A/N: Yay! Ten chapters! Quick Q&A section:

Q – How the hell do you pronounce Bryan's last name?

A - Well folks you pronounce Bryan's last name like "near". It really has no significance, I just kinda made his last name the first thing that came to mind.

Q – How did Yukiko end up on the Midnight Channel if Bryan stopped the interview that showed her on TV?

A – He stopped the interview, not the airing. You can assume either it was broadcasting live (in this chronology it has to have been) or that they edited the tape (which, if you look back at the last chapter, he never actually took from the camera while he had it).

Q – What's up with the whole tune in his head thing? Is that the 'Song of Fate' from the first version?

A – Yes. All will be clear in time. Fun Fact: I'm actually working on getting that actually written and composed, but I can't promise anything but lyrics eventually. It's a waltz.

Q – Do you even proofread this stuff?

A – Um....sorry? I'll try harder?

On a side note, I'd like to thank Shatter Heart, a .net site that covers jRPGs, for supplying a game script to help serve as a guide to the events and dialogue in the early portions of the game. As for the theme song for this chapter, we have another song from The Posies, "I Guess You're Right". You'll notice this chapter is pretty similar to the original version of this fic. This is due to the fact that several of the events within the "Yukiko Arc" are going to happen relatively the same way, although fights will be different the social interaction segments are nearly unchanged. After the end of the "Yukiko Arc", the story will diverge from the first fic a bit more.

Chapter Ten: Rolling Onward

I tried to control my panic the best I could, after all the victims evidently didn't vanish right away. I still had to put my mind at ease though. While I didn't think I cared for her romantically as her father suspected, I had still grown fond of her for some reason. She was kind to the point of sacrificing her own happiness for others, smart, and that smile....I mean, she was a good person, even though she wouldn't let me know her very well I felt like I needed to help her, especially since someone might try to through her into a nightmare realm of her own construction. Maybe, if I could help her before she got thrown in she would be safe.

Luckily the light was on in her room, normally she would be doing managerial duties until one in the morning, maybe what the reporter said was untrue, no she had confirmed it. Putting confusion aside I knocked lightly on the door, "Taish...I mean Yukiko-san, are you okay? You seemed distressed earlier."

I breathed a sigh of relief when she replied, but only because she was there, her words brought little comfort, "I'm fine Neir-san...th...thank you for earlier." Her voice was cracking, whether from being shy or sad was uncertain, but either was bad.

"Umm...I heard that reporter say you were still the manager. Isn't your mother back? Is she okay?"

"Yes." She said strangely, with too much affirmation...it was a tone I'd never heard, not even in the many Japanese dramas I tended to enjoy in my free time, "She's fine, it's just with the announcer dying and all she felt it was best for the inn for the person that was managing then to step out of the public eye for a while."

I frowned hard, my voice heavy. She hadn't so much as invited me to open the door or told me to wait to do so until she was decent or something, she was keeping a wall between us. "If this sounds rude I'm don't mean it to be, but isn't that a bit cowardly? What about you?"

"It's for the sake of the inn. I'm okay. I've managed so far."

I rested my head on the door, a little heavier than I intended, I could almost here Yukiko jump on the other side, some how I pictured her sitting at a desk or something...having been crying, "Sorry. You know...about those guys earlier...about...anyway just promise you'll be careful. Don't work too hard, and make sure if you see any creeps like those you'll avoid them."

"Neir-san, you promised not to worry too much."

"Sorry for that to. Good night."

"Goodnight...." her tone sounded like she wanted to say something.

"Hm?"

"Nothing."

Annoyed I turned to see Miku-san. She had a smile on her face. I imagine my face was mildly comical at noticing she'd been watching, but I wasn't in the mood. I walked by and to the stairs that led to the floor I was on, "It's not like that."

"Hm." she almost laughed.

The nest morning, I chipped in a bit as I looked for Yukiko, after all it was nearly time for school. I found her up to her neck in guests at the front entry. She was warm and friendly to them, and seemed to take a measure of joy in meeting new people, though she was terribly shy and stuttered a bit when they actually replied to her. It was kind of cute, and would have been a great sight if she wasn't so tired and secretly scared out of her wits. I had to shake the thoughts out of my head and get my eye back on the smile...I mean ball.

I approached during a slow moment, "Yukiko, you should get changed, we'll be late for school."

"Go on without me. I'd forgotten about the big group reservation today so we'll be really swamped today. I might not even make it tomorrow."

