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.
This chapter is not as long as I was expected, but it fulfill its purpose on building Yu and Azami's relationship as well as Tamara's upcoming arc. so I think it's fine. Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 11: Feeling better
In the entrance of the TV World, everyone sat down and took a break from what just happen, especially Yu and Azami. She was unconscious, Yu had to carry her to the entrance and it proves to be more difficult than he was expecting because he had never carried an unconscious person, on top of that, she was heavier than she look. Once in the entrance everyone was quiet, nobody said a single word at all. They all were tired and didn't even want to take another step. Yosuke stare at Azami who was sleeping on the floor, he still couldn't believe that Azami's Shadow was that terrifying, it remind him of his own Shadow a little bit, but more messed up. Chie stare at the floor, in silence. Teddie sit away from them, except for Tamara who sits next to him.
"So... What a day, huh?" Tamara asks to light up the mood. "It was... challenging..."
"... I don't know if I would use that word..." Said Yosuke. "Sure... It was a long day and the first thing I want to do after I go back home is going right to my bed and sleep"
"Same here" Said Chie. "I feel like I'm going to fall at any second now. That Shadow caught me by surprise"
"It caught everyone by surprise," Said Teddie. "Azami was hiding her true self, avoiding it and hurting herself. No surprise that her Shadow was this violent toward her"
"So... she was that kind of girl, huh?" Yosuke asks and Yu look right at him. "I don't know what happened exactly, but I sure know that I don't want to know the details... at least not now"
"The best thing we can do is to let her rest" Said Yu. "Meanwhile, we have to focus on Yukiko. She's still in that castle"
"I haven't forgotted about her" Said Yosuke. "I just hope we all are in our best condition for tomorrow. I don't want her to stay in here for too long"
"We won't!" Said Chie as she struggle to stand up. "We will come back tomorrow and save her! No matter what!"
"Ju-Just take it easy" Said Tamara. "If we rush in, we'll end up dead for sure. Unlike you all, I can't summon a Persona" She then stare at Teddie. "At least I'm not the only one that's left behind"
"At least you know how to defend yourself" Said Teddie. "I'm not made for battle"
"True, Yu poke him and he fall to the ground" Yosuke explained. "I mean, he can't fight. He has no weight... he's hollow"
"Yeah, I remember you saying that... It still intrigues me" Tamara look at Teddie with intrigue. "I have a lot of questions about that... But that can wait until we get Yukiko out of her predicament"
At that moment Azami blinked and move around. She woke up, feeling sore and grabbing her head in pain. She whines a little before sitting and rub her eyes. Azami look at everyone in front of her and her firsts words weren't the ones they were expecting.
"... I want to go home Yu..." She said with a tired expression. "I really... need to go back now..."
"It's fine, Azami. You are not in danger now" Said Yu, trying to calm her down.
"It's not that... I... I want to really take something out of my chest and..." Azami sigh. "Let's just go back. I can't wait any longer" She stand up, but as quickly as she stood, her legs give in and make her fall to her knees. Yu, and Yosuke, catch her before her face hit the floor.
"T-Take it easy. We were waiting for you to wake up. We'll go back now" He explained. Azami, not saying a single word, stare at Yosuke, emotionless. She then look down.
"Th-Thanks..." She whispers. "...For what you all did..." Yosuke hear her thanks and smile. He and Yu carry her to the TVs. Yosuke sticks his hand on the screen, after that his face to see if there was nobody around to call any unwanted attention. The store was empty, just like usual.
"Good, there's nobody around. Let's get her out of here" He said tho Yu and he nodded. "Listen, we'll be the first on going back. You two follow us right after we are out" Said Yosuke to Chie and Tamara. "We'll come back tomorrow, Teddie"
"Sure, I'll be here waiting for you all" He said. His voice had a sad tone in that last sentence, nobody notices it besides Tamara. Once Yu and Yosuke took Azami out of the TV World, Chie follow them, leaving Tamara behind. She took something out of her pocket and walk to Teddie.
