Author's Note/Ramble: As I always say in the beginning; Thanks for everyone's support in every ways possible. This is the seventh chapter, please enjoy. Feel free to write your mind about this story. And I apologize for the long update.

VII We All Love Crossroad VII

Oliver Ace intensely watched the young auburn-haired girl sleeping gracefully. That Narukami had told him her identity; Wild Card… Truthfully he didn't know what that means, until he contacted his superior. Ace was surprised at his superior's order to meet her personally and then discussed this Wild Card matter. His superior didn't say much about it thought, she only said; "I have a new order: You are to assist Shibuya Rika in any way you can and protect her from whatever is after her. Simply put, keep her alive." and then she left. Ace couldn't help but wonder, "What's so special about Wild Card? And… why that Kirijo wants him to protect her so badly?"

Putting his thoughts aside, Ace walked toward the bed as the young Wild Card was showing some signs of consciousness. He thoughtlessly watched her immediately reached for her head and cried in pain. It took her a while to notice his presence, "Who… are you?" she's struggling to speak, "Where is… Leila?"

Ace didn't answer. He simply made his way out of the room; he forgot she's speaking Japanese. But at least, he heard she said a name; Leila. Outside he could still found her friend tirelessly waiting. "Which one is Leila…?" he ashamedly asked all the time he spent waiting in this hospital with them… he only remembered that noisy black-haired kid…. Who was his name again?

"Oliver-san. How's Rika-chan?"

"What? What did he say?" His eyes were searching for Seto, his assistant as well as translator, as he asked himself. Unfortunately, Seto's nowhere to be found.

"Oliver-san?"

Feeling ashamed he told the kid to go inside using body language for whatever his question was.

"Oh, she's awake! Hey guys- ah, they're gone already." The black-haired kid smiled to himself and followed the others who went ahead by the time he mentioned Rika's awakening.

Ace lift up his palm swept down his face in embarrassment while following those kids. His dark-brown eyes were soothingly closed as he saw the blond girl hugged the wild card in happiness. "That must be Leila." She recovered fast. Two days, that's all she needed, while its five days for the brown-haired girl- "Dammit, who was her name?!" a week for himself, and the longest, two weeks for Shibuya.

Well, seeing them happily rejoice like that, Ace decided to put the serious things aside and got back to the hotel. He's a little tired… somewhat.

Shibuya Rika once again woke up from her slumber and glanced at a little clock on the table. It's afternoon already. Her father visited this morning, told her that Yu had moved out from Shibuya household. It's somewhat a shock for her. N-Not that she will miss him or anything; it's just that, she had no idea what to do.

"Good afternoon."

"Oh, it's you. Good afternoon." Rika did a quick reply as the president; Tsumura Kiku, suddenly came in.

"Leila said she couldn't make it in time, here I brought you some bananas. I heard it is good for recovering energy."

"Um… thank you. That's… really considered of you."

"You don't sound pleased."

"Well, it's just… I hate bananas…so,"

"Oh, is that so. Then I'll-"

"No, no, no, it's okay. I'll just give these to…,"Rika paused. "My dad." She added a weak laugh. The name Yu was already at the edge of her voice but, she quickly switched him with her dad. That guy wasn't here anymore… Maybe for a long time. "Argh! Enough about him!"

Kiku raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry?"

"Huh?" Rika quickly hid herself under the sheet, can't bear the embarrassment for saying her thoughts out loud. "N-Nothing! W-Would you leave me alone? I-I um, need some rest." She said, spluttered.

A soft chuckle escaped Kiku's mouth. "I simply cannot. Leila is going to come any minute and besides," her lips are forming a smirk. "Doctor said you're fully healed. Don't making excuses for your own mistake."

"Whatever." Rika pouted. That attitude only made her irritated as Kiku burst into small laugh.

Meanwhile at the corridor in front of Rika's room, Gin, who was banned from entering by Kiku, was standing intensively against the wall. The frustrated feeling was written all over his face. However, his narrow eyelids got wide as he saw two most beautiful thing he loved most juggling up and do-"Ahem!" He forced himself coughing to stop his own fantasies. Can't denied it, Leila's size was a little bit exaggerated for a high school kid. "Hi, Leila-chan!"

"Oh, hello Kurosawa-san! Good afternoon." She bowed politely, much to Gin's amusement. "Why are you out here? Aren't the pre-I mean, Kiku-chan already inside." wait

Gin smiled. It seemed the girls are getting closer after that incident. "Don't worry about me. Go, they're waiting."

"Okay. See ya around!"

As the wooden door closed behind him, a grim look spread across Gin's face. "I wonder how long this moment could last…"

The weather was wonderful at the west side of the city. The sky was blue and sun was hiding behind the sea of clouds while afternoon breeze calmly soothe everything past it. Narukami Yu sat idly at the bench, eyes dead, losing his mind deep in thought. He was still wondering what is 'Mammon?' Why would he lend his power to him of all people? It's not because his desperate need of power he's sure. There are others who desire power more than anything in this world, and why now? Oh wait, that question was actually obvious. Because this is a catastrophic year, as that long nose mentioned.

"What are you thinking about, Sensei?" The curious blue eyes of Teddie's were looking straight to Yu's deadpanned face.

Yu turned his attention to his bear-friend while letting himself relax in the furry sofa. "About that… demon I made a contract with…" As he about to explain further, his gut feeling told him to stop, and so he did. "Don't worry about it. How's everyone in Inaba?"

Smiling broadly at first, Teddie gladly answered the long awaited question. "Yosuke's doing well. He went into collage while still helping out his parents at Junes. Chie-chan's-"

The gray-haired contractor couldn't help but smile as he heard his friends are doing well in Inaba but, the smile faded as Teddie paused and looked as if he's about to cry. "What's wrong?"

"...It's Kanji."

"Kanji? What about him?"

"His mom died."

Yu was managed to keep his poker-face but inside, he felt a crushing blow to his chest. He somewhat cloaked with guilt for not knowing anything about his friends life. He could've called, catching up with each other in his free time but, what did he do? It pains him to admit this; he's obsessed with these incidents in this city. Him, being Velvet room host, Izanagi, the suicides, everything…

"And then he went off, didn't tell us where, he just told us he need to be alone."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Yu finished. "Ted, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure!" Teddie switched back to his cheery self again. "How can I help?"

Yu handed him his note about this city strangeness and list of persona users. A photo of Shibuya Rika was hesitantly being placed on the coffee table. "She's like me, keeping a distance with the others. She's also as stubborn as a rock." He added a chuckle before continued, "Follow her will you? To the end of her Journey. I'm sure you'll meet new friends along the way too."

"What about you, Sensei? What are you gonna do?"

A wry smile.

"Sensei?"

"I'm going to settle 'things' with someone."

"I'll go with you."

The gray-haired contactor stood up, patting Teddie's head in the process. "We all have our roles to play." He said darkly and begun to walk away.

Teddie didn't follow him. He's glad for that. What he's about to do might actually kill himself… Izanagi was his target. That man seemed to know the most of what's going on in this blasted city. Yu knew it wouldn't be an easy conversation. There's gonna be blood bath. For whatever happens, he wanted to know the truth… and fix it.

Before Yu realized it, he already arrived at the designated building; Goldfins HQ. The gray haired contractor was pretty sure this building is where Izanagi hid himself among humans, if he really is inhuman.

Yu calmly strolled to the receptionist table and said, "Narukami Yu, I have an appointment with the President."

It got the female receptionist smiled wickedly and making the contact. Within several seconds, the receptionist stood up and offered Yu an escort. It worked. Then there's no doubt that Izanagi was here, otherwise the 'real' president would refuse an unplanned meeting with a mere employee. Yeah, Yu hasn't quit his job yet.

Yu shook his head while smirking. He politely refused the offer and made his way to the elevator. His smirk grew wider as there's one particular button that ominously glows. As he went out from the elevator he was greeted with the usual humanoid reptile looking shadows.

They came attacking him right away. Thanks to the demonic power he possessed, he managed to cut off those shadows with ease, calmly making his way to the end of the corridor. As he finally arrived, he calmly opened the velvet door. Waiting inside, Izanagi gave Yu applause and gestured him to sit across him. Yu accepted the gesture, playing along with the game.

"You knew I'm coming, didn't you?" Yu began.

"Yes, I did. And I also knew you're here not for wanting to get rid of me… but for answers." Izanagi grew a smile as he watched Yu intensely glared at him. "Ah, your silence says it all. Very well, since you have become like me, I will gladly answer everything."

"'Become like me'? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, that's a start. As you know it yourself, you are no longer an ordinary human; you could summon those deadly claws you use to rip off my shadows. Five of your senses are raised tenfold or so, and you felt invincible. My point is you made a Contract with a demon; a powerful demon."

Yu raised an eyebrow, "So you're…"

"Yes. I made a contract with a certain demon. You see, I was once-"

"Human." Yu cut in, only to receive a playful laugh of Izanagi.

"I wish. I was one of the beings who resides Velvet Room. You are acquaintance with Igor, am I right? I was once served under him as a guide to a wild card. I already abandoned my name, but since you are so bravely barged in here, I will tell you. I was called Theodore or Theo for short."

The infamous poker-face of Narukami Yu almost got shattered at that moment.

"Hahaha! That seems too much for you, huh? Well, enough about me. It's my turn to ask you, Narukami. Why did you desire power so much that you fell to the demons?"

Yu clenched his fist. The idea of him so desperate for power really irritates him. "I just want all of this to end fast." He said after carefully choosing which words to use.

Theodore or Izanagi rubbed is chin and leaned forward, "That is interesting. I thought your answer would be like 'I want to protect everyone I hold dear' or something similar."

Yu smiled wryly, "I'm a terrible friend."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Narukami. Well, then is there anything else?"

"Yeah, what's your goal, exactly? I want details."

"Oh, I think you'll catch a glimpse of my goal soon enough."

Yu got his eyes widened at what happened before him. The blue curtain that covered huge window behind Izanagi slid open, revealing the world around transformed into the likes of VW. Barren ground and every building looked like it was being nuked ten year ago; an apocalypse land of despair.

A half hour earlier, Oliver Ace pulled over his car to the commotion at the sidewalk. He was once worked as a cop before got recruited in Shadow Operative, things like that tends to get his attention. It was a nice decision to pull over. The commotion was caused by one bleach-haired kid. From the look of it, it seemed the kid was beating six other dudes into a pulp. The kid sent a resentful look at everyone who made an eye contact with him. With that attitude the bystander began to walk away one by one until the cops came.

"Hey!" Ace called, getting the cops attention, plus the gruffly looking kid. "Seto, help the kid."

"R-Right away, sir!"

Ace sipped his ice coffee as he watched Seto running toward the cops. The rookie showed the cops fake ID, Kirijo gave him those to 'ease up' the operation, under five minutes of negotiation the cops handing over the kid to Seto, much to Ace's amusement. The kid looked confused and seemed to ask Seto a bunch of question but, Seto himself didn't know anything. Ace got off from his car and waited for those two.

"Uh, thanks for saving my ass, dude." Said the gruffly kid, although Ace didn't understand what he's saying, he knew the kid was thanking him.

"Do you want to work kid? I could use someone like you." offered Ace. The kid raised an eyebrow and let out a loud 'huh?' as if he's deaf. Seto quickly translated.

"Um, sure. But I ain't a killer dude. I'm cool with beating up some douche though, I really need some punching bags."

"Okay its, only your intimidating need I look."

Both Seto and the kid snorted. "Dude, your Japanese sucks."

Ace pinched his nose-bridge, trying to bear the critics. He's trying at least.

"By the way, I'm in. The name is Tats-just call me Kanji."

"Let's go." Ace got inside the car, gesturing Kanji and Seto to do so.

"Oh, I understand that one. Let's go then. Oh yeah almost forgot, who the hell are you guys?! You're not another form of cop, right?"

"I will explain," Seto took the initiative.

Ace glad Seto took the initiative to explain, he didn't want to embarrass himself any further. One thing he noted, LEARN JAPANESE. It pains him to lower his pride and learn another language. But if this is what it takes to end this case, he will do anything.

