This story takes place after Persona 5. I wanted to make an original story in the Persona universe. This is what I come up with. Every Persona game has a theme and this one is no exception. All of my characters are OC and it will take place a couple of years after Persona 5. I will take some departure from the usual Persona formula, that means that some tropes will not be presents (like the mascot character) and Social Links may or may not be a thing. I'll leave that to all of you that are reading so leave a review to let me know. And it will focus on a lot of characters, not only the protagonist.
It's been a long time since I wanted to write something like this, but I didn't have a really good idea to write but know that I have it (is not that good, but it's interesting at least) I can write with calm. Considering that now I've decided to focus on finishing my other Persona fanfics and only focus on them (Besides my MCU fanfics because INFINITY WAR!), I can write this in peace. The rest of my fanfics don't have the same amount of readers or followers, on top of that without people reading or commenting I start to get bored, so I decided to put them on hiatus until I at least finish one. Time management in real life is such a pain in the ass and we all know it.
Anyway, this is it. You know what to do. Enjoy it and leave a review to let me know what do you think.
Summary: Hideaki Kiyohara moves to his grandfather house in Kofu after a car accident left him in a wheelchair. He thought that nothing could be worse but then he's thrown into a world of mystery, Dark Dimensions, Monsters and a group of people that hunt down this monsters that feed on people's minds.
Persona: The Shadow Hunters
Chapter 1: The Unexpected Turn of Events
"There are not many persons who know what wonders are opened to them in the stories and visions of their youth; for when as children we learn and dream, we think but half-formed thoughts, and when as men we try to remember, we are dulled and prosaic with the poison of life. But some of us awake in the night with strange phantasms of enchanted hills and gardens, of fountains that sing in the sun, of golden cliffs overhanging murmuring seas, of plains that stretch down to sleeping cities of bronze and stone, and of shadowy companies of heroes that ride caparisoned white horses along the edges of thick forests; and then we know that we have looked back through the ivory gates into that world of wonder which was ours before we were wise and unhappy."
― H.P. Lovecraft
Everything was in complete darkness. Little by little the darkness was disappearing and the room was lighting up, revealing a blue light. The light in the ceiling get rid of the darkness and reveal a young black haired boy sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, his blue eyes show despair, he looked defeated and on top of that blood was coming out of his back, tainting the chair and floor. The black haired boy looks up and saw where he was... He was in a Morgue. A Morgue with blue walls and the floor has a blue carpet all over it. He tries to stand up, but he couldn't feel his legs at all, in fact, he couldn't feel anything below his waist. He hears a chuckled in front of him, he look up and the darkness in front of him disappear, revealing an old man with an odd long nose sitting on a chair, leaning on the table. He was grinning at him and next to that old man was standing a young woman around the boy's age. She was looking at him with pity, her yellow eyes show sorrow toward the boy's condition, her platinum blonde hair was tied in a long ponytail and instead of letting it fall she had it resting over her left shoulder. Unlike the old man who was wearing a black suit, she was wearing a blue suit with a long dark blue skirt. She had a book in her hands, chained to her right arm.
"Hehehe... Now, this is interesting... A new guest, but very different from the others before him" Said the old man. "Welcome, Young man, to the Velvet Room. My name is Igor, I am delighted to make your acquaintance" The old man now known as Igor introduce himself. "This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter..." Igor explains. "It is a room that only those who are bound by a "contract" may enter... That being said, you haven't really bound by any conventional "contract". It seems that your circumstances allow you to enter here before signing... It the end it depends on your choice... The choice of Life or Death. If you choose to live, you'll be bound by the contract and you'll be allowed to come back to the Velvet Room but if you choose Death then... That'll be it. In the end, it's your own choice and you'll accept the responsibility for your own actions. Now then, Young man, do you choose Life or Death?" Igor asks and the boy didn't know what to say, everything was hazy, he couldn't remember anything before he enters the room, he barely remember his name. He shakes his head and answer right away, the answer that Igor knew he'll choose.
"I want... to live..." Said the boy and Igor's smile got wider.
"Excellent... The contract has been sealed, Young man... Why don't you introduce yourself?" Igor asks for the boy's name which he answers quietly.
"Hideaki... Kiyohara... That's my... name"
"You had troubles to say that out loud, it's understandable, you went through a horrible accident after all..." Igor extends his hand and a card float in his palm. A tarot card, the card of the Temperance, but it was black and white with the corners shattering. "Young man, your fate is constantly changing. So much in fact that even I can't tell what will happen in the near future, but I can tell you this... You'll be thrown into a world of mystery, a world of dangers and unexpected results. I will do everything in my power to assist you and make sure that you see the "True" end of your journey. It will be easy for you to lose the way, but fear not, that's why we are here"
"What my master try to say is that we are your allies for the journey you are about to embark on..." Said the girl. "My name is Annabelle and I'm Master Igor's assistant. The next time we meet, you'll be in the need of our services. Until then, we wish you good luck, Breaker of Fate"
Hideaki closes his eyes and when he opened them again he found himself being dragged from the burning car. The paramedics took him to the ambulance as quickly as possible. Before going in, he got a glimpse of the car and the two corpses next to it that the police covered with black cloths. He wants to cry, to yell but he was too weak for that. Everything hurt and he passes out from the pain again.
"We are losing him! Take him to the hospital, quick!"
