Chapter 3: Handcuffed Hijinxs
Meanwhile, in Magatsu Inaba
"Stop fumbling around and move!" Adachi forcefully tossed his handcuffed arm forward in a jerking motion. The recipient on the other end, Yu Narukami, let out a gasp of shock as he found his body scrambling to regain its balance. Normally Adachi would've laughed at such an idiotic display at this goody two shoes kid, but there were more important things at hand to focus on at the moment.
The distorted jingling of chains that the two thought they had escaped from earlier were slowly becoming louder.
Adachi slipped a glance behind the two of them at the infamous Reaper shadow gaining up on them. He faced forward and tugged on his cuffed arm more gently, trying to keep Yu at his pace. Not that he particularly cared for the dumbass, but once again, there were more important things at hand to focus on.
"Adachi-san!" Yu yelled out at the ex-detective, "We need to divert its attention! If we use our Personas we can-"
"Nope." Adachi replied without even considering to hear Yu's plan. Fighting shadows? Complex shit? Nope. Even if his life was on the life, putting in anything above the minimum amount of effort was considered a pain in the ass to him. Besides, he had a better idea.
"This way." Adachi tugged once more with his arm, forcing Yu to change direction and follow him now. Even all these months later, he still had the layout of this unpleasant place mapped out in his mind. "I know somewhere to hide."
"A-Adachi-san we need to-" Yu's sounds were drowned out by the sound of a gun going off, followed by the smell of gunpowder. Not even bothering to turn and look how close the fearsome shadow was, he held his tongue, following Adachi's plan for now. If he even had one...
"Here!" Adachi slipped into an alleyway, darkness covering both sides of the wall while the alley itself was torn in half by a gigantic hole in the ground. Adachi felt slight relief, his hiding spot was untouched. Running up to the hole, his relief quickly turned to shock as he looked inside. Where was the hidden room that should be inside? Did the world change itself while he was gone? Did Adachi accidentally lead them into a dead end?
...Oops.
Another gunshot ranged out in both of their ears, this time the both of them seeing the sizzling spot where the Reaper had aimed. Inches from their heads. There was no time to waste. Adachi turned back and stared at the hole. It was now or never. Stand and fight, or jump and possibly die. His heart pumping full of adrenaline, he turned and looked at Yu who stared back. It would appear he had understood the situation too. And with a frown, both men had made their choice.
Yu clenched his fist, ready to stand and fight. "PERSON-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Yu felt his body tumbling down into the hole where Adachi jumped into. Both Persona users screamed at the top of their lungs as they braced themselves for whatever awaited them at the bottom.
Falling at an incredible speed, Adachi clenched his teeth while he tried to make out the view quickly coming into his vision. White? Bumpy? Clouds? Were they so unbelievably lucky to fall onto clouds? Oh no wait, that's rocks. Yep. Rocks.
"Aw shit." Adachi mumbled to himself as he closed his eyes, ready for the worst.
Yep. That's me. Tohru Adachi. Ex-BEST detective of the Inaba police force and current suspected criminal of the 2009 Inaba murders. Falling to his death while handcuffed to that dumbass goody two shoes brat, Narukami. You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation, huh?
...Aren't you?
Well looks like you're shit out of luck. Cause I don't feel like telling ya. Dumbass.
"H-Huh!?" Adachi opened his eyes after he felt his body beginning to slow up. It took him a minute to realize what was going on as he looked up. Both Izanagi and Magatsu-Izanagi were carrying their users down carefully. Oh right, they could do that.
Izanagi put down Yu gracefully while Magatsu-Izanagi just plopped Adachi down, who landed on his feet anyway. Just the way he likes it. Adachi mused to himself the circumstances they were in before he noticed Yu staring at him in a mix of disbelief and anger. He couldn't blame the kid, he'd be pissed too if someone almost got him killed. Oh wait, Yu almost did just that.
"Stop being such a baby." Adachi smirked at Yu "We're alive aren't we? Heh, I told you I knew a shortcut."
Yu stood there frowning at him. He shook his head and began to examine their surroundings. The floor was a rocky white surface, with few unknown rock formations in the distance. It wasn't like anyplace he had ever been to.
"Where-"
"Do I look like a cartographer to you?" Adachi snarked while dusting off his suit, smirking when he heard Yu grumble behind him. He couldn't help it. Not that he wasn't taking the situation seriously, but using any opportunity to take a jab at the brat always gave him a good feeling. Speakin of which, feeling something jabbing out of his pocket, he reached in and patted back in the gun that almost fell out. Yeah you read that right. Gun. He snatched a spare one from an unoccupied room just before Yu and Adachi were forced to jump inside of the Jail TV. Well more like Adachi forced him. Eh, details.
