Chapter 4: A Friend in Trouble 4/16-4/17
Mika wakes to the sound of her alarm. These crazy dreams are really killing my beauty sleep…I wonder…I started having them around the same time I came to Inaba, do they have something to do with what's going on now? Something to do with what I can do in the TV world? Whatever, I need to get out of bed and get to school.
Yosuke sees Mika walking ahead of him and runs up to her.
"Hey! Mika, wait up!" He huffs up to her side, "Did you happen to watch the Midnight Channel last night?"
"Yea, but I couldn't tell who it was. It was so blurry this time."
"Yeah, same for me. Maybe we should head to Junes after class and ask that bear if anyone else has been thrown in. We need to find out who the culprit is and stop them from killing anyone else."
"Agreed. We can't let something like that happen again, and we promised to help Teddie."
"Yeah. We're in this together, partner." He smiles and puts out his hand, "Well, what do you say?"
"Yeah, partners!" She smiles back at him and vigorously shakes his hand and giggles.
"Hehe, yeah, partners." He pauses awkwardly, "So, since we are in this together, I was thinking…that it would make it easier for us if we could get a hold of each other…so…can I get your phone number?" Yosuke blushes a little as he asks.
"Oh, sure. That makes sense," Mika blushes slightly as well, pulling out her phone and exchanging numbers with him. He's so cute right now, turning red like that. Well, I'm a little red too, hope he doesn't notice.
Inside the classroom Chie comes up to them a little bit panicked.
"Have you guys seen Yukiko?"
"No, we just got here. Is something wrong Chie?" Mika begins to worry.
"She's not answering her phone! I can't get a hold of her! Is that stuff true? About the people who show up on the Midnight Channel being the next ones to die?"
"It seems that way, but why do you ask? Do you think something happened to Yukiko-san?"
"I think the person on there last night was Yukiko! And I haven't been able to reach her!"
"Do you think Yukiko-san got thrown into the TV?"
"Hold on Yosuke. Have you called her at the inn? Maybe she got swamped again?"
"Oh! Maybe, she wouldn't be able to answer her phone if she was working. Hold on, let me try."
Chie calls the inn, and after a few rings, Yukiko picks up. Chie's relief is palpable as she talks to her briefly and then hangs up.
"God Yosuke! You really scared me! Saying Yukiko was thrown in there!"
"You were the one that said it was her on the Midnight Channel and that you couldn't get a hold of her! You were already thinking it!"
"Guys! Stop. Calm down. Maybe we should head over to Junes after school and ask Teddie if anything has happened, ok? We can fill you in on everything on the way, Chie."
"Ok, that sounds like a good idea. Fwah! I really started to panic there for a second, huh?" She laughs sheepishly as she goes to sit down.
After class the three of them head to Junes to see if they can find out anything new. They approach the TV and Mika speaks softly into it, trying to get Teddie's attention, but there's no answer.
"Do you think he wandered off or something? He's not answering me."
"Maybe. Or the stupid bear doesn't hear you. Try sticking your hand in there or something."
"Ok, I can try that," Mika puts her hand in and beckons to Teddie, but nothing happens. "Nope. Still nothing. You try Yosuke."
"Fine. Move over," Yosuke sticks his arm through *crunch* and he rips his hand back out, "OUCH! What the hell?! HE BIT ME!" He scowls at the TV.
"Hahaha! Serves you right for scaring me earlier. Hey! Bear! You there?"
"Yes. What do you guys want?"
"Hey, Teddie, did anyone get thrown in there again?"
"Sensei! Oh, um, nope. There' no one here but me and the shadows."
"Are you sure? You better be bear!" Chie brings her face close to the screen, like she's trying to look inside.
"I'm positive. My nose is working as good as ever."
"Ok, thank you Teddie."
"Well, do you think the bear is right? That there's no one in there?" Chie is still glaring at the screen when she asks Mika.
"Probably, that bear does seem to be good at telling if there's someone in there," Yosuke answers for Mika.
"Ok. Maybe we should watch the Midnight Channel again tonight, see if anything new happens. Sound good guys?"