"Hey... don't be so sad, we'll come back tomorrow. I promise" She smile at him. She kneel in front of him and show him what she have in her hand. A keychain with a little wooden doll. "This was a gift from my uncle... I'll give it to you. That way you won't feel too lonely"
"Is this... a doll?" He asks as he examine the little doll.
"Yes, a doll with a little surprise inside of it. Open it and you'll see" She said as she walk to the TV. The screen turns white as Yu extends his hand to reach for her. "See you tomorrow" She grabs Yu's hand and go back to the real world. Teddie stood there, all by himself once again. He stare at the doll and twist it, opening the doll right in half. To his surprise, there was another doll inside of it. Teddie didn't knew, but Tamara give him a Matryoshka doll.
"Hmm... Beary interesting..." Teddie smile. "I'll make a gift for her too"
Meanwhile, on the other side, Yu and Yosuke take Azami to the Food Court. She, slowly, start walking on her own, refusing their help. She breathes heavily and sits down for a moment. Chie and Tamara arrive shortly and they all leave Junes. They stay together until they arrive at an intersection where they had to split. Until that moment, nobody said a thing, it was a long day and all they wanted is to go back home and rest. Yosuke took a deep breath and speak to everyone.
"Alright... from tomorrow on, we'll go to that world as much as we can after school to save Yukiko... That includes days off" He said and nobody complains or was against that idea. There was someone's life in danger, they couldn't simply ignore that. "Okay. Let's all get some rest for today so we're ready for tomorrow... Also, don't forget to check the weather forecast. It gets foggy after a lot of rain, so let's keep an eye out"
"I saw the weather forecast this morning" Said Tamara. "There's no sign of any rain coming anytime soon"
"That's good, but we can't mess around. We need to end this quickly" Said Yu. "So... our home is this way" He points at the street in front of him. "See you all tomorrow" He walk away, but Azami stood there for a moment. "Azami, let's go"
"Yeah... just..." She turns to the group. She gulped and had a hard time to express herself, but manage to say how she felt. "... Thank you... I can't... express how ...grateful I am that you all help me when I need it the most" She said tiredly and avoiding eye contact with any of them. She was ashamed and nervous. "I... I owe you one... I really do"
"There no need for that" Said Yosuke. "We couldn't just leave you with your Shadow"
"Yeah... I mean..." Chie sigh. "You had an awful side, that's for sure. I was scared of how aggressive it was... but I'm glad that you stood up and face it. I know it's hard... it happened to me today too... but you were braver and I wish I was like that when I face my Shadow"
"Just take it easy, Azami" Said Tamara. "And... if you really need to talk with someone, we are all here for you"
"... I... I thought you'll judge me for what I was... For what I did to myself" She said as she grab one of her arms. Under the sleeves, her skin had a lot of scars, self-inflicted wounds...
"I won't deny that what your Shadow said is making me wary about you, but I can see that you are going through a transition. As long as you have Yu, everything is going to be alright" Said Yosuke. "You have us all too and I trust that you have our back... If you decided to help us"
"... Yes..." She said. "I'll help you out..." Azami smile. It was a tiring, yet grateful smile. "See you all tomorrow then..." She turn around and walks away. Yu walk next to her.
"Are you... feeling better?" He asks.
"Not yet, I still need to do something..."
Tamara arrive at home shortly after saying goodbye to the group. She stood in front of the door, debating if she should even enter. She sighs and decides to open the door of her house very slowly, she then proceeds to look around to confirm if there was anybody at home. Just as she expected, her father was in the living room, typing in his laptop, looking directly at the screen, ignoring his surroundings. Tamara goes inside and slowly close the door. She took off her shoes and walk to her room, but her father speaks to her.
"Eto ty tamara? (Is that you, Tamara?)" He speaks in Russian. She sighs and answers his question.
"Yes, Father" She answers. "I was with some friends at Junes" Her father didn't speak right away, he took his time and when he did, Tamara expect the same answer as always.
