"Welcome, to the velvet room."
"What the hell...?" A young man blinked his blue eyes rapidly, looking all around the unfamiliar area. "Where am I?" he wondered. He looked around and found himself in a room that was blue from top to bottom. The walls, ceiling, floor, and even the chair he was sitting in were of the same color. In front of him was an older man with an unsettling grin and extremely long nose that was sitting behind a table. He ran his hand through his spiky, black hair, trying to calm himself.
"My name is Igor. The realm that you are in now is one that exists between dream and reality, a realm that only those who have or soon will enter a contract can access." He chuckled, creeping out the teen even more. "Now then, what is your name?" The man folded his hands underneath his chin, his eyes fixed the young man with an intent gaze.
Still confused, and somewhat nervous, the youth answered. "T-Tatsujo. Tatsujo Urutora..."
"I see." A deck of cards appeared in the elderly man hand. He shuffled them carefully, as if they would be easily damaged, then placed seven of them on the table. "Let's see what your future holds...please, pick a card."
Tatsujo was hesitant at first, but he flipped a random card.
"Ah." Igor held the card. "The moon, in the upright position. This card represents hesitation, and mystery. Now then, please pick another card. I'm sure you have many questions, but I assure you, this is very important."
Tatsujo turned over another card.
"Hm. The temperance arcana, in the upright position. This card symbolizes synthesis, harmony, and the merging of opposites. It seems you will be involved in a mystery in your future. And along the way, you will bring fourth a unification of sorts." He chuckled again. "It seems our time is up for now, the next time we meet, you will have learned about your contract." With that, Tatsujo's vision began to darken.
"Hey! Wai...
"...ey...ujo...Tatsujo!"
"Huh?!" The teen jolted up. " I-I'm up!" He looked around. He was back in the front passengerseat of his older sister, Midori's car. His luggage was still in the back. He hoped none of his more fragile belongings got shaken up durning the ride.
The female next to him laughed, merrily. She was in her early twenties, tall, thin, with tanned skin like Tatsujo, and black, shoulder-length hair. "Seriously, lil' bro?" She poked him with her free hand. "Bad dream, Tatsu-kun?"
He looked down, blushing in embarrassment of his childhood nickname. "Midori..."
She smiled. "We're here."
Tatsujo looked out the window. Inaba. He had finally made it. It was a bit on the small side, and a lot more quiet than where he used to live, but this was home from this point forward. Outside, there were few cars around. The few people that were out at this time of day were either walking or riding a bike. Soon, Midori pulled into a gas station.
"Gotta fill up the tank, then go to the ladies's room." Midori turned to her brother, half concerned. "You okay?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Just thinking..." Between his odd and somewhat ominous dream and his new life in Inaba, he hoped he could make a good first impression. The last thing he needed was to look like a idiot who no one would take seriously. That was both his worst fear, and most infuriating offense.
"Wanna take a quick walk, get a feel for the place?" The older sister offered. " I'll call you when I'm ready."
"'kay." He opened the car door and did a quick stretch. After closing the door, he walked up the street, noting the buildings he passed. A library, a strange looking place with samurai armor propped up front with a very angry looking man inside, a t-
"Oops!"
"Ah!" Tatsujo looked to the person he bumped into. "Sorry, sir. I wasn't paying attention."
"Heh, no harm done." The slightly older gentleman assured, with a smirk on his pale face. He noticed Tatsujo's uniform. "Yasogami, huh?"
"Uh, yeah." Tatsujo's nervousness began to ease, though he did notice the bandage on the older man's face and was curious about it.. "Second year. Just transferred."
"Well, guess that makes me your sempai. Name's Akihiko Sanada." He holds out his gloved hand. "Hope you get to like it around here."
Tatsujo smiles and shakes it. Though, glad that he's made some form of a friend already, he didn't expect him to be so strong. Akihiko shook the boy's hand with an iron grip!. "Heh..Thanks. I'm sure I will."
Akihiko then walks off after patting Tatsujo on the shoulder. "See ya at school then."
"Yeah..." Tatsujo then looked ahead for a brief moment, his hands in his pockets. "Pretty quiet place..." He mused. "Definitely a contrast to Suma-" Something in the corner of his vision caught his attention. A blue butterfly. "Huh...?"
The insect flew around him, as if observing the young man. It's brilliant blue wings fluttered gracefully, and for a brief moment, Tatsujo was mesmerized by it.
"Are you...?" Tatsujo was interrupted by his cellphone. Midori. "Sis?"
"I'm ready. Let's go." The muffled sound of her car starting was briefly heard through the phone.
"Alright, sis. On my way." He hung up. When he looked up, the butterfly was nowhere to be seen. However, having enough with supernatural crap for the day, Tatsujo left the area to return to his sister.
The ride after that was relatively short. Midori's house, Tatsujo's new home, was a slightly, above standard house. And it conveniently was located a few blocks away from the local shopping mall, Junes. After bringing his luggage into his room, which was thankfully, fairly spacious, Tatsujo looked around. Large bed, big enough closet, and a flatscreen standing atop a wooden dresser.
Midori walked in. "Like it?"
"Love it." Tatsujo smiled warmly and embraced his sister. "Thanks sis."
"No problem...Tatsu-kun." A mischievous grin made it's way across the older woman's face
"Uuuugh..."