Fenrir's Masquerade Chapter 2: A New Life, a Persona Series + Dangan Ronpa Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei Crossover fanfic

4/7

Mukuro had been busy finishing up in front of her mirror when she heard a crisp knocking at her door.

"Hey," Yukari's voice called from behind the door. "It's me, Yukari. You awake yet?"

"I am, yes," Mukuro replied, her attention on her reflection as she slipped her fingerless gloves on, turning and doing a few poses in her Gekkoukan uniform and running her fingers through her sidelocks to ensure everything was in place. "Come in."

The door opened and Yukari, already dressed for school in the uniform and pink cardigan she'd had the previous night entered, but looking in a far better mood, now. "Good morning! You sleep well?" she asked. "Since Mitsuru-senpai wanted me to bring you to school, I thought I'd check in and see if you were up and ready to go."

Mukuro nodded silently. "I've spent years regulating sleep patterns and following a specific schedule," she replied.

"Very efficient of you," Yukari said, managing a smile though wondering what Mukuro had been referring to. "I guess I don't need to worry, then."

Mukuro had indeed taken every detail immaculately. Her black, white-trimmed Gekkoukan uniform blazer with the school's black and white circular school emblem on the left breast over her pressed white collared blouse, the red bow tied evenly, her black skirt's buttons properly aligned, with black stockings and shoes all to ensure she looked perfectly presentable, especially as she'd been told to make a good first impression before leaving for Iwatodai. Still, Yukari's attention came to one detail.

"The gloves again?" she asked. "I don't mean to impose but I'm not sure the school would... Oh..." She went quiet as Mukuro hiked up her right glove slightly, showing the edge of the tattoo underneath.

"Um, yeah, I guess it's not my business to ask, but that would probably raise some questions from your teachers," she said, before her face lit up. "Hey, I got some foundation in my room, if you wanna cover it up you wouldn't have to resort to gloves all day, how's that sound?"

Mukuro paused, thinking for a moment. Admittedly, it would have made her stand out a little less, and allow her skin to breathe a little more. Having decided, she gave Yukari a nod. "I appreciate it."

Yukari smiled a little. "Sure thing! If you like there's a mall near the school if you wanna get some for yourself once classes are over. I'll be right back!"

Within moments, Yukari returned with a small container of flesh-tone foundation and a pad. As she looked expectantly at Mukuro to remove her gloves, the dark-haired girl frowned a bit.

"...I'll handle it on my own," she said.

"...You sure?" Yukari asked, concerned.

"This... has a story behind it. When I feel like sharing it, I'll let you see it then," Mukuro replied. While Yukari didn't appear to know of her story and past life before arriving here, and didn't come across the type who'd know about Fenrir, the teen had preferred not to take chances for the time being.

"Oh... alright, then. Hope it works," Yukari said with an understanding nod as she handed the container and pad to the other girl. Opening it and heading to her sink, Mukuro removed her gloves entirely and dabbed the pad in the foundation before applying it over her Fenrir tattoo, and seconds later, it was gone, the foundation blending seamlessly with her fair complexion.

"Thank you, Takeba," she said, giving a faint smile as she handed Yukari her foundation back.

"Hey, anytime!" Yukari said with a smile. "Now let's get going! We don't wanna be late!"

The monorail out to the island Gekkoukan High sat on was surprisingly sparse in passengers, which had allowed for some more peace on Mukuro's part as she sat beside Yukari in an empty seat. The other girl seemed more enthusiastic and had noted how quiet Mukuro had been, the other girl for the most part glancing back and having her attention on the windows.

"Pretty crazy, huh? Taking the monorail to get to school. Bet your last school wasn't like this, was it?" Yukari joked.

Mukuro could only give a faint smile barely hiding her amusement at how Yukari may have reacted if she knew the full details of her past. "...I was privately tutored at home, actually," she said, choosing not to elaborate further.

"I see," said Yukari. "Well, you definitely don't wanna miss this part of the ride if you're gonna keep looking out the window. It's my favorite, actually... you feel like you're just gliding over the sea, you know?"

"Like being on a helicopter or an aircraft," Mukuro mused as she looked down at the sea far below.

"Huh? When were you on one of those?" Yukari asked, surprised by Mukuro's response.

Mukuro blinked, while she didn't think much of the part where she'd be riding in one, there was certainly a rush to dive into the open sky before opening her parachute, knowing exactly the right time to open it to ensure safe descent but still take in the experience. Still, she realized she'd probably said a little too much. Using space jumping as an excuse probably would have led to more questions so she went with the simplest answer she could come up with on the fly. "I traveled a lot, and been abroad, Takeba. So... flying isn't new to me."

"Oh, okay," Yukari seemed to buy her explanation. The girl looked down at the floor a moment as she mulled over how stoic the other girl had been. "...Hey, if I'm coming off a bit much, I apologize. I'm sorry about last night and all, I think I got us off on the wrong foot with other things going on, so I was hoping maybe we can just start over if that's alright with you?" she asked, a little nervous.

Mukuro looked over at her. Given they were living in the same dorm and going to school together, it would have made things easier to try and get along. While Mukuro wasn't someone who really had friends so much as acquaintances and teammates growing up, bad blood always caused problems one way or another in any sort of unit or shared space. Furthermore, it seemed the brunette was making a genuine effort to befriend her. It was an odd feeling, but the young mercenary decided she may as well give her a chance. "It's fine with me," she said with a small, but genuine smile.

Yukari smiled, relieved. "I really appreciate that, thank you," she said. "Shouldn't be too much longer. Our stop is Port Island Station at the end of the line, We'll walk from there. Were you told anything about Tatsumi Port Island before you got here, by any chance?"

Mukuro shook her head silently. "Nothing, just that it was near Odaiba and it's where my school would be."

"Well, apparently it's a man-made island, and the school was built right in the middle!" Yukari explained, her eyes suddenly going wide with realization as she got up. "Other window!" she ordered, Mukuro getting up and followed her across. "Thought so! Right there you can see it. That big building."

Mukuro leaned over, gazing out the window and finding the building Yukari was pointing to as the monorail sped ever closer to its destination. The young soldier took a deep breath. She'd been in many situations that would have spelt death with the slightest mistake, plenty of times alone. This, however, was unknown to her, having not been to a real school since she was six, but this was certain to be very, very different.

Sis, you were always the smart, social one... what would you do? she wondered to herself with a bit of bitterness as she felt she could really use that set of skills right now over what she herself had.

Upon arriving, she could see Yukari was apparently quite popular at school. It seemed a lot of the girls and even a few boys greeted her upon arrival, when they weren't looking at her in curiosity likely due to being a new face, though Yukari did remark Mukuro could stand to loosen up just a little.

"Am I coming off as tense?" she asked.

"Kind of," said Yukari. "You look like you're expecting to be attacked or something."

"I'll try to work on that," replied Mukuro, closing her eyes and taking a breath through her nose. The pleasant aromas of the spring air and the trees and gardens beyond the gate did make her relax a little. None of the usual scents she'd handle on missions, or the strange phenomenon that had occurred the previous evening, either. It was relieving for her, actually, that it allowed her tension to fade for now.

"Yeah, they definitely keep the place looking in top shape, that's for certain!" Yukari giggled. "I love taking in the fresh air, myself. Honestly, though, I think you'll love it here at Gekkoukan High!"

Mukuro stared at the building before her. Past the polished, open iron gates, the pink cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, an earth-tone pavement leading up to the marble steps of the three-story school, a structure of white marble with large columns reaching to the roof and separating three double-doors under rows of windows Mukuro gathered making up its lobby area, spreading off into window-lined hallways of its three floors. Nearby, peering over the trees, Mukuro made out the shapes of gazebos and buildings resembling those she'd recalled from what she knew of Ancient Greece neighboring the main building. Several paths splintered out into the green gardens, presumably to said buildings.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?" she heard Yukari ask next to her. "C'mon, I'll show you to the lockers and we'll get one assigned for you..."

With a nod, Mukuro followed Yukari inside in silence.

Having been assigned her locker for the year, Mukuro and Yukari parted ways, the other girl telling her to head to bulletin board to get her room assignment, then go to the Faculty Office down the left hallway, and to keep quiet about anything regarding last night's alleged blackout. Mukuro already having a plan set for if the strange incident the past night happened again, she chose to oblige for now. Yet, still, thoughts on that evening were still on her mind.

A strange darkness that brought on the nightmarish visage...

The moon unusually close and emitting an unearthly green glow...

Blood-like substance filling the streets, spattered about on every surface...

Upright coffins where people once were, giving off an odd red glow...

A deathly silence, sometimes cut only by screams of terror as if something else were there...

The boy she encountered in the dorm when she'd arrived...

