#2 Naked Truth

I remember... my name is Minato Arisato.

I remember... it was the 31st of January 2010.

I floated to the skies; I met Nyx... alone... I met her; the undefeatable with the power of Universe in my hand.

I stared at her straight in the eye. Then, when I was about to seal her.

It was all black.

Am I... failed?

Seconds later I found myself on the top of Tartarus.

"Everyone?" I panicky woke up as my eyes searching to all direction wildly. "EVERYONE! WHERE ARE YOU! SOMEBODY, ANSWER ME!" I coughed as my throat parched badly.

It was all... silence... nothing heard... not even the wind... I thought I was dead.

"HEEEEY!" I was desperately scream some more, but there was still no answers. "Alright... gotta calm down and think." I tried to think, but the images of my friends, the images of Nyx and the possibility I failed to seal her was killing me.

I staggered and collapsed... stared blankly to the skies... not even the moon, not Even Nyx was up there.

I am all alone.

"The hell... I gotta do something" I got up and walked to find stairs or access points, but nothing was found. "Strange... Ugh... I hate to do this, but I have no other way." I walked to the edge of the top of Tartarus and looked down. At that very moment I realized something...

There... on top of Tartarus... a young man was squeaky-clean-naked...

that's me.

"NOOOOOOOO!"

My voice echoed through the dark hour, now I feel all cold and numb. "Okay... at least I am alive, gotta get down here and find out what have happened." I muttered clattering my teeth. I was seriously freezing.

I tried to call a name in my mind. "Orpheus?"

"Master?" a very familiar voice rang in my head.

"Thank goodness! Uh... Orpheus, I am still alive, am I?"

"Sure, Master. Don't worry, we are alive."

"Do I still have you guys within me?"

Then I heard many voices of all my personas in my head. "We are here... we will always be here... You'll never walk alone." Somehow, I felt like I was among Liverpool supporters.

Then I feel calmed and secured. "Thanks guys!" I lift my face and smile "Let's survive this!"

Various voices rang in reply "Yes. Together!"

Then I clenched my fists and run to the edge of the top of Tartarus and jumped. In the midst free fall, violent wind struck me wildly, I feel panic and adrenaline clouded my head as I see how far was my distance to the ground.

"Messiah!" I felt gentle hands around my shoulders and mildly landed on the ground. I don't want to make a big hole in the shape of my body on the school ground anyway. I snatched tree branches nearby and pile them and casted Agi on it to make bonfire. I was planning to wait the dark hour ends. NAKED!

A sudden thought flashed in my mind. The Velvet Room! I was hoping that Igor and Elizabeth could explain things to me. I didn't even care to enter that room naked as long as I had my answers. I ran toward the entrance only to find that Velvet Room was nowhere to be found.

"What the hell is happening to me?"

Soon after the dark hour ended, I casted Bufu to the bonfire and hid myself at the east side of Gekkoukan. I kept silent to catch any movements other than mine, and then moved toward the entrance. I noticed a padlock locking between the front doors, I casted Power Charge and managed to crush the padlock without loud noise. Slowly sneaked in, I checked students' lockers to find anything to wear.

"Ugh... I am a thief now eh..."

I forcefully opened my locker but found nothing, "How come?!" Then I decided to snatch any suitable shoes nearby and found Gekkoukan jersey along with track pants. "Sorry guys..." Before got out I checked the vicinity once more and jog out of the school ground. Yes! Jogging! In the middle of the night!

I decided to go to the back alley located in Paulownia to find the other door of Velvet Room. The road to Paulownia Mall was quite lively, I noticed that some stores and houses indicated activities. Soon after I arrived to the back alley and found... Nothing. "I am doomed."

I ran to the Police Station, but Officer Kurosawa was nowhere to be found, so I continued to walk toward Aohige Pharmacy, the only open store at the time, and barged in.

"Whoa-whoa-whoa... Easy, kid! Are you hurt or something? You look awful."

"S-Sorry, sir! *gasp* *gasp* Uh... may I know what date is today?!"

"It's already 12.23 in the morning, so... it's the 1st March."

"2010?"

"Heh, funny kid! Are you drunk or sumtin'?! It's 2009."

"Uh... wait, what!?"

"Hahaha... you got me there! So you're tellin' me that you're from the future?! You made my day kid." The Aohige owner was laughing heartily. I was dumbstruck and confused. I Stood there with my aching head.

"What is going on?" I sighed desperately. "Sorry for the trouble, sir." I nodded at him and stepped outside. Suddenly...

"Hey, Kid! You seem troubled... a big one. Feel free to use the couch; you may stay here for the night. And... here!" He threw me a bottle of water. Is he... a psychic or something?

"I do really appreciate it, sir!" I bowed deeply at him, he just laughed with concerned look in his eyes. I owed him a lot. "I promise to leave by tomorrow morning." I bowed some more.

"I never met a youngster like you, Sonny. The kids around here? They are all act big. Guess you're not from here eh?!" I decided to sit down on the couch and listen to the sudden talkativeness of Aohige owner. We talked about things around the town; rumors, news, apathy syndrome, mysterious accidents and more. While listened to him, I can't help but thinking about the others... Thinking about SEES... About our promises, my decision and the Seal.

Am I...

Really...

Failed?

I wanna cry.

Up Next: #3 Nameless