So, about the Fanfics. I've come up with a schedule and I will focus on only four fanfics. The rest are done for, forget about them.
Look, I'll update each Tuesday and I will focus on only one fic per week. The order will be this (It's actually in order from longest to shortest, except the last two):

-Our Lives Will Change Forever
-The Jester of the Family
-Persona: The Shadow Hunters
-The True Eater of Gods

A Fanfic per week. I know it will take time for your favorite fics to come out, but I'm working to deliver them earlier. As soon as I finish a chapter I jump to the other, using my free time to finish them. For example, If I have a new chapter of p5 fanfic and at the same time I have p4 fanfic already done, I will update those two stories the same day and the next week I'll update the next on the list and so on. Of course, it will take a couple of weeks until I'll get used to the schedule, but it will work.

Originally this chapter was going to be a little longer, but due to work, I had to keep it short. Still, it builds on the events that will take place in the next chapter. I hope you like it. Tell me what you think about it.

Chapter 9: Unfolding Events

(Dark World)

The Red Moon was entering its First Quarter phase. The right side of the moon wasn't shinning as brighter as before and yet... the Shadows were getting aggressive. The lack of light was annoying to them, it was agitating them, enraging them and even scaring them. The mindless small Shadow roam the streets, trying to combat this anxiety and the only relief they find was when the Purple Shadow appears in front of them and command them, control them, giving them direction and an objective they so desperately need to ease their frustration for the lack of Red light from the moon. While the small Shadows roam the streets like a furious black sea, there was a figure watching from afar, inside a building, watching the Shadows below. This small figure gets out of view, hiding itself inside the building, away from the Shadow's sight... Little did this figure know that the Purple Shadow spot it, looking at the building with morbid curiosity. The deer-shaped Shadow leap from building to building until it goes through the window and spots the mysterious figure that was watching from said window... A boy. A small boy, hugging his superhero action figure, like if it will protect him from any danger. But the reality was that he wouldn't make it out alive. The Purple Shadow slowly walk to the boy and from below his mask, a huge mouth was opening, showing multiple rows of sharp teeths, scaring the boy to the point he start screaming for help. The Purple Shadow launch itself to kill the kid, but stopped midway, turning its head around to the window. There was nothing there, but the Shadow kept looking in that direction. That single distraction allows the kid to escape, he took this opportunity to run away from the monster. The Purple Shadow didn't stop watching to the broken window he came through, in fact, he wasn't watching at the window, he was looking beyond the window... A Yellow Shadow, with a shapeless body that could only be described as a slime trying it's best to maintain a human form, watch from five blocks away at the Purple Shadow. The Black mask of the Yellow Shadow was moving erratically around its body but oddly enough it was moving, it never broke eye contact from the Purple Shadow.

The two Coloured Shadows look at each other with ferocity. The presence of the Yellow Shadow only meant one thing... They were after the same prey and none of them wanted to share it...

(Mashiro's Apartment - Evening)

Mashiro arrive at home as quickly as possible so he can play his MMORPG. While he turns on his computer, he was thinking about the strange mistery surrounding that Shrine he just visit today. He couldn't help but to be pulled into that mistery, like if it was calling him, begging him to investigate, something he want to do but he quickly abandons that idea because his priority was his games, especially his online games and the Events he so desperately want to get done. As much as the mistery call his attention, he can't take action, he lacks the initiative and he'll rather be playing games, to him this is the best thing he can do with his time, the only thing he's good at... The only thing he'll ever be good at. Once inside the apartment, he realized that he was alone, his brother wasn't there and his mother was at work so he had time for himself with no one around to bother him. It was the first time in months he arrive at home and finds it completely empty. It brings a little smile to his face.

