Chapter 1: Train Kept A Rollin'

Here's my very first fanfic. Thanks to everyone who's encourage me to take up writing.

Warning: Spoilers and language.

Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3. But I do own Dark's personality, if that counts.

"...-on, honey. Wake up." Rubbing my eyes, I blink a few times before looking up at the person talking. Her voice was as soft and as beautiful as she was, her green eyes looked into mine before breaking into a lovely smile, "I'm really sorry to wake you up from your dream, but you really should make the most of your birthday." A soft thud shakes my view, while the blow didn't particularly hurt, I could feel my face scrunch up as I turn to my left, my attacker was an older boy with the same green eyes seated beside me. Looking around I seem to be in a car. The older boy smirks at me, "He's just tired because he's just an old man in a young man's body ma! If you let him, he'd probably spend his days sleeping in a rocking chair outside the porch mumblin' about the 'good ol' days'." A childish girl's voice chimes in behind me, but I can't see the speaker, "Na-ah, he likes to sleep in sunny spots. I saw him on the living room floor every time I come home from school."

"Ha! That makes him a house cat! All he's going to get is fatter and lazier with a bored expression plastered on his face!" As the two children begin to laugh, I started to stare at the floor, everything around me wavers a bit. A strong male voice cuts through the mocking laughs, "And what is wrong with growing fatter and older? Do I have to remind you that your mom's father, your grandpa, god rest his soul, lived to a ripe (if slightly over-ripe) old age of a hundred and ten?"

"What was that bit in the middle sweetie?"

"BECAUSE! He has his choice of sunny spots to sleep in? I'm telling you this kids now, never take for granted the chance of growing old-"

"That is a privilege denied to by many." The boy and the girl replied in a rather monotonous tone. "We got it dad."

"You had better Grant," Looking up at the rear-view mirror, I can see 'dad' wink at me, "Considering how the last time you bullied your sister, you nearly didn't see your fifth birthday. Or must I remind you, how Tibbers, our old, fat, and lazy tabby somehow dragged a pillow over your face and took a nap on it while you were sleeping." This time it was my turn to laugh. I watched as 'mom' patted 'dad' on the shoulder, "Honey, hush." Turning around in her seat to look at me, "Anyways dear, take a look outside. It's not often we come to Japan, let alone Port Tatsumi. You were lucky that your birthday was the day after my business meeting. Anyways take a look outside, we're about to cross the beautiful Moonlight Bridge. Grant, would you mind?"

"Got it ma." With a click I could feel the seat belt go so I can stand up to look out a window. As beautiful as the bridge is a quick flicker catches my attention, pressing up against the glass, I could see a little blue butterfly right next to us. "What's up squirt? Do ya see a mermaid in the water or something?" The view shakes side-to-side, "Nuh-uh. Butterfly."

"No way."

"Honey, butterflies sleep at night." Turning to look at the back of 'mom's' seat and pointing at the glass, "But, but I can see it. A blue, shiny butterfly." Turning back to the window I could still see the butterfly flying right next to us. Looking up, the car next to us, a little boy and girl in the back was also pointing at the butterfly too. Focusing on the butterfly, I could feel a pulse followed by a shimmering wave ripple through and takes with it all the light, dousing the world in darkness. And yet, there it was, the lone butterfly, glowing through the dark. "Grant! Grant! He's right! I can see it too. It's a blue butterfly and it's glowing!" I flinch as the squealing of the girl behind me hurt my ears. "Hang on. Move a bit squirt, you're in my view." I turn to look at Grant, but I can see something moving behind him. The word 'MACK' is perfectly visible to me when the truck slams into the car...

Jolting awake, I muffled a scream. Breathing hard, I hop out of my seat and take a look around me. No darkness, no Grant, not even a car... Not in that sense. I was on a rather empty train car headed to... Crap... Japan! There we go! Collapsing back onto the rather comfortable seat, I catch the last lyrics of the song I was listening to.

… off to never never-land
We're off to never never-land.

Letting out a groan, I make a mental note to stop making that my lullaby. Hearing a buzz on the intercom, I pull out an earbud to hear the announcer announce that the next stop is not my stop. Rolling my eyes, I pull my music player out of my pocket to change the setting from loop to loop my playlist. Looking up at my reflection in the window opposite of me, the figure of a glasses wearing, Chinese-American, with medium-length, messy black hair stare back at me. Not bad I guess. Kinda glad I took the ear-piercings out. Introductions... Ooh! Hi, my name is Dark Phatiamos, just your typical trans-planted six foot tall Chinese-American. I hope we can be frien- That actually made me vomit in my mouth a bit. Waaay too chipper. I could always go the 'Merica (fuck yeah!) route. Hello, I'm Dark and I AM YOUR NEW GOD! … Fuck this shit. First get the music going, apologize to dorm mates. Dormmies? About showing up at the butt-crack of dawn. Wing it as I go.Smirking to myself in the window, "Perfect plan." Closing my eyes again, I flip through a few tracks until the right one starts playing.

