Razz: Guys, you did read the summary, right?
Jack: If we don't get any reviews, we'll simply delete this story.
Razz: By the way, we mixed up zio and agi last chapter.
4) Face yourself sucker! Shadow Yosuke
Day 6214 04/13/2011 Wed
Wow, I can't belief I almost died today. After school I got myself a first impression on Chie and Yosuke. Chie looks even worse in real life. Worse than the cosplayers. I got myself a cap with LEDs just in case, but I still managed to get inside the TV during the opening time of Junes. It wasn't hard to convince Teddie to help me. Shadow Saki had been more of a problem, especially with Marin Karin. Luckily Teddie was a better support than in the game. Or unluckily? No, today I wasn't in the mood to die.
Update places:
The fake shopping district was created after Saki got pushed into the TV-World. It shows on how much she suffered from the people who live here. It is a perfect one to one replica, though the shrine is missing. It is not really a big place, but shadows appear here and there too.
Update enemies:
Shadow Saki
Strong: fire; wind
Null: light/dark
Weak: ice (go figure, I DIDN'T HAVE THAT SKILL AT THAT TIME)
Skills: Bash, Marin Karin, Mind Charge, Garu, Agi
Update Skills
Can be learned through skill cards
Cleave; low physical damage; is it really useful instead of just swinging my sword?
Agi; light fire damage
Closing my diary I leaned back on the bench I was sitting on and had a hard time not to fall asleep. Teddie was standing a bit away, handling some stuff in his hands and mumbling something. Saki was also on the bench, getting some rest. It looked like her energy had been drained after she refused her shadow.
"So you don't remember?" I asked. Saki rubbed her temples. "No matter how hard I try, nothing comes to mind." She said frustrated. Oh well, I wasn't strong enough to fight Magatsu Izanagi and I was too lazy at the moment to think of a way to murder Adachi without me being suspected. Getting rid of evidence, solid alibi and all that crap.
"So, shadows are like suppressed feelings and when faced they become personas, I get the basics. But wait, why don't you have a persona?" she asked. I shrugged. "For some reason my shadow decided to merge with me, literally getting into my body. She said: 'Regain what you lost; now you have no other choice.' Must be a suppressed memory that still needs to come up. Maybe it'll explain why my eyes are black and why I can see through the fog like it isn't there."
"Aaaaand done!" Teddie shouted. "Here Saki-chan! For you!"
"Thanks...uh...Teddie." Saki put on a pair of red/orange glasses. After she put them on, she gasped. "It's like the fog isn't there. Wow, that's much better." She nodded to herself. I let my weapon disappear and stood up.
"Don't ask. I don't know either." I told Saki before she could say anything. "Teddie, can you bring us to the exit?" I asked.
"Right away Clear!"
"It's Claire..." I rolled my eyes. Saki chuckled. I gave her a death glare.
Teddie brought us back to the entrance. On the way I told Saki what time it was and asked if she could use an employee exit or something. She nodded.
I kept myself together until we finally got to the studio place. Saki looked around a little, while Teddie stomped on the floor. The stag of TVs appeared in front of us, making Saki jump. "So, we just go through-"
I already went through the TVs, too tired to even care about anything at the moment. I landed on my knees and barely got up. Saki almost crashed into me.
"Let's get out of here." I whispered and Saki nodded. "Are you alright?" she asked in a whisper tone. "Tired as fuck." I replied. She wanted to support me, but I shoved her arms away. My passive regeneration should be enough until I got home. Oh god, it was already 2:00. I wouldn't get a lot of sleep. Saki showed me a way that was normally only open for employees and used a spare key to open the door to the outside.
"Guess I'll see you tomorrow. And thanks."
I waved off and left. I already missed the last bus of the day and so I had to walk the way back to the residence. Sighing I put my hands in my pockets and started walking. I had been sweating bullets and my entire body was sticky. The rain was really welcoming at the moment. It wasn't hard enough to get soaked.
When I finally arrived at the residence, it was already 2:37. I got rid of my shoes, walked upstairs and just slammed onto my bed, falling asleep immediately.
"Hmm, so you really jeopardized the flow of time."
"Izanami? Can't you just let me sleep? Or better go bother Yu..."
The goddess was floating in mid-air and came closer. "Are you even aware of the consequences that might transpire through your actions?" she asked.