"Alright then. I have to finish this event before Friday, then I can focus on the weekend to catch up with my other games, I need to get that platinum trophy no matter what. Not only that, but I have that other visual novel that I didn't even start yet." Mashiro talks to himself about his upcoming schedule for the weekend. "After that, I have the other two games that are gathering dust and... the mobile game... Nah, I'll get rid of that one. It's not that good to begin with and it's more of a Pay to Win kind of game. It's no worth it if I lose against people that pay for the best gear and buy those goddamn experience boost. I hate does kind of people, is it that hard to play the game and build up your character from the ground up instead of wasting money?"

Mashiro sit down in front of his computer and prepare to enter the game, but his phone ringed, making him stop and look at it. The number of the Shrine pop up again in the screen and this time he was actually reconsidering if he should pick up the call or let it go. He decided to answer the call and like he was expecting, weird noise were coming from the other side, but this time he hear something else, a faint voice, deep inside all that noise. Mashiro keep hearing until, unexpectedly, the noise suddenly stop and he hear a faint voice.

"... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Run... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..." That was the only word that Mashiro hear from the call and then the call ended and the phone turn itself off. Mashiro didn't know what to do or how to react, it was beyond creepy, it was alarming. The screen of his phone start glitching and he start panicking. He stand up suddenly and his chair fall to the floor. He tries to restart the phone but it wasn't working, it didn't respond at all. He touches the screen desperately and the more he touch, the more it glitched.

"Th-The hell is going on?" He asks and he spot a weird figure on the screen of the phone. A shadowy figure with a mask staring right at him. "What the...?" Little did he know that the Shadow was right behind him. Mashiro's instincts kick in, he turns around but it was too late. The Shadow grabs him by the arm and he disappears. His phone fall to the floor, breaking the touchscreen in the process...

(Hideaki's house)

Kurumi and Hideaki part ways shortly after they get out of Kaede's house, according to meet again at the shop in half an hour. Before they go, Hideaki gives her his home address just in case he was getting late. As soon he gets back home, Hideaki didn't lose any time and change from his school uniform to more comfortable clothes. Of course, he had a lot of difficulties while doing so. In his hurry, he end up falling from the wheelchair and decided to change while laying in the floor. Putting on a white shirt and a grey jacket were the easy part, the problem was from the waist down. He was struggling to put on other pants. He stops for a moment and calm himself down, he was doing everything in a hurry and it showed. He doesn't usually struggle to put on pants, but he thought he could do it quicker. And of course, the door open and his grandfather look at him, laying on the floor. They look at each other and Hideaki chuckled. Trying to come up with a way to explain his hurry... Also, a way to explain to him why he won't be having dinner with him that day. In fact, he didn't even stop to think about what he was about to do. He agrees to help Kurumi but he never once think about his grandfather or what excuse he could deliver. His grandfather is a good man and he can clearly tell when someone is lying, most of the time.

"So, what are you doing, Hide?" He asks and walks to the teenager's bed. He sits down and looks at him, smiling. "Where are you going with such a hurry?"

"Grandpa, actually I'm..." Hideaki close his eyes and quickly come up with something. He wasn't expecting this answer, he just felt that it might be good enough of a lie... and technically, it wasn't really a lie. "I-I'm actually going to meet with a... girl..." As he said, he blushed. "Did I just say that? I don't think he would buy this lie so easily. Well, it's not really a lie, I'm going to meet with Kurumi and Kaede, so in a way... Well, it's not a date, sure, but I hope I sounded very convincing to him"

"A girl you said?" He asks in disbelief and laughs with too much happiness. "I'm happy to see that a wheelchair won't stop you from getting a date"

"I-I-It's not really a date. She's more like a friend. That's all"

"Oh, I see, a "friend"" He winked at Hideaki, which make him roll his eyes. "Listen, Hide... Since you arrive here, we haven't talked that much, haven't we?"

