Hey guys, Daniel Wilks here. I apologize for the lateness of this chapter. I really thought I would get this done sooner but... it didn't work out so well. My old computer finally gave out. Yup, it's dead. All the data on that one, including the new chapter was... gone. But, I was able to re-write it, with few changes, of course. It won't be a problem anymore, thank goodness, with a new computer here and all, and I'm dead set on getting you guys more chapters and a quicker pace. So, please, show support by reviewing and following this story, since with the people who's been taking the time into reading this, I salute you all. Now, enough of that, lets get to it!

When Yohane entered the dorm, bags in tow, he was surprised.

Instead of a small entrance hallway, it was a large recreational space. The room was like a hotel, with a small area that held a desk made from wood that looked like it was made from mahogany, with the mail slots and individual room keys hanging from hooks. The front room was already preoccupied. Even though some other students were milling around, there was only one person that Yohane recognized. On the couch, flipping through the channels on the TV was Reiji, the boy he talked to on the bus ride. He looked up as Yohane stepped through.

"Oh! Hey dude!" He said, "You came just in time!"

"In time for what?" Yohane asked as he set down his luggage.

"In time for... Well, I don't know what. But, at least all of the dorm members are here, I think!" Reiji motioned to the other side of the large room, were… Were three other students his age were just sitting there, looking uncomfortable as can be, while a lone female student was leaning against the wall, nodding her head as her clunky headphones blared.

A student, a male one with dyed blue hair that covered one eye looked up when he entered. He looked tall, but that must've been because of his well-built muscles. He wore a sleeveless shirt with the Japanese rising sun on it under his uniform jacket, which he didn't zip up.

"Whaddya lookin' at, punk?" He snarled.

Yohane was taken aback by the sudden sense that he was not welcome here, as the student's brown eye stared at him menacingly. Another student, a female, with curled short hair who wore a hairpin in her hair coughed. She had a slender figure, with the wool blue grey button down jacket and a grey skirt that was Ichigami's uniform for females, complete with the sigma patch on the right breast, and black stockings with leather loafers. She coughed, and the student turned to her, eyes still intimidating. "

Excuse me," The female student started to say, "But I don't think you should-"

"What?" The fist student asked, "You his girlfriend or something?"

The female student cowered back, the look in her face complete terror. The other female student noticed this and took off her headphones, clicking the off button while doing so and glaring daggers at him. From the state of her clothing, the girl must've been in a lot of fights and such, since most of her clothing was… wrecked, to say the least. She wore the usual uniform, but had a dark violet hoodie over it, with frayed cuffs and a huge hood, which could cover her eyes when done up. Torn blue and pink stockings and ratty red sneakers completed her look. Her roughly cut short hair, dyed tangerine orange and hot pink, was almost too bright to look at, with two longer strands of hair near the side of her head. In a way, she looked like a punk, or a delinquent. It was all that and more, with her jade eyes that were burning with green fire.

"Hey. You," She said, pushing herself off from her spot on the wall and walked straight up to him.

The other student noticed her and stood up. "What?" He scoffed, "You HER girlfriend now? Woo! We got quite the love triangle here, don't we?" The student snorted and stood up as well.

The other female student cringed, while the punk snorted.

"Cute," She snapped, "Very cute." The punk then folded her arms. ""I'm going to ask you to leave her alone," She stated.

The male student folded his arms as well. "Oh? And who told you that?"

"Me, and for the record, I'm her friend. Which sorta counts as being in her… well-being." The punk then cracked her fingers, "If that didn't get through your thick skull and into that little pip you call a brain, I'll say it in a different way. You mess with her, you mess with me. Got it?"

"You trying to start something?" The male student snarled.

Both of them were now so close that the punk had to look up to the other student as they both stared at each other, the tension already building, the lightning shooting from their eyes. Reiji looked up and was shocked by the scene that was unfolding in front of his eyes.

"Hey, guys, I really don't think-"

"Dude, this doesn't concern you," The punk said, practically waving him off, "This is between us."

