Fantum Lentis

Interesting facts about this new fic. Firstly, it's the first Persona fic I've written that is not a SYOC story. Secondly, I got this idea immediately after I played what could have been the fifth or six time I got the True Cycle of the game. Believe me, I'm pretty excited about this one. The idea of seeing how the whole story will turn with everyone's roles switched will be interesting. I look forward to giving all of you this story. Also, this fic is to get me back on my feet since I haven't written anything since school started and I need to get my creativity flowing again.

Now, to let you in on before; Yes, people will be switching roles. Meaning, lifestyles and fates will be changed for every character, including Yu's. The whole plot you knew of Persona 4 Golden will change dramatically. And in the end, this will truly decided whether Yu and the "new" investigation team can solve the mystery of the fog of ignorance.

Ha, I went weird there for a second XD Well, anyway, here's a quick summary for ya all!

Summary: Fem!Yu Narukami. Even in the falls of failing, fate still has a chance to be reshuffled. Failing to cease the fog of Izanami, Yu must take charge and start his journey in a different turning point. Yosuke suddenly becomes elusive and cut-off from the world. Chie is now head of an all-girls kung-fu syndicate. Yukiko's fans are more than just deadly accessories. Kanji's face is seen everywhere on television, but for good reasons! Rise is now Inaba's hip and happening information booker. And Naoto wishes to escape to the busy world of mystery. Life as Yu had knew it would be has been changed, and it's up to her and the "new" investigation team to discover the case behind the murderous Midnight Channel.

This is . . . Just exciting for me! :3 Well, I hope you'll all like it!

Discalimer: Persona 4: The Golden is under all rights of Shin Megami Tensei/Atlas/Sega.

Prologue- Ab Initio

Farther and farther he fell.

He couldn't tell how far or how long he had fell. His eyes were closed, and he could barely feel anything. Yet something was brushing his face and his hair was flying against him. His ribs were caging around his heart and his limbs were struck numbly at his sides. His skin was cold and feverish at the same time, and his mind was barely gaining focus. The worst of all, the voices of those he bonded with over the last year, everyone dear and precious to him- his friends, family, individuals of Inuba- they were slipping away from him. They were slipping from his subconscious and every one of his memories with them was fading from his mind. Their voices, faces, and names were sinking deeper and deeper into a fog of ignorance.

It was like he was dying. No, it was worse than dying.

The investigation team failed. Everything he and the others had so desperately tried to accomplish, had fallen from their grasp. Now there was nothing else to do, but to sink into Izanami's wishes and fall into oblivion.

His back suddenly hit paved ground heavily. With a groan, Yu rolled to his side and wheezed, lungs filling with much needed air and head spinning in vertigo. For a few second, he laid there, waiting for the dull throb in his head to stop and for blood to run into his sleeping arms and legs once more. Finally, he opened his eyes, wincing as the fog around him irritated his eyes. He shut them again and did nothing. That was all he could.

He had nothing else to do. There was nothing else to save and nothing to come back for.

Something vibrated under his fingertips. He opened his eyes again and peered through the thick fog, eyes widening as a sleek and black limousine came driving near him. With the strength he barely gained, he rolled to the edge of the road just as the limo drove by. The ride had stopped and the rear door before him was thrown open. Yu looked up and met Marie's brooding blue eyes, filled with rage and disappointment.

"Get in, stupid." She ordered, stepping aside to give him room. Pushing himself from the ground, Yu staggered to his feet and walked into the car, huffing as he took a seat across from Igor, Margret, and Marie.

"Welcome, to Velvet Room." Igor greeted roundly, smiling ever-so eerily. Strange, it was. The owner of the Fool Arcana though the old man would have been disappointed. Though, for how long Yu had known him, Igor could not wield such an emotion.

"I . . ." Yu hung his head. "I'm sorry . . ." He whispered brokenly.

"And what are you sorry for?" Asked Margret charmingly. Trying to speak, Yu made a noise in his throat. She spoke so softly, as if he did nothing wrong. How could she be so composed?

"I couldn't defeat Izanami," He whispered, clenching his fists. "Every attack, every spell and weapon. Even the Myriad of Truths!" He cursed, shaking his head, shoulders shaking. "I don't get it. None of it worked. And now it's all over." Something prickled at his eyes and he sucked in a breath, a tear ripping a seam through his heart. "I let everyone down. I failed."

"You really are a moron, huh?" He looked up, watching Marie lean back in her seat with a curled lip. "Don't go bawling your eyes out yet, you twerp. It's not over yet." She confirmed harshly. Yu rubbed his eyes and blinked.

