Prologue:
A calm and brightful sunday. The perfect day, since it meant that a certain boy could do whatever he wanted. The first thing that he did was open his eyes and sit up.
Dammit, I fell asleep before fighting the final boss. He thought in annoyance. As he fell asleep while playing an RPG game on his video game. I have to return the CD tomorrow. He scratched his head a bit. Oh, whatever, I'll just stay up late to finished.
The boy then stands up from the ground where he fell asleep. His room was pretty small, with a futon, a TV, a desk and a shelve. The room was slightly messy, with clothes on the ground. The desk that it's supposed to be used for studying having nothing but a pile of mangas on top of it. The TV was medium sized with a gaming console in front of it and a DVD player on top of it, with a pile CDs besides it.
The boy left his small room to make his way to the bathroom. Though he walked on his tip toes as his room was besides the one that his grandmother and sister were sleeping on.
They lived in a relatively small home. Two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a living room. The living didn't had anything on it, besides a table for dinner and a altar.
The boy made his way to the bathroom, which was on the left of his and his grandmother's room. He entered the small bathroom. Like everything else, it was simple. Just a toilet, a bathtub, a sink with a mirror on the wall.
He used the toilet to pee, before washing his hands on the sink, and then he looks at the mirror.
The boy's name was Yukinari Urameshi, he was twelve years old. He had fair skin, and unkempt straight black hair with bangs covering both of his eyes, he a was relatively small boy, having below average height. He was wearing blue pajamas, which was his favorite color.
Yukinari pulled his bangs out of his eyes, reveling his eyes to be blue. There were bags under his eyes due to sleeping late. Well, grandma won't notice because of the hair anyway. Yukinari thought. Though, she and sis will probably complain about it, because they hate my hair. One of the main reasons to why he has his hair like this is because people would often think that he's a girl. According to his sister, is because he has a very pretty face that gives him an androgynous look. Luckily, that's not the case anymore thanks to the hair since it covers the upper half of his face.
After washing his face, Yukinari made his way to the kitchen. Like everything else, it was simplistic. He grabbed some slices of bread and put it on a toaster, before open the fridge to grab box of chocolate milk. Still on his tip toes, he makes his way back to his room to eat breakfast in front of his TV.
He sat on the ground and turned his TV on. There was a news report. "Today it was confirmed that the Saeki Electronics Biological Energy Corporation was indeed brought out by the Yagami Group. The SEBEC has been having severe financial problems since the end of last year and there has been several rumors of bankruptcy. Some sources claim that there has been attempts from the Kirijo Group to buy out the company but the Yagami Group gave the better off-" Yukinari wasn't interested in any of that, so he changed the channel.
The Yagami Group and the Kirijo Group were basically the same thing. Both are globally operating multinational trading companies. They are also rivals of sorts as both kind of compete to see who owns more than the other.
Yukinari put on his favorite channel to see one of his favorite TV shows, Phoenix Ranger Featherman R. It was a rerun of the previous episode that he missed yesterday.
Once he was done with breakfast and the episode ended, he decided to get dressed and head out. Looks like Grandma and Sis will sleep in today. He thought as he took off his pajamas to put on his clothes. He put on a yellow tank top, gray shorts, black sneakers and a blue short sleeve hoodie. he approached his desk and grabbed a few items that were on top of it. His bland looking earring that he put on his left ear, a black wristwatch that he put on his left arm and last but not least his old neck-strap mp3 player with his clip-on earphones.
After finishing getting dressed, he leaves his room to head out but before he does. He goes to the Altar to pay his respects. There were three photos on it, two of his parents that passed away a few years ago and one of his grandfather, who passed away a few months ago. I miss you, grandpa. Don't worry about us, I'll take care of grandma and sis. He thought as he looked at his grandfather photo. His name was Kazuya Urameshi, he was an elderly but well-built man with white beard and a shaved head, even though he wasn't bald.
He then started to pray for his mother, Usagi Urameshi. Mom... Sorry for using your earring, but it's the only thing I have of you. The earring that Yukinari was wearing used to belong to his mother, it wasn't a particular feminine earring which made it easier to wear.
After that, he looked up. Above the Altar, there were something hanging on the wall. They're mine now. Yukinari thought. He was looking at two sword hanging on the wall above the altar, A Katana and a Wakizashi. They were what you could call family heirlooms, since they had been on the family from generations. And to think they were used by samurais, mercenaries, ninjas and soldiers. Yukinari thought. I miss training with grandpa, there was so much that he didn't taught me.
Yukinari sighed before he stood up and headed out.