I knew she'd argue with me staying, so I simply nodded and went to my room to change into my uniform, my work uniform that is, and call the school to tell them I'd be missing due to the rush. It wouldn't likely go over well with my hosts, but this was life and death. Not long after I started working, Yosuke called.

"Dude, where are you?"

"I had to stay and help at the inn. I'm keeping an eye on Yukiko after a little incident."

"I saw that interview yesterday, they were broadcasting live. I'm guessing that was you that caused the 'sudden signal loss'?"

I nodded habitually, "Yeah."

"By the way did you watch it last night?"

"Yes I did. They featured someone I know."

I was speaking carefully to avoid anyone overhearing and thankfully Yosuke could read between the lines, "Yukiko?"

"Yeah. I want you to talk to Chie. Show it to her you know? But don't go anywhere. See if you can ask Ted about it. Can you do that for me?"

Apparently Yosuke was alone, "Sure man. if she's really shown up on TV and someone tries the same thing again, then you might be able to catch the culprit behind all this. Even if it is that place that's killing the victims. If someone's using that world as a weapon, that's unforgivable. We can't rely on the police on this. Who'd believe that the murderer kills people by throwing them into the TV?"

"The first and last line of defense as the action movies say."

Yosuke laughed, "Glad to be on board. By the way, I tried sticking my hand in the TV last night, the way you did, and it actually worked."

"Probably because of your persona."

"Yeah, but you managed to go inside the TV and get your Persona first. Way before me, and I don't even glow. I feel like, as long as you're with me, the culprit doesn't stand a chance."

"Stop you're making me blush."

"Haha. Well I just wanted to let you know I try my best."

I felt a bond forming with Yosuke, and remembering the sensation from the announcer and Igor's words, I realized I had grown a little stronger.

After I hanged up I spent the rest of the day trying my best to work hard, keep an eye on Yukiko, and not get spotted by her. The call back came after school and I went into the bathroom to take it privately, Yosuke had checked with Teddie, "Nothing. Nobody's in there. Is Yukiko still there?"

I heard yet another ring at the front and tuned it out, "Yeah she's been working the front all day, tons of people. No one could possibly snatch her with all these people watching."

Yosuke sighed, "But Chie confirmed it. If anyone would know for sure if it was her would be Chie."

"So Yukiko appeared on the Midnight Channel without being in the TV world. The last two appeared before their bodies were found, so this only confirms what we know. They aren't on the screen. The them on that appears there has to be the other them, their shadow. Teddie said that there was only Shadows there right? Shadows come from humans. Yukiko's shadow was the one we saw, and that means the day after...I gotta go!"

I quickly ended the call and went to the lobby looking for Yukiko. She wasn't there and there was a line forming. A waitress was trying her best to handle the customers. When she saw me she asked, "Have you seen Yukiko?"

Trying my best to stay calm I shook my head, "Not since a few minuted ago before I went to the bathroom. Where did you last see her?"

"I don't know, I just came in and saw she wasn't here."

I looked everywhere, looked for a solid hour, ignoring calls from Yosuke and worrying my ass off. Finally, I retreated to a quiet corner, just in time for another call from Yosuke. I nearly yelled into the phone, "She's gone!"

Yosuke sighed with concern, "I thought so. Don't reject my calls like that man, you had me and Chie on pins and needles." I guess the reveal had gone well, "Let's think about this calmly. We know the victims are safe until the fog clears, and since it's not going to be raining enough for fog for a while, we don't have to worry too much. Teddie said my shadow only attacked me because we were investigating, so she's okay for now, probably just a bit scared."

I saw where he was going, "We should check on her on the Midnight Channel, rest up, and get some supplies."

"Right. I don't even have any weapon beside a big wrench." Yosuke started, but Chie must have suddenly grabbed the phone.

"She's in there right? I'm coming to." I heard Yosuke protesting.

"Put me on the speaker phone if you're not near a crowd." I asked and she complied, "Yosuke calm down, Chie has the right to come too, as much so as you did when you went in."

I could feel Chie's worried smile, "Thanks Bryan, I know where we can get some weapons too. Meet me in the Shopping District tomorrow."

"Right. I'm hanging up. But Chie..."

"Yeah?"

"You have to stay behind us and follow our instructions to the letter. You don't know what kind of dangers are in there, we do. The moment you break that promise we turn back and leave you behind in the real world. Understood?"

She agreed.