She was certain Yukari and Mitsuru had seen it, too. If it happened again, she'd question them about it then. Yukari seemed nice, and sincere in trying to befriend her, which made her wonder why she was avoiding the subject. It was possible Mitsuru didn't want her to say anything. With any luck, she'd find out.

Checking the bulletin board, Mukuro spotted a note tacked on with her name on it, listing her as being in Class F on the second floor. Further examination showed her Yukari would be in her class as well.

Good to know.

That part of the mission out of the way, Mukuro turned and made her way down the hallway behind her, raising an eyebrow in curiosity at one of the teachers in the hall wearing what looked to be an old samurai helmet ranting at a befuddled, foreign-looking boy with a fan about how every man must have a passionate samurai spirit within them.

"Fantastic! The way of Bushido are as important then as now!" the blond, foreign boy asked, his Japanese carrying a noticeable European accent to it.

"You! Young lady!" the teacher in the helmet suddenly said, pointing at Mukuro, causing her to pause in her tracks. "That look in your eyes, the way you carry yourself, I see a warrior's spirit within you as well! You see, young man... boy or girl, that is the soul we must look for within ourselves!" he explained, glancing back at the boy he was talking to before looking back at her again. "Do you agree that is imperative to accomplishing great things in this land?"

Mukuro blinked a moment as the teacher looked expectantly for an answer from her, wondering how she got drawn into this, and wondering if he'd been able to assess this from her from one look or simply seeking validation from the nearest person on his side of whatever debate he was having. It wasn't why she'd chosen the life she had, which left her uncertain of how to respond.

"For those who have that goal in mind, I imagine so," she replied.

The teacher folded his arms. "A good answer, but we all should. You're young, and you have your whole life ahead of you! Don't regard it as something to throw away or take so lightly!"

Mukuro gave a silent nod, relieved the teacher quickly resumed conversation with the foreign boy as she continued to the Faculty Office, which from the signs indicated was nearby, giving one last glance back at the samurai enthusiast teacher. If he had figured her out, he still had no idea her reason for such a path.

Even with the school bustling with activity, Mukuro felt alone in a sea of faces. She'd overheard some of the students' hopes and wishes, she remembered what others with Fenir had wished of her before she came here, but she herself, someone who could track enemies, infiltrate places, had knowledge of how to take lives quickly... felt completely lost. Normal just didn't feel right without her family there with her, it'd been part of why she'd turned her back to it years ago.

"Where is it... this place, I swear..."

Mukuro paused again, noticing a timid-looking girl with short dark brown hair looking frantically around, muttering to herself about trying to find the library.

Being lost and looking for a place with all kinds of answers, Mukuro thought to herself in bitter amusement as she could relate to that before continuing on her way, eyeing every sign before finally finding the one labeled as her intended destination.

Sliding open the door and stepping in, Mukuro found the place to be rather packed. Desks and tables covered with drawers, folders, and paperwork were everywhere, a dry erase board on the wall with several notes scribbled on it. The only occupant, however, was a woman who looked at the end of her twenties dressed in a pink business suit and chin-length light brown hair gathering her notes at her desk.

"Excuse me?" Mukuro spoke, deciding to break the ice, prompting the woman to look her way.

"Oh, are you the new student?" the woman asked, flipping through a folder she slid from the stack she was holding. "...Mukuro Ikusaba, second-year, correct? I was told to wait for you, here. Hang on..."

She flipped through the notes. "Seems you've traveled a lot for someone who was privately tutored and... homeschooled, it seems. Ever since 1999, that was... ten years ago, after your family..."

The woman shuddered a little, her grip on her notes loosening slightly in embarrassment. "...I'm so sorry... I've been so busy I didn't have time to read over everything," she said, visibly ashamed. "...But still, allow me to welcome you to our school. I'm Ms. Toriumi, I teach Composition."

"It's fine. Pleased to meet you," Mukuro replied politely, making a small bow as she remembered her etiquette.

The teacher, Ms. Toriumi raised an eyebrow at the girl. Though polite, there was something off about her she couldn't quite place. Managing a polite smile of her own, Toriumi found her voice quickly. "Well, it's good to see you're well-mannered. I could use more girls like you in my class. 2-F, the one you'll be in, which is actually my homeroom," she explained. "...But before that we need to go to the auditorium first for the Welcoming Ceremony, so follow me..."

"As you begin your school year," the aging Principal of the school droned on. "...I'd like each of you to remember the proverb, "If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well"! Now, when applied to student life..."

With his stout, practically round shape, plump face, tiny round coke bottle glasses, and white lampshade mustache and hairstyle that seemed parted in the front and slicked in the back, completing his look with an old brown suit, Mukuro fought the boredom of his phoned-in, disinterested lecture with contemplation of how the man ever expected to be taken seriously and why he has not retired yet given his apparent age as she sat in her chair, arms folded and legs stretched to where her feet were under the chair in front of her.

"Hey! There she is!" Mukuro heard a girl whisper from nearby.

"The transfer student? Yeah, I saw her come in with Yukari Takeba!" another girl whispered, now getting Mukuro's full attention as she glanced over in the direction of the whispers, which were close by enough she could hear them over the Principal's ongoing lecture.

"Hey! I hear talking," an older, male voice said nearby in a sharp, hushed tone. "...I hear it's someone in Ms. Toriumi's class."

"Hey! You trying to get me in trouble? Be quiet!" she heard Toriumi respond.

Mukuro's expression hardened as she gave a glance back at the source of all the whispers, they went quiet briefly, but started up again soon after she returned her attention to the Principal who was still talking. Between his dull lecture and gossip being whispered regarding her, she really wished she could just switch on her music player right now.

What was even the point, really, she thought to herself as she slouched slightly, her gaze flickering up towards the dim lights above and defying everything her training taught her about attentive position. First chance she got after graduation, she'd put herself in harm's way in some conflict or another again. She'd coped with the emptiness she didn't see likely to be refilled after ten years of trying, and being in the heat of combat, with enough dignity left to want death to earn her. That strange experience last evening lingered in her mind, the screams that warned the presence of an unknown enemy possibly stalking her on her way to the dormitory at least, looking back, was about the closest thing to feeling alive she'd experienced in a while.

The thought of that brought a small smirk to her face.

The thoughts persisted her all the way through the remainder of the day. Mukuro had gone through the motions of the formalities that came with introducing herself, and during lunch period had bought a sandwich at the vendors and found a spot to be alone for the time being, relieved to finally be able to listen to her music for a while until class began again, passing by just as the subjects before it had.

With the ring of the bell, Mukuro gave a sigh of relief and began getting her things together.

"'Sup, dude!?"

Mukuro instinctively turned to the source of the voice behind her. "Dude?" she asked, confused by the term as the speaker was, by her observation, clearly addressing her.

"Haha! You look like a deer in the headlights right now!" the boy who'd addressed her said, grinning in amusement at her confused look.

"Do I?" she asked. Mukuro recognized him making it into class a few minutes late, and looking ready to nod off a few times during. He was fairly tall and a bit on the lanky side with a bit of unshaven facial hair on his chin, his uniform blazer open revealing a collared blue dress shirt underneath and a belt with a silver buckle and chain hanging of it, his buzzcut dark hair was covered under a black baseball cap.

"A little, yeah," the boy replied.

"Well, "dude" isn't something I'm usually addressed by. Is there something you need?" Mukuro asked.

"Eh, just thought I'd say hi," the boy said, sliding his hands in his pockets. "Mukuro Ikusaba, right? Name's Junpei. Junpei Iori. I actually moved out here when I was in 8th grade, so figured I'd check up on you. Being new around here and fitting in ain't exactly easy, is it?"

Mukuro wasn't entirely certain how to respond. Perhaps it was due to social interaction with peers her age wasn't something she'd done in years, even before the accident. She was used to listening, following orders, or being briefed on whatever task she was about to undertake and being on her own for the rest of it, and her stoic demeanor she'd developed over the years had made the last part mostly by choice. Luckily, however, Yukari had approached to handle the matter.

"At it again?" she asked, standing beside Mukuro and folding her arms disapprovingly. "Is there any girl you won't flirt with? Ever think she doesn't need that right now and you're bothering her?"

The boy, Junpei, looked taken aback by Yukari's complaint. "What? I was just bein' friendly."

"If you say so," Yukari muttered, rolling her eyes a bit before turning her attention to Mukuro. "Quite a coincidence we wound up in the same homeroom, huh?"

"Luck, I suppose," the dark-haired girl replied, giving a small smile.

"Hey, I'm glad too!" Yukari said with a small giggle. "Nice that things turned out that way."

"Um, hey! Helloooo!" Junpei interrupted. "I'm still standin' here and we're in the same class, too! Again!"

"Unfortunately," Yukari remarked dryly.

"Hey, c'mon, Yuka-tan! We've practically known eachother for years!" Junpei protested indignantly.