"I know, it's just... I'm trying to get used to living here and I know how bad your shop is doing lately, I don't really want to distract you from your work. I bet you have a lot of things to worry about, I don't want to get too much in your way"

"You'll never get in the way of my work. Besides, the business's been a little... problematic lately and that's more for the... incidents. You know, people committing suicide, others disappearing and turning up dead days later. People are not really buying and my shop is not the only one affected... A lot of owners had it difficult lately. The worse case I can come up with, is the owner of the Antique Shop, that little girl has been struggling with the bills for a while. I'm surprised she managed to keep that shop. I knew her grandfather, a good man, a little crazy... maybe a little too much for my taste, but he knew how to treat people" Hideaki knew he was talking about Kaede, what he didn't know was that he and Kaede knew each other. "Anyway, don't worry about me. You should worry about your own well being and how you feel. Remember, if something happens or if you feel like if there are things that you need to talk about... I'm always here for you. You can tell me about it"

Hideaki looks at his grandfather as he said that. He felt bad for keeping a secret from him, especially such a weird and mindblowing secret like Personas, Shadow and the Dark World. But he had to keep it a secret from him, no matter what. Yet, a part of him really wants to tell him everything. Hideaki needs to keep quiet, but that didn't mean he could twist the truth a little bit to ease his worries. Hideaki sit down and slowly put his pant. His grandfather helps him to get in the wheelchair and hug him. Hideaki hugs him back. He felt a strong bond between them, but it was different from what he felt with Kurumi... It felt complete. Hideaki looks up for a moment and saw a card on top of him for a brief moment. A card that shines with intensity... The Hierophant.

"... Thanks, Grandpa" Hideaki let go of him and his grandfather pat him in the shoulder.

"No, problem, Hide... So... about this girl... Is she cute?"

"Ummm, I wouldn't call her "cute". She's more like... How should I say it...?" Hideaki thought about it a little an come up with a good word to describe Kurumi. "Strong... She's strong. Yeah, that's about it"

"Strong, huh? I knew a few of them before. They are hard to come by, really tough, but if you gain her respect, then she will never leave your side. Independently if you two are dating or if you are just friends. They are really loyal"

"Loyal... I can really see her as that kind of person... But maybe you are right"

"Of course I am" As he said that, the doorbell ringed throughout the house. "I'll get that" He stand up and walk to the door. Hideaki follow him to the door and to his surprise, as soon the door open, he saw Kurumi on the door. She was wearing a black leather jacket, red scarf, blue jeans and black boots. She was dressing as if she was part of a biker gang.

"Ku-Kurumi?!" Hideaki shouts in surprise and much to Kurumi's annoyance.

"You are too loud," She said and then look at Hideaki's grandfather. She bows to him and gives him her most convincing smile. "Good evening. I'm Kurumi Shinozaki. I'm Hideaki's classmate and I'm here to pick him up. I invite him to have dinner and I'll show him around for a bit. I promise he will come back home, save and sound"

"She's saying that like if something awful will happen to me specifically!" Hideaki thought. "Well, we are going to fight monsters, sure, but don't say something like this!"

"Good evening, Shinozaki-san. My name is Yoshirou Kiyohara, it's nice to meet you..." Yoshirou looks at Kurumi from head to toe, a little surprised by her outfit. Needless to say, he recognized her face. "Oh... Aren't you that girl that was arrested for hitting a classmate with a baseball bat?" He asks, not with precaution, but with curiosity.

"I'm not... proud about that. But I'm over it" She was lying and Hideaki knew it. To his surprise, Kurumi was a really good liar, she really looks convincing. "Hideaki's a great boy and I feel like I should show him around. So, I'm sorry if I'm actually dragging him around without your consent and I hope that my past actions don't give you a bad impression about me" Kurumi bow again.

"Not at all. I can see that you are actually a really nice girl, despite what people say about you. Still, I would've loved if he tell me about this date earlier"

"It's not a date!" This time both Kurumi and Hideaki shout.

"Hehehe, of course it isn't" He then turn and wink at Hideaki.

"A-A-Anyway, Hideaki, let's go. We are going to be late-" Kurumi stop suddenly and start sniffing, much to Hideaki's confusion. "Is that... chocolate?" As she ask, Hideaki starts sniffing too and notice the smell of chocolate in the air.

