Persona 4 and it's world is owned by Megami Tensei. Not me. This just for fun.
Dance of the Cards
Dance of the Cards
XIII. Wild Oliver
June 2035
Evening
Himeko couldn't keep the smile off her face and she almost skipped to her room. Akira had to the best boyfriend ever.
Then she heard muttered whispers, the main reason they caught her attention was because they were in English. She peeked around the corner. Her sister was there, but she wasn't alone. Davis Moore, Oliver's older brother, was with her. Himeko smiled she hadn't seen Davis in months. She was about to call out to them when Natsuko moved forward, wrapping her arms around Davis's neck. Her pulled her close and their lips meet in a rather involved kiss. Himeko could feel her face burning. When Davis placed his hands on Natsuko's leg to lift her Himeko finally jolted out of her shock. Quickly she ducked back around the corner, it would be a good idea to take the long way to her room tonight.
Lunchtime
Himeko rested against the third year half railing. She still couldn't believe what she had seen last night. After she thought about it a bit she decided her elder sister was a hypocrite. Never once had Akira lifted her up and against a wall in a semi-public place or anyplace for that matter.
"I take it you've found out?"
The English sentence jolted Himeko from her thoughts. At some point Oliver had come to stand next to her. Her took a sip from his can he got from the vender.
"What?" asked Himeko in English as well.
"The look on your face is the same as mine when I discovered my brother and your sister in their tryst."
Himeko turned to face him. "You knew?"
"Yeah." He continued to look forward. "Bit of a shock, I'd say. And rather curious."
"And hypocritical." Himeko glanced at his drink. "Are you drinking hot coffee?"
"Yeah."
"But it's June."
Oliver shrugged. "Me drinking hot coffee in June isn't the strangest thing happening around here."
Himeko tensed. "What do you mean?"
"I...don't know really. I've been feeling strange lately, odd dreams and the likes. Also I can't seem to remember when I last watched the sunset. Mind you I didn't do it that often to begin with..."
Before Himeko could respond the school bell rang, ending the lunch break.
"We'll gotta go." Himeko watched Oliver disappear down the stairs as she went over his words in her mind.
After School
"Tatsumi!" Akira looked up when one of his teammate called his name. Mashima was standing by the doors that lead outside. Just outside those doors was Himeko. Akira took a quick glance at Coach Seto. He didn't really like girlfriends disturbing his players, but he was sure Himeko had a good reason. Akira jogged over to the door as Mashima went back to the court.
"Himeko, what's wrong?"
"It's about Oliver." Himeko spoke in a hushed tone. "I think he might be the Wild Card."
"What? Why?"
"He's been noticing things, Igor said the Non-Persona users shouldn't be noticing things. Can you see if you can ask him about it?"
Akira looked back to where Oliver was shooting hoops with some others. "I'll try."
"Thanks, I'll leave before you get in trouble."
"Okay."
For the rest of practice Akira didn't get a chance to talk to Oliver, however he managed catch Oliver outside the locker room.
"Hey, Moore."
Oliver turned to Akira. "Yeah?"
"I need to talk to you."
"Sorry, can't talk today, I need to go home. I'll see you tomorrow." WIthout waiting for an answer Oliver walked away. Akira sighed, not looking forward to talk to Himeko, maybe they would have better luck tomorrow.
Afternoon
However Oliver wasn't at school for the rest of the week. According to Himeko, who found out from her sister, he was sick. Unfortunately that was the best news of the week. It didn't matter how many times they went into the Twilight, Takahito still couldn't find a new maze.
It was a Sunday as they all sat around a table in Batafurai highly discouraged, Takahito more so then the all others.
"How are we suppose to find the Wild Card or close the Rift when we can't do anything!" Takahito crossed his arms and slumped in his chair.
"Maybe..." Sakura trailed off.
"Maybe what?" prompted Kotori.
"Maybe if we look outside the mazes we could find something, Takahito told us he thinks he almost found it."
"That's right, great idea Sakura." Kotori patted her on the back. With that they headed to the Twilight.
Twilight
"I think it would be best to split into two teams. We can cover more ground and the nothing really attacks...well you guys so we should be safe." Takahito looked his team over. "Just in case I think each group should have a healer. So Daisuke-san Himeko-nee will be in different groups." Takahito paused, wondering where he should the others. He knew that apart from Akira, who'd want to be put with Himeko, the rest would be fine wherever he put them.
"Okay, Sakura and Akira go with Himeko while Kotori, Reika and I will go with Daisuke."
They separated into their groups. Daisuke's group went west while Himeko's went east.
A long while or maybe a short while later everyone was exhausted. Despite the fact that they hadn't fought any shadows. They had regrouped at the shrine, no closer to finding the Rift then they were before.
"This sucks." Reika leaned on her Labrys. "We're bone tired and have nothing to show for it. We've tried everything, yet nothing is working. And the long nosed git is no help."
"Thank for the cheerful summary, Reika." Kotori sighed. "But you're right. We have no clue what to do."
"Maybe we should stop." Everyone turned to look at Himeko in shock.
"What is you saying?" asked Reika.
"Well, let's think about this logical. First we started doing this about...2 months ago and already we have found three mazes. It seems like a lot. Yet here we are trying to force our way into a other one."
"Yeah, maybe. But don't we need to save the world and all that?" Kotori waved aimless with her hands.
"Yes, but Igor as cryptic as he is doesn't seemed worried."
"I can never tell his emotions. He seems to stay the same to me," input Sakura.
"I can tell." Daisuke nodded. "Himeko-senpai is right on that account. Igor is not worried."
