Chapter 2: Smile and Carry On
As she lifted the pen away to examine her signature, it disappeared from her fingertips. She blinked in surprise, then glanced at the dark haired boy. He lifted the bound contract, and hugged it close to his chest.
"Time delivers us all to the same end. It delivers us all to the same end." He smiled at the rose metal headphones hanging around her neck, "You can't plug your ears and cover your eyes."
Reiko nervously pulled at her headphones, glancing away, "Hey, I don't plug my ears."
The boy smiled, his eyes gleaming mischievously. The lights began to flicker, and the green haze of the Dark Hour receded, rapidly replaced by real light. As the real light ran past the boy, he disappeared.
His voice whispered in her ears, and she pivoted on her foot, staring around. Her hands rose, clenched into fists.
"And so it begins."
She glanced around the dorm lounge.
"I'm gonna assume that this is normal, and just carry on," she sighed, and began to sort through her bag. She frowned as she saw it was resting in a thin pool of crimson, and watched the red liquid retreat into the floor.
"And I'll assume that is normal too," Reiko said. She glanced around the room, "I wonder who else is here?"
She opened the door of her room, and began to quietly step out. She heard the main dorm doors began pushed open, and some odd noises from the lobby. She checked the device at her hip, inspecting its silver sides and enamelling.
She had been told about the creatures that lurked in the darkness, the creatures she had been called upon to fight. It made her a little sick that she was essentially doing this at their beck and call, but at least she was out of her damned home, away from her mother.
She crept past their rooms, ignoring the sounds from them. She didn't need their help. She would show them both that she was able to do this. She would overcome this weakness. The stairs creaked under foot and she leant out to look into the darkened foyer.
There was a strange, squat shape in the centre of the room.
"Who's there!"
She winced at the outcry. Why had she called out like that!
She steeled herself, readied the device, and stepped out into the entrance.
Reiko started in shock, caught completely off guard. She turned, staring at the gleam of reflected light. A girl stepped out of the shadows. She had long, brown hair, and hazel eyes, displaying worry, staring out at Reiko. Her hand was clamped around a silver shape at her hip. Reiko's eyes focused on it, and her mouth dropped open in shock.
A gun! How the hell did she get that!
Reiko gave a nervous half laugh, raising her hands, "Hey, there's no need-" She saw the bar of light flash, the gun raised, and-
"Takeba, wait!"
Reiko saw a second girl standing slightly back from the first. She was half obscured in the shadows, though Reiko could make out long tresses of crimson hair, cascading down past her shoulders, and dark intelligent eyes glimmered in the darkness.
She strode forward, forcing the brunette's hand down, slipping the silver gun down into it's holster. Reiko breathed out a sigh of relief, and the red haired girl stepped forward. Her skin, at least in this light, seemed almost unnaturally pale, like flawless marble.
Reiko was aware of the darkness receding, as the lights flickered into life. Her earphones began to crackle with music. The brunette seemed to calm down in the light, as if a fear of hers had not been realised.
"I didn't realise you'd be arriving so late," said the red haired girl, her hands on her hips. She had an almost regal bearing to her, as if she was an empress of lady of grace.
"Sorry. The trains were delayed. I didn't mean to worry you," Reiko said. Mitsuru shook her head.
"Don't worry. I understand. I'm Mitsuru Kirijo, one of the students who lives in the dorm," the red haired girl responded. Reiko smiled in relief, though the older girl's eyes were disquieting. Mitsuru seemed be to examining her, but her train of thought was interrupted by Mitsuru introducing the brunette.
"This is Yukari Takeba, another student. She's in the same year as you," Mitsuru nodded towards the brunette, who inclined her head towards Reiko.
"Hey..."
Reiko grinned broadly, "I'm Reiko Arisato. A pleasure to meet you." Yukari smiled, then leant close to Mitsuru.
"Who's she?" Yukari murmured to Mitsuru, and Mitsuru whispered back.
