Title: Journey Home

Author: PreseatheKitsune (aka VGCG)

Summary: Humans, Magic Beings, and Demons all lived in harmony since the beginning, but soon, humans began to hate the other races for their abilities. Battles broke out, wars started, and somehow, humans became the ruling race. The Demons continued to fight and the Magis disappeared into hiding or else faced enslavement or experiments. This came to be known as the Great Shift. Centuries have passed, Demons and Magis are rare and the Humans are creating something to make sure they're gone for good.

Warnings/Rating: T for language, violence, and some sexual themes. Also, this story is AU (Alternate Universe) and it might become M.

Authors notes: "Talking", 'Thinking', Flashback, "Whispering","REALLY LOUD YELLING!"

Disclaimer: The Author doesn't own Persona 3 because it is copyright of Atlus.

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The Beginning: The Circus In Town

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Screams.

Smoke.

Flames.

Ashes.

Nothing but chaos, discord, and death surrounded him once more. His silver eyes were wide and his small, child-like body shaking as he looked at the burning house before him. His father, his mother and sister… why hadn't they come out? They… they couldn't be trapped, could they?

The house started to collapsed and the horror sunk in.

"MOM! DAD! MIKI!" he cried and ran forward towards the burning wreckage, but a hand grabbed his arm, "Aki! Don't! It's too late!"

"NO! It's not too late! I can still save them! Let me go!"

"Aki! Stop! We need to go, before they come back!"

"NO!"

"AKI! GOD DAMMIT!"

A pillow smashed into his face and he rolled out of bed as he struggled to throw it off. Akihiko Sanada hit the ground painfully, his sheets landing over him in a heap. He grumbled against the flooring and looked up, spotting his long-time, childhood friend Shinjiro standing over him, shaking his head, obviously annoyed, his sharp fangs flashing as he growled, "Dumb ass… we've been trying to wake you for the last 15 minutes… having that nightmare again?"

"Yeah," Akihiko replied dully, scratching his head, "And it's always the same… I have the feeling there's more to it, but you and Ken keep waking me up before I can find out."

"Not my fault you keep kicking off the sheets…" Shinjiro scoffed, "Get dressed. Its breakfast time…"

The sullen teen walked out, leaving his friend behind in his tangled mess.

Most would think that, at seventeen, Akihiko would be ready to move on and leave his new hometown, Tatsumi, behind. As a natural born fighter, he had muscles in all the right places; lean and well-toned… he could easily get by if he joined the military but he preferred living here until something came calling. Unfortunately, someone did, but not the way he hoped.

"AKIHIKO SANADA! GET YOU BEHIND DOWN HERE!"

"A-Ah! Hold on Aunt Yuki!" he exclaimed, tossing the sheets off himself and grabbing his clothes before rushing into the bathroom to change in peace.

oOoOoOo

"Honestly… that boy…" Aunt Yuki muttered, looking at her nephew as he sat quietly at the table next to Shinjiro, drinking his coffee. Ken tilted his head, "He had a hard time getting to bed last night, that's all Yuki…"

"Ken, please, I'm your Aunt so please call me as such …" Yuki lectured, waving her spoon at the young boy as she took a seat at the table. Ken simply rolled his eyes. So didn't call Yuki his 'Aunt' and add 'san' to the end of everyone's name, it was just how he was raised… his mother had taught him such before she died years ago and now, here he was, short with untidy brown hair and hazel eyes, drinking coffee. He looked into the mug for a moment before downing the remainder.

His Aunt was sick of the business though. Aunt Yuki was a kind woman and caretaker of Ken after his mother's passing. She had adopted Akihiko and Shinjiro after finding them wandering around without food or water in the middle of the nearby forest. Really, the two were lucky it was her than that Syndicate they had been hearing so much about lately.

At the sound of quick footsteps, Yuki looked and saw Akihiko barreled down the stairs at that second, fully dressed and grabbed the last empty seat. She hit Akihiko over the head with the spoon, earning a small 'ow'.

"Akihiko! How in the world are you going to get a girl if you keep dressing in that horrible red vest?" Yuki asked, waving her spoon at the teen, "I swear, you have better clothes, but you insist on that red vest… I'm just going to have to hide that thing one day…"

Akihiko just scratched his head and chuckled, "They don't seem to care what I wear Aunt Yuki… In fact, I wish this vest did scare girls… I mean…"

"He means they won't leave him alone," Ken said, taking a bite of his pancakes, "Same with Aragaki-san, but he glares at them after a while."

"Ken!"

"You brat... keep your mouth shut…"

Yuki smacked Shinjiro and Akihiko in the head this time, "Watch it you two…"

"Yes ma'am…" they muttered. Yuki smiled, sitting back in her chair. She suddenly drew out a small piece of paper, "Well, now that we're here and eating breakfast, it's time to talk about today's schedule."

"Shopping…" Shinjiro instantly said, raising a hand and chewing on his bacon. Akihiko opened his mouth to protest, but Yuki batted him in the head once more.

"Thank you Shinjiro dear…" Yuki said, smiling and handing the paper to Shinjiro, but then frowned, "Hats off at the table…"

"… dammit…" Shinjiro muttered and pulled his black beanie off. His unruly, dark brown hair covered his dark eyes and two curved horns appeared faintly under the mess. He looked over at Yuki, who smiled with approval, "We're all family here… and you're in the house, everyone in here knows… oh, that reminds me… While Shinjiro is shopping, Akihiko, you're taking Ken to that circus that came in a few days ago."

"But Yuki… I don't want…."

"AUNT Yuki…"

"… But Aunt Yuki, I don't want to go to the circus," Ken retorted, huffing, "The circus is for little kids."

