Well, this took a while. So... this intro is going to be long because I have somethings I have to explain. Please read through this. It's somewhat important.

So, this is a re-write of my previous story, Demon Ears. I was getting some reviews for it recently, promoting me to re-read some chapters to remember what the hell they were talking about. What I found was a complete and utter mess of plot holes and grammar errors.

So I'm fixing all that.

So here's what's going to change, at least, everything I can think of... If you don't know what I'm talking about because you didn't read the original, then either read some of that, or don't and pretend I never said any of this.

The Shadow Selves will normally refer to themselves as 'we' almost as though this is freaking Anthem. They say 'you' if they are directing talking to their person, and then use 'I' to distinguish that though they are one and the same, they are currently two separate entities. You'll see.

The characters will have their animals set from the beginning. So no cat phase.

Most of the Social Link's won't be here. Some of the more humorous moments will be there, but otherwise, no.

Any of the OCs that I threw into this story to spice it up will still appear, but I aim to give them some more life.

Chapter 1

(Not long after Yu started to settle down in Inaba…)

(Wednesday) (21st)

He was told by that Chie girl to watch what was known as the Midnight Channel. He didn't particularly want to, but something about it intriguing to him, sparked an interest in him that he didn't even know that he had. He promised himself that he would cut off his communications with the two he had met that day after he did so. He didn't want to get attached to them like a lot of people that he had met while he had first started bouncing around because of his parents. It was too painful.

As he stared at the screen of his tiny TV, the sound of rain splattering against the window attached to the side of his room, the clock struck 12. What Yu saw when the blank screen lit up like it was said it would, however, was far from what he had expected.

It was him. Yu stared at the TV him, and it seemed to stare back, even though it was looking at the ground. Yu felt that the other him was staring into his soul, knowing the pain that he had been through. Its eyes were blank, from what Yu could tell, considering his hair hid most of his eyes, although he swore he saw yellow. Dried blood ran down his face, almost like it was because he tried to claw his eyes out, possibly to not have to see something that he didn't want to see. The other him still seemed to have sight however, showing that he had failed his attempt. Yu couldn't help but shiver, frightened.

The other him started to speak, "We're so lonely, but we're too afraid to get close to anyone. We're afraid to make friends. We don't know what we're doing anymore."

Yu gazed at the other him. He didn't like to admit it, but the TV him that somehow knew that about him was correct. He was constantly bounced around because of his parents work, and for some reason, never went to the same school twice. Any friends that he made while there forgot about him in a week, no matter how long he had spent there or how closely they bonded. Eventually, Yu gave up, disconnecting from the people around him, preferring to study, nothing more. As such, he was well ahead of all of the classes he went to, but was now bored as a result because he refused to move to the higher levels because that would be too much of a pain, and refusing to make friends to avoid what he deemed as 'unnecessary' heartache later on.

Yu felt that he was in a rut that was seemingly impossible to get out of. The world was a cold place without friends, but he didn't want to make any, as he would just inevitably lose them later. As he looked at the other's bloodied face, Yu started to feel that it represented it. He didn't want to face a reality where he was friendless, but he continued to push away potential friends. It was like the other's attempt to rid himself of his eyes. He tried to get rid of the need of eyesight (Yu's need for at least one friend), but he didn't have the courage to do so; unconsciously knowing that he would be dying on the inside for the rest of his life if he managed it.

Yu started to want to talk to the TV him, see what had happened to make him so downcast. He reached out to his TV, his palm passing through the cold screen of the TV. Finding that his whole body wouldn't fit, Yu walked downstairs to the larger TV there. He stepped inside without a thought crossing his mind that it was a bad idea.

He would later blame it on him just being tired.

Inside of the TV world that Yu had fallen into, he found himself sitting in a blank space, covered up by a yellowish fog. Standing in front of him was the TV self that he had seen a minute ago upstairs.

"Do you admit it?" The other him asked Yu, staring off into the distance.

It confused him why the other him asked that, and what he meant, so Yu answered, "Excuse me? Do you mean that I'm lonely, but won't do anything about it because that would cause worse pain when I leave? It's kind of hard not to."

"That is indeed what we meant," the other answered. "I am you, representing the things that we don't want to see, or just plain refuse to believe. Call me your 'Shadow', if you will."

"Why did you appear on the TV when I was testing out that Midnight Channel thing?" Yu asked his 'Shadow.'

"That is what the Channel is about really, helping the people realize what is wrong with them. Not that they could ever figure it out," the Shadow chuckled at that. "Accepting us Shadows is always an impressive feat; most people have a hard time facing the things that they hide away. However anyone that can, will almost always be able to turn their situation around. With the powers that you will obtain from this world, and me, you will surely gain friends that will not just simply forget about you like you're nothing more than an unwanted kidney stone."

