May 7th, in the Velvet Room

"Who are you?" - Asked my uncle, the short and to-the-point question a detective would ask.

"I am Igor." - Said Igor, slowly, with his usual smile.

"You know fully well what I meant." - Said my uncle - "Why are you here? Why are we here?"

Igor's smile managed to grow a bit.

"I am here to help you in this journey. As I have always been... You are here to obtain my guidance. As you have always been... You are here because you entered here... Of your own free will. You, who would protect..." - he said.

"Give me a straght answer." - Said my uncle, his tone a bit more threatening.

"Oh, but I am! I am here to guide. And to aid... Though I do admit his decision to involve you was unforeseen... Very interesting indeed... And so many ramifications..." - He said, looking at Miss Sofue - "...is that not right, Queen? Ramifications that, if you would have your way, would change the fate of the very world..."

"I make no secret of my intent, Igor." - Said Miss Sofue.

"So many theories... So many ideas... And the chance to alter the fate of the Earth... Why, Queen, it almost seems counterintuitive that you were not the one to enter the contract, yes?" - Continued Igor, smiling.

"And what will you tell me?" - Asked Miss Sofue, testily - "That I should not? That it is impossible? That the world must remain devoid of magic and of all its glory, even though it could work for the betterment of humanity?"

Igor's smile widened.

"Not at all, my queen, not at all! I want to see what happens. I want to see all that happens... You are a history teacher that is willing to go after a murderer and to defy death in order to bring about your desired world..."

"History has only been changed by the masses or by those with the courage to do so." - Said Miss Sofue - "Will you help me?"

"More on that in a minute, my queen." - Said Igor, clearly having the time of his life - "Now... You and you..." - He pointed Yukiko and Chie - "You have come here to ask me the same thing. Yet, you are afraid the other will find out what you asked. I do believe you should discuss this elsewhere, yes? You all can now come here when you wish..."

"Why are you being so 'nice'?" - Asked Chie.

"Because..." - Said Igor - "I, too, have an interest. One that will not at all harm you or your plans... Margaret, do provide them with their keys..."

"Why are you in such a hurry for us to leave?" - Asked Yukiko as Margaret did hand her a key.

"For your sake, my dear." - Said Igor - "You are free to return, of course..."

The two eyed him and the keys for a moment. Then turned around and left through the door as Margaret passed out keys.

"Are there any other beings where dream and reality meet?" - Asked Yosuke - "And what about outside Japan? Since even between Inaba and Iwatodai..."

"Yes, my friend, the world will never run out of places to quench your boredom..." - Said Igor, smirking - "I do believe that must be wonderful news for you, very wonderful indeed..."

"Minato said your assistant's name was Elizabeth." - Said Mitsuru.

"Why, he did. And she was. And so is Margaret... And yet... Your question is another one, yes?" - Asked Igor, smiling - "Ask it."

Mitsuru sighed.

"...very well. Is there a way?"

"A way to do what, my dear?" - Asked Igor, suddenly turning dead serious.

"...to bring Minato back." - Mitsuru said at last - "Without... Well, all of those matters."

"I am afraid I do not know that. However, that is the reason why Elizabeth is not here; she is seeking to bring him back. Perhaps you two shall meet someday. Perhaps the world's change will bring that about. Or perhaps not. Perhaps, all that awaits you is ruin... Or perhaps it's a new world. The elevator became a car became a room..." - He then smiled again, turning to Miss Sofue - "Now, dear. I believe you have a request?"

"It is simple. Very simple indeed." - She said - "But first I have a question."

"Do go on..." - Said Igor.

"Do you know what happens if I meet my shadow here?" - Asked Miss Sofue.

Igor's smile widened.

"I do not. Do you wish for us to find out together?"

"Yes." - Said Miss Sofue - "If this place can have any bearing on reality..."

"You wish to defy the laws of reality as people see them." - Said Igor - "It is possible for you to meet your shadow here. Is that your request? Be mindful: I do not know what will happen..."

"Do it." - Said Miss Sofue, finally.

Igor smiled and gestured to another door, which Margaret opened.

There was a fog behind it.

"That fog... The TV World?" - Asked Yosuke.

"Yes, you idiot, the so-called TV world! Yours is not to stand while a queen stands!"

And that was Shadow Sofue walking in, I guess...

Dressed in an outfit that reminded me of some sort of Hentai Cleopatra thing, a low-cut dress with precious stones that left little to the imagination.

"That outfit does flatter me..." - Said our Miss Sofue - "Now. Are you going to act as repugnant as possible in order to try and convince me to try to separate you from myself? Or will you try to control me and take over? Oh, I do apologize! You were about to be authoritarian and show my worst side, how I am an arrogant megalomaniac that wishes to force a change upon the world because she desires so, as if she were a goddess queen, yes? My other self, I wear a nemes headdress in public. I am honestly curious as to what you will say to try and convince me to deny you!"

Shadow Sofue merely smirked and walked up to my uncle, who looked at her intently, holding his tonfa.

"So... Do you like what you see? Pray do not worry. You would not be my Julius Caesar, I would be with you for love and to help take care of your child, not for convenience..." - Said the shadow,

Well, that's new... - I thought bitterly, readying my sword, as Miss Sofue looked at her shadow, livid with the exact look of shame and rage I had seen on Yosuke, Chie and Yukiko shortly before things went pear-shaped with them...