"A transfer student. It was a last minute decision to have her sent here," Mitsuru murmured.
"Is it alright for her to be here?" Yukari asked, glancing at Reiko, who seemed intrigued by the furnishings of the dorm's lounge. Mitsuru gave a thin smile.
"I guess we'll see," she murmured, "Reiko. It's getting late. You should head off for bed. Yukari will show you to your room."
"Thanks," Reiko answered, picking up her bags, and stepping past the senior, following Yukari up the stairs.
"So, your room is here, end of the second floor. I guess that makes it pretty easy to remember, right," Yukari said, handing Reiko a key, "And make sure not to lose this. You'll be given hell about it."
Reiko grinned broadly, brushing back her short auburn hair absently, "Thanks, Yukari. I won't, don't worry."
"It's gonna be nice to have someone who isn't Mitsuru around. I'll see you tomorrow," Yukari murmured and turned to leave.
"Hey, does that boy live here too?" Reiko asked, tilting her head to the stairs. Yukari frowned.
"Wha- who?"
"Dark haired boy, big, blue eyes?" Reiko added, "No? Ah, nevermind. Guess I imagined it."
Yukari walked back to Reiko, "Hey, out of interest... Did anything weird or unusual happen to you?"
Reiko cocked her head, thinking. She recalled the darkness, the coffins and blood. She remembered the way the wind howled down the now vacant streets, how the air seemed to become emerald coloured fog and how the light turned sickly and dead.
"No. Nothing at all," she lied, and closed the door behind her. The lock snapped shut, and Yukari was left to stand in the dimly lit corridor. She waited for a moment, then walked back to her room, wondering what to make of her new dormmate.
Reiko sat on the bed, shrugging off the jacket onto her desk, kicked off her boots, and flicked her MP3 on. The tiny LCD screen lit up for a moment, casting her face in a pale blue light, just as the randomly selected song began to ring out.
It may not be the right time.
"Heh, that's appropriate," she laughed.
I might not be the right one...
Reiko drifted off, curling into a loose ball as she lost consciousness.
"Hey, Reiko, are you awake? Mitsuru sent me to get you up if you weren't already."
Reiko raised her head, rubbing her eyes as she tried to coax herself into waking up. Sunlight streamed in through the window, and she blinked in annoyance.
"I'm... I'm up, 'kay," she drowned, sweeping the creases out of her shirt. She tested her MP3, sighing when she saw the tiny low power signal, and snapped the drained batteries out.
"I'll be out in a second."
She threw on her jacket, tightened the ribbon at her collar and hefted her bag up. A black plastic bottle was pulled out, opened, and Reiko downed the liquid in one, making a face. She knew trying to wake up with an energy drink probably didn't work, but she needed to wash her mouth, wet her throat.
Reiko straightened up, managed a smile, and walked out of the room.
Yukari was waiting outside, bag resting on her shoulder, "Finally, you're up. You still look tired. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm good. Just a bit of a trouble sleeping..." Reiko stifled a yawn, "Sorry, I'm not normally up that late." She turned on her the MP3, and grinned.
"What're you listening to?" Yukari asked as they stepped down the stairs.
"Some guy named Michael Buble... Couple of people I knew suggested him. He's pretty good," Reiko explained, tapping the screen of the player.
"Is he American?" Yukari asked, and Reiko shrugged.
"Yeah, I think..." Reiko murmured, and Yukari asked another question.
"So, you can understand English?"
Reiko nodded, "I studied a good bit for a correspondence course at an old school. I've got a lot of song suggestions from friends in America."
"Really... Never heard much music outside of Japan. Maybe you could give me a lend later," Yukari asked, and both of them laughed, "Oh, there was one other thing."
"Yeah."
"About last night. You mind not talking about it with anyone?" Yukari asked, and Reiko nodded.
"Don't worry about it. Don't think anyone would believe me anyways. About you having a gun and all. That for self defense or something?" Reiko murmured. Yukari nodded.
"Yeah, something like that," Yukari answered, though Reiko could see that she wasn't telling the whole truth, "Alright, we'll be taking the train. Come on."
Yukari pulled Reiko along, who groaned as they emerged into the sunlight.
"Your name should be here, and what class you'll be in," Yukari said, gesturing towards the board, "I've gotta go, but I've been told you need to talk to your homeroom teacher. See you later."
Reiko nodded, feeling the buzz of the drink finally wearing off, and scanned the board as Yukari wandered off.
"The heck is my name?" Reiko muttered, running her finger down the list of names, "Not here, not here, the he- Oh, hey. There it is."
Her name was tacked onto the bottom most papers, a quick scrawl on a note, almost like an afterthought. She noted the teacher's name and class number, Mrs Toriumi, class 2-F.
"Sorry to bother you, but do you know where the Faculty Office is?"
"'Sup, dude!"
Reiko sat bolt upright, snapping awake instantly.
"Wha- who, sorry?" she mumbled, mind trying to work out what was happening. Reiko turned to see who had called out to her.
"Ha, man, you look like a dear in the headlights."
The boy was leaning on her desk. He was kinda cute, Reiko admitted to herself. He had a strong jawline, a small goatee decorating his chin. He had a broad grin, and his eyes, shadowed under the brim of a baseball cap, gleamed mischievously.
"Sorry, you caught me napping... You are?" Reiko asked, recovering quickly.
"I'm Junpei Iori. I transferred here in eight grade, so I know how tough it is being the new kid," the student explained, offering a hand, "So I thought I'd check up on you, you know, making sure you're not freaking out on your first day."
"Well, thanks for that. I'm Reiko Arisato," Reiko answered.
"Jeez, at it again, Stupei? Honestly, isn't there a girl you wouldn't hit on?"
Reiko turned to see Yukari standing beside her, sighing. Junpei laughed, unperturbed.
"Hey, Yuka-tan, looks like we're in the same class again. What a coincidence, eh?" Junpei said, grinning at Yukari, who simply sighed.
"Yeah... Looks that way," she said, rolling her eyes playfully.
"It must be nice to be in a class with friends," Reiko murmured, half to herself, and Yukari laughed.
"Yeah, I guess it is," Yukari admitted, and Junpei coughed.
"Uh, hey, you do remember I'm here, right?" he asked, frowning, though Reiko could see he was jesting, "Besides, do you two know each other, because you came to school together. The whole school was buzzin' about two cuties like you walking side by side."
He laughed, dodging a swipe from Yukari as she glared at him.
"Cut that out, Stupei. I can't be bothered to deal with rumours like that," she complained, "I mean, I'm fine with it, but what about her? Don't you feel bad about spreading rumours like that?"
Junpei was about to answer when Yukari cut him, "I've gotta take care of some stuff for archery club. Don't you try anything funny, Stupei."
Junpei simply laughed, "Hey, don't worry about it." He waited til Yukari had left then turned to Reiko, sighing exaggeratedly.
"Jeez, what is she your nanny?" he laughed, "But, just to clear it up, I didn't come over here to hit on you. I just wanted you to know, that if you ever have a problem, you can tell your ol'pal Junpei."
Reiko smiled. Such a better start to this year than her previous school. Practically perfect. It even overshadowed... No. She wouldn't think of that.
"Thanks. That means a lot to me."
Author's Notes: So, you'll notice this has already taken a radically different turn than His Dark Hour. I wanted to represent Reiko's far more cheerful personality to Minato's, and contrast the behaviour of the two classmates between gender playthroughs. Yukari comes off as a lot nicer in this one, maybe more accepting of a girl her age, who might be normal.
Updates being written soon! By the way, both Reiko and Minato have similar music tastes to me. If you don't like it, I apologise, but there is no accounting for taste.