(Unknown Time and Place)
The night takes over the world. The starless sky and the giant Red Moon were a bad sign. The streets were empty and there was not a single soul on them, the city was in complete silence, sleeping, in peace... But not really in peace. A Dark force roams the streets, violently chasing after its prey. A woman came out from the alley, she was holding her left arm and running away through the lifeless streets. She was desperate, her arm was bleeding and her legs were about to give up on her. She stumbles and falls to the ground. She tries to get up and fast as she could, but she couldn't. She hears something behind her... She turns around slowly and the last thing she was was a dark blue mask with glowing yellow eyes behind it. The Dark Unknown Force grab her by her feet and drag her back to the alley while she screams and begs for mercy. She breaks her nails trying to hold herself to the floor, she leaves a trail of blood from her fingernails and disappears into the darkness of the alley. The Red Moon turn white and the starless sky was replaced by a night full of stars. The lifeless streets have few people walking around, minding their own business and nobody was aware of the girl that was dragged to her demise... Because they couldn't see what they don't understand... It was beyond their comprehension...
1/11 Friday, 2019
Hideaki Kiyohara opens his eyes and was once again staring at the white ceiling of his hospital room. It's been almost two weeks since he's been in that bed, unable to move at all. He was still recovering but he knew that he won't walk out of this... Literally. He couldn't feel his legs and the doctors were being pretty optimistic about him telling him lies about how he was going to recover soon. He knew they were lying to him, they just wanted to keep him there until his grandfather or a distant relative come to take him. He wasn't stupid. The first couple of days were the worst for him, he had to deal with his parents' death. They were with him in that car and he was the only one to come out alive, not unscathed but alive nonetheless. He cries the first couple of days nonstop, he cries until it hurt his eyes. It took him days until he finally accepts the reality and what will happen next. He lost his parents and he'll most likely move with his grandfather. Even now he's still sad about the accident he wishes to turn back time and do something about it, to stop it but he couldn't. He didn't knew what it was going to happen, then again who could? They were hit by a truck, the driver was speeding up and he wasn't even looking at the road. By the time he notices their car was already too late. He hit them from behind and the force of the hit push the car against another car in front of them. Hideaki was lucky to be alive. The driver of the truck was taken by the police and Hideaki never hear of him again.
That same day, around afternoon, his grandfather arrives and the first thing he did as soon he sees Hideaki was giving him a hug that lasted several minutes. Hideaki hugs him back and after the reunion, they discuss what was going to happen next. Hideaki needs to remain another couple of weeks in the hospital so the doctors can monitor his condition. After that, he'll attend school as usual but he'll transfer at the end of March. He will live with his Grandfather in Kofu, a city in the south near Mount Fuji. Hideaki didn't like the idea of moving out, but he couldn't say no. His grandfather couldn't live in Tokyo, he's the owner of a textile shop in Kofu and he couldn't leave it in order to take care of Hideaki who by know was pretty obvious he won't walk again. Hideaki reluctantly agrees and the following months went by pretty quickly. The last days he attends school he was met with stares full of pity and sorrow. It was expected, Hideaki was a member of the track team and now he couldn't even run. He was stuck in a wheelchair. Just by looking down at his legs he felt the weight of the reality crushing him and his hopes. He didn't know what to expect in Kofu, but he hoped that it would be better...
4/1 Monday (Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture)
The city of Kofu in the Yamanashi Prefecture was a quiet place to live in. The city doesn't have that many interesting places like Tokyo or Kyoto for tourists to come by, but it's a nice place to relax. Still, the city has the bad luck to have Aokigahara nearby. The "Suicide Forest", like some tourist like to call it. A lot of habitats believe that the whole forest is cursed and avoid it at all cost, the ones that get near are only tourists that are curious and the rest, unfortunately, go to take their own lives.
Kofu is not your typical city because of the forest. It gains a little of infamy a couple of months ago. People disappear and only a small amount of them are found dead... Some in the forest, some in the alleys but the rest... They are never found. Some people thought of this as a Serial Murder Case, but the vast majority think of a Collective Suicide Pact. Still, none of this theories can be proven until they find solid evidence. It all started in June of 2018 and in Early January the Police close any road that leads to Aokigahara and there is at least a Police Officer in each street, but even with this security measure, victims keep appearing.
Hideaki took the train from Tokyo to Kofu, it took him almost two hours to arrive because of a delay in some of the lines. Aside from that, the trip was pretty quiet and calm. He came out of the train, assisted by one of the officers that was on the train and went right to the exit. His grandfather was already waiting for him at the entrance with a taxi already prepared to take his bag. The travel to his new house was quiet, quieter than he was expecting. Hideaki remains quiet until they arrive at his grandfather house near the Arakawa River, a river that travels across Kofu. Hideaki saw his grandfather house with little happiness, he remembers visiting him when he was a kid and now seen that house again make him happy, but sad at the same time. It was a two-floor house, pretty old but against all odds was in a pretty good state. Hideaki's grandfather takes him in and helps him to unpack. Hideaki has his room in the first floor so it will be easier for him to move around, he also had the bathroom in the first floor so he had nothing to worry about. His room was a little bigger than expected, he already had a bed near the window and a desk near the door, a TV was next to it. Aside from that, there was still a lot of space left, he could easily put three more beds and there would be more space. He tries to remember the last time he saw this bedroom but he couldn't remember it.
"This room used to be smaller" Said his grandfather, like if he knew what Hideaki was thinking. "Half of it was a bedroom and the other half was a room I used as a storage. When I empty that room I had no use for it anymore so I decided to take down the wall and make this another living room or whatever I wanted. Now is your room, sorry if it is too big for you"
"No, it's alright. With all this space I don't have to worry in case I hit a furniture or fall from my bed" Hideaki like all the space but even for him, it was a little too much. "Thanks for taking me in, Grandpa... I..."