"You two know eachother?" Mukuro remarked, a little surprised. From what she knew so far of either of them, they didn't seem the type who'd be close. Then again, she mused, she and her sister were pretty opposite but still had been very close.

"We've pretty much been in the same class every year. Crazy, huh?" Junpei said with a laugh as he scratched the back of his head while Yukari rolled her eyes again and sighed as Junpei turned his attention to her. "...Speakin' of which, how do you guys know each other? I was hearin' about you and Ikusaba here arrivin' together this morning!"

"Is Takeba escorting a transfer student to school really the most exciting rumor this place could spread on a first day?" Mukuro asked, confused.

"...Well, to put it in perspective since you're new... Takeba's pretty popular, second to Kirijo if you count the other grades," Junpei explained. "...Annnnd if I may say, you're pretty cute yourself, so... two top-tier cuties arriving at school side-by-side? Can't be too surprised the whole class is buzzin' about'cha!"

"Already?!" Yukari protested. "I can't stand rumors. I can take them, sure, but she just got here, you know? She doesn't need this!" Mukuro herself could feel the redness form on her face from their words. Was that what she got for trying to loosen up as Yukari advised? Being complimented on her looks wasn't exactly something she was used to.

Yukari seemed to notice, however, putting her hand on Mukuro's shoulder reassuringly. "Hey, you alright?" she asked.

Mukuro took a breath, hoping to get some of the tingling redness out of her face she could still feel. "I'm fine. Just took me off guard, I suppose."

Junpei smirked, looking ready to say something but Yukari raised her finger with a warning, stopping him.

"Takeba?" Mituru's voice suddenly called with a knock on the classroom's door frame, prompting the three of them to turn their attention to her as she stood in the door frame, arms folded. "...You have a minute?"

"I do have Archery Club stuff to handle," Yukari began.

"It won't be long," replied Mitsuru.

Yukari nodded quietly. "Alright..." She made her way to join her, only to pause and look back at Junpei with a stern glare. "...Don't try anything funny, Junpei. Got it?"

"Sheesh, what are you, her nanny?" Junpei grumbled as Yukari and Mitsuru left together before looking back at Mukuro finding his smile once more. "Hey, just to clear something up, I didn't come over to flirt or anything. Have any problems, feel free to share 'em with your new pal, Junpei!"

"I'll keep that in mind," Mukuro replied, resuming putting her things back in her schoolbag.

"Oh, by the way, you heard Yuka-tan talking about Archery Club, well, dunno which clubs you're plannin' to join, there's plenty of all-girls ones if you'd prefer," Junpei added.

"Maybe I'll join her in the Archery Club," Mukuro mused. She did know how to use a compound bow, and getting to use one, she thought, would be a good way to let off steam and keep her skills sharp.

"Ooh, sorry! All the clubs centered around the real fun stuff... Boxing, Judo, archery, fencing. First two're boys only, the others're already filled up like always. Happens pretty fast with 'em," Junpei said apologetically, noticing the disappointment on the girl's face. "Oh, heh! All those sound like your thing, too, huh?"

"You could say that," Mukuro replied. She had training in each, in some form or another. Fenrir did make sure its members had a range of proficiencies, after all. It seemed, here, however, none of the things in her zone of experience or comfort were currently available to her.

"That's kinda cool! Not often I meet a girl who's into all that!" Junpei said with an approving smirk. "...Hey, I'm sure there's somethin' left that'll be up your alley, though! Just know you'd be joinin' as a new member so you'd have to wait a little before applying."

That had been a relief to know, as far as Mukuro was concerned. If the school expected her to join anything, she'd rather have the extra time to decide on something or if fate was generous provide an opening in one of the ones Junpei had mentioned.

"So, headin' home? The dorms're on the way to my place, how 'bout I walk you back?" Junpei offered, before throwing his hands up hastily with a sheepish smile. "No worries, I promised Yuka-tan no funny stuff, and Junpei Iori keeps his promises! Just it bein' your first time here and you bein' new to the area n' all, figured it'd be better then walkin' back alone, right?"

Mukuro folded her arms, examining the boy. Junpei seemed well-meaning enough even if he was a little overbearing, and he did make a valid point it'd be easier to get a feel of the way back with no one pestering her if he came along, and she was more then certain she could overpower him easily anyway. "...You don't think people would talk seeing us together?"

"Eh, doubt it!" Junpei said, giving a dismissive wave. "I ain't exactly as much the big man of the campus or anythin' as I'd like..."

Mukuro noticed he seemed a little bothered by the observation, but seemed to be brushing it aside. Mukuro didn't press, it was no concern of hers, anyway. "In that case, I'm fine to leave, now."

"Alright! Don'cha worry! I'll have you back in no time!"

Mukuro paused. "Actually, Takeba mentioned a mall on the island?" she asked, recalling wanting to pick up some makeup foundation for concealing her Fenrir tattoo for school.

"Paulownia Mall? Yeah I know where that's at. Need somethin' from there?" Junpei asked.

"Yes, I do. I'd like to go there first if you don't mind," she replied, not elaborating.

Junpei's face lit up with a proud grin. "No problem! Just follow me!" he declared, leading the way out of the classroom and into the halls as they made their way do the entrance together.

Meanwhile, tension was strong in one of the Gekkoukan High private offices.

"It's pretty unusual to see you at school, Chairman," Yukari said, Her hands on her lap and knees pressed together as she sat on one of the plush green sofas of the office, attempting to hide her unease while Mitsuru sat across from her on an adjacent sofa, reading in silence.

Next to them, at an old wooden desk that made up one of the few meager décor of the otherwise sparsely furnished office, sat a man in his forties, his long dusty brown hair showing signs of graying and wire glasses framing his gentle eyes accompanying his soft smile, wearing a casual khaki-colored suit and blazer over a black turtleneck.

"Well," the man said, his tone wispy yet friendly like his appearance would suggest. "...When Kirijo told me about her, I just couldn't contain my curiosity, I understand the young lady gave you a bit of a scare as well!" he explained with a warm chuckle as he looked over the files he was holding.

Yukari sighed. "Can we please move past that?" she asked, exasperated.

"Still, that certainly is noteworthy of her talents. Her file certainly shows she's had quite an eventful life, to say the least!" the chairman replied.

"Still, it happened during the Dark Hour. Does this mean she's also...?" Yukari began.

"It's almost certain," Mitsuru interjected, not peering up from her reading.

"I have to say, though, this Mukuro Ikusaba certainly is a fascinating case!" the chairman stated as he continued to read the files. "She was moved through institutions before finally being taken in when she was entering her teens, only to go missing from her foster parents' custody months later during a business trip in Europe. Prior, she almost never spoke a word, let alone engaged with anyone, as if she'd lost all purpose in life..."

"Oh?" Yukari's curiosity was piqued, glancing over at him a second, before frowning and looking down at her lap, feeling guilty asking about Mukuro's personal details without her permission or sharing them willingly as she remembered the earlier conversation before school. "Um... she did hint at a few things, but didn't seem to want to go into detail on them. She's kind of quiet and seemed on guard a lot... but otherwise, she seems nice. I think we got along pretty well all things considered."

"Well, she's apparently traveled quite a bit, even to Southeast Asia before coming here," the chairman explained, examining a few more pages, including one of Mukuro in what appeared to be some sort of military uniform, brandishing a gun. "You may prefer she share that with you on her own, but for me, it is my business to know exactly who we're dealing with."

The chairman leaned back in his seat, studying the photo. "...That said, even if she has the potential, I'd imagine someone like her would have been less well-adjusted then you and Kirijo have described her," he said, turning the page as he looked at an old family photo of a husband and wife and their two young daughters. One of the girls had dark hair and light blue eyes giving a polite smile, clearly Mukuro at a much earlier age. The other had deep crimson eyes and red hair done up in short pigtails, with a cheerful smile on her face as the two siblings held hands facing the camera in front of their parents. "...She wasn't easy to track, and she's certainly been through a lot. Not just the trauma of losing her whole family, but memory loss and disorientation following the accident surely would have affected her, too..."

"Her... defensive gesture aside," Mitsuru explained. "...She didn't appear in a panicked state, or even particularly afraid when she'd arrived. And when I first saw her, she seemed rather confident she could overpower Takeba or myself with little difficulty in a manner that did not seem foolhardy."

"So you're saying she's... definitely not normal?" Yukari said, feeling another pang of guilt as the words left her, but didn't know how else to describe the girl aside from how she had.

"Possibly," the chairman replied, looking over at the two teens. "...Which brings me to the next matter. Takeba, I'd like you to monitor her activities up close for a while. You've been getting along since this morning, correct? I doubt she'd be as guarded around you as she would Kirijo, here."

Yukari frowned. "Wait, you mean you want me to spy on her?!" she asked, shifting in her seat and discomfort all over her face.