"We came from above, and ran from that direction originally..." Yu tried his best to ignore Adachi while trying to backtrack. "So all we have to do is head in that direction, and we should end up either back at the Shadow World Inaba, or hopefully where the Junes TV is..." He didn't have Rise or Teddie's tracking skills, but he was fairly confident in his own mental compass. Besides, he had gotten used to how the TV world functioned. The fog wasn't a problem either thanks to Teddie's special glasses. He wasn't sure how but Adachi didn't seem to have any problem seeing through the fog either.
He tugged lightly on his cuffed arm, beginning to walk towards-
"Woah there." Adachi tugged back, forcing Yu to stop and look at him. "YOU can go back to whatever place you want to, but I'M heading back to the Jail TV."
Yu stared once more in disbelief, mentally groaning to himself. He didn't know how Adachi did it, but he knew how to push his buttons. Right now he felt like he was leading a child around.
"Adachi-san, I understand that, but we need to go back to Junes first. I can get us help with this," Yu raised his cuffed arm for emphasis "And then I can escort you back to the station."
"Yeah nice plan, except how are you gonna explain to the cops what happened? They aren't the brightest bulbs in the world, but you come to visit me in jail and suddenly we both show up at the station free? Try explaining that to Dojima heheh..."
Yu didn't want to admit it, but he was right. Explaining this situation to the police wasn't going to be an easy one. "I'll think of something. Besides, going back to the Jail TV won't do us any good either."
"Why not? They have the keys back there. And if worst comes to worst, I'm always up for getting a new cellmate." Adachi smiled while Yu frowned back at him. This wasn't going to be easy, Yu thought to himself. Both men began following Yu's direction back to the Junes TV while constantly bickering. Eventually the arguing slowly ceased and the two walked in silence. Pure peaceful silence, something Yu was secretly incredibly grateful for, until Adachi let out an exaggerated sigh.
"I'm tired." Adachi said unnecessarily loudly.
"We should be there soon." Yu replied, focusing forward.
"Oh, that's good." Adachi said. He then plopped himself down on the ground, forcing Yu to stop his pace and turn to look back, visibly irritated.
"Aw cmon kid, what's the rush? We're almost there, so why not take a load off, you get me?" Adachi smiled at Yu innocently.
"...2 minutes." Yu mumbled as he sat down next to Adachi. Adachi laid down and stretched his body, yawning as if he were about to take a nap. Yu sat quietly, slouched because of the handcuffs. Relaxed and whimsically peaceful on the inside, Adachi decided now was the perfect time to mess around with Narukami.
"So, how's life?" Adachi blurted out, startling Yu a little. He didn't answer, knowing well the criminal didn't care a single bit about his life.
"Ah, that sounds nice. What about your little friends?"
"Fine."
"Ah, he talks! Gather round folks, and watch the amazing Narukami learn to read too!" Adachi chuckled quietly as he watched Yu grumble to himself.
"Shouldn't they be worrying about their glorious leader right now?"
"It's only been a few hours." Yu responded. "Shouldn't the police already know you're gon-"
"Mmmh!" Adachi interrupted Narukami, "Hey, how's that one dippy girl doing? You know, the jailbait idol!" Yu didn't like where this was going, frowning and keeping quiet while Adachi continued.
"Man, what I wouldn't give to be handcuffed to her right now, mmhm!" Adachi licked his lips while imagining whatever sick fantasy he thought of. Yu scowled, trying to block him out.
"Oh, what about that detective kid? Yeah yeah, the tomboy! I bet they'd put up a good fight!" Adachi was laughing to himself loudly, all the while Yu slowly clenched his fist.
"Let's go." Yu tried to stand up and continue walking, but Adachi held his arm down to the ground. He quickly sat up and looked at Yu, bulbs going off in his head.
"I know! The Amagi girl!" Adachi blurted out excitedly. "Now that's someone I'd like to have a few minutes alone with, wouldn't you say kid?" Adachi grinned from ear to ear while Yu looked visibly disgusted hearing his friends being talked about in such a way. He knew he was pushing this too far, but he didn't care. He just wanted to see how far he could go.
"Adachi-san."
"Have you had your way with her yet? Well you should. Don't you only have a little while till you head back home?"
"Stop." Yu clenched his teeth, visibly angry now. He didn't know how Adachi did it, but he knew how to push his buttons.
"Aw cmon, I'm just kidding. You know she'd be a fun one too."
"Adachi..." Yu balled up his fists once more.
"She's a good, well-bred Japanese girl. Pin her down, hold her mouth, and she should be good to go-" THWACK
Yu immediately pulled his fist back in shock, staring at the imprint it just left on Adachi's cheek, who was visibly shaken up by that. He couldn't help himself. He really couldn't. It was on impulse. Yu quickly tried to apologize but froze when he saw the ex-detective pull something out of his pocket. Was that a...gun!? How did he even get that? WHY did he have a gun!?
All these questions spiraled in Yu's mind while Adachi thrusted himself up and aimed in Yu's direction. He didn't dare move a muscle. What was he going to do-
"Move!" Adachi yelled, tugging on his cuffed arm as hard as he could so Yu's body would fall down to the ground. Adachi immediately took aim at the creeping shadow, shooting it with two bullets before the gun clicked.
