Okay, so I will try to update this story at least once a week. I have been very consistent so far and will try my best to keep it that way. Thanks again to the lovely dissidia characters for the awesome dialogue. Had a lot of fun incorporating it into the story. Check out his profile when you get the chance. Thanks for all the reviews and followers to, makes me smile! R&R! Every one counts!
The Amagi Obsession
Chapter 4: Deception
Yukiko didn't return to class that afternoon. After Yu had left she hastily gathered her belongings and made her way towards the door. The school would probably call her mother, but the thought didn't bother the young Amagi. Something much more dire was beginning to stir, Chie's disappearance.
Yu wanted her and the rest of the investigation team to enter the TV world today on a man hunt to find Chie. "What if they find her? She'll surely tell them that I'm the one who shoved her in the TV." The thought of it alone stressed her out. She couldn't let it happen.
If Yu found out, he would be devastated and would never trust her again. Not only that, letting Chie die wasn't an option either. She still felt guilty about shoving her into the TV world, but she didn't want Chie's blood on her hands either.
The hug she shared with Yu moments before he left felt so right to Yukiko. He needed her there to support him and that's exactly what she was going to do. The thought of going through with this frightened Yukiko a bit, but she had already gone past the point of no return. "I have to get in contact with Teddie."
Yukiko took out her cell phone and quickly texted the friendly neighborhood bear. "Hey, Teddie?"
She waited quietly for a response and it was near instant. "YUKI-CHAN TEXTED ME!?"
Yukiko imagined Teddie with a large adorable smile on his face, but shook her head. She rarely texted Teddie anyway so he was probably too gullible to be suspicious. Now wasn't the time. "R U free by any chance. Want to meet up?"
The reply was instant. "OF COURSE! WHERE!? WHERE?! ANYTHING FOR YOU YUKI-CHAN!"
"He sure loves caps." Yukiko murmured cracking a half smiled. "Great then it's a date! Meet me at Junes in 30 minutes; I'm on my way right now."
Her phone lit up once more. "A DATE! HOLY BEAR! . LET ME GET READY!"
Yukiko didn't bother to reply. She flipped it closed and sighed. That was that. Beads of sweat were beginning to form on her forehead. She was really was going to go through with this. "There is no going back." Yukiko didn't know what she would do once she found Chie, or worse, what Chie would do.
Yukiko threw on her large red coat in a hurried manor and made her way towards the door. As her hand reached towards its handle it suddenly slid open, startling the girl. She stumbled back, but was caught by the hand of her kouhai.
"Oh, Senpai." In front of Yukiko stood Naoto Shirogane, the school's newest transfer student and the investigation team's young hotshot detective prince. Naoto helped Yukiko to her feet and smiled.
Yukiko tried her best to keep a smile on her face, but was tense. She had to meet Teddie before the others could get into contact with him. Yukiko straightened her composure before trying to make her way around Naoto. "Well Naoto-kun I will see you later."
"Wait, Senpai." Naoto grabbed her hand. "Is something amiss?"
Yukiko shook her head and Naoto released her hand. "No, nothing is wrong." If there was anyone that Yukiko wanted to avoid at all costs it was Naoto Shirogane. The young detective had to have heard about Chie by now and Yukiko wasn't in the mood to find out why she was visiting her upperclassman's classroom. Questioning her about Chie, would surely be Naoto's goal.
"I'm sorry Naoto-kun, but I'm feeling a bit ill. I'm going home early today. Send my regards to the others." Yukiko said curtly before making a quick exit. She briskly walked away not wanting to be in her kouhai's presence any longer.
Back by the classroom, Naoto stared startled at what had just occurred. She had come to find Yukiko to ask her about the assembly since she hadn't spotted her there. Something was surely off with Yukiko to her. "Hmm, perhaps she is just disgruntled about Chie-san's disappearance." Naoto murmured. Surely she had already known about Chie's disappearance and she was probably feeling ill because of it, they were best friends after all.
Naoto decided to ignore their rather curt conversation and made her way back towards her own classroom. Inside she was worried about Chie as well and seeing Yukiko in such a sickly state reaffirmed her belief that she had to find whoever did this to her Senpai.
It was her job as a seeker of the truth.