It was getting late and Yukiko's parents were worried out of their minds. Eventually her mother sent me and her dad to look around the town. We looked everywhere, even though I knew where she was. The worried expression on my face was totally genuine though, added to even more by the concern I would miss vital information on the Midnight Channel. Thankfully Mr. Amagi called it quits before that could happed.

When I finally did check the Midnight Channel, I saw Yukiko in a dress like a princess would wear to a royal ball. She was really bubbly and giddy, the opposite of the Yukiko that was shown to the world and an exaggerated form of what I saw deep within her everyday...just without the balance of the rest of her personality. There was no doubt I was looking at her shadow.

It held up a microphone up and smiled, pronouncing every world in the dialect of nobles, "Good evening! Tonight Princess Yukiko has a big surprise. I'm going to go score myself a hot stud! Welcome to 'Not a Dream, Not a Hoax!: Princess Yukiko's Search for Her Prince Charming!' And I came prepared!" She hid her crotch like it was a naughty secret, then pressed her arms together to show off her breasts, which were already being showed off by the dress, "I've got my lacy unmentionables on stacked from top to bottom!" I brushed off the naughty thoughts of Yukiko in lacy undies and kept watching, "I'm out to catch of whole harem and the best of the lot is going to be all mine!" That caught me off guard...her shadow...was a horn dog?, "Weeeell? Here I go!" She ran like a princess through a fairy tale into a grand yet somehow menacing castle.

I sighed, wishing I could just go to Junes right then and there, or at least figure out what TV she could be in. It was too fast and there were too many guests for her to have been kidnapped and taken away or thrown into the same TV that Mayumi-san had been. It made no sense. Wracking my brain, I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. No possible method occurred to me. I'd have to just wait and follow the plan.

The next day when Chie lead us into a metalworks I was glad I did. Weapons and armor were everywhere, it was like stepping back a thousand years into medieval times.

Yosuke was shocked that there was such a place in Inaba. "Wh-What kinda shop is this...?"

Chie shrugged, "A metalworks... I guess? They sell all sorts of metal crap... like katanas and stuff."

"Doesn't that seem weird to you!? Why would you know about a place like this anyway? Oh, I get it... You watched one too many kung-fu movies, and..."

Chie got defensive, "It's not that at all! I overheard some guys in our class talk about it. They said this place sells weapons and armor." She spotted a suit of plate armor. "Here, this one looks good. Oh, but it might be too heavy... " She continued to browse.

Meanwhile Yosuke looked to me, "Man, what should we get? Hey, mind picking out something for me, too? You're our main asset in battle right now, so I think you should choose whatever makes it easiest for you."

He handed me some money and I combined it with what I had left from the money I brought from home, "Alright, you seem the agile type, how about two daggers?"

"Sounds good."
I went over to a display and looked over the most affordable range of knives, checking from straightness, balance, amount of flexibility, and for the dreaded 'rat-tail' a means of making display swords that made them cheap, but prone to catastrophic structural failure if used for real. Hell even if they were just swung too hard. It didn't take me long to pick out a good pair for him and a shirt of chain mail for the both of us. His end of the money was gone, so I used my bit to buy a pair of archer's bracers that are used to keep the string from hurting the wielder and a pair of sap gloves, leather gloves with powdered granite in the knuckles often used in security forces. I would have gotten a sword too, but not only did I not have enough money, but I saw little point. I could do fine with what I had, could borrow from Junes, and call forth with Izanagi.

Chie was already checked out when we got up the the register, "I got my stuff all picked out! How about you guys?"

Something occurred to Yosuke, "You know... if we wear this stuff around town, we'll just get arrested. But it's not like we can waltz into Junes with a sack full of gear and expect no one to notice, either."

Chie declared the solution, "Why not conceal them under our uniforms? I don't think people would notice."

I laughed, "Good thing I didn't get that katana. How the hell would I have concealed that?"

Yosuke grinned and nodded, "Okay, let's try that. Alright, let's split up and get ready. The store'll be crowded until the afternoon sale ends, and if we walk around together, the cops might get suspicious."

Chie put on a determined face, "Then I'll see you guys at the Junes food court!"

I called after her, "Don't eat right before or you'll be sluggish!"

I was speaking from experience. Not only that, but if you worked too hard on a full stomach you'd vomit due to your body trying to devote all your energy to heal the overworked limbs and survive. I'd forgotten that on my last trip inside. And that hadn't been good on my digestive tract at all.

We went our separate ways, on my way out, a strange purple door appeared and I heard Igor's voice in my head, "So it finally begins... Now, if you'll give me a moment of your time..."

