Chapter Three: Into the Woods

(Teddie)

"You're gonna be good today, right Bear?" Kanji asks me.

I beam at him, crossing my legs over the dashboard. "You know it~"

"Don't be all over Nanako and Adachi."

I nod, shaking my whole upper body for emphasis.

"And don't call him Aniki-chan," he orders. "It's frikkin' creepy and he doesn't like it."

"Nooooo," I moan. "He's like me now. I'm calling him that." I fold my arms. "I've never had a brother before!"

"Oh man," Kanji gripes. "Just try to act normal." He's quiet for a minute, but then asks a favor. I love favors! "Do keep an eye on them, though, Ted."

"Mm-hmm!" I sit up, ready for action! "Of course I'll protect everyone!"

"If I'm not coming, I don't wanna get back and have everyone not talking to each other, okay?"

I wave my hand in a salute and Kanji shakes his head at me. I love making him laugh.

We park on the side of the road and I jump out of the car. Kanji is going to take Dojima to the bookstore, today. Nanako asked Kanji to make him go somewhere so she can come with the rest of us into the TV. She's never been before, so I'm really, really excited! She told her dad she can't go with them because she has to finish a school report someone dropped the ball on.

I turn the door handle and kick off my shoes. "Ted-aima!" I call, enjoying my pun.

I hear Dojima groan and see him drop his head onto the table. "Morning!" I waggle my fingers and grab a bowl for rice and soup. The others always look at me funny, but I like to mix them directly.

"How are you doing this wonderful morning, Dojima-san?!" I take a seat next to him with my food.

"Fine," he raises his head. "You're not going to bother Nanako, are you? She's working right now."

"Of course not!" I tell him. "I do want to see Aniki-chan, though."

Dojima snorts. "He's asleep."

I look at the watch Kanji got me. "But it's—" I stop. "Wait. Whaaaat?!"

Dojima leans over and twists my arm. "It's upside down again, kid," he tells me.

Poop. I fix it and announce that's it's already eleven. Kanji drops down onto another chair and looks around at us.

"Ted, I fed you," he complains.

I drink the rest of the soup. "I like theirs better," I smile at Dojima and he pulls the paper up so he can't see me.

"You not ready yet?" Kanji scolds him, yanking the paper back down.

"I wanted..." Kanji stares expectantly. He sighs. "I wanted to at least wait until Adachi wakes up."

"Man no!" Kanji tells him. "We gotta get going or they're gonna sell out of the new book I want. That's what happens when there's only one bookstore! His lazy ass will sleep all day if you let him!"

"I'll go wake him," Dojima grumbles, setting down the paper. He plods up the stairs and Kanji turns to me.

"Wash that," he says. I puff out my cheeks in defiance, but clean it in the sink. He pulls out his phone. "I'm gonna tell Yukiko to get their butts over here." I watch him type slowly on his old phone.

"This'll be great!" I smile. "I haven't been back to my hometown in so long!"

Kanji drags a hand down his face. "Magatsu-Inaba isn't your hometown."

I get right up in his face, challenging him. "My. Town."

"Teddie!" he groans. "It literally means 'evil Inaba'. Just say Inaba is your hometown."

"But," I try. "This makes me sound like a traveler!"

Kanji groans again, in a crappy mood, and stands. "Ojisan!" he hollers up the stairs. "We gotta move!"

Dojima clomps down the stairs a second later, and they both put on their shoes. "Let the others be," he warns me before shutting the door behind himself and Kanji.

I quickly text Yuki and dash up the stairs.

"Aniki-chan!" I yell, ripping open Adachi's door.

"Waah!" he yells and falls over, in the middle of pulling on shorts.

I hear Nanako giggling as she comes towards the room. "What?" I ask.

"Dammit, you scared me!" Adachi roars. "Get the hell out so I can change!"

"Aww," I whine but step back to the hallway.

"Hi, Teddie," Nanako greets me, poking my back.

"Mornin'!" I brightly reply. "You ready for today?! This is where I'm from!" I can feel a big smile on my face, and she returns it with one of her own.

"Yeah!" Nanako nods. "I'm sure it'll be really cool." We don't mention the fact that we're only going to destroy it, but I guess that's just how things have to be.

Adachi finally opens his door and calls us in.

"Sit," he commands. I listen immediately and plop down on the couch. I notice he's set his big-screen television on the floor so it'll be easier to go into. Smart!

We're using Adachi's TV because he has the biggest one and it can go directly to where we need to be.

"What's wrong?" Nanako asks.

"Today," he begins. "Seriously. Don't leave me alone with Narukami." He looks angry...

I nod right away. "Got it~ I'll stick by Aniki-chan's side all day!"

Nanako just stares Adachi down. "Get along," she demands. "You can stick with us, but you have to at least get along, alright?"

Adachi nods, giving in a little.

We hear the others call from downstairs and Nana shouts to come up here. When Yuu and Yukiko enter the room, we all exchange greetings, and then get right down to business.

I get anxious when I realize everyone's staring at me!

"Oh-okay!" I try. "Today we'll be entering Magatsu-Inaba through Aniki-chan's TV and sealing off the exits." I point to the television, hoping to catch everyone up. "It'll be a quick mission, and we have till the others get back... In maybe three hours. If we can't finish, we will make a plan to continue next time."

I meet each person's gaze, assessing they're helpfulness. "Today will be Nana-chan's TV World Debut, so we have to be careful that she doesn't get sick," I caution the others.

"Oh..." I've realized something. "Did Aniki-chan ever get sick after his first time on the other side?"

"Huh?" Adachi scoffs. "Why would I get sick?"