There's a lady who's sure. All that glitters is gold- Not tonight she ain't. Next!

I've heard there was a secret chord- No there isn't. Next!

….. Hm? Opening my eyes, I start to fish out the music player when a soft piano music starts up, granted it was only two keys to start, but something soothing about it. Looking at the screen, the title of the song only read, For the Start of the Journey. Weird, I don't remember this- My internal monologue is cut short when a beautiful female voice begins vocalizing. I was so entranced by it that I almost missed the voice in the foreground.
Time never waits.
It delivers all equally to the same end.
You, who wish to safeguard the future,
However limited it may be...
You will be given one year;
Go forth, never falter,
With your heart as your guide...

Before I knew it, the song ended as I was about to push the back button to replay it, a new intro started up. This one with strings and percussion. Shrugging, If I want to listen to it again, I can always just pull it from the list. THIS STRANGE NEW SONG MUST BE SAMPLED!

Dreamless dorm
Ticking clock
…...

I don't know who added this song to my playlist. But I freakin' love you!

"*bzz* The next station is Iwatodai. Iwatodai is next. Please take all your belongings with you. We apologize for the delay." Feeling a bit more refreshed, I stuff my "sanity anchor" back into my jeans for safe-keeping before dusting off my brown leather duster. Screw what other people say! Dusters are cool! That and leather is so much easier to maintain and clean. Shaking my head, I pop the other earbud back where it belongs before any more errant thoughts take over my mind. Slinging the backpack in front of me and clicking the waist-strap on it in place, I could feel the train smoothly grind to a stop as I don my jacket. Not bad. Definitely smoother than the trains back home.

Stretching a bit as the doors slid open, I took my first steps toward my new home for the year.

And as smoothly as my adventure began, it quickly took a nosedive the moment I got to the main entrance. For in that one moment, I realized that I was screwed. Reasons being? Number one, I was a stranger in this foreign land. Two, I was terrible with addresses and street names. Don't get me wrong, I have a fantastic sense of direction and spatial identification, but unless I have a couple of hours to waste, I was probably not going to locate my dorm before morning.

Standing there while I mentally counted down to the moment I would start running around and panicking like my head had just disappeared, I spot a couple with a BMW symbol on their backpacks. Before I could think negatively about them for being rather pompous, I realized, "Gekkoukan High School students!" Granted I got the attention of every person in the station, but at least I got those two to stop a moment so I could catch up. Smiling, I quicken my pace toward them as they remove their really sweet headphones from their ears. Man are these people polite, are my thoughts before I, rather unceremoniously, yank out my earbuds as well. "I am sorry for yelling, but I saw the logos on your backpack. Uh. Please tell me you are going for Gekkoukan High School." The girl was the first to turn and look at me, and boy, she was pretty. Red eyes might bother some people, but that smile she just flashed at me. I could totally live with that. "Your Japanese isn't too bad for a foreigner."

Of course, being the idiot I am, I didn't even realize that I spent several moments doing nothing but stare at her, not her body or making eye-contact, just staring. It wasn't until she started playing with the helm of her skirt of a faint blush did I snap out of it, "I am so sorry. I did not mean to stare like that. It is just, you look like someone I just dreamed of- I totally did not mean for it to sound like the way it did." As her blush deepened, the gentleman beside her spun around to face me so quickly, he nearly headbutted me in the face. I have no idea why he's trying to smile, it's not like it's fooling anyone. "I would appreciate it if you didn't make such advancements toward my sister (SHIT!)."

"I am so sorry. Would it help if I said that it was really bad dream- I should just stop talking now and pray that you both have the kindness in your hearts to forgive me and show me where the dorms are and not leave me in an alleyway to be murdered." Smiling nervously as the young man deadpans at me. Several moments pass as the girl shift uncomfortably at our stationary and silent figures. Holding out an open hand with a broad grin, "Dark Phatiamos, pleasure to meet you." Glaring at me a bit longer, the young man shakes my hand, "Minato Arisato"

"Minako Arisato" His rather attractive sister chimes in with a bubbly smile. Smiling back, I extend my left hand to offer her a handshake. Midway through the three-way handshake I could feel a familiar pulse in the air. That's not possible. It's not nine o'clock yet... Time zones. I guess they do matter. Before this moment, even as the wave of shimmering air began to transform people into coffins and disable electrical stuff, it had never occurred to me to find out what would happen if I were holding hands with someone as they turned. Please don't let me accidentally murder these two kids due to time paradox. More importantly, please don't let this count as embedding a body part in something solid like those video games, I really don't want to lose the use of my good hand. As the familiar feeling of cold wash over me, I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe some crunching noise, intense pain, even stiffness would have been normal. Instead I felt an increase in pressure. Opening one eye, I can see not one but both siblings staring back at me like I was some kind of zoo animal. Minato was first to find his voice, "How are you still here?"

"Brother, why is Phatiamos-san not in a coffin?"

"... Screw this. Either of you two have a knife? I am way too tired to put up with this weirdness right now. Nevermind! I have my own."

Several minutes were spent by the siblings in an effort to stop me from strangling myself with my own wallet chain, I would have gone with swallowing the keys on the clip attached to my side, but that's just going to take to long. Giving in to their demands, we spent the time paradox walking to the dorms and chatting. Apparently the twins, brother and sister with different hair and eye color, were like me and grew up with this temporal condition. While they got to brag about how they get sleep an hour longer than me, I got to brag about how I could steal doughnuts and sandwiches for breakfast.

Having won that contest, we walk in silence until I finally got fed up with their game. "Minako. Minato. It's not usually like me to be like this, but if you really want to ask me something, you can. Pretending to be interested in me while trying to figure out what my motives are for your sister or whether or not I'm trustworthy, that just ends up irritating me." Taking a few more steps forward, I whirl around to see their reactions and it was delicious. Shame and embarrassment on Minako's while Minato tried to hide his shame and anger with indifference. "Be honest with me, where you surprised that I read you reading me or was it the fact that you couldn't read me? I'm thinking it is from both groups." Minako was first to respond, "B-being caught."

"Both, but mostly because you are hard to read."

"No worries! I'm really good at hiding me. Look, I'm going to be nice and give you both a freebie. For today only, you can both ask me one question and I will answer as truthfully as I can. Minato first."

"Can I, no, we trust you?" I shrug nonchalantly, "If you want to. I'm not saying I'm not going to hit on your beautiful sister now and then. First it will mostly be out of spite, but as we get to know each other I might get serious or stop entirely. Let's just take this relationship of ours one step at a time. Though," Leaning up to him with a mischievous smirk, "If I stop flirting with your sister, can I flirt with you. Minako is lovely, but you are not so bad either." His reaction of freaking out, backpedaling, and tripping over his own feet was priceless.

"Ano? P-Phatiamos-san? I-I have a question." Getting a few more chuckles in, I'm still smiling when I turn to face Minako, "Yes?"

"I wanted to ask why you're wearing that one glove on your left hand?" And that instantly killed my jovial mood. Sticking my left hand into my duster's pocket, but unfortunately I couldn't hide the look of shame or pain on my face. Gasping, "I-I'm sorry. If it's really that bad-"

"It is. I might talk about it someday with someone. But right now, I would rather trick you into smiling for me and then getting beat up by your brother." For a while Minako did nothing but stand there, playing with the helm of her skirt, and taking an incredible interest with the pavement. Raising an eyebrow, I watch her take a few breaths before smiling at me, no. She was smiling for me. Placing a hand on her shoulder, I gently bump my temple against her's, "Just until the next Twilight Zone, I promise to stop teasing your brother. Anyways! Come on guys. If we don't hurry up, you'll miss out on sleep!"

Saying that I wasn't intimidated by the image of a pitch black dorm in the middle of a time paradox where water turns into something that hasn't happen since the Book of Exodus, would be pure bullshit. I would be pissing myself if I didn't have the good sense to empty out my bladder before getting on that long train ride.

While the twins fumbled around looking for their keys, I just unclipped the key-ring from my belt-loop and unlock the door. Turning around to look at my travelling companions, "Guys, the door is open." Before walking through first. I know, I should have held the door open for the Minako, but I did promise to stop teasing her brother for the day. And I read somewhere that women in Japan still aren't used to ye olde fashion chivalry. Far be it for me to make either of them feel uncomfortabl-

"You are late. I was waiting for you for a long while."