No one else in the area seemed to notice the sudden door, so I walked over and prepared to unlock it with the key card I'd received, but it opened by itself so I made sure no one was looking and stepped in the walked to the center of the room to see if anything had changed in the short time since my last visit. After a moment I spotted sheet music on the piano, but still no pianist, and the violin case was open but the instrument still unplayed.

Igor smiled, "Welcome back. The catastrophe has already taken human lives in its approach towards you, but you have little to fear. You already have the power to fight against it. Remember how I told you that your ability is strengthened by the connections between you and others? If you strengthen your bonds properly, their power will help you overcome any ordeal. Our role is to facilitate that."

"How?"

Igor frowned, "Unfortunately the path you walk and your fractured future leave us at a disadvantage in that regard."

"What do you mean disadvantage? You're missing some of your power? Because of me?"

"Indeed, for now we are of little use. But to explain, I must ask if you know the nature of the shadows you fight?"

"Yes, they come from humans. It reminds me of a psychological theory from Carl Jung. In psychological terms one's shadow is the suppressed weakness, shortcomings, and instinct. Aspects that weaken us, but when dealt with properly can help us. Much like the dark self that Yosuke confronted in the other world."

"Indeed. These shadows are fragments of the psyche, and they can become persona when used correctly, a mask used to face the dangers of the world. That is my role in this, to give birth to new Personas. By mixing together multiple Persona cards, I can transmute them into a new form... This, in other words, is the fusion of Personas. With your power to understand the will of others you may wield the wills of multiple Personas and use them accordingly."

"But I've only got on right now."

"Yes, but when you defeat an enemy have you not felt pain they represent or have wrought flow into you?"

Thinking about it, I nodded.

He continued, "For now, you are unfortunately denied the ability to forge those fragments and form a complete persona, but soon such a resources will be at your disposal, and you will have an ever growing gallery of masks to call upon."

Margaret motioned to the sheet music on the piano, to my surprised speaking for the first time that I could recall, "My role is simple, but for now just as impeded. I have the power to recall persona from the tune of fate. Any persona you ally with are part of this song and may return to you if you wish, even if you have combined them. Once you have mended more of your fate, please see me when you wish to use this power."

Again delight filled Igor and the long-nosed man chuckled, "Do you recall my words to you before? 'Your fate is uncertain, broken into pieces, and in fulfilling your pact you will reassemble it. If you fail, your future will remain destroyed.' I meant precisely what I said. Defeat in battle is not the only way your journey may come to an end. Please do not forget this."

Speaking of the future, several cards lying on the table had flipped since I was last there. That death card was coming faster than I was comfortable with, "How much time? You've said you can't tell, but how can I trust that?"

"Because you have no other option. I am here to help you Mr. Neir, and that help you desperately need. Until we meet again, I will be looking forward to our next chat." Igor grinned and I appeared outside the door as if I had never entered.

That afternoon I showed up in a thin long sleeved shirt that was basically a hoodie but thinner. It was only a bit chilly really and on most days I sweated a lot in the winter uniform most of the students were still wearing. I was just thankful the chain mail I was wearing beneath breathed well, or it would have been too much. One of the downsides of being from Mississippi is that you get used to really cold weather in the winter and really hot in the summer. My body was still adjusting to the overall warmer climate in Japan.

When I got to the food court, Yosuke was fidgeting, "Dang this armor is cold, chaffs like hell too."

I sighed, "Dude, you're supposed to where a thin shirt underneath it."

He looked at me cluelessly, "Y-yeah, that does make sense."

After Yosuke changed, we made our way to the TV and waited for the area to clear out. I Chie wearing glasses, I looked to Yosuke, annoyed, "You went inside?
He shrugged, "She insisted. Besides, I had to get her some glasses didn't I? We didn't go past the studio area though."

"That was dangerous, but I guess it's fine." It wasn't fine with me, but I couldn't hold it against him since I had been thinking about going in alone the night before.

Something occurred to Yosuke, "Oh, if you see Bryan here glowing like he's got radiation in his blood don't panic, that's normal for him."

"Glowing blood?" Chie was confused, but everything was made clear, in more ways than one, when we stepped through into the other world, "Whoa, you glow over here? Why?"

I shrugged, uncomfortable, "Don't know, but you can see fine here right?"

"Yeah, these are amazing. It's like the fog doesn't exist!"

I had abandoned my hoodie before I noticed Teddie over in a corner and walked over, "Hey Teddie, figured out anything about yourself?"

"Nope, I think and think and nothing comes out of my head."

