A/N: Okay folks, theme song for this chapter is once again the blues version of "Layla" by Eric Clapton. As said previously, all chapters with Layla as a theme song are vital to the overall theme of the fic. Enjoy. Oh and social linky goodness abounds as not one but TWO social links start up in this chapter, well three if you count the one Yukiko forms, and another is strengthened. It also features the debut of the most ostentatious prom dress IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD (which is actually symbolic and will be explained later)! Readers will also discover I put way too much detail into my characters as Bryan's semi-allergy is revealed!

Chapter Fourteen: The Change

When Chie and I brought Yukiko home it was very quickly a circus. Everyone was so relieved and worried about her condition. It felt wrong to lie to them, but we really had no choice in the matter. They wouldn't believe what had really happened, and any less than a full on fabrication would make the police assume she was lying to protect me. The story was pretty simple really. Chie, Yosuke, and I had gone into the woods to look for her, as it had been the only place I could risk searching alone. Chie'd had spotted her collapsed near a large tree.

Yukiko put on a good act of looking ashamed and embarrassed, "I'm so sorry everyone, I just needed some time to myself, so I went for a walk. I should have stayed put the moment I realized I was lost. Maybe I'd have been found sooner."

The lie covered all the bases, the eyes on me were lessened because I hadn't done the finding, the cops hadn't found her because she'd been wandering around before she collapsed, and it kept her parents from worrying about her having been kidnapped. We told the cops the same story for obvious reasons. How would be possibly explain to their satisfaction that she was back after being kidnapped and not paint me even more as a suspect? I mean, amnesia? Like they'd believe that she wasn't just lying to protect me. Funny how we had to lie because the truth was unacceptable.

The questioning wasn't too bad and we had taken the precautions of planning every detail of our answers, down to the tin differences that would naturally happen in between testimonies. Having writing and acting as hobbies, and a keen understanding of he mind, was proving very helpful indeed. The cops had no other option than to accept our story as fact for the time being, and Yukiko only had to endure some gentle reprimanding, which she actually seemed glad to receive. I imagine she was still beating herself up for the mistakes she'd made and the fact she was planning to leave town eventually.

Once the cops left I finally managed to sit down and right that reply to Naoto-chan, it'd been many days since I'd gotten her last letter, and given our usual pace of correspondence she'd soon be wondering where my letter was. Thankfully the size of Japan made the postal system fairly rapid, so the letter would probably get there relatively quickly.

When I finally got in bed, I fell asleep almost immediately, the familiar piano tune that had been stuck in my head drifted into my ears, calling out to be heard as I woke to find myself in the Velvet Room...looking at Yukiko. She was sitting there beside me, looking at the grand purple ballroom and at her dress with eyes full of wonder. After waking up in one strange place and nearly being killed, I was surprised she wasn't scared. To my amazement their was a pianist at the piano as well, playing that tune, looking just as neutral in every way as the lady sitting on the piano gazing at him fondly. Margaret looked content, but still wasn't playing her instrument.

Yukiko stood and took in all the sights, turning slowly in the elegant gown she was wearing. The shawl and the skirt swished gently with the movement, as did her hair, making her look like some fantasy. The gown itself suited her perfectly. A mild but deep pink color made up most of the dress, making a simple but elegant border for the intricate scarlet embroidery atop pink-tinted white that made up a vertical band starting at the front hem of the skirt and continuing up to split at the bust, framing the modestly low cut collar and making up the entirety of the ruffles draped at her shoulders in place of straps. That embroidered band continued to the back of the collar, which was also a little low as well, but not backless, showing only the very top of her shoulder blades. With shoulders and a neck line like hers, it was almost too much for me. Did I mention the shawl? It was a thin see-though thing, a gentle pink similar in color to the embroidered band, it wasn't meant to conceal though, like any well-made shawl it was meant to compliment the dress, and it did. It was actually more of a robe, with loose sleeves that danced down her slender arms and a hem that nearly reached that of the dress. The shoulders of it draped off the shoulders as well. With the dainty thing pinned closed at the stomach straight down to the hem, it formed an extra ruffle accenting the one already at the dress' shoulders and the fabric overlapped at the decorative band, making the parts of it that it covered seem like faded scarlet with crimson stitching. Covering the exposed back a little was a hood as see though as the rest of the robe. If she put that hood upon her head the effect would be profound, turning her into an almost impossible, wraith-like avatar of (pink) beauty and grace.

So precise in design, every aspect was...

"Bryan?" the slow-mo twirl of the girl before me ceased as she had turned around and seen me, I would have stood up, but I wasn't sure that I could. My heart was beating so hard the sight of her in that dress I might of fainted or something, "Why am I dreaming of you?" She thought about it, then something made sense to her, "Oh it must be because I wanted to talk but didn't get the chance to before I went to bed."

I wanted to speak, but it probably would have come out mush.

Igor spoke for me, surprisingly standing as he did so and giving a bow, "Ah, another guest has arrived, it has been quiet a while since we've had more than one guest at a time. Given our accommodations however, such things were to be expected." he strode over behind the bar, throwing a towel over his forearm like a bartender going back on duty, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Igor. On the stage are my assistants, the pianist is Martin, the lady in waiting is Margaret. Like me they are here to aid our guests."

Yukiko, confused, looked at me, "Is this a dream?"

The seriousness of the situation helped me put aside how good she looked in that dress and answer, "Does it feel like one?"

She shook her head.

Igor was about to say something but I stopped him, "Let me guess, you're about to explain how this place is the Velvet Room and is between mind and matter, between dream and reality, and that is a place that only those bound by a contract may enter. Right?"

"Correct." he nodded, slightly annoyed, before turning to Yukiko, "My dear, like Bryan here, