Thetrueazure: Well guys, here is another shadow chapter.
Ritsu: Straightforward. That's not like you.
Thetrueazure: Shut up and save people. I own nothing
"Hey, I noticed something." Kitsune said "That Alfred Early card looks a lot like Lancelot."
"Really?" Ritsu said "Never really noticed. Anyways I'll see you guys tomorrow. See ya." Ritsu left, while he was walking, Alucard was sitting on top of a building staring at Sarutaro and Kurogasa
"Kid, you're giving me so many targets."
Ch.7 Circus Life
During Class
Ritsu, Kitsune, and Sarutaro were listening to Mister Ishimaru's lecture about Egyptian history. While Ritsu was writing down notes, Lancelot spoke in his mind.
"So this is what humans call school." Lancelot said "I must say, it's rather interesting, and rather boring."
"Yes, school might be boring Lancelot, but you'll just have to deal with it because I'll be here for a few years." Ritsu heard Lancelot groan as he smirked and continued writing down notes.
After Class
"Alright students, review the material because we will be having a test on it in a couple of days." Mister Ishimaru said as he walked out of the classroom.
Ritsu put his stuff in his shoulder bag and walked over to Sarutaro's desk with Kitsune.
Kitsune sighed "Slept through another lecture again." Kitsune took a giant book from her bag and threw it on his desk, making a loud bang and waking Sarutaro up.
"Who, what!" Sarutaro shot up from his desk and yawned "Hey guys, what's going on?"
"You slept through another lecture again Saru." Ritsu said with a hint of annoyance in his voice "I'm still wondering how you're able to keep your grade up."
Sarutaro smiled "That my friend, is a secret."
"Really? Then I would like to know that secret." A familiar voice said, causing Ritsu to turn around and see Kurogasa there "Yo! What's up?"
"Kurogasa!" Ritsu said with a confused look "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here? I come here!" Kurogasa laughed "I forgot to tell you that I passed my entrance exams with flying colors. Huh?" Kurogasa looked over at Ritsu, who was hunched over in a corner
"I barely passed mine." Ritsu muttered
Over at the Café
Ritsu, Kitsune, Sarutaro, and Kurogasa were inside Red Oni Comics & Coffee Shop. They were talking about many things as Hanahime served their coffee.
"Here you guys go." She placed the four cups on the table
"Thanks Hana-chan." Kitsune said with a smile
"Hey, how come you're nice to her and mean to me?" Sarutaro asked her
"Because she doesn't do stupid things."
"Hey! When have I done-"Kitsune stared at Sarutaro "You know what, let's talk about something else. I saw you and Ritsu walk to your house a couple of days ago. So what happened there?"
Kitsune blushed "W-What are you talking about! He just walked me home after what happened! There is nothing between us!"
"Yeah, sure." Sarutaro then felt something uneasy behind him "T-This feeling is-"
"Brother." Hanahime said darkly
"Y-Yes Hanahime?" Sarutaro turned towards his younger sister with fear written all over his face.
"Just for that, you get you work my shift right now." Hanahime said
"What! Why!"
"Because-"Hanahime took off her apron and tossed it toward Sarutaro "I'm on break." She sat down in Sarutaro's spot
"But-"
"But, what?" Hanahime gave a look that sent a shiver down Ritsu's and Kurogasa's spine
Sarutaro yelped and bowed "I understand!"
"Scary." Ritsu said
"Yeah." Kurogasa agreed
"Ah, the joys of having a sibling." A British voice said
Ritsu looked to see Lester standing behind them
"Lester?" Ritsu asked
"Well, if it isn't Ritsu." Lester shook his hand "Were you able to make it in the University?"
"Yeah, I got my paperwork handed into my counselor and I'm all set."
"Who's this?" Kitsune wondered
"Guys, this is Lester Crowe. I met him when I was flying out here. How have you been?"
"I've been doing alright." Lester said "I'm currently doing some Humanitarian work and studying Sociology and Politics."
"Over at the University?" Ritsu asked as Lester nodded "Wow, how come I haven't seen you around campus?"
"I study on the other side of the school." Lester looked at the clock in the café "Well, I have to go now. I hope I see you during school." Lester waved at them and left the café
Outside of the café, Lester went into a dark alleyway and stopped. His shadow began to move as Alucard appeared in front of him.
"We have our two targets now." Lester told him "Kurogasa Kururugi and Hanahime Sorasuke."
"What do you want me to do?" Alucard asked
"The same thing you did to the girl. I want you to draw out Kururugi's shadow. Hanahime is just bait for Sarutaro." Lester gave a creepy smirk "The more shadows we draw out, the quicker the great knight will come and take his throne."
After class Ritsu, Kitsune, and Sarutaro were on the rooftop as Ritsu stared out into the city.
"What are we going to do?" Sarutaro asked "We know who the culprit is, but we have no way of finding him."
"I wouldn't say that." Ritsu said "Kitsune, at what time did the victims die?"
Kitsune took out a cigarette and lit it "They were killed at midnight."
"So we have the time he strikes." Sarutaro sighed "But even if we do know that, this city is huge. There is no way we'll be able to find him."
Ritsu took out a map of Tokyo and put it on the bench, it had a series of dots on it "Right now there are six victims who were killed by Alucard. Though these victims don't really know each other, they have one thing in common."
"What is that?" Kitsune asked as Ritsu took out a marker and connected the dots to one place
"Every victim studied over at the University and was murdered within a close proximity of the place."
"So he's targeting students?" Kitsune said with a hint of disgust "That bastard."
Ritsu's phone rang as he answered it "Hello."
"Ritsu, I'm sorry to bother you." Kurogasa's boss was on the other line "Have you seen Kurogasa? He didn't come to work yesterday, it's strange, and he never misses a day of work."
"No I haven't, but I'll keep an eye out for him." Ritsu told him and hung up the phone and gripped his phone tightly
"What's wrong?" Kitsune asked with a concerned look on her face
"Kurogasa went missing yesterday." Ritsu muttered as he, Kitsune, and Sarutaro heard a maniacal laugh. They turned and saw Alucard sitting on the fence. "You!"
"Whoa, why so hostile?" Alucard asked "I'm sure you don't want two dead people on your hands."
Sarutaro raised his eyebrow "What do you mean two people?"
Alucard rested his hand on his head "Let's just say that in addition to Kururugi, I also have a princess with him as well."
Sarutaro thought about it for a minute. Then it finally hit him and anger flared up in his eyes "You bastard! You have Hanahime!" Sarutaro ran towards Alucard and threw a punch at him. Alucard caught his fist.
"Now, now, let's not get physical!" Alucard threw Sarutaro towards Ritsu, knocking them down "Now where was I? Oh yes! I suggest you three hurry before the shadows devour Kurogasa and Hanahime. They will be over at the circus tent near this school, better hurry though. The circus is about to begin!" Alucard vanished in thin air while laughing all the while.
Sarutaro got up and gritted his teeth "When I get my hands on you, you'll wish you hadn't of kidnapped my sister!"
"Saru! Calm down! This is exactly what he wants." Ritsu said as he got up and dusted himself off.
"Something's not right Ritsu." Lancelot said "Why would he tell us that he has both Kurogasa and Hanahime?"
"He's trying to lure us into a trap and so far it's working." Ritsu told Lancelot and looked at Sarutaro "We know where they're going to be, so we need to prepare."
At the Circus Tent
Ritsu, Kitsune, and Sarutaro made it to the circus tent with new equipment. Ritsu replaced his kendo sword with a one handed katana sword, Sarutaro had a Sansetsukon, a three section staff, and Kitsune had an executioner axe.
"Here we are." Ritsu and the others heard a loud screech
Kitsune smiled and saw a few shadows; they looked like blobs moving towards them with blue masks "They didn't waste any time welcoming us." She looked at Ritsu "What should we do?"