"Oh yeah, I'm making a chocolate cake for dessert. My wife used to cook it too so it brings me back memories when I'm making one. Would you want a slice? It looks like you are really into sweets" Kurumi suddenly smile at the offer and take a few steps inside.

"... Maybe I can stay for five minute-" "No! We should go now" Hideaki move to the door and push Kurumi further away from the entrance. "Goodbye, Grandpa. I'll come back soon. Come on, Kurumi, it's going to be late!"

"Ye-Yeah, take care"

"Ca-Can you save a slice of cake for me? I'm coming back for it!" Kurumi said and she leaves with Hideaki.

"... She must really like Chocolate..." Yoshirou said and look at the two disappearing in the distance.

(Sundaikofu High School)

There was almost no teacher remaining at the school building, only a few of them stay behind to talk about the weird happening yesterday involving the disappearing of a student and the "incident" involving the man committing suicide in front of the school. Satoshi Ikari was almost falling asleep while the remaining teachers speak to each other in the Faculty Office. He wasn't in the mood to be part of the conversation and at this point, he didn't care. The girl appeared and was out of danger, that's what matters to him. Satoshi massages his forehead, trying to remain awake. The conversation among the teachers was like he expects it to be. They mostly talk about what happen and don't really talk about what to do about it. They said "Let the police handle it", to which Satochi sigh furiously.

"They state the obvious," He thought. "Sure, police will handle all this but what about our reputation? We should calm the students, guide them and advise them... Not just teach them and hope they come out prepared for the world outside... I'll rather avoid an argument with them because God knows that if I say something they'll start giving me shit. At least I know I'm doing a better job, but I can't say I'm better than them as a person. I mean, I arrive with a huge hangover today, luckily I manage to not throw up or fall unconscious... like before"

Satoshi looks down, at the empty cup in his hand. He had drink all the coffee without even realizing it. He stands up and leave the cup on top of the table and took this opportunity to leave. In fact, the other teachers didn't pay any attention to him as he walks away from the office, he wasn't forced to stay, the only reason he stays was for the coffee. As Satoshi walk away from the office and walk to the main building, he looks at his phone, looking at the messages and a couple of calls he didn't answer. The messages were from his brother, who was living in Tokyo, and the calls were from an old friend he'll rather ignore for as long as he could. Satoshi didn't lose any time to answer the messages and as he was preparing to leave for the day, someone calls his name from behind.

"Ikari-sensei!" He turns around and saw a First-year female student running toward him, without too much hurry. The girl had short brown hair, her uniform was like everyone else but she stood out because of the long red scarf she had around her neck. She stopped in front of Satoshi and sigh in relief. "Good thing I find you!"

"Oh! Rei, what is it?" He asks and Rei takes out a notebook from her backpack and hang it over.

"I didn't want you to leave without giving it a look" She said and Satoshi picks the notebook. He didn't open it, instead, he looks at the girl.

"... Kaneko" Instead of calling her by her name, like before, he addressed her by her surname. A surname he personally hates... "I don't really have time to-"

"Please, Sensei! I work so hard on it and I really want your opinion! If it's good, then I can keep writing it!" She looked a little desperate. Satoshi sigh.

"Fine, but I'll take it with me and I'll give you my opinion tomorrow. Now I really want to go back home and... Wait... Don't tell me you wait for me just for this. It's late! You shouldn't be here"

"What? No! I was in the literature club, it was my turn to clean so I stay behind" She explained.

"I-I see. That's good, I guess... Anyway, I'll give it a read once I go back home. You should head home for today and I really mean it. You mother must be really worried and if by any chance something does happen to you, she'll hit me with her car"

"S-Sure, I'll be going uncl- I mean, Sensei!" She corrects herself and Satoshi just shake his head.

"It's fine, Rei. Almost everyone knows at this point. Just get used to calling me Sensei here. I can see you are still struggling with that. I'll be going now, say hello to your mom on my part... Give the silent treatment to your father for me" Satoshi turn around and walk away, but Rei call him.