"I honestly couldn't care less. What's going to happen? Is Nyx gonna be released from the seal or what?"
She chuckled. "How ignorant you are. Very well, go on and have it your way. In the end it doesn't need to concern."
"Yeah right, can I sleep now?"
"Actually it is time to wake up now."
My eyes opened and sure thing, I needed to prepare for school. I fell out of my bed and bumped my head multiple times before getting into the shower. My battle wounds already disappeared, which I was really glad off. I had PE today and when someone would see scars or wounds sooner or later it would get through to Dojima.
"You look tired today." Nanako pointed out.
"I didn't sleep much." I told her and tried to get down my breakfast. Neither she nor Yu asked any further questions. Maybe I should have called sick for the day, but I wanted to go to see if anything changed through my actions already.
Since I had money, I paid for the bus today. Killing shadows really came in handy, but I couldn't do it every day. I almost stumbled out of the bus and walked the rest towards the school gate.
"Morning!"
That morning call was definitely directed towards me. Turning around I found Saki walking up to me. "Thanks again for yesterday."
"I need to get stronger." was my reply. She didn't expect that answer from the look on her face. "Just so you know: I never lie and never make any jokes. I also happen to hate humans."
"Then...why did you help me?" she asked.
"To get stronger and in my opinion it was the right thing to do." I answered. Saki smiled all of the sudden. "I bet your shadow didn't try to kill you, right?"
"It just reminded me there's no use hiding my other emotions. Most of the time I only showed hatred to others and here and there none emotion at all."
"I don't see much of a difference now, you know."
I shrugged. "I just remembered how it was to be sad." The first bell rung and we walked into the building. "Mind if we go there today?" she asked.
"Yes." I growled. "I'm still tired, you know that, right?" I gritted my teeth. Tired people are really impatient.
"Oh, right. Sorry. I guess tomorrow."
"Tch, I guess I need the training." She walked up to the third floor, while I entered the class. I slept through most of the classes and didn't get punished for some reason. I thought about sleeping through lunch, but the chatter of my classmates didn't let me get some rest, so I walked on the roof.
Normally only the girl who wanted to be a weather forecaster was to find there on a cold day like this, but what transpired up there was worth not calling sick today.
I was on my usual place, eating my egg and ham sandwich, when Saki came up to the roof. Somehow my behavior didn't seem to bother her at all, because she leaned against the vent, drinking a soda. Ten seconds later Yosuke came up running and panting heavily.
"Please try to hide elsewhere next time." I sighed. "Your classroom for example. He can't just enter."
"I would have, but there's that bigger asshole." I raised an eyebrow. Oh well, there's not much you have to do in order to be more annoying than Yosuke. You just have to be Chie.
"S-Sempai! H-hey, you-"
She pressed so hard on her can that the liquid spluttered out as she pressed it together. She threw the thing away, somehow hitting the trash can and stomped forward. "I should have brought some popcorn."
"For the last time: get the hell out of my life!"
That's rather harsh. "You just don't get it, do you? You're nothing more than a pain in the ass! The only reason I'm still working in that store is because of the money, get it? This store is ruining my parent's business and I'm seriously suggesting to just quitting, so I don't have to see your sorry face more than necessary!"
"A toast." I may have been a bit louder than I intended to be, but I sipped my drink down anyway. Funny part Saki did it too. Yosuke just stood there, his face showing a priceless expression. He looked over to me angrily.
"Check out the TV. Tell Yu I said this."
He left without another word. "He looked a little upset."
Saki lost her composure and started laughing. She then looked over to me, when she caught herself. "What did you mean by that?"
"By what?"
"What you just said."
"Oh."
I jumped down the vent and threw the garbage away. "I have reasons to belief Yu can enter the TV world."
"Yu as in...Yu Narukami? The one who was with Yosuke and that other girl?" she asked. I nodded. "I belief Yu is a wild card, someone who can have multiple personas. His personality fits."
"How do you know about all that?" she asked. "You're smarter than the bear. Well it would be worrisome if that wasn't the case. Anyways, that remains my secret, because it is very personal at some points."
"You saw all of my secrets!"
"I missed the first half."
...
"Phew..."
The rest of the day I felt a little better and managed to get some of the stuff into my brain. I especially didn't want to give Morooka a chance to get revenge on me. After school I headed straight to the Dojima residence and walked into my room.
