Welcome to Gaia! ::

Character Name: Mataki Hito
Tanbata Wish: To be able to erase painful memories from those in my 'world'.
New Year's Resolution: To become an Emperor who protects the people around him.
Comments: I wish you would give your blessings to us all.

Character Name: Naniyori
Tanbata Wish: I. like. to. break. things.
New Year's Resolution: To spread misery and bloody awesomeness to us all.
Comments: How many times is the Liquor Store going to burn down!? How the hell am I going to get drunk if this keeps happening!?

Character Name: Zazi Pazzia
Tanbata Wish: To draw out what's in everyone's minds! I want to see better results in my research, eheehee! And I'll kill them if I see anymore of those DAMN JERSEY BOYS.
New Year's Resolution: To painfully exam every orifice of my experiments, and probe out the secrets of the subconscious mind! Weeheehee.
Comments: If only a particular blond haired, bowler-cap wearing boy would come along and offer his assistance...

Character Name: Izaya Amatsu
Tanbata Wish: To give our boss a kick in the rear, to speed our plans up a little...
New Year's Resolution: Dunno...maybe I'll ask Ray...
Comments: I'm tired...

Character Name: Raiden
Tanbata Wish: To stop anyone from interfering with 'Hajime Maikawa' further.
New Year's Resolution: To kill those who aren't alone...
Comments: Soji Seta started this all. I will kill him, and then our plans will be back on track. He will die by my hands.

Character Name: Hei Nanjou
Tanbata Wish: To purify this world, and it's sinners...
New Year's Resolution: To summon a new God to save those willing to repent.
Comments: Those naive enough to claim what we're doing is wrong, can only be seen as the enemy.

Character Name: Yukimura Sanada
Tanbata Wish: TO SHOW OUR LEADER MY BURNING, IGNITING, FLAMING SPIRIT OF THE SUNNNNNNNN! FEEL MY FIEERRRYYY SSOOULLLLL!
New Year's Resolution: To do everything within my power in order to honor my lord, and to defeat Date Masamune!
Comments: I, Yukimura Sanada, have foolishly forgotten to defend us from the rear!

Character Name: Rolf
Tanbata Wish: I want a new bike!
New Year's Resolution: I'll make someone smile each day!
Comments: I really hope this comes true...

Character Name: Koizeki Tanibasaki
Tanbata Wish: For a clean slate the next year.
New Year's Resolution: To overcome himself and become better all around.
Comments: Oh! Green Tea and some Green tea flavored Rice cakes are great in the winter season. Better buy some before they all run out.

Submission By: Arena Emperor
Submission Title: Believing Without Seeing
Characters: Daigo Umehara and Kaminari Miyaki

Text: [A cold night beneath the trickling snow, somewhere in Downtown Inaba...]

It was the holiday season, the season for hope and togetherness. Tch, not that Daigo Umehara really gave two shits about that. White flakes trickled down slowly from the skies, like grains of white sand through the hourglass...puffs of breath passed through his lips like the smoke clouds churning out of the towers of an industrial wasteland. He had seen Christmas from the streets, from a home, in the country and in the city, and none of the seasons between the first and the last had given him any reason to believe anybody really had any more hope or cared a lick more when the seasons changed from the leaves of autumn to perpetual white than they had the year before. This season wasn't any different; passing through the streets of Inaba he saw through the forced, empty smiles of the townspeople and smirked knowingly at the signs and sights which bore in great, bright lettering the message that 'The End is Nigh!' Sons of bitches didn't really know how right they were. Tartarus was coming soon, and when Nyx fell this whole, decrepit s**t hole world was going to get what was coming to them. Salvation and death...yeah, couldn't argue with that. Being a hero had been too taxing; people were too cynical and stupid to save themselves, or even give a damn when somebody went out of their way to do it for them. Being the villain was much more rewarding...and it suited him, really. Especially when he turned the corner just before the Junes building came into view and started down a dark alley, catching the knowing glances of fellow cult members and watching as they backed down in a solemn reverence. The power was nice, too...it was all nice, watching this town sink into oblivion beneath a veil of snow. Wasn't a thing worth saving from Takaya's ******** up version of salvation in the whole cesspool, anyway...

