Fic: The Mirror Crack'd - Chapter 1

[ingenious_spark]

Title: The Mirror Crack'd
Fandom: SMT: Persona 4
Rating: T/PG-13
Warnings: Transphobia, referenced child abuse, child neglect, murder, misogyny
Relationships: Persona 4 Protagonist & the Investigation Team, Persona 4 Protagonist & Dojima Ryotaro & Dojima Nanako
Characters: Persona 4 Protagonist, Dojima Ryotaro, Dojima Nanako, the Investigation Team, Tatsumi Kanji, Hanamura Yosuke
Word Count: 12,409
Summary: Through a twist of fate, Ryotaro Dojima asks his sister to send her son to Inaba a week early, so that he and Nanako can adjust to having a stranger in their lives before the school year starts.

Then they discover his sister had no son at all, but a daughter instead.

Orihime Narukami is ready to start over fresh in a town that knows nothing about her struggles or her history. Is Inaba ready for her?

Ryôtarô Dôjima shifted impatiently where he stood with his daughter, Nanako, waiting for his nephew’s train to come in. He honestly wasn't sure what to expect- he hadn't seen the kid in at least ten, twelve years? Hell, his clearest memory of the boy was of him in diapers, what had Yumiko been thinking? He sighed, running his hand through his hair again. She hadn't been thinking about the kid, that was damn sure. She'd initially booked the kid – no, Yû, that was his name – a ticket for the day before school started. He'd managed to talk his sister into making it a week before school instead, saying that he and Nanako needed the time to adjust to having Yû there. It had disturbed him, how little thought she seemed to have for the boy.

He shifted again. The train was a bit late. He was worried for other reasons, too. Yumiko had said something deeply irritated about the kid going through a ‘rebellious phase’ and having trouble at school, but refused to elaborate, and that was the only emotion he'd really heard in either phone call with his sister. Ryôtarô knew he was the absolute last person who should criticize parenting skills, but at least he tried , for god’s sake. It sounded like Yumiko had given up a long time ago.

The train rumbled into the station. Ryôtarô straightened up, putting a reassuring hand on Nanako’s shoulder as his daughter drew into his side, shy or worried, he wasn't sure. People trickled through, leaving one tall, lanky figure loitering uncomfortably at the top of the steps.

“Hey, over here!” He called out, waving the teenager over. He was almost Ryôtarô’s height already - had to get the height from his father, Yumiko was even shorter than Ryôtarô. He'd gotten Yumiko’s looks, though, and her unusual dark grey eyes. His hair was dyed a soft, sober slate gray. Hair dye wasn’t that big a deal, surely this wasn’t the rebellion Yumiko had talked about?

“Well, you're more handsome in person than you are in your photo,” he said encouragingly. The kid looked kind of nervous, but also very reserved, almost solemn. The picture Yumiko had emailed him had been a school portrait of an exhausted teenager at the end of his rope. He’d seen pictures like that, in the cases he preferred not to think about. He was a homicide detective, but there had been a few cases that turned out to be suicide cross his desk. Ryôtarô would take reserved nerves over that any day. “Welcome to Inaba. I'm Dôjima Ryôtarô. I'll be looking after you. Let's see… I'm your mother's younger brother,” he paused, trying to think of something else to add and drawing a blank. “…and that about sums it up.” He finished, only slightly awkwardly.

“It's been a long time,” the boy replied, voice lighter, higher, and less assertive than he thought it would be.

“I'll say. You've really grown, I still remember when you were in diapers…” Ryôtarô laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. He gently pushed Nanako forwards, out from behind his leg. “This here's my daughter. Come on, Nanako, introduce yourself to your cousin.” He encouraged. He wasn't sure why she was being so shy. Well, maybe that was a lie. She wasn't great with strangers, and her self confidence wasn't that high.

“...’lo,” she mumbled, before darting back around him. He sighed, about to try and make a bit of a joke to break the ice, when his nephew set down his large duffel bag and knelt down to Nanako’s height.