"ya vizhu (I see)" He didn't speak Japanese in the entire conversation and neither looks away from his laptop, he kept typing, like if he was a machine. "Tamara..."
"Yes?"
"... How many times I have to tell you?" He finally speak in Japanese, but it wasn't a good thing. He only speak in that language when he's angry. "No Japanese inside the house unless you brought someone with you"
"..." Tamara stay quiet for a brief moment until she replied. "da otets (Yes, Father)"
"... Ty mozhesh' uyti seychas (You can leave now)" He allows her to go back to her room and she did. She went back to her room and locked the door. She sigh and fall to her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her room was full of posters covering the walls, posters of movies, TV show and everything related to the supernatural or science fiction. She even had a poster on the ceiling, showing a UFO. Tamara rolls around in her bed and face the window, watching the dark, almost starless, sky. Tamara had a lot of papers lying around on the floor of her bedroom and her desk, even on top of her crappy TV. Her room was a mess, but she didn't care because while it was a mess, she knew where everything was and she kinda likes it this way.
"... For a moment I forgot what is like to go back home" She whispers. "I kinda want to go back to the TV World now..." She sits up and stare at her TV. It wasn't that huge for her to go inside, but it was big enough for her to stick her head inside... If she had that power, which she doesn't, she would jump right in without a doubt. "How is that possible? How are they are able to travel to that world? and Why? Is there something greater that I'm missing? I want answers... I need them... But at the same time I wish I don't... Ignorance is bliss, but also a curse"
Later that evening, Yu and Azami sit down with Nanako and Dojima to have a family dinner. When Yu and Azami arrive at home earlier that day, Dojima hasn't come back yet and Nanako was watching TV as always. Azami took that chance to take a really long bath and as she sits in the bathtub, she look down at her arms and her body, thinking about her life so far and the chooses she made, the good ones, the bad ones and the stupid ones. She regrets being the way she was and now she was coming to terms with her consequences and accept her punishment... She now feels better with herself, but it wasn't enough, she still need to talk with someone. As she walks out of the bathroom, wearing a plain long sleeves white shirt and long pants, she saw Dojima arriving with food. In silence, they had dinner together. Nobody said a word and the only sound was coming from the TV. The News were on as always because there wasn't anything else to see.
"That's all for world news tonight," Said the Announcer. "Coming up next, the local news..."
"..." Dojima was quiet, with a stern expression on his face. He look at Yu. "Hey. Mind if I ask something?" When he speak, Yu and Azami stop eating, almost knowing what he wanted to talk about. Nanako watches the TV, not paying attention to her father's question.
"Sure" Said Yu with calm. "What is it?"
"... You aren't getting involved with any strange business, are you...?" He asks with a serious, and nervous, tone. Yu look at him in the eyes and answers.
"Of course not" He said. "Ask Azami" He point at her and Dojima then look at Azami. She simply sighs.
"If he was involved in something weird, I would know. I'm with him almost 24 hours a day" She said with a tired tone. "If he gets dragged into something it would be a pain to deal with"
"..." He stare at Azami, noticing something about her. He dismisses it quickly. "Anyway... What happened at the station this afternoon... it's still bothering me. Is there anything you're not telling me?"
"Please, Uncle. It was an stupidity and it wasn't even his fault, Yosuke brought those weapons because he thought they were cool. Just let it go already" She said it almost like an order, almost as she was trying not to yell. "Yu did nothing wrong"
"Are you absolutely sure?" He asks, almost as he was interrogating her.
"... Are you seriously asking that question? You know what my answer is" They both stare at each other. At this point, Azami only wanted to have a calm evening and without thinking, she give Dojima a piece of her mind. "It's been a long day, Uncle, and to be quite honest. I'm not in the mood for this or any of your talks so do me a favor and do the interrogations at works, we are having dinner!" She almost yell and not only Dojima, but Nanako and even Yu look at her in disbelief.
