Author's Note: This was written on the spur of the moment and without any prior thought. As a result, this may not be up to the standards of my other work. Proceed with caution.

-Tressimir

"You're sure this is the right course of action, Tsujimura-san?" A woman's voice sounded through the dark room, the nine figures within just barely visible to one another in the dim light.

A man's voice replied in a carefree tone, "Of course, Nitta-san. Do you really think I'd lead us all this way if I wasn't certain?" His voice became more serious as he added, "We have our technology. We have our minions. We have power that nothing on Earth can stop. This is only the beginning, but the groundwork must be laid before we can expand our operations."

"Hmph, I've never seen you take anything this seriously. But if this works, I'll forgive you for being so laid back all the time – we can create a new world order with this." The second man's voice was so low as to rumble the table, a voice like stones grinding together.

The man named Tsujimura laughed and stated, "The time has come. Let's show Japan what the Shin-Sekaichitsujo is capable of!"

Those in attendance stood and placed their right fists over their hearts, declaring in unison, "For a new world!"

Yu Narukami stood at one of the many windows adorning the Shirogane estate, looking out at his beloved town of Inaba. The streets, which had once been busy for such a small town, were receiving noticeably less traffic – those who were walking around made sure to hurry to their destinations. In one short week, Inaba had changed from a bucolic small town to a community ruled by fear.

The source of that fear was easily seen, at least in part. Individuals in black military uniforms, features concealed by masks and caps, were posted around the town to watch the citizenry from behind cold, dark-tinted lenses. But these figures, as intimidating as they were, weren't what terrified the people so – that was done by the power they wielded. These soldiers could summon beings from nowhere, beings obviously not of this world and far stronger than any human. Those who had witnessed a summoning and survived called them 'demons.' These demons were the weapons that enforced Japan's new martial law, the system the commanding figures called the 'True World Order' and enforced with brutal efficiency.

Yu's thoughts were disrupted by the sound of the front door opening. Rushing to see who had entered, he was relieved to see a young woman with long navy blue hair walking across the threshold. "Thank God, you're back."

"You don't need to sound so worried." The young woman responded, brushing her hair out of her face.

"I sound that way because I am worried, Naoto! At least tell me before you go out so I can come with you!" He sighed with exasperation and relief – the former because of her insistence on going out alone, the latter at the fact that she'd come home safe anyway.

Naoto Shirogane fixed her fiancé with a hard gaze and said, "I don't need protection, Yu. Ever since Inaba was put under martial law, you've been acting so paranoid…"

"I worry about you, Naoto. It's not safe for a girl to be out alone anymore." Yu stepped forward and reached out to take her hand, only to have it slapped away roughly. He gazed into Naoto's eyes in shock as his love's expression became angry.

"Stop acting like I have to be protected because I'm a woman! You were never this sexist before; what's gone wrong with you?!" The lady detective was shouting, the first time he'd heard that tone in a long time. Her gray-blue eyes were narrowed in anger as she strode stiffly past him, not sparing a glance his way.

Yu watched her walk away, murmuring, "I'm not the only one who's changed. Grandfather's death has affected us both, Naoto."

As he made his way to the room he and his beloved fiancée shared, he heard her crying softly on the other side of the door. Hesitating to walk in on her, he stopped and listened to her words.

"Grampa… What's gone wrong with the world? Everything we knew is gone… Our entire existence has changed. I don't know what to do, and it terrifies me." Naoto's voice was choked with tears as she spoke to the one who wasn't there. "Please, Grampa… If you're looking down at me, tell me what I'm supposed to do. I need your help more than ever, I can't solve this case on my own." Her words failed her as she broke down into sobs, overwhelmed by the change in the world.

Opening the door quietly so she wouldn't notice, Yu stepped behind his beloved and wrapped his arms around her gently. "Everything will be fine, Naoto. We'll find our place in this world." He held the young lady close as she cried, and laid with her as she rested with thoughts of her filling his dreams.

The couple's peaceful sleep was shattered by the sound of footsteps, a squad of black-clad masked soldiers entering their room. "Yu Narukami." The leader intoned in a flat, mechanical voice. "You have been selected. Come with us."

The silverette and his love immediately positioned themselves across the room from the intruders, Naoto fumbling with the dresser drawer to get at her revolver. Her efforts were stymied, however, by a bolt of electricity that arced from one of the soldiers' fingertip and struck her chest, sending her collapsing to the ground with spasming muscles and a scream of pain. "You bastards!" Yu shouted, pulling open the drawer but freezing as the other five soldiers began gesturing toward Naoto.

"The girl is expendable. We will continue to hurt her until you cooperate." The leader's flat voice pierced the air, staring at Yu with its matte black lenses. "You have been selected. Come with us, or the girl will suffer."

Gritting his teeth, Yu slowly walked forward with a muttered, "Damn you." Glancing over his shoulder at Naoto, he looked into his love's eyes and said, "I'll be back as soon as I can, Naoto. Don't worry." The words were a false promise, and he knew it. No one who had been taken by the black soldiers had ever returned.

"Mission complete." The lead soldier said before knocking Yu unconscious with a single blow, one of its subordinates picking him up as if he weighed nothing. "Do not attempt pursuit. To do so will forfeit your life." The words were directed at Naoto as she began to pick herself up, glaring at the retreating figures as they vanished into the dark corridor.

Tears filled the young woman's eyes as she watched her beloved disappear. "Yu… YUUUUUUU!" She screamed, the blood pounding in her ears before she passed out.