Back again

I look down at my watch as I'm at a stoplight, it's 7:45 am. I've been on the road for about 9 hours now.

(I'm 10 minutes out until I get there, I hope it will be okay if I'm able to come home early.)

I have my music playing inside my helmet as I'm riding my motorcycle down the road after the stoplight changes to green, making my way to my home as the sun shines on me.

(I haven't been home in a few weeks, I can't wait to get a shower and relax unless something has come up.

Time passes and I see a house, with white vinyl siding, two stories high, surrounded by trees and other houses.

(I'm home again.)

I pull up in the driveway and open the garage door and pull the motorcycle inside. I try to unlock the side door but it won't budge, I go to the front door and do the same but it won't budge either.

(Did he have to change the locks again? Damn, having to deal with people harassing us again.)

I knock on the door to see if I can get a response, a few seconds later and the door starts to emit sounds of locks opening, roughly about 5 locks, the door starts to open and I see him. A man with white hair, silver eyes, and a semi-wrinkled face.

"Welcome back, Zen"

He says to me.

"It's good to be back, Uncle Ryozo."

I say as he lets me in the door. I look around and I see the locks on the side door and front door, 2 chain locks, 2 deadbolts, and a lock on the handle.

"People bothering us again I see, or are you just being more careful."

I ask him as I sit on the couch.

"Both, I'm tired of people treating us like trash, we're just people and I want us to be safer."

He says as he starts to lock the front door again but then starts unlocking the side door.

"Why are you doing that, you planning to leave me here as I just got home."

I ask him and a sarcastic and joking tone.

"Not yet, I have something to show you first."

He tells me as he walks into his room and after a minute. He brings out this wooden box with a symbol on it.

"What's this, and what's this symbol?"

I ask him as he slides it over to me on the table.

"You've seen the symbol before, and it's a gift."

He tells me and then I remember what the symbol was from.

He then tosses a coin to me and I catch it midair. It has a golden outline and red coloring in the center with a strange symbol on it. It looks like a V but with edged engravings.

"I know you've been wondering about this coin and this symbol on it but now's not the time to think about that."

He tells me and then I toss the coin back to him.

"Okay. So what's in here, a shirt and some pants, or is it empty so It can be some sort of a storage box."

I say to him expecting a sarcastic response.

"How about you open it and see what it is before guessing random stuff."

He says to me as he sits beside me and waits for my reaction.

I open the box and I see a ring with another one of the strange symbols, specifically one with a circle and a star crossing in the middle and a necklace with a black metal rod hanging from it. I pick up the ring and necklace and put them on.

"Thanks, it's a perfect fit."

I tell him as I look closer at the ring and necklace some more.

"Well I hoped it would fit perfectly, it was your father's ring and necklace. You are his spitting image after all."

He says as he puts his hand on my back.

I tilt my head down and look at the ring some more, it looks like it's brand new and has no wear and tear whatsoever.

(My father supposedly wore this ring...my father.)

"Do you think dad is still alive, or is he gone for good?"

I ask him and he has a confused look.

"You know what I'm gonna say, the police report said his blood was all over the place. And his memory resides with us and his items, the ring for instance."

He tells me that and I start to get emotional.

"They pinned the murders on him, even if there was a chance for him to give them a statement they would have locked him up before a trial."

I stand and say to him with a serious look, staring down at him.

"No matter what the circumstances were, he is still my brother, and he died 13 years ago, as my brother and your father. Even if we're still getting threats from those families, that is what happened in the past, not now. So now can we please talk about something important."

He tells me as he stands up and looks me in the eyes.

"Sure. What is it?"

I say as I sit down along with him.

"Well, it's good you came home, it's time for you to start school, properly. You can head to the school in a few after you get changed, and you can grab your schedule at the front office when you get there. I'm gonna change and get ready myself, so I'll see you there."

He says as he stands back up and heads into his room.

I stand back up and look at the box, I close it and pick it up and go upstairs, I go past the other room and get to my room and open the door. I see my bed, desk, chair, bookshelf, closet, and bathroom door.

(It's like nothing has changed since I've been gone.)

I set the box on my desk and I open up my closet and grab a black long sleeve shirt, after I grab that, I see the old black jacket that I use to wear and decided to grab it.

(Old times, huh, I wish things could be better but it's not, hopefully, a proper school can be a good chance for once.)

I take off my shirt and put on the long sleeve, I toss the shirt I had on in the hamper and head to the restroom I look at myself as I put on my jacket.

I see my black eyes, my black hair that's halfway down my neck, my skinny body, and my pale white skin.

(I really need to make a change, maybe a haircut or workout, something productive.)

I look down at my watch and it's now 8:24. Shocked, I run out of the bathroom and out of my room, closing the door behind me, and down the stairs.

I get to the side door to the garage and go out to my motorcycle, closing the door behind me, I start it up and head out to the school.