…
Walking through the snow slowed Yukiko down quite a bit, so she was a bit late getting to Junes. The store was covered in a blanket of snow. Outside of Junes were two elves asking for donations. Normally Yukiko would stop and help those in need, but she had more pressing matters on her mind. She ignored the elves as they tried to hail her and made her way into the warmth of the store.
Yukiko relished the heat that enveloped her. She took a glance outside and noticed it had started snowing once more. She shivered a bit; it really was getting cold in Inaba.
Her phone vibrated and she fished around in her pocket to see she had gotten a text from Yu. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Hey R U feeling alright? Naoto said you went home?"
Yukiko smiled a bit, placing the phone to her heart. "He's worried about me."
"I'm okay I was just feeling a bit ill was all." She replied. "The news about Chie caught me off guard. I don't think I will be able to go into the TV today."
"It's fine; just take your time getting better. I'll, come check on you soon."
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. The thought of Yu coming to cater her, when she was sick made Yukiko's face flush. Thinking back to other matters, Teddie entered her mind once more. None of that would ever happen if Yu found Chie today.
Yukiko glanced around the lobby looking around for Teddie. Yukiko shot a glance at her wristwatch. 10 minutes after. "Ugh, where is he?" She was late herself, but she didn't have time to wait on Teddie. School would be out in 4 hours. Yukiko decided to walk around the department store.
She glanced around nearly every section until she spotted Teddie siting outside in the food court. Yukiko saw he was waiting patiently wrapped in a large white snow coat, his ears covered in blue ear muffs. The blond haired boy was shivering from waiting for so long.
Yukiko wanted to scold Teddie for being so dense and waiting out in the snow. She sighed and called out to him. "Teddie, over here!"
He perked up and smiled cheesily. "Oh, Yuki-Chan!" Teddie ran towards Yukiko and hugged her. "I've been waiting for you Yuki-chan!"
Yukiko managed to stifle a smile. Teddie was draped from head to toe in snow, and his nose was as red as a beet. Yukiko shook her head with worry. "Why were you sitting out in the snow like that you silly bear?" She decided to dote on him. If there was any way to win over Teddie's trust and silence, than it had it was going to be with affection.
The young Amagi wiped the snow off the top of his head causing Teddie face to grow even redder. "I- I was waiting for you Yuki-chan! I even showed up extra early! What bear would want to be late on his first date?"
"Still, it's no reason to torture yourself silly. What bear would want to be sick on his first date?" Yukiko scolded him. "Come on, let's grab something to eat. You look like your freezing." Yukiko wrapped her arm around Teddie making him yelp in surprise.
"Yu- Yuki-chan, you're being awfully forward today."
"Oh, really now." Yukiko led Teddie towards the bakery Yukiko pressed against his arm. "I'm just trying to warm you up Teddie."
Teddie was speechless.
"What do you say about getting some crepes?" Yukiko asked breaking the silence.
"Of course!" Teddie responded taking out his wallet. He bought both of them strawberry crepes. Yukiko sat down at a table and ate along with Teddie. She did feel a bit bad about using Teddie, but her mission was too important. Going into the TV world alone wasn't an option, and she couldn't just ask Rise to help her out she would ask too many questions.
Teddie was gullible.
He was won over at the word 'date.'
Yukiko nibbled on her crepe and passed along idle chat with Teddie about school, work, and life in general. Yukiko had also learned some odd things about Yosuke talking to Teddie. After finishing up their crepes Yukiko finally decided it was time to talk to Teddie about her real reasons for calling him to Junes. She glanced around. There were a lot of people around.
Yukiko wondered if any of her classmates were at Junes at the time. She didn't want to risk anyone hearing the conversation she was about to have with Teddie.
"Teddie, I need to speak to you in private. Would that be alright with you?"
Teddies ears perked up. A big grin crossed his red cheeks. "Alone? With Yuki-chan? IS THIS MY MOMENT TO SCORE WITH YOU YUKI-CHAN?!"
Yukiko wished he would keep his voice down, but smiled gently. She already had Teddie trapped in her web, now it was time to sink in her fangs. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about Teddie. Do you really want to score with me?"
"More than anything Yuki-chan!"
"Then… if you really want to score with me, promise you won't tell the others what I'm about to tell you." Yukiko grasped Teddie's hand making him squeak.
"No- not even Sensei?"
"Especially not Narukami-kun."
