Father and Son

"Where am I?" Frank said, his voice raspy from lack of use. His gaze looked around the room in shock as he tried to take in his surroundings. His eyes settled on Atlas as they slowly widened and he tensed as if he was getting ready to run.

"Ho- no, Atlas? What is happening? Where am I?" His eyes filled with doubt and fear. As if he was questioning if any of this was even real.

"It's okay, You're in another dimension right now Frank. I'm using my technique to keep us safe in another plane so that no one can get to us or affect us. It's okay." Atlas repeated, reassuring the clearly frantic old man.

Clear signs of a panic attack slowly formed as he looked around and started to fidget with everything he had his hands on.

Reaching forward Atlas took his hands in his own and said in the most calming voice he could muster. "It's alright Frank. You're safe here."

Looking at Atlas Frank slowly started to nod his head. He focused on his breathing as he tried to get his racing thoughts to settle down. He needed to calm himself because if this was a trick or a bad situation he would rather have his wits about him.

Although doubt was twisting some of his thoughts, he was starting to believe that he was safe and this was all real.

Nodding his head some more just for something, some movement, something to keep his vision shifting and his mind doing something Frank just sat there breathing.

Just staying beside him Atlas also just breathed, holding the man's hands until he felt his grip loosen and his heart start to settle. The adrenaline and panic made way for a wave of unexpected exhaustion to crash into him making his head spin.

"Whoa, lay down. You'll be alright." Atlas said, helping Frank lay back down and propping his head up with a few pillows to make sure that he was comfortable.

Sitting back down Atlas spoke slowly, his eyes filled with worry. "So is everything... alright?" His voice was clearly hesitant.

Unable to stop himself Frank let out a dry humorless chuckle. "I should be asking you that question lad… you've grown." He said as he rolled his head to the side and looked at Atlas, a small smile appearing on his lips.

"Yeah… It's been a while… 2 years." Atlas responded with. A small smile of his own formed but his eyes glistened with a layer of tears.

Was it too hopeful to think that Frank was back?

Sitting there for a moment in a comfortable silence Frank slowly sat himself up, waving off Atlas as he tried to help. "I'm alright lad, I'm not that old yet." Readjusting himself until he was in a comfortable spot then letting out a content sigh. "So what's been happening?" Frank finally asked.

"A lot… Are you- well, you?" Atlas suddenly asked as he waited for an answer.

"I think so lad... I think so. I know that my mind was quite heavily messed with but I think it's fixed now. Some memories have also resurfaced, ones that had been erased and blurred now coming back. But as far as I am aware, I am me and my memories are my own." Frank informed with a soft smile.

Nodding Atlas relaxed his shoulders as he let a smile cross his own face as he shook his head a bit. "That was one fucked up ride for a while wasn't it?"

"Sure was, you've done well though. You look like you have at least. Catch your old man up yeah? I'm sure you have a lot of stories to tell." Frank said as he let out a light chuckle.

It wasn't long before Atlas was going through everything that happened, talking about how he had put him in the tombs and the Kyoto event. China and meeting Hoshi. To the star plasma vessel and Toji and how they had found Darkness and Mizuki and finally to his victory over Kenjaku and his actions of reforming the Society.

Having sat and listened through all of it Frank finally said something as Atlas finished talking. "You've done well kid. I'm proud of you."

Smiling Atlas shook his head as he responded, "Thanks, I've done my best."

Once more silence filled the room as Frank thought about what to say. His mind wandered to parts of his past that he remembered. The smile fell off of his face. However what Atlas suddenly said pulled him from his thoughts.

"I do need to ask though… what is your history with Joben and Hoshi's parents?" His voice locked up a bit as he didn't really want to hear the answer, he just wanted to keep being normal but he also needed to know. Was Frank a danger?

Looking back to Atlas he said, "I guess it's my turn to tell a long story then?" His voice became somewhat nostalgic as he remembered his time in school.