“It's lovely to meet you, Nanako-chan,” he said softly. “If it's okay that I call you that. I'm Narukami,” he paused oddly, and Ryôtarô thought he heard the kid swallow hard, as if he was distressed. “Narukami Yû, your cousin. I hope you'll be able to help me out, yeah?” Nanako had emerged, and was smiling shyly at her new cousin. Ryôtarô felt hugely relieved. The kid was charismatic, good with kids. This was looking promising.

They got in the car and headed home, stopping briefly for gas. Nanako went off to the washroom, while the gas station attendant struck up a conversation with Ryôtarô’s nephew. While he was supposed to be filling up the car. Ryôtarô blew out an exasperated breath of smoke and was about to go remind the kid he was a paying customer, when Nanako came back and the kid hurried back to his job. Nanako was saying something, and Ryôtarô saw Yû sway, as though he was dizzy. He quickly made his way back over in time to hear Nanako ask if her cousin was carsick, and Yû replied that he felt kind of dizzy. He settled the bill and got the kid home as fast as possible. He really wasn't looking good.

The kid’s boxes hadn't arrived yet, but Ryôtarô and Nanako had pulled out the guest futon and aired it out. Along with the sofa, table, desk, wardrobe, shelves, and tv, the room didn't look barren so much as… well, like a guest room. Lacking in personality, if not commodity.

“Dinner’ll be ready in a bit.” Ryôtarô offered. Yû nodded almost absently, and the sound of the zip of the kid’s duffel bag followed him out.

Dinner was a bit awkward, and Ryôtarô tried to make conversation in the echoing void between shy daughter and reserved nephew.

“So… your mom and dad are busy as always… they're working overseas, was it? I know it's only for a year, but getting stuck in a place like this because of your parents, it's rough being a kid. Well, it's just me and Nanako here, so it'll be nice having someone you around. So long as you're here, you're part of the family, so make yourself at home.” he said, trying to affect Chisato’s constant upbeat cheer, even as the thought of his wife tore at the hole in his chest he couldn't get to heal.

“Is that what Mother told you?” An unhappy, wry smile twisted up Yû’s mouth. “Well, anyway, thank you for your kindness.” He bowed his head from where he sat, weirdly formal. Ryôtarô frowned.

“Wait, are you saying Yumiko lied to me?” He asked, the inner police detective in him perking up. Nanako looked nervous, fidgeting anxiously with her chopsticks. Yû looked like he regretted ever saying anything.

“Well. Father’s going to be in and out of the country for the year on business – out more than in. Not much of a change, really. Mother… we had an argument. A really bad one. She disagreed with some of my more recent… life choices.” Yû honestly looked even more uncomfortable than Nanako, which was an accomplishment.

“Daddy, why are you talking like that?” Nanako asked. “You're not at work. Are you fighting?” She looked small, confused, and worried. Normally this would be where Ryôtarô backed down, unwilling to upset his daughter too much, but this was important . This was family . This was sounding more and more like his sister had essentially kicked her son out of her house, just in a more genteel fashion.

“We're not arguing, Nanako, but this is important. Sometimes important conversations are uncomfortable, okay, sweetie?” His daughter subsided unhappily, and his nephew didn't look any more pleased. “Yumiko told me you were having trouble at school, but that's not really what this is about, is it?” Ryôtarô asked gently, a tentative conclusion forming in his mind. “Are you gay or something, then?” He asked, bracing for a defensive outburst. If he had been getting bullied over it, that would make sense. Yû just looked startled.

“...and if I was?” He asked guardedly. Ryôtarô sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“General ground rules apply. Don't bring anyone here overnight. Dates are fine, whatever, wherever, be safe, stay in school, I don't care about that part. Be responsible.” He glanced between Yû and Nanako significantly, hoping the kid was reading between the lines the way he was intending. He didn't want the kid bringing someone over to have sex with in the same house as his seven-year-old daughter. Yû looked mortified, blushing and hiding his face in his hands. Nanako just looked confused, which was how Ryôtarô wanted to keep it, as long as feasibly possible. He was dreading the day she got her first period and he actually had to give her the sex talk. Yû ran his own hand through his hair, sighing slightly miserably.

