Velvet Room, Inc.


And lo, here it is – the revamped fourth chapter of Velvet Room, Inc. Please enjoy.


DISCLAIMER: Persona 3 and all things associated with it is owned by Atlus. Seriously, they do. You must be high if you think it's someone else's.


CHAPTER 4: The Suou Residence

"""Please forgive us, Master Suou!"""

Kiba, Aoi, and Sora kneeled down on one leg and bowed their heads low. Though the gesture may have been over the top, it was the only way they could think of to show their repentance for the previous day's blunder.

Yesterday, due to their insolence, they had their Young Mistress put into jeopardy—she was cornered, nearly raped, and had gotten kidnapped in the process, though the kidnapping part was more of a misunderstanding on their part.

Their master, clothed in a sharp, ruby-red suit and leather shoes darker than the night, was looking out his study's window, gazing into the large estate. Near the grape orchard, he spotted his daughters spending their time together, enjoying the day and just basking in the sun. He looked for one particular girl, and easily found the teal-haired teen. Even if she had been put through so much just yesterday, she was now livelier than before. It puzzled him as to what really happened.

Tatsuya sighed, and then smiled softly. He knew that even though his daughter had been put in danger, what mattered now was that she was home safe and sound. Though she and her sisters were only adoptive daughters, he truly considered them as his own—loving them and protecting them, just as how a father should.

He finally turned to face the three bodyguards and spoke to them sternly. "Though I am upset that you have neglected your duties yesterday, my daughter is safe now. There is no need to apologize, seeing that she's fine and doing well at present. You do know you don't have to kneel in front of me, right Kiba, Aoi, Sora?"

Rising from their positions, Kiba, Aoi, and Sora stood in attention altogether. Though their faces were stern, the tears flowing behind their dark sunglasses betrayed the emotion they wore.

""" We're so sorry! Thank you so much for your kindness, Master Tatsuya!"""

Tatsuya chuckled. "Well then, I hope you perform your job to the fullest next time. Also, I hope that you will be able to accomplish my new orders; Kiba, Aoi, Sora. I am sure that you already know of the current situation. After all, he must have already told you."

Kiba, Aoi, and Sora regained their composures and stood straight, acknowledging the seriousness that the situation brought. Kiba licked his lips and finally spoke, "He has, Master Suou. Though we know we won't be of much help, we will make sure that we still provide you with the needed service."

Tatsuya smiled that smile he used to carry along in past, remembering the times when his friends and allies gave him their reassurance to cover his back, thoroughly acknowledging him as their leader. He'd remember their resolution to fight, while knowing it was he himself who'd be facing the hardest task of all. Yet they'd support him through and through, until the end came.

Those were some good times, huh. . .

As Tatsuya walked to the door, he gave the three one last order. "I'll trust that the three of you will manage the task of guarding my daughters while I am away. Make sure that you don't lose sight of them, whatever happens. It may seem cruel to them that their freedom will be drastically cut down, but I have to make sure they don't become a part of this. Understand?"

"""Yes, sir, Master Suou!"""

"Good. Then you are dismissed. Mamoru will be escorting me on my trip as usual. I might be gone longer than three weeks, so be prepared for anything. Oh, and by the way," Tatsuya then pulled out some sort of business card that was blue with red borders, with a sky-blue butterfly was emblazoned in the center.

"If things get out of hand, I would like you to contact the people belonging to that place. I know some people there who would be able to provide you with excellent help if the situation ever needed it. Don't hesitate to call them, okay Kiba?"

Kiba saluted his boss and replied almost instantly. "As you wish, Master Suou!"

As Tatsuya moved through the halls of the mansion, Kiba, Aoi, and Sora followed suit, keeping into mind their master's further instructions before leaving.

"Kiba, please inform Mamoru to have the plane ready. Aoi, have my daughters go to the dining hall; I want to have lunch with them before leaving. Sora, please have my previous commitments be put on hold until further notice."

"""Yes, Master Suou!"""

Though the weather was a sure sign of a beautiful day that can go to waste if not seized, Tatsuya knew that this type of peace was not going to last long; a fierce storm was approaching, and it was coming sooner than expected. He and his cohorts had to make the drastic first move; after all, they say the first to strike wins the battle. But they were not reckless enough to charge in without a plan, and so in terms of what he had discussed over with the others, they were already under the third phase of the plan.

The plan was composed of a total of seven phases. Tatsuya's group had agreed to this type of arrangement after having been informed of the 'opponent's' movements over the course of the past four months. Informants and spies had supplied them with enough data to figure out their adversary's scheme - thus, they mirrored the 'opponent's' five-step plan with their own in order to keep in step with what was happening and to easily react and counter whatever was in store for them.