"So, you want me to be the watchdog? Hell no! Let me punch someone!" Kanji protested. Ace was assigning him to watch the area around the school backyard, which is too soft for Kanji.

"Oliver-san said you are and I'm here too. You'll get to punch someone if something happens." Seto retorted.

"Tch, fine! What's boss doing inside anyway, sneaking into a high school."

"Think of it as…" Seto's jaw dropped. It came really fast, sweeping anything in its way.

"What the-" and Kanji felt a blackout.

Shibuya Rika woke up from her slumber. Her head felt heavy and she barely saw anything. After several seconds adjusting, she finally could see clearly. She saw the hospital room was heavily damaged. The dark-gray clouds were seen accompanied by a gigantic greenish moon coloring the sky.

"Is everyone alright?" Rika shouted, but getting no response whatsoever. Ignoring the dizziness in her head, she tried to stand up. She glanced around her surroundings and only found that she's alone in this room. Maybe the transformation separated her and everyone, but how?

Rika sighed. Nobody could answer that. Decided to get over with the thoughts, she moved forward, trying to get out into the open first. A sharp gasp escaped her lips and she's stumbled backward as she saw a big, stuffed-bear-like, waiting in the corridor. It smiled and waved its paw at her.

"Hello Rika-chan! I'm Teddie, nice to meet you!"

"I-It talked!" Rika snapped. She got this mixed urge between wanting to hug the cute stuffed animal or beat the hell out of it, assuming that cute this is a shadow.

"Don't worry Rika-chan. Sensei sent me here to protect you. I'm still wondering from what though, hehehe."

While trying to recollect her calm, Rika stood up. "How do you know my name?"

"Sensei told me. This is you right?" The stuffed animal handed her a photo.

It's a photo of her, Yu, and her father. This photo was taken right after Yu moved in to the family. The father insisted to have a photo group. Rika had a wild guess about this 'Sensei' the bear kept telling her about. "Who's 'Sensei'?" But she asked him anyway.

"Sensei, he's the one in the photo, the gentleman with gray hair."

As she thought, it is him, Yu. What's he planning? Did he know this was coming? "Oh stop it Rika!" she told herself and trying to focus on what's ahead. "So what do we do um, Teddie?" Teddie lost his smile and looked as confused as Rika. "You don't know?" The bear nodded and Rika sighed. "Okay then, let's find a way out first."

"Roger!"

The entire city of Shikage was turned into wasteland. People are gone and shadows exist in the open, feasting on each other to make them strong. Narukami Yu filled with rage. He wanted to punish Izanagi so badly for this but, he needed to stay cool. He still has hope-no; this city still has some hopes left; The Wild Card, Rika, and other Persona users. There's also Teddie… and him. "We're going to end this."

"Not so fast, Narukami, you know I've been keeping an eye on you ever since you arrived, don't' you?"

Yu glared at Izanagi from over his shoulder, "What's your point?"

"My point is, I drew you here, the tempting job, and the suicide case, remember? I set those up so you, who abandoned your believe in Personas and could only watched someone else struggling got desperate. I made your need of power. Just so you accept the demon's offer… So you could fight alongside me."

"Huh, what makes you so sure? I really want to rip you in half so badly right now."

"Because you want to know there's another Wild Card before you, your predecessor."

"I already know that."

"But you didn't know her story. How she sacrificed herself to save the world. Allow me to tell you this, and my goal, and then you can decide which side are you, how about that?"

The gray-haired contractor turn around and shot a glare at Izanagi, wondering if he could trust this sick bastard who erased every population in this city. Although Yu couldn't lie, he does curious about his predecessor. Why she must sacrificed her life to save the world and he didn't. Yu shut off his eyes for several seconds, making up his mind. "That's a tempting offer, but I have to-I will listen."

A wicked smirk.

Casters banter:

Izanagi: "Theodore, why are you keeping my name as yours? Your identity has been revealed."
Theodore: "Because I like to play God."
Izanagi: "I am God, but I played as Yu's hit-man..."
(Deep Silence)
Theodore: "...You have my condolences."