"Everyone but myself was bedridden for a few days from the strain of awakening their personas," Yuu explains.

"Hah," Adachi mocks. "Weak." Yuu glares at him, but lets it go.

"Actually," Yukiko adds, turning to Adachi. "How did you get back out of there on your own? We needed Teddie to pull us out."

"I don't know," Adachi huffs. "It would just happen when I wanted to go back. It's easy if you're—" He closes his mouth when he catches Nanako's unamused expression.

I can do that!

"Like me!" I squeal. Yukiko and Yuu nod in agreement.

"Are we ready?" I ask them all.

They nod in turn. "Then let's get going~" I grab Nana-chan's hand and pull her along with me. "Just jump at it when I do," I instruct. She nods, still not quite believing she'll actually land in a different world. "I won't let go. Promise!" I grin disarmingly at Nana and leap feet-first at the large screen.

I feel the familiar sensation of falling through mud until we break through to the other side. Then the falling gets a lot faster.

I'm glad I got so much taller, because I can hold Nanako like I'm picking her up. It's hard to land on your feet the first time.

"We're here!" I shout. I see her blink a few times, uncomprehending what happened. I set her gently on her feet. "This is the TV World." I sweep my arm around, encouraging her to take in the strange place.

"Wow," Nanako breathes. "It's similar, but darker. And creepier." She giggles at that last part.

I smile back, relishing the familiar feeling. There are bits of fog drifting around, but not nearly as much as before. I can hear the others coming down the chute. It sounds like a big whooshing.

Yuki lands nearby, followed by Adachi and then Yuu.

Yuu speaks first. "There's fog."

I nod. "It's not bad, but there is a little. Did you bring your glasses?" He and Yukiko put theirs on and glance around, able to see a bit better. "Do you guys need glasses?" I ask Nanako and Adachi.

They both shake their heads, unsure.

"Why?" Adachi asks. "I only need them when I read." Yukiko laughs a little too much earning herself a glare from the man in question.

"They need them to see through the fog," I explain to the newbies.

Nanako shakes her head. "What fog?" she innocently asks.

Yuu's jaw drops. "You don't see fog?" he asks, disbelief ringing his words.

"I can see some mist, but it's not really fog."

Adachi nods. "It never really bothered me."

They are different.

They are!

"Well," I cut off any more questions. "If they're fine, let's go seal off the Amagi Inn, the Shopping District, and then take care of this bit last." Better to start with the farthest away. "We need to take care of anything that parallels the real world so shadows and things can't get out."

Everyone nods, and I lead the way to the first area.

When we arrive in the replica of what was Yamano's room, everyone is quiet. "This is where everything goes parallel. So we need to go back through that tunnel and block it." They nod their assent, and we make our way back through the strange bit of nothingness. I don't drop Nana's hand for a second during these trips. I would hold Adachi's too, but he doesn't seem bothered by any of this...

I mean he did create it all. I chew on my lip, wondering what kind of a person could do this. I want to know more about him because he feels so familiar, but he wasn't nice at all.

Back on solid ground, I do drop Nanako's hand and hold both of mine out to Adachi. "Help me," I demand. He looks at me stupidly. "I've never done this before and you have a lot more power."

And I'm a little worried it'll feel like losing a piece of myself.

"He does?" Yuu breaks into my thoughts.

"Huh?" I ask. "Well yeah, you didn't notice?" Adachi is glaring at me. "What?"

"He said he can't even summon his persona anymore," Yuu declares.

That's probably true, but I think there's more to it. "Well, Magatsu-Izanagi is gone," I tell Yuu. I don't want either mad at me... "But that doesn't mean he's powerless." It feels like a good compromise. They both glare at me for another minute, but then Yuu sighs and Adachi grabs my hands, looking like he wants to get this over with.

I give Adachi instructions, and then we both work our magic while the red doorway starts to glow brighter. I close my eyes, but can feel its heat until it feels like I'm on fire. Then it goes dark with a thumping feeling.

I can feel my knees go weak and I'm starting to fall over, but Adachi grips my hands tighter so I can stay up. When I finally open my eyes, he looks completely disinterested, but eases his grip as I balance on my own. I smile up at the taller man. "Thanks."

He makes a derisive noise and drops my hands, shoving his own in his pockets.

"Next!" I call.

We take care of a few individual areas in the shopping district, and then close off the whole thing altogether.

It hurts a little. Like someone died...

I've never seen someone die, but I think this is what it would be like.

I think it'll get better when we go back outside, back to the house, but right now it feels like a hole inside me.

As we trudge around the weird stage where I first met my friends, Nana walks beside me and takes my hand. "I'm happy I got to see this, Teddie," she smiles a little.

I sigh, my shoulders slumping. "Thanks, Nana-chan."

"Are you okay?"

I nod. "Just tired. Only one left!"

Nanako and I walk back over to the others.

"Okay!" I yell. "We'll take care of this from Aniki-chan's entrance area, warping out while we work."

We gather around the area where we all came in. I hold out one hand to the others. Yuu takes it, offering his own to the girls. I lock eyes with Adachi, who should occupy the other end of the line. "You seal while I take us back," I tell him. He nods slightly, warily accepting Nanako's small hand.

"Close your eyes," I tell them.

With my own eyes squeezed shut, I concentrate on getting everyone out at the right moment. Too soon and it won't work right.

It starts to feel really hot again. I hear someone gasp, and know it must be bad. I take us away.

We pop out of the rippling glass one by one, everyone landing roughly on their bums because we're still holding hands.

I feel so tired. "G'night," I hear myself say to the others, loosening my grip on Yuu's hand.

"Teddie?" someone calls my name.

Re-Edited 6/7/17