"Two!? What kinda dipshit only loads two bullets in!?" Adachi yelled out in anger, before he felt something in his mind tick as Magatsu-Izanagi appeared and slashed the weak shadow once, obliterating it.
Oh right, he forgot he could do that.
"Phew." Adachi sighed to himself, throwing the useless gun to the side. Yu looked back to where the defeated shadow once was, his heart still beating quickly from fear.
"Come on, let's go." Adachi began to stand up, tugging slightly to allow Narukami to regain his composure and follow suit. Both silently began moving towards where they were heading. Yu felt incredibly guilty about letting his temper get the best of him, but couldn't find the words to apologize. He didn't want to start up another argument between the two. But there was one burning question on his mind right now.
"How did you-"
"I stole it before we jumped in here." Adachi stated as a fact. Yu frowned to himself, but also felt a bit of relief at knowing the Inaba police weren't THAT inadequate enough to give convicts their own guns...he hoped. Speaking of police.
"Two bullets, I can't believe that stupid crap. That's the dumbest thing I've seen in years!" Adachi continued ranting, still mad about the gun.
"Shouldn't the police know you're gone by now?" Yu finally asked. He tried earlier, but Adachi wrote him off with another "joke". This time however Adachi looked back at Yu in disbelief, bursting out into laughter.
"They don't give a shit about me." Adachi smiled and shook his head. "Nah, they probably think one of them took me out back to beat me again." Yu widened his eyes in shock.
"They assault you!?"
"Used to be daily, but they've softened up. Now it's every week or so." Adachi looked as if he were reminiscing, before noticing Yu's distressed look.
"Don't worry, your prissy Uncle doesn't do it. Hell, he's probably the only one who gives a rat's ass about me right now." Adachi frowned. Yu clenched his teeth, wanting to shout out "That's not true!" or "I do!", but...this was Adachi they were talking about. He would just laugh in his face and shove his attempt at bonding right back into his mouth.
"Ah!" Adachi cried out when he looked out in the distance. Yu followed his gaze, seeing remnants of Magatsu Inana off in the distance.
"That means we're only a little while from Junes." Yu grinned, relief washing over his body.
"And there it is!" Adachi looked nearby at one of the buildings, the iconic building they were forced to run from earlier that housed a tv connecting back to the real world, or more specifically Inaba Jail. "Home sweet home." Adachi tried to walk over to it, but was tugged back by Yu.
"Oh here we go again..." Adachi rolled his eyes "Look kid, I'm not going to Junes. I'm going to crawl through that TV, find some cuff keys, get as far away from you as possible, and then somehow sneak back into my cozy little cell. I can still make it for dinner time if I hurry up."
"Adachi-san, we have to-" Yu was cut off by Adachi raising his cuffed hand up to Yu's face, once again emphasizing their current situation.
"Hate to break it to you, but we're here, the keys are probably in there, we're going by my plan." Adachi suddenly smirked and added on "Unless your stupid bonds shit can magically break us apart." Adachi laughed to himself and tried to force Yu to follow hi-
"Heheheh..." Adachi turned back, curiously as he heard Yu giggling to himself. What?
"Hahaha!" Yu suddenly looked at Adachi, crouching over and holding his stomach. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Yu burst out into a fit of laughter while Adachi continued to stare at him dumbfounded.
"H-huh!?" What the hell? Did the kid go insane all of the sudden? That easily? But all he said was...
"Izanagi!" Yu yelled out in between laughter, summoning his Persona and pointing at the handcuffs. Izanagi raised his sword and slashed at the handcuffs, setting both men free.
"...You gotta be shitting me." Adachi stared at his free arm in disbelief, while Yu held up both hands to his face, continuing to laugh. Adachi turned to the building and put his hands inside his pockets, walking towards it.
"I'm outta here kid. See you around." Adachi called out while shaking his head, whispering "Seriously, two bullets...?"
Yu eventually regained his composure, watching the man walk towards where the TV was located. He didn't feel like he had to personally escort him back inside. As sketchy as Adachi was, he made a promise to abide by the rules of the real world. And he had a feeling he would continue to keep that promise.
And that he did. Adachi crept around inside the building, looking around before he saw the the old widescreen television slanted over slightly, looking as if it were almost about to fall over on its face. He shook his head, and made his way over to it.
Truth be told, he knew. The entire time. It's not like the handcuffs were special or anything. One swipe at them with one of their Personas and they would've been free ages ago. He just kept quiet about it cause he didn't feel like ruining the fun. And what fun it was. The boredom plaguing Adachi was somewhat fulfilled today.
A fun little distraction...
Adachi slipped back into the TV, ready to take a long nap in his Cell. He put in above the bare minimum effort today, and that made him extremely tired.
Regardless, it was still interesting.
End Chapter 3
Now I know what you're thinking, just how DID they end up in this situation? Some things are better left to the imagination...