"So, maybe we shouldn't either, patience is important. It might be what we need right now. Just to wait."
"I can't think of a better plan," muttered Reika. "Anyways the school trips are this coming week. We can chill out till after those and then come check."
"Fine, it's settled. Now let's leave." Takahito's tone was guff enough that no one augured.
Afternoon
That Thursday the first and second years heading to the campgrounds while the third years headed to Sapporo.
"I never understood why we go camping, it's not like we living in a big city. Heck, Himeko can go camp out behind the inn." Kotori grumbled as she stood over the cooking pot.
Himeko and Koshimizu exchanged a look, but said nothing. Soon they finished and called over the rest of their group.
Himeko had just finished putting her dishes in wash pot for the others to clean when her homeroom teacher approached her.
"Ah, good Amagi you're done eating. I need you to go with Onishi to storage shed four," said Kobayashi-sensei. Himeko looked over at the sheds. There were only three.
"Where is the fourth?" she asked.
"Onishi knows, now hurry before it gets dark."
Himeko still didn't like this idea, so she tried one last thing. "Should some guys do this?"
"Really, Amagi I'm surprised at you. There is no reason the two of you can't go. Now stop asking questions and go." Kobayashi-sensei got a look that Himeko knew very well. It was be pointless to say or do anything else now.
"Yes, sensei." Himeko left to find Sakura fidgeting near the path that lead away from the sheds.
"H-hello, Himeko-senpai."
Himeko was pretty sure she knew what was bothering Sakura. "It's okay, nightfall is still a bit away and I think the Twilight only works in Inaba so we'll have a sunset."
"I suppose, but it's still a bit strange."
"I know, but let's hurry." Himeko followed Sakura has she lead her down a semi beaten path.
"Your sensei said the shed would have a number four painted in white on it. I have the key and we're suppose to get some extra tarps. Something happened to the ones stored in shed two so we have to go to the next campsite. No one is using it right now."
"Okay." Himeko looked around, still feeling slightly uneasy. The sun was a little low, but nothing to worry about. She noticed that a small path broke off from the one they were on. She could just make out a fresh footprint.
"Himeko-senpai...I...I feel rather uneasy." Sakura stopped walking just as they reached the second path.
"I know..." Himeko looked at her wrist to take off her phone. As she unhooked it Sakura let out a loud squeak. She looked up, someone had appeared on the smaller path. He was wearing the same blue track suit as the rest of the students from Yasoinaba High. It took a moment for Himeko to recognize him. It was Oliver. However he had dark circles under his eyes which were also slightly glassy.
"Senpai..."
"Oliver?" Himeko was uncertain of what to say or do. "Did Kobayashi-sensei send you to help us?"
"She did send me," answered Oliver. Himeko didn't fail to notice he hadn't added on the "to help us" part. Judging from the way Sakura stiffened next to her, she had too. Oliver tilted his head to the side, much like a bird. "You're a bother, all of you are a bother. Sensei doesn't like to be bothered." Oliver's gaze narrowed onto Himeko's foot when she moved. However years of dancing made her too fast for him to do anything. He landed in a bush with a shout of pain.
"Go!" Himeko shoved Sakura back the way they came. Sakura didn't need anymore prompting. She had only made it a few paces when something heavy slammed into her back. She didn't remember anything after that.
Evening
Kotori scanned the crowds for Himeko, who she hadn't seen since mealtime. No one she talked to have seen her, either. While she doubted Himeko and Akira were using this trip for some sort of tryst, she couldn't think of anywhere else left that Himeko would be.
Since it wasn't too late and most of the others were still out and about, no one stopped her from going to the boys side of the camp.
After finding tent 219 she called out, "Anybody is there?"
The tent flap open and out stepped Shinji, "Hello, Kotori-chan."
The tips of Kotori's ear pinked at the smile he gave her, which always made her feel fuzzy inside. Seeing him made her happy, yet worried. If he was here Himeko wouldn't be. "Hi, It's,well, it's nice to see you, but I was wondering if Akira was in there."
Shinji made an exaggerated hurt expression as he placed a hand over his heart. "On a camping trip and my girl doesn't even come to see me, but yes he's here." Shinji went halfway into the tent. "Tatsumi, Kotori wants to talk to you."
Akira came out of the tent, "What is it?"
"Have you seen Himeko since mealtime?"
Akira frown, "No."
Kotori ran her hands though her hair, messing up her ponytail. "Oh...shit."
Akira's gut tightened at her expression. "What's going on?"
"I can't find her and no one, I mean no one, has seen her. I've asked students and teachers, but no one knows where she went."
When Akira didn't say anything Shinij asked, "Have you told your homeroom teacher?"
"Yes, and she said not to worry about it, she'll turn up." By now, Kotori didn't care if Shinji thought her next sentence was strange. "I don't want to jump to conclusions, but do you think shadows..."
Akira didn't think it was possible for it his gut tightened even more, but it did. "I...I'm not sure."
"Ayase, Tatsumi." They turned to see Daisuke jogging towards them. "Have either of you seen Sakura?"
"Her too?"
Daisuke looked at Kotori. "Her too?"
"We can't find Himeko. Our sensei said not to worry about it, but..."
Daisuke nodded, "I know what you mean."
"Well, I don't. Anyone care to fill me in?" asked Shinji.
"Sorry." Kotori kissed his cheek. "Maybe later." She turned back to the other boys. "I don't care what Kobayashi-sensei says, I'm telling the other teachers Himeko and Sakura are missing." Kotori was proud that she could keep her voice from shaking.
Akira followed Kotori and Daisuke, doing his best not to panic.