"..." Dojima look down, almost like a kid that was scolded by a parent. "... I'm sorry... Believe me, I do feel bad that I've been too caught up with work for all of us to have time to talk. Not only that, but I should be keeping an eye on you two, but I'm too busy"
"It's fine, just... Don't worry too much. Nothing bad is happening, it was just something stupid that happened" Azami sigh and they both keep quiet. Nanako look at both of them, puzzled.
"What's wrong? Are you fighting?" She asks and that caught everyone by surprise.
"Huh? No. We were just talking" Said Azami. The room was filled with silence again and lasted for a while, even after dinner has ended. Shortly after that, Azami walk to Dojima and talk to him, almost as a whisper. "... Uncle... Can we... talk about something?"
"Talk?" Dojima ask with eyes wide open. "Is something wrong?"
"Outside... Please... It's important" Dojima, without saying a word, follow Azami outside. As they walk out, Azami rub her hands together, she was a little nervous.
"You look very serious, Azami" He said. "It has to do with what happen today?"
"Not really, it's just... it's just that I've been hiding something and I want to confess it" Dojima look at her, confused but also a little afraid of the secret she was about to confess. Azami took a deep breath before talking. "Do you remember when mom told you about... you know"
"Oh right, when you try to... kill yourself" Dojima didn't want to say it out loud but there weren't any other words to describe it. It sound wrong, depressing even, but it was real.
"Yes... a couple of weeks later... after that... I did it again" She said with pain and feel her throat going dry.
"What!?" Azami show him her arms full of scars. Dojima immediately reacted as Azami expect him to react, scared and angry. "Oh my god, Azami! How could you do this to yourself!?"
"I-I... it was wrong. I realize it later when I was cutting myself. I hated myself for this, I did something stupid so I try to stop. It was hard but I did it... I stop"
"Why are you telling me this? Why now?" Dojima ask and Azami make an excuse. She couldn't tell him that her Shadow was the reason she was revealing this. She couldn't tell him about the other world, she couldn't tell him the truth.
"Yu saw them... I was in the bathroom, looking myself in the mirror. I didn't have my shirt on, Yu come in without knocking and saw them. He freaked out and I told him everything. It's better if I'm telling you now so you won't find it out later... You will find them eventually, you will see them so I'm confessing now and it pains me as much as when I harm myself... I'm so sorry. I'm sorry to be such a stupid"
"... Your parents know this?"
"No... I was going to call them later and let them know"
"... Azami. I know is hard but-"
"No... you don't know!" Azami yell and her voice could be heard in the whole street. Yu and Nanako hear her, but none of them move, they stay inside, hearing Azami. "All that people looking down at you, treating you like a ghost, making you feel like someone that's not worth their attention... they humiliated me. I... I'm the only one to blame to get myself into that kind of situation and yet I keep telling myself I did nothing wrong when in reality it was always my fault... Uncle... I just want it to end" Dojima just stay there for a while, looking at Azami that by this point was crying in silence. It somewhat broke his heart seeing his niece, the little girl he barely saw in the past now turn into a teenage girl that is struggling with her own insecurities. He walk to her and hug her. Azami wasn't expecting a hug, not from him. She didn't complain, she hug him back and more tear comes out from her eyes. She didn't knew it, but she really needed that hug.
"Sorry... I barely know how to deal with this situation... damn I barely have time to take care of Nanako. When your mother told me what you did... I didn't know how to react. I got worried but not enough to leave my home and go to visit you at the hospital. And your parents working every time didn't make it easy for you..." Dojima sigh and push her away gently. "You stop hurting yourself?"
"Yes... if you don't believe me is okay..."
"I believe you," He said "If you come here and tell me all this, it means that you are taking responsibility for your actions. It's true that you did this but you regret it and you are trying to move on. To face life again, this serves you as an experience" Dojima smile at her "Life is hard but it's also beautiful, don't throw it away because of the others. You shouldn't care what others think or say about you"
"..."
"Go wash your face and go to bed, it's late"
"Y-Yes" Azami open the front door, but before going in, she turn to see her uncle to the eyes. "Uncle... thanks... for hearing me out..."