"Hey, you..." a feminine voice caught his attention as he passed by another alley, and with a glance over his shoulder he saw the owner of the voice which sounded as unamused and gruff about the whole situation as his own, "...you wanna party? I got some s**t in my bag that'll make you forget your own name." She didn't seem to be all that invested in her pitch, but nonetheless, she went to the trouble. The look on her face said that she didn't really care whether he bought or not, and judging by her slouch she didn't seem to care for being out here in this frigid weather pushing whatever wonder-drug she had stuffed inside that bag of hers, either. Daigo scoffed dismissively, obviously not interested in whatever she had to offer...though that didn't stop him from taking a nice, long second look at her if only because she had been the only one with the nerve to actually say anything directly to him in Strega's territory. And she wasn't all that bad to look at, really. Nice, short blond hairdo and an outfit that couldn't quite be considered appropriate in the current weather...but it looked pretty good on her, he might have admitted if he were really the type. Sharp eyes, good figure, fairly cynical attitude...he supposed he could stand her if he had the time for s**t like that. Unfortunately, he didn't. "Not interested," he answered with a dismissive sort of ease, turning his back to her to continue down the alley...only to stop, and before he even knew what he was doing he was speaking up again over the low din of the Downtown night, "you should get out of here. Bad s**t happens to people who wander around here uninvited." He wasn't sure why he said it or why he had even bothered answering her in the first place. All he knew was that he had spent too long looking at the girl and now he had actually wasted words on her. Though he didn't question why that was...only recognized that it was something of a nuisance. 'Bloody hormones,' he thought, lips thinning as he took a step forward, only to be halted by her voice before his foot made another imprint in the snow. That...that chick was laughing?

"Bad s**t? Yeah right," the girl spat with a venom tinging her unimpressed voice, arm sliding to her sleeve to pull it back, revealing a strange pattern that had been carved into the skin and flesh there...it was a symbol with which Daigo would be very familiar, "you're one of those cultist freaks, right? Then I ain't gotta tell you where I got this. ...That ********' knife freak with the mismatched eyes...ain't nothin' anyone else could do to me that compares to that sick b*****d." In spite of himself, Daigo paused and examined the symbol, a Nyxist mark which Elke was infamous for carving into his victims; his precision knife-work was unmistakable in her skin, and for a moment he had visions of what that disgusting wannabe Rembrandt must have done to her when he marred her body like that. Turned his stomach a little...reminded him that what they were doing wasn't pretty, and for some of them, it didn't always have to make sense. But this town was going to Hell in a handbasket anyway, what did a single drug dealing chick in the back alleys of Inaba matter in the grand scheme of things? No matter how he reasoned it, she didn't. Still didn't change the fact that he couldn't pull his eyes away from the mark on her arm, or the skin above it which trailed a path up to her exposed elbow and onward. 's**t, something's seriously wrong with me today,' he cursed silently, only to earn a much less silent response from the girl standing in front of him. Shoving the sleeve back over her arm, she grit her teeth in defiance and looked to the side with distaste written plainly on her fairly good-looking features. "Don't even pretend like you pity me...I don't care if you are one of those twisted bastards. I'll kick the s**t out of you if you even think about it," the girl threatened with no trace of hesitation or doubt in her words. She didn't know if she could take him, but if he did just that, they would find out one way or another. Fortunately, her cynicism struck a nerve within Daigo. This was the result of his own cult's actions...even if he wanted to, he wasn't the type to put on that type of hypocritical face for anybody. And it's not like he was the one who cut her, so what did he have to be sorry about?

"Tch...fine, whatever," he answered finally, turning around entirely to face her as she returned her eyes to his, satisfied with his answer...though to her surprise, he wasn't finished, and he didn't take that as his cue to walk away, "Then come with me...I got a place nearby. I'm one of them, so nobody will give a s**t what I do there...if you want to party, or whatever, you can do it there." Having said that, the Strega member took a step back and leaned against the wall opposite of her, watching with a mildly exhausted expression as a myriad of expressions went over her...from surprised to offended to, finally, indignant. Pressing off the wall, she appeared to be debating crossing the distance between them and making good on her promise to check his chin with her fist before finally she clenched her hands at her side and grit her teeth. All-in-all, Daigo couldn't help but think watching all her confusion that she actually looked kind of...well, cute. In a strange, 'she's gonna kick my a** and I might like it' kind of way. Damn, was he secretly a masochist? He wondered, but he couldn't help but see where this would go. Which he didn't have to wait long for as her voice broke the silence rather poignantly, anger evident in her tone. "Are you ******** with me?! Why the Hell would I want to do that?" she asked, incredulous...wasn't this just what she had told him not to do, "a better question, why the Hell would you want to do that? Cause if you think just because I'm some sort of damaged goods I'll..." ...She would have gone on longer had she not noticed that the layabout ex-hero had already pressed off the wall and begun down the snowy alley way towards his hidden little home, sparing only one glance back in her direction before he went.

