I hate train rides. The subways in New York were almost always crowded, so I preferred walking a majority of the time.

"But it's so dangerous!" My aunt would always lecture.

I loved that woman to death, but man was she a nag sometimes. Everyday she told me to try to make friends and show people who I really was. She just didn't understand people these days. People didn't want real… they wanted what they thought was real. People thought I was cool and mysterious because I never talked and was a loner, easy right?

At any rate, I had been from train to train since I arrived at the airport earlier in the day. I spent most of my time reading, drawing, and listening to music. I had picked up this weird book from the airport gift shop by some guy with the pen name "Naoyo". Some weird stuff involving demons and what not, which needless to say I put down and didn't return to rather easily.

When the train arrived to the darkened town, I will admit I didn't smile. It was a gloom looking place from afar. It wasn't as bright and big as the city, which I'll admit was something I would have to get used to. It was the noises outside the window in the streets that always helped me sleep. Most I was expecting was a stray dog howling at the moon every now and again.

"Attention passengers, we sincerely apologize for the delay,"

I breathed out a long sigh at the sound of the train's intercom patching the monotone conductor to us passengers.

"We will be arriving at Iwatodai station shortly."

I put my headphones in again and closed my eyes as the box of the train rattled and shook my body. A yawn had escaped me as the song changed to a remix of my "Theme song" as it were. A nice beat that I would have used for one of those big epic moments in an anime. If I watched them that is.

After the train stopped and the conductor told us we had arrived to Iwatodai station, I exited the car and looked around at the few people exiting along the train with me. A clock hung high above the station showing it was only half an hour until midnight. Great. I had yawned again before sticking my hands in my pockets and walking on.

For so late at night, the station was very busy. Not as busy as back in the U.S mind you, but for a small port town this was the least I was expecting when first coming here. One older business man in the nicest suit I had ever seen was in the corner, almost cursing into his phone as a woman who looked like his assistant next to him hurried along next to him. I shrugged and continued on.

When I exited the train station, I was in a slight shock when I ran into a small girl, her brown hair in pigtails wearing a denim jacket and skirt.

"I'm so sorry mister!" She had squeaked and bowed, which oddly made me grin to be nice to the young girl.

"Maiko!" A man had yelled as he hurried up and took the young girl's hand. "I'm so sorry young man, my daughter and I were just out picking up her mother from work."

I nodded, understanding as my aunt herself had had one or two late night jobs over the years.

The man lead his daughter off as I walked on and pressed the button on my mp3 to turn up my music. As my eyes were focused on the electronic text highlighting my next song of choice, I shook again as I had been bumped into on my shoulder. If it had caused me to drop my music player…

"Sorry!" Called back a boy about my age as he jogged off wearing a school warm up suit with an emblem different from the school I would be attending.

I was relieved I wouldn't be attending class with some weirdo.

"Dear, have you locked the door?" I heard over my shoulder and turned back to see a elderly couple standing outside a store.

"Well I wouldn't leave our store unlocked for vandals to attack." The old and somewhat bald man returned hunched over. "Let's go my dear." He said warmly as he and the old woman together walked in unison away from my direction.

Now I suppose this is the part of the beginning where I mention my own love life is it? Well it doesn't exist. Like I said a while back, women are bitches and don't you dare get the idea, I'm not attracted to men. Women are just so odd, so clingy and so… bitchy.

"Maybe you'll find I nice girl here." That small voice in my head rang in.

No w-

Just then a chill had slithered up my spine. I had looked around, nothing out of the ordinary other than some of the late crowd walking up and down the sidewalk. I couldn't pinpoint what was making my goose bumps shiver and my mouth become dry. I held my forehead and closed my eyes before another shiver made my eyes open toward an alley hidden between two of the buildings in the small shopping center.

A skinny man, his blonde hair long and his cold… yellow eyes stood just in the shadows. Tattoos adorned his crossed arms and an oddly warm grin on his face as he leaned against the brick wall. A younger man with a green jacket, with greasy blue hair and thick glass, approached him. The two nodded to each other and they walked further into the alley.

Once the shivers had stopped I wiped my forehead to noticed I had sweat all over my forehead. I wiped it off with my jacket sleeve and continued on.

I made it to what my pamphlet said was called "Naganaki Shrine". I walked up the steps to get a look, but stopped seeing an albino Shiba lying on the top. Now I can't resist a cute pup, cats too me are to picky and selfish of creatures, but something in me told me to turn around and leave the canine be as I heard it give a snore.

When I had turned to resume down the walkway, I tilted my head as a large coffin stood before me.

"Of course it happens here too." I shrugged to myself and walked around the large black object and continued on.

My aunt always said I was a special child. That I was destined to be a great man and to show the world new things that only I could show them. Well, if I could show them this time of night I don't think I would.

Always at midnight. On the dot, no matter what time zone I was in or whatever but when that clock said 12:00 the moon would glow brighter, the sky becoming a sick green and the clouds becoming thick and dark. Any puddles or any other form of water would become a blood red color, which scared me to death till I was about 11 when I got used to it. No one would ever remember afterward… only me. So I never disagreed with my aunt I was special… but I never agreed it was in a good way.

I approached the dormitory, "Iwatodai Dorm" as the pamphlet called it. I opene the two fancy double doors and walked in with no lights on, the fairly spacious lounge dark and vacant.

For a moment I wondered if anyone else lived here before an odd voice greeted me.

"You're late. I've been waiting a long time for you."