4/6 Outskirts of Iwatodi

The near-empty train car constant rattling was only a small annoyance to the sole-conscious rider. Music blasting through her pair of headphones helped, but it was more of the nervousness upon noting the time that did it for the gray eyed, blue haired teenage girl. The other rider had no such qualms about sleeping on mass transit; his head of dirty-brown hair and sleep-hidden red eyes resting peacefully on the girl's lap.

"We apologize for anyone inconvenienced by the delay. The next and final stop is Iwatodi. Iwatodi"

The girl watched in silent amusement as her twin brother groaned and barely muttered, "No, Mina… 5 more minutes…" before attempting to go back to sleep. Grabbing her duffel bag from under her feet, she suddenly stood up, causing him to fall off the seats he was laying on and fall flat on his face.

"Hmm…. I wonder how your fangirls back in Kyoto would think about this, Hamono-sama~?"

"Ughh… Please don't remind me of them, Mina, I had a hard enough time making sure they didn't know where we were moving to"

Minako couldn't help the amusement that she knew was now evident in her eyes. It was always fun to see her normally picture-perfect, lady-killer brother out of character. The fangirls, though, were the not so fun side of being twins; requests for the delivery of love letters and the such was only made tolerable with her trusted headphones and a swift cold shoulder.

Feeling merciful, Minako aided her only mostly disheveled twin off the ground. Blood-red met silver before Hamono pouted and grabbed his own luggage off one of the dozens of empty seats.

"Now arriving at Iwatodi station. This is the last stop in Tatsumi Port Island. Please be careful while exiting the train"

The twins exited the train and left the platform; walking through the turnstiles before stopping in the open lobby leading to the streets of Iwatodi.

Mistress… It's almost time…

The all-too familiar voice with its small amount of static flowed from the back of Minako's mind, re-grounding her spirits from their amused high earlier. A quick check of the station's clock only made her earlier nervousness return. There were only 30 or so seconds until midnight and that number was dropping fast.

"Well, let's head to the dorm. It's way too late for us to be exploring anyways"

Minako couldn't agree with her brother fast enough and as he turned around and began to walk out of the station, midnight struck.

Minako couldn't help but let out a sigh. Not one of relief, but of exhaustion. There was a part of her that wished she could have left this back in Kyoto with the fangirls, but the rest of her knew that this… issue… of hers couldn't possibly be grounded by location. After all, having the world change in this twisted and sickly time period probably had no simple solution to end it.

"Waa… Uh, Mina? Are you seeing this?"

Minako's eyes sprung open, staring at her twin in disbelief.

Hmm… It seems he is now "aware". Interesting…

"Am I dreaming this?" Hamono was looking around the train station with a mix of careful curiosity and concern.

"It seems that this is real, Hamo. Let's just get to the dorm for now" Minako simply grabbed her twin's hand with her own and began to lead him down the street.

Iwatodi Dorm

"Hey look Mina, they've got power!" Hamono exclaimed as he ran up the steps and flung open the doors to the dorm. "See ya inside!"

Minako just shook her head before approaching the door at a much more moderate pace. She wasn't expecting her brother not only to remain completely calm on the way to the dorm, but also return to his normal, energetic self.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Minako stopped and looked back on the street they had just walked down, habitually scrutinizing the shadows for anything moving.

It seems rather quiet here, at least at the moment.

Minako silently nodded in agreement. Just because she didn't like this didn't mean she wasn't careful. No one could survive for as long as I have without being careful, Minako thought grimly.

"WHO'S THERE!?"

Minako once again snapped out of her thoughts and threw open the doors to the dorm before rushing in. Hamono was standing just a few steps ahead with his back to her. The evident speaker from before was a another guy around their age with light brown hair and matching eyes. What really caught Minako's attention wasn't his appearance, but rather the gun strapped to his side.

"Don't tell me…"

One he was about draw.

Thanatos!

Minako dropped her left hand down to her back as she raced forward, reaching out to her frozen-in-place twin. The unknown resident drew the gun as Minako felt the cold touch of a scabbard form in her left hand; her right hand having every intention of shoving Hamono onto one of the nearby couches in the lounge.