“Well, I'm not actually gay. I think? We, well, the fight was about me being trans.” The kid was braced like he expected Ryôtarô to hit him and his eyes automatically sought the signs, damningly finding the trace of a very fresh little scar, like the scabs had just come off, right under Yû’s eye. Slapped, but her nails were too long (she'd always liked those fancy fake nails), his brain informed him, even as he felt a little off kilter and definitely nauseated. Yumiko had hit her kid. Yumiko. What the hell was he supposed to do about that? He swallowed hard, suppressing the urge to swear. Yû was still braced, and Ryôtarô needed to reassure the kid, but fuck, his sister had hit her child. He pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed. Both kids were looking freaked out, and he was, unfortunately, the adult in this situation. He needed to act like one.

“Okay. Trans. Wasn't expecting that, sorry. So. How does that work?” Ryôtarô asked, as he had a vague idea, but had never actually needed to have more than that, and Nanako was completely clueless. Yû actually relaxed minutely.

“It means that when I was born, I was identified as male, but I personally identify as a girl, and would like to be referred to and treated as such.” Nanako looked slightly less puzzled.

“So you're a boy, but you want to be a girl?” She asked, scrunching her eyebrows up. Yû winced slightly.

“Physically, yes, I guess. I would say that I've always been a girl, it's just that I didn't always realize that, and my body doesn't present that way outwardly.” Yû replied, and Ryôtarô was suddenly struck with the memory of the very awkward introduction at the train station. Trans people usually changed their names, didn't they?

“Uh. So. I knew my nephew's name. What's my, uh, niece's?” He asked awkwardly, wincing at his phrasing. Wow, could he have said that any weirder? The kid’s face lit up, though, bright with a shy, hopeful little smile, and god his sister had done a number on her kid, but he wasn't dealing with that right now.

“Orihime. I'm Orihime.” She said shyly, and goddamn he was going to have to practice those damn pronouns.

“Okay. Nanako, meet your cousin Orihime. She's a girl, just like you.” He said awkwardly, and he really hoped the kid knew he was trying his best, here. “Orihime, I hadn't taken your paperwork up to the school yet. I don't think they'd be all right with you registering as female, but we could at least switch your name on the paperwork. Or put down a preferred name, I'll have to check the school policy.” He grimaced faintly. “I don't know how open you want to be with this.” To his utter horror, Orihime suddenly burst into tears right there at the dinner table. He looked desperately between Orihime and Nanako, and Nanako rose from her spot to gently hug her cousin.

“Has it been hard for you?” Nanako asked solemnly, and Orihime nodded wordlessly, hugging the little girl back. “I’m sorry it’s been hard. But Daddy will make things better. It’s his job!” She said brightly, and Ryôtarô flushed slightly at the amount of faith his daughter had in him. A few minutes later Orihime collected herself and excused herself to wash her face quickly before returning to dinner. The meal was still subdued, but not nearly so awkward and tense, Orihime unwinding from being two steps from a flight risk to simply a quiet and reserved young woman meeting her relatives for the first time in a long while.

“Hey, I'm often out pretty late with work- a policeman’s work is never done and all that, but I'm here if you want to talk. You can tell me anything, kiddo, and it won't get back to Yumiko, I promise,” he said as Orihime excused herself. Orihime smiled faintly.

“Thank you, I'll keep that in mind,” she said quietly, before padding softly upstairs. Nanako paused where she was watching her quiz show to smile up at her cousin as she said goodnight. The poor kid had to be exhausted.

“Bedtime, Nanako,” Ryôtarô told his daughter as the show’s credits rolled, and she went without complaint. “I've got an early shift tomorrow, but I'll try to be back in time for an early dinner, and then maybe we can take a walk by the river, okay? Please be good to Y- to Orihime,” he caught himself. This was going to be a little harder than he thought. “You guys can go out if you want, I'll leave money in the envelope on the fridge, as usual.” He told her. She was beaming up at him happily, ever since he'd said ‘early dinner’, and Ryôtarô felt a hollow pang of guilt. Maybe it would be easier to come home if he knew two people were expecting him. And his workload had been surprisingly light lately. He kissed Nanako’s head goodnight, made sure she was tucked in okay, and went to have a smoke on the back porch.

This next year would be interesting, that was damn sure.

[next chapter~]