The two of them arrived in Inaba by 8. It was already dark, and stood on the platform, Chie found herself frozen; captivated by the stars themselves. She'd been to other towns, sometimes, on business, and while they all played the same sky, the stars always seemed brightest here. They shined through the fog like gold through a treasure chest's keyhole. It was a shame she hadn't visited once since the move. They made their way off the platform, and into the station. Nanako wrenched their jacket tighter round their body, and mumbled through pale lips.
"It's cold."
"You really think so?" Chie grinned, feigning ignorance. "I don't feel it at all. But this is a great opportunity to build some endurance, Nanako-chan!
Yes: Nanako-chan. They couldn't use their Arcana names where anyone might be listening.
Frowned silence was their response. Chie said, "Come on, let's take a seat inside, and discuss our trip plans," and they agreed with a nod.
The couple headed inside, with an ease that she noted with delight. Out of all the partners she could've had for this trip, Nanako was among the better. Company-wise, at least. Her fighting skills were still up for debate. They didn't actually take any seats: only loitered in the corner, with their luggage wilting at their feet like faithful hounds.
"What do we do now?" Nanako asked as they fiddled with their low, brown ponytail.
Chie watched their fingers, with eyes clouded over in concentration. She wasn't actually sure. Usually she already knew who to fight or where to go - Lovers was usually the one who gathered any intel. The phone in her back pocket itched with an impulse: ask her. But she probably wouldn't get much of answer. And besides, she had an apprentice now, and it just wouldn't do for Nanako to see their beloved teacher seeking help on the first try. She'd have to put some real thought into it.
The idea occurred to her this was a prime opportunity for some learning to take place. "Well, Nanako-chan, what do you think our first move should be? Remember: to catch a Shadow, you must first think like a Shadow."
They stared up at Chie beneath a messy block fringe, and then down at their feet, as if an answer might lie etched into the tiled floor. It wasn't long before their chin perked right back up, and they said, "The police station! If there's been some mysterious deaths, it's probably because of the Shadow, right?"
Chie chuckled with a chord note of nervousness and pride. That was actually a pretty good plan. "Right. First we better find some place to crash, though. We need to put our bags away. How does the Hanamura house sound? Although I'm not sure if they can fit two people... we'll have to share a room."
Most of her friends, her included, had moved to the city with the advent of Personae. The only person who didn't was Yukiko, and the pair of them hadn't actually spoken in years. Although she did say the whole reason she'd stayed was to run the inn, that was a while ago, and she knew seventeen year old Yukiko hadn't enjoyed the thought of a family business foisted upon her.
"The Amagi Inn is probably still open," Nanako pointed out, as if Chie's face was that much of a giveaway. "I'd rather stay there than at some stranger's house."
It was decided, then. They took the next bus there. Chie sat with her hands folded tight in her lap, gazing out the window and watching the fog roll past. Everything looked the same as it had been years ago, but with subtle differences, like a differently coloured street-lamp, or a new road sign. A slight nausea at the clash of familiarity rose in her stomach. She was so close to the past, and yet, growing farther by the second.
The inn was open, after all, and she briefly wondered if Nanako just knew it all. They were shaping up to be a good User, or at the very least, a good problem solver. If the bus ride was the trip down Memory Lane, being at the inn must've been purchasing Memory Estate. It was exactly the way she remembered it, from the old tatami mats to the neglected brochures for local Inaban attractions piled up in a cubbyhole.
She didn't recognise the receptionist - not the old lady she was used - although the girl they did have looked quite young. Maybe she was a fresh Yasogami graduate. Chie placed her fingers on the wooden counter, and drummed them to an unnecessary attention-grabbing effect. She and Nanako were the only ones in the lobby, after all.
"Hi. Are there any rooms open for tonight?"
The receptionist peered over the counter at Nanako - the top of it came to an inch below their collarbone, bless - and then over her shoulder, at the clock behind her. She didn't even check the computer.
"Yes. Would you like two?"
"No thanks. Just one with two futons."
The receptionist nodded, and then went through the normal rounds; asking for names, signatures, and handing out a key. Chie paid with the Agency credit card. Although her salary could easily afford it, this was more of a business trip than a friendly outing. The taxpayers would never miss it. Nanako had already started to leave, but Chie lingered for just a moment longer.
"Do you know who the current owner of the inn is?"
"Amagi Yukiko-sama," said the receptionist.
"Oh?" A half-smile crept onto her face. "Can I speak to her? Where is she?"
"I'm afraid she is out right now, but I can take a message. Please be aware she is a busy lady."
"That'll be fine. Just tell her I'm here, then."
