Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Persona 4 is owned by Atlus this is simply fan work.
Author's note: The first half of this chapter is the velvet room..long and tedious as it is. Feel free to skip to line break if you don't feel like reading all this.
He felt as if he had awaken somewhere.. Was he awake? Everything seemed foggy and dream like.. He heard the quiet hum of an engine and the crunch of gravel underneath rolling tires. He saw a pair of headlights coming in front of him, and slowly made out a limo that pulled In from of him. He was unsure what to do when suddenly the door
Opened to him... He didn't know why but he decided to go in. He stepped into a blue interior with a man with a long nose and a very mature, yet young woman with blonde hair sitting to the left facing the wall of the limo. The man looked up at Yu.
"Welcome. To the velvet room." The strange man smiled at him "ahh... It seems we have guest with an intriguing destiny" he said to himself more then to Yu with a chuckle he continued "My name Igor... I am delighted to make your acquaintance" Yu nodded.. But continued to look around "this place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter...it is a room that only those who are bound by a "contract" may enter...in fact, it may be that such a fate awaits you in the near future" Igor concluded.
Yu's mind was spinning at all of this and yet he felt calm as if it was exactly where he needed to be, Igor chuckled as if knowing what he was thinking.
"Well then... Why don't you introduce yourself?" Igor cocked an eyebrow him
"My name, is Narukami...Yu Narukami." Yu said calmly "hmm. I see." Igor stated rather blandly compared to his initial excitement, as he began to shuffle a deck of cards
" now, lets take a look into your future, shall we?" With a swipe over the small table the cards spread out across it. "Do you believe in fortune telling?" he asked "each reading is done with the same cards, yet the result is always different...life itself follows the same principles doesn't it?" Igor said with a chuckle as he waved his hand across the table and card turned over "ahh the tower in the upright position represents the immediate future. It seems a terrible catastrophe is imminent" he waved his hand as the next card turned over "the moon in the upright position which represents hesitation and mystery... Very interesting indeed, it seems you will encounter a misfortune at your destination, and a great mystery will be imposed upon you. And in the coming days you will enter into a contract of some sort, after which you will return here... This coming year is a turning point in your destiny.. If the mystery goes unsolved your future may be forever lost."
Yu felt a pit in his stomach at those words.
"My duty" Igor continued "is to provide assistance to our guests to ensure that does not happen." Igor stated simply.
"I...I'm not sure I understand" Yu said cautiously, his mind still not able to grasp everything that was happening. This can't be real...but I am here and I am breathing, this is no dream but...
"ah, I have neglected to introduce you to my assistant" cutting his thoughts off, he looked at the woman who had been so calm. the woman calmly looked over with a book in her lap
"my name is Margaret and I am here to accompany you through your journey." Yu nodded in acknowledgment
"we shall continue with the details later. Until then, farewell." Igor said with a smile."
Yu snapped awake to his phone vibrating in his pocket "what the..." He mumbled feeling the gentle bounce of the tracks. He pulled out his phone...ah. it was a text from his uncle "meet us at Yasoinoba station at 4" putting his phone into his pocket a voice came over the speaker "those heading to Inaba please go to the other side of the station crap..how long was I...asle...nevermind trying to push what just happened out of his mind. He stood up and stretching his arms as he grabbed his bag from the compartment he noticed people were moving around getting ready for the train to stop. The train began rolling to a stop. He walked over to the door and waited as they opened, allowing the fresh air to enter his lungs. Only a couple more hours to go... he groaned to him self. He quickly made his way to the other side of the station to enter the soon to bedeparting train.
He found a quiet spot, this train had much fewer occupants compared to the last.. must not be a lot of people going to Inaba a bitter chuckle creeping out.
The train ride went quicker then he expected despite his slightly sour attitude he soon saw the small town come into view... "It's so green here" he thought to himself as looked out the window looking over the town ! suddenly the image if the velvet room shot through his brain like a electricity bolt, he cringed and grabbing his head with his hand. "Are you OK sir?" One of the train's stewards asked peering at him curiously. "Ya.. Ya I'm OK, just a long day. Thank you" she smiled and continued on.. Did that really happen?
"Yukiko!" She heard her mothers voice call to her.
"Coming mother!" She quickly responded as she gathered the rags she had been using to clean the guest room she was in. She hurried down the hall in the the main lobby she smiled as she saw her mom standing there in her Regular deep red kimono, her mother returned the smile
"hey sweetie, do you mind running and grabbing some tofu for the chefs tonight? You look like you could use a break." She said looking at her daughter
"of course mom." Yukiko said sincerely
she couldn't help but realize how beautiful her mom was despite running an inn and all the stresses that entails she still had such a youthful glow about her. She watched as the inn staff busily moved around cleaning and escorting guests to their rooms. Welcoming the chance to leave she opened the door to leave the inn and was met by the warm sun on her face. She took a deep breath and started the walk to the tofu shop in the shopping district "Phew!" she let out a sign it's sooo humid today...it's probably going to rain tonight.. she quickly made her way to bus stop just as it pulled up she squeezed in quickly and searched spot to sit alone noticing a couple boys checking her out..ughhh she quickly moved to the back of the bus as it started rolling finding an empty seat to take.
Her thoughts began to wander I wonder when this transfer student will get here her mind getting a little excited about the new person.. She felt her self begin to daydream a little..imaging a handsome new transfer student, smart...funny able to make her forget it all. Letting out a small sigh she leaned back.. What's wrong with me..thinking like this she said shaking her head.