Reiji looked taken aback, but the look the female punk shot him left Reiji not one to argue.

"Momoe," The first female student said, hesitant reassurance in her voice, "It's fine! Really! You don't really have to protect me all the time!" The punk, Momoe, turned her head.

"This creep was messing with you, Sakura!" She exclaimed, "It's not alright with me!"

"It's fine, Momoe. Just leave it at that." Sakura said, the tone of her voice pure steel.

Yohane was taken aback at how cold and stone like Sakura's face had become, like a mask of a proud and harsh queen. Momoe hesitated, her eyes turning back to the male student, and then back to Sakura. She snorted, and then went back to her place on the wall, turning on her headphones and placing them over her ears.

"Yeah, that's right." The male student jeered, "Go back to your house, dog!"

Sakura's cold gaze was then turned to the male student, whose smug grin was wiped from his face and was replaced with freaked out expression. He sat back down and folded his arms together with shoulders slumped.

"Damn bitch. If I wasn't here just to wait for someone, I would have beaten the crap outta you… " He muttered darkly.

"I hope you don't use that kind of language when you stay here in Ichigami, because that will not be tolerated here."

All of the students, including Yohane looked to see a woman walking into the room. From her high authoritarian air she seemed to exert as she walked, she was indeed, imposing. The woman was tall, her black hair was long and came down to her shoulders and her brown eyes were framed with rectangular glasses. She wore a black pantsuit and carried a tablet.

"Oh," She said, "And we have more guests." The woman reached the bottom step and bowed.

"Welcome," She said, "I am Gina Hashimoto. You may call me Hashimoto-San. I will be your Dorm Manager here in the Second Year dorm." Hashimoto-San turned on her tablet and looked up. "May I have your names, before we begin?"

"Sorry Miss, can't do that," The male student said, standing up.

"Oh?" She asked, "And why is that?"

"Cause, you won't find my name in there." He snapped, walking to the door and opening it. "Besides, I'm not supposed to be here in this dorm anyways." With that, he exited, slamming the door behind him.

"Well, that's good." Hashimoto-San said, after a pause.

She looked back at her tablet. "So, your names, please?" The first female student and the punk were the first to stand up.

"I'm Sakura Kaneko, and this is Momoe." Sakura said, bowing.

"Momoe Arita, pleased to be here!" Momoe said, scratching the back of her neck as she grinned. "But honestly, that kid, huh?" She said, her face turning into furrow browed pout, "That jerk! wish I could teach him some manners," She yawned, looking sheepish "But the jetlag from the trip here is killing me!" She finished.

"Momoe!" Sakura said, shocked, "You don't just beat people up because you feel like it!"

"Hey, he was messing with you, and you know I don't take that kind of... er, stuff."

Yohane noticed that Momoe quickly looked at Hashimoto-San as she said, "stuff." She was probably going to say something else, but quickly changed her mind. What a move there…

"And you? Your name?"

Yohane blinked and lost his train of thought. Hashimoto-San was looking at him, the tablet glowing a dark blue.

"Sorry," He said, "It's Yohane Futo,"

"Futo…. Futo… Ah! Here you are!" She checked a box on the tablet and then looked up. "Alright! You're here for the rest of the year. Welcome."

Yohane bowed. "Thank you," He said.

Hashimoto-San returned it, "The pleasure is all mine," She said.

Reiji, noticing the scene, stood up as well. "Didn't catch my name?" He asked.

"No," Hashimoto-San said, checking her tablet, "Your name, please."

"Name's Reiji Morino, music prodigy, been with a lot of band acts, not to brag. You must have heard of me, right?"

"Never heard of you." Hashimoto-San deadpanned.

"Oh,"

Yohane could see the cloud of depression over Reiji's head as he sat down again on the couch.

"Now, with that out of the way, allow me to give you the full speech." Hashimoto-San turned off her tablet and tucked it under her elbow.