The chairman smiled, closing the file and setting it on the desk as he turned in his chair, resting his elbows on the surface and steepling his fingers as he looked over at her. "Yes, I suppose I do," he said.

"Takeba, I insist you at least skim through this," Mitsuru said, closing what she'd been reading, a copy of the file the chairman had been looking at and holding it out to her.

The younger girl sighed, staring at the closed file the other girl was holding. "I... feel bad doing this... she doesn't know a thing about any of this yet, is that really fair to her?" she asked, thoughts of the progress she'd made with Mukuro still on her mind. Mukuro was a little strange, even intimidating at times, but still it seemed they had started something like a friendship, and now she felt like she was already breaking that trust on top of hiding everything else going on from her.

"Takeba, this is necessary to determine if she is indeed qualified to know," Mitsuru explained. "If she is, then her talents she's acquired would make her invaluable."

"But still..." Yukari frowned, opening the file but remaining fixed on the first page, featuring Mukuro's photo and basic details.

"She bounced from school to school while in the foster system, until being adopted," the chairman explained. "Supposedly, she was privately tutored during the whereabouts she ended up after. As I explained, while in the system, she was described as very quiet and withdrawn. Counseling didn't get anywhere with her, and, as mentioned, she barely ever spoke a word to anyone prior to her, from the looks of it, outright abandoning her foster family."

"What kind of life could she have had...?" Yukari had a feeling the files explained, but stopped herself from looking further.

"It's all right there. I will, however, inform you the car accident that took her family occurred ten years ago," the chairman explained, his gaze growing serious. "...Was during the very accident which happened in this very city back then..."

Yukari shuddered, recalling her own recollection of that evening. Mitsuru, however, remained more composed as she glanced back at the man. "...Quite an odd coincidence."

"Odd, indeed," the chairman stated, an intrigued smile on his face.

"The same accident from ten years ago..." Yukari frowned, her own memories of that day slowly creeping even more into her thoughts despite her efforts.

"You have your orders. Keep quiet about all this for now," the chairman said. "Now, I think I've kept you both here long enough. I'll come by tomorrow evening and we'll assess her potential more closely..."

"Welcome back!" Mukuro heard Yukari call out to her as she entered the dormitory lobby and signed in.

Looking over, she saw Mitsuru reading on the couch, while Yukari was at the dining table with her notes out, presumably studying.

"You're back a little late. It's already evening," Mitsuru stated, gazing up at her from her book.

"I had to pick something up, Iori brought me to the mall," Mukuro said, holding up a plastic bag. "...We grabbed dinner after."

Yukari sighed. "What is it with boys always going after the new girls?" she muttered.

"I wouldn't know," the dark-haired girl replied as she took out her new jar of foundation makeup and applicator pads. "We got some bento boxes and took the monorail back, after."

Yukari chose not to answer, not wishing to say too much from what she skimmed over in the file. Skimming and skipping pages had not made her feel any better about what she'd been ordered to do by the chairman. "Well, glad that all went smoothly. Maybe we can go there again sometime when I'm free, just the two of us, hm?" she offered.

Mukuro gave the girl a curious look, before offering a small smile. "I suppose we could, yes," she said.

"Anyways, it's getting late, and I recall you were up rather late the previous night. We still have school tomorrow so I think it best you turn in for the night," Mitsuru said.

"We'll be turning in soon as well, actually," Yukari chimed in. "We were all up late that night, after all. Stay up too late too often it'll catch up with you."

Mukuro's expression became neutral. It seemed tonight wasn't going to work unless she chose to barge into Mitsuru or Yukari's room late at night if the strange darkness returned and demand answers, and while that was an approach she was more then capable of carrying out, it probably wouldn't have gone in her favor in the long run. Mitsuru seemed to have some degree of authority at the dormitory and as a result likely could have kicked her out at any time if she did something so rash.

Without another word, Mukuro made her way to the stairs.

"Oh, hey, Ikusaba?" Yukari asked.

"Mukuro is fine," the young soldier replied.

"Mukuro... yeah, eating out may cost a bit. I dunno if you know how to cook, but there's some convenience stores around and a kitchen past the bar counter if you ever wanna make something here," Yukari offered. "And hey, just Yukari's fine, by the way."

Admittedly, Mukuro thought, buying food may have been a good idea. Her experience didn't go any further then preparing various military rations, but it would have likely saved on money. She pondered if there were any places that sold those as she made her way upstairs. "I'll keep that in mind," she said, in response to both Yukari's suggestion and insistance on simply using her first name.

No sooner had she began her ascent up to the third floor, Mukuro heard a door open from the second, and footsteps power-walking to the stairs and heading down. It couldn't have been Yukari or Mitsuru, which meant someone else was in the dorm.

Cautious, Mukuro crept back downstairs to the second floor, pressing herself against a wall then carefully moving as close as possible while remaining just away from the balcony enough to remain out of sight.

"I'm going out for a bit," a young male voice said from the lobby.

"Why?" Mitsuru's voice asked as Mukuro listened.

"Well, haven't you seen the news lately?" the young man asked.

Mukuro crept closer as Mitsuru began talking, peering around the corner and spotted a boy downstairs talking with Mitsuru. His back was turned though he had slightly messy light-colored hair and wearing a red sweater-vest over his white uniform dress shirt.

"I have. People who had no problems before are being suddenly struck with acute cases of "Apathy Syndrome," she heard Mitsuru explain to the boy. Mukuro paused a moment, listening further. "They say it's due to an over-abundance of stress, but..."

"Yeah, right!" the boy snapped. "People, perfectly normal people without any history of mental problems or anything of note going on in their lives suddenly becoming unresponsive, barely coherent shells due to stress? It's obviously because of them. It wouldn't be worth my time if it weren't!"

"You really have a one-track mind, you know that? You sure you'll be alright on your own?" Mitsuru asked him.

"Don't worry, just getting a little practice," the boy said reassuringly as he slid on his jacket and made his way to the door.

"Akihiko, this isn't a game!" Mitsuru replied sharply, but the boy responded with nothing other then closing the door behind him as he left. The older girl sighed, pulling her book back up to resume reading "...Please be careful..."

Apathy Syndrome? Mukuro wondered. Thoughts traced back to when she and Junpei were at the mall, earlier. When they'd reached the monorail station, they'd passed by a man who'd shuffled past them in a strange, slouched gait as if he didn't even see them, his eyes fixed in a thousand-yard stare and giving no response other then "It's coming, it's coming," despite Junpei's attempt to get an apology out of him before irritably dismissing him as some drunk.

Quietly making her way back to the stairs leading up, Mukuro resumed her trip back to her room, unlocking the door and shedding off her blazer and blouse before washing the makeup off her hand at the sink.

Thoughts of the conversation and the strange man she and Junpei had encountered on the way back. His behavior had been almost zombielike, and sounded rather similar to what Mitsuru and the boy Akihiko had spoken of. Then there was the matter of this "them" he was referring to.

Sliding on her sleeping clothes, Mukuro ran her fingers through her hair as she stood in front of the mirror, then went over to the window, looking down at the moonlit streets of the evening. People walked about down below, nothing unusual. It didn't change the fact, though, that she was more certain something was being kept from her. Whatever the boy was talking about with Mitsuru, and Yukari had been downstairs as well. Even if she had grown up following orders rather then questioning them, even though she knew she was only here to finish her education, Mukuro could only think about the strange things she'd seen and heard, and if it tied to the equally strange boy she'd met when she'd first arrived that implied it'd all affect her somehow. Those thoughts in mind, she gazed at her closed door with suspicion before closing the curtains.

As Mukuro switched off her light and climbed into bed, her slender hand slid cautiously under her pillow feeling for her sheathed combat knife underneath. The faint sound of a dog or two barking outside was all she heard, now, as the young soldier slowly closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day...

4/8

Mukuro sat quietly on the monorail as it took her from the island, the last golden light of the setting sun fading from the horizon to welcome the evening sky across the city. Mitsuru had sent her off to school on her own that morning, and Yukari's club activities meant she'd be going back alone as well. She didn't mind being by herself so much, but rather the fact they did not engage with her much like the previous day. She'd been too tired to keep herself up the past night, she'd decided to make an attempt to stay up this evening following lights-out.

As the monorail came to her stop, Mukuro stepped out and into the station, making her way back to the dorm. Everything seemed perfectly normal, people were heading home from work or handling errands. A crosswalk turned red before she could reach it, however, prompting her to stop as traffic began to move across the street.

The teen folded her arms, waiting for the lights to change when she heard footsteps nearby, turning, she saw a man in a hoodie enter the crowd, only to continue walking with no apparent plan on stopping. His posture was slouched, his hands hung limply at his side as he silently stepped out into the streets.

Frightened murmurs came out of the waiting pedestrians, one even called out to the man but he ignored them.

A truck honked its horn loudly. Thinking quickly, Mukuro lunged forward, moving as fast as her legs could send her as she flung her arms around the man, her momentum sending them tumbling across the street and to the other side of the crosswalk as the truck drove by, the driver cursing angrily as he passed.

"What's wrong with you? Couldn't you see the warning light?" Mukuro asked angrily as she stood up, glaring down at the man. Her expression fell as she noticed his face.

The man had the same sunken, sleepless eyes locked in a glassy stare that seemed to go past her at the moon as it hung in the sky, his face ghostly pale and his lips slowly mouthing something as he remained where he was seated on the sidewalk.

Mukuro took a step back, it was a different person then the one from last night, but his demeanor, his expression, all of it were the same dull, lifeless nature to them. Mukuro heard the ring of the crosswalk signal changing and people hurried across, likely concerned or simply wishing to see what had happened, and she was in no mood to answer any of this so she immediately slung her bag back over her shoulder and broke into a jog down the sidewalk, slowing down once she'd gotten some distance from the incident and continued on her way.

As she turned to where the dormitory was, however, Mukuro stopped in her tracks again as a girl her age, still in uniform, lumbered by. She saw the girl's face long enough to see that it, too, had the same empty, gaping stare as the girl disappeared around the corner, her neck craned slightly so her vacant gaze was fixated on the sky as well.

What is going on, here? she wondered to herself. In a way, it reminded her of some of those she'd seen in infirmaries who'd suffered post-traumatic stress or psychotic breakdowns that just seemed to shut down entirely from too much time in combat. She knew some were simply not meant for it like she was, but this lacked any explanation aside from that boy Akihiko's cryptic mention of "them".

Ascending the stone steps of the dormitory and opening the door, Mukuro gave one last look back before heading inside.

"Oh, good, you're back!" Yukari called from one of the sofas in the lounge. Mukuro noticed, however, she was not alone, though instead of Mitsuru or the boy from last night, an unfamiliar man was seated in an armchair facing the end of the coffee table. He looked middle-aged, with signs of graying in his long, ruffled hair and wore wire glasses over his eyes and a khaki suit over a black turtleneck.

"So, this is our new guest? Good evening, Miss Ikusaba, I presume?" the man asked, giving Mukuro a warm smile as he looked her way. "Please, have seat!"

Mukuro nodded, regarded the man as she approached, seating herself on the couch adjacent to the one Yukari was sitting on.

The man crossed his right leg over his knee, putting his hands together on his lap. "I suppose you're curious of who I am. My name is Shuji Ikutsuki. I'm Chairman of the Board at your school. "Ikutsuki" is a bit hard to say, isn't it? That's why I don't like introducing myself so much, it makes me rather tongue-tied!" he said with a chuckle. "If you wish, you can simply call me "Chairman" or "Mr. Chairman" if that's easier. I can see you look like you have a lot on your mind, though..."

"I do, yes," Mukuro said, folding her arms, her gaze briefly flickering to Yukari before returning to him.

"Well, I suppose one of those questions is what brings me here, isn't it?" Ikutsuki asked. "Well, for starters I'd like to personally apologize for the confusion regarding your accommodations, and that it may take a little longer before your proper room assignment can be arranged, I hope that's not too troubling for you."

"It's fine, this place is actually a step up from what I'm used to," Mukuro replied.

"I see," the chairman replied, "Well, aside from that, I simply wished to welcome you to Gekkoukan High as well. Speaking of which, Takeba, where is Kirijo?"

"She was upstairs before I got back, said she was studying when I checked up on her," Yukari explained.

"Hm, diligent as always!" Ikutsuki said with a chuckle. "...Though it doesn't hurt to come down and say hello, does it?" He looked over, noticing Mukuro staring. "Oh, my apologies, is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

"Who else lives here? I heard someone else leaving the other night," Mukuro replied.

"Oh, do you mean Akihiko Sanada. He's a third-year, like Mitsuru. I'm sure you'll meet him eventually. I hope you'll get along, though," the chairman explained. "Is there anything else? you still look troubled by something."

Mukuro opened her mouth to speak, before noticing Yukari's stare and a very slight shake of her head. The dark-haired girl let out a small sigh, frowning a little and cocking her head with intrigue as she spoke. "...On the way home, today, some people were acting very strangely."

Mukuro noticed Yukari blink in surprise, by her guess she'd not expected that response. The chairman raised an eyebrow of curiosity at the girl.

"Strange, how?" he asked.

"One of them was a man, he just walked into traffic. I barely stopped him from getting hit. But even then he just seemed to be staring into space, and didn't respond or anything," she replied.

"Hm, perhaps he was on drugs?" Ikutsuki offered. "Believe it not, some substances can have that effect on people."

"Perhaps, but I ran into someone acting the same way on the way home yesterday, and a girl my age before I got to the dormitory. Same hollow, empty look in their eyes and staring up at the sky," Mukuro explained.

"Hmm," Ikutsuki put his hand to his chin in thought. "Well, there are some... less reputable elements in the city even the police can't get them all. I wouldn't rule out there being drug-dealing going on. Even kids your age get lured into that," he explained. "I hope you don't get involved in that, yourself. Still, a job well done protecting that man, hopefully he will get the help he needs, as will the young lady you saw. Will there be anything else?"

Had Mukuro not heard the conversation the previous night, she may have bought it. It was possible the chairman believed it to be the case, and she noticed growing concern on Yukari's face. "No. Nothing else."

"Well, in that case, let me say I hope you'll have a successful school year!" the chairman said with an approving smile. "Now, I imagine you're tired from such excitement, so why don't you turn in early seeing as how you have school tomorrow? As the saying goes, "The early bird catches the bookworm", if you'd pardon the pun, there!"

Mukuro chose not to dignify such a terrible joke with a response, though her brow furrowed noticeably like she were seriously considerig it.

"You'll get used to his brand of humor," Yukari sighed. "Still, you should probably head up to bed. Like he said, school's tomorrow."

Mukuro nodded, rising from her seat and heading upstairs, glancing down at them from the balcony before going up the next set of stairs to her room.

Hours passed as Mukuro sat cross-legged on her bed in her sleepwear, her gaze occasionally turning to the clock resting on her dresser. An hour and fifteen minutes left and she'd remained silent, her lights out to give an illusion she'd gone to sleep. She'd recalled how the darkness that warped the city occurred at midnight, and when or if it came, she'd confront the others right away as it'd be impossible to lie to her about it anymore.

For some reason, the young soldier felt tired. Real tired...

"So, how's she doing?" Ikutsuki asked, entering a large office on the dormitory fourth floor, where Mitsuru sat at a big, complex control console that included several monitors.

"It seems she suspects something," Mitsuru responded. "She simply... stayed up for a while on her bed, sometimes looking at her clock. Then suddenly, she just lay down and went to sleep. Didn't even get under her covers or anything."

Ikutsuki chuckled in amusement, observing the girl sprawled out on her bed in one of the monitors. sound asleep. "Ahh, yes. Boredom will do that, you think you relaxed your eyes a minute and hours have passed before you know it!" he said. "I suppose we'll know for certain if she carries the potential after all once the Dark Hour occurs. It should be in a matter of minutes, now..."

Back on Tatsumi Port Island, the monorails were approaching for their final, midnight ride. A man stood impatiently by alleys, listening to the radio on his boombox and letting out an irritated groan.

"Man, this sucks," he muttered.

"This program brought to you by Kirijo Electronics! Kirijo Electronics, always there when you need them!" the radio announcer read off enthusiastically. "For our nexxxttt hiuuuunnn..."

The man turned, confused as the radio seemed to malfunction and die out entirely next to him. "Stupid thing!" he grumbled, kicking it over. His eyes widened, however, when he noticed everything had suddenly become darker, as if all the lights had gone out at once. Looking around, he saw they indeed had, the only light being a sickly green glow from the waxing moon in the sky, which looked much larger and closer then he'd remembered it.

"What the...?!" he stammered. As he looked around again, he noticed strange, bloodlike smudges were everywhere, the station looking far more ominous now, and even more strangely was where was once people standing around him waiting for the monorail to arrive, were now black coffins, standing upright and emitting an odd, red glow.

The man felt a trickle run down his face and drip to the floor, looking down, he saw a shiny black ichor had splashed at his feet. Bringing his hand up to his face and tracing it upward, he grew more and more anxious as he saw the substance had bled from his eye. "W-what?!" he cried out, stumbling back against a nearby wall.

He felt ill, and more trickling running down his face, this time from both eyes and nostrils, and from his hairline. Panicking, he ran his hands across his face, trying to wipe it off only to find the ichor smudged all over his hands, now, feeling more of it drip down his face and spill onto the floor.