Teddie had doubt in his eyes. He looked away. "I- I don't know Yuki-chan?"
Yukiko tightened her grip on Teddie's hands. She caressed Teddie's cheek, gently rubbing her fingers against his smooth skin. Her thumb trailed its way down, rubbing over Teddie's lips. "Please Teddie-kun? For me?"
"Anything for you Yuki-chan!" Teddie declared triumphantly. "My lips are sealed!"
Yukiko stood up still holding Teddie's hand. "Then shall we go find somewhere private to speak?"
…
"Do you sense anything that doesn't belong in here Teddie?" Yukiko asked staring curiously at Teddie.
The young Amagi had lead them into the TV world to speak in private. No one would be able to hear them in this world, but she still had to be discreet around Teddie. Even though he had sworn his secrecy to her, if he were to find out about Chie, Yukiko was sure he would tell Yu.
Teddie had been skeptical at first about going into the TV world without the others, he thought it would be too dangerous. Though using her previous methods she swayed Teddie to entering the television with her.
She promised him that she had forgotten something the last time they were in the world together and only wished to retrieve it. Teddie didn't ask much more, because Yukiko didn't give in the chance to. He put on his bear suit that seemed to appear from thin air and they entered the TV world.
Teddie stood on his toes and sniffed. "Well… the fog isn't as thick as it used to be."
That much she could tell. The fog had all, but vanished from the shadow realm.
"But can you sense anything?" Yukiko repeated her question growing a bit impatient. She was running out of time.
"Well," Teddie continued sniffing. "I do sense something, but my nose just isn't as good as it used to be. I can't sense what direction it's coming in. I'm sorry Yuki-chan."
Despite her better judgment Yukiko wrapped hands around Teddie's head and brushed her lips against his cheek. She moved her head back to whisper in his ear. "Try your beary best Teddie. I'm really counting on you."
Teddie's eyes widen and he stammered to speak. "We- well I- I suppose one more sniff can't hurt."
The bear stood on his toes and once more to a huge whiff. Like radar he rotated around in three large circles before he stopped and pointed north. "It's that way, the smells coming from there!"
Yukiko placed her glasses on and looked north. All she could see the TV world's rafters stretching for what seemed like miles. She glanced at Teddie looking doubtful. "Are you positive it's coming from that direction?" That way looked all too familiar to Yukiko. It was the direction of the mirror Inaba they had gone to when they were pursuing Adachi.
"I'm beary positive!" Teddie replied. "My nose became 100% percent accurate with that kiss Yuki-chan!"
Yukiko was glad she made that decision.
"But Yuki-chan about that smell, it's awfully familiar for one reason."
The girl narrowed her eyes at Teddie as he continued.
"It's growing weaker and weaker with every minute."
"Right." Yukiko murmured. Chie had to be fighting off shadows. She had to get there fast. "I can't let her die." Yukiko gripped a baseball bat she had found in the sports section of Junes. If she was going after Chie alone, she would want to a blunt object to fight off the shadows with. Playing keep away with her fire might not cut it this time. "Well than I'm off."
"Wait- I can't come with you?"
Yukiko placed a hand on Teddie's head and petted his fur. "You've been more help to me than you can ever imagine Teddie. Now be a good bear and wait for me here. I will be right back. When I get back we will finish our date okay? I promise."
Teddie opened his mouth to object, but Yukiko had already turned around and sprinted away.
Yukiko ran, her feet carrying her as fast as they could. The girl wanted to save herself from the blame of putting Chie into the TV more than anything else, but now something else was resonating inside of her, worry. The thought of finding Chie dead was something Yukiko didn't want to see. If she had fallen into a dungeon, shadows would continuously attack her. "I have to find her! I have to!"
Yukiko checked her watch. She had 3 hours. She was running out of time.
…
Deep in the TV's world version of Inaba, Chie fought off as many shadows as she could. Tomoe flung multiple shadow beings from her back into a nearby Tatsumi Textiles. "Bufula!" Chie yelled freezing them and the surrounding area in solid ice. Chie tried to keep moving, but collapsed to her knees.
Chie was exhausted. She was close to blacking out, she could tell. Her vision was slightly blurring and her hearing was becoming impaired. Summoning her persona was becoming more and more difficult with each shadow that she encountered. The combination of being exposed to the TV world for so long and fighting were taking its toll on her body.