"You are welcome, Azami"
Later that night, Azami sit in the corner of the room with her guitar. She didn't plan on playing a song, but her hands move to the strings, touching them gently. Yu sit on the sofa and watch her in silence, waiting for her to say something. He waits patiently until Azami look up at him.
"You know... I miss my computer" She said out of nowhere. "... but not as much as I thought I would. As long as I have my guitar I won't get bored"
"... Are you planning on joining the Music Club?"
"No, I don't plan on joining any club at all... At least not now. I'm going to take some time to think about what I want to do and how I want to do it... For now, I think I want to play the guitar on my own"
"Good..." He said and he didn't know what else to say. "Hey-"
"Thank you" Azami interrupt him immediately. "Thank you... for not giving up on me" Azami look at him in the eyes. "I couldn't ask for a better brother... Damn, I can't even imagine myself without a brother or a sister, it's weird"
"..."
"I... I'll do my best. From now on, I will be better" Azami smile. This smile was bigger, grateful and even more colorful than Yu was used to. She was really grateful and was now feeling better with herself. As she smiles, Yu feel something strange. Everything around him stop and he saw the Jester Arcana floating on top of Azami's head. It was broken but slowly repair itself and start shining while a small string connects with Yu. He then hear a voice inside his head.
I am Thou... Thou art I...
Thou hast reconnected to an old, forgotten, bond...
It bring thee closer to the truth...
Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Jester Arcana...
The card quickly fade away and everything returned to normal, like nothing has happened. Azami's smile disappear as she blink repeatedly. She look around and then at Yu.
"Hey... I just... feel something weird..." As she said that, Yu's eyes widen.
"Did she just... saw the same thing I did?" He thought. "Wh-What do you mean?"
"I... don't know. I think I just saw something floating on top of your head. Like a card or something..." She said and Yu start to panic a little. "It must be nothing. Maybe I'm seeing things" Azami quickly dismiss it. She stand up and leave her guitar in the corner. "It's late so I'll go to sleep. What are you going to do?"
"I... I'll go to sleep to" He said and prepare his futon in silence, Azami did it as well. Once everything was in place, Yu turn off the light and lay down in the futon. He didn't close his eyes yet, he found himself staring at the ceiling, thinking about what Azami just said to him. "Did she really saw my Arcana? Can she...? No, it can't be... That can't be. I have to talk to Igor about this. I need answers now" He thought. He was too focused on his thoughts that he didn't saw Azami moving her futon right next to his. Once he notices it, he look at Azami that was near him. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing, just... I don't feel like sleeping on the other side of the room today. You don't mind, don't you?"
"... No, I don't"
"Besides, I'm not getting in your futon. Don't worry" She said look at the ceiling, just like Yu was doing. "... Remember that day?"
"... What day?"
"The day we sleep together in the same bed because you were scared of the storm" She said and Yu chuckled. It was a day he wouldn't forget. He used to be scared of a lot of things.
"I won't forget that day" He then look at Azami. "You said that you'll protect me of the storm" Azami blush a little, remembering the sweet yet embarrassing moment.
"... W-Well, I say it to calm you down. I had to assume my role as the big sister" Azami look away. "Don't go telling your friends about that. I don't want them to get the wrong idea"
"I won't. That's our secret"
"Heh, I wouldn't call that a secret... Now a secret would be the time you piss your pants in that birthday party and you make me promise to not tell everyone about that. I can't believe I had to get you a pair of pants while you lock yourself in that bathroom" Azami laugh and Yu stare at her.
"That wasn't funny" He said with a poker face.
"Come on, it was really funny... for me"
"Hehe... I guess..." Both of them laugh quietly while they look at the ceiling. Azami scratches her arms a little and Yu caught a glimpse of her scars. Looking at them wasn't easy for him and he couldn't imagine the pain she had to go through.
"... Hey, Yu... Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Do you think... this thing, this "case", can be solved? The way I see, it's too much for us to find the truth"
"... We'll find it. The truth is out there, we will find it and solve this mystery"
I hope you like it! See you in a couple of weeks! :D