Disclaimer: I don't own Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4. All rights to the game belong to Atlus. I just write fanfiction. Best read at a half-page setting.

Note: … Second warning to flamers.

Note 2: The Main Character is named Souji Seta, like the manga now. Heheh…

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Persona 4: Modus Operandi

Chapter 2

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September 15th, 2011

It was almost midnight and the rain had no signs of letting up. Souji dropped the curtains and walked over to his TV, staring at the blank screen. Someone had appeared yesterday, specifically, Naoto Shirogane. That boy was an ace detective, unsatisfied with the crimes outcome. It was true he was treating the case almost like a game, but there was something odd. He had shown up on the Midnight Channel hazy last night after the interview. When Souji asked a first year later, they reported that Naoto had not been at school today. Then again, the stubborn boy had spoken to them before, basically telling them he was going to be absent for a while.

The clock clicked as the large hand struck midnight and Souji turned, silver eyes gazing at the black screen.

For a moment, nothing but the glassy surface before it crackled and sparked to life mysteriously, the image illuminated on the screen sharp without break. There were several large, circular operating lights in the back, the blubs illuminating a table. A drill was attached to the ceiling at the left while a saw was attached on the right. On the table itself, however, was a white sheet. It was draped over something or someone, the ends hanging over the table's edges. He squinted, making out red marks died upon the white, but then stopped at the sound of footsteps.

Onto the stage, dressed in an oversized lab coat was the ace detective himself, Naoto… or, was it someone else?

"Good evening, everyone. I am the Detective Prince, Naoto Shirogane," 'Naoto' said, calmly, but then smiled as he continued, "Welcome to "The Experiment of the Century: The Genome Project." I will be experimentor and experimentee both, in a forbidden yet wonderful bodily alteration process! You shall witness my departure into a new realm… The moment of a new birth! From the chosen day forth, I shall walk a completely different path in life…! And I will share this glorious occasion, this memorable day, with all of you! Do stay tuned."

As suddenly as it had come on, it slowly started to turn off, the image of Naoto turning back and walking towards the operation table getting quickly obscured by static once again. So, Naoto was in the TV… but what had been on that table? The sheets weren't flatted down too firmly, but Souji could've sworn that it could've been a girl. He rested a hand on his chin. There had been red stains in several places on the crisp sheets. Was it possible that 'Naoto' had been practicing this 'experiment' on someone else before the main event whenever that would be?

He stopped thinking as his phone started to ring. Pulling it out, he saw the ID flashing 'Tatsumi, Kanji' across the screen. No more time was wasted as he flipped it open.

"Hey! Izzat you, Senpai!? N-Naoto was just… H-He…!"

"Calm down and speak slowly Kanji," Souji cut in, listening quietly afterwards. It was abnormal for Kanji to get worked up over something… in fact; this was the first time someone other than Yosuke had called him when someone appeared on TV.

"So 's this mean he was kidnapped…? You said people only show up clearly on TV once they're thrown into that other world, right!? The hell's going on!? I thought we caught the damn killer!"

"Kanji, I'll say this again. Calm down. We can't panic in this situation," Souji said as calmly as possible. Kanji paused and then sighed, "Oh, I-I'm sorry! Being a detective, solving cases… it ain't worth shit if he gets himself kidnapped… Damn that idiot pisses me off! Anyways, let's get the gang together and meet first thing after school!"

"Of course…" Souji replied and lowered the phone, hanging up and snapping it shut. He wanted to ask Kanji what he thought about the table at least, but he had been too flustered. Souji shook his head and decided to call it a night. He would be asking everyone the same question anyway…

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School seemed to move quickly, the early morning rain fading away and the sun's rays peeking out in time for the gang's meeting. They all came to the conclusion that not only had Mitsuo not been the killer, but also that Naoto had purposely used himself as bait just to prove it. Once more, Kanji was riled over the entire subject and they had all traveled briefly into the TV to see if Naoto was actually there. Rise could sense him, but without any idea about Naoto personally, it was a bust.

They climbed out of the TV, looking around the Junes department store and prepared to go their separate ways to find clues when Souji finally spoke up, saying, "Wait a moment. I wanted to ask you guys something."

"Hm? What is it, Souji?" Yukiko asked as they all turned. He was silent for a moment, contemplating his words, before finally asking, "Last night, on the Midnight Channel… Do you guys remember anything strange about the scene?"

"Strange? Well, there was a drill… Oh, and a saw," Chie commented, frowning while Yosuke tilted his head, thinking for a moment before commenting, "It was really bright from the lighting. Kinda like an operating room in one of those medical shows."

"An operation table, but you could barely see it with that white blanket over it," Rise noted, frowning. Souji nodded, "Naoto mentioned something about a body alteration process. It looked like it was covering something; most likely another body. Whoever was on that table was female, I think. Could someone else be in the TV other than Naoto that we're not getting, or was that just a hoax?"

"Huh? No," Rise said, shaking her head, "Kanzeon only sensed that the world had expanded and that Naoto-kun was in there."

