Chapter 11: Sins and Sinners

4/29/13
A week had passed since the encounter in the TV and under orders from Yosuke, Jack was waiting for his injuries to heal. Though Jack was more than sure he could have been healed by his friends, he decided not to say anything as he was sure they needed an excuse to not go back to the TV. He didn't mind though as it let him take a chance to relax and learn a bit of his home and school. Well I feel a little better, Jack thought as he flexed his muscles, still feeling slightly sore. Despite all the running and random pains from the Halberies bites onto his Persona, he felt fine. Staring at the full size mirror his grandparents left in his guestroom he could see faint bite marks and a few scratches on his body. Looks like the damage persona get does transfer to the user somewhat, not something I'd want to make a habit of. Jack decided it was better to not waste any more time and headed straight for Yasogami. Walking by the flood gates he heard the skidding noise of a bike trying to brake. Jack turned around just to see Yosuke barely make the stop in front of him. Jack could have sworn he felt a drop of sweat fall from this uncomfortable distance that the bike stopped at.

"A little close, isn't it?" Jack joked half-heartedly.

"Uh...My bad. Anyways, that's not important. Look, I just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I didn't expect some giant monster to come at us."

"Oh, it's ok man. None of us got hurt right?"

"Well yeah bu-"

"Yosuke, it's fine," Jack smiled, "We all made it back safe, even if we had no clue about what was coming after us. The battle training was fine too. I didn't get anything that won't heal by tomorrow. Just be glad we all made it back."
Yosuke couldn't help but laugh a little. "After the scolding I got from Chie I kinda assumed you might have been pissed off yourself. You're odd, but a pretty cool guy."

"Same to you Yosuke," retorted Jack as they both shared a laugh. He felt like Yosuke could be a good friend. Suddenly, the similar feeling from before occurred to him. Just as the times with the team and Daisuke. Thou art I… And I am thou… Thou hast established a new bond… It brings thee closer to the truth… Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Tower Arcana... The world soon returned to normal and Jack let out a small smile. Yosuke caught on to his smile.

"Hey, are you having those strange feelings like Yu?"

"Huh?" Jack's guard dropped quickly as he was taken aback by Yosuke's observation, "You mean this isn't new? That you've seen my 'Reactions'?"

"Pretty much," Yosuke replied, "So has Naoto. It seemed to happen during any sort of major event. He looked like he zoned out and then a small smile, like yourself."

"I zone out?"

"Compared to Yu, a little more obvious." Jack couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed under this revelation and decided to walk off.

"H-hey wait up!" Yosuke called out to him as they both headed towards Yasogami. Jack suddenlyfound himself in class somehow writing down notes to Ms. Toriumi's lecture. Did I really just zone out? He thought as he looked down at his paper. Maybe I took more of a beating than I thought...He realized there was no way he could concentrate so he decided let himself drift away. Before long, he awoke to the gentle shaking of his shoulders. He looked up a little daze and saw a girl in red looking back at him with concern. His eyes finally came into focus and saw it was Yukiko who woke him.

"Uh...Hey."

"Are you alright, Jack?"

"Y-yeah...Just a little tired."

"Maybe you should head to the Nurse's Office?"

"Yeah...I will. Before you ask, I can manage." Jack quickly packed his things together and headed off to the Nurse's Office. The hallways bristled with life and activity. Jack gave a few waves at fellow students but avoided any small talk as he walked down to the first floor. He saw the sign to the office and he walked in. There he saw a few students tending to Kanji Tatsumi, holding an icepack on his head,who seemed to be more dazed than him. Next to him was another student, one he couldn't recognize but was repeatedly apologizing to him.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She pleaded.

"Hey, it's alright, I didn't mean to scare you. At least you got your book, right?" Replied Kanji as he pressed the icepack to his head. "That was a killer throw, didn't expect that kind of accuracy." She couldn't help but blush harder and give another apology before running off. Jack walked up to Kanji with an obvious slew of questions.

"What even happened?"

"She forgot her textbook in class so I decided to give to her. I ran after her but I think I ended up scaring her."