"It's alright. You are alive and that's what matters. I know it's hard for you to move in with me, leaving behind Tokyo and all your friends but I couldn't move there, I have things to take care here"
"I understand... It couldn't be helped... I'll get used to this place right away... I'm good at that, aren't I?"
(Later that night)
Hideaki closes the door of his new bedroom. He decides to go to sleep early so he can finish unpacking tomorrow. He moves his wheelchair near his bed and crawls on top of the bed. He was having troubles to get used to this but he had to do it by himself, he didn't want his grandfather to help him in every single thing he needs to do. He yawns and looks at the window, the half moon was right outside his window. He blinked and the moon turns red for a brief moment. Hideaki eyes widen and blink again, the red moon disappear as soon as it appears.
"I must be really tired... Still... That weird dream from after the accident... Igor and Annabelle... Why do I have the feeling that I will see them again soon?" He asks and closes his eyes, falling asleep almost instantly. Little did he know that right outside of the house the world around him was distorting itself that night. The Red Moon appear and turn the streets with a red light... A man was running through the street, yelling for help, but nobody was answering, he was alone in the world as the Shadow of a giant hand grab him by his own Shadow and was pulled into the darkness...
4/5 Friday (Early morning)
Today the new school year begins. The streets were filled with sakura petals and the students were walking toward school in big groups, most of them do it in case the disappearances were caused by a murderer and the police highly recommend to not go out alone during the day and night. The groups of students consist of five to eight students, some were going on groups of three or four... But only one of them was walking all by herself. A girl with long black hair that she let it grow so much it reach her legs. Her eyes were gray and her bang was almost covering her left eye. She was wearing her school uniform which consists of a dark-blue blazer, a white shirt with a red ribbon loosely tied up and a long black skirt that reaches her ankles. This girl was staring at the group of students walking beside her, she sighs and keeps walking. She didn't like big groups at all. Some of the group of students stare at her and even point at her, followed by whispers. She hears them all, but ignore them. She knew what they think of her, she knew why they were pointing at her, she didn't care. She stops caring a long time ago.
She arrives at the School fairly quickly, Sundaikofu High School. The entrance was full of students going in, the main building was huge and connect to three other buildings that lead to the clubs building, the training ground and the Faculty building, a more smaller building where only the teachers can enter. She takes a few steps forward and most of the students of her year were looking at her. She didn't mind the looks they were giving her, she ignores them all like she has been doing for the past months. She went into the building found a lot of students looking at the board, searching for their classrooms. Most of them were first-year students. She joins them and looks too. She found her name pretty quickly... Kurumi Shinozaki, class 3-A...
"... That was quick..." She whispers and walks away. Kurumi stands in the middle of the hall and takes out her smartphone. She hears it ringing when she was walking and didn't take it out. She saw a message popping out, it was from her father.
"I won't be coming home again. Don't wait for me" He writes and that was the end of the message. Kurumi put her phone away. Shortly after that, the bell ringed and she had to sit through what can only be described as a painfully ceremony, according to Kurumi, with the Principal talking about what they already know. About what's more important in life, family, friends, jobs, etc. Kurumi could've sworn that she hear it last year, she remembers the same speech... Because it was, the principal was reading a piece of paper from the last speech, but added the issue about the disappearances and encourage the students to not wander off alone at night. After the opening ceremony, all the student went back to their classrooms. Kurumi was one of the first to enter and take her seat next to the door. The teacher, a young man with grey hair, thick glasses, dark blue eyes and wearing a black suit, enter the classroom after the last student find his chair. He stands in front of the class and looks at each one of them.
"Alright class, settle down... My name is Satoshi Ikari, I'll be your homeroom teacher this year. I bet all of you are excited, this is your last year on High school. So I hope we all get along so we can have some nice memories... And all that crap" He whispers the last sentences. "Now... Today is the first day and we actually have a new student, he's from Tokyo" He said and they all start to whisper to each other. Kurumi remains quiet, waiting for the whole class to end. The door opens an a boy came in... But he wasn't what they all were expecting. The boy had short black hair, blue eyes and a little mole next to his right eye. What surprises them wasn't the fact that he was wearing a red jacket on top of his uniform, it was the fact that he was in a wheelchair that surprises them. When he enters, he was pushed in by another teacher that help him to get to the third floor. The teacher bows and leave as quickly as he enters. The boy was now in front of the class, not looking up. His face was giving them all the message, he didn't want to be there at all. Kurumi looks at the boy from head to toes and she couldn't help but to feel bad for him... But not enough to get close to him and pretend to be his friend. "Now then... He moves in from Tokyo about a couple of days ago, he's new in the town so make him feel like home... Come on, kid. Introduce yourself to your classmates" Said the teacher. The kid looks up and finally speak up.
"M-My name is Hideaki Kiyohara... N-Nice to meet you all" He said. It was more of a whisper than an actual introduction.
"Good enough for me" Said the Teacher. "Let's see... Where can you sit- I mean... Go... uh..." The teacher looks around and looks at Kurumi's desk. Next to her was an empty spot. "There... Let me take away the chair first..." Satoshi take out the chair and put it in a corner, then he helps Hideaki to move into his desk. Hideaki then looks to his right, Kurumi was sitting there, not really looking at him. Just as he did, all the student present start to gossip.
"I wasn't expecting a boy like that" Said a girl.
"Tell me about it. On top of that, a shy boy sitting right next to the bully... This won't end well" Said one of the boys.
"Don't call her bully. She might hear you and hit you with her baseball bat"
"That's true... Why is someone like her still around? Did they forget what happened to Kagami last year?"