"Hey! Over here!" Yu heard a man's voice call to him from off the steps of the station. He looked down to see a man in his forties with a very young girl in a white dress with a pink over shirt on, her hair in pigtails. She looked very nervous. The man smiled at him
"you're even more handsome then your photo" he said as Yu walked towards the two. Yu chuckled a little
"well thank you sir" he reached out his hand and shook the mans hand "I'm Ryoto Dojima" his uncle said he was wearing a button up shirt with the top button undone and his tie hanging loosely. Yu smiled "it's been a long time uncle" Dojima let out a laugh
"ya! I remember you when you were in diapers." He said still chuckling "this is My daughter Nanako" he said placing his hand on her head "say hello Nanako" she looked down at her feet and nervously fidgeted with her hands a quiet "...'lo" creeping out before she ran around hiding behind her dad Yu could only smile as he saw his cousin so nervous at his arrival "Is she normally this shy?" Yu asked a little teasingly Dojima smiled, obviously getting a kick out of it started laughing "what's wrong? Are you embarrassed?" She frowned and tried to hit her dad on the back "owww!" Dojima said laughing "I'm sorry." Yu laughed with him at the response feisty little one! He had to admit...it was nice to see such interaction between father and child. Dojima looked up
"well, you ready?" Yu nodded
"yes, thank you" he leaned down to grab his bags as a paper flew out of his coat, he noticed a girl with a blue cap and striped stockings walking towards him. He gave her a friendly smile and started walking towards his uncle car. "Hey." He heard behind him. He quickly turned around to see them same girl "you dropped this" he looked down at the paper she was holding, it was his uncles address."thank you" he said reaching out to grab it.
"Whatever,... it was no big deal" she said coldly as she quickly continued on her way.
"Hey!" He uncle called "you coming?" snapping Yu's attention from the girl. "S-sorry" He walked over to the car and quickly put his things in the car before sitting in the back. He looked up front to see his cousin looking nervously at him, he gave her a friendly smile and she quickly hid her face from him. His smile dissipated
"thank you again" Yu spoke up Dojima's eyes meeting his through the rear view mirror, he cocked his head smiling "for what?" Yu looked out the car window
"for giving me a place to stay. It means a lot" Dojima just smiled
"well of course, we are family right Nanako?" She just blushed and made a small noise. "Ahh, looks like we need some gas. Mind if we stop at the station? I know you must be tired" Dojima added
"no," Yu shook his head "not at all"
The small family pulled into a little gas station. In fact from the looks of it, it may be the only gas station! Yu thought to him self. This town really is smaller then he remembered or was used too. He felt the car come to a stop and let him self out into the warm breeze. It was awfully humid he thought to himself undoing the top two buttons of his button up. He zipper open is jacket to let it breathe more freely. He noticed Dojima was taking to the gas station clerk telling him to fill it up. He looked over across the street to see a young woman in a pink kimono. That can't be comfortable in this weather he thought to himself... but he couldn't stop staring, she was beautiful. Yu had always had a lot of attention from girls but something about her was different..he noticed she looked over in his direction..quickly averting his eyes. He jumped back a little as the clerk was standing right next to him, the clerk smiled "are you in high school?" Yu nodded "Uh...yes, I'm a 2nd year. I just transferred here from Kyoto"
"Oh so you're from the city hu? Moving to a small town like this you are going to go insane." The clerk laughed with pity " either you'll spend your time hanging out with friends or working part time jobs... speaking of which we have an opening, what do you think?" The clerk asked placing his hand in front Yu. Yu shook his head and returned the shake "thanks, but I need to figure out my..." He felt a strange jolt in his head like on the train...he quickly recollected his thought and smiled " sorry, my schedule." the clerk smiled and let go of his hand, leaving Yu feeling extremely dizzy and lightheaded. "ah well ok, give it some thought ok?" Yu nodded.. He still felt terrible.. He put is hand on his temple to try and massage the pain out. He heard the soft small steps of his cousin. he opened his eyes to see little Nanako looking up at him. "A-are you ok? You look sick" she said shyly
"ya you don't look so good" Dojima said coming back. Yu shook his head
"I'm ok, must just be the long day." He gave a weak smile.
"Well regardless lets get home" Dojima said Yu nodded in agreement as he got in his uncles car.
The bus came to a stop as she stood up and walked past the few remaining passengers she heard the same two boys whisper "Thats the Amagi girl..." one said quickly
"Ahh the Amagi Challenge hu?" the other replied as she quickly hurried out of the bus onto the street. She stretched a little and began walking as she saw a small silver car drive up to the gas station she didn't pay much attention as she continued and rounded the corner until she saw in the corner of her eyes a tall young man with silver hair in a silver button up and black jacket over it. He was talking to the gas station worker and noticed him flinch and bring his hand to his head... Even from a distance he looked pale. But she didn't recognize him... But something about him kept her staring. He WAS attractive but.. "Ah!" She said bumping into a girl in striped stockings "o-o-oh! So sorry!" but the girl hardly noticed her.. She was starring at the same young man muttering "where do I know him from..." Yukiko realized she wasn't going to respond... quickly looked away and kept walking as she saw the small sliver car pass her she tried so sneak a peak from the corner of her eyes but to no avail. Her mind started drifting away again I wonder... she said thinking about the boy if he's the transfer student Her hopes rising a little bit at the thought. Ugh who am I kidding! She shook her head again I don't have time for that...Yes I can't let my self get selfish when there is so much that needs to be done at inn she nodded to her self...and yet it still ate at her.