Turning around so quickly I could feel the start of whiplash forming, I barely needed to scan the dark room to find the speaker. It was a boy in black-and-white pajamas with blue eyes and pale complexion, he couldn't have been older than my youngest cousin. So maybe ten or so. Resting his elbows in the counter, he slowly pushes something toward, "If you wish to continue, please sign your name here." Opening the thin red leather book to reveal a contract, "Please don't worry. All it says is that you will take full responsibility for your actions. I'm sure you understand, the usual stuff."

'I, the signer of this document, in sound body and mind, give my word that I shall, from this point hence, take full responsibly of my decisions from this point hence.'

Considering that this may very well not be the worst thing I have ever signed, I pull my hand out of my side pocket and retrieve a fountain pen from one of the many inner pockets and signed my name. About to hand it back to him, I grabs my wrist to stop me.

"I also need at least two witnesses." Pointing at two blank spaces near the bottom. Wow, this place is really careful about foreigners isn't it? As luck should have it, the Arisato twins show up finally. Explaining the situation to them, the readily agree to sign as my witness. After signing and dating, I gently close the contract to hand it back to the boy behind the counter, but apparently he somehow made his way beside me without me or either Arisato twin noticing. If it wasn't so frickin' scary, I'd be rather impressed. Taking the contract, he just stares at it for a moment before hugging it, the same way I did whenever I need comfort from my teddy bear.

"No one can escape time, it delivers us all to the same end..." Making eye-contact with me, he holds the contract up to his face before slowly turning it sideways. Call me crazy at this point, but I think I can see it vanish... ing. "You can't plug your ears or cover your eyes." Opening his fingers, to show that the devil himself has just acquired my name. Raising his hand, he slowly sweeps it to his side and bows to me.

"And so, it begins..." At this point, if I didn't know better, I would say that the shadows in the room gathered into one being just long enough to devour the boy, because where there once was a person is now an empty space.

Dazed and worried, I didn't even notice my music player started up again. It wasn't until I heard the chorus did I realize why Minako was pulling the back of my duster.

Danger! Danger!

"Phatiamos-san?"

High voltage!

"Dareda?"

Blinking a few times, my eyes were greeted with a pair sexy thighs. Reaching behind my glasses to massage my eyes a bit, the next image I see was the thighs again, but this time I can see a holster and a glint off the moonlight. Deadpanning, I look up to see a rather pretty brunette looking at the three of us like we had just broken into her... Crap... Okay Dark. You can deal with this. She's got a gun holstered, shaking in what I hope is excitement and not fear. Furnitures all around you for cover. And if you dodge, she's probably going to hit one of the twins. Do not S.W.A.G. it.

Slowly holding up my left hand, I move into a narrow stance and pray she fires from that fine hip... FOCUS! Dropping the volume of my voice to almost a whisper, "Calm down. We are not here to harm you." Taking advantage of the distraction and blind spot, my right hand reaches under my duster for the long, narrow tube in my rear pants pocket. I could feel the balls of my feet pressing against the ground. As soon as I saw her reach for the gun, I launched myself forward.

That was the plan, but I ended up tripping over my own feet and faceplanting. The reason? At the exact moment he grabbed her gun and I started to move, a voice shattered the silent stand-off.

"Takeba, wait!" The disembodied voice might have said something else, but I was busy getting acquainted with the wonder carpeting when a low, soft buzzing reached my ears. A soft crystalline 'tink', followed by Minako squee-ing, told me the electricity was back. Standing up and hoping my nose didn't break, I look up to see who just spoke.

On the stairs was the pretty little brunette in a pink... sweater? cara-whatchamacallit? and the gun. From the other side of the room was...

She's a killer queeee-en!

That was absolutely dead on. If the one on the stair is pretty, the newcomer was gorgeous. Her long red hair ended in a gentle wave near her waist. Everything about her: from the way she walked toward us, how she was standing, down to the way she looked at us, screamed 'regal'. Standing up, I was close enough to hear the first girl, Takeba, I think, breathe a sigh of relief. And judging from the smiling, the other girl is probably a role model, someone she looks up to.

"I *something* think you*something* arrived so late. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo. I'm one of the students living in this dorm."

"Dark Phatiamos. Pleased to meet you." Offering her a small bow before remembering the twins were behind me, "And the two behind me is the Arisato twins, Minato and Minako."

The two probably waved or something, I have no idea since I can't see behind me. I can hear Takeba and Mitsuru talking about something, but only being able to catch the word 'transfer student' I took it as a safe bet that it was about me and it was something Takeba wasn't too happy with.