"I won't die here." She managed to lift one foot of the ground. "I can't die here. I have to see Yu again- an- and Yukiko." Chie murmured as Tomoe watched her silently.
She wondered if her persona pitied her in this pathetic state.
When she ended up in the TV world she had no idea where she was, she spent hours wandering around aimlessly until she finally came across the false Inaba. This had been a glimmer of hope for her, but fighting for so long was beginning to weigh her down. She was starting to lose track of time.
"I have to get out of here." She murmured only to hear the cries of more shadows heading in her direction.
Chie shot a glance back and saw multiple Kings and Hands heading in her direction. She didn't have the strength to fight them all off. The girl took a step up and prepared to run, but her leg buckled. A bad bruise she had received from a shadow earlier was coming back to haunt her. "SAVE ME TOMOE!"
Her persona responded to her command and began to fight off as many shadows as it could, but it was quickly becoming overpowered. Chie felt the pain of her persona which didn't help either. The shadows one by one piled on top of Tomoe, until the persona shattered into glass. The girl starred with horror as the shadows diverted their attention to her.
Chie sat motionless; she had never felt so hopeless or scared in her entire life. "Yu…save me…"
The shadows reared themselves, ready to attack Chie, but when all hope seemed lost a streak of red filled the air. Fire so bright Chie had to close her eyes obliterated every shadow in sight. "MARAGION!" Chie heard the familiar voice of her best friend behind her.
Konahana Sakuya flew in to protect Chie from the flames whilst burning everything else in sight. Once the flames began to die down all that was left in sight was ash.
Chie heard footsteps approaching her from behind and turned around to meet the smiling face of the Amagi heiress. "Yukiko!" Chie gasped beginning to tear up. The girl flung herself around Yukiko's legs trying to fight back the tears. "I- I thought I was done for."
Yukiko bent down and rubbed her best friends head. "It's okay Chie, I'm here." She soothed. Yukiko had seen the majority of what happened had, she was just lucky that she arrived in time. She didn't want to think what would have happened if she had been a few seconds late. "Are you hurt?"
Chie nodded, proceeding to massage her left leg. "Yeah, I got this bruise, it's pretty bad. It hurts to much to stand."
Yukiko took note of that. "I'm just glad you're safe Chie."
Chie smiled and curiously looked around. "Where are the others?"
"I didn't want anyone to jump to the wrong conclusions." Yukiko murmured looking down. "So I came by myself."
This caught Chie off-guard at first, but she soon began to recall how she ended in the TV world in the first place. She and Yukiko had gotten into a fight, over her boyfriend Yu Narukami. Chie knew Yukiko must have felt terrible about what happened, and she herself was partly to blame.
"Oh Yukiko," Chie gave a sigh of relief. "Listen I am sorry, I should've told you that Narukami and I were dating. If I did all of this could've been avoided."
Yukiko returned the sentiment. "No it's quite alright Chie, I understand. You just didn't want to hurt my feelings or anything. I'm sorry Chie…" Yukiko began to choke tears welling in her eyes. "I'm just so sorry."
Chie felt relieved that it was Yukiko who had found her. This was how it should have been in the first place. With the both of them talking it out.
Yukiko caressed Chie's cheek. "I'm sorry Chie…" The girl massaged her cheek, before moving her fingers threw Chie's sandy blond lock, twiddling each strand. Yukiko tilted her head to the side growing silent.
"Uhm Yukiko? Wh- what're you doing?"
She moved her other hand and slowly slipped Chie's glasses off of her face, light fog obstructing her view. "I'm so sorry Chie, because I can't allow Narukami to know that you've been found."
Before Chie could reply Yukiko smacked the back of her head with the butt of her baseball bat. Chie's body slumped in an instant, knocked unconscious from the force of the blow. Yukiko dropped Chie's glasses under her boots and smashed them under her feet. There was no going back now. "Forgive me."
"Konahana Sakuya!" Yukiko pointed towards Chie. Her persona followed her commands and lifted Chie into its arms. She checked her wristwatch once more. It took her nearly two hours to find Chie, she still had time. She knew exactly where to leave her. There was a castle nearby, her castle to be exact. "Follow me."
Her Shadow's palace was their destination.
…