"Jesus, you're noisy," he sighed, rubbing his head as if to nurse a growing headache. In spite of his exasperation, however, there was an inexplicable little hint of amusement in his expression...as if, in opposition to his own nature, he was enjoying all this strange banter, "do whatever you want...but it's ******** cold out here, and I'm going inside. Besides..." For the life of him, he didn't know why he was still talking. "Maybe I just think that you look pretty damned good in white." It took her a moment to figure out what that meant...she was pretty sure she had been wearing a jean jacket and skirt, neither of them white. It was only when she looked over her shoulder that she noticed the white snow piling up over her body and the frigid shudder that trickled down her icy skin. She knew it had been cold before, but when did it get this freakin' cold?! Her eyes shifted back to the retreating form of the ex-cultist and despite the little voice whispering misgivings in the back of her mind, she really didn't get any feel from him that he was anything like that other freak...really, once the cold set in, she was sure (later, upon retrospect) she hadn't been thinking much at all. Otherwise she never would have found herself padding slowly in the path of his shoe-prints in the snow-covered streets, nor would she have ended up falling into step beside him when she finally caught up.

'I must be a masochist,' he thought as she caught up with him, making their way together now towards his home.

'I've got to be the most gullible idiot this side of Inaba,' she thought wryly, casting a dubious glance at her new acquaintance beside her.

And yet, in spite of their cynicism and skepticism, they soon passed through the doors of his small home together...and there, in whatever manner they pleased, they stayed until well into the night.

Character Name: Minori Koroko
Tanbata Wish: I wish everything could return back to normal.
New Year's Resolution: Spend more time with Duke…without the fangirls.
Comments: Some lessons on self defense wouldn’t be bad, either…

Character Name: Mitsuru Kirijo
Tanbata Wish: For him to stay here…
New Year's Resolution: Work harder to end this mess.
Comments: I miss my motorcycle. Let's go on a ride sometime, yes?

Character Name: Yelizaveta Ivanovna
Tanbata Wish: Make them go away…
New Year's Resolution: Do what needs to be done.
Comments: Am I…suppose to say something else?

Character Name: Yukiko Amagi
Tanbata Wish: For everyone’s health and well-being.
New Year's Resolution: Find the end to this nightmare…together.
Comments: Soji... just be careful, okay?

Submission By: Necromonium
Submission Title: Just for Today
Characters: Souji Seta. Rise Kujikawa. Various individuals who refuse to be named.

Text:

December 24th
Bzz, Bzz, Bzz a small black object buzzed, as Souji pulled out his phone, for what felt like the upteenth time this week.
He'd been stretched thin, from Drama club, to dealing with the Black messengers, to Kisa, to.....Just whatever the world had tossed his way. Not to mention the still lingering fear behind what the blue haired boy, Minato Arisato, had mentioned.

That...That he might have to give up the ultimate sacrifice, to save the world. Bzz, Bzzz, Bzzzz He really should pick up that phone now.

He looked at it, to notice that an unknown number had been calling him. Hesitant, he picked up the phone.

"Hello?" he called as he lifted the phone, before hearing but a dial tone. Quiet........
He went to put his phone back in his pocket before noticing it buzz once more.
Flicking it open, a Text resounded, one that shook the very core of Souji's Being.

That which is most imporant to you, I have it.

Souji flinched as he quickly dialed Rise's number, hearing nothing but the operator remarking that the line was busy.

Damn... Souji thought as he slid on his shoes, starting out the door. Just one time...I'd like to be able to enjoy a quiet day. Truly, Souji was possesed with naught but misfortune.
As he ran, his phone buzzed yet again, as he pulled out his phone.