Chie followed Nanako to their room, her insides charred a little with disappoint. The room was identical to the others she'd stayed in over the seventeen years she'd lived in Inaba - although it was a little on the smaller side, but that was fine. She put her duffel bag on the floor, and then kicked it over to the other side of the room. It scraped across the mats, to come to a clumsy flop in front of Nanako's neatly placed suitcase. They looked at her with no trace of dissent save for the frown in their eyes.
"Part one of the mission: complete! We're making great time!" Chie yelled and posed her favourite kung fu move, probably too loudly for the guests next door. She'd meant it as a joke, actually, but somehow, it did feel a little reassuring. Like she was sorting herself out. Like this not-Lovers-approved operation was working out after all. "Alright. Let's check out the police station."
They took another bus there. It was actually the district next to where Chie used to live, so it was one of the most familiar to her. Nanako knew their way around, too; a by-product of growing up with a detective as their father. The precinct was so old-fashioned compared to the stations in Tottori, it was half laughable and half worrying. It was a good thing Inaba was small enough it didn't need anything more advanced than this.
As they entered the building, Nanako demonstrated their wonderful ability to read minds. "By the time we moved, in 2012, they still had old TVs here. Y'know, not a flatscreen? The old, big, chunky ones."
"I know what you mean," Chie laughed. "I bet Yosuke would know what they're called."
"Yeah, they had a huge TV department at Junes."
"Can I help you, ladies? Oh! Is that Nanako-chan!"
Their conversation was stopped short when a scruffily-clad guy with a red tie greeted them. He had short black hair, a young face, and hands clasped into a lazy, but pleased, clap. A mug laid forgotten on the counter he was leant against.
There was a uniformed man stood besides him, drinking from his own cup. "Nanako-chan? You mean Dojima's girl?"
Although they tried not to show it, Chie could tell from their curled lip a sour look had crossed Nanako's face. She quickly stepped in. "Actually, they're not a girl."
Comprehension didn't strike either of the men's faces - she could tell they didn't really understand, but hopefully they'd at least acknowledge it. Nanako seemed to brighten up, though, and their mouth slid into a small, passive smile.
"Hi Uncle Adachi."
"What're you doing here? How's old Dojima doing?" The guy called Adachi grinned, pleased with the response. "I can't believe you remember me. How old are you now?"
Nanako was so peppered with questions they didn't know what to answer first.
"I'm thirteen years old, and um... I wouldn't forget you. And Dad is doing fine. Actually, I think he's better since the move, since Mum..." They trailed off, like the words dissolved the moment they'd touched the air. "Oh! Can we ask you some questions?"
Adachi's eyebrows raised, and he popped one hand into his blazer pocket. "I don't know what you'd need from me, but go ahead."
"Have there been any weird deaths lately?"
"...Weird deaths...?"
"Like people with their blood drained, or bite marks in general. Unsolved cases. And missing persons," Chie said, fast on the ball, although Nanako could tell by Adachi's frown she wasn't approaching it from the best angle.
They butted in quickly with, "We've heard some rumours about stuff like that. I don't want to go out at night if it's true..."
Adachi seemed to perk up; he straightened up, and fixed his cuffs. "Do you need a police escort? Because I could -"
"Oh, no!" Nanako waved their hands. "We couldn't! I just want to know if there's a curfew, or something."
"I see. Okay, well, I shouldn't really be -"
"Don't tell them," the officer beside Adachi nudged him, and shook his head. "That's confidential."
"Come on, Ishida, what are they gonna do? They're Nanako's daugh... er, kid, I mean." Adachi turned back to the pair of them.
"There has been a little stuff like that actually, which is odd, y'know? I mean, it's Inaba, that's more of a city thing, and... just like you said, too. One guy was almost completely drained of blood. Shiomiyo Nozumu, I don't think you knew him, and the weirdest bit of all? We couldn't find all his missing blood. I don't know if the killer cleaned it up, or collected it, or heck, even drank it, but -"
"That sounds bad," Chie nodded in thought. "Are there any suspects? Like, uh, people we should avoid or look out for."
Nanako noted that was a good save. They were learning from each other.
Adachi could only frown, and slap a palm to his chin. "No... no real leads, yet. We have a couple witnesses saying different things, like he was wearing a hat, or a jumpsuit. Just be wary of anyone who looks suspicious, I guess."
"Thanks, Adachi-san. That's actually pretty helpful!" Chie gave a thumbs up.
They said goodbye, left the building, and were halfway their amble to the bus stop when either of them spoke again.
"Chie-nee-san?"
She grunted in response.
"Do you not think that was kind of... easy?"
"Easy?" Chie had to stop her pace, and consider the question. "Not really. I mean, that officer did know you, and the fog, too. It makes people more cooperative. Kinda."