"Mitsuru-senpai. (I was so close with the role model guess) Is it okay for him to be here?" Mitsuru smiled, "I guess * something* see..." Turning to me, "This is Yukari Takeba, she will be junior in spring, just like you."

At the introduction, Yukari bows rather rigidly, "... Hey."

"Nice to meet you Yukari-san." With as pleasant a smile as I could muster.

"Uh, y-yeah... Nice to meet you too." At this this time, the smile looked genuine.

Behind us, Minako started to yawn. Apparently that was enough for Mitsuru-senpai, "It's getting late. You guys should get some rest. Dark-kun and Minato-kun, your rooms are on the second floor. Minako-kun's will be on the first. Your belongings should already be there."

Yukari turns around and takes a step up, "I'll show you the way. Follow me."

As Yukari lead us to our rooms, Minako was first to be dropped off. The way she was waving good night to her brother, you'd think they were separated by the Pacific. Minato's room was right at the start of the hallway on the second floor. Mine was all the way at the end. By a window. The kind of room where students in horror movies would see hands or faces at the window. Fuck that! First chance I get, I'm sticking a giant flowering fern or cactus right there. Mostly because I'm mildly sure Mitsuru is the punishing sort if I should break or brick up that window. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Yukari laugh at something. Giving her an amused smile, Only fair to meet a fake laugh with fake amusement. Who does she think she's fooling? Dropping the key into my hand, "Oh yeah, make sure you don't lose your key or you will never hear the end of it. Any questions?"

"Does that kid live here too?"

"What kid? (fear?) What are you talking about? (more fear?) ...C'mon, it's not funny." Ah ha! She's scared of ghosts! FUCK! I MET A GHOST! AND THE LITTLE SHIT HAS MY NAME! Looking back at Yukari, I notice she is looking at me with concern. Before I could make a witty retort, "Hey... Can I ask you something? On your way here from the station, was everything alright?"

"Outside of getting lost and panicking until I met the Arisato twins, the ride was alright."

Giving me another genuine smile, "It seems like you're alright. Well, I should get going."

"Good night." Bobbing my head to allow her to leave without feeling awkward, I turn around and begin to unlock my door, I can hear her stop about a door away.

"Um... I'm sure you have other questions, but let's save them for later, okay? Good night." Lingering in the hallway a bit longer until I can no longer hear her footsteps I finally enter my room. It wasn't bad at all. Plenty of space, shelves, desk with rolly-chair, bed with sheets and things, and even a calender. I don't even bother with th light before tossing my duster on top of the bed, I just plop onto the chair. Letting out a yelp, I fish out metal tube the length of a pen that just tried to violate me. Placing it on the desk, I exhale loudly and unsling my backpack from my chest. Fishing out a rather tiny old and battered tan teddy bear. Giving it a childish hug, I gently lay it on top of the desk. Removing five novels and placing it besides the bear, I finally find what I was looking for. A rectangular wooden box that rattled every time it moved. Flipping the box over and slowly sliding out the bottom, I carefully retrieve six metal tubes and a small bag of sharpened metal tips from the collection of ball bearings. Rolling over the bed where brought my suitcase, open the top, and pulled back the cloth flap to reveal a folding cork dartboard, as well as two packages of reusable poster putty. As I place the two empty containers back, I push off the side of the bed and roll back to the desk to put my darts together.

The world can sleep and dream all they want. But you can't have nightmares if you don't sleep. Attaching the last fin in place, I give one of them a test throw and easily score a bullseye. Picking up a dart with my left hand, I was dismayed to hear the dart clatter on the ground. Staring at my hand for bit as I stiffly try to flex them, I carefully remove the leather glove. Placing my arm onto a patch of moonlight on my desk, I can see the bandages were still in place with no discoloration. A quick sniff on the other hand told me that it should be changed soon.

... It could wait until tomorrow. How many other chances will get, to play darts in the moonlight without someone complaining about the noise.

The rest of the night was spent with me scoring bullseyes and wondering if there will a tournament in the area with a money prize.

Author's notes: I finally started writing again, after a lot of encouragement from friends. Sorry about the constant change in spacing, I'm still working on finding my style. I guess I should point out the obvious: Dark is the MC, he does a lot of internal monologues, and is somewhat nutty to say the least. His main language is not Japanese which why there are some grammatical errors as he's trying to translate it in his head, but that will be solved soon. I'm also sticking with the names Minato and Minako. While most of this is through his perspective there will be moments where the perspectives change, but unless I forget I will indicate who is the person viewing the events. Um, that's about it. Please comment and help me grow as a writer.