Duality (DxD) (Part 1)

Ch 126 - Back Home

Jin was now very very far away from the train station where he was about to be reported to the police. He didn't know what was wrong with that little girl, but she was definitely insane. Though she was most definitely a determined little girl, because no matter where Jin ran off to, appearing in the darkest of alleys or the tallest of buildings. Jin could sense a small little fox running towards him. As if the girl had a good sense of where he was just as Jin could sense where she was.

No matter how minimal he made his power or where he tried to hide, this small girl always followed his direction. Jin wouldn't let her get close, he didn't want to risk another potential incident he could get arrested over. But like a compass, the small girl turned into a small fox would always point in his direction. Following him wherever he would go.

It was not the most ideal situation for Jin as he wanted to try and go home. But Jin was smart. He ran in the complete opposite direction from his home, extremely far away and let the little girl catch up to him. She ran surprisingly fast for being a small fox, a somehow larger form than his. But when she eventually caught up and said, "I got you!"

Jin disappeared again. But much much faster than before as to rush the distance home and hopefully leave the little girl for good. Jin could still sense her coming closer despite how big of a gap there was between them. But it gave Jin time.

Enough time to stand in front of his old door. It wasn't anything impressive, in fact, it was the most regular house you could find. Every house down the street looked the same. It was a traditional house and the door was a plain wooden one. There was nothing special about the house but to Jin, this place held special memories.

Jin: {I... I'm back.}

Jin thought as his heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't even begin to imagine what he would do. Would he just listen to his guardians screaming? How he killed a child, how he was a monster. Should he have even knocked at all? Jin had ran away, and abandoned his guardian. It only made sense his guardian would abandon him. They wouldn't care to shout at him as he wasn't their child to care about any more.

Would they even recognise him? He was older, a lot taller. His crimson eyes and hair colour were the same. His skin colour was unchanging, but he couldn't have looked more different.

Jin: {I... I need to do this. I want to do this. Ban would want me to do this.}

Jin lifted his hand, the one free from holding a bag. But as he looked at it, his hand was shaking. His hand was shaking and his heart was thumping. He didn't know why, he could normally control his body perfectly. Mind over matter, mind over body was part of the essence of The Fist of Flowing Water; Crushing Rock style. A style he practised over and over. Mind was supposed to dominate the body to make it a flowing river.

But Jin couldn't be more rigid. His hand was shaking so much and he couldn't control it.

He was scared.

Jin: {Damn it! Come on!}

Jin thought as he dropped his bag and grabbed his hand. Trying to stop it from shaking. But it wouldn't. He didn't want to hear the painful words that would shatter his perfect image of his guardian. He didn't want to ruin the perfect memories he had.

But he had to. This was his home and he ran away. He needed to return. To let his guardian find some resolve. Even if that meant throwing hate at Jin.

Jin: Damn it.

Jin said wiping his eyes as he knocked on the door of his former house. Wiping his eyes more and picking up his bag. Hearing the sounds of someone walking closer to the door, but then heard children running around. Something that hurt his heart.

But as the door slid open, a short woman with brown hair and blue eyes opened the door. Looking up at Jins surprised face.

???: Yes?

Jin: You're... You're not her.

Jin said confused as he looked behind the woman and at the children running past. One was a small girl with black hair and another was a slightly larger boy chasing the small girl. The boy with similar brown to the woman who was in front of him. But none of them looked anything like his guardian.

???: Her? Her. Oh! The previous owner! Did you know her?

Jin: Y-Yeah. You could say that. Doesn't she... Doesn't she live here anymore? {Please be alive! Please be alive!}

???: She sold this place to us years ago.

Jin: Do... Do you know where she might be now or a number I could call?

???: I'm sorry, I don't know where she might be. I also don't remember her having a phone so I can't give you a number.

Jin looked at the woman and let out a deep breath. But he didn't know how to feel. His guardian was gone and he didn't know where. His old home had others living in it now. His worry about returning left with his guardian and a part of him, no matter how scared he was to ruin his perfect image of her, wanted to see her again.

Jin was left confused, not knowing what to do.

???: I'm sorry to disappoint you. But if you don't mind, my kids don't settle down unless their eyes are glued to a TV. So I'll have to leave now.

Jin: Yes. I... well I don't understand but thank you anyway.

Jin said turning around and walking off. Hearing the doors to a house which was no longer his home shut. Leaving Jin to wander down his old street.

Jin: {I can't believe she's gone. But... where? Where could she have...}

???: I'VE CAUGHT YOU AGAIN! Now stop running away from me! It's very rude!

The small girl said jumping up and turning from her small fox form, into a small girl again. Looking at Jin pouting. Giving him another problem to solve.