"Well, keep trying little fuzzy dude." I gave the little guy a pat on the head, which he appreciated, Chie was about to ask Teddy about Yukiko but I continued, "Yukiko's in this world right? I can tell some thing's different somewhere, but I can't tell from where." I could feel the same feelings I felt coming from Yukiko every day, so familiar there was no mistaking it.

"Wow, sensei, you can do everything! I don't know her name, but yeah, someone was thrown in here, just a bit after I talked to Yosuke yesterday. She's over in that direction."

I knew that direction, I had just come from that way after getting changed, "Based on where the shopping area is here, that would be the direction of the inn! Let's go!"

Away we went, and one brisk hike later loomed the huge castle we had all seen on the Midnight Channel the night before. It was a bit intimidating, but seemed straight out of a fairy tale rather than historically accurate. The Shadow Yukiko had run in there in search of her prince. Princes usually save the common damsel from something and take them away to their castle. Yukiko was so daunted by her life at the inn, that she felt like Cinderella, needing saving from oppression and going to a ball to meet her prince. It hurt me deep inside, but at the time I couldn't tell the difference between her pain that I was sensing and my own.

Chie was stunned at the sight of the towering structure, "What the....? A castle!? Y'think this is the place they showed on the TV last time?"

Yosuke turned to Teddie, "You're positive that no one's behind a camera for that bizarre midnight program?"

"Program...? I don't know. Maybe people on your side can see stuff in this world. It might be that. And I told you before! There's only me and Shadows here! There's no 'camera' stuff going on. This world has been like this from the beginning."

Yosuke was puzzled, "'From the beginning'...? That's what we don't understand!"

"I dunno! Can you guys explain everything about your world? I've never seen this "program" thingy before. So I don't know."

Chie mulled on things,"Well... is that really what's happening? Are we really looking into this world and seeing her dark side? I mean, Yukiko saying stuff like 'score myself a hot stud'? That's not like her at all!"

It was Teddie's turn to be confused, "Score"? "Stud"...?
Yosuke ignored him. "This is kinda like what happened to me last time...but mine didn't do a TV show."

Chie seemed clueless so I filled her in, "Yosuke faced a dark copy of himself, one of those shadows we mentioned. We did see Yukiko's repressed side on the TV. It's the only way she could have been on it and not be here yet."

Teddy nodded, "There's a lot of stuff I still don't get. But I think that 'program' might happen because of the person who appears on it. Or something like that."

"So... Yukiko is producing that show herself?" Chie scratched her head, "Ugh, I don't get this at all! Hey... Do you feel Yukiko's presence from inside?"

I nodded and so did Teddie, "Yeah, I bet she's at the top, like all princesses waiting to be rescued."

Chie gritted her teeth, "Yukiko's here... I'm going on ahead!" Ignoring my earlier request, she ran inside alone."

Yosuke yelled after her, "Hey, wait! Don't go alone!" He started the pursuit, "Geez! We better follow her!"

We proceeded in and found ourselves in a long corridor, I could sense Chie ahead, but not where she was, Teddie could though, "She hasn't gone far, but her going in stirred up the shadows, you'll have to fight through them before they surround her."

"Got it!" Yosuke nodded, and with a confirming look to me we ran forward.

"Yosuke keep sharp, don't let them surround you."

"Right. I can do this." Yosuke said confidently.

Right around the corner were two of the same kind of shadow we had seen at Saki's area. I tried to call Izanagi's card to me...but I couldn't, "What the..."

Yosuke was already charging in, surprising the creatures from behind. He summoned forth his card as if it were second nature to him and tried to put it on like I did, but it shattered before he reached his face,"Huh?"

Jiraiya, who had been unleashed and was fighting at his side, swung wildly at the shadow without any sense of direction, leaving Yosuke wide open to an attack.

"Watch your back!" I yelled and intercepted with a swing of my bat. I immediately tried to call Izanagi again, but he still wouldn't come. What was going on?

Teddie called out, "Sensei, what's wrong? Call your persona!"

The other beast darted wildly and slammed hard into Yosuke, who managed to get a defense up, but was set rolling into a nearby wall from the force, Jiraiya cushioned the impact and helped Yosuke get to his feet again almost instantly. I was concerned, both for Yosuke and over my inability to tap my power. What was going on? It was pretty easy to guess something about my power made me use personas differently, but why couldn't I call Izanagi at all?