"They're in our way, aren't they?" Ritsu smiled at her as she chuckled
"You've got a point. Let's go!" Kitsune yelled as two cards appeared; one in front of Ritsu and one in front of Kitsune
"Persona!" They both shattered their cards as their respective persona appeared
"Get ready Saru!" Ritsu drew his sword and ran towards the shadows with Lancelot "Kitsune, give me support!"
"Right! Ready Alice?" Kitsune asked
"Ready!"
"OK then, let's back them up with Zio!" Alice pointed at the shadows
"Will you die for me?" A couple of dozen lighting bolts struck the shadows and vaporized them.
Ritsu looked at them with a shocked look on his face "Holy crap!"
Kitsune gave a wide grin and saw Sarutaro rush into the tent "Saru! What are you doing!"
"Going to get my sister!" Sarutaro readied his three section and swung at the shadows which damaged them enough for him to get past them.
"Saru! Damn!" Ritsu slashed a shadow in two "Lancelot! Power Slash!" Lancelot swung his sword, cutting through a few shadows and opening a path for Ritsu and Kitsune to run to Sarutaro who was completely frozen. "What's wrong?" Ritsu looked in front of him and saw the reason why he wasn't moving.
They saw another Sarutaro in front of them, only this time he had yellow eyes and a sadistic grin on his face.
"Is that?" Kitsune asked as Ritsu nodded
"Saru's Shadow."
"Why so surprised?" Sarutaro's shadow said "My shows about to start."
Ritsu and Kitsune prepared themselves
Sarutaro's shadow sighed "Why can't anyone take me seriously? I'm always treated like I'm in a circus. People still treat like I'm still a kid even though I'm a college student!"
"Stop." Sarutaro said as his shadow narrowed his eyes
"Oh come on, you know it's true. You want to be treated like an adult but everyone thinks you're not reliable enough to be an adult even though you own a shop. Your sister is more mature than you!"
"Shut up!" Sarutaro yelled "Who do you think you are! You don't know me! You're-"
"Don't say it Saru!" Ritsu yelled
"You're not me!"
Shadows started to surround Sarutaro's shadow "That's right, I'm not you anymore. And from this day forth, Sarutaro will cease to exist!" Sarutaro's shadow took the form of a gorilla riding a unicycle and was juggling three torches "I am a shadow, the true self. People treat me like a kid; well it's time to prove them wrong!"
"Get ready Kitsune, this is going to be tough!" Ritsu readied his sword as Kitsune readied her axe
"Don't worry about me, now let's go!"
Ch.7 End
Thetrueazure: *Playing Persona 3 FES* Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. Finals really hate me.
Ritsu: Um, you've been on that floor for a long time. Aren't you worried?
Thetrueazure: No. I'm waiting for something.
Kazuma: What are you waiting for?
Fuuka: Be careful! I sense Death!
Thetrueazure: There it is! Bring on The Reaper!
Ritsu: You're insane
20 minutes later
Thetrueazure: YES! FINALLY! HE'S DEAD! *gasp* *gasp* sorry about that. I took Elizabeth's request to retrieve 1 Bloody Button from the reaper. I swear, that thing has taken 20 years off of my life, I was terrified.
Ritsu: I think you were more scared when you first ran into him. It was hilarious
A week ago
Thetrueazure: OK, shuffle time. I will take the wand. *picks the card*
Game: Death draws near.
Thetrueazure: Whatever, I can make it to the stairs.
Mitsuru: I have a feeling Death is near.
Thetrueazure: OK, *Turns the corner and runs into the Reaper* *Girl scream*, No! Run! *fails to escape* NO! *Reaper: Megidolaon, kills entire party*, Aw crap! Wait, I forgot to save. CRAP!
Thetrueazure: *Sigh* Stay tuned
Ritsu: Looks like Saru's shadow is going out of control, even though it's two against one he is still holding his own. Will we be able to defeat it?
Next Time: The Wild Card
"I have been expecting you."