"Ouch..."

"Nah, it's cool. I shouldn't have chased her anyways. She'll probably apologize even more at the knitting club."

"Knitting club?"

"Yeah, I'm president of this school's knitting club. Got a problem with that?"

"Actually no, that's pretty neat. You must be really precise if you do knitting." Jack gave a friendly smile. Kanji couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed from Jack's word. He had gotten used to the questioning of him being president of something most folks considered "unmanly" that Jacks kind words gave him a surprise.

"If you two are done speaking, then Mr. Tatsumi can go," one of the nurse-maids spoke up then facing Jack, "And what's wrong with you?"

"Oh well I kinda felt dazed most of the day. Head hurts a bit too." Jack admitted as Kanji bowed and walked out.

"It's probably a migraine. Do your eyes hurt in light at times?"

"Yeah, they do."

"Yep, a migraine. Here take this medicine and head home since school is over." With a quick nod Jack took the medication and headed out of the room. To his surprise Kanji was waiting for him.

"So what did you have to go the nurse's office for?"

"I had a migraine, apparently." Kanji gave a small laugh and Jack couldn't help but join.I guess he isn't such a bad guy, Jack thought as he chuckled along with the taller man.

"Hey, you should come check the knitting club sometime then if you think it's neat." Jack thoughtabout it for a moment before speaking up.

"Sure, next time I can, I will."

"Hey! Hey," Kanji had a big smile on his face,"Maybe next time we can convince Yosuke to join the knitting club. He might as well do something creative with his hands."
Before he could react the world came to halt once again.Thou art I… And I am thou… Thou hast established a new bond… It brings thee closer to the truth… Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personasof the Magician Arcana...Jack took a small breath as time returned to the world. He took a look at a nearby wall clock and noticed that soccer practice was soon.

"Well, I gotta get going, I have practice today."

"Alright then. Talk to you later." Kanji nodded as he walked off. Jack himself followed suit as he headed to the gym room.

"Sorry, but we don't need anyone who may harm our company's reputation. So please go," said an employer as he had kicked an upset HiroTakiyama out a small time department store. Ever since his run in with Jack his life become a downward spiral of disappointment and disgrace. He was a passionate news reporter, probably too passionate as he would try his best to make his stories much grander and more interesting to look better. He used to live in the city and being transferred to a small town like Inaba bored him to tears. An informant of his had mentioned Jack's sudden arrival and his connection to Keisuke Motou. He was hoping to turn the family link into a story and let it leak out for a while to improve his credit as a reporter. He didn't expect Jack to personally open his mouth against him. It cost him his job, from the exposed scandal he attempted to bring to Yasogami and to Jack's sudden appearance. From the TV's exposure,Hiro earned a bad reputation throughout the workforce and many employers became wary of him. He attempted to get a new job multiple times however all pointed towards his public humiliation and the bad reputation he had acquired.

"We can't risk our reputation."

"We don't allow a man with no morals here."

"Aren't you that reporter who got made a fool of?"
He hated it, he couldn't get a job just because some random teenager. He couldn't stand it, he hated the people around him,he hated the fact he was forced to be there at Inabaand most of all he hated the trouble Jack had caused him. He wasn't that great at his spending habits and he knew he wouldn't last much longer; he need a job and soon.Where can I go? The brat ruined me in public, duringlive broad cast for fucks sakes! What am I gonna do now?He stormed off to his car and sat there went into the glove compartment a pull out a flask of alcohol, staring at it for a brief moment before unscrewing the top and chugging down some of the didn't like the taste; it reminded him of his old self. He was brilliant, quick witted and, what he enjoyed most, powerful when he was in college. However, if all fell, he became entranced by the liquor he started developing an addiction to. He became too much of a dreamer andlost the ability to be above the influence. He felt his own physical and mental destruction which led to dropping college and landing his reporter job on a felt pathetic; all the chances in the world were to his favor but he dropped it all over a stupid mistake. One stupid addiction and now some random teenager ruined everything. THEY'RE IDIOTS! ALL OF THEM! He thought to himself as he started his car and took another drink from the -intoxicated, he drove off onto the streets of Inaba. Dark thoughts grew stronger inside him as he tried to find his way home; nothing wanted to make sense, nor did he want any of it his dull state he found himself nearing the Northern Shopping District of Inaba and something caught his eye in mere the corner of his eye, he caught two students fromYasogami High School. One had brown hair and was still in his navy blue P.E. uniform which was no concern to other, however, gave him a bit of concern. The other was a young man with black messy hair and carried an aloof look on his stared as the two walk acrossed the street and his mind started thinking some horrible thoughts. There's nothing left, nothing. First my hopes, then my career... There's nothing, nothing to ever lose not now...He felt truly horrified of his dark intentions but felt an unearthly whisper in his ear.