Thinking about it, I doubted myself. If I couldn't use it, how could I be sure I could save Yukiko? The thought of failing when it counted so much was infuriating. I thought of Yukiko's pain permeating the area, and how I'd failed to do anything about it. I blamed myself for it, but it wasn't the time to be emo about it. I took that frustration and gripped my bat hard. I took quick steps forward, much like I had done when fighting Yosuke's shadow, striking sharply and quickly, keeping the blows short but strong so I could avoid any counterattack.

Yosuke was finally getting used to his persona, and sent it in to block the rush of the first shadow, joining Jiraiya with a flurry of wild stabs and slashes as the persona punched relentlessly and finished with a last of wind from the rotor-like stars on his palms. My opponents tried to ensnare my weapon and pull it away but I expected the move and grabbed the top of the bat. With my stronger grip and traction on my side I yanked the creature into a kick to the jaw. I felt stronger than last time, not by a lot, but enough to make that kick push the lower teeth of the off-balance shadow straight through it's tongue. It started bleeding like mad, thrashing about like a fish out of water, so I pounced, dropping the still tangled bat in favor of beating it with my reinforced fists. The shadow dispersed and I felt a surge of power in my left hand. A piece of captured will.

I dusted myself off and retrieved my weapon as we caught our breath. We were still walking, but slower than we would have been moving if we weren't trying to conserve our energy, "Sorry, Yosuke, I had some trouble there, not sure what's going on."

"No big deal, I was fumbling there too. I wonder why I can't use my persona to change like you do?"

"Or why I can't use mine at all right now for that matter. Either way we've gotta move."

Yosuke nodded and we picked up the pace, having recovered ourselves after the last fight, Jiraiya's help, Yosuke's crude but effective skills, and my sheer will to not die, we systematically cut through six more shadows, some of the same and a new one that didn't seem to fit in. I paused at that one and mulled on it. It hadn't radiated Yukiko's pain or Yosuke's...so it was not hard to guess whose it was, "Come on let's hurry!" I shouted.

Not long after we came up to pair of large doors, Teddie, though winded from the running, declared, "She stopped in there, we made it to Chie."

We stormed in to see Chie standing there with a confused expression, and I knew what I had feared was true. Those different shadows were formed from Chie's internal pain, which was growing every second we were in the castle and the world was free to weigh on her. The slightest stimulus might turn her current turmoil into a shadow.

Yosuke called out to her, "Chie! Are you all right!? Chie...?"

Suddenly, Yukiko's voice filled the air, "She said that red looks good on me."

Yosuke looked around, "Yukiko-san!?"

"No, Yosuke, remember the store? If not Chie's imagination, that would still be just Yukiko's shadow ranting."

The voice continued, "I hated my name: Yukiko... "Snow"... Snow is cold and it melts quickly... It's transient, worthless...perfect for me. Apart from inheriting the inn, I'm worthless....nothing. Still... Chie told me that red looks good on me."
Chie gained a sad expression, "Yukiko..."

The voice wouldn't reply, "For so long, Chie has been the only one who gave my life meaning. She's bright and strong, and she can do anything. She has everything that I don't. Compared to Chie, I'm... I'm... Chie protects me... She looks after my worthless life... And I...I don't deserve any of it. Chie is so kind..." The voice faded away.

Chie was nearly in tears, "Yukiko, I-I..."

"Get ready, Yosuke." I warned, and he was confused until a twisted form of Chie's voice was heard from nearby.

"'Chie is so kind' huh? What a joke."

Chie looked in shock at her shadow, "Wh-Wha?"

Yosuke couldn't believe it, "Oh man is that?"

Teddy assumed an evasive stance, "It's just like Yosuke! She lost control over her suppressed self! Now it's a Shadow!"

The shadow laughed, "Are we talking about THAT Yukiko!? She says I'm protecting her!? She says she's worthless! HAHAHA! That's how it should be, right?"

"What're you saying?" Chie demanded.

"Yukiko's sooo good looking, sooo fair-skinned, soooo feminine. She's the one all the guys drool over. When Yukiko looks at me with such jealousy. Man, do I get a charge out of that. Yukiko knows the score. She can't do anything if I'm not around. I'm better than her! Much, much better!

Chie's emotions were going even more out of control, "No! I have never thought that!"

Yosuke was panicking a little, "Wh-What're we gonna do?"

"The only thing that could distract her thoughts from the chaos within her right now." I said. My power was understanding. I understood her pain, and a pain she hadn't even realized she had.

Yosuke didn't know either, "What's that?" I punched him lightly in the arm, but the sap gloves likely made it sting quite a bit, "OW!"