"Sure. I'll call you, should anything come on."
"Ok. Oh that reminds me, Chie we should exchange numbers. We can get a hold of each other quicker that way."
"Yea, of course. Hold on just a sec." After, the girls head out of Junes with Yosuke.
I'm really hoping that nothing comes on. I don't want to think about someone else being thrown in there. Brrrrrr! So scary to think about…Almost midnight, ok TV, let's see what you show tonight. What comes on the Midnight Channel completely blind sides Mika. If I was drinking something right now, I would have sprayed it all over the TV. What the hell was that? It looked like her, but…what she said and did just now, it doesn't seem like the Yukiko I've met. Oh, god! Did Chie see this, what- Her train of thought is cut off by the ringing of her phone, its Yosuke's name on the caller ID.
"H-hey! Did you just see that? I mean, it was Yukiko-san, but what…"
"Yeah, I saw it. And I'm just as shocked as you. I mean, 'score a hot stud'? Has she ever said anything even remotely like that?"
"No, not that I ever heard. I can't imagine her saying something like that. What do you think this means?"
"I don't know. We have to get to the TV world and find out. I gotta go, I'm gonna call Chie and see if she's ok. I'll see you tomorrow. Be ready partner."
"Sure thing partner. G'night."
Mika calls Chie, but gets a busy signal, twice. A few minutes later Chie calls her, panicking about how Yukiko wasn't answering her phone this time either. They talk for a while, Mika finally calming her down and promising that she can come with her and Yosuke to the TV world tomorrow.
The next day Mika heads out first thing in the morning, leaving Nanako home alone. I feel kinda bad leaving her alone all day. Maybe I'll be able to bring back something to make dinner. She seems used to being alone, so I guess its ok…
Mika waits for Yosuke on the outdoor patio by the food court. She spots him walking over to her, his hands behind his back. He smiles as he comes to a stop in front of her, and then brings his arms around to show her a katana and a short blade.
"What do you think? Cool huh? I figured we were gonna need something better than a golf club to fight with in the TV world." He waves them around a little. "Which one strikes your fancy?"
"Well, I guess the katana. But you need to put those away! Someone is gonna see you!"
Just as Mika warns him a patrol man sees Yosuke brandishing the weapons. He doesn't listen to them as they try to explain the situation, and hauls them into the station. Dojima is called in to deal with this mess.
"What were you thinking, Mika?"
"I'm sorry Uncle Dojima, I-"
"And you, young man! What sort of trouble are you getting my niece into?"
"None sir! No trouble sir! I'd never get her into trouble, sir! I-"Yosuke panics at the hard look Dojima gives him.
"We really weren't doing anything wrong Uncle Dojima, Yosuke just has a weird hobby of collecting fake weapons. I'm really sorry if we caused you any trouble."
"*Exasperated sigh* What am I going to do with you? My sister will kill me if you get into legal trouble while in my care." He looks at Mika, a tired and disappointed look in his eyes. "With everything that's happening right now, you two need to be careful." He looks meaningfully at Yosuke, "And you need to make sure you don't get her into trouble, of any kind, you got that?"
"*Hard gulp* Y-yes sir!" Yosuke stands very straight before bowing deeply.
"Just get out of here. I'll talk to you later," And with that Dojima stalks off down the hall.
"You can stand up now Yosuke, he's gone." Mika says quietly
"I'm sorry I got you in trouble. I guess I didn't think about how that would look, what with there being two unsolved murders in this town right now…I am really sorry."
"It's fine. Let's just go. We need to call Chie and meet up with her,"
A couple of officers walking down the hall mention Yukiko as having disappeared last night. Mika looks at Yosuke, but before she says anything, they run into Adachi. Adachi looks briefly at Yosuke before turning his attention to Mika.
"Hey, aren't you the girl staying with Dojima-san?" "How'd he get so lucky?" He whispers under his breath.
"Oh, yeah. He's my uncle. I'm staying with him while my parents are working out of the country."
"Oh, well, that's nice of him to take in his young niece."
