Notes: If there are any criticisms, suggestions, etc. you want to make, please do. I admit that the pace will be a bit slow, and some inaccuracies may arise. Some are intentional, like dialog changes. I mean, I wouldn't want to read the same things over and over again, it's not fun that way.
Also, as an incentive for reviewing, I realize that not everyone likes the names Hamuko and Minako. So I wanted to ask, should I stick with the nameless thing, or should I go with Hamuko or Minako? I don't really like the idea of using an original name, since it's kind of self-insert-ish, but if you guys want to go that way I used Rin. The choice is your guys' and I'll only know what you want if you review.
Persona 3, its characters, creatures, locations etc. are copyrighted material by Atlus.
Strays
The night sky, devoid of the brilliance of stars, was illuminated by the peaceful white glow of the moon. The very same moon reflected in the solemn, wine-colored eyes of a girl taking one of the late monorail rides to Port Island Station. Even though the car was empty save for a few middle aged men sleeping through their commute, she chose to stand by the exit, clutching onto the support pole with one hand, and a medium sized brown paper bag tucked under her other arm. As the light bounced and sparkled on the black waters of the ocean she let her mind drift.
It was hard to believe that such a glow would become tainted and offer no solace to anyone, damned or not. The thought of it alone fueled her desire to rid the world of the Dark Hour, but not enough so to rid the anxiety she felt every month before the next full moon. There was less than a week left, and already she was having trouble sleeping.
The lights of the station flooded the small car as the train came to its stop, a pleasant beeping sounded as the doors slid open. A request to not forget personal belongings began to play as she adjusted the brown bag in her arm and stepped out of the automatic doors. The warm night air greeted her skin immediately and she breathed it in deeply, a welcome change to the overly air-conditioned car. She shook her head, allowing the warmth to take her for a moment as her auburn ponytail swayed from side to side and the oddly arranged white pins reflected the harsh lighting, making them glow.
Not wanting to waste time, she started down the stairs, going down the steps two at a time, careful with her package a smile spread across her lips. Although she had doubts about many things these days, she knew that there was no way he wouldn't appreciate her special gift today.
The air in the back alley was tinted with the scent of alcohol and populated with the usual fare; people wishing their troubles away through the bottle or nobodies looking for a good time. Although she was getting more attention than she originally anticipated, the brunette walked on unfazed through the small crowds and cat calls that went after her.
Without warning a firm grasp on her forearm made her falter mid-stride, jerking her back toward her assailant. A sound of shock locked in her throat, but she quickly pulled her arm back sharply but the grip on her arm tightened painfully as it dragged her back further into a darker part of the alley. The girl continued with her struggle, careful not to drop the bag she carried. Frustrated, she threw her body away from the bind and was rewarded with release a second after. She caught her balance before she could fall and glared back at the shadowy figure that stood across from her.
"I thought I told you not to come back here," a familiar, gruff voice scolded her, irritation clear in his voice.
With a huff she replied defiantly, "I have my reasons for being here, and they're none of your business!"
Unsatisfied with her answer, the young man stepped forward. His gaze was sharp as his form became clearer as he stepped into the glow of the neon lights. The long, heavy coat as well as his dark gray beanie clashed with the summer atmosphere but suited him all the same. However, although he was a familiar face and wasn't labeled as a threat, she met his glare with her own.
He came to a stop only a couple of steps away from her and she straightened up, almost as if trying to match his height as she sized him up. The crinkling of the bag caught his attention, and as he diverted his eyes to the source. In her arms, almost like she was trying to hide it, she held a brown paper bag, from the looks of it, whatever in it seemed fairly light and only part of the way filled.
If he didn't look angry before, he grimaced as he looked her right in the eye demanding a real answer. "What is it that you're hiding there?"
She responded by twisting her body defensively, further keeping the package from view. "Like I said, it's none of your business!"
"Don't give me that shit, "he spat, reaching for it, "parading around here at this hour with something like that's gonna get you killed!"
"I don't know what you think this is," she said, moving the bag to her other side, her arm stretched out as far as it could go, the parcel made a rattling sound as it followed, "but like I keep saying, it's none of your business!"
The paper bag wasn't safe for long however, and with a quick swipe of his hand, the opposing youth's hand found its grip on the side of the thin bag. With a hard yank, the frail paper ripped and the contents of the bag spilled relentlessly on the cement floor. A clear plastic bottle bounced off the followed by the banging of heavy tin cans.
The girl's ruby colored eyes were wide as she watched her gifts violently hit the ground. Her teeth clenched as her lips formed a thin line. "Now look what you did!"
Ignoring her onslaught of complaints the man kneeled down and picked up the plastic bottle first. Examining it in the limited light didn't help much. It wasn't a medicine bottle and he could have sworn he was looking at a picture of-
He was torn from his inspection when louder clashes of metal sounded from the dark space behind him. A white speck was darting for the pair. Startled, he quickly stood clutching the bottle in his hands. A white, black-spotted cat slowed down to a trot and was staring up at the girl, mewling impatiently and occasionally brushing along her ankles. She simply brought her arms up in surrender.