"What's... what's happening to me...?!" he cried out, choking suddenly and coughing, black ichor spurting from his mouth as he did, and falling to his knees. "S-someone... a-anyone... HELP!" he screamed, a horrible buzzing suddenly growing louder within his head as more of the black ichor now began dripping from his ears as well, as dripping soon became flowing as he collapsed to the ground as the ichor slowly covered him and pooled around his prone form, the coffins his only company as his agonized screams went unanswered...

"Hmm, she's still unaffected and very much asleep," Ikutsuki observed through the monitor as he stood behind Mitsuru.

"Normally people are encased inside those coffins that appear in their place and go into a stasis until the Dark Hour ends," Mitsuru observed.

"Indeed, they remain oblivious to all that occurs during this "hidden hour" that happens between midnight and 12:01 AM, as if for them it never happened," said Ikutsuki. "Her, on the other hand..."

"Then that means she's...?" Yukari inquired, standing behind Ikutsuki as she watched the monitor.

"Correct. She's currently experiencing the Dark Hour and retained both human form and awareness, despite being asleep," the chairman explained. "Still, the question remains if, given her past, she has the potential."

"What do you think?" Mitsuru asked, looking back at him.

"While she has not demonstrated it yet, I believe she must. If she didn't, surely they would have preyed upon her by now, in fact, it would have been unlikely she'd have reached the dormitory on her first night to begin with, despite her talents," said Ikutsuki.

"That's scary," Yukari mused, hugging herself anxiously as she looked towards the large window at the end of the office, where the moon shed its unusual green glow into the room.

"Be that as it may," Ikutsuki stated, "...It'd be best we continue to monitor her for a few days, if possible."

"Agreed, though hopefully we'll know for certain, soon," Mitsuru said. "We were fortunate sleep won out with her tonight, but we don't know if she'll try again, tomorrow evening."

"We'll worry about that if it happens," the chairman assured, glancing down at her. "For now, your orders are your orders."

"Yes sir."

"Still, it doesn't feel right, spying on her like this," Yukari sighed, watching the slumbering girl on the monitor. "I can tell she's suspicious of us. I can't hide this from her much longer..."

Mukuro's eyes snapped open, she was certain she'd only closed them for a second to fight off the grogginess. Unfortunately, that had apparently been all it took as she was no longer in her room.

She was now standing, wearing her school uniform, and in what appeared to be some kind of antiquated hotel elevator of some sort bathed in an odd, soothing blue hue, the grinding wheels and pulleys was faint, though, with the light of passing windows signifying the elevator was heading upward with a large clocklike dial at the top that continued to wind in a repeated cycle.

Much more unusual, however, that made Mukuro all the more certain she had to be dreaming, was the fact the elevator seemed like it'd be renovated into some kind of office. Four wooden doors sat on the left and right walls, two on each side with one of which covered by blue curtain. A blue carpet covered the floor with a strange golden laurel pattern over a large letter V. Even this, however, was not the strangest sight. That was what she saw across from her at the other side of the large elevator.

Seated in a large armchair was what at first glance appeared to be an elderly gentleman in a gray Victorian suit, his lanky arms resting on a round white table covered in blue cloth before him and his white gloved fingers steepled as he stared at her. What would have made him human ended there, with his deathly pale skin, long pointed ears, and unusually long, beaklike nose that was at least the length of one of his hands. The only hair on his head hung in white tufts on either side above his ears, and his face seemed frozen in an eerily, impossibly wide grin, large black brows rest above his bulbous, bloodshot eyes that gave his expression an unsettling grimace. A second of silence passed, before the strange long-nosed man chuckled. "Welcome, Mukuro Ikusaba, to the Velvet Room," he said, his voice soft and gentle, yet with an impishness to it as he extended his hand in a welcoming gesture. As he spoke, however, the grimace never seemed to falter or change.

"The what, now?" Mukuro asked, confused and regarding the odd man with suspicion.

"You are in a place that exists between dreams and reality, mind and matter. Only those who have signed the contract may enter..." A bright glow emitted from above the man's extended hand, the contract Mukuro recalled signing appearing a second after. "...Henceforth, you are considered a guest to be welcomed here. My name is Igor, I am delighted to make your acquaintance!"

"This has to be a dream," Mukuro muttered to herself, the old man, Igor, let out a soft chuckle of amusement.

"Both yes and no. Though you are currently asleep, this place is very much real," Igor explained. "You have been brought here due to a unique ability that dwells within you, and you are destined to hone it. To do so, however, you shall require my help. All that is asked in return, is that you abide the contract and assume responsibility of the choices you make."

"The young boy who gave me that contract," Mukuro said, folding her arms, "...He kept talking about time bringing things to an end... does that have something to do with this? What's this about a unique ability?"

Igor closed his eyes. "It would be difficult to explain until you have observed this ability for yourself, which will happen very soon. As for your other question, those answers shall come to you on their own." he said, his eyes opening again with that bloodshot gaze that Mukuro felt seem to go into her soul. "...Be patient, and take this with you..."

He raised his hand again, a glimmering ball of light appearing over it that drifted over to Mukuro before transforming into a small, golden key with the laurel and V letter engraved on it as it slowly descended into Mukuro's open palm. "Know that you will not face your destiny alone, there is another resident of this room whom you shall be properly introduced to another time, when it has truly begun..."

The light from the windows seemed to get brighter, till it engulfed the strange man and herself.

"...Until we meet again," Igor's voice echoed as the world around her vanished in a bright flash.

4/9

Mukuro woke up to a knock at her door.

"Hey! Mukuro! You awake yet?" Yukari's voice called.

Mukuro rubbed her eyes, noticing she had indeed passed out on her bed and it was once again morning.

"Hey! You awake?" Yukari asked from behind her door.

"...I am," she replied, sitting up on her bed.

"Okay, well hurry up, you don't wanna be late!" Yukari called, the sound of retreating footsteps after indicating she'd left, though Mukuro's attention was no longer on her, but rather what she herself was now holding in her hand: A gold, old-fashioned key identical to the one Igor had provided her.

So it wasn't a dream...? Mukuro stared at the key a moment, suspecting the experience had been what caused her to suddenly pass out the past evening despite the alarm she'd set for 11:59 PM the past night, and why she'd been out this long. She wasn't sure where or how the key would be of any use, but it seemed that bizarre man, Igor, would be in touch another time, hopefully with an explanation. Closing her hand around it, she climbed off her bed and dug into her schoolbag, attaching it to the keyring her dormitory and room keys were on and prepared to get ready for another school day.

Yukari had been wary the entire day. Mukuro had remained silent or gave only simple, dismissive responses the entire trip to school and after class, and Yukari was already certain why. She knew Mukuro had been suspicious of them, that they'd been hiding something from her. It was evident she'd tried to stay up the past night, possibly to confirm what had happened on the evening she'd arrived, but had failed to do so. It was likely now, Mukuro was playing a game of cat and mouse with her, waiting to see if Yukari would ask her what was wrong or on her mind and immediately demand answers.

The conversation with Ikutsuki and Mitsuru also troubled her, as Mitsuru was right that as the more suspicious Mukuro got, and from what they knew of her, it was possible Mukuro was indeed waiting for a confrontation, and it left a very tense atmosphere all the way through class as even during Mr. Ekoda's lecture on Classic Literature that Junpei had nearly embarrassed himself by nodding off, Mukuro always seemed alert, however, and at least partially watching her.

It felt like when they'd first met, she'd almost forgotten how scary the girl could be. After classes, Mukuro had wanted to visit the mall again to pick up dinner for the way back, and Yukari couldn't help but feel the invitation was to sweat her even more. Mukuro remained as stoic as she'd been the rest of the day, and made the brunette feel like a bug under a bright spotlight the more she thought about how well they started getting along on the first day at school and now here she was acting behind the girl's back and said girl knew something was going on. Part of her wanted Mukuro to just interrogate her and be done with it, and she suspected Mukuro wanted her to.

Arriving back at the dorm in silence, Yukari greeted Mitsuru, who was now behind the reception desk typing away on a computer. Daily reports on student activity at the dorm, she'd told Mukuro when she'd asked. Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Mukuro made her way to the stairs.

"You've been quiet all day," Yukari said.

"I suppose I have, yeah," Mukuro replied, her tone neutral and her gaze cold.

A brief, awkward silence passed between them before the dark-haired girl made her way upstairs to her room without another word.

Another moment of silence passed before Yukari spoke up.

"I can't keep doing this!" Yukari whispered, her hand clenching. "Can't we please tell her?!"

"We have our orders," Mitsuru said sternly. "Also, despite her skills I doubt she'll act too rashly. The chairman will be returning later tonight before the Dark Hour comes, so be ready."