Dreamless dorm ticking clock
I walk away from the soundless room
Windless night moonlight melts
My ghostly shadow to the lukewarm gloom
Yukinari was listening to his favorite song as he walks down the street. He found the MP3 player on the trash while he was taking out the trash on his house one day, it was broken but he managed to fix it.
Nightly dance of bleeding swords
Reminds me that I still live
He didn't really got used to Mikage-cho yet. Him and his sister didn't really want to move but his grandmother said that it was necessary. They're living on his late grandfather's life insurance, it's enough to get by, but it doesn't exactly leaves much money for anything else. Not that he's complaining of course, but he has to find alternatives to get the things that he wants.
I will burn my dread
I once ran away from the god of fear
And he chained me to despair
Burn my dread
I will break the chain
And run till I see the sunlight again
I'll lift my face and run to the sunlight
Voiceless town tapping feet
I clench my fists in pockets tight
Far in mist a tower awaits
Like a merciless tomb devouring moonlight
Yukinari had his hands in his shorts pockets like he always did. Pretty much ignoring the world around him, not that he has any reason to pay attention to it.
Clockwork maze end unknown
In frozen time a staircase stands
Shadows crawl on bloodstain floor
I rush straight ahead with a sword in hands
Cold touch of my trembling gun
I close my eyes to hear you breathe
(Burn my dread
Burn my dread)
I will burn my dread
This time I'll grapple down that god of fear
I'm gonna get this done with, then I'll pass on the convenience store and then I'll go to the Arcade. He planned.
And throw him into hell's fire
Burn my dread
I'll shrug my pain
And run till I see the sunlight again
Oh I will run burning all regret and dread
And I will face the sun with pride of the living
I will -
Burn my dread
(Yeah, Gonna burn your dread, Gonna burn your dread yes)
Burn my dread
(Whatever it takes, Uh, Yeah)
Burn my dread
(No doubt, Gotta take it out like this y'all, Uh uh)
Burn my dread
(One time for the mind)
Ay yo
(Drop - like - this)
There's no man's land
No man ever survived
Invisible hands are
Behind you just now
If you ever win that
Race against rage then
You'll be king 'cuz
It's no man's land
(For real)
The mask is in heavy rain
Ultimately slain
Make shadows slave
What we've done is in vain
(Yes)
Carrying AK-47, 24/7
But you've gotta live it persecuted by heaven
Comes from the direction, no - indication
You've got to, to let it move first
Let it out, let it down
Let it inside, let loose
Let 'em letting damn depressed -
Let's get it up
Then what'cha gotta do is -
Drop the hammer down
Drop rhyme, drop hammer
Digging like a labor
You've got blood all over,
Ash all over,
Spit it out, son, game's over
(Burn my dread)
Tear up your fear,
The end is coming near,
Spit it out like a spear,
I'll burn your dread
(Burn my dread)
No soul, robust
All dust, we bust
Justice to the man with no life
(Burn my dread)
Tear up your fear,
The end is coming near,
Spit it out like a spear,
I'll burn your dread
(Burn my dread)
No soul, robust
All dust, we bust
Justice to the man with no life
He finally arrived at his destination. There it is, St. Hermelin High School. He thought as he removes his earphone.
The reason to why Yukinari went to that school, was to complete a bet. A boy from his school that he doesn't know the name, challenged him to go to that location and film himself doing something.
Yukinari would normally say no to such a thing, but the boy bet his bass guitar. So he ended up accepting.
What was the challenge, play a game called "Persona". Yukinari knew absolutely nothing about this game, and apparently, neither did the boy. There were rumors about this game circulating around but no one, that he knew of at least, tried yet.
Yukinari sneaked inside the school with ease. He suspects that the reason why the boy made him do that on a high school, was because they were hoping that he would get caught. Not that he cared anyway.
He made his way to one of the classrooms, which was strangely empty, with no chairs around. But he didn't really pay attention to that. He just picked up the boy's old video camera and set it somewhere.
"Hi." Yukinari told the camera while waving at it. Let's get this over with. He walks to the middle of the room facing the camera. Okay, what was it...right. "Persona! Persona! Come over here!" He turns to the left. "Persona! Persona! Come over here!" He turns to the right "Persona! Persona! Come over here!" He turns to the back. "Persona! Persona! Come over here!" There, done.
For a whole minute, he stood in the middle of the classroom, completely still. And... nothing. He walked towards the camera and picked up. "You own me a Bass Guitar." He said bluntly towards the camera before turning it off.
Now, I need to get to the convenience store to grab some chocolate. He thought as he left the classroom. Not knowing that what he just did would have consequences.
As soon as he left the school, Yukinari made his way to the nearest convenience store where he brought a chocolate bar and a bag potato chips. Then he made his way to nearest Arcade that he could find.