The Shadow smiled warmly, and then the smile slipped away into a frown. "The thing is that if you cannot accept what the Shadow is telling you, you'll die, it will go into a rampage. I want you to do something for me, Yu Narukami, my other self." Yu looked at his Shadow in confusion. "Accepting your Shadow may be a fine thing to do, but if at all possible, make sure no one else enters this world. Hiding our new powers will be difficult, but something tells me that you don't want to be dragged off to a secret lab far away to be dissected. Nor anyone else."

Yu smiled and laughed. "Of course, and if anyone else does comes inside anyway, I will ensure that their Shadows will not kill them." His Shadow smiled as he looked at Yu, the blood on his face disappearing, as he started floating off the ground. For a second, he transformed into what appeared to be a warrior, with a polearm weapon clutched in his hand. He then turned into a small glowing ball, floating into Yu's chest. Yu then blacked out as a large amount of pain overtook him.

Naoto had been walking down the street by the river, tired. She had worked past midnight, and was about to fall over. Looking over at the river, she saw something through the developing fog and rain that shocked her. There was a boy lying there, unconscious, something bright shining like a beacon at the top of his head. Her previous lack of energy forgotten, she rushed over, stopping a few feet away, finding glowing dog-like ears onto of his head.

Looking at the teen, she realized that he was Dojima's nephew, who she had seen once while he was out wandering the town before going to his uncle's house for the first time. Pulling out her cell, she called up Dojima at his home. After a bit, he picked up, sounding very annoying as he growled, "What do you want, it's after midnight!"

"I'm sorry, Dojima-san, but are you aware that your nephew is currently lying by the river, with glowing dog-like ears on his head?"

"Who is this?!" Dojima snarled quietly, trying not to wake up his kid. "What kind of prank are you trying to pull?"

"Dojima-san, it's me, Naoto Shirogane." She heard Dojima sighed. "I'm not kidding, your nephew has silver hair, correct?" She heard Dojima suck in breath. "He is lying by the river, and I don't think these ears are fake."

"Alright, keep an eye on him, I'll come see." Dojima said, preparing to hang up.

"Right, also, you might want to beware the fog. It's getting really thick." Dojima sighed and hung up.

Naoto stared at the ears that occasionally twitched while she waited. They were a rainbow of colors with a tie dye pattern. She took a couple steps forward, and cautiously crouched down, fully prepared to jump away if he suddenly got up and tried to strange her. It wasn't likely, but you could never be too careful. Slowly she extended her index finger. She lightly poked one of the glowing 'things' atop Yu's head, and it jerked, startling her, making her back away a little. Mustering her courage, she started lightly pulling at the ear that she had poked. It didn't come off, so it had to be real, attached to his head. Yu's expression turned to one of discomfort at the pulling.

Backing away, Naoto heard a voice call out. "Shirogane, where are you?"

Naoto looking in the direction that the voice had come from, surprised that Dojima had come that fast. "Dojima-san? Over here!" She moved out of the way of the ear's glow, and Dojima was over in a couple seconds, panting.

He gasped as he got a good look at the ears. "Are you sure that these aren't fake or something?"

"I tried to pull them off. Unless he used superglue to ensure that they stayed on his head, which I highly doubt, then they're real alright. Plus, they twitch. That's not normal, last I checked," Naoto answered. "What are we going to do?"

"I guess he'll have to wear a hat at all times, not taking it off unless he is sleeping or alone. No one is to know about this except you, me, and him, alright?" Dojima answered. He held out his hand. "We have to get him back to my house. Give me your hat." Naoto raised an eyebrow, wanting to question the point, but knew that she shouldn't challenge her superior's judgment, so she did so without a complaint.

Luckily they managed to get home without someone seeing them. When they got home, Nanako was standing there, looking at them in confusion. Naoto looked over at Dojima, silently asking whether they should tell her. He shook his head in a 'no.' "Not yet, if they are there in the morning, then we will," he whispered.

"Daddy," Nanako started. "Where did you go? What happened to Yu-kun?" She looked at Naoto. "Who are you?"

"Those questions will be answered tomorrow; more like today, since it is after midnight, now go to sleep." Nanako sighed and returned to her room. "I want to know what you were doing out after midnight, you know," He said, turning to Naoto. Naoto lifted her hat off of Yu's head, placing it back on her own, not responding. "You know, I don't think that you'll be getting home. One way or other you will be coming back, so why don't you stay?" Naoto's expression changed to one of slight shock as Dojima took off his shoes, finally realizing that Yu was in the clothes that he had been wearing upon going to bed that night, lack of shoes included.

He returned Yu to his room, and gave Naoto some blankets as she settled onto the couch. Dojima was asleep on his feet when he returned to his bed, plopping down and drifting away into sleep.

This chapter remained relatively the same, but there wasn't much to change, other than some dialogue and the description of the ears. The other chapters will change more things than this, and will be worth reading much more.

By the way, if you would be so kind, please leave a review or something that tells me what this story should be named. Spirits! doesn't quite cut it.