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When Danny announced he’ll study abroad in Japan, it was a bit surprising for his family. For his parents it was surprising because his degree didn’t really profit from a year in a different country like a degree in languages would. For his sister and friends it was surprising because they assumed, because of some ghostly obsession thing, he won’t want to leave Amity Park.
None the less, Danny attended college in Japan for a year… and then announced he would move there.
But after they learned why, it wasn’t a surprise that he left the country. While in Japan, he got a woman pregnant, so he decided to stay and marry her.
Thus, his son Ren Amamiya came to be. (Aiko and Danny decided to keep their surname and have Ren take Aiko’s, simply because Japan has a strong urge to ‘other’ anyone not Japanese, including people who are mixed. To avoid that, Ren got her surname to blend in. That he looked more like his mother, aside from the hair and eye color, also helped.)
In addition to Ren, by now he also got Naomi and Ken, both taking strongly after him, as in they don’t look Japanese at all, to the point they got Danny’s surname. In hindsight, Danny should have seen the divorce coming.
His parents know nothing about this, nothing after he moved to Japan seventeen years ago. They don’t even know that their son is back in the country one December, his three children in tow.
Danny drove the rented car though the snowed Illinois. After landing in Chicago, the quartet of Halfa’s blended into the the people who arrived via plane at the airport and made their way to a rental car company. Considering that his oldest is considered a criminal at large, Danny gave it all to blend in. While one could say that going to a busy airport and renting a car is counter productive, it made more sense then to randomly appear at places, like a half ghost can.
As he drove closer to Amity Park, he looked into the mirror, eyeing Naomi and Ken at the back seats. He hoped arriving in Amity Park won’t trigger memories. Clockwork and Frostbite told him Dani and Dan’s rebirths would block out any memories from their prior lives, but especially with Dan, he can’t be too sure.
His youngest aren’t technically his children, just his clone and alternative, fused self given new bodies, deaged. But he and Aiko treat them as such.
Despite their divorce – which wasn’t that messy all things considered – she kept her lips shut about him being Phantom and their youngest two children exisiting via unconventional ways. However he is still annoyed with Aiko for divorcing him because her family told her so, very spineless from her. He always knew his in-laws didn’t like him, but it got worse after it became clear to them Naomi and Ken won’t look anything like their daughter, but like copies of their son-in-law.
“Why again couldn’t we bring Morgana?” Naomi asked.
Her brother, the younger one, groaned, “Bringing a cat, which he technically is, via plane is bad enough, but via free flight?”
Ren added, “Ken got a point. Also, Futaba could need the emotional support animal.”
“Says the guy who’s kind of considered dead back home.” Naomi pointed out. “But I suppose it would be better if he stays with your fellow Phantom Thieves.” As their family are Halfa’s, Ren didn’t see the point in hiding the Phantom Thieves and the Metaverse from his father, however his siblings knowing was not planned.
Ren shrugged, looking out the window of the passager seat, “Well, technically I am half dead, so they aren’t even that wrong.”
Danny sighed. “Kids, no death jokes, please.”
“But technically-”
“Technically what we do is illegal, so shush, Naomi.” Danny told her. Technically he is hiding a criminal, even if the criminal in question is his son who had be framed for a crime a second time in not even twelve months. But he doesn’t care, his son is his son and Representative Masayoshi Shido is a piece of shit and Danny will make him pay for what he did to Ren.
Soon, they saw Amity Park’s skyline. Theoretically he is familiar with Amity Park’s renewed skyline, but he is mainly familiar how it looks from the sky, when flying there as Phantom. He paid his sister a few visits, especially after he got a hang on making portals, a skill Ren mastered as well.
Due to his Phantom Thief indentity being somewhat compromised, Ren had to hide, but being caged in a room is not nice, so Danny decided to hide in Amity Park and portal over to Tokyo whenever needed, like when Danny and Ren join the other Phantom Thieves to take on Shido’s palace.