"Yeah, and my nose only picked up Naoto-kun too," Teddie said, frowning. The bear had stepped out of his suit upon arrival back in their world. Kanji looked confused, staring at Souji with a frown, "Are you getting at something, Senpai?

"I don't know. I don't think it was a hoax due to the blood on the sheets. Is it possible to sense dead bodies inside the TV?" Souji asked quickly. Rise's eyes widened at the gruesome question, but Teddie answered quickly, "I don't believe so. I would've smelled the others after being attacked when the fog cleared, but I got nothing."

Souji nodded and then looked down.

So much for that. Guess they would just have to open the dungeon and find out for themselves.

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Neither of them spoke to each other in this backwards reality, the real Naoto flinching as shadow Naoto cut at her injured left shoulder, pulling the bullet out with a faint clink. The real one turned her head to the side, her breathing shallow as more blood spilled, letting out a startled gasp as the shadow version tied a makeshift bandage around her shoulder. It smirked, "You can't die now. I need to perform the procedure before you decide to leave me alone again in this hell hole."

"You're removing… vital evidence that I could use to track my attacker," Naoto replied quietly, almost breathlessly. 'Naoto' smirked, pulling down the white sheet to access the rest of the wounds as she sneered, "Attacker? You mean our rapist. Our name might be 'Naoto', but that doesn't change crucial details. You may emulate a male detective, but interfering with a body like yours just leaves you more susceptible to men's dark lust for control. Once you're fully grown, you'll become more and more exposed. It would've been surprising if you somehow maintained your virginity for the right man if you ever plan to find him."

"You shouldn't assume things… about people you don't know," Naoto hissed, shivering at the cold air and then biting her lip. 'Naoto' was carving at her calf now, digging deep enough with the scalpel that the second bullet popped out after a moment and clattered on the table, falling into one of the many holes with more crimson accompanying it. A loud tearing noise followed and Naoto flinched sharply as 'Naoto' bandaged the other wound. When the shadow didn't remove her hand from her leg, Naoto tried looking at it, eyes widening when she saw the scalpel drawing close to her inner thigh. The shadow smirked, "I remember a novel that grampa had. A woman was killed by the murderer forcing knives into her entrance and slashing her continuously till she bled to death."

"W-Why are you bringing that up…?" Naoto asked nervously. That book was one she had barely understood. It had been written entirely in English and, only recently, had she been able to read the entire thing. It had been excellently written, a thriller beyond others, but it was definitely one she shouldn't have touched at a young age. She tried to move back, but 'Naoto' grabbed her fresh carved leg wound and squeezed, causing her to lie still. The shadow moved the scalpel closer, the point of the blade poking her labia. 'Naoto' smiled as the real one tensed, "Well, what else are we going to do with that violated organ? It won't be of any use after the body alteration."

"Stop it…!" Naoto demanded, but jumped as not the scalpel was forced into her. It was something else very cold and larger than the thin metal. The shadow laughed, "It's all torn and forcibly expanded! Really, you couldn't fight back? You are a pathetic version."

Naoto's eyes widened as whatever was inside her moved deeper, shaking from pain and yelped startled as it touched that same spot again. The shadow smirked darkly, hissing, "Shut tightly, like it should be, yet you let it get filled with that worthless filth. When I slice this nasty sack out, I'll dice it up till it's no longer distinguishable. If you're alive long enough, we'll also experiment self-cannibalization and let you choke on the pieces. I'm sure we'll obtain high ratings when we air again… hehe…"

"Stop… referring to us as being the same…!" Naoto snapped, shuttering as the shadow pulled away. Its hand was covered in clear mucus which it started licking away with a grin, "Deny me over and over again, but mere speculations based off my behavior are all part of you. You have a violent disposition no matter how minimal; all of it is from your loneliness and affliction from being labeled only a child, now forcibly turned into a woman. Your brain, your experiences, your physical prowess magnified, I am you, but I am not weak, I cannot be overpowered. I won't be degraded from my position and become another prostitute like you."

"!!!"

The shadow moved and started dicing up her right thigh to reach the third bullet, getting it out with another clink of metal, but Naoto didn't respond, feeling light-headed. The atmosphere, the information, and the blood draining again caused her consciousness to swim, spots appearing before her eyes. It didn't help that she didn't feel very well either, wincing as the fourth bullet was suddenly removed from her right shoulder then bandaged off.

Her hand injured hand was left exposed to the elements as the white sheets shifted against her nude form, the draping cuff of the lab coat in her face as 'Naoto' pulled it up. Naoto panted, tossing her head slightly with a cough and unable to focus. The shadow chuckled, "Well, well, I see the affects are getting to you. Rest and I will awaken you when it's air time. Be ready for your special and final debut, 'Detective Prince'."

Black appeared in her vision, but she was able to see the blanket get pulled over her head before finally passing out.

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Me: James Patterson is my dad's favorite thriller author. I just wish my memory was good enough to remember which one of his books the murder style came from. It might've been Along Came a Spider. Oh well, review please.