"Takeba! Wait!"

'Takeba' spun around and looked farther up the stairs he was standing on after an older, and much more authoritative voice spoke up. With a twist of the wrist, Minako dispersed her weapon but kept her right hand on Hamono's shoulder.

And with that, the world returned to normal.

…

"We weren't expecting you two to arrive so late"

"Well you see the train got delayed and we got a bit lost on the way here. Isn't that right Mina?"

Hamono wasn't completely sure how to react to whatever the hell happened to them on the way from the station, but he figured blabbing out some nonsense about the world turning a sickly green and blood-covered streets wasn't part of a "good" first impression. And speaking of good first impressions, Hamono noted, with more than a small amount of annoyance, that his counterpart seemed to be doing her damnest to not make one; if her simply humming in agreement before turning back to her now functioning mp3 player was any sign.

"I see… Oh, where are my manners? My name is Mitsuo Kirijo. I'm a resident of this dorm, as well as a kind of student-adviser" The rather mature-looking, well-dressed redhead introduced himself. Hamono also noted that his eyes were a few shades darker red than his own.

"So… Who are these two?" Now that the guy in front of him wasn't in the middle of pulling a gun on him, Hamono had a better view of the brunette. They were about the same height, though Hamono quickly noticed that he was actually a bit thinner than Minako. Though, with how much of a fitness nut she could be at times that wouldn't be too hard, despite her being… well a her.

"They're transfer students. They'll be here for now, but considering they're twins and of the opposite sex, I'm not sure what dorm they'll fill into"

"… Are they going to be alright here?" Hamono couldn't help but be slightly confused by that question. Considering both of the guys in front of him were openly carrying firearms, what in the world went on in this dorm?

"There shouldn't be any problems, but we'll see what happens" Mitsuo turned back to Hamono "This here is Yutono Takeba, he'll be in the same grade as the two of you for school: juniors"

"Hello you two" It was evident that Yutono was more than a bit uncomfortable with talking to them.

"It's nice to meet you, Yutono-kun and Mitsuo-kun!" Hamono had no such problems with talking to his dorm-mates. "I'm Hamono Aristato, and my mp3-obsessed mute of a sister's name is Minako Aristato"

Hamono smiled as he noticed that Yutono visibly relaxed and Mitsuo seemed to be holding in a chuckle. Turning to his twin, Minako scowled back at him but only succeeding in drawing out a grin from him.

She schooled her features and gave the other residents of the dorm a polite bow. Hamono rolled his eyes before smacking Minako upside the back of her head, knocking her headphones off in the process. "Use your words, Mina"

"It's nice to meet you as well"

A sentence and a glare was all he managed to get of his stubbornly stoic sister. Hamono considered it a victory.

If the laughter coming from in front of them was any measure, Hamono assumed that Yutono and Mitsuo had given up trying to hold in their amusement. Mitsuo got himself back under control first.

"We're glad to have you two while you're staying here. For the record, though, I'd appreciate it you'd refer to me properly; I am your sempai after all. Speaking of which, you two should be getting to bed, we all have school starting tomorrow"

Both Hamono and Yutono let out an audible groan at that bit of news.

"Use your words, Mina"

Shut your theoretical mouth, Thanatos.

Minako wasn't exactly in the best of moods. She knew she was terrible at first-impressions. She didn't her twin constantly reminding her of that fact. And she really didn't need to hear the god of death, and her mentor, cackling in the back of her mind at said fact.

The prospect of finally getting some sleep was clashing with the idea of school in the morning in terms of brightening or dampening said mood. She and Yutono, after dropping off Hamono on the 2nd floor, were walking down the hallway on the 3rd floor to her own room.

"Well, this is it. You're right at the end of the hall so you shouldn't have to worry about walking into someone else's room. Although, there's only one other girl living here so that's not likely anyways" Yutono spoke as a pseudo tour guide. He held out his hand with a key loosely held in it, "This here is your key. Make sure you don't lose it, Kirijo-sempai doesn't take that too well" He shudders with what Minako can only assume is first-hand experience to that.

