Chapter Text
When most people heard the word "foster father" they immediately thought of a man of average height with a mustache and cashmere sweaters living in a subdivision. Enjin Stilza was the farthest thing from everyone's mind. He was tall, six-foot-three, absolutely covered in tattoos, with shaven sides and he usually had a cigarette in his mouth. He refused to set foot anywhere near the suburbs because "I don't fuck with the HOA," so he had a nice sized house (with a fucking pool, Riyo, how cool is that shit) set on the outskirts of town but not quite in the country (I'm not a farmer and no we're not getting horses).
He was also twenty-six and still single with a lovely red-headed little heathen, as he affectionately called her. Most people looking at them assumed that Riyo was from a one-night stand whose mother simply couldn't bear to raise a mini version of him. Riyo always smiled innocently when people made their assumptions while Enjin choked on his cigarette and gasped for air. Neither would explain though, not unless they genuinely liked the person, which wasn't often.
The truth was fairly simple though: Riyo was adopted. Which wasn't important to Enjin or Riyo so they didn't care if others knew. They didn't have many neighbors anyways so there weren't many people that could gossip. They still found a way though, especially when Semiu or Alice stopped by for a visit.
What're all those women doing stopping by?
And when he has a little girl at home?
Tsk tsk.
He's such a whore.
Enjin always ignored the gossip, unless it pertained to Riyo, then he turned into a complete asshole with sharp teeth and sharper words. Riyo, on the other end, would not tolerate a single word against Enjin. She would throw eggs at windows and flash lights in windows at night or wear scary masks. Enjin would let her do almost anything.
The biggest complaint though, was the animals. There were always random animals wandering around in the yard. Cats with low hanging bellies or tiny puppies that barked and frolicked. There'd even been a goat and skunk on one memorable occasion. Everyone hated the skunk and all of the animals really but every complaint to animal control was ignored because Enjin was feeding them and there were little shelters for them and he got them all fixed and they had regular vet appointments and collars with little name and vaccination tags.
This is a rich neighborhood, we have standards here.
At least we haven't seen the skunk in awhile.
Is that a new cat?
So when a new kid moved in, no one was happy. No one and certainly not the kid moving in.
Foster care had been the farthest thing from Zanka Nijiku's mind that morning when he'd gotten up. Or rather, when he'd been rudely awakened by Father barging in, waving Zanka's English paper, screaming loudly as he demanded to know just why Zanka was so stupid.
Zanka had huddled in his bed, knowing it was better to stay silent in this case. Father would tire sooner or later and then he'd leave. It had almost worked, until Father had started digging through his things, looking for the drugs that he swore had to be there. As if. Zanka wasn't Kyouka.
When Father's hand had closed around the lipstick that had been pilfered from Kyouka's room, Zanka had known that it would be bad. It was.
No son of mine's gonna be a faggot.
What do ya mean, you're a girl?!
Out! You're no longer welcome in my house!
Zanka had been given exactly one minute to get dressed then Father had hustled him into the car before taking him straight to DCFS. Zanka had sat there in a state of shock as Father signed papers, effectively signing away all of his rights.
As of now you're no longer a Nijiku.
Zanka hadn't cried yet, too much in a state of shock. The woman who'd taken custody of him, a Semiu Grier, had fixed Father with a nasty glare as she told him to "Get out."
Zanka then had the distinct pleasure of watching his Father's face turn purple with rage before he stormed out, leaving Zanka all alone.
"Sit," Semiu had told him. "I need to make a phone call," she'd left Zanka sitting in the hallway outside of her office. If he concentrated really hard he could hear muffled voices but couldn't make out any actual words.
Time passed slowly as Zanka sat on the uncomfortable chair, shifting his weight nervously. He should cry, he knew, he kind of wanted to cry, but he didn't.
Nijiku's don't cry, had been one of his Father's favorite phrases, looking pointedly at all three of them. You're all weak but tears are not allowed.
The door opened and Zanka jumped, anxiously peering up at the slightly blurry figure in the doorway.
"I've found someone who can take you," Semiu announced, not unkindly. "He's a bit odd and he already has a daughter that he adopted a few years ago."
Zanka nodded. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say or do now.
"He'll take you shopping for some clothes and whatever else you might need," Semiu continued. She hesitated for a second, long fingernails tapping against the wood of the doorframe. "You know, there's nothing wrong with being a girl."
Zanka couldn't help the way his entire body flinched at her words. He'd been hoping that she wouldn't mention everything his Father had said. Wait. Could he even call him that now? Zanka had effectively been disowned after all. He had no doubt the older man was at his lawyer's right now, updating his will to remove Zanka. Assuming he'd ever been a part of it at all.
"Just think about it," Semiu's gaze was soft as she stared at him. "The guy you'll be staying with, it won't bother him. Enjin's very unusual, not much phases him," she let out a snort at the end.
"Is he a serial killa?" Zanka asked suspiciously.
For some reason Semiu seemed to find this really funny, letting out a loud laugh, the kind that started in the stomach and resonated. "Goodness no," she took off her glasses, wiping at her eyes. "You'll see what I mean." She pulled the door shut behind her and started down the hallway. "C'mon," she called.