"Marie, what do you-"

"Just ask the Nose, doofus." Grunted the forth guest, closing her eyes and crossing her arms, having nothing more to say.

"Marie is right," Yu turned his gaze to Margret. "My Master has prepared a secondary plan, should you have failed at the climax of your journey."

"So the cards have foretold," Igor agreed, revealing the deck of velvet cards he used on the first night of Yu's journey. "Though the Myriad of Truths was unable to defeat the true composer of the calamity of your world, it would seem that the cards have made a, shall we say, reshuffle in the fates of your journey. As it would seem, the strength held within your Wild Card ability has altered the sea of souls."

"Reshuffled?" Yu asked.

"You may say that you are given another chance." Margret explained.

"A-Another chance?" The silver-haired boy's breath hitched. "I can still stop Izanami? I can still save my friends and everyone?" He was elated beyond all comprehension, so glad that he was given a second chance.

"Hold on," Marie held up a hand. "It's not like a free-be or anything. There's a catch to this."

"Indeed," Margaret nodded in agreement. "As fate has been reshuffled, yours has been as well." At Yu's confused look, she smiled mysteriously. "As the sea of souls has been altered, so will the life you know. Everything you know and are up until this point will be changed. Your life, and many others, will be switched, in order to follow the shift of fates."

"In a year's worth of time, a great calamity will once again befall upon your world. And it will be up to you to stop it." Explained Igor. "What has happened so far will be forgotten. Every Social Link you had made will fade away and the life you once knew will be washed from your mind. Whether or not you will recall your past life will be determined by the strength of heart."

"You're saying . . . I won't remember any of this." Yu concluded, the harsh reality sinking in.

"This life and every event that has happened will have never existed." Said Margret. "You simply cannot remember a life that never existed."

"You can think of it as reincarnation." Marie added. Yu looked up at her.

"That means I won't remember you."

"Hey, it's gonna be alright, idiot," Marie forced a half smile on her face. "I'll still be there, somehow. Just reborn or something." She sighed and folded her hands, leaning forward. "Look, it's not like you're never going to see your old pals ever again. You will, you just won't remember them."

"But I want to remember them." Yu countered.

"It is for the best," Margret cued in. "Though your fates may be changed, the bonds you have made will follow the same path. You will meet again, no matter what new life you shall take."

"Shall I begin?" Asked Igor with a grin, his spider-like finger's fluttering as if there were a piano before him. "I shall place you in a state of unconscious whilst the cards shall take charge and escort you into your new life. You will be taken within the very recesses of the sea of souls, and into your new life." He said. Yu looked back at the two other inhibitors of the Velvet Room. Margret smiled and placed her hand on her chest, bowing, while Marie flicked her wrist in a way.

"See you later." She said. Yu nodded in return, unable to speak. Settling with his final choice, his only choice, he nodded at Igor and sat back in his seat. Igor raised his hands like a conductor, bony fingers sparking with a purple vapor, before it washed over the Fool. Yu felt his eyes lids grow heavy and his stomach suddenly dropped. As the corners of his eyes began to darken, he could faintly hear Igor say something.

"You have truly been a remarkable guest . . . Let's see what kind of guest you shall be in the next lifetime. . ."

Someone was screaming for help.

"D-Don't-! Please, stop!"

Heavy breathing and an angry voice was shouting.

"Get back here, you piece of shit!"

Running footsteps. Static ringing out. Another shout.

"N-No! Please, I beg of you- NOOOOOO!"

Shards of glass were shattered, split by a blood-curdling crash.

"Yu!

"Yu-kun!"

"Sensei!"

"Partner!"

"Narukami!"

The girl woke with a start at the sound of a train whistled. Her eyes blinded from the sudden sunlight that poured from the train windows. Looking up, she stared back at the girl that looked right back at her. A roundish face with high-cheek bones, slate-grey eyes that bore an apathetic sheen, and long, silvery hair curled over her shoulder, curling bangs fringed at her forehead, she blinked, and the girl blinked back.

'Right,' The girl realized, leaning back as the girl did the same. 'That's my reflection.'

Her cell phone suddenly vibrated and that nearly made her jump, too. Shaking off her anxiousness, she pulled out her phone and scrolled into the text she got.

From: Tohru Adachi

Sent: 11:07 AM

Hey! We're waiting for you at Yasoinuba station. I doubt you'll miss us! See you in a few!

She shut her phone close and pocketed it, staring back at the window. What was once a jungle of skyscrapers and packs of cars speeding along freeways were now replaced with open fields of flooded rice and grass as tall as people, the clear-blue sky breath taking. Yet the girl was not awed or impressed as she looked at this totally different world. Nothing new could move or sway her. Not since the divorce.

'It just happened so suddenly,' She though, the hold she had on the hem of her pleaded skirt tightening. 'Just like when mom and dad had to go sort out more of it and decided to leave me with . . . My uncle and cousin, right?' Her memory tried to reel back to the conversation she had with her parents, but all of it was a blur. She could barely fathom what had happened weeks before, let alone what happened only a week earlier. She drew to a blank.

"Taste the sky! Feel the sun! Act like there's no tomorrow!" She switched her gaze to the in-ride television, a boy younger than her dressed in a black wife beater and dark grey shorts. His short black hair was slicked back despite the layer of sweat on his forehead and his blue-grey eyes bright. In the commercial, he leaned over to a surf shack and cracked open a soda drink, gulping down the continents before sighing in satisfaction and thrusting the drink at the camera. "Enjoy the world in the palm of your hand! Take it from me and just go with it!" He shouted as the brand of the soda swiped over with a catchy tune.

". . . He would look cooler of his had pierced ears and eyebrows." The girl said to herself. The train whistled again and suddenly stopped. Taking that as the signal to get off, the girl stood and grabbed her duffle bag and wheeled-luggage from above, sighing before walking off the train.

She took a big gulp of the country air and exhaled, shivering at the new feeling. A warmth suddenly stirred in her heart. It almost felt like nostalgia, as if she had seen this place from before. Was it because of the country air, or from the dizziness from her ride?

"Hey! Over here!" She blinked and looked around the empty lot, surprised to see two people only there. Amongst the empty place, they stood out.

The man that called out to her had uneven and messy black hair, mousey-brown eyes twinkling as she walked over to him and the other person. He was dressed in a black suit with a crocked red tie. He looked a little sloppy, but the girl could tell that the goofy grin on his face meant he was harmless.

"Man, bro wasn't kidding when he said you grew up. Look at you; you're a woman now." The man smiled. The girl tried to do the same, but the look on her face could only match a grimace.

"I'm sorry, I don't-"

"Hey, it's OK," The man waved his hand with chuckle. "I haven't seen you since you were a baby, so it's cool that you don't remember me. Anyway, I'm Tohru Adachi, your dad's older brother." He took the girl's hand and shook it, despite the stiffness of it, before he stepped to the side to the person behind him. "And this is your cousin-"

"HIYA!" A bouncing ball of energy was at the silver-haired girl's toes, bright blue eyes in blissful innocents. "I'm Teddie! Well, I actually named Theodore, but dad calls me Teddie! When I heard you were coming to live with us, I was really excited 'cause that means I'd have someone to read comics with and eat candy at night and go to the pub in the Shopping District to score some ladies and-"

"Teddie, Teddie," Adachi intervened, blocking the jumping blonde from the bewilder girl, lest that the boy would accidentally step on her toes. "She just got here and you're already mobbing her. Give her some time to adjust."

"Oh!" Flushing with another toothy smile, Teddie nodded, taking a jump back and giving the girl a chance to look at him. His blue eyes were complimented with his wispy blonde hair and his red cheeks bought out his pale skin. Unlike Adachi, he wore spiffier-looking clothing, as if he were going to dinner with the ambassador of Japan. She looked between father and son. They were related?

"Well, we should get going. Oh, here, allow me," Adachi helped her remove her duffle bag and slid it over his own shoulder. "You must've been carrying this stuff the whole time, right? That's not right for a lady like yourself. Teddie, you mind helping, too?"

Teddie beamed. "Anything for a lady!" He chirped, taking the girl's wheeled-luggage before she could protest. "C'mon, cousin, we have to get going so we can give you the proper welcome!"

The girl nodded but still didn't move from her spot. Even with the weight of her luggage lifted from her, something felt off. And at that moment, something knocked her down.

And brooding blue eyes looked down at her, before a sigh was heard, and a hand was offered.

". . . Sorry." Said the boy, helping her up when she took her hand and then holding out something to here. "This fell out of your pocket." Said the boy. The girl took it- a note she scribbled down to remember her uncle's address- and bowed her head.

"Thank you."

"All I did was pick it up," Replied the boy, pushing back one of the strands of his black-blue hair and looking to the side. Whatever else he had to say, he pushed it aside and walked away, arms crossed on his chest.

"Yuina?" Adachi called, his head sticking out of a shabby-looking station wagon. "Are you coming?"

"Yes, uncle," Replied his niece, walking over and stepping into the car, closing the door and buckling her seatbelt, lying back on the leather that smelt of vegetables. Well, this was the country-side.

"You ready, Yuina?" Asked Adachi as he started the car. "I know it's going to take some time with the divorce and transfer and all, but keep in mind that you'll be going to school here, too. Make sure to make a lot of friends and do well in your studies."

His niece nodded, looking outside as the countryside blurred from the moving vehicle.

"I will, uncle. But please, call me Yui. I just . . . Like that name more."

The car stopped in front of a gas station once the car was running low and when Teddie began to wiggle in his seat, whining that nature was calling. From Yui's point-of-view, the little away town that made up the shopping district was quaint. With the attractions of corner stores and the local shrine, Inuba was the definition of rural. It was as simplistic as could be. Not that she minded. Maybe she could fall asleep to cicadas and light rain better than car honks and bickering apartment neighbors.

She had stepped out for fresh air and was greeted by one of the workers. They shook hands and had a light conversation, the young man offering her a job while she stayed around. Whether it was a real offer or the man was hitting on her, Yui accepted and was off with Adachi and Teddie again, patting herself on the back for making what could be her first friend in Inuba. However, the headache that struck her afterwards was not pleasant. It could've been from train-lag or the new environment, but she still didn't like it.

And just like that, the family of three stood in two-story cottage just a stone' throw-away from the North Shopping District. Nothing big and nothing small, it looked perfect for a family of two with a guest. As soon as Yui's luggage was moved to a spare room, she and her relatives sat by the small kitchen island, digging into store-bought sushi ("Sorry. This is what we usually get for dinner," Said Adachi, looking mournfully at the boxes of take-out and few places of the conjoint kitchen and living room. "Since it's just Teddie and I, we never got around to cooking or cleaning much.") Half-way through dinner, Adachi was called away suddenly and left in all but a flash.

"Dad works with the Inuba Police force," Teddie explained as he and his cousin threw-away the empty containers and used chop-sticks. "He's working with one of the higher-ups right now so he's been busy a lot." Teddie caught onto his flat tone, so he pitched a little with a forced smile. "B-But that means I can do what I want most of the time! C'mon, we can watch a movie right now, if you want! With hot chocolate!"

As pleasing as the idea sounded, Yui shook her head with a polite smile. "I think I'll just tuck in early, actually. I'm pretty tired." Her head throbbed for a second and she willed herself not to show it. Even crestfallen, Teddie gave her a smile and cheery, "Goodnight!" and scrambled to the old couch in the living room, to find a movie for himself to watch most likely.

Once in her small and temporary room, Yui walked over to the first box she saw and slit the seal of tape with a pair of scissors opening the contents and stilling, staring at a black blazer she hadn't worn in a month. She frowned, a flow of memories reeling back to a few weeks back.

"You've probably heard by now but, Narukami will soon be transferring schools."

As to be expected, an uproar was stirred in the class, voices heard and faces unseen as Yui eyed the white-tiled floor.

"Due to recent family problems and circumstances, she'll be transferring for a year. Please keep in mind. . ."

"Yuina," As much as she detested the name, Yui nodded as her mother talked, brushing her hair. It was a common habit her mother did when she felt her daughter was sad. "Honey, I know you probably feel this is unfair, but please, remember that none of this is your fault. Your father and I . . .Well . . ."

"We still love each other, but not in a sense were we can live together," Supplied her father, a few feet away and lounging in his favorite recliner. What was once a safe place, a comfy spot on her father's lap when she was little, seemed so far away now. "We think that this is for the best, and until we can settle things, we need you to stay with your uncle for the year." His face held a smile, even though the silver-haired girl couldn't see it. "You'll love it. Away from all this . . . Drama. Think of it as a vacation."

" . . . Alright." Her eyes drowsily fell behind silver and curly curtains, her heart tightening in her chest.

"And so you send me here," She sighed to herself, closing the box and taking a seat by the small couch of her room, curling her feet to her chest and resting her chin there. "Vacation. . . More like isolation . . ." The emotions she wanted to release and shout at the world were simmering down by sleep and the light pitter-patter of rain outside her window. Yui yawned, closing her eyes and sighing as her mind began to drift.

". . ."

"Do YoU wIsH tO lEaRn ThE tRuTh?"

Gasping, Yui opened her eyes, all senses drugged and slow as a silhouette stood before her, a fog as thick and dense as the confusion she held hiding the identity of her visitor.

"Is this . . . A dream?"

ThEn TrY yOrU bEsT tO cAtCh It . . ." The figure floated away, it's back turned to the dreamer as it seemed to vanish from existence. No matter how hard Yui tried to reach or how strength she could bring herself to do so, the figure was gone and she soon dropped back into a dreamless sleep.

The following morning was greeted with a quick breakfast of warm pastries by the Shopping District and a busy Adachi leaving for work. Teddie, seeing that his cousin looked a little drained, escorted her a block away from her new school, waving off to her as he went in the other direction to the small school house he went to ("I have to go there before I can go to your school. I was held back a year so I need to pick up on some things over there." He informed with a smile.) Trekking up the pass, Yui noted the avid conversation passing between a redhead and a brunette.

"Chie-senpai, I swear! His family's home is around here-"

"Rise-chan, that's exciting and all but-"

'Better not get involved.' Yui thought, passing the two girls and bumping into a shorter student's back. "Oh, I'm sorry." She apologized.

"It's alright," The other girl whispered, blue hair pushed back in a way that made her look more of a boy. "Well . . . Goodbye." Said the shorter girl, hurriedly making her way into school. Yui stopped right there, the small incident washed away as she met the sight of her new high school. Gone with the stiff black blazers to uniform jackets and ties, Yui felt an easy air flow into her. New schools were scary but this one seemed alright.

"Now, now, class. Settle down," Purred Yui's home room teacher, a sultry look ruined by her over-dosage of make-up and show of cleavage, leaving nothing to the imagination. Judging by the silence, Yui couldn't tell if it was caused by her presence, or her teacher's act of failing seductiveness. "As you all know, we have a new transfer student here from the city. And sin't she a pretty little thing? Boys, please be easy on here. Girls, don't be jealous of her flawless skin, even if it's the best in this school, second only to mine."

A few silent groans later, Yui wrote her name on the chalk board and tilted her head one way. "Nice to meet you all. I'm… Yui Narukami. I . . ." She thought up her next words, short and sweet. "I hope we can all get along."

"Good . . . Now go sit down." It wasn't a suggestion. More like a command hiding behind a false smile. Yui took the first seat she saw, stuck in a sort of square between the two people who were conversing near the street and the quiet girl she had ran into. The two girls were at it again, speaking quietly.

"So the new girl-"

"I don't know much yet-"

"Will you-"

"I'll see what I can dig up about her-"

Yui raised a brow. Why were they talking about her as if she were some sort of race horse? Shaking her head at the gossip, she noticed that the quiet girl was nosing herself with a book, looking at the words intently. See that there was no one to talk to, Yui turned her head to the nearby window and sighed, narrowing her eyes as a thick vapor shrouded the windows.

'What? . . . When did it become foggy?'

"Attention all students," The new transfer almost jumped from her seat when the intercom blared on, looking around and wondering how class time had went by so fast. "There has been an incident on campus. Please remain calm and-" Yui stopped listening half-way, knowing that this was the right time to go home and the droning voice was dull enough to make her fall asleep.

"Hey, hold on a sec," The redhead from before waved over to her, pigtails bouncing and brown eyes filled with stars. "You want to walk together? They were going on about the incident and it would be better to walk into groups, right?"

" . . . Right." Yui agreed after thinking. That conversation the brunette and the girl before her was still creeping in her mind. She warned herself to be careful.

"Cool. Oh my, gosh! I forgot to introduce myself! How silly of me!" The redhead giggled. "My name's Rise Kujikawa, Inuba's one and upmost information booker!"

"More like gossiper," Sighed the brunette walking over to them, her pockets stuffed by her hands. "Rise's information collecting revolves around fashion and the latest hook-ups and break-ups, so it's not all that useful."

"Is so!" Sticking her tongue out playfully, Rise gestured to the girl next to her. "This is Chie Satonaka, the leader of our own local, all-girls fighting syndicate."

"Please, Rise-chan, don't put it like that," Chie sighed, making a face. "It's just me and a few other girls helping out."

"With your feet and kicking out someone's teeth, though."

"Whatever," Rolling her mocha-brown eyes, Chie nodded at Yui. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you. Rise's right, we should all walk home together. Whatever incident is happening, it's safe to travel in a pack, right?"

"I guess so." Yui replied, still trying to comprehend the whole thing.

"Hey, Naoto-kun, want to walk with us, too?" The quiet girl Yui met couldn't walk away quick enough, not with Rise's face smiling down upon her. Naoto shook her head and bowed.