Where he pretty much wasted all of his extra cash on arcade games. He was actually getting a really high score on a rail shooter game, as he was very focused on it. Maybe it was the music.
Fear not, jump in the fire
Got to burn the dread
Let my soul aspire
To a higher place
In this gaia case
No time to waste
Never close this case, man
Whatever you do, it's always gonna come back
So living by the gun's gonna get the gun clap
I ain't giving in,
Hell no, fuck that
If you got a problem,
Then stand up and say "what?"
Man's gotta do, you know
What a man's gotta do for life
The battle, yeah
Got a little robust since we first met
'Cause I have yet to put my fist down
It ain't easy, but never show my weakness
No way out of this, so you better seize it
Deep breath, talk to Jesus, pray to God
Still make my own way -
And I preach this
(Burn my dread)
Unfortunately, while he was shooting all the targets with perfection. Something made him miss his perfect score. Which was being enveloped into a bone breaking by someone. The someone removed his earphone and yelled on his ear. "You jerk! You promised that we would spent the day together!"
I don't remember making any promises. He thought in annoyance as he moves his head to see the person that was hugging. It was a girl the same age as him, she had a pale complexion, striking red eyes and short auburn hair down to her face. She was wearing a orange sweater, a dark red skirt, white socks and gray shoes. "How did you find me?" He asked out of curiosity.
"I asked around, you're not exactly someone that goes unnoticed." She replied while still holding him.
"Okay." He turned his head back to the game in order to keep playing. Though, there was a problem. "Can you please let go?" He asked nicely.
"No, I'm hugging you all day long as punishment." She told him while putting her head on his shoulder.
"Can you please don't do that?" He asked nicely again.
All that did, was make her hug him even tighter.
The girl that was hugging Yukinari, was his sister, Minako Arisato. His step sister to be more precise. Both were the same age, although Minako was three weeks older than him.
Yukinari reach out to his pocket and took a bite of that chocolate bar that he brought.
"How many did you eat today?" Minako asked him.
"Just this one." He replied as he took another bite.
Yukinari had a bit of an addiction towards chocolate. He eat something with chocolate on it, everyday.
"Give me a bite." She ordered him.
"No." He denied.
"Give me or I'll bite you." She threatened him.
Yukinari didn't answered, he just took another bite and focused on the game. Until he felt Minako softly biting his ear. Which was bad since Yukinari had pretty sensitive ears. "Ahhh... stop it." He ordered her but she kept on biting him.
Suddenly, she licked inside of his ear. Which made him even more uncomfortable. "Okay! Okay!" He yelled before handing her the rest of his chocolate.
Which she gladly eat.
When they were both five years old, Yukinari's mother and Minako's father got married and the two became brother and sister. But, sometime after that, there was an accident and both of their parents died. They both started to live with Yukinari's grandparents, who gladly took both in. Minako didn't really have any other family, just an aunt that her father mentioned once but she didn't know anything about her. So she preferred to stay with Yukinari.
There's only one problem.
After the accident, Minako developed what you could call... a brother complex towards Yukinari.
Yukinari unfortunately had to spend the rest of the day, playing on hard mode. Not because the games themselves were hard but because his sister kept her promised and hugged him all day. Only stopping for him to go to the bathroom, but grabbed him into a hug as soon as he went out. Some people around the arcade thought it was cute and others thought it was weird.
Soon enough, it was time to go home. Which was pretty much the same thing, with Minako clinging towards him by walking alongside him while hugging him from behind. Something that used to be difficult, but Yukinari was used to it.
It didn't took long for the two to get home.
"We're home." Minako announced as the two took off their shoes at the entrance.
"Good, dinner is almost ready." Their grandmother announced. She was called Kayako Urameshi, a short, stout, grey-haired woman. "You two should take a bath before dinner."
I just want to get dinner over with to finish the game. I'm gonna be really mad, if I have to return it without finishing. Yukinari thought. I could have stayed home to do it, but I had to get that dumb challenge over with and Minako would have just dragged me somewhere if I stayed home.
"Come on, I'm gonna wash your back." Minako told him, it was more of a confirmation than a suggestion.
Yukinari just looked at her stoically in response. Before staring at his grandmother for help.
His Grandma didn't say anything, she just looked away and focused on her cooking.
What of kind of grandma are you, dammit!? He thought in deep frustration.
Soon enough, after a very uncomfortable bath with a clingy sister, they were eating dinner together on the table. Their grandma made them curry rice.
"Did you watch TV all day?" Minako asked grandma.
"No, I cleaned the house and took a stroll to the market." She replied. "Got some more boxes of chocolate milk."
"Thanks." Yukinari thanked her as he eat a spoon of rice. This is really good.
Minako finished her plate after he said that. "Thanks for the food." She stood up from the table and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
As soon as she left, his grandmother made serious face. "Okay, Yukinari, I have something to inform you." He instantly made a worried look as his grandmother never made such a serious expression. "From now on, Minako is sleeping with you."
That instantly caused Yukinari nearly choke on his food, followed by a very worried expression. "What?!" That was his response.
"Listen, I can't take this anymore." His grandmother told him. "That girl can't sleep without hugging something and her hugs are like being crushed by bear." She explained to him. "It wasn't a problem on our previous home, but it is here."
"I am aware of that, but why am I the one having to suffer her bear hugs?" Yukinari spoke in worry, as he had to endure Minako's hugs quite a few times when she sneaked inside his room.
"Because I'm old and you're young." She reasoned with him. "Besides, it will be good training to when you two get married."
That made Yukinari even more shocked. "Married?! We're siblings!" He quickly argued.
"You two are not blood related and honestly, I doubt you'll find anyone else willing to marry you." She bluntly told him as she eat the curry.
"What?!" Yukinari was slightly insulted by that.
"What's wrong?" Minako came back from the bathroom.
"Ummm... nothing." Yukinari told her.
"Actually, Yukinari and I agreed that it will be better, if you slept his room for now on." His grandmother gladly signed his torture sentence.
"Really?" Minako asked with a smile. "Yes!"
Grandma, you're a very cruel woman.
Very, very, very cruel. Yukinari thought in deep annoyance.
As soon as it was time to go to sleep. Minako pretty much dragged him to his futon, ruining his plans of finishing the game that he borrowed.
Now he was being hugged tightly by Minako while both were laying on his futon. I better sleep before she starts with the unconscious bear hugs. He thought in deep annoyance as Minako was already clingy enough awake but she was much worse in her sleep.
He closed his eyes to go to sleep.
But then... something happened.
A strange sensation covered his entire body. He was warm and cold at same time. Suddenly he opened his eyes.
And...
Yukinari Urameshi wasn't inside of his room anymore. What? That was the first thing that came into his mind. Where am I? The place that was could be described in a single word. Strange. Everything around him was colourful, he was top of a strange area with several pillars around.
"Hello." He heard someone saying hello to him. Yukinari quickly moved his head to see who it was. He saw a man, wearing a mask that has the image of a violet butterfly wing in the right side of his face and the eyeholes do not show his pupils. He's wearing a suit consisting of a black shirt and tie, a white blazer and white pants with black dress shoes. He also has long, black hair tied up in a ponytail.
"Hello," Yukimari said it in return. "Who are you?" He asked.
"I am Philemon, a dweller in the rift between consciousness and unconsciousness." He presented himself with a bow. "Now, a simple test, can you state your name?"
"Ummm... My name is Yukinari, Yukinari Urameshi." He presented himself as well, not really understanding what was going on.
"Splendid," Philemon commented. "There aren't many who can remember their identity when in this domain."
What is going on? Am I dreaming or something? Yukinari thought in serious confusion.
"It seems you passed that test." Philemon added. "But tell me this?" He asked. "Are you aware of the many and varied selves you harbor within you?"
Yukinari just made confused face as he didn't understood what he meant. "Umm... No."
"The self's are fused with divine love, the self capable of demonic cruelty." He explained to him. "People live by wearing different masks. Your current self, may be only one of those innumerable masks." Philemon then extended his hand. "You though, you have a very firm grip on your identity." Suddenly, a strange light engulfed his hand. Which a piece of paper appeared, that looked like a contract. "I respect your strong will, in return, I offer you a great power."
What? Okay, I'm definitely dreaming. Yukinari thought.
"If you accept, of course." Suddenly, a pen appears on his other hand.
Whatever, I'm probably gonna wake up at any second by being crushed to death by Minako. Yukinari without any hesitation, grabbed the pen and signed the contract. This is a pretty weird dream.
As soon as Yukinari signed the contract, something really interesting happened. The contract and the pen disappeared and something else appeared on his hand. It looked like a small creature with six wings, with two wings covering it's face, two covering it's feet and two apparently used for flight. "Persona."
Wait, what?
"It is the power to summon the cells within you, the gods and the demons you harbor." He explained to Yukinari. "The time will come, when you will need this power."
Persona? Isn't that what that game was about? From that dumb challenge?
"Now, you must return, to your proper time and place." Philemon told him.
Suddenly, Yukinari's body felt overwhelmingly heavy. Which caused him to collapse into the floor, right in front of Philemon.
Thanks everyone for reading this first chapter. I had this story in mind for a while and finally decided to give it a try.Any questions or criticism, please feel free to write it on the reviews.
Before anyone asks: Yukinari Urameshi is a mash up of all five protagonists.