"Here in Sho Ichigami High School, you all have the option to stay on school grounds, in our top-notch dormitories. You all have signed the forms and have agreed to the terms of our rules. If you need a reminder, I shall tell you." She straightened up, giving everyone an even look. "All students have separated floors, the boys the bottom three floors, the girls the three upper floors." Hashimoto-San stated, "No one of either sex may be allowed to go on the opposite floor, unless you are in the main room here." She motioned at the entire entrance room. "This room will be the place where you shall relax and interact with each other, mostly for study hours and after school hours."

Hashimoto then motioned to a large room behind her. Yohane and the two girls walked through the entrance, with Reiji trailing behind, being the only one who was sitting down. In the other room, a large table was set up, with plates, napkins, and silverware already set up. A large kitchen was made in the further corner, with a large steel refrigerator and two stoves.

"This is where you shall eat your meals. The kitchen is open for people who feel like they are able to cook, but mostly the cook will prepare your meals." Yohane and the others walked around the dining hall, looking around the area.

"Pretty swanky, for a school." Reiji noticed.

"No duh." Momoe muttered, staring at the silverware.

"As you can see, it is rather amazing, isn't it?" Hashimoto-San said, amused. "Now, back into the main room, please."

The group re-entered the main room, and Hashimoto-San cleared her throat. "Now, with that out of the way, I would like to present to all of you your room keys." She then went to the dorm desk, and grabbed several keys. "Here we are, then!"

One by one, Hashimoto-San presented each key to a student. "Arita, you're 307. Kaneko, you're 317."

The girls thanked the dorm manager, picked up their bags, and headed up the stairs. Hashimoto-San then turned to Reiji and Yohane.

"Morino, you are 216." Reiji took the little key, and was about to pick up his bags when Hashimoto-San stopped him.

"Wait, I almost forgot." She said, "I forgot to tell you all that I am informed when mail arrives, and I was told that a lot of packages are going to be coming here in a few days, all in your name." Reiji straightened up.

"Oh, that must be the instruments that I asked to be mailed over." He said, nodding.

"Well, I must tell you, the dorm rooms aren't that big."

Reiji's eyes widened. "R-really?" He asked nervously.

Hashimoto-San waved her hand. "Of course, the instruments in question aren't that big, correct?"

Reiji shrugged. "First, I need to see the room first, then we'll see."

Hashimoto-San nodded, "Of course," She said.

Reiji flashed a quick smile and picked up his duffel bag and backpack. "Now, if you would excuse me…" He went up the stairs, leaving Yohane behind.

"And now, Futo."

Yohane looked down and saw that his room key was hanging in the light by the slim finger of the dorm manager.

"Your room will be room 113. The students call it the, "lucky room," so I hope that you have good luck as you stay there!" Yohane gulped quietly and took the key. A wave of uncertainty and unease washed over him as he stared at the key.

"Are you alright?"

Yohane looked up.

Hashimoto-San looked concerned, her brows furrowed. "You look pale, did something happen?"

Yohane, thinking quickly, shook his head. "No, I'm alright. Just tired."

Hashimoto-San nodded. "Ah, I see. Well then, you best get to your room then."

Yohane nodded, and picked up his suitcases, before thanking Hashimoto-San. As he climbed the stairs, he thought he heard a faint chuckle. Yohane turned, but there was no one there. Man, he must be beyond tired, into the thought of hearing and seeing ghosts. With a chuckle, he headed up the stairs, and down the long hallway, to Room 113. The wooden door wasn't too worse for the wear. Yohane unlocked the door and opened it. It was dark inside, the lanterns outside casting shadows from a large window. He flicked on the light switch and closed the door.

The room was roomy, with a sizeable space that was pretty modernistic. A wooden floor with a single green rug was shown first. Two bookshelves were pushed up on the wall, next to a black dresser and mirror, while a desk was placed near the window, so that the user would be able to look through it. The bed was placed near the bathroom, convenient, for a start.

Yohane placed his suitcases on the floor, and started to unpack, putting his clothes in the dresser and spreading his belongings around to show that he was the owner of this room, until the end of the year. He then opened his personal suitcase, and pulled out a Horiuchi Brand Laptop Plus 2020 edition with the Brain Pulse Headphones. He set it on the desk, and then sat down in the desk chair, his chin on his hands.