"Hey, I know. I was busy today, so sorry I'm late. I even got you a special treat to make it up to you," she was laughing as the cat stared right into her eyes as it continued to cry. She tossed a glance at the man next to her and continued, "Unfortunately, I just got mugged."
The cat, as though it understood, shifted its hungry gaze on the man and spotted the "special treat". As soon as he was in reach, the cat clawed its way as far as his front paws could take him up the man's pant leg, meowing even louder.
"This could have gone a hell of a lot easier if you would have just said it was cat food." The man sighed as he pulled the ring of the tin can back and set it on the ground. The cat purred loudly as it dug its face into the soft food. A stubborn "hmph" answered him and his efforts of appeasement but a slight smile on her lips shortly followed as she repeatedly stroked the scruffy alley cat's fur. "This can't be the only reason you came here."
"Actually, it is," she nonchalantly informed.
"You're serious."
"Very."
"Aki didn't send you?"
"Nope, I just came to feed the cat."
"But why now? As dense as you are, you should know the streets ain't safe at night."
"Just like I said, I was too busy today, so I had to come now."
"That can't -"
"It's really what I'm saying. I just came because I promised I'd feed him everyday," she shook a few pieces from the plastic bottle into her palm, and placed them next to the now empty tin. The cat immediately went after the morsels, still purring. "That's really all there is to it."
She clapped her hands clean and picked up the extra two tins of soft food off the floor, frowning with disapproval over the small dents in the corners. Bringing herself to stand, she looked down at him, ready to verbally abuse him further. She paused at the scene she saw. He was rubbing the knuckle of his index finger on the underside of the cat's neck. It mewled in approval and a soft grin spread across the male's face.
She smiled at the display of tenderness; it was a complete contrast to his character. For some reason, she couldn't help feeling special. It was a fat chance that anyone else would see such a hardened shell cracked so easily. She remembered the weight in her hands and a thought crossed her mind.
Reluctantly, she held the cat food out in front of him. He glanced at the offer and then up at her, slightly confused. "Obviously only the cool kids get to hang around here. In case I don't have time during the day, you feed him."
"I don't think s-"
"Then I'll definitely come see you again tomorrow night," a cocky grin stretched to one side of her face. A disgruntled noise sounded from his throat and he snatched the cat food from her soft grasp. He brought himself back up on his feet and shoved his hands into his coat pockets.
"It's late. If you don't head back now you'll probably miss the last ride back to Iwatodai before midnight."
"It can't be that late already," she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and flipped it open. She pouted as the digital numbers confirmed it. "Fine, but I'll be back after school tomorrow to make sure you keep up your end of the deal."
"Whatever," he said gruffly. Without another word, she made her way to the end of the alley. He was glad she didn't put up much of a fight. If she were to hang around here much later and the wrong people decided to show up it wouldn't have been pretty. Anxiety shot through him and thoughtlessly he called out to her, "Wait!"
She paused before she could reach the corner and looked back over her shoulder. After a few seconds of silence passed the man strode toward her, his movements were stiff under her questioning stare as he searched for what he had wanted to say.
"What do you want now?" she asked.
He strode past her and came to a halt. "I'll walk you back to the station."
"How sweet of you," she responded sarcastically, "But I'll be fine on my own it's just over-"
"Look, I'm not saying you're not tough or anything, okay? I'd just rather make sure you got out of here without doing something stupid again." He started his pace again, not bothering to look at her while she rolled her eyes.
"Aren't you such a gentleman," her tone remained flat, "I can definitely see how Akihiko-senpai can vouch for a guy like you."
She jogged several paces to catch up, it's not like she could make stop him so she may as well indulge his ego. Although a little annoyed by his bluntness, she couldn't help a smile as she thought about how much of a softie he was on the inside. Teasingly, she tugged on the sleeve of his coat. When he looked back, she quickly made a move to get ahead of him and grinned.
"Always gotta be the leader, don't you," he couldn't believe that someone so juvenile could lead a group through battle after battle. The satisfied bob of her head only made her look that much more childish.
They made it to the empty station without difficulty just as the monorail pulled into its stop. She slid her ticket into the machine and pushed her way through the now unlocked fence spinning on her heel she grabbed the expelled ticket and waved with it to her escort, as if proving that she was really leaving.
"Take care of Orpheus or else!" With that, she bounced her way through the open car doors and took the seat closest to the window facing the coated figure on the other side of the gates. She sat up on her knees and stared at him, her eyes were shining in amusement.
The man shrugged off her gaze and began his decent off the station's platform. On the floor below, the black-spotted feline sat, and greeted him with a high pitched whine. The man sighed, now it'll probably never leave him alone.
"So, Orpheus, huh?" the cat meowed in response, seemingly trying to confirm it. The man knelt down and patted its head a couple of times and headed back to his usual spot, Orpheus trotted behind him. Suddenly it occurred to Shinjiro that he hadn't caught that girl's name yet. Did she even know his?