"S-Sure, but that would be difficult" She chuckled nervously. "Good night, uncle" She whispers to herself as she watch Satoshi walking away...

(Antique Shop)

Kaede was ready to go, she stands next to a table in the middle of her shop, looking at a map of Kofu and reviewing the plan she had. She circles the areas where people vanish and how many did disappear: Yuki Park (two people), Sakaori Station (One person), Keiyukai Joto Hospital (One person) and Yamanashi Eiwa College (Two people). A total of six people that disappear at the same time and oddly enough, these four locations while they are not as far away from each other (except for the University and the Sakaori Station), it looked like they follow a pattern, like if the Shadows pick a certain route starting in Yuki Park and ending in Yamanashi Eiwa University. Kaede believes that these people could still be alive and in the worst case scenario they could be dead and the mission was futile, not to mention they would be putting themselves in danger for nothing. Still, Kaede won't sit down and do nothing, knowing that the Shadows kidnap all these people, she will try to save them, even if it was an obvious trap. While Kaede was watching the map, Hideaki and Kurumi come in. As they enter, Kaede point at the map and they walk to her without saying a word, knowing that she was going to explain the plan.

"I hope you two are prepared because this is going to be complicated," She said and point at the area where people disappear. "There are four locations and six people that we need to rescue. I believe the Shadows kidnap these people according to their proximity within these locations. Of course, they pick them most likely randomly"

"So they shouldn't be too far from each other then," Said Hideaki. "What we should be careful of is if its all a trap, like before"

"It most likely is at this point" Said Kaede. "At first I wanted to say that we should go in two groups to cover more ground, but considering what happened yesterday, it's better to stick together. We don't know how they plan on attacking us"

"Not to mention they will kick your ass," Said Kurumi with a smirk. "Remember when I had to jump to save you"

"That's different. I had it under control... almost" Kaede ignore Kurumi's stare. "Anyway, the plan it's really simple actually. We first go to the nearest location we have, Yuki Park that is passing the Arakawa River. Once we inspect the area and make sure to find the disappeared person, we bring them back and we go back for the others. We repeat the process and never, I said NEVER, split the group. The formation will be like this..." Kaede grabs a paper, write their names, each of them inside a little circle. Kurumi was first, Hideaki second and Kaede third. "Kurumi will be on the front, her Persona will allow us to open a path if we found ourselves surrounded, not to mention that she is really strong. Hideaki is in the middle, this way he will be protected from any attack and he will have the freedom to use his Persona to attack from any angle. As for me, I'll be behind the group, protecting you and stopping any ambush from the enemy. It's simple, flawed maybe but nevertheless, it's our best option. I trust that you two don't do anything reckless"

"Heh, what are we? Moron? We won't do anything stupid if in return you don't go a play the hero" Kurumi crossed her arms.

"Fair enough. Now that you two are here and I explain the plan, I'll give you your weapons"

"Oh! Do you have a grenade launcher?" Kurumi asks with an obviously sarcastic tone and Kaede was about to complain about her tone, but then decided to respond with sarcasm too, only to throw her off a little bit.

"Sure, I have it between my doomsday device and the antitank fusil I love so much," She said and both girls stare at each other. "Are you enjoying this, don't you?"

"I have to admit that I really like the face you make when I'm being sarcastic. You look like you are about to lose it" Kurumi chuckled. Kaede sigh and look at Hideaki.

"I'll ignore her for a moment. For you, I have something useful" Kaede took out a briefcase from behind the table, open it and it shows a 9mm pistol. "Since your movements are limited, I decided to give you a gun, a small one. It'll allow you to defend yourself with freedom. At first, I thought about giving you a machete or a knife for close combat, but I'll advise you to avoid combat as much as you can. Your Persona can do the rest as long you stay hidden" Hideaki pick up the pistol and the weight throw him off. Then again, he never picks up a gun. "Just for the record, it has no bullet. I'll give you the clip once we are on the other world. For now, try aiming"

"Aiming..." He whispers. Hideaki raises the pistol and aim at Kaede. He was nervous to point a gun at her, loaded or not. "It feels weird to point a gun, but I think I can do it"

"Keep in mind that at the moment of pulling the trigger, the pistol will move so you have to hold it tightly and never let go of it if you do the pistol will fly from your hands and hit you in the face. It's not like in the movies that you shoot a weapon and there's no recoil" Kaede explains

"Sure, I'll be careful"

"You better, if you are not, then you are dead"

"Y-Yeah, I'll keep that in mind" Hideaki start shaking a little bit. Kaede then looks at Kurumi and give her another briefcase.

"Go nuts with it" That's all she had to say and walk to the back of the store to search for something else. Kurumi look at the briefcase, open it and smile when she saw a two-barrel shotgun. She pick it up and smirk.

"Hey, Hideaki... Mine's bigger" She mocks him and Hideaki reply.

"Size doesn't make a difference"

"If you want to believe that, it's fine. I bet I can blow up a Shadow's head off with this thing" She said and start point the shotgun around the shop to test her aim.

"... I think I'll get as far away as possible from you when you have a weapon in your hands" Kaede come back very quickly with two masks in her hands, one was purple and had the number 14 in roman numbers. the other was dark blue and had the number 16 in roman numbers. She places them on top of the table. "Are those?"

"Shadow masks, yes. I manage to get them for you. These will protect you from the normal Shadows, but not from the Coloured Shadows. Still, it's better to have them on, that way the Shadow won't get to your heads" Kaede gives them the masks. Hideaki grabs the purple one and Kurumi picks the blue mask. Hideaki stare at the mask in his hands, the mask that belonged to a Shadow. He then looks up at the mask hanging in the wall, the mask he was curious about the first time he enters the shop. They looked the same, he then realized it also belonged to a Shadow.

"So, that mask on the wall, it's also a Shadow's mask?" He asks and Kaede look at it.

"Yes, it is" She said, with pain in her voice.

"Why are you keeping it there? Are you selling it?" Kurumi asks.

"It's not for sale and it's definitely not for use. It will stay there, don't make any more questions about it" She quickly ended the subject. "Now that we are ready, let get going" Kaede walk to the door, Kurumi follows her and Hideaki stay behind, looking at the mask for a moment before following them outside to go to the other world.

(Dark World)

Mashiro falls on his back and quickly stand up. He was clearly in his room, but it was rotten, decaying and dark. He look around, confused and scared. He run to the window and looks outside, only to meet the streets lighted in red by the moon above. Mashiro didn't say a thing, he was trying to process what was going on and think rationally. Suddenly he hear a noise behind him, he quickly turns around and saw a formless Shadow staring at him from the living room. The door of his room was wide open so the Shadow had a perfect view of him. Mashiro give up to the fear and did the first thing that comes up to his head. He run to the door and close it before the Shadow could reach him. The Shadow start banging the door furiously and it will clearly not stop that Shadow, it will break.

"Wh-What the fuck is that!?" He finally shout. "Shit, shit, shit, shit. Where am I?" He look around his room as the knocks from the Shadow become more violent. "If this has to do with that call, then I got into something really messed up!" Mashiro runs to his desk, trying to find something to defend himself, but there was nothing useful, until he looks at the computer. He quickly throws the monitor away, as well as the keyboard, disconect everything from the desktop computer and pick it up. The computer was heavier than he remembers it to be but that was good for him and what he was about to do with it. The Shadow break the door and jump right at Mashiro. He quickly raise the computer over his head and hit the Shadow with the computer so hard that break its mask. Mashiro let go of the computer and fall right on top of the Shadow that was now nothing more than a puddle of black goo.

"You damn monster! Did you like that?" Mashiro was breathing heavily and walk out of his room. "Holy shit. What was that?" He then, without realizing start yelling. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?"