Go left. it called, as he looked around. Was it watching him? Whomever had taken....
Either way, he turned, as another text came out, gesturing him to go another way.

He stormed through the town, following text by text, as he was in the downtown area.

He went to flick open his phone at another text, before skidding to a halt.
You're there. It said, as Souji looked up, noticing an all too familiar figure standing in front of him. One with lovely red hair, held up in pigtails.

"Senpai...." Rise called, looking at him with a warm smile. The Silverette paused, as he looked around. Where.....Where was the puppeteer behind all of this? Who had been yanking him around? Who had....

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard Rise's ringing giggle.
"Senpai....." she called softly as she moved closer, wrapping her arms around him. "Sorry, but this is the only way..."

Souji was something he'd been all too often these days, confused. However, as she lifted up his phone from his hands, she tossed it over to a bundled up figure with brown hair.

"Okay, We'll take care of everything. A cheery voice called, that Souji recognized.
"Chie?" he called as the junior tugged Souji into the building they had been near, the Markyu Tofu shop. Rise's home.
"Go on, make yourself at home." Rise called to Souji as she slid off her shoes as well, the Silverette doing so, silently but still confused.

"My family's out for today, so it'll just be us." Rise called, as she looked over at Souji. "Alone...together."

Souji looked up at Rise, as he looked around. The Shop looked a little....dark, with no one around. And he still had a million questions for Rise, as he opened his mouth.
"But...what..." he started, as Rise turned. "What about....that message?"

"I'm fine." she called, lightly as they continued up the steps." "Everyone knows you've been under a lot of stress lately, so...we'd figured we'd do something to help out."

Souji paused, but laxed his shoulders. So, the whole gang was in on this? No wonder he was getting so many messages, so easily.

"Yosuke and Teddie are keeping an eye on Nanako." Rise started. "And everyone else is on hand in case anything happens. Raidou looked fairly serious on helping out, but hopefully it won't come to that."

Souji gave a slight sigh of relief as Rise opened a door, leading Souji into a room, decorated with pink walls, and a bed. A Television sitting in the middle, and a window gazing out into the snowing paradise that was Inaba.

"Have I ever...Shown you my room?" Rise called lightly as Souji looked around. There were a few textbooks and magazines on a small desk that he'd guess she studied. A few photos of her and him, placed inside a picture frame. Her blankets were still even a bit messy, half removed from the bed.
"It's a bit messy, but I hope you like it." she called, as she gestured at her window. "At least I get a good view.."

Souji moved over, as he looked out of the window, seeing people moving about, some playing, some shopping.

"Yeah.." he called, as he smiled lightly. "So....today."

"It's all About Us~~" Rise called with a bit of pep. "Just for today, The outside world will have to make do without Souji Seta. Today, he's all mine <3"

Souji smiled, relaxedly. With so many people to protect Inaba at the moment, thanks to their adventures, and with the almost perfect timing, he figured he'd be able to relax, for once.

"Now, I've got a ton of movies we're gonna watch." Rise called. "They're a bit mushy, but it's just the thing for the holiday season. Then I'll cook for us later today, and I've even got a cake for us to share."

Souji smiled lightly as he turned his gaze from the window.
"Sounds wonderful Rise." he called, as he embraced her warmly. "Though, I hope you won't object to me helping out with dinner?"

Rise hugged him back, before looking back up at him.
"Nuh-uh, For just this one day Souji, you're getting the treatment you deserve. That means letting your sweet little Kouhai do all the cooking for you." she called, winking at him with an almost audible gleam.

Souji smiled warmly, as he teased her lightly.
"Not even a little bit?" he retorted, as Rise shook her head firmly.

"Nope." she stated simply, as the two's eyes locked, in first a mock competiton, before they both softened considerably.

"I love you Rise." Souji called, as he leaned in closer to his love.
"I love you too, Souji." Rise replied as she met his kiss, a wonderful start, to what would be one of the best days in Souji's life.

Submission By: Rednal
Submission Title: Not Quite Fixed Yet
Characters: Yuno x Rednal

Text:

Submission By: Kohaku Bear
Submission Title: Untitled
Characters: Please read the story to find out.

Text: