop, looking amazed at the sight in a few feet front of her.
It was Josuke!!! He was wrapped in a large brown jacket, and was asleep, leaning against a large man, but he looked to be ok. But who was he with? What if that man did something to her son? Her fear turned to fury as she marched forward.
"Josuke!" She yelled as she grabbed him, ignoring his sleepy protests at the sudden movement. "What did you do to him!?!" She hissed, taking a step back and eyeing the man suspiciously, Josuke squirming in her arms.
The man lifted his hands in surrender before standing to his full height. Was he trying to intimidate her now?! She'll show him-
"I'm sorry ma'am, is he yours? I found him wandering around and crying earlier."
Oh.
She might have misjudged this.
"You found him?" She echoed.
So... this guy saved Josuke?
"Thank you so much!! You had no idea how worried I was!!! He ran off earlier and I was so scared that he was taken or lost and I-!" She broke off, bursting into tears as she sobbed, holding Josuke tighter as she shook, her emotions overwhelming her.
The man watched, feeling slightly awkward, and then shifted.
"I'm glad I could help." He shrugged. "He's a very nice kid."
"He's be a lot better if he didn't do this." She scowled. "We are going to talk when we get home young man." She growled at Josuke, who paled and nodded. Once she was certain that he got the message, she turned back to the man.
"Thanks again. I'm sorry, I don't think I introduced myself. My name's Tomoko."
The man smiled.
"You may call me Wamuu."
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