While the other Phantom Thieves and Ren’s girlfriend know about them being halfa’s – albeit not with all details – the random opening of portals still freaks them out from time to time. Similar to how Ren didn’t bother to lie to Danny about the Metaverse, Ren didn’t want to lie to his friends. Then again, after they realized he was American-Japanese (Ann, as someone half American as well, pretty much clocked him instantly) and especially after they figured his dad came from that Amity Park, Illinois, he didn’t see the point anyway. That and he was annoyed with the constant question of “Do you know Phantom?” You know, the ghost who saved Earth from that astroid and was about to reveal something, only to nope out and be barely seen ever again. After two decades, still a big deal. Then again, each big city of note has a statue of his dad. Tokyo, too. Ren should know, Ren passed the statue on his way to Shujin Academy, or when Danny and Ren made their way to Mementos ‘core’ entrance.
Soon they entered the city and not shortly after arrived at a house in the suburbs, Jazz’ house.
Danny parked at the curb and the family walked to the door. Before he even knocked, Jazz opened the door. “Danny!” She instantly pulled her little brother – who now towers over her, thanks to Jack Fenton’s brick shithouse height genes – all excitedly.
“Nice to see you as well.” he replied, only partially annoyed with her bear hug. As a halfa, he doesn’t need oxygen that much. Then she let go and hugged her oldest nephew. “Ren!”
Ren yelped, surprised by her strength, “Hello, auntie Jazz.”
“What is with us?” Ken asked.
Jazz let go of Ren and hugged her youngest nephew and niece. Unlike Ren, she hadn’t seen them in person. Ren and Danny visited Amity Park a few, very rare times, but Danny hadn’t risked it yet to bring Naomi and Ken to Amity Park. “Oh, finally I get to see you two as well!” The four halfa’s followed her in her house. “Dash is out of town for a few days, him and his friends want to see some Football game out of state.”
Danny rolled his eyes. “Of all guys, you married him!”
“Danny…”
“I always assumed you would marry an academic and not a college drop out who peaked in High School.”
“And I thought you would marry Sam or Valerie and not some Japanese spineless thief.”
“Stop calling Aiko a thief.” Danny told her. “Yes, I left the country because I married her, but frankly? I probably might have left the US anyway.”
“Why?”
“The GIW.” Danny deadpanned, “Especially when they would have showed up inevidentally.”
“Good point.”
Ken then asked, unaware the adults were talking about him and his sister’s prior lives. “Who?”
“Not important, sweetie.” Jazz told them. “Now, I assume you three are hungry?”
The next morning, as soon as Danny woke up in the guest room, with Ken using him as a pillow and Naomi and Ren on the floor, Naomi using Ren as a pillow, Danny sensed someone in the house.
“Jazzy!” he heard his father’s voice boom from downstairs, waking Ken and Ren.
“What was that?” Ken mumbled.
“I think this was grandpa.” Ren replied, unable to get up because of Naomi.
Danny sighed. “You three stay put.”
“Already on it.” Ren quipped, literally unable because of the middle schooler using him as a pillow. “She’s like a cat, I can’t push her down or I’ll regret it.”
Danny left the room in his pj’s and walked downstairs, there he found his parents and Jazz in the kitchen. His parents, aside from the graying hair, were still the same, down to the teal and orange jump suits.
Jazz was the first to notice him. “Oh, did we wake you, Danny? Coffee?” She held up a cup.
He nod, “Sure-”
Then his parents whipped around from the table and hugged him, “Danny!”
“Hey, mom, dad.” he said back. “Jazz didn’t tell me…”
“You would just leave again if I told you.” she said with a shrug, “You three need to talk, but you are too stubborn.”
Danny sighed, “You…”
Maddie asked, “Where have you been the last seventeen years? Did you finish your studies? What are you working as?”
Danny sighed. “I understand you have questions, but I think it’ll be better to introduce you to them, before I start telling.”
He then walked upstairs, leaving his parents while Jazz made coffee. Maddie looked at Jack. “Them?”
“Uh, maybe he has a boyfriend?” Jack proposed, “Our, what is it called, enby?”
Minutes later, Danny walked downstairs, followed by three black haired kids. A teen with unruly hair and gray eyes, a middle school aged girl and a elementary school aged boy, both blue eyed, carbon copies of Danny, while the teen looked Asian. “Mom, dad, meet your grandkids. Ren, Naomi and Ken.” He then looked at the oldest. “Didn’t I tell you to take the colored contacts out?”
Ren sighed and took them out, revealing blue eyes. The gray were contacts. “Hi.”
Ken hid behind his father’s legs while Naomi just looked between her paternal grandparents. She spoke in Japanese, “Do they always wear these suits?”