"Poor girl. I hear she's still in the hospital"
"Seriously? I hear to transfer to another school"
"She should just leave now. It'll make our lives easier"
Kurumi ignores them all, even though she wanted to speak up, she didn't. She remains quiet. Hideaki hears it all and seems conflicted about his placement in the classroom. Still, he shows a little of curiosity about it. The teacher, Satoshi, finally start the class and they all stay quiet for the time being...
(Entrance of Aokigahara - Morning)
A police car stopped near the entrance of the woods. Two officers came out of the car and join with the Forest Ranger. One of the officers that came out of the car was an old bald man and the other was a rookie, a new officer assigned there. The younger officer was around his 25's and had brown hair, dark brown eyes and a cut in the lower lip, it was from a fight a couple of days ago. The Forest Ranger walk to the two officers and talk to them.
"You were faster than I was expecting," Said the Ranger and the old officer respond. "What happened to the other officers that were assigned to the area?"
"One of them was giving the day off... His son disappears and he wasn't in the best condition to be part of the investigation. The other had to travel to Kyoto to see his family. So we are what's left. And considering our situation we can't give us the luxury of taking our time..." He said and take out his badge. "I'm Kenji Murata. This is my partner, Rintaro Sadamoto... So, what do we have?"
"Oh yes, A pleasure to work with you both... You see... Last night I was at the entrance and I hear a weird noise coming from inside the forest. At first, I thought it was nothing, but they got louder like they were closer to me. Those weird noise then turn into screams and I run in... I end up finding the body of a child, but when I leave to call for help and went back, the corpse disappear" The Ranger explain and Kenji walk to the foot of the Mount Fuji... The entrance of Aokigahara.
"Where was the body exactly?" He asks.
"Near the entrance. It was covered in blood... But I came back he disappears... Just leaving a trail of blood that goes too deep into the forest"
"A trail?" Rintaro asks. "So someone drags the body away?"
"... I don't think it was someone" Said the Ranger.
"... Don't tell me you believe in that ghost story crap" Said Kenji. "That's stupid. Keep your mind in the game. For what I'm seeing, there's a murderer around or maybe an animal drags the body away. Sooner or later we will found it, but the question remains... Is this related to the rest of the disappearances, or it's just another case? In the last month, there were six cases of people disappearing, two kids, three teenagers and one old man... They still haven't appeared"
"Could it be that this kid was one of them?" Rintaro asks and takes out a notepad to write down everything they were talking about.
"It could be... We still don't know what is going on... We better send a group to search for the body in the forest. Whoever took the body couldn't have taken it that far. We'll look around to see what we can find. Rintaro, come with me. You stay here" Said Kenji to the Forest Ranger. They both enter the forest. When they were a little far away from the entrance Rintaro look at his partner.
"Kenji-san... What do you believe?" Rintaro asks about the case.
"... Since the disappearances start back in June I thought about people going nuts and committing suicide... But now I'm not so sure. People now disappear and reappear dead, some of them in the woods, others in the city. The autopsy didn't show signs of struggle or self-harm... To be quiet honest, I don't know. Some things point to a murderer, other to suicide but there isn't any solid evidence about neither of both and I refuse to believe that people just drop dead like flies... It's not normal. It doesn't make any sense at all" Said Kenji and he stumbles across the trail of blood. "My father use to tell me stories, old stories, legends, myths and one day he told me something that I will never forget... 'Life is unpredictable and maybe even mysterious, But there's always a logical explanation and the truth always come out, it might take months, even years or centuries, but it always shows up. It's only a matter of time'..."
"Life is unpredictable, huh? He was right. You can't see what life might throw you and expect to understand it at all"
"... This case reminds me a little of Inaba's murder case... And even the Mental Shutdowns in Tokyo but this is different. We are going nowhere, no clue, no suspect, no nothing... I wish we at least had something to work with... We are now in the void... walking in the dark" Kenji follows the trail of blood but stopped after five minutes. They were going to get lost at this rate. When he turned around to leave he saw something that hasn't notice before. On the floor, there was a black mask broked in half. He picks it up and examines it... It had blood in it and black goo on the inside. "The fuck...? I know this mask..."
"Kenji-san? What's wrong?" Rintaro asks and Kenji put the broken mask inside a plastic bag.
"We are leaving. There's someone I have to see" He said and quickly walk away. Rintaro follows him and they get out of the forest.
(Sundaikofu High School, Classroom 3-A - Lunchtime)
Hideaki takes out his lunch from his bag which consists only of an apple and a bottle of water. He was about to eat when he noticed some of his classmates gathering around him. As soon that happens, Kurumi stand up, making a lot of them taking a few steps back. Kurumi didn't say a word or make eye contact, she just leaves the classroom and when she did most of them sigh in relieve. Hideaki finds it really odd and couldn't help ask about it. The first thing he asks his classmates was about the girl that was sitting next to him.
"Umm... Who's the girl next to me? And why were you all talking behind her back? That's really rude" He asks and all of them shared worried looks.
"Don't worry about her. She's crazy" Said one of the girls. "Don't talk to her"
"That's not what I ask..." Said Hideaki with a serious tone. He didn't like when people avoid his questions.
"Her name is Kurumi Shinozaki" Said a boy that wasn't part of the group surrounding Hideaki. He was sitting behind him, playing with his PSP, he was wearing the PE uniform and had a long brown hair. "You want me to be honest? Don't listen to them. They antagonize her. If anything Kurumi is just minding her own business. All those rumors about her are a lie, most of them"
"No, we're not antagonizing her" Said a tall girl. "She's a bully and bullies are not welcomed here" The girl smile and the boy roll his eyes.
