The soft sounds of a car motor running filled the ears of a young silver-haired teenager. A black veil of darkness obscured his vision as he looked around, unnerved at the lack of sight. He was moving, that much he was sure of, but he was equally sure that he'd just been standing on the platform of a train station, surrounded by the smiling faces of friends.
He frowned as he pressed a hand to his eyes and tried to remember the faces clearly, but only blurred masses of color surfaced to his mind. He shook his head, as if willing the images to clarify and form correctly in his mind's eye, but the effect was like throwing water on a chalk drawing. He sighed in frustration and closed his eyes, startling as he leaned back and felt his back hit something soft.
What on…? Opening his eyes, the silverette blinked rapidly, looking around his new settings, clearly startled. He was in a car, a limo from the looks of it. The cushions of the seats were a deep royal blue, glowing faintly in the overhead lighting. Glasses sparkled next to half empty bottles of what appeared to be sake and wine on a table a few feet in front of him on the right side of the vehicle. More bottles sat sealed on two shelves that ran up the length of the left side of the car with a small counter above the shelves.
Looking out the window, the silverette's eyes widened faintly. Where he had expected scenery of some form, he only saw a swirling mist of silver and purple. The mist appeared to be moving past the window, as if the limo, which was obviously in motion, was moving through it.
He shifted his gaze as something moved from the corner of his eyes, finally noticing the presence of the other two in the car. A woman with shoulder length pale blonde hair, held back with a black headband, sat with her head bowed and eyes closed. Next to her, an elderly gentleman with snow white hair that fell down to his shoulders around his head, leaving the top bald, sat with his white-gloved hands clasped tightly together in front of his mouth, nearly completely hidden by a nose that was of an inhuman size. Like the female, his eyes were shut and his head bowed downward.
The car jumped as it hit a bump, and as if the jolt worked as a spark of life, the two moved. First the female; her head straightened and her eyes opened, revealing pale golden orbs. The elderly gentleman moved shortly after she did, lifting his head slowly, closed eyes opening to allow beady-black bloodshot irises to meet the silverette's pale ones. The man grinned, sending an unpleasant shiver down the teen's spine as he stared, unable to pull his gaze away.
"Welcome…" the snow-haired man said in a silky voice that was both eerie and familiar at the same time. "… to the Velvet Room."
The silverette blinked, his mouth hanging slightly open as he took in the appearance of the bizarre-looking man. His eyes darted momentarily toward the blonde again before returning his gaze to the male. Have I… met them before? What is…? This room… I know it, I'm sure of it. I've been here before but… When?
"Ah…" the old man chuckled. "It seems we have a guest with a very interesting destiny. My name is Igor. I am delighted to see you again, young contractor."
The teen frowned, tilting his head in confusion. How did the man know who he was? Another blurred image flickered before his eyes, the colors matching those of the sharp sight before him. Again…? Then... I do know him? But when did I…?
"This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter… It is a room that only those bound by a 'contract' may enter… It is very possible that such a fate will once again meet you in the near future." The man chuckled again, leaning forward in his seat with interest. "Now then… Why don't you introduce yourself…?"
"…You seem to know who I am already. Wouldn't that mean you already know my name, ah… Igor-san?"
Igor chuckled heartily, nodding slowly.
"My, my… It seems you haven't lost any of your wit or charm in the days that have passed, young Narukami Yu. Rather, I should say the days that have gone back."
"Master? Do you… know why this boy was sent here again? Can time really repeat itself like this?"
The old man was silent as he clasped his hands together again, looking at Yu intently. His black eyes moved up and down the silverette, as if carefully taking in the boy's appearance. He smiled faintly and shrugged, looking both amused and excited at the same time.
"Well now, be the answer yes or no, it seems our guest has returned to us and not a day older than the first time he arrived here. Ehehehe… Who knows what sort of wonders this will bring… Although it seems our young contractor has lost his memories of what has happened… Or shall I say, they've been lost in the fog. "
Yu blinked, something in the back of his mind sparking at the word "fog", but nothing would form fully in his head. Pushing the thought back for later, he leaned back in his seat quietly and waited for Igor to continue.
"Well now, let's take a look into your future, shall we?" Igor's smile grew as he waved his hand over the small circular table in front of him once, a deck of glowing blue tarot cards appearing in the center. Several flew off the top of the deck and landed face down in a half-circle around the deck with a second wave. "Do you believe in fortune telling? Each reading is done with the same cards, yet the result is always different. Life itself follows the same principles, doesn't it?"
"… Yeah, strange that." Yu muttered, staring at the facedown cards. Why can't I remember where I've seen all this before…? Those cards… The first one was… Tower, upright.
Reaching for the first card, Igor turned it over, giving the card a look of interest before grinning up at Yu and speaking. "Hm… The Tower, in the upright position, represents the near future; it seems a terrible catastrophe is imminent."
Yet he doesn't look upset or worried about this at all… Yu thought dully, fighting the urge to shake his head. Is everything a game to this guy? Anyway… the next should be the… Moon?
"The card indicating the future beyond that is…" The snow-haired man reached for the second card and flipped it over, smiling. "The Moon, in the upright position."
Yu blinked, looking startled as he stared at the cards. I was… right? But how? I've never been in this room, let alone seen those cards before. So why does this all look so…!?
"This card represents 'hesitation' and 'mystery'… Very interesting indeed. It seems you will encounter a misfortune at your destination and a mystery will be imposed upon you once more."
Once more… Again… He keeps speaking as if this is the past. He knows something… but he isn't going to tell me what it is. Frustration danced in Yu's eyes as he stared at the cards, trying to piece together the fogged memories in his mind, but it was like trying to put together the pieces of two separate puzzles when blind.
"In the coming days, you will enter into a contract of some sort, after which you will return here. I'm sure you've already figured this out, but the coming year will be important yet again in your destiny. If the mystery remains unsolved… your future may be forever lost. My duty is to provide assistance for our guests to ensure that this does not happen."
He's doing a fine job… Yu thought bitterly. I don't even think I've boarded the train yet and I'm already as lost as confused as a guy can get…
Sighing softly, Yu returned his attention to Igor as the elder gentleman waved his hands over the cards again, making them disappear. He gestured to the woman next to him, smiling brightly.
"Ah! I have neglected to introduce my assistant to you. This is Margaret. She is a resident of this place, like myself."
"My name is Margaret. I am here to accompany you through your journey." The female spoke up, turning her attention to Yu with a blank look upon her delicate features.
"Margaret…" Yu repeated with a polite nod. Margaret… Margaret… I know the name. But I didn't know anyone named Margaret at my previous schools. Then… I must know her as well.
"We shall attend to the details another time," Igor chuckled, sensing Yu's confusion and frustration with the situation. He waved his hand through the air, and Yu's vision suddenly began to blur, making the silverette panic slightly. "Until then, farewell..."