Standing outside the door having listened in to all of this Hoshi found tears starting to well in his eyes. Frank was back… and he didn't know how to feel.

If Frank remembered would he hate him?

---

"What about him?" Gojo asked as he grabbed a water bottle that he had put to the side and started to drink from it. Turning around he sat down on the railing as he waited for her answer.

Thinking over her words she just sighed before speaking her mind. There was no need to be so careful about all of this, "Are you worried that he might be acting a bit… rash?" Still having to think about what she said in the end.

"What do you mean by that? Acting without thinking or consideration?" Gojo tried to confirm as he furrowed his eyes in confusion putting the bottle down next to him.

"No not really that… I suck at speaking." Mizuki said with a sigh as she tried to find the word.

"Inappropriately? Abusively? Arrogantly? Harshly?" Gojo said interrupting her thoughts as he tried to provide a better word.

Nodding she said, "Well you know what I mean then." Crossing her arms over her chest as she waited for his answer.

"Not at all." He provided quickly. Further expanding with, "I think that he is doing the right thing. Sure the methods he is using are brutal and harsh but with someone as potentially dangerous as Kenjaku and people as stubborn and foolish as the Higher-Ups sometimes your hand is forced, not by your morals or lack thereof but by the unwillingness of the world to do anything to help you. You can try to guide an ox, but if it won't listen you have to force it to move. Especially if staying where it is will hurt or even kill the ox." Trying to provide an example.

"That isn't the main thing that I am worried about. What if all the power and authority is going to his head and once he does get rid of Kenjaku he doesn't stop… will he just kill everyone who he thinks is hindering the Society?" She confessed.

Pausing for a moment Gojo looked at her and after a moment responded with. "I don't know how well you know Atlas… but do you really think that he is the type of person to do that? Sure, he may abuse his authority and power sometimes, but even if he does who cares. As long as he doesn't bring harm to others then it should be fine and only does it to those that deserve it." Gojo dismissed as he waved his hand.

"What if he used it to threaten someone?" She asked, refusing to budge.

Shrugging Gojo said, "Then they probably were assholes or did something to deserve it. I could never see Atlas threatening someone that hadn't done anything wrong. He isn't that type of guy. He looks out for the weak. Something I never really understood until recently."

"Alright," Mizuki said, looking at the floor as she kicked up some dirt in thought. Leaving him to think Gojo just closed his eyes and relaxed in the sun.

It did make sense, why was she so worried about it anyway? In the end, it wasn't her problem, it was just that she was worried about Atlas changing she guessed. Why? Probably because someone with power like him could be a real threat.

He was also her first real friend. Sure she got along with Genki but they never talked outside of sparring apart from polite conversation.

Atlas had just… accepted her as a half-curse and then never brought it up unless he needed to. It wasn't something that bothered him like it bothered others.

People like Geto and Gojo were the same, they didn't care that she was a half-curse as long as she didn't start killing people she was just a normal person to them.

Sighing she finally straightened out her thoughts. "Thanks." She said.

"I'm always happy to help a junior," Gojo said.

Glaring at him she said, "I'm older than you."

Shrugging like it didn't matter Gojo didn't even offer an answer to that. As if it didn't matter.

---

Sitting on the walls of the Zenin estate Toji looked into the giant central yard, unseen by all. He liked being invisible to cursed energy. It really was a very useful skill to have. Being an invisible man was probably one of his greatest gifts.

Watching the kids running around his eyes followed his son. Megumi, sitting to the side and not interacting with anyone else, the scuffles of marks on his cheeks and his messy hair clear signs that he had been picked on.

That would be his fault.

Of course, his son whom he left alone would be picked on… he was his son after all. The rest of the clan wouldn't like him.

Shaking his head he found his eyes settling on another kid. Maybe 6 years old wearing glasses and practicing with an instructor. Her physical strength was impressive for her age.