This was his gift from his dad before he left for the city. He half smiled as he put it on the desk and plugged it in to charge from the charger. It was his 16th birthday, and his dad wanted to talk to him, as he packed his belongings. When Yohane entered the room his dad called, "The office," he was just finishing up packing a box that had, "files," on it. Takeo looked up.

"Ah, Yohane." He said, smiling.

Takeo had almost all of his piercings removed, except the right earlobe, which was just a plain black ball. He wore an old band shirt, a blazer, and jeans. His hair had turned slightly salt and peppery, and he wore square dark blue glasses.

"So," Takeo said, standing up, "16, eh? Man, you've certainly grown."

Yohane nodded.

"Can't believe it myself," He continued, "I mean, I've seen you change so much, from the kid you were, to a man. Dang, just…" Takeo's voice trailed off and it seemed there was a lump in his throat, but he cleared it with a cough.

Silence.

Yohane just stood there, staring at Takeo, who seemed to be in deep thought.

"…Look," Takeo said, his face turning into a serious mask. "I know I've not been the best dad, and work had been… hard."

Takeo sat down in a chair, "But, you realize that things between your mom and I have been… choppy." He sighed, leaning back into his chair.

"Y'know, I wish things were different, Yohane. When I saw you come into this complicated world, I thought it would make more sense, that my life would be given a definite answer. It didn't. It only made it more confusing." Takeo leaned forwards, "But you aren't the problem, I can tell you that." He said, "You're something more, a new part of the world's equation. Life is nothing more than a huge problem. All it takes is a simple word that represents the answer, the one to everything."

Takeo stood up, and suddenly, hugged Yohane.

"You're my answer to life, Yohane, and don't doubt if for even a second. You got it?"

Yohane nodded, hugging his father back.

"Oh! But your present!"

Takeo broke away and started to rummage in the packed boxes. "I know I have it in here somewhere…" He muttered, then, "Aha!" Takeo quickly looked behind him, and then turned around.

He was carrying a small, slender laptop and a pair of banged up blue headphones.

"Happy birthday," He said, handing it to Yohane.

He took it.

"It used to be mine, both of those things. I know we're in a different generation of computers right now, but that one is still alive and kicking. I built it myself, after all."

Takeo smiled to himself, as Yohane put it on a desk and opened it, testing it out.

"Yohane,"

Yohane looked up.

"Promise me that you'll think better of me, after I left."

Yohane nodded, promising to never doubt for a second. Takeo laughed.

"Thanks, now, get back to your mother, I think she's calling you."

Yohane nodded, and then left the office for the last time.

Yohane shook his head, and brushed a tear from his eye. Memories, they were such cruel mistresses when it comes to it. It was the last moment that he had shared with his father, and it would be the only one. He stared at the computer for a few more minutes, and then continued to unpack. When he was finished, he looked at the clock.

It was almost midnight.

He stripped and put on a white long sleeved shirt and black sweatpants, went to the bathroom to crack open his toothbrush and brushed his teeth, and then turned off the light. Yohane climbed into bed and… didn't go to sleep. He couldn't anyways. Even though his body was tired, his mind was racing.

So, here we are. He was finally here, at the most prestigious high school a kid like him could go. He stretched, yawning. This place looked like any other high school, except for the many scholarships. His eyes softly closed. This school maybe be not so bad after all…

August 25th-26th 2034

Midnight

Clear skies

Fog. The choking, stifling fog met the boy's eyes when he awoke in this prison. It was up the path, into oblivion, and went down the path, towards… forever.

The boy.

Ah yes, the boy.

He would be useful for the coming days. Sadly, he hasn't stood up yet. Wait, he's standing up, frightened.

No? He isn't frightened at all?

Strange… the others were; they were terrified out of their minds!

So why isn't he?

Oh?

He's taken the first step! Bravo!

Oh? And now he's walking down the path.

He's different, I can tell...

Oh? He stopped. Ah, here's the part when he leaves-

No?