"Shinozaki has something wrong in the head and you know it, Kurokami" Said another boy. The boy behind Hideaki, known as Kurokami, ignore them and keep playing. "Just keep playing those dumb games, that's the only thing you are good for"
"... Whatever you said... At least I'm not part of the mindless sheeps" Kurokami whispers and keeps playing. Hideaki wants to ask him something but was bombarded with questions from the group.
"Let's not talk about that bully" Said a girl. "Tell us a little about you. Do you have brothers or sisters? Why did you transfer here?" Not only the girl ask but everyone did. Hideaki didn't want to talk with them. He wanted to be alone. He hates to be the center of attention so much it drives him crazy. He just wants silence and enjoy his lunch in peace. He didn't answer any question because they didn't give him the time to do so. He was about to yell when the door open and Kurumi appear again. When she did everyone shut up immediately. She walks to her desk and sits down. In her hands, she had a chocolate bar and a bottle of soda. A weird combination. She looks at Hideaki and the group but mostly at Hideaki. She knew... She knew that Hideaki didn't want to be surrounded by them and neither does she.
"... How long are you all going to stare at me? I'm not that pretty..." She said and Kurokami chuckle. "If you don't have something productive to do here then leave before I get mad... And I mean it" She said all of their classmates reluctantly return to their seats. Hideaki then looks at Kurumi and thank her in silence.
"Thanks... How did you know that... I want them to leave me alone?"
"I'm not stupid. I could tell you were about to burst... The shy ones are the first to blow up... I know that by experience" Kurumi answer and take a bite of her chocolate bar. "They are just curious, that's why they were surrounding you like a pack of wolfs in front of a prey. They want someone to be part of their group, if you are not with them, you are against them... But don't take it the wrong way. We are not friends and I won't do it again. You are alone on this so I wish you luck. Whatever you do next I don't care"
"Still... Thank you, Shinozaki-san" Hideaki thank her and Kurumi turn back to see Kurokami hiding his face behind his PSP.
"... You tell him my name, didn't you Mashiro!?"
"We-Well..." Mashiro Kurokami stutters a little.
"Shut up! I'll deal with you later..." Kurumi turns around to face the blackboard and keep eating her chocolate bar. Hideaki watch her eating in silence for a couple of seconds before taking his apple and eating. He found it really interesting that the one they all call bully help him out. He wasn't in any danger or anything by sitting next to her and that calm him down a little more... But with everything that's been going on in this city, it will be difficult for him to get used to this place... And what is yet to come.
(Antique Shop - Afternoon)
The main street of Kofu was almost empty. There was nobody around besides some adults going back home after buying ingredients for their dinner. In the main street, right in front of a "7 Eleven" and next to a clinic there was an antique shop. Inside it was a young woman with odd purple hair and obviously wasn't natural. Despite her odd hair color, she was wearing formal clothes, a white long sleeve shirt with a brown waistcoat and a black jacket resting in her shoulders, she had long black pants and polished black shoes. She was sitting at the cash desk while reading a newspaper. There was a cup of coffee on the desk half empty. Surprisingly enough, that shop was in town for a really long time. It belonged to her grandfather, then her father and know it belongs to her. It was a family business that she was proud being part of. What she didn't like about it was that she had to take care of the shop at her current age. She was still young, a 20-year-old girl owning an antique shop is a little weird. Then again, her family was labeled as the weird people in town, mainly because of her grandfather that was known to be both a liar and a crazy man, her father was no exception and she was a little too paranoid for her own good, but she had her reason for being like that.
The front door open and two police officers come in. She knew the older police officer, but the young one was new to her. She closes the newspaper and leaves it on top of the desk. She stands up and walks slowly to them to welcome them to her shop.
"Welcome officers. Were you by any chance looking for a piece of history or a mystical amulet? I have both and they are really interesting. What about a charm to attract the ladies?" She wink and the older cop raises an eyebrow at her.
"Drop the act, Kaede" Said Kenji Murata. "We are here to ask you something" Kenji Murata was an old friend of Kaede's father. After he died, Kaede took over the shop and Kenji help her out. He doesn't usually stop to see her, but when he does Kaede know it's something serious but she can't help but to joke. It was her way of saying she misses him. Kenji gives her a plastic bag with the label "Evidence". She looks at it and notices the black mask inside. "Do you by any chance know something about it? I remember your father had a mask just like this one" Kaede stare at the broken mask. It had the number 18 in it written on a roman number. She then looks at Kenji.
"Yeah... But it's not the same" She then points at the wall near the cash desk, it had a lot of mask hanging there and on top of all of them was the same mask but it was blue and the number was different. It had the number zero on it. "And I won't actually sell that mask. It was "Dad's trophy" so it will remain here" Kaede then look at the young officer. "Who's your partner?"
"My name is Rintaro Sadamoto. Please to meet you, umm, Kaede?" Rintaro asks, not knowing Kaede's full name.
"Reiho. I'm Kaede Reiho, owner of the antique shop" Kaede give him a handshake. "Anyway, Kenji. I've never seen this mask or even sold it. It exactly like Dad's but it had a different number in it. Dad's has the number zero, this one has eighteen on it so I don't know. Where did you find it anyway?"
