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Chapter 2

April 26th, 2017

Him: You need to learn to shut the fuck up. You need to listen to me, you little wench! You are not the adult in this house. Your mother is, and I am!

Me: That WOMAN is NOT my MOTHER!

He backhands me across the face. I can sense tears gathering in my eyes. I blink them away. One escapes, and more follow. I wipe them away with the back of my hand. This has been happening every day since I got back. 

Me: You know what? I'm leaving! I'm not going to stay with you, you pathetic, stupid bastard! This was true all those years ago, I don't have to put up with this shit from you!

I run into my old room and slam the door. I hurriedly pack my suitcase with my things. I grab any other bags I can get. I manage to nab my phone and call a taxi. I promise him 20$ extra if he can manage getting here within ten minutes. I grab anything I might need. I put my passport in slowly, along with my wallet. I plan on going somewhere else. And never coming back. The taxi arrives, and I tell him where I want to go.

Me: San Francisco Airport, please.

Driver: Ma'am, that's over 55 miles away. It'll cost extra 'cuz it's not in the county.

Me: That's fine.

Driver: Tell me, where have I seen you before? Are ya one of those kid actresses or somethin'? 

Me: I've been interviewed alot by news stations lately.

I look away. I'm not used to this much attention. It feels kind of good, in a sick kind of way.

Driver: Well, that actually makes sense.

Me: Please drive, sir. 

Driver: Yes ma'am.

I turn on my iPod and maximize the volume. I want to get rid of this throbbing headache I have, but what I crave more is freedom, so that I don't have to think about it anymore. The question is however, where will I go? China? Russia? Germany? ...Japan? I look over at my collection of figurines, most of them from my favorite anime. I have read the name over and over again. Persona 4 the Animation. I look at the first box set. My old crush. The anime character I always drew, always loved for his heroism. What was his name again? Yu Narukami...That was his name.

About 10 minutes into the drive, I call up the detective who worked on my family's case. 

Me: Hello, is this Naoto Shirogane?

Naoto: Yes it is, may I ask who this is?

Me: It's Sasha.

Naoto: Ah, yes. What do you need?

Me: Your hometown is in Japan, right?

Naoto: Yes, why?

Me: I'm in a taxi on my way to the airport. I'm thinking of going there.

Naoto: You're not serious...Are you?

I'm positive she's stunned and at a loss for words. This is the same Naoto that's inside these disks I sit beside. She is THE Naoto Shirogane.

Me: I'm quite serious.

Naoto: Which airport are you going to?

Me: San Francisco Airport.

Naoto: I'm on my way. I will meet you there. I needed to head back home, anyways.

Me: What about the case...?

Naoto: The killer turned himself in. He told us everything, even though most of it made no sense. Most of it was about little things...Japanese government, nuclear threats from North Korea...

Me: I'm gonna kill the bastard. 

I look up and notice the taxi driver has his hands clenched white on the steering wheel, his eyes plastered open wide. His eyes catch mine and he looks away nervously.

Naoto: I'll meet you at the airport.

She hangs up. I put my phone back into my suitcase. I look at the driver. He seems fairly normal. I stare out the window, at all of the farms and houses we pass by. Traffic is quick, because it's a Saturday. An hour or so later, we arrive at the airport. I shake hands with the driver, and hand him a fair tip. He smiles, tips his hat at me, and drives off.

I take a few steps towards the airport, and sigh. Then the cameras start flashing. Every reporter in Cali is clicking their cameras at me, yelling, "Sasha! Sasha! Can we get a statement? Sasha!" The noise is deafening. Then I hear a whistle start blowing. Naoto has arrived, and she's driving back the crowd of paparazzi. 

Naoto: Okay, okay! Everyone, show's over! Back up!

I start looking at one of the photographers, and Naoto pulls me away. I look over and see that she has several bags, as well as a few of my bags with her. 

Naoto: You left a few things behind. I thought you might want them.

She blushes. I didn't know she'd be in my house.

**In Inaba, Japan**

Yu Narukami looks on in puzzlement as he watches Naoto Shirogane, a fellow Persona user and a friend show up on camera escorting the girl. His phone starts up it's bothersome and loud ringtone. He checks the caller ID. It's Kanji.

Kanji Tatsumi: Hey man, are you seeing who's on TV? It's Naoto! 

Yu: Yeah, I'm seeing.

Kanji: What's going on? Why is a murder case becoming so big here? It's even on Japanese TV channels! And what is she doing over there?!

Yu: Calm down, Kanji. She's working on a big case over in the States, and she's probably just an escort. There's a huge controversy, from what I'm hearing, that the culprit is a member of the Japanese hierarchy.

Kanji: What...? Really?

Yu: Yeah.

**On an airplane, on their way to Tokyo, Japan**

I can't sleep on the plane, but Naoto looks exhausted. She must have been working really hard on the case if it was already done. She falls asleep within minutes of takeoff. I stare off into space through the window. It's a cold night. I start wondering what I should do next. I know that I would be the only one who would get everyone's life insurance. The company had called me and said it totaled to nearly one million dollars, not including assets. I chose to sell every house, and once they were sold, they were estimated to be around another million. I nudge Naoto.

Naoto: What...? ...What is it?

Me: What are we gonna do when we get there?

Naoto: Don't worry. You can stay at my house. I'm sure my grandfather won't mind. Besides, it seems like you have nowhere else to go. I'll do whatever I can do to help you.

She smiles sleepily at me. I grin with gratitude. My smile fades, once I realized who would be in the same town when we touched down. I wonder if he is on vacation with his uncle, or if it was just another normal day in Tokyo for him. I fall asleep thinking of it. 

Mysterious Voice: Are you tempted to follow me? Do you love me?

Me: What?

Mysterious Voice: Well, you'll have to catch me first! Ready or not, here I go!

April 27th, 2017

I wake up to the sound of touchdown, and to Naoto shaking me. I look around. It's a big city, bigger than I thought. Many years ago, my stepfather told me I'd be shell-shocked if I ever went to Japan. I already was. I was shivering from that dream. Who was that talking to me?

As we step off the plane, I shade the sun from my eyes. I sudden gust of wind flared, and my little sundress billows around my legs. I pull my sunglasses out of my purse. I put them on slowly. I look over at Naoto. She looks relieved to be back home. However, I knew our journey wasn't over yet. It had only just begun.