My diary entry was pretty small and worth mentioning. Actually I should check whether Yu and the rest are jumping through the TV or not. Screw it, I'd simply throw them in if I had to, now was sleeping time.
Of course I got woken by Nanako as she knocked at my door. Thinking I didn't hear her, she entered. "Claire...?"
"I heard you." I got up yawning. "Dinner time, right?"
"Uh huh. Are you not feeling well?" she asked. "Just catching up some sleeps. Thanks for telling me, I'm coming." I followed Nanako downstairs, where Dojima was waiting at the table. "There you're. What have you been doing?" he asked.
"I didn't sleep much last night. I caught up." I told him and placed myself on the table. Yu wasn't there, so chances were good he was in the TV World or just came out of it. Dinner was quite like always. When we were half finished Yu finally got back.
"Ah, there you're." Dojima said his filler. Yu placed himself on the table. "You look pale." I pointed out. At that moment he sneezed, getting the attention of Dojima and Nanako. "Hey, are you alright? Claire is right: you do look a bit pale. Nanako could you bring him some cold medicine?"
The girl nodded and went away, getting the medicine. "Maybe I'm catching a cold..." Yu muttered. "In that case, you should head to bed early."
"Yeah...would be the best. I think I'm going without dinner. I don't feel like it." Dojima nodded. Nanako came back with some cold medicine and a thermometer. While Yu took his own temperature I finished dinner and did my own dishes.
"I'm gonna hit the sack early too. The whole rain is getting onto me." I told them and walked up. I waited in front of Yu's room until he came upstairs. I looked at him, a dark smirk on my face. "How do you know about that place?" he asked in a whisper tone. My smirk grew. "Straight to business as always. I woke there up one day and when I found a way out I met Nanako and Dojima. I'm sure you have figured it out as well, haven't you?" I asked.
"That announcer...she has been thrown into that world."
I nodded. "Exactly. It seems you have yet to meet the other residence of that world. I'm going in tomorrow myself. Whether you go with me or not is up to you. Oh and before I forget: I'm not the killer. I have a rock solid alibi for that announcer's death. Ask Nanako and Dojima if you doubt me. I have been in hospital."
I walked into my room, making some notes into my diary, again nothing special and went to bed.
The next morning I got out a little better. I prepared some extra sandwiches before heading out to school early.
During lunch I met Saki on the roof. "Hey, are we going in today?" she asked. I nodded. "But before that I need to go somewhere and it would be better if you come with me." I told her.
"Where do you want to go?" she asked.
"Weapon and armor shop." I replied.
"Oh THAT one. The guy is weird, but he really sells anything to anyone." Saki informed me. This was good to know.
So after school we walked to Daidara's shop and looked around. "Can I help you two?" the man ruffed. "I could need some armor. Something that lets me keep my freedom of movement."
He took a closer look at us and then chuckled. "New persona user's eh? So, what is it? Shadows or demons?" he asked. Saki was surprised, but I thought it was only logical that he knew about this stuff. "Shadows. And I'm not a persona user. My own shadow merged with me and now I have the skills of a persona on myself."
Daidara raised an eyebrow. "Well, what do we have here? You really never stop learning. Alright let me take your measures and I'll see what I have." He took out a tape measure and started taking my measures like you'd do with someone buying a smoking. "You don't mind if I keep it? I'm sure you'll come again."
"Go ahead." I told him.
Saki was looking around in the meantime. Daidara had all kinds of weapons, some of them I never even heard about. Suddenly I heard the sound of something going fast through the air and then a loud sound of leather hitting the ground. I turned my head and found Saki carrying a whip in her hand, rather skillful I might add.
"This is perfect." She exclaimed. Now I got a grasp of the personality she had been hiding quite good I might add. The sadistic smile on her face only convinced me further.
Daidara also took Saki's measurements and picked two chain mails for us. We paid for them and I was out of money again. I might add that you can really hide the armor beneath the uniform. Saki put the whip into her schoolbag and we both headed straight to Junes. We found Chie in front of the TV with the cut rope.
"Huh? What are you doing here with that?" Saki asked.
"Oh, uh..."
"I guess they're already inside. I confirmed yesterday Yu can enter too. And now that you're a persona user..."
"I know. I tried it yesterday."
We jumped in. "Hey, wait!"
Ooops, completely forgot Chie. Who cares?
My landing was better than last time. Saki's well...she needed practice. After getting herself together, she put on the glasses and took out the whip, swinging it one time. "Alright, I'm ready." she said.
"Chances are they're with Teddie. We should go to the shopping district. I still know the way."
I went ahead, looking around for any stray shadow that might attack us. So far nothing and we found the district without any problems. In fact we just arrived in the nick of time to get sucked into an arena and Yu had his first fight with the shadows.
Now I knew from where Teddie was always watching. We were at the very end of the arena and could see everything. Yu used the advantage of his persona using lightning skills. He used it to kill the first shadow in no time. The second got a hit on him, but I knew firsthand those shadows didn't hurt that much.
"Izanagi!" Yu exclaimed and his persona finished off the last shadow. My vision blurred and everything was back to normal.
"This always happens with shadows?" Saki asked. I nodded and walked ahead. "Not bad, but you should've used your weapon for the last strike instead of wasting spiritual energy."
The three turned around and finally noticed us.
"Cleary-chan!"
"Agi!"
"AAAAAAHHH! BEAR ON FIRE, BEAR ON FIRE, BEAR ON FIRE!" Teddie ran around like in a cartoon. "My name is Claire. Get it into that stupid brain of yours."
I shook my head. "S-sempai..." Yosuke's mood dropped immediately as he noticed Saki behind me. "Alright, let's get some things clear."
"Hehe, you-"
"Zio!"
"OWIE!"
That guy was so lucky he wasn't weak to electricity at the moment. I made a mental not to get Ziodyne as quickly as possible.
"So, just so we're all at the same level. Someone is throwing people inside the TV in order to get them killed by the shadows. Saki here was the latest victim. When someone who doesn't have the potential of being a persona user comes in here, his shadow appears."
"His shadow?" Yu asked.
"Ohhh, look at me. The poor loser who can't have the girl. Bohoo."
"Like Yosuke over there."
Shadow Yosuke had appeared down the street. "Wha-? Who are you?!"
"Hahahaha. Isn't that obvious? She already told you. But of course that is all a lie. That bitch is the whole and only reason Saki hates me."
"Really Yosuke?" Saki asked. "You have to remember, it is probably a first impression. Your acting was very good after all."
"But what does it matter? After all this is my time to shine. Finally something is happening in this rundown place and when everything goes well, hey! You might even be a hero and impress Saki to get her!"
"Shut up! That's...that's not true!" Yosuke shouted. "Here goes..." I mumbled. Saki whipped the ground. "I'm actually looking forward to this."
"Hah, is it not? After all I have to know, since I AM YOU!"
"Shut up! That's all a lie. YOU CAN'T BE ME YOU SON OF A BITCH!" he shouted on top of his lungs. "He just called his mother a bitch." I felt the need to point it out.
Shadow Yosuke laughed like a maniac. "That's right. I am me now. I am nothing like you pathetic loser."
He started charging energy. "Waahh! It's happening again, just like with Saki-chan!" Teddie shouted. I summoned my sword and took fighting position. Yu's eyes widened, but his focus quickly returned to Shadow Yosuke who was now fully transformed and ready to fight. This should be easy, considering he's only level 3 (I think that is because Yosuke's persona starts on that level) and Yu and I could both use zio spells.
My vision blurred and we were soon in an arena.
"I am a shadow, the true self. I'll crush everything that bores me, starting with you." he pointed at all three of us. He used Wind of Oblivion. I jumped in front of Yu, so he wouldn't get knocked down. It didn't hurt much. Must be because of me being already a little stronger. Saki had the properties of her persona, except the instant killers of course.
"This one's much stronger than the last type, be careful! Whenever you feel threatened, just defend yourself."
"It nullifies your persona's weakness." I quickly added.
"Zio!" I shouted, knocking the shadow out. "Let's all attack at once!" I shouted.
"Alright!"
"Let's do it!"
We all ran ahead and used our weapons on the shadow, somehow creating dusk clouds all around us. Shadow Yosuke showed signs of striking back, so we got back to our positions. "Persona!" Saki used Marin Karin, but as expected it didn't work on bosses.
"Hah, that's it? Boring!"
"Grr..."
"Izanagi!"
Shadow Yosuke was knocked down again. "Let's give him some beautiful pain." If I would be a guy, I would find Saki creepy by now. We all attacked once again, getting some good damage done.
"Pain in the ASS!"
He put both hands in front of his face.
"It's guarding its weak point!"
"He's about to attack!" I shouted and took defensive position. Granted I never tried it out, but Teddie's advices so far had been useful. Yu did the same.
"My persona is strong against wind. Go!" This time Saki used agi. I should mention the fire came out of her persona's tails. It didn't do much damage. As expected the shadow used its special attack and this time I hardly felt anything. It was wind for fuck's sake.
"Zio!" I shouted and it went all over again. Yu used zio too and Yosuke's shadow started showing signs of weakness. "What a freaking pain in the ass! I'm gonna crush you all!"
This time he used power charge. "His next physical attack is more than doubled. Zio!" This was getting old. I never thought I would ever get bored in a fight. It's like playing football against a team that's in the lowest league. We went for another all out attack.
"Persona!" Yu summoned Izanagi and shot another lightning at him.
"WHAT IN THE HELL!?"
Shadow Yosuke was defeated. What a lame fight. I used the opportunity to get a skill card from the ground and some money. I'd split it with Yu and Saki later. We returned to the normal realm and Yosuke slowly got up. His shadow self stood there like a robot.
"Ngh...no...you're...not me..."
"Hana-chan." I looked over to Saki surprised. She walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You may be a pain in the ass and your happy-go-lucky attitude is seriously getting on my nerves. But that doesn't mean that this is all you're made of."
"Sempai..."
"Don't get me wrong." she smirked. "I still can't stand you, but it would be easier for me to accept you if you would start facing reality. I'm not interested in you. I never was and I seriously need to be drunk or on drugs if I ever will be."
She stepped aside. Yosuke looked over and walked towards his shadow. "Yeah, it's all true. I knew it all along. But I still acted this way, so no would notice how much this place is getting on my nerves. I also acted like this, so I'd never be alone. Pain in the ass, haha, now that I think about it...whatever. You are me, right?"
Shadow Yosuke nodded. He flew up and transformed into Jiraya, the master of wind. "A ninja?" I asked. "He's anything but stealthy." I held up my arms and shook my head. Yosuke collapsed on his knees.
"Yosuke!" Yu ran and helped him up. "I'm fine, just a little tired."
"This place isn't made for humans. He needs to get out of here." Teddie pointed out. "Let's get him to a bench first." Saki suggested. So we put him on the bench Saki and I rested a few days ago. Yosuke leaned his arms on the bench and looked up to the red/black sky.
Yu turned towards me. "So, how come you don't have a persona and why aren't you wearing the glasses?" he asked.
"I don't know why, but somehow I'm able to see through this fog, when I focus a little. I don't even notice losing the energy. As for the lack of a persona, that will sound unbelievable, but my shadow decided to merge with me."
"W-What?!" Yosuke exclaimed, suddenly being full of energy. "Tone down sucker. Yeah, I had a little talk with my shadow, admitted that I suppressed my emotions for a few years now and accepted emotions again."
I could see the rest sweatdropping. "Yeah, I know, but if you'd have known me beforehand, you'd understand. I can use skills of a persona ever since that, but I should mention" I let my sword disappear "I could do that ever since I firstly entered the TV World."
"When was that?" Yu asked.
"The day when I got hit by the car, by shoving Nanako out of the way. I was in America at that time and I was up 'till midnight. My TV showed static all of the sudden, so I inspected it and fell in on accident. It's hard to describe the place I was in and maybe someday we'll find it. I walked around a bit and had my first fight. I somehow summoned my sword and needed to defend myself. Next I found my own shadow and accepted it. But my shadow acted strange. As I said, it emerged with me and then I could use magic all of the sudden. Her last words were: 'Regain what you lost. Now you have no other choice.' I guess a part of my memory is missing, I can't find another explanation. I found a way out and found myself near Inaba, where I started investigating. After saving Nanako, Dojima was nice enough to keep me in. He doesn't know about personas and shadows.
Any last questions? I'm getting hungry."
Yu processed the information he got, then his eyes lit up. "That still doesn't explain how you know so much about personas and shadows."
I crossed my arms. "That is connected with personal things. Maybe I'll tell you someday or maybe not. It has nothing to do with the murders. I already told you I have an alibi and if I really were the killer, I certainly wouldn't have helped you guys or Saki for that matter."
"I guess that makes sense." Yu nodded to himself.
Seeing as I passed this trust-test, we all headed for the exit.