"On Aokigahara. We were searching for a body and we found it" Kenji explain and Kaede looks at it closer. She then notices the black goo. She sighs and gives it back to Kenji. "I am so sorry, but I can't help you with this. You know that after a kilometer the whole forest is a death trap and on top of that there is those weird ghost stories and all that crap"
"That's because your grandfather manage to scare half of the town and make them believe that there is something in the forest"
"Well, who knows... Maybe there is something in there... This mask might be a proof of that" Kaede smirk. Kenji takes the bag and turns around. "Just be careful with what are you doing with that. You don't want to get cursed"
"Whatever you say, Kaede. Let's go Rintaro. Maybe there are fingerprints on this things. Take care Kaede, I'll come back later" He said and leave. Rintaro bows and then leave. Kaede saw them go and as soon she make sure they weren't coming back she closes the door and walks to the cash desk. Under it she had a big wooden box, she put it on top of the desk and open it. Inside there was a short shotgun and a katana alongside a white overcoat and a red mask resembling a human skull with the number thirteen on it writing with roman numbers. She looks up at her father's blue mask and sighs.
"... Why I thought this won't get worse than before, Dad?" She closes the box. "The Hunt is far from over yet..."
(Sundaikofu High School, Entrance - After School)
Hideaki found himself near the school gates. He saw all the student giving him weird looks, some of them were of sadness mixed with pity. He didn't want them to look at him like that. His wheelchair was causing that and he couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't avoid those stares, he wishes he could. He stays in front of the school gates, not knowing what to do. He can go back home now, but he wants to look around and get used to the place, he's going to live here for the next couple of years, maybe the rest of his life so he might as well know the city.
"... What should I do? I don't know where I'm even standing... I mean, sitting" He said. "Dammit, I hate this..." Shortly after, Hideaki saw Kurumi walking outside the school with Mashiro following her from behind. Mashiro Kurokami was focused on his PSP and Kurumi ignore him, they simply exchange nods and they went their separate ways when they reach the gates. Mashiro walk past Hideaki and Kurumi stand in the gate, waiting for something. She notices Hideaki looking at her and he looked away as soon they look each other eye to eye. Kurumi walks to him and crosses her arms, he could feel her stare so intensely that he couldn't avoid it anymore.
"What are you doing, Kiyohara?" She asks. "Waiting for someone?"
"Not really... I just don't know what to do, that's all... What about you?"
"Nothing... I might walk around and then go back home. I have nothing better to do" Kurumi walk away from him, she was about to leave when Hideaki stop her.
"Wait," He said and Kurumi stop for a brief moment, she didn't turn around to see him. "Thanks for today"
"You already thank me" She said.
"I know, it's just that... I found it really odd that the other students treat you like that, Why is that?"
"... Kiyohara, you want an advice?"
"..."
"Don't ask too many questions and more importantly, stay away from me. For your own good..." She said and walk away. Hideaki follows her with his eyes until she disappears from his view. He was intrigued by that girl but something tells him that she was dangerous. He didn't care, he was going to talk to her again and if it was true what she told him before then his classmates will either ignore him and leave him aside because he's starting to associate with Kurumi so he might as well know her better. Hideaki sighs and starts moving, he didn't know what to do so he did what Kurumi was going to do, walk around and see what he can actually do in his spare time.
(Police Station - After School)
Kenji Murata was sitting at his desk looking at the black mask, he couldn't help but think that Kaede was hiding something from him. He had the feeling that her whole family has a secret, a big secret but it was only a little bit of paranoia from him. He knew Kaede's father, they were close, not enough to be best friends but enough to know each other pretty well and even then he could tell that he was keeping quiet about something.
"You know something Kaede... Why are you lying to me?" He thought. "The broken mask is very similar to the blue mask in the Antique Store... Something is not right here... Then again, it might be a weird coincidence but maybe I have something going on right under my nose... And I'll found what it is"
(Main Street - After School)
Hideaki was moving through the main street, he was surrounded by a lot of shops that go from gift shops to flower shops, the street was almost empty, not a lot of people were walking around, only a couple of students and adults buying ingredients for dinner. Hideaki decides to look around when he saw his watch, it was too early to go back home. He saw the showcase of the shops, most of them show the most striking products to draw the attention of potential customers. Hideaki finds most of the shop pretty dull and unattractive, pretty normal nothing that draws his attention. Even the gift shop was a little dull and boring. Nothing catches his eyes until he gets past the "7 Eleven", in front of the convenience store he saw and Antique Shop. That place catches his attention like a sore thumb, it was out of place. The rest of the shops were of color white, blue or red while the Antique store was black with wood covering the walls and the name of the store "Reiho's Antique Store" made out of wood painted in white making it contrast with the black of the store, the showcase had a lot of old stuff, from clothes to weird masks. Hideaki gets closer to the showcase and saw the products before deciding to go in. He saw an old pistol, paintings, and even dolls, but those were a little creepy. He gulps and decides to check the place out. He opens the door and tries his best to maintain it open so he can go in. The owner of the place, a young woman, so he enters and helps him as soon she saw he was in a wheelchair. She keeps the door open so he can enter and close it behind him.
"Thanks" He said.
"Your welcome. What can I help you with?" She asks while smiling.
"Oh, I actually wanted to look at the place. I found it pretty striking from the outside compared with the other shops" He said. The owner like that compliment and smirk.
"Yeah, that was Grandpa's idea. He was a little crazy but everything he did had a motive. My name is Kaede Reiho, I'm the owner of the shop. If you find something you like, let me know" She then look at Hideaki's face and smile. "Are you new in town?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"Your face tells me everything. And the fact that you told me how striking is my shop from the outside tell me that you are not from around here. The Shop is pretty "infamous" so I don't really have customers, everyone that's not from around here ignores it" She poke one of the wheels with her foot. "Nice wheelchair. It's shiny"
"... Thanks?" Hideaki asks he didn't know if it was a compliment or not. "Aren't you... too young to own this place?"