"...Understood," Yukari sighed, glancing at the stairway with a guilty look on her face and sighing to herself.

"Was it that exhausting?" Mitsuru asked, glancing back at her from her typing.

"You don't know the half of it," Yukari muttered.

"It's the same as last night," Mitsuru observed, seated at the consoles of the large office as she looked at the monitor displaying Mukuro asleep in her bed, the Dark Hour having begun moments ago.

"Very interesting," Ikutsuki remarked, standing behind her. "Those who have the potential are often unstable at first, yet there are no symptoms."

"None. Her pulse and brainwaves are perfectly calm and stable," replied Mitsuru. "By my personal assertion, she absolutely has the potential. There's no mistaking it."

"So it would seem. They most certainly would have manifested and consumed her by now if she hadn't," said the chairman.

"Does that mean we can finally be open with her?" Yukari asked, looking over at the other two. "We've been treating her like a guinea pig. I've been treating her like one by being privy to this.

Ikutsuki chuckled. "I understand your concern, Takeba, but it's imperative we recruit new and capable members due to our prime objective, and her other skills would certainly lend the possibility of her being quite an asset for that. We can't let our emotions cloud our judgement when it comes to completing our goal, I certainly haven't."

"If only I could be so lucky," Yukari muttered to herself.

"Still, it'd be nice for you, I imagine, having a girl in your grade on the team, wouldn't it, Takeba?" the chairman asked. "...Perhaps easier on you, as well?"

"I guess," Yukari sighed. "I didn't... after our first day, I didn't want her to be like my other classmates. Someone I just... get along with, you know?"

Ikutsuki gave a small smirk. "You wanted a friend, is that what you were going to say? As I've told you, Takeba, we can't let-"

An alarm suddenly blared on the console.

"Command Room, this is Kirijo!" Mitsuru stated, pressing a flashing button on the control panel.

"Mitsuru! It's Akihiko! You're not gonna believe this!" Akihiko's voice shouted frantically through the speakers.

"What is it? What's wrong?!" Mitsuru asked, worried.

"No time to talk! This one... it's not like the others. It's huge. Chasing me! I'm on my way back, be ready!"

"Akihiko!" Mitsuru heard the communicator cut off.

"Mitsuru, head downstairs and wait for Sanada to return and let him in right away!" Ikutsuki ordered. "Takeba, go wake up Ikusaba and escape out the back. We don't know what we're dealing with and she hasn't realized her potential yet from what we can tell, so she'd be no match for them!"

"Sir?" Yukari held her arm anxiously.

"We'll explain everything to her once this is over. Now hurry!" Mitsuru shouted, already at the door and running downstairs.

Mitsuru quickly opened the front door to the dormitory. "Akihiko?! Where are you!" she called out to the otherwise seemingly deserted streets.

"Right here! I'm coming!" Akihiko shouted as he sprinted down the sidewalk, wincing as he clutched on to his side in pain making it up the stairs and into the door, Mitsuru readily locking it shut behind her. "...It'll be here any second, I dunno if that's gonna keep it out, it wasn't like anything I've ever seen!" he said with a small laugh.

"This is no time to joke, Akihiko!" Mitsuru snapped as a small communicator on Akihiko's belt beeped.

"Akihiko! Is it one of them?!" Ikutsuki's voice asked from the speaker.

"Yeah, but it's different from the others," Akihiko answered, catching his breath.

"How so?"

"Bigger," Akihiko replied. "...A lot bigger..."

"Stay in the command room and barricade the door, Chairman. We'll handle this!" Mitsuru replied through Akihiko's communicator. "You led it to us, Akihiko, so I'm afraid you'll have to fight."

"Heh, like I turn down the chance! Let's go say "hi"!" the boy replied, a cocky smile on his face as he bumped his gloved fists together and opened the door again, patting a holstered gun-like weapon on his side as he made his way outside. Mitsuru went behind the reception desk, taking out a box labeled for emergencies which contained a similar gun-like weapon and took it with her, following him.

"Mukuro! Are you awake?!" Yukari cried out, banging on the girl's door with her free hand. Before she even saw it coming, she felt someone forcefully pull her aside and slam her against the wall. The girl grunted in pain from the impact, dropping her things in the process. Looking up at her assailant, Yukari saw Mukuro, fully dressed, standing over her, glaring at her in the eerie green moonlight shining from the window. "M-Mukuro?! What the hell?!"

"What's going on, here? Answer me!" the dark-haired girl snapped. "I pretended I was asleep and was going to engage the first person I heard, which seems to be you, right now."

"Mukuro, there's no time, we need to leave right now!" Yukari protested, reaching for what Mukuro saw to be a bow and quiver.

"Don't!" she warned, pointing her combat knife at her and giving her a suspicious glare.

"Mukuro... please... I'm so sorry I didn't tell you everything, but you have to trust me! We can't stay here! Something really bad is coming!"

"You'd be surprised what I can handle," Mukuro stated sharply.

"No, what we're dealing with, you can't! Believe me! That's why we need to go!" Yukari begged, her eyes beginning to wet with fear as Mukuro remained where she was and glared down at her. "...Mukuro, please! Look at me... I'm begging you, just this once, trust me and I promise I'll explain myself after this is over!"

Mukuro studied the girl a moment in the sickly green darkness. The terror in her eyes, her trembling form on the floor, she wasn't lying this time. Yukari had come to get her to safety, and was absolutely serious about them escaping together from whatever was coming.

Lowering her knife and sheathing it on a thigh holster, Mukuro's features softened significantly as she offered her hand. "Very well. Lead the way."

"We're going out the back, c'mon!" Yukari explained as she accepted Mukuro's hand and stood up before immediately rushing for the stairs, Mukuro right behind her as they both ran down to the lounge area.

"Yukari? Yukari?!" Mitsuru's voice suddenly cut on a communicator clipped to Yukari's skirt belt.

"Mitsuru? Where are you?" Yukari protested, looking around anxiously.

"There's more then one enemy! It's not the one Akihiko described! There's... there's so many! They're convening on the dormitory!"

Yukari shrieked at the sound of a loud thump against the window near the back door, Mukuro herself even froze in place as she saw it wasn't the noise but what had caused it that started the other girl.

It was pitch-black, and its shape anything but human as long, gaunt arms slid along the window, leaving smears of black ichor and a crimson fluid that looked like blood. A strange, blue mask with a roman numeral engraved on its forehead and carvings resembling a face with empty holes for eyes let out a muffled croaking noise.

What the hell?! Mukuro could only stare at it as it seemed to gaze right back at her through the window despite not having any visible eyes.

"W-We gotta pull back! There's a fire escape on the roof, let's go!" Yukari shouted, finding her voice first and grabbing Mukuro's arm before pulling her back to the lounge and up the stairs.

A loud tremor stopped them in their tracks as they reached the second floor.

"What was that?!" Yukari stammered, her and Mukuro's gaze turning towards the windows as suddenly strange clanking sounds could be heard getting closer. Mukuro slowly drew closer, unsheathing her knife as she recognized the noise to be metal striking stone, growing louder and louder.

"Mukuro! Come on!" Yukari protested, already several steps up.

Mukuro froze a moment, the sinister green moon shining outside as if taunting her, the trembling building. The sound of metal scraping as unearthly things prowled outside.

The crash...

The fire...

The moon...

Shapes in the sky...

"Mukuro!" Yukari repeated, louder and more anxiously this time as she rushed over and grabbed the girl's arm firmly. "Let's go! Hurry! You wanna die here?!"

Mukuro stared at her, giving no answer as all in an instant, the question brought countless experiences she'd had in her mind.

The clanking struck the wall near the window, Mukuro saw a shape, pitch-black despite the green light from the moon outside, limbs with too many joints suddenly skittering past the window with a low, inhuman growl as whatever they were attached to scaled the building, its pale blue mask similar to what the others had suddenly peering through the window with black, void-like sockets that was practically the same size of the window itself, as though it could see her and Yukari.

One of its limbs slowly turned as its mask drew back slightly, the limb contorting and bending as it revealed a gigantic, bony hand with long talons that immediately thrust itself forward to smash through the window.

"LOOK OUT!" Yukari immediately shoved Mukuro out of the way as the large hand lashed through the broken window, grabbing only air before withdrawing.

"Mukuro... please... I-I don't want to die like this... do you?" Yukari stammered weakly, wincing in pain from the fresh, bleeding cut on her thigh. This quickly caught the other girl's attention as she began to undo the bow on her blouse.

"Mukuro, we don't have time for..." Yukari whimpered as Mukuro tied it tight around the wound and got her to her feet.

"Are you alright," the dark-haired girl asked sternly. Yukari stared down at the dressed wound in surprise and silently nodded, her eyes suddenly widening in horror again as two gaunt black hands crept in through the window, the chilling mask that was the monster's face leaning in after in search of its prey.