"Um, sorry to interrupt you, Adachi-san, but did I just hear one of the officers saying that Yukiko-chan is missing?" She looks up through her long lashes and nibbles on her lower lip, looking worried. "She's one of my new friends, so I'd be worried if anything happened to her…"
"Well, I guess if you're her friend then I can tell you. Her mom called last night saying that they couldn't find her anywhere. The inn had been really busy, 'cause it's the weekend, so no one saw her go anywhere. They haven't been able to contact her either. Do you guys know if she had been planning on going somewhere?" Adachi is taken aback by her sweet face looking up at him, her grey blue eyes shimmering with worried tears. "Uhhh…"
"No, she didn't say anything to me…Did she mention anything to you Yosuke?" He just shakes his head in answer to her. "I'm worried about her…Will you please try to find her for me, Adachi-san?" She places a hand gently on his sleeve and smiles shyly, blushing just slightly.
"Of course! Don't worry, the police are on the case!" He beams down at her.
"What the hell are you doing Adachi? Quit yapping and get over here! And where's my coffee?"
"R-right here sir! Sorry, but I gotta go. But don't worry, ok?" He smiles again at Mika before rushing off.
"What was that just now?" Yosuke arches an eyebrow at her.
"What? How else do you think we'd get information about Yukiko?" She shrugs as she pulls out her phone to call Chie.
They meet up with Chie in the shopping district, she having said she knows a good place to get weapons. She even suggests hiding them under their clothes, to avoid suspicion. How, exactly am I supposed to hide a fricking katana? Do I need to pretend I'm in an old samurai movie and put it into a walking stick? Argh, this is insane. Maybe I can put it into a really large poster canister? That would look more inconspicuous than me walking with it shoved inside my knee socks and not bending my leg. Oh, this is ridiculous! Chie is just wearing some scary looking shin guards, easily hidden under some loose socks. And Yosuke can just shove his short blades in a bag or under his shirt and be fine. But noooo, I had to pick a sword…it is cool lookin' though…
"C'mon, let's go. Chie is gonna get there before we do at this rate."
"Sorry! I'm comin, I'm comin."
Mika walks down the street when a mysterious door suddenly appears next to her. She looks around, but no one else seems to have noticed it. She hears a familiar voice calling out to her from inside, so she opens the door and steps over the thresh hold. I know this place…The Nose! This place is from those crazy dreams…
"Welcome back to the Velvet Room. I brought you here to explain more about your unique persona abilities."
"…Ok…" I supposed this isn't that crazy considering I've been hopping in and out of a world in the TV. This is some crazy Alice Through the Looking Glass shit.
The nose goes on to tell her how she has the ability to have many personas and create all new ones, he gives her a key, so that she may return at her leisure. She goes back out, to see that nothing has changed while she was in there, like time stood still. Curiouser and curiouser… She smirks to herself.
Once inside the TV the group spot Teddie standing quietly. Teddie seems a little off today, wonder what's wrong…
"Hey Teddie. We're back."
"….Oh… hello Sensei…"
"Hey bear, what's the matter with you today? Usually you're more, hyper."
"Oh, nothing. Just been thinking a lot lately."
"Well, that's a useless thing to be doing. You've got nothing inside your head."
"Well that's rude of you! ...But you're right, I think and think but nothing comes out of my head."
"Oh, Teddie…"
"This is no time to be talking about this dumb bear!" Chie turns to Teddie, "Hey! Did someone end up in here again?"
"What? Excuse me miss, but do you have a better nose than I do?!"
"M-miss…I'm just Chie. And no, I don't have a better nose than you, it's just that Yukiko-chan is missing and we think she's in here."
"Well, yes there is someone else in here now. They showed up not long after I spoke to you guys. They're over that way."
"Ok, then let's go!" Chie starts off in the direction Teddie indicated.
"Wait! We need to stick together Chie. This place is dangerous, and Yukiko would never forgive me if you got hurt." Mika says as she rushes after her, Yosuke and Teddie right behind her.
They make their way to where Yukiko is. Mika pauses briefly and looks up at the towering structure. It's a giant fairy tale castle…like the ones inside a Disney movie…Yukiko, please be ok. We're coming to get you!