"Actually I'm 20 years old, and when my Father die I own the place so... Here I am. Besides, I live here. My house is at the back of the store"
"Nice... I mean, not that your father die or anything, just... nice that you live in the shop" He said nervously and Kaede pat him on the shoulder.
"Take it easy. Look around, I'll be sitting at the cash desk if you see something let me know"
"Yeah, thanks" Hideaki look around the shop for a while and found a lot of interesting items, but he couldn't afford any of them. Not because they were expensive but because he didn't have enough money with him, he had enough to buy a snack or potato chips. He was planning on coming back later if he decided to buy something. He like the place, it was calm and quiet. His eyes turn to a wall full of masks and saw an odd blue mask on the top, the mask had the number zero on its forehead. Hideaki stares at that mask and asks Kaede about it. "How much for that mask?"
"That one is not for sale. It's just for show"
"I see..." Hideaki keeps staring at the mask, like if it was staring back at him. Kaede notices that.
"We have other masks if you want," She said.
"It's okay, I just wanted to know. Besides, I don't really have money know... I think I'll come back tomorrow. There are a lot of cool things here"
"I'm glad to hear that. Most people here don't like this place very much. It gets pretty lonely and boring. Please come back tomorrow, I'll be waiting"
"Sure... Can you open the door for me?"
"Oh! Sure thing" Kaede open the door for Hideaki and exit the shop. Kaede closes the door and looks at her watch, it was evening already. The sun was starting to hide and she flips the sign of the shop from Open to Close. "It's time to hunt..."
Hideaki look up and saw the sun hiding in the horizon, the moon was already visible in the sky. He stares at the moon at it was like it was looking back at him, like a giant eye, like if the moon has a mind of his own, a presence looking down at the world with unknown intentions. He blinked and ignore the moon, lately, he's been feeling pretty tired and more depressed than before, but he's trying his best to adapt. Hideaki then look at the 7 Eleven, he was a little hungry so he went to buy a little snack before going back home for the day. He enters and finds the place pretty much empty besides the cashier and some random customers. He moves his wheelchair, searching for something he could buy with the little amount of money he had with him. Hideaki ended up looking at the chocolate bars. It was the only thing that it was within his reach at the moment and the only thing he could buy. He extends his hand to reach it and at that exact moment another hand reach it. By accident, he touches the stranger's hand. He looks up and saw the owner of that hand, he was surprised to discover that Kurumi Shinozaki was right next to him. Kurumi was also surprised, looks like she didn't notice him at all when she reached for the chocolate bar. They look at each other's eyes and Hideaki retreat his hand, Kurumi took the chocolate bar but didn't stop there, she took five more and walk to the cashier. Hideaki took one bar and follow her to the cashier. Kurumi pays for her snacks and leave. Hideaki pay and follow her outside, she was outside of the store already eating one of the chocolate bars, Hideaki move next to her and Kurumi look at him.
"What do you want?" She asks.
"Nothing, it's just... didn't you buy too much chocolate?"
"Why do you care? I eat whatever I want" She said and look at the sky. The sun was already hidden in the horizon and the moon was right above them. "Why are you still here? I told you to stay away from me"
"I know... It's just that if it's true what you said before, then my classmates will put me aside too, aren't they?" Hideaki asks and Kurumi sigh. She didn't want to talk with him, for his own good but that didn't matter anymore.
"Look... This is how it works. Sundaikofu High School is basically a hive, the school is separated into three groups, the popular students, the average ones and the students with bad grades. They all stay in their groups and ignore each other. That's how it works. Then there's me who don't belong anywhere because I found it to be the stupidest thing I have come across in my life. Starting tomorrow you'll have to choose where do you want to end up... If not you'll end up like me and Kurokami. It's not really bad not being part of a group, it's really calm but they put it really difficult sometimes... And that's it, happy? You just had to transfer to the shittiest High School in Kofu"
"It is shitty... Not even my high school in Tokyo has this closed groups"
"Do yourself a favor and leave me alone, I had enough troubles with Kurokami wanting to hang out with me, I don't want another guy following me around"
"Why?... Don't you feel alone?"
"Not really. I don't care, I prefer to be alone than surrounded by fake and stupid people... I'm tired of all these persons that think they are better than me. I'll rather be alone" She said and Hideaki eats his chocolate bar. Kurumi sighs "... Why the hell I'm even talking to you?"
"Because I made a question and you were kind enough to answer... And because I think you want to let out your frustration"
"..."
"Listen, I don't care about those groups but if we are going to sit next to each other for the rest of the year we might as well get along, or at least pretend. What about you show me the school tomorrow. I want to know where the clubs are and my way around town. If you help me then I'll do whatever you want... I'll even buy you more chocolate" At the mention of the chocolate Kurumi stare at Hideaki. She sighs in frustration. She wanted to say no, but she was addicted to the chocolate and Hideaki could tell by the fact that she was already eating her third chocolate bar.
"Bring me two chocolate bars tomorrow and I'll show you around the school and even the town... Because I have nothing better to do"
"It's a Deal then" Hideaki extend his hand and Kurumi gives him a handshake.
"It's a Deal, Kiyohara"
"Call me Hide. It's easier"
"... Whatever" Kurumi end the handshake and turn around. "I'm leaving... Don't forget the chocolate or I'll get mad" She said and leave before Hideaki could say anything.