"AND you ARE a little kid, twelve to be exact," Yuki said, shaking a finger at Ken, "You don't have any friends. In fact, you go out and criticize the world, AND you just hang out with these two! You need people your age!"

"… Shit…" Ken muttered. Yuki looked furious, her face turning scarlet, "What did you say, young man?!"

"N-nothing…" Ken stammered.

"First you hang out with them… and now you talk like them…" the woman sighed, shaking her hand and standing up. Her eyes sharpened into a glare, "You're still going to the circus and that's final! … Now, finish your breakfast and get going…"

oOoOoOo

It was a warm, spring day in the small town of Tatsumi, not a cloud in the clear, cerulean sky and the sun beat down upon the residents, its heat cooled by the occasional gust blowing through. The walk had been long since the house was on the outskirts of Tatsumi, but neither Akihiko nor Ken minded. They were use to the distance now. However, when they finally got in line, Akihiko couldn't believe that it would be this long… or so full of guys… It seemed a bit creepy…

"Sanada-san… is this circus an all female troupe?" Ken asked, noticing all the male figures waiting in line. Akihiko shook his head, "I think I saw the ringmaster the other day putting up poster at the town's bulletin board… he was a guy... a really old guy…"

"Ah…" Ken replied, looking up and down the line again before the ticket booth. After a few minutes, he spotted a couple, some little kids, a woman wearing a cloak… eh, that seemed strange for this kind of weather, but he shrugged it aside and faced forward just as the line moved again. Akihiko sighed, facing the booth, "Two tickets…"

"First time coming?" the booth master asked, smiling. Akihiko nodded after glancing around with a raised eyebrow. Did this guy ask everyone in line that question? The booth master just smiled, "I guess you don't know then. This circus is quite famous for their performances and exotic creatures… In fact… a young man like yourself might enjoy it and afterwards, the ringmaster would definitely like to have a word with you…"

Akihiko grabbed the tickets and backed up, freaked out even more and ushered Ken to move forward. Ken just laughed at the teen's distress as they moved forward into the enormous circus tent. A few performers were wondering around, some practicing, others, walking out of a back entrance. Ken looked unimpressed and very unamused, "Sanada-san… can't we leave and help Aragaki-san with shopping?"

"And then have Aunt Yuki find out we didn't come here?" Akihiko asked, alarmed, "She'll try setting me on a blind date again… and we all know how the last one went…"

Ken snickered, "I remember that one… definitely. Aragaki-san isn't going to let you live it down."

"Dammit, don't remind me…" Akihiko groaned, walking towards the stands. He didn't need to hear the story of how the girl had scared him half to death and he had 'accidentally' lost her in the forest. It wasn't his fault she had been so persistent…

Rattle…

"You sure you want this troublemaker?"

'Hushed whispers?' Akihiko thought, pausing in his step, 'It doesn't seem necessary at a circus…'

"I'm sure and shouldn't you be glad she'll be off your hands soon… I'll be back in a week and she better be ready then…"

"Well, in two days when I find the right one… yes, she should be ready."

"Hmm… you better be telling the truth… or else he will not be pleased."

Rattle…

"Stop moving girl! I assure you! In a week, you can collect her and everything else!"

"… Good…"

"Sanada-san… what are you doing?"

Akihiko jumped and pulled Ken aside, covering his mouth, "Shh…!"

They remained quiet; unaware they had left the crowd now filling the audience stands and hid, watching as an old man with a top hat walked past with a tall, cloaked figure. As soon as they were gone from sight and sound, Akihiko let out a sigh of relief. Ken wriggled out of his grasp, "Sanada-san, what was that about?"

The silver-haired teen didn't answer, looking around quickly before walking towards the origin of the sound. He frowned, his eyes falling upon a covered cage that was barely big enough for a tiger. Ken blinked, "Sanada-san… it's just one of the performing animals… I don't think…"

The young boy stopped talking, looking at the cage now with Akihiko.

Chains rattled, the sound slightly muffled by the cloth covering it. Ken and Akihiko were frozen; watching as the fabric rose and fell as though something was trying to reach passed it and the bars. The risen fabric rolled as whatever moved, reaching for the ground. Their eyes widened instantly as smooth, pale fingers touched the ground, feeling the surface. The figure obscured by the cloth was unaware of where they were, unable to see beyond the dark confides of the cage and only able to feel earth under their fingertips, shackles keeping them from reaching any further.

"Hey! What are you kids doing back here?!" a voice boomed, enraged. The fingers disappeared as Akihiko and Ken turned around, coming face to face with the old man. His eyes were leering at them with discontent, his face contorted in fury as he straightened his hat, "Get to your seats! You mustn't spy on the acts!"

"S-Sorry, my brother just started to wander off. He's never been to a circus and he doesn't understand some areas are off limits," Akihiko made up quickly. He was aware that Ken was boring holes into him, but it didn't matter. The old man's attention shifted to Ken. He snorted, "Well, make sure it doesn't happen again, little boy. You can't come backstage without permission."

"… I'm sorry ringmaster-san," Ken said through gritted teeth, "I should've listened to my older brother when he tried to stop me…"

"…Hmph…" the Ringmaster straightened his cap again, "Indeed. Now, run along and get to your seats. We're about to start."

"Right!" Akihiko said, ushering Ken away, "Sorry again!"

"I'm getting you for this later Sanada-san."

"I know, just keep moving…"

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Me: 2000 words…. Gah! (flops back) And the next chapters are to have 2000 also or more…

Picup: Good luck…

Me: (sighs) Oh well... Big thanks to my betaers and just so some people know, the more the merrier!