Oh! Clever!

Keeping us on our toes, are we?

The boy's walking now, we'll meet soon enough, at this rate. He's reached the first door!

Ah! Yes!

Meet us, please!

Come, meet us; show us what you're capable of! He's running! The Second door! He's opened that as well! Yes! Find us, please! Oh! He's reached the last one! Quickly! To the Final door!

Yohane slowly walked down the path. Already the fog was rolling around him, engulfing him. This dream was surreal; the whispers of thousands of unknown people coaxed him into pressing on.

When he had awoken in this place, he was wearing the same clothes that he wore when he entered the school. He hadn't the faintest idea where to go, and the only way was up the path, since if he went down… then that would lead to… nowhere. Then, as he walked up the path, he then had to open two of the strangest doors, both of them wooden with archaic markings on them.

But the third that met his gaze was… huge.

It was a double door, chained up with iron chains, and locked with all kinds of locks, key locks, combination locks, bicycle locks, all of them. He slowly walked up the stairs that led up to it.

Yohane's breath was caught in his throat as he made it to the landing, and then he slowly walked up to the door, his left hand outstretched.

"Don't," The voice was soft, and mellow. But it had the edge like a newly sharpened knife, scraping against stone. "That door is not meant for opening… yet."

Yohane whirled around and caught sight of a faint figure, leaning up against the door.

"You are not ready to witness the power that is behind this door, nay, you aren't ready to be here at all."

The figure looked over to Yohane.

"Humans…" it said disgustedly, "They are a bane to the world, crawling over each other like the insects they are. You are the same; you humans are all the same. Stupid, stupid, stupid."

Yohane was astounded, the figure was mocking him, hell, and he was mocking everyone! Yohane couldn't believe it himself, how could he make these assumptions? How? It doesn't make any sense! The anger that had built up when the girls had pushed him over a few minutes ago finally let loose, in a single wave.

"You're wrong," He whispered.

The figure looked over at him again. "What?"

"You're wrong," Yohane stated, and the figure went silent.

Then, a low rumble resonated in the room. The figure was… laughing, out of all the things.

"Oh? You think you're different? You're no different, boy!" The laughter died down, and then the figure disappeared.

Yohane was confused, and then the whispers began to grow louder, and more frantic. Before he knew it, in the cacophony of noise, a sharp pain pierced Yohane's chest, and he saw the blade of a sword going deep.

The figure had somehow materialized in front of him, and had stabbed the sword right through his chest!

Yohane collapsed, the blade going into the floor now.

"Typical human," The figure tittered, "Always off your guard, even when someone carries the tool of your demise."

Yohane coughed, flecks of blood on his lips.

"Be grateful I'm letting you live." The figure continued, "You amuse me, and nothing more. Goodbye, and let the darkness engulf you, until nothing remains." With that, the figure walked down the stairs.

Yohane swallowed, frightened, no, terrified out of his mind.

Already he could feel cold, his legs giving way, and he was slowly sliding down the blade to the floor. This was the end of him, no doubt about it. Yohane slowly closed his eyes. No need to see the end, it was all over, now…

No, he must see this through, maybe if…

Weakly, he grabbed onto the hilt of the sword, pulling himself up.

The pain shocked through his body, racking it with more coughs and gasps, and he almost collapsed from it, but Yohane gritted his teeth, and using the rest of his strength, tried to pull the sword blade from his chest.

The blade was far too deep into the floor, and would not budge.

Yohane continued his futile struggle, then gave up. He slowly slid down to the floor again. Just then, he heard a faint thud. He looked to the left. A large… thing, was climbing up the stairs, slithering over them.

It didn't have a specific form, from lion, to snake, to wolf, to screeching monkey! No, it was all of these things, and it reared up, making itself ten, no, fifteen stories tall! Yohane could only watch as it slowly came down upon him, choking him, blinding him, suffocating him! The few faint words that he heard before he lost consciousness was…

"I am waiting… The door must be open, the contract must be made… Find me, and find yourself, and I shall be… thine…guide…"