"... She's weird... But I found her weakness. Chocolate. It's kinda cute that the one people call bully like chocolate that much" He thought and decided to go back home. It was already dark outside. The moon was above him and the stars were visible in the sky. Hideaki didn't notice it at all, but the moon, little by little, turn red like if it was stained with blood and the stars disappear from the sky. The streets were lighted by the red moon and that makes Hideaki stop right in the middle of the street. At first, he notices that there was not a single person in the street, Hideaki look at his watch and it wasn't too late but the streets were completely empty, not to mention that the street was turning red. He decides to ignore that and go back as quickly as possible to his grandfather's house. It wasn't until he turns around the corner that he looks up at the odd phenomenon. The Red Moon was staring right at him, the starless night and the Red Moon was creeping him out. Hideaki stop staring at the Red Moon and shut his eyes, he then looks up again and the Red Moon was still there.
"Am I... hallucinating?" He thought. "What's this? Why is the moon red?" Hideaki was confused. Out of nowhere, everything around him felt wrong, he senses the smell of blood in the air and screams. He moves as fast as he could toward the scream he just hears. He arrives at the end of the street and saw a young man running away. The man tripped and fall to the ground, hitting his face in the pavement. Hideaki was about to help him when he saw something coming out of the shadows... A shadowy figure resembling a man with a black mask approach the man on the ground. The Shadow grab the man from the head and the Shadow enter the man's head through his ears, nose, and mouth, leaving behind the mask. The man yells while the Shadow makes his way to his head and when it finally enters the man's neck break and his eyes turn white. Hideaki didn't know what was happening, neither he wanted to stay and find out. He turns around and tries to leave but his wheels grin and that makes the man turn to Hideaki, despite having his neck broken. The man smiles and Hideaki and open his mouth, letting out the Shadow. The man falls to the ground, motionless. Hideaki speeds up and try to escape from that Shadow but it throws itself at him. Hideaki saw the Shadow's mask about to hit him, in a desperate move he throw himself to the side making the wheelchair falling with him, barely missing the Shadow. Hideaki then tries to crawl away but the Shadow grab him by the head. He could hear the Shadow laughing and instead of killing him like it did with the man, the Shadow throw Hideaki to the street, near the man's corpse. Hideaki tries to crawl away from the monster but he wasn't fast enough. He cursed his bad luck and yell.
"What the fuck is happening?!" He yells. "Get away from me!" He yells at the Shadow while crawling away, but the Shadow walk slowly to him. It was toying with him, toying with his prey. "This doesn't make any sense... Just now I was going back home but... This is it? No... It's a dream... Yeah, I'm dreaming... This is just a bad dream... Everything... Maybe I'll just wake up and find mom and dad alive... It was just a Nightmare... This is just a Nightmare..." He closes his eyes and hears a woman's voice, a familiar voice.
"It's not a Nightmare... This is reality" Hideaki open his eyes and found himself again in the Velvet Room. Igor was sitting at his desk, smiling, and Annabelle at his side. Hideaki looks down and saw his wheelchair. "This is Reality... the sooner you accept it the better" Said Annabelle. Hideaki shakes his head nervously and laugh.
"There's no way... This is real... I'm dreaming"
"It may take some time to fully comprehend, Young man. But do not fear... You have the power to avoid Death... Just close your eyes and accept the reality of your situation. Calm down, accept it and fight back..." Said Igor.
"Hehe... It's easy for you to say that... I can't even walk... I'm useless"
"Useless?" Annabelle asks and walks to him. "Is useless the man that choose the hardships of Life instead of Death? Is useless the man that despite not having the ability to walk decide to keep looking up at his future and try his best to rebuild his broken life? Is useless that man? The answer is no... You are a guest of the Velvet Room, you are far from useless" Annabelle snap her fingers and a white tarot card appears in her hands. "This is your future... Is white... Full of possibilities... Is up to you to shape your future and whatever you choose we'll follow you... But not death. You will not die here. You are not useless, this is reality and you will fight the evil that lurks in the dark. Isn't that right, Master?"
"I couldn't have said it better, Annabelle," Said Igor. "Now then... What will it be, Hideaki Kiyohara?" Hideaki closes his eyes and found himself back in reality. The Shadow was getting closer. He cursed and look at the monster in front of him.
"Dammit... This is real... This is reality then..." Hideaki hit the ground with his fist. "I will not die here... I refuse to accept my death right here! I want to live! Even if I have to make a deal with the devil... I will not die here!"
"... Very well... Young man..." Hideaki hears a voice inside his head and grabs it as soon it starts talking again. "You seek the power to survive, then let us form a pact" Hideaki yell because of the pain and in his right hand a mark was slowly appearing. "You lost your legs and your future was lost in the mist of uncertainty but do not fear... I will be your legs. I will guide you to your destination, to your future! I am Thou... Thou art I... Accept me! Accept yourself and call upon my name!" Hideaki's right hand was engulfed by a blue flame and a black tattoo appear in his hand. A black eight-legged horse with the roman number 14. Hideaki looks at the Shadow with hatred and raises his hand.
"Come... Sleipnir!" He yells and closes his hand in a fist as his body was engulfed by the flames. The Shadow jump back and Hideaki saw a Shadow over him. A dark eight-legged horse appears from the flames. It was covered in white shining armor and bull horns coming out of his head and red glowing eyes were staring at his enemy.
"I am the horse of the Gods, Sleipnir!" The horse yells and jumps in front of Hideaki, protecting him from the Shadow. The Shadow break its mask and turn into a completely different monster. It turns into a minotaur. "I will protect you and guide you to victory!"
"Sleipnir, destroy him!" Hideaki order and Sleipnir didn't hesitate, it obey and rode to its enemy...
What do you think of the first chapter so far? Let me know