Hearing Yosuke cry out, Chie turned instantly, her mind jarred from her despair by the only thing that could have done it: thinking someone she cared about was in danger nearby. I ignored Yosuke's protests and walked up to Chie, looking her straight in the eyes.

She tried to guard her thoughts reflexively, she didn't know I could feel her pain, but it was natural to hide what you didn't want seen, "N-No, don't come near me! Don't look at me!"

"Chie, it's okay. We don't hate you for thinking that way. You've thought that and you know it. It's something to be ashamed of. But what as anyone ever defeated by running from it?"

Chie started crying. It was interesting she'd gone through anger, sad, and then the tears of her denial were combined with both, "No... No, this isn't me!"

"W-Wait, stupid! Don't say anything else like that!" Yosuke demanded, ignoring the light wound I'd given him.

The shadow laughed and attacked her mind again, "That's right. I'm the one who can't do anything alone. I can't win as a girl, let alone as a person! I'm pathetic. But Yukiko depends on me! That's why she's my friend. I'll never loosen my grip on her! She's too important to me!"

Chie was nearly beaten, "No...that's-"

I intercepted, hugging Chie firmly and putting myself between her and the shadow. This was a battle in her mind right now. If I helped her win it, it wouldn't turn physical, I looked in her eyes and ignored the shadow behind me. "Chie, look at me! I understand."

Her mind was reeling but in the right direction, "That is not how I think of her!"
"Stop it Chie! It's alright! I said I understand didn't I? This doesn't change who you are. This is the kind of darkness that is in all of us."

"No!"

The shadow smiled, "So, you're just gonna turn your back and deny me again? But things are different now. When the time comes, I'll be the one left standing. You won't mind, right? I'm still you!"

The word's impact was softer than they would have been, I could feel it, it was time to use those words for my own ends. "Are you going to let that side of you beat you? You claim you don't feel that way, but deep down that's a side of you that you want to forget. Why? Because despite how jealous you are of Yukiko, you still care about her. You know she doesn't deserve that. You hate that you feel that way when she thinks so highly of you. If you don't stand and face this part of you, it will destroy your friendship! Why did you come here if it wasn't to protect that very thing!"

Chie shoved me away, "I don't want to..."

The others were in awe, the shadow was actually backing off, it wasn't saying anything. I looked to Yosuke and he understood.

He grabbed her and looked her in the eyes like I did, but she cringed at the thought of him seeing her like that and looked away, "He's right. I went through the same thing. So I can understand. I mean...everyone has a side like this..."

I pressed in, "You don't hate Yukiko do you?"

"No..."

"You hate yourself."

"YES! I HATE THAT PART OF ME!" her scream soaked in tears.

Yosuke hugged her tight, "It's okay."

She had started to sink into his arms, trying to hide away in her mind and the embrace, so I pushed Yosuke away and looked at her forcefully, "If you're not lying. If you really care about Yukiko and came here to save her. How can that side of you be too strong for you to overcome? You came charging in here willing to risk your life to save her! That part of you just stepped up and tried to stop you! What are you gonna do about it!"

Chie stopped crying instantly and glared at the shadow, she walked over to it, "You're me. I can accept that I suck, but I really do care about Yukiko! Those bad feelings are something I have to deal with, but I can't do that if I keep lying about it."

"You know what you have to do." I stated simply.

The shadow nodded for Chie, they were unified again, Chie cemented it with the words, "I have to be honest with Yukiko. I have to tell her I'm not as strong as she thinks. She might...no, I know Yukiko. She won't hate me for it." The shadow morphed into floating warrior lady with a jumpsuit like in Kill Bill and an armored skirt, it wielded a twin-bladed sword. She had gained the mask that would empower her to face the world. She looked at it in awe as it formed a card and entered her, she turned to us, "I wasn't lying about her being my friend."

Yosuke smiled and laughed a little, "Like we didn't know that already." she suddenly collapsed, "Hey! Chie!"

My eyes rolled back a little and I fell to my knees, Teddy ran over, "Sensei! Are you alright!"

I stood on my own, "Yeah...just a bit tired. That was emotionally draining and I've been working a lot lately. I'm even more tired than when I fought the last one. You good Chie?"

"Yeah."

Yosuke wasn't convinced, but was more concerned for Chie, for reasons he hadn't realized, "You don't look okay at all. And I bet you can use the same power we have now."

Chie looked a bit confused, "You mean that persona thing you told me about?...that figure...Tomoe....?"