He should do what he came here to do… actually, it would be easier if he had Atlas' help. Shaking his head he took a deep breath, he shouldn't put this off any longer. He could make as many excuses as he wanted but he should just go do it.

Jumping down he walked through the yard drawing a few eyes of some of the adult members around here who started to murmur and point at him.

Ignoring them, like he had been so used to doing he found that he wasn't even bothered anymore. Why should he be? Their words meant nothing, and their panic was only amusing.

Watching the instructor shuffle the girl and some of the other kids inside he saw them stay where they were watching from a distance but always hovering their hand over their blade handle.

Getting to his son he saw the boy look up at him for a moment, his face was cold and unimpressed as he looked up at him. "That's quite the expression you got there kid," Toji said, tilting his head to the side.

"What's it to you…" Megumi said, his eyes narrowing as he tensed up.

"Just reminded me of myself when I was younger. You look a lot like me dont'cha, got to put on some more muscle though but we can work on that." Toji said as he sat down on the walkway ledge with his son.

Staring at him in confusion Megumi said, "Who are you?" His eyes however were narrowing in slow realization.

Patting him on the head Megumi tried to pull away but wasn't able to dodge Toji's large hand that squashed and ruffled his hair as he laughed and said, "It's like the videos of seals. How they just retract when you touch their nose." His amusement was clear as he teased his son.

"Get your hand off me!" Megumi said, grabbing Toji's wrist as he tried to pull it away from his head.

"Toji Fushiguro." An old voice suddenly said from behind them. "I never expected to see you again."

Turning around Toji looked at the Clan Head, Naobito Zenin. His hair was shoulder-length and grey. Dressed in a brown Yukata with his right arm hanging out and a black sash holding it on. A gourd in his right hand as his left rested loosely on the handle of his sword keeping it under control so that that scabbard didn't knock into anything.

"Leave us alone. Unless you want me to remove that drunkard head of yours." Toji threatened as his eyes became cold, glaring back over his shoulder at the clan head causing multiple of the people around to suddenly tense up.

Standing there for a moment Naobito says cautiously all humour was gone from his voice knowing that Toji was not someone that he could beat easily, if he fought them he could probably kill their entire clan. "Very well, may I say my piece quickly, however? It is about your son."

Thinking for a moment Toji waved his hand letting him continue as Megumi looked back and forth in confusion. No one had ever treated the clan head like this.

Staring at his dad he wondered who he really was… even though he resented him for not being there. He was just a kid, part of him wanted nothing more than to be accepted.

Speaking Naobito started to say, "Your son has the Ten Shadows Technique. Would you really take him away from the place where he would have the most talent? Doing so would do nothing bu-"

"You just don't want to lose something that could potentially fight the Gojo clan. It's funny because everyone with true strength slips through your fingers don't they?" Toji mocked interrupting Naobito.

Turning back to his son Toji saw the boy was looking at him, clearly not knowing whether he should be happy or angry right now. "How about you come with me… I have a lot to explain and I'm sure you have a lot to yell at me as well. If you want to stay here however I won't make you leave. This is your choice son." Toji said, a smile on his face as he looked at his blessing.

He had meant it when he was born… but when his first wife died, the only person who had been kind to him. He had reacted poorly, to say the least.

Unable to stop the tears that started to form in his cold eyes Megumi suddenly asked, "Why did y-you leave?" Something about hearing Toji call him son broke something inside of him… a dam that had been holding back emotions every time a kid yelled a him or threw a rock. Every glare from an adult, every mocking comment. All because his dad had left him…

"Because I was an idiot. I'll never do it again, I promise." Toji confessed as he looked at his son. Ignoring the glare of Naobito behind him. He didn't care what the old man thought at all. He would burn this place to the ground if they tried to keep his son from him.

Sure he had made mistakes, a lot more than others. But it was time for him to grow up…

Pulling his son into a hug as the young boy started to cry Toji just stood up and started to walk towards the exit carrying Megumi in his arms.