Nanako knew that already, but they mumbled an "oh" anyway.
"We should probably head back to the inn. No, let's grab some dinner from Junes. We can begin our search for Mr. Jumpsuit tomorrow morning."
It was a good proposition, so Nanako complied. It was getting late. Buses didn't run past 9 on weekdays, and even earlier on weekends. They'd have to walk all around town.
One quick trip to the supermarket, and the pair were already on their way home. Chie carried their big boxed meal in front of her, like an expensive silver platter, while Nanako walked beside her and made small talk about Featherman.
The fog and cool night air chilled Chie's neck, through her tall collar. Her body hair stood up straight to attention. Nanako's cheery tones sounded like an intrusion on the natural stillness of the town. For one of the first times she could remember, she felt out of place. Light footsteps made scuffles on the pavement. It was a strange, suspiciously familiar sound. One that threatened to yank her from reality, and shove her down the deep well of The Inaba That Was.
A hand touched her shoulder.
She whipped round, with one arm raising the ready-meal above her head, and the other formed into a low, straight hand with the edge pointed towards the attacker like an axehead.
"Chie?"
It was Yukiko.
Wearing a plainly patterned winter kimono, she stared at Chie's mix of pizza delivery and martial arts. Her face split into a grin. She clapped a hand to her mouth just before a strained giggle could escape, but another leaked out, and another, until she was wheezing through the spaces between her fingers and doubled over with a hand tucked unceremoniously into her obi.
Chie was already stuck in The Inaba That Was. She hadn't heard anyone laugh like that for six years. She hadn't heard Yukiko laugh like that for six years. To be stood here, in the year 2018, listen to a twenty-three year old woman and childhood friend snort like a teenaged girl was more than surreal. It was Dada. It was the swordsman losing to a brawler - things like this only happened in fiction.
She was totally dumbstruck, and just stood, unwavering, mouth agape at Yukiko. Nanako was by her side, looking equally perturbed, and it dawned on Chie they'd never really met Yukiko. To them, a complete stranger in unfittingly formal clothes had materialised in a fit of laughter. And Yukiko herself was clearly too incapacitated to explain anything.
Slowly, as if not to upset the delicate contents of the precious food inside, Chie lowered the ready-meal, and withdrew her infamous Satonaka Sailing Axe. Yukiko's shower of giggles was clearing up too, and she was slowly starting to regain her composure.
"Yukiko..." mumbled Chie, with one eyebrow cocked.
Yukiko wiped a few tears from her eyes. "Alright, I'm, heheh, I'm finished. Ha. Haha! I'm finished."
Chie didn't reply. She didn't know what to say, to be honest. What was anyone supposed to do in a situation like this? She parted her mouth, to utter a hello, when suddenly the breath of air was squeezed out of her. Something warm wrapped itself around her body, and she took too long to realise she was being hugged.
Yukiko let go quickly enough, however, though her hands lingered at Chie's elbows. Her voice sang as joyfully and nobly as a sun-dappled shrine.
"Chie! I can't believe it's you! What are you doing here?"
"I'm just here on some business, I," Chie replied, coming dangerously close to tripping on her own words. She was more overwhelmed by this than she thought she'd be. It was a surprise, and kinda funny, and happy, but also tinged with bitterness and streaked with sadness. It was everything at once. "It's... it's been so long."
"It has," nodded Yukiko. "We really need to catch up. Are you staying at the inn?"
Chie said she was, and then curiosity crawled its way past her lips. Yukiko wasn't carrying anything. Not even a bag. "What were you doing out here?"
"Oh, here?" Yukiko looked behind her, as if the answer laid that way. "I was just at the shrine. Sometimes work, and just staying at home, is too stressful. You understand, right? It's very comforting to be there, by yourself."
"Oi. It's dangerous for a girl like you to be walking around at night by yourself! There's a... a serial killer lurking around here. I heard it from the police, myself. Plus it's so foggy, so what if -"
"I'll be fine, Chie. Have a little faith in me."
Despite those oft-repeated words, Chie stood firm and resolute with a hard grimace across her face. Even without her Persona, she knew her martial arts, but Yukiko didn't have anything of the sort; she was vulnerable. She made an internal vow to personally root out and exterminate the Shadow of Inaba. If she didn't do it, no one else would.
Apart from her, and Nanako, who else was going to protect Amagi Yukiko?
i got into writing this. not sure about the length... ? what do you think? i thought it would've been a pain to drag it on any longer, but i feel like it cuts off kinda awkwardly. but what happens next will be pretty big so i kind of want it to have its own chapter.
chie and yukiko finally reunite. hooray! even adachi makes an appearance. i wonder what'll happen next. i hope this is an acceptable chapter