"Come on! This way!" Yukari grabbed Mukuro's hand, the adrenaline in her system being the only thing other then Mukuro's hastily-done first aid that allowed her to ignore the pain of her injury and keep going.

I don't want die! Not like this! Not now when I haven't even learned anything! she pleaded in her mind as they reached the roof, Mukuro emerging from the door right behind her.

"What was that all about?!" Yukari protested, looking back as they made their way towards the fire escape ladder. "You just spaced out back there, and-!"

Her path was cut off, however, as a long, spindly arm with far too many joints suddenly flew up from behind the corner of the roof before swinging down, in its grip was a large, metal dagger of some sort that dug itself into the roof surface like a giant claw and blocking their escape.

"You're injured, get behind me," Mukuro ordered, drawing out her combat knife.

"B-But...!" Yukari stuttered.

"You heard me!" Mukuro snapped, giving the other girl an icy glare as the brunette nervously got behind her.

Another arm rose up, its dagger striking the roof with a loud clank as well as it embedded itself into the concrete.

Another, this one's hand free as it gripped the edge.

Another, gripping the edge as well, a low, guttural croaking from below grew louder and louder as the arms pulled the rest of whatever they were attached to up, rising from the corner of the rooftop and into view.

Mukuro paused. The things she'd seen at the windows in the lounge were nothing compared to what now stood between them and their escape.

Its body was barely discernable, more simply a place where its eleven limbs, each with several joints making it appear like some sort of grotesque, deformed giant spider about fifteen feet tall. Six of its hands gripped sharp metal daggers, Four of them clawed their way up the side of the roof serving as its feet, and a limb growing out of the center gripped the corner of the creepy mask serving as its face with its remaining hand as it now stood completely on top of the roof with the two girls, raising the arms gripping daggers into the air with threatening purpose.

"It's no use... I have to fight!" Yukari murmured, stepping out from behind Mukuro as she took the gun-like weapon from her leg holster.

"Yukari, what are you doing?!"

"We're no match for it like this, Mukuro, this is the only way!" Yukari stated as she stepped forward to face the horrific entity and, slowly, cautiously, pressed the barrel of the gun to her forehead. "I... I can summon it... I-I can..."

Mukuro stared at her in disbelief and confusion. Was she about to kill herself?! she wondered. She had no time to process what she was seeing as she saw Yukari whimper and freeze up, giving the monster all the time it needed to swat her off her feet and send her flying with one of its hands before it charged her, raising up its blade-wielding limbs for a killing strike.

...Her family. She couldn't save any of them...

...Yukari's words as she feared for her life when they fled went through her mind...

Mukuro dropped her knife and leapt forward, throwing her arms around Yukari and using her momentum to roll them both across the rooftop, barely avoiding getting impaled by the monster's weapons. Yukari's grip loosened, the strange gun-like weapon falling from her hand next to her as they came to a stop.

The nightmarish abomination, several feet away, turned its mask towards the two girls, its many limbs letting out sickening cracks as they readjusted themselves to turn towards them and it began to advance, raising its deadly weapons up with clear intent to finish its prey.

Mukuro's gaze turned towards the strange gun Yukari had dropped.

Flash!

The young boy from before, smiling at her as he spoke.

"Go on..."

Flash!

The accident. The fire. The smell of death.

Flash!

Mukuro's breathing grew rapid as these visions and memories filled her mind while she slowly took the object into her hand. What she saw Yukari try to do, Igor's words when she'd visited the so-called Velvet Room, the urging from the young boy.

Her heart hadn't raced this much since the heat of battles she'd been involved in.

Ten years I've cursed Death for making me survive that night, she thought to herself. Yukari, though, despite her earlier deception, she'd shown she wanted to atone more then anything, risking her life for her even when she didn't want it to end here. Mukuro decided then and there she wouldn't let that happen to her. Her resolve brought a word to her mind, she didn't know why, but she spoke it aloud as she held the odd gun to her temple in her right hand.

"Per... so... na..."

The many-limbed horror regarded the dark-haired girl who stood before it in defiance a moment, as if curious of what she was going to do next. That moment passed, however, as it clanked its blades together, to unleash a blast of flame at the girl as she pulled the trigger...

BANG!

The fireball exploded on impact with a shimmering, feminine figure that had appeared in front of Mukuro, slowly rising up above her as the abomination paused once more, taken aback. Mukuro looked at the entity materializing between them, with its shimmering metallic gold body resembling a robot with long silver limbs and gold speakers for its chest and an amplifier for its midsection. A silver harp was strapped to its back, and as it turned and looked back at Mukuro a moment, she could see its face and hair resembled her own.

"I am thou, thou art I," the entity said, in a voice that sounded similar to her own though amplified through its speakers. "I come from the sea of thy heart. I am an artist, the strings are my canvas... Orpheus!"

The enemy turned its blades, stomping forward on its remaining hands as it prepared to skewer the being, Orpheus, that now guarded Mukuro, who stood in disbelief at what she was seeing. The creature's limbs lashed forward, only for Orpheus to reach behind itself and detach its harp, slamming it down on the creature hard and crushing it into the ground.

"Mukuro... is that... a Persona...?" Yukari spoke weakly as she lay prone by her side.

Mukuro glanced at her, then at the fight happening before her, as the summoned being Orpheus' face suddenly glowed brightly, firing a blast of flame at the contorted monster, which clashed its blades together to block before jumping into the air and landing further away. Mukuro could feel a strong link with Orpheus, this "Persona" as Yukari called it, as though it were responding to her will.

The monster continued to dance about around the fire blasts that Orpheus unleashed at it, and Mukuro suddenly felt her legs grow weak with fatigue. Even with this power, the monster seemed able to match her, as if it were only a matter of time before the fatigue overtook her entirely and it would finish them both.

"No... not now..."

Her words were soft, she never imagined she'd say them aloud, not since then. But in this moment, with Yukari's life still in danger and no one else around to help them, she wasn't ready to . Not yet.

Flash!

The young boy smiling at her.

Flash!

In an instant, Mukuro suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head, as if something were trying to forcibly claw its way out of it. The young soldier screamed out in pain as the migraine grew more intense, her vision blurring and her enemy seeming to notice as well.

"Mukuro...!" Yukari choked out her words, struggling to get up. Her eyes widened in shock at what she saw, then. "...Wh-What the...?!"

Orpheus mimicked Mukuro's agonized position as its head suddenly shattered apart, two large, white hands suddenly emerging from its open neck and tearing the Persona in two as it materialized, a strange geometric shape made of sarcophagus lids that suddenly spread apart like wings held together by long silver chains, revealing a strange, muscular figure twice the size of Orpheus with long white gloves and boots, a long black robe held with a large belt with a gold buckle, and a helmet resembling a bird's skull. The entity let out a horrifying roar as it reared back hovering in the air, a longsword appearing in its hands and giving a feral snarl as it suddenly launched itself at the enemy.

The monster thrust its limbs at it, the hands gripping blades stretching out at the new creature like sharp tentacles intent on impaling it, only for the Persona to swing between them and sweep its blade, slicing them clean off in a single stroke. Down below, Mukuro slowly stood back up, the pain having vanished as this new Persona that had replaced Orpheus descended upon the monster, swinging its blade again and cutting the creature clean in two, its body dissolving into black smoke as it tore away one of its remaining hands, watching in silence as it, too, melted away into smoke. The new Persona turned, looking back at the girl who had brought it forth before it began shimmering and dissolved away in sparkling blue dust, leaving the feminine Orpheus underneath before it vanished as well.

Back inside, Mitsuru and Akihiko had made their way back upstairs to the command room.

"Chairman! I think they're falling back," Mitsuru stated.

"The hell was happening on the roof?! I saw the big one make its way up there." Akihiko asked.

Both went silent when Ikutsuki gave no response, instead directing them to the footage he began replaying on the monitors of the conclusion of the fight that had just occurred above, leaving the two teens staring agape in disbelief at what they were seeing.

"What on Earth..." Akihiko muttered, eyes wide with shock.

"Let's go, we need to make sure they're okay," Mitsuru said, coming to her senses more quickly despite what she'd been shown.

Mukuro remained still, frozen in place where she stood on the rooftop. The simmering flames, the destruction in wake of what had occurred, though a soldier that had seen many things most people never should, she could not process what she had just now bear witness to. Her thoughts were so muddled, her mind felt so murky as she stared silently ahead, hearing Yukari's voice call to her as she felt her legs give away and collapsed on the scorched rooftop, the gun that had summoned the being falling from her hands and landing at her side with a resounding clatter as she faded out of consciousness.

A/N: And so concludes Chapter 2, where things truly begin, and end with a suitable stop point. Next I'll be working on a new Heart of Justice chapter before I come back to this. Hope you all enjoyed!