A little over four months ago, cases of people disappearing started to increase throughout the country. The area where the phenomena occurred was highly concentrated along Tatsumi Port Island, where case after case of the infamous Apathy Syndrome was piling up. Though usual authorities could not discover a single solid lead, it was known to Tatsuya and the others with him that the lunar cycle was a big giveaway about what was happening: disappearances happened when the moon was half full, and cases of the Apathy Syndrome rose to heights when the lunar cycle reached its full.

During that span of time, a recorded 45% of the patients simply recovered from the Syndrome after a full moon, almost as if nothing had happened and all symptoms would disappear. However, the remaining 55% was a different story. According to the recorded data, 60% out of the 55% were transferred to a facility near Lunarvale Hospital for 'care'—and by 'care,' that meant that some curious scientists with holds on the government had acquired guinea pigs for various sorts of test to delve deeper into what Apathy Syndrome was. Sadly, until now no new discovery has been made and the subjects continued to express nothing but, well, apathy, to say the least.

30% of the mentioned 55% that did not fully recover from the syndrome were transferred to various asylums, as the patients suddenly suffered from fits of rage and delusions, often chanting things like "the Fall is nigh" or "Death is here" over and over. Some went to mark themselves by inflicting wounds using sharp objects in their rooms and forming the word "Nyx" all over their bodies. Others used their blood and wrote the same unfathomable word in their cells.

And what of the remaining 10%? As much as it astonished a number of people, that recorded 10% accounted for those who suddenly vanished without a single trace. It was unknown whether those belonging to that percentage wandered on their own, were kidnapped, or completely disappeared from this world altogether.

Since authorities could neither properly identify the whereabouts of those who vanished nor find any solid lead that would at least bring light to the case, they simply gave up on it. What was the point of looking for people who vanished when they didn't even recover from the Syndrome? It had become a mindset that drove them to bite down hard and just bitterly leave behind a case that left many families suffering at the core.

But these events were what made Tatsuya go and mobilize his group.

After holding an interview with a now maddened Tatsuya Sudou, who was someone they knew very well from events in the past, they discovered the real reason as to why the Apathy Syndrome was now spreading at such an alarming rate, and as to what was really going on. And apparently, it was an old friend - someone who wasn't supposed to be around anymore. Though Sudou was now more panicky than ever, he was still able to point out important facts: one, those who vanished were actually kidnapped for the reason that they possessed the Potential; two, those with dormant Potentials would be perfect vessels for the collection of Soul; and three, those kidnapped would serve as sacrifices to revive a few "beings" needed to "give true freedom to all of humanity."

And just who were these "beings", and who was the perpetrator? That was simple. It was him - Faceless, malevolent, shrouded in shadows, the being Ny-

"Otou-san!"

Tatsuya was suddenly pulled out his dream-like daze of recalling the important things that had transpired over the past few months by the voice of a teal-haired girl he knew all too well. Surprised that he has somehow reached the dining hall, he faced Fuuka who was wearing a one-piece dress in the shade of sea green, with the expression of joy just like a child playing in spring.

Tatsuya recomposed himself and smiled at Fuuka. "Well, hey there kiddo. How's your day? Oh, and where are your sisters?"

"Yukari-nee and Rio-nee decided to play tennis at the court, and Hamuko-chan is watching them," Fuuka replied.

"Is that so? Then, can you go and tell them that our meal's nearly done? We'll be eating altogether before I leave."

"Oh, no problem, Otou-san." Just as Fuuka turned to go call her sisters, the five were already walking down the hall towards them, Aoi just behind them.

Tatsuya chuckled and said, "Ah, that's right. I told Aoi to go and call them. Man, I must be getting senile."

"Otou-san! We heard you were leaving. Business trip again?" Yukari asked.

Tatsuya nodded. "I might be gone for a long while this time, so please bear with the stricter security around you. I've already told Kiba and the others what to do."

"Eeh?! Does that mean we won't be able to go around much outside? That's unfair ~!" a certain orange-haired girl whined.

"But it's just for our safety, Hamuko-chan. Plus, its otou-san's wish after all so we just have to grit our teeth for a while. Hey, otou-san, don't forget souvenirs!" Yukari said.

Tatsuya patted Hamuko on the head. "You'd still be able to go out, but you'll have to be with your bodyguards. It's something job-related, so I wouldn't want you guys getting involved."

"Is it something dangerous again? Will you be okay?" the long-haired Rio asked with a tone of concern.

"Don't worry, I won't be putting myself nor you guys in any front of any harm. I'll be sure to finish this as fast as possible so that you girls can enjoy your time leisurely," Tatsuya replied. "So, you just for wait for otou-san to come back, 'kay? I'll be sure to send souvenirs though. So, what do you guys want?"

"I want a new tennis racket!" Rio shouted.

"Ahhh ~! I wan't lots of Pocky! And other sweets too ~!" Hamuko said.

"Hmm, maybe some new clothes? Oh, and make sure they're pink, otou-san!" Yukari chuckled.

"Maybe a cook book will do for me," Fuuka smiled.

Tatsuya made a mental note of the girls' wishes and smiled at them. "If I can come back early, I'll personally give them to you. In the event that I can't, then you'll be receiving them through delivery, okay?"

The girls all nodded in affirmation. Aoi broke into the conversation just then, and informed them that their meals were to be served. Tatsuya and his daughters then sat by the large table in the dining hall, and enjoyed their lunch together as a family. For Tatsuya, it didn't matter if they weren't bound by blood - it was enough that they could be loving daughters to someone like him.

After having eaten lunch, Tatsuya was seen off by Fuuka as he was about to leave. Reaching the large oaken doors of the mansion, Tatsuya struck up a conversation with Fuuka just before going out.

"Fuuka, about that incident yesterday. . . Who was the person you told me about again?"

Fuuka fiddled with her thumbs, a habit she developed when talking about something quite embarrassing for her, before replying to her father's question.

"Um, if it's about PDA, um, I' m really sorry. . . I-I know a lady shouldn't be doing those kinds of things, so, um, sorry. . ."

Tatsuya frantically waved his arms to emphasize negation of the answer. "Ah, that wasn't what I was going to, hahahaha. Just curious as to whom he was."

"Oh, well, his name was Minato. He lived alone in his apartment unit. Minato-kun was also an orphan, just like me and the others. But, he was really amazing! He was able to do such feats yesterday!"

"Like what, exactly?"

"Well, he fought off those thugs with just a steel pipe and it seemed like he was used to fighting as well. He was also able to set that pipe on fire, too and he was able to jump real high! Oh, umm, you believe me, right?

Tatsuya nodded at Fuuka. "It may seem impossible to believe, but I've seen things a lot like that so I know you're not lying. And why would you? Anyway, I'll have to thank him sometime. . . Does he go to Gekkoukan as well?"

Fuuka shook her head. "He told me he doesn't go to school to because he can't afford to do so, so he's out job-hunting instead. He came from an orphanage, but has left since he doesn't want to bother them anymore. Minato-kun never knew his parents."

"Ohhh, that sounds like a well-mannered and diligent young man. . . . He might be good enough to marry Fuuka-chan too. . . Heh. ."

Fuuka blushed intensely at her father's comment. "Wh-what are you saying, otou-san! It's n-not like that!"

Tatsuya snickered and continued to tease Fuuka. "But your blush is telling me that you're feeling something for Minato-kun, right Fuuka-chan? You want to see him again, yes?"

Fuuka's face turned to a deep shade of crimson and was unable to come up with a retort. Tatsuya chuckled and finally put a halt to his teasing. "Well, I'm sure you'll be seeing him soon, Fuuka. Just a reminder: please keep yourself safe. I wouldn't want you to put yourself in any sort of danger. There won't always be someone around to help you, so please remember that."

"I will, otou-san."

Tatsuya finally opened the door and proceeded to enter the black Mustang parked just outside.

"I'm off, Fuuka. Tell your sisters to take care, okay?" Tatsuya said as he entered the vehicle.

"Yes, otou-san! Please be safe!" Fuuka said, waving to her father. Soon the car sped out of the Suou mansion, and as they were approaching the gate, Tatsuya thought about the boy Fuuka had mentioned.

"If he's the one Phil mentioned the other day. . . Hmmm. . . Perhaps. . ."

Tatsuya fished his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed the number of someone he knew all too well. "Baofu? It's me. There's a favor I'd like to ask. . . . Yes, just some transfer papers, scholarship forms, set of uniforms for Gekkoukan, and the usual, too. Yes. . . How long will it take? Oh, I see. That's sorta fast, I guess. So. . . Yes. . . Thanks. I'll send the payment through mail. Expect it this week. Okay, see ya."

If he has what it takes, then I suppose it might be a good idea to have him in THERE. He might even be able to be of assistance for Fuuka and the others. . . Yes. I'll have to test him as soon as possible.

With how the wind changed direction outside, it was time for new events to finally transpire.


Reviews are welcome, together with anything you'd like to say (which isn't nonsense, spam, or flame) Peace out, Arsony's out.

~Arsony