"Anyways, do you have any questions?"

Minako thought briefly before just shaking her head and turning to open her door. Seeing Yutono with his face plastered in indecision made her pause.

"If you don't mind me asking, was everything alright? On the way here from the train station that is"

Minako almost indulged herself in asking if pulling a gun on her brother counted as 'not alright'.

Only if you add, "Almost killing you for" before that.

With Thanatos' seal of approval on that line of thought, Minako swiftly dismissed it. Thinking briefly, she settled on the truth.

"Tonight was no different from any other night. Aside from moving here of course" Minako noted that Yutono's expression twisted into something unrecognizable. He obviously was not expecting that answer. "Goodnight, Yutono-kun"

With that, Minako entered her room and closed the door.

4/7 Port Island (Morning)

Mistress… That wasn't very nice

Minako promptly ignored the small annoyance buzzing in the back of her head.

That wasn't the first time you've willed me into a dream with you but…

She looked out the side of the monorail herself, Hamono, and Yutono were taking to school. The buildings that composed Port Island's business center sparkled so nicely in the morning.

Was it really necessary for you do all that?

Needless to say, Minako was in a very good mood this morning. She'd might even consider smiling and talking to people!

Some of the stuff you used I understand.

She also managed to stop herself from falling to the floor in a fit of laughter. Having to explain to her twin why she found being social so hysterical would be a very annoying conversation; one involving talking.

The knife made sense but tongs? Really tongs?

It's what you get for laughing at my expense. You share my consciousness; you knew what was coming.

Right… I just forget how much of a sadist you can be at times

"Hey you two, look over of the left. You'll be able to see Gekkoukan High School"

Minako snapped out of her inter-conscious conversation at Yutono's words. Apparently, he'd been assigned to show the newcomers the ropes on getting to school. She had to admit he did a good job showing them the way to the station and was amicably chatting with Hamono the majority of the way there. Evidentially, Hamono was already getting close to one of the more popular guys in the school if the amount of "hello's" and glances their way were anything to go by.

"Wow… Check it out Mina! This place is huge!" Hamono pressed his face against the glass with child-like glee. Minako did the responsible thing and forcibly moved her twin away from the glass.

"Before you break your nose" Was the only explanation she gave.

It only took a few more minutes (and a few more locational adjustments on Minako's part of Hamono's face) for the three to arrive at Port Island Station. Going along with the massive wave of students for another short minute before the path widened enough for her personal space to not be continuously assaulted, Minako, Hamono, and Yutono walked a rather relaxed pace to school. Minako's assumptions of Yutono's popularity were only confirmed with all the more greetings being thrown at him(She also didn't miss the small groups of girls that were taking photos of the three).

Is it starting already?

Hamono clearly had no issue with the spotlight, responding to questions and even agreeing to a few photo shoots.

Day 1 hasn't even started yet and I'm already seeing the beginnings of a Hamono fan girl club.

Well that's annoying

Minako chuckled under her breath.

What?

The idea that the Greek god of death has a dislike of fan girls never fails to make me laugh.

I've explained this to you in the past, Mistress. We share a consciousness and thus your thoughts can affect mine and vice-versa. Sharing your general dislike of fan girls isn't that complicated of an idea with that.

But wait… If you've been around since before Hamono's had fan girls, would it be my dislike of them affecting you or your dislike of them affecting me?

That… Is a very good question.

"Well, this is it. Welcome to Gekkoukan High School" Yutono turned around to face the twins and waved his arm around in the general direction of the school behind him.

"Yutono-kun, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I really don't think that I'm going to like it here"

Yutono looked over at the blue-haired twin; more surprised that she talked without being really prompted to. "And why is that?" was his natural question.

Hamono took one look at his siblings face before laughing. A lot. "Oh man, Mina, is it really starting already?"

The scowl on her face was all the confirmation he ever needed. Yutono just looked at them with a questioning expression on his face.

"You really haven't noticed? Two words Yutono: fan girls"