"Give in to you hearts desires, nothing is sweeter than the suffering of your tormentor. Claim his life... Claim his life and set madness free..."
He felt himself giving into the mind numbing temptations and pressed down on the gas pedal towards the two young men. At his distance he knew there was hope that he'd get his own justice against the teen.

5 minutes earlier

"You really got the potential you know? Practice has really helped." Daisuke gave a short laugh before dining once again into his ramen bowl, wanting to finish it up.

"Really? I haven't played since I was a kid. I honestly think I'm pretty bad." Jack gave a short sigh.

"Come on," Daisuke gave himself a moment to swallow his food, "You shouldn't see yourself so poorly. Hell, you got a better chance on the team then most of the slackers."

"Well you're the soccer enthusiast, your drive for soccer is intense."

"The what?"

"Uh...nevermind." Jack gave a small laugh as Daisuke pestered him to give them the exact meaning for an enthusiast. The two finished their meal of ramen and thanked the cook as they left. They didn't have much idle talk but Daisuke gave him some information regarding different jobs teens could apply for and how the police force had started a training program for any high schoolers interested. Jack was more than grateful to have made a friend with him. Along with the Investigation Team, Daisuke aided in letting Jack learn bits and pieces of Inabasince he never devoted much time in exploration outside of school and home. He figured he should ask his grandparents a little more about the city but he rarely saw them or much of his temporary home as well. It's been a little over a week, I need to know my locals better... Jack thought to himself as the two started walking across the street. Jack suddenly felt himself going light-headed and felt something truly foul pierce his soul. He stumbled a bit as Daisuke took notice to Jack's sudden stop.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Yeah... yeah, I'm alright."

"Sheesh, you had me worried there, let's cross the street, we're kinda holding a car back." Jack nodded and the two started to move forward. Daisuke immediately felt something was wrong as the car, a 2008 Lincoln started to rev up and drive right towards Jack who had made ways ahead of him. Without a second thought Daisuke raceed towards Jack and shoved him out of the way of the incoming car. He thought for a moment how he could have protected himself or maybe even alerted Jack before attempting this suicide-rescue, but in the end it didn't matter to Daisuke. He helped a friend where it mattered. He knew what was going to happen next as the car reared right into him, sending him flying back and hitting the ground with a hard thud. For a moment, there was searing pain, then...nothing. He could still the world around him he could hear the screams of women and the opening of a door but he couldn't move. Jack sat up in shock from what happened around him. Staring at the car, he saw an obviously intoxicated Hiro get out which fueled Jack with new found anger, but a women's scream broke him immediately out of it. He turned and faced a splatter of blood and a damaged man who was Daisuke. Jack could see Daisuke's chest expanding so he know he was still alive. He jumped back up immediately and ran towards his friend.

"Don't just stare! Call the ambulance!" Jack called to the witness as some followed his order immediately. Jack looked at his friend with honest worry as he knew he couldn't do anything to help at the moment.

"Daisuke, common you're not allowed to die man." Jack could hear himself staring to freak as sudden flash back of his parents came towards him. A small cough of blood came from Daisuke's mouth as he let out a gasp of air. He attempted to move himself before his eyes widen to a horrible realization.

"I can't move them... I can't move my legs!"