“Dad, yes, mom sometimes not.” Danny replied in Japanese, “Now greet them, Ken, Naomi.”
“You speak Japanese?” Jack asked surprised.
“I lived in Japan for nearly two decades, do you really think I didn’t learn the language?” Danny replied, “Not to mention, living in Japan without speaking Japanese is difficult, if not nigh impossible.”
“And your kids?” Maddie asked, “I mean, do they know English.”
Ren answered, “Yes, we do. Not only is it a mandatory subject, dad makes sure we know English. Albeit Ken has still a few issues with English. Then again, he’s still in elementary.”
“So, Japanese names?” Jack said, trying to get a talk going with his estranged son.
“Aiko and I decided it would be best, considering we live in Japan and the Japanese are rough to outsiders.” Danny explained, “Ren got her surname, but Ken and Naomi got mine.”
“Mom’s weird about this.” Ren chimed in.
“Did you and that Aiko…”
“We did marry, mom. Shortly before Ren-Ren was born.” Danny admitted, “But we divorced right after Ken was born.” Well, not necessarily born in that sense, but in a way reborn.
“Oh…”
“Well, old topic for later or never. Don’t think too much about it, mom.” Danny told her with a smile. “And it wasn’t an aggressive divorce and we somewhat get along.” Mainly in the sense that Aiko keeps shush about him being Phantom and doesn’t ask for alimony. And he doesn’t require child support from her. “Our love just fizzled out.” he lied.
“Sounds like you handled that well, unlike others.” his father said. “So… what brings you to Amity Park? In December at that? I don’t know much about Japan, but even I know there’s no school break this early in December.” Jack looked to his grandkids.
Ren spun a lie, “We’re here because dad worries about the Phantom Thieves coming after us, even though there is no reason for them to target us. All their known targets had been children.”
“One of which was one of the Shujin teachers and another the sister of your friend, Makoto.” Danny pretended to point out, to sell the act of their cover stories. “And the Phan Site hits-”
“Aren’t confirmed Phantom Thief hits, dad!” Because Mementos targets aren’t required to be given calling cards, they aren’t confirmed targets as far as the public knows. Ren then turned to his grandparents and asked, “Have you in the US heard about the Phantom Thieves?”
“Our news only really covered it after this Okumura guy got killed.” Jazz chimed in, “Albeit certin circles have heard of Medjet as well.” Jazz paid extra attention to Japan because Danny moved there and sometimes she kept her parents up to date. Not because they generally don’t bother with non-US news like other Americans, they simply don’t bother with news not ghost related.
“Maybe Phantom is behind this! It is literally in the name!” Jack exclaimed.
Ren and Naomi rolled their eyes. Naomi whispered to Ken in Japanese, “No wonder dad had gone no contact, they are obsessive!”
Ren told them in English, slight annoyance and a bit of hilarity lacing his voice, “No? Phantom Thieves, or Gentlemen Thieves are an old literary trope, very popular in Japan. They just named themselves after that, to hijack the popularity, considering their use of calling cards, a common aspect of phantom thief stories.” Truth is, the name was a coincidence. Originally they wanted to pick something with shadows, but Ann pointed out this may make them appear hostile, so they opted for a ‘you can’t see us’ type of name. Picking this trope was not their intention, but it fits. They only realized it was this trope when Makoto joined.
“Oh?” Maddie voiced, “Then again, Phantom was never seen in Japan.”
Jack and Maddie mainly focused on their three new grandkids – aside from the fact that Ren is older than Jazz’ oldest. Theresa and her siblings, a sister and a brother, also woke up and focused on their cousins. Albeit Theresa did pay some attention to her rumor of an uncle. The blonde joked, “Oh, uncle Danny. I nearly forgot you exist.”
Jazz wanted to scold her for the comment, but Danny told her, sensing his niece’s emotions, “She just meant it as a joke, a jab that I’m never here.”
While the attention was on the three halfa kids, Jazz and Danny talked alone.
“I assume you are connected to the Phantom Thieves? Their leader?” Jazz asked, “Picking that name as an on-the-nose hint is such a ‘you’ thing to do, Danny.”
He shook his head, “I am connected to the Phantom Thieves, but I am neither their leader nor did I had any influence on the name. I joined somewhat late, but yes, I am a Phantom Thief.” Danny added with a proud smile, “Ren-Ren calls the shots and picked the name. Ren-Ren and his friends picked the name, unintentionally relating to the trope.”
Jazz’ eyes were wide. “The Phantom Thieves are teens?”
“Aside from me, yes.” Danny confirmed, “But I know what you think now: isn’t it dangerous? Well, yes, but between the magic the PT’s discovered and Ren and I’s ghost halves, everything is fine. Albeit the actual target is… intense.”
“But Okumura-”
“Wasn’t us, we got framed.” Danny informed her.
“Wait, the media said they got the leader-”
“We faked Ren’s death, he is here to hide. When needed, we portal to Japan to infiltrate the target.” Danny explained dryly. “I brought him here to have some freedom of movement he won’t have in Japan.”
“Danny, the governmet-”
“Jazz, sis, I’m three steps away from becoming a god of death, what do I care about the laws of the mortals?” he interrupted her, “Also, the target is a hyper corrupt politician, so I see no value in these laws specifically.”
Jazz sighed, “But Naomi and Ken-”
“Oh, I just don’t trust them being in a different country, let alone continent, while I am gone.”
“They’re halfa’s.”
“Exactly! A reason to not keep them unsupervised. Especially since Ken figured out how to overshadow people.”
“Oh.”
Danny decided, to Naomi and Ken’s annoyance, to show them around Amity Park. He reasoned, mainly for Ren, as he will move aorund the town on his own, they should know the layout somewhat.
“But your old school?” Ken complained, “Boring!”
Danny sighed as he drove though the town. “Casper High might be boring, but it is a good orientation point, be it on the ground or the air. And frankly? I want to see how my school has changed.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. “You just want to see if someone left offerings at your statue there!”
Danny just sighed annoyed as they reached the school, parking the car nearby at the curb. “If this is another god complex joke-” He lowered the windows for some air. “I told you two I can restrict your phone time.”
“But you haven’t used when punishing Ren-”
“Because Ren behaves.” He interrupted his only daughter and looked to the statue. “The statue is painted?”
The stone statue has been painted. Black and white for the body, blue and green for the globe.
“It has been for a while.” a voice said, a man approaching the car.
Danny nod. “To be fair, I haven’t been in town in over a decade.” He added, “Casper didn’t change as much as I expected.”
“To be fair, the school board tries to change as little as possible to not offend Phantom.” the man explained. Danny recognized him as Mr. Lancer. Much the same as when he was in High school, just older and now fully bald. “I assume you’re old alumni?”
“You know, Mr. Lancer. I am a bit offended you don’t recognize me.” Danny quipped. “You gave me detention so often.” His kids laughed at the mention.
Lancer blinked. “Daniel Fenton? Is that you?”
“In the flesh.”
Lancer looked into the car. “And you have kids? And they…” He focused on Ren on the passager seat.
“Look Japanese?” Danny pointed out. “Married a Japanese woman. I lived in Japan since, hm, second year of college.”
“Huh. What did you study?”
“Forensic science.” Danny replied. “I work in a forensics lab in Tokyo.”
“Great Gatsby!” Lancer gasped, “Sounds like you made something out of yourself.” His old English teacher then added, “Japan, you said? How do you handle things with English?”
“Not. I learned Japanese.” Danny explained. “Living in Japan without learning Japanese isn’t outright impossible, but makes things super difficult.”
“Hm, well, looks like Fallluca owes me money, we bet you just never settled down.”
Danny rolled his eyes, while Naomi and Ken laughed. “Mr. Lancer, should I be more insulted about the bet or that you think so lowly of me?”
Lancer shook his head, “Oh no, we just saw you as a free spirit. Not the responsible type of guy. Yet here you are, with three kids.”
“How insulting! I analyze evidence from the Mental Breakdowns in Tokyo! I can be responsible!”
Lancer’s eyes widen. “Right, those. I can’t imagine living in a country with thise going around. Or the Phantom Thieves running wild.”
Ren chimed in, feeling insulted as the leader of the Phantom Thieves, “And I can imagine going to school and always having to worry that a shooter appears. Or pledging to a flag each morning.”
Lancer paled, while Danny just said, “Ren.” Not angry, because he has a point. After seeing the statistics from Jazz, he really appreciated that he had gone to Japan and didn’t have Aiko go to the US. There was a short time window where that might have happened.
“Well, he isn’t wrong.”
“Shush, Naomi.”
Lancer laughed, “Looks like they strongly come after their father. What about the mother? Did she come to Amity as well or did you leave her in Japan?”
Danny sighed. “Aiko’s in Japan. Then again, we divorced, so no point to drag her along.”
“Oh…”
Danny waved him off. “It is how it is, and things could have progressed in worse ways.”
Ren shook his head. “Mom made you quit your job and take on underpaying positions for no good reason. If anything, things could have gone better.”
“Ren!” Danny snapped. “Don’t mention that.”
But his oldest ignored him. “Dad worked as an English Teacher for a bit. He returned to his career a while ago, but none the less his career took a hit that could have been avoided.”
Instead of pity, Lancer asked excitedly, “E-English Teacher, you?”
Danny sighed in annoyance. “Japanese schools love to hire native speakers, to the point a degree in education isn’t required. Still very underpaid, especially in rural areas.”
“From all students, I never thought you would be a teacher, let alone teach English. Well, you and Kwan.” Lancer recalled. “But from the sounds of it, you thrive more in forensics.”
“Well, if you excuse me, I want to show my kids the town.” With that, Danny drove off. “Have a nice day, Lancer!”
Lancer shook his head. “I need to tell the others. They’re not going to believe me.”
Luis Falluca nearly dropped his coffee mug when Edward came into the teacher lounge. “You never guess who I talked to!” his colleague-turned-boss announced.
“Phantom?” Kwan, now a teacher, asked hopeful.
Lancer shook his head, “I ran into Daniel Fenton!” The lounge got silent, looking at the principal.
“Danny?” Kwan asked, “I thought he left Amity Park… was it really Danny?”
Lancer nod, “He was offended I didn’t recognize him at first, despite the amount of detention I sat with me.”
“Alright, it is Danny.” Kwan said. “So, he moved back?”
Edward shook his head. “No, he is just in town to visit, it seems. He showed his kids Casper-”
“He has kids?” Falluca interrupted him. “Well, there goes the bet.”
Ivana Tetslaff agreed, “Fenton has children? I never thought he would settle down.”
“Well, judging by his oldest son’s age, I assume he got someone accidentally pregnant in college.”
“Sounds about right.” Dale, the new coach who also got his college days girlfriend pregnant, chimed in. “So, multiple?”
“Two sons and a daughter, all three of which strongly take after him. Very snarky. Albeit the oldest seems to take more after their mother.” Lancer explained. “Turns out Daniel moved to Japan. Married a woman there. He works in Forensics.”
“Wow.” Stella Kaiser, the art teacher, said. She, like Kwan, used to be a prior student from the ‘Ghost Class’. The Freshmen from when Ghosts emerged. “Forensics weirdly suits him. Very macabre.”
“Yes, he is one of the forensics working on the Mental Shutdowns that plague Japan.” Lancer recalled, then he smirked. “Daniel changed careers temporarily. His oldest told me his old man was an English teacher for a bit.”
“Now you’re pulling my leg!” Falluca argued. “An English teacher? Are you sure we’re talking about the same Daniel Fenton?”
Danny and his kids looked at the statue at the city hall. Bigger and unpainted, Ren felt small.
“Who knows, maybe the Phantom Thieves get the same honor once this is over. Once Shido confesses.” his father said.
Ren just sighed, unsure if he could live up to the legacy of Phantom. “I doubt revealing the corruption of one country compared to saving the whole planet will net us such an honor.”
“Don’t be so negative, Nii-chan!” Ken demanded, clinging to his legs. “Your bad mood feels weird.”
Danny hugged him from the side. “But is it still worthwhile. Frankly, I could do without the worship.”
Ren shrugged and told his dad, “It’s okay.”
Danny sighed, “Admittedly, Nasty Burger changed a lot since I was a teen…”
Danny and his children sat in Nasty Burger for a quick lunch. He is aware how unhealthy this is, but as a little treat, and nostalgia for him, one can opt for it.
“Or actual good food spoiled it for you.” Naomi said before pushing her fries to Ken, who took them gleefully, “In general, I miss food from home.”
“I could go for some Udon.” Ren added.
Danny sighed. “You three didn’t act as whiny when on our vacation in South Korea.”
Naomi pointed out, “Korean convenience store food is better than this.”
“It isn’t that bad!”
“Oh no, it is.” Ren said with a smirk, “Then again, Korean’s-”
“Danny! Dude! Is that you?”
Danny looked to the entrance, there he saw Tucker, Sam and their kids.
“Yes! It is us!”
The Manson family – Tucker took on her name due to her families companies – joined their table. Sam crossed her arms, “Why didn’t you tell us you’re in the country?”
“Long, weird, very specific story.” Danny reolied. ‘Long, weird and very specific’ used to be their code for ‘Phantom-related’, but even now it isn’t wrong, even though the issue is moreso about the Phantom Thieves than Phantom himself.
“Oh, well, at least we get to see your kids.” Tucker replied, understanding the code. “Well, we already saw Ren, but it has been a while.”
“And you get to meet our kids.” Sam added. While Danny has three, Sam and Tucker only have two, both younger than Ren, but two years older than Ken and Naomi respectively. “How’s Japan doing? Are you part of the investigations form the news?”
“Which one? The Phantom Thief or the Mental Shutdowns?”
“Both?”
“No and yes. They are, as of now, somewhat separate.” Danny explained, stealing one of Ken’s fries. “Hey-” “But since Okumura, it is assumed they are connected. I don’t think so, but what I do know? I just do the forensics.”
Later that month, Danny and the Phantom Thieves faced the False God of Control, Yaldabaoth. Clockwork told him what was supposed to happen, what would be the best to happen and what he would fuck up if he protected his son too much.
“Ren is the Wildcard, his destiny is… different to what you imagine. Let him be and trust he will make the right choices.” The fact that Clockwork wasn’t cryptic made Danny comply. Over the last quarter century he learned his lesson, things hit the fan when Clockwork isn’t cryptic.
None the less, facing Yaldabaoth, Danny couldn’t help but worry for Ren and his friends. But he felt hopeful when Ren called for Satanael.
…
Maddie and Jack wasn’t sure what they were seeing, but they understood why Jazz called for it. The TV showed a broadcast from Japan, it showed a golden, giant thing, facing against the Phantom Thieves.
“Whatever this is, it is not a ghost.” Maddie stated. The fact it is not a powerful ghost, but something else powerful – a god it called itself – is more worrisome. A part of her wished it was just the second coming of Pariah Dark.
Then the leader – Joker – pulled the trigger and his own demon gunned it down.
Whatever blood red corruption got it’s grip on the world vanished and for a second, so did their recollection of the showdown between this god and the non-believers. But then it returned.
“What just happened?” Maddie muttered as the memories returned as suddenly as they vanished, with a vengeance in form of a headache. “Is this what dementia feels like?”
“The sudden forgetting and then remembering?” Jazz inquired, holding her head. “I had that, too.”
“Same here.” Jack said. “So, this god? Is it gone now?”
The Phantom Thives looked around Long Now with a mix of awe and fear, when Danny and Ren introduced them to Clockwork. But in lieu of a greeting, Danny came to the point. “What happened, Clockwork?”
The ghost explained, “After the fusion of Reality and the Metaverse became undone, the world shortly forgot about the showdown against the Holy Grail.”
“But that was undone? People remember.” Futaba chimed in, surprising the other Phantoms as she is the most shy one when it comes to strangers. “There are literal recordings of our fight making the rounds on the web.”
“Exactly, Futaba. Don’t get me wrong, the planes of existance are still separate, but the interference of the Infinite Realms made their memories return.”
Danny sighed. “I kind of dread this. How will the world react to the existance of whatever Yaldy was?”
Clockwork just chuckled. “They barely saw the tip of the ice berg, let alone what is under it. Do not worry, Daniel.”
“Easy for you to say, Clocky. You don’t work in Forensics. I will probably be tasked to analyse this.”
“Don’t bother to hide it, Forensics won’t come far.”
Danny got a message from Tucker. The statue of Phantom in Amity Park has been joined by busts of the Phantom Thieves. Sam managed to pull some strings that Joker’s bust is especially close to Phantom. As it was clear to the public that Joker calls the shots – and literally shot the false god – his statue was bigger and more premium than the others.
Danny smiled and showed Ren the picture. “See? I’m proud of you, Ren-Ren.”