Zanka hurried to follow, making sure to turn his head so he wouldn't trip over anything. It was an open secret in the Nijiku household that he had trouble seeing but, as predicted, Father had told him to Deal with it. So, Zanka had. He had little ways of getting around without making it seem like he couldn't see to the side or that people were usually blurry. Goka and Kyouka had thought it fun to move things sometimes so he'd trip over them and fall flat on his face.
Semiu led him to what could only accurately be described as a racing car. Zanka didn't know enough about cars to know the make and model but it was black with gold stripes running from the trunk to the hood. It only had two doors and he cautiously moved to the passenger side.
"You can sit in the front," Semiu told him. "The back's overflowing with my paperwork and shit."
Zanka nodded and climbed in.
"It's not a terribly long drive," Semiu continued as she started the car. "Enjin doesn't live out in the boondocks or anything."
Another nod.
Semiu heaved a heavy sigh. "Oh he's gonna have fun with you," she muttered. "Anyways, his daughter is named Riyo. Since he adopted her, she's no longer my responsibility but I like to go check on her from time to time, make sure Enjin isn't driving her nuts. So you'll see me plenty and I'll make sure you have my number so you can call."
"Don't gotta a phone," Zanka mumbled. It was probably still sitting on his nightstand.
"I'll let Enjin know he'll need to get you one," Semiu nodded. "Knowing him you'll have one and plenty of clothes by the end of the day. I was serious though, he won't mind you being a girl."
"Not a girl," Zanka said quietly, feeling incredibly guilty as though he'd just lied. Which he had. Because he didn't feel like a boy but he'd also learned, early that morning, that he couldn't be a girl and still have a home.
Another sigh. "Moving on, I'll make weekly visits to make sure you're doing well. Enjin will enroll you in school, probably Riyo's. He'll also take you to see a doctor, just routine stuff to make sure you're doing well and that there's no health issues we need to be aware of." She shot him a look.
Zanka shrugged. "Dunno."
"Of course not."
The ride lapsed into silence. Semiu was driving pretty fast but since the speedometer was in his peripheral vision Zanka couldn't see how fast she was actually going. They passed subdivisions with white picket fences and then they started getting into the country. Not that far from town but still filled with rolling hills and trees. He started when Semiu turned onto a paved road that led to a gate complete with the little guard in a guardhouse.
"Enjin doesn't believe in HOA's," she explained. "It's his property, he doesn't see the point in paying to get permission to do what he wants. He'd rather pay extra for a nice neighborhood where he can do what he wants."
Made sense. Zanka certainly understood that logic.
Semiu showed her ID to the guard and they were waved through. The houses here were enormous and fancy with giant yards in between each property. This was the kind of place that Father dreamed of living in.
"Enjin's a model," Semiu explained, seeing his curious glance. "He does very well," she suddenly chuckled. "He used to have this tiny little shoebox of an apartment. It was one room and everything was falling apart. Alice, his foster mother and the woman who adopted him, kept begging him to move back in with her but he refused. At least, for awhile he did." Something flashed behind her glasses, something sad and regretful. "Anyways, it's a nice place. Just ignore the wildlife."
"Wildlife?" Zanka questioned.
"You'll see," Semiu's tone was rather ominous and he shifted uncomfortably.
Animals weren't allowed in the Nijiku household, not after what happened to Goka's puppy. Zanka had always thought a cat sounded nice. They weren't too demanding and didn't need to be walked every few hours.
"Here we are," Semiu announced a few minutes later. Zanka looked up.
The house they were pulling into was big, just like the others they'd passed. It was brick, with a huge front porch. If Zanka squinted he thought he could see someone sitting in one of the chairs. He could see…animals. They were everywhere. Cats curled up in the sun, a couple of puppies chasing each other. He swore he could see a goat munching on one of the fancy landscaped bushes.
"Like I said, wildlife," Semiu sighed, parking the car and hopping out. "He's the world's biggest softie, can't leave a stray alone."
Zanka followed. As he got closer he could make out a man sitting in one of the chairs, a massive gray umbrella leaning against it. The man waved at them then pushed himself up, smoothly grabbing the umbrella and walking towards them. Semiu waved back and Zanka found himself giving a tiny little wave as well. The man lit up when Zanka did that, his entire face breaking out in a grin.
"Wassup, girl?" he joked, leaning against the umbrella when they got closer.
Semiu rolled her eyes but didn't look genuinely annoyed. "Nice to see you too, Enjin. This is Zanka, the kid I was telling you about."
"Hello," Enjin stuck out his free hand.
Zanka reached out with his, flushing when it took him a second to find Enjin's. Thankfully, neither adult commented on it. Enjin had a firm handshake. "Hi," he said quietly.
"Let's get you inside and then we'll go shopping in a bit, get you some clothes and stuff," Enjin said.
"He'll need a phone," Semiu spoke up. She pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it to Zanka. Here, call me if this idiot hassles you too much."
"I resent that," Enjin sniffed, a tattooed hand splayed across his chest.
Zanka couldn't help but wonder what kind of model had tattoos, big hoop earrings and wore nail polish.
"Oh please, you bug Riyo all the time," Semiu patted Zanka on the shoulder. "You'll be fine here."
Zanka watched as she climbed into her car and drove off, leaving him all alone on the porch with Enjin and the cats.