Yosuke nodded and looked at me, "That was intense. How..."

I shrugged, "Hey, I have a black belt in mental kung-fu. She didn't stand a chance."

"Okay, but was hitting me required for that?"

I laughed, "That was just for fun...just kidding." I staggered forward.

Yosuke looked at the two of us with concern, "We can't go on like this, we should head back or a break."

Chie protested, I was too tired to, "I-I never said I needed a break! I...can still keep going..."

Teddie supported me, "Don't overdo it you guys!"

Yosuke suddenly looked very mature, "It's not that we don't think you can. It's just, we have to save Yukiko-san, no matter what. Now that you have the power, you can fight with us. It'd be much better for us all if you had your strength back. Plus look at Bryan. Do you think he can fight at 100% after saving you? That's why we're saying we should go back and regroup."

"But Yukiko's still in here, isn't she? I-I have to tell her I'm not as strong as she thinks! It's because she was with me... Because we were always together, I was able to act that way. If we weren't, I'd..."

Teddy tried to empathize, "Well, you need to get your strength back! Then you can tell her! Yuki-chan's normal. The shadows don't attack normal people. They only attack when the fog lifts here. I'm positive she'll be fine."
Chie was still clueless, "Why...? I don't get it..."

Yosuke explained, "Remember? Teddie told us that the weather here is the opposite of our own world. When it fogs over in our world that's the day it lifts here, and that's when the Shadows attack their victims. So even if we leave for a while, Yukiko-san won't be in danger until the fog starts to cover Inaba. I'm sure of it. It's the same way for the announcer and Senpai... Don't you remember how it was foggy in town on the days they died?"

Chie frowned, "They were killed by their other selves...? I understand what you meant now."

Yosuke nodded, "The fog usually appears after it rains. But it's been sunny today. I don't think it's going to rain again anytime soon. Don't worry so much. We'll check the weather forecast first thing when we get back."
Chie still wasn't convinced, "But I-I can't turn back now! We've come so far! Yukiko's still here! She's all alone! She must be so scared!"
I understood, I knew it was true, but I couldn't go on either, "Then you tell me how much further we gotta go to reach Yukiko! You don't know what's up ahead. The enemies might be ridiculously strong. If we push ourselves too hard and get killed, who'll save Yukiko then? I refuse to fail her again! I couldn't protect her before. But we'll save her!"

That made Chie feel a little better, "Alright. I'm sorry about before... I shouldn't have rushed in like that by myself..."

I frowned, and gazed at my feet, which thanks to my exhaustion were closer than usual, "I know how you feel."
As we made our way back, Chie was frank with us, "We'll have to stop here today, but I'll be back! You guys better not come here without me, got it?"

Yosuke put on a grin and raised a fist in determination, "Yeah, let's all promise each other: Nobody goes in alone. It's way too dangerous. If we don't work together, we won't be able to solve this case or save Yukiko-san. Right?"

At that moment, I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye, something sinister scurrying around the corner, I didn't feel anything strange and Teddy hadn't detected it, so I dismissed it as a trick of the light.

Yosuke repeated himself, "Right, Bryan?"

I looked at my feet again, "You're right."
With the resolution to save Yukiko I suddenly felt a new but familiar power. A new bond? The day had been crazy, and it wasn't over yet. I still had to go home and look in the faces of Yukiko's parents.

Yosuke was about to ask me something but saw the depth of my fatigue and took on the role of leader for the moment, "Okay, let's get some rest for today so we're ready for tomorrow on. And don't forget to check the weather forecast. It gets foggy after a lot of rain, so keep an eye out. Also, let's make sure we gear up for next time."

"Yeah, next time." I thought heavily on what that would mean to me.

Next Chapter: Day of Despots, Night of Knights

This chapter was mostly straight out of the last fic with minor tweaks, but the next chapter will be very different. It will actually feature an out of party social link that I meant to include in the original but never did. What is that you ask? Well in the game the sports teams started recruiting the day after this, so you can guess what I'm doing. It won't feature either of the people from the Strength arcana in the game though (as I hate basketball and soccer :P ). Yep, new social link character! Also, what's wrong with Bryan's power? What new secrets about it lay in wait? As the Death arcana creeps closer, will the dreaded sticky shift key on my keyboard strike another cruel blow on my mind? Place you bets people! The person who guesses closest to which chapter I'll lose my mind during will get a preview of that surprise for the fans I mentioned a few chapters ago...and maybe a cookie.