"That's considerate of you, but I would like to walk home alone. Thank you." She walked out as fast as her answer went.

"She doesn't like crowds much, huh?" Asked Rise as the current trio walked out of class and down the embankment, chatting and soon bringing Yui to cough up why she transferred all of a sudden.

"Divorcing parents, huh?" Chie looked sympathetic. "Sounds hard."

"Must be when your parents send you to live here, smacked in the middle of nowhere." Sighed Rise. "No worries, Yui-chan, Chie and I will be right here to help escape the boredom that haunts our little town."

Yui spared a smile; maybe she had made some new friends in this town and the experience wouldn't be so bad. "Thank you." The clear shriek of a police siren cracked her ear drum, she and the others wincing as three police cars raced pass them.

"What was that all about?" Asked Chie.

"Looks like they're parking around the corner," Rise was already bounding away to the scene. "Come on! Let's go check it out!"

"Her and gossip. . ." Rolling her eyes, Chie and Yui nonetheless followed Rise to the scene, the police cars gathered with an ambulance and police men crouching on the roof top. Yui barely had a second to dodge as her uncle almost ran into her, Chie pulling her away just as Adachi emptied out his breakfast onto the street.

"Adachi, how long are you going to be acting like a rookie?!" An older man braked her uncle's way, looking like one of those irritated cops Yui saw late-night shows in the city. "Want me to put you back on desk work?!"

Bristled that the man was bullying her uncle, Yui didn't waist a second to walk over to the man, tapping on his shoulder to get his attention. "Forgive me, officer, but I would like to advise that you shouldn't talk to my uncle that way." She said firmly. "Not only is it disrespectful but it is your responsibility to encourage your co-workers, not degrade them."

The man stared at her, five-o'-clock shadowed jaw slack and grey eyes wide. Floundering at Yui's side was Adachi.

"D-Dojima-san, she meant no disrespect, she w-was only-!"

The full-hearty laugh and small clap and pet on Yui's head was enough to surprise uncle and niece.

"She's got some backbone in her! You're sure he's your uncle?" The man laughed, smiling a small grin. "Alright, young lady, if your uncle can pull off his job well with me giving him some respect, then I'll keep at it, alright?" He asked. Yui nodded.

"I can agree to that."

"She has more spunk than you, Adachi," The man chuckled, before shaking Yui's hand firmly. "Detective Dojima at your service, If there's any help you need, just let me know, Miss-"

"Yui Narukami," Yui responded, smiling a touch. "Nice to meet you as well, Detective Dojima. And I will."

Dojima nodded before walking back to the other officers. "Adachi, make sure your niece gets home. It's not safe for her to go off alone at this time. You can leave for today."

"Thank you, sir," Adachi bowed respectively and then turned to his niece. "I'll get the car. Just wait right here and we can go pick up Teddie." He went off and Rise and Chie walked over.

"What was that all about?" Chie asked. Yui scratched the back of her head.

"I may or may have not almost gotten my uncle fired."

The two girls stared before Rise giggled. "I knew we were going to like you, Yui-chan."

The city girl smiled back with a lame giggle of her own, but looked back at the scene behind her. A body bag was present, being wheeled into an ambulance and talk was going about within the group housewives gathered there.

I wonder what's going on. . .'

The next morning stared with a book flopping at Yui's feet, the later blinking before picking up the hard-covered novel, inspecting it as an adventure selection.

"Narukami-san," Walking over to her came Naoto, looking a little worn out. "Sorry. I was so engrossed with my novel that I bumped into a person and dropped it. It must've tumbled all the way down here."

"It's alright," Yui responded, handing back the book with a smile. "Naoto-san, right? It's nice to meet you." She began to walk with the shy girl, having nothing to do since it was the end of another school day. "That's a nice-looking book you were reading. What's it about?"

"The usual; traveling to far-away places and finding new discoveries," The bluenette spoke with a tiny smile. "I haven't been able to put it down. I'm going to my grandfather's store to pick up another one."

"Oh, you mean the book store in the Shopping District?" asked Yui.

"No, he has his own shop at Junes. It's filled with his own collection that he allows people to see and take with a return policy."

"Oh, so it's like a library, then," Yui nodded, then smiled. "Mind if I tag along? I think I could use a good book to read before I go to bed." If she didn't know any better, she could see a flush of embarrassment on Naoto's cheek bones.

"I-I don't see why not-"

"Heeeeyyyyy!" Someone pounced the both of them and caught the two started girl's in an arm-lock, Rise's million-dollar smile greeting them. "Are you two leaving on a shopping day without me?' She giggled. "That is so not cool."

Naoto looked uncomfortable about the contact and Yui shrugged, also answering, "I was just going with Naoto-san to her grandfather's shop at Junes. A library of sorts."

"Hey, I've been there! Your grandfather is the shop keeper?" Rise asked Naoto, a nod in response. "He's so sweet and nice. I'll tag along with you guys. Chie's busy with her fighting syndicate anyway." No one made a comment as they walked to Junes together.

Yui could say that Junes had to be the closest thing related to city-public works. It had the basic clothing and entertainment stores and food-court any other mall would offer, but a little bigger, if that was nay constellation. Shirogane Nook was a comfy-looking shop that, although with a few customers, had a vast selection of literature with a convenient lounge for reading. After selecting a fantasy store and a study book, Yui walked over to the counter, smiling as the old man there greeted her politely.

The old man, Naoto's grandfather, left to the back of the store to check on stock after he helped Yui and left his granddaughter and customer to chat. Rise walked over to them with a shopping bag in hand, choosing to visit a different shop to visit and most likely avoid the old-looking store.

"Hey, isn't that where you and I were yesterday, Yui-chan?" Rise asked. Attention caught, Yui looked at the television, surprised to hear that the event was an undecided homicide or suicide of sate senator, Taro Namatame, who was caught in an affair with a local TV announcer, Mayumi Yamano. It was causing a stir in the small little town. "Sounds creepy, right? The student who found the body goes to our school, too."

"I think I'll go help my grandfather, now." Naoto abruptly walked behind the counter, biting her bottom lip. "I'm going to be busy, so . . ."

"We understand. We should get going." Rise interrupted with a smile, walking out of the book store with Yui, giving a small look. "Naoto-kun looked a little uneasy, didn't she?"

A page was turn, Yui looking up from the book she had picked and staring at Rise. "Did you say something?"

The gossiper sighed. "Never mind."

With another dinner passed at the Adachi residence, Yui bid her uncle and cousin goodnight and closed her bedroom behind her, flopping herself onto her couch and pulling out her new book. Naoto's grandfather knew his books; the foreigner couldn't bring herself to put the book down. Just as the protagonist was about to make the decision of the lifetime, her phone vibrated on the nearby table. Remembering the page number of the book, Yui walked picked up her phone and flipped it open, reading the quick text.

From: ?-?-?

Sent: 11: 50 PM

Rise, here! Thax 4 giving me ur #. Remember 2 save mine, 'k? Oh, have u heard of that rumor that everyone in school's been talking about, like, 4-ever? Make sure 2 check ur TV in ten mins. They say you can c' the face of ur soul mate ^.^ Let's meet up tomorrow and tell each other what we saw. TTYL!

Yui saved the number and eyed the message a few times, her mind buzzing over the possibility. It did sound interesting, seeing the face of your soul mate with the convenience of midnight and a television. Fortunately for her, Adachi had given her a small cable television to provide her a little entertainment in her room. Turning off the lights for health reasons, the silverette stood right in front of the blank screen, waiting as the seconds ticked by.

'It sounds a little off but hey, most rumors are, right?'

After five more seconds, midnight struck and Yui waited, the only light coming from the street lights outside her window. After a more seconds of staring and wasted breathing, Yui shook her head, standing up and stretching.

"Soul mate . . ." She shook her head, turning her back on berating herself. "I can't believe I fell for-"

The TV turned on with a sudden jolt, static snow covering the screen. Something of a heart attack struck her. Clutching her chest, Yui panted and wheezed as all of the air in her lungs suddenly began to thin, her blood running thickly to help her struggling hear and her mind swaying into vertigo. She spun a whole circle, sinking to her knees and flying her hands to her head, clutching her scalp to the point of pain and crying out as the sound of shattering glass ringed in her ears.

I am thou. . .'

She wheezed, eyes rolling to the back of her head as they caught the figure of someone of the television.

'Thou art I . . .'

It was as if her mind were a glass wall, broken by a sudden force that knocked her off her feet. Silently screaming, Yui's head broke through the television screen as if it were water, gasping as she swung her foot and bought herself outside, her body flying back.

'You who has lost all, but regained much more . . . Revive the truth, and settle thy fate . . .'

Her head hit the edge of the table sharply and Yui groaned, shaking her head and nearly biting her tongue. Regaining composure of her body, the transfer student sat up and stared at the black screen, shut off and taking the figure with it. Holding the dull-throbbing part of her head, Yui breathed deeply, eyes watered from the shock and emotions and thoughts flying.

"Just . . . Just why in the world did all of that . . . Feel familiar?"

"Wait, what?" At the crack three-o'-clock, Yui and her company of three walked down the slope of school, classes passing by once more. "You saw someone in the TV last night?"

"Lucky!" Rise pouted. "All I saw were weird shadows. Naoto-kun, did you see something?"

"No," Replied the shortest member of the four, once again busy reading and walking. "I apologize. I was asleep by then."

"Seriously, we're still talking about this?" Huffing, Chie stopped and jerked her head to the side. "Anyway, I gotta get going. More scouting needs to be done and the other girls are getting antsy." She waved as she walked away. "See ya!"

"She's as busy as ever with her syndicate," Sighed Rise. "And if you did see someone there, that's great. But that whole, "My head almost got stuck in the TV thing,"" She shook her head and tried to give an easy smile, "Sorry, but that's kind of hard to swallow."

"Can we change the subject?" Asked Naoto, finally looking up from her novel. "It's making me rather uneasy. How about we eat out at Junes? I'll pay."

Yui was surprised by the novel-reader's tone. She sounded afraid for some reason. Rise didn't seem to notice as she placed once arm around Naoto's shoulders. "Sounds great! C'mon guys, let's get going!"

And that's how they found themselves standing in the electronics' department of Junes, leaving a confused Yui since she was feeling up to getting an afternoon school lunch.

"Alright, let's see if you can stick your head in the TV," Rise giggled as the trio stood in front of a sixty-inch plasma. Yui shook her head, sweat awkwardly slipping down her neck.

"I don't think it will work that way."

"It's impossible nonetheless," Naoto sighed, closing her book with a bookmark and looking at the television on display. "Narukami-san, I'm sure what you experienced was probably a hallucination. It has been raining for the past few days so maybe you were ill at the time."

But the words barely crossed Yui's mind. Like the night before, an invisible limb wrapped itself around her heart and squeezed it, tugging her and making her legs walk to the television. She reached out, grazing her fingers near the screen, the crack of a whisper urging her to release her mind.

And she fell.

"Yui-chan!"

"Narukami-san!"

Whether it was Rise or Naoto who had grabbed her ankle, all three girls let out terrible screams as they fell into a deep abyss. Down and down did they fell, screaming their heads off, until they all sorely landed on ground. Yui was the first to sit up, groaning as her side ached. "A-Are you two OK?"

"I think so." Rise sighed with a little pain.

"At least we're alive," Naoto grunted, standing up and looking around. "The question is where we are. This isn't part of Junes. . ."

Yui helped Rise up and looked around, squinting as the thick fog around the three covered up almost everything. The floor below them was styled with a hypnotizing pattern, masking tape designed to look like body outlines. 'Creepy. . .'

"I don't care where we are," Rise shivered. "I just want to know how to get out of it. I wanna go home."

"Rise-chan, please calm down, we'll figure a way-" Footsteps suddenly interrupted her, tiny scratching sounds unmistakably made by claws.

An animal, a creature of some sorts, whatever it was, was after them. And all three of them were sitting ducks.

"Run!" Yui shouted, leading the two other girls away from the area. She may had not known where they were, but something deep within the crevices of her mind told her to get them out of there. Now.

Next time on Fantum Lentis:

"This room. . . Why are all the eyes torn out?!"

"Chie-chan and Naoto-kun have been acting strange, haven't they?"

"Why are you here? Are you going to play with me?"

"So, think you're getting use to Inuba yet?"

'I still can't help but feel all . . . Nostalgic . . .'

"Ha! What's the matter?! Aren't you going to show them who you really are? Or will you always be a big hypocrite and make them leave?!"

"No. . . S-Stop it! You're not me! YOU'RE NOTHING LIKE ME!"

"I am thou . . .

Chapter Two: Veni, Vidi, Vici

"Welcome, to the Velvet Room."

Well, shoot. If you're reading this, then let me thank you for checking out the new story. Like I said, this is to help me get my creativity back into check and to get back into the Persona fandom, since god-know's how long that's been. Also, I apologize if the characters seemed OCC. That may or may have not been on purpose but hey, it's a new route in the P4 plot. Gotta expect some changes. *Shrugs* Well, please drop by a review and let me know what you think. Be kind and do tell me if you want more of this fic. I'll be trying my best to update daily. Until then, keep a sharp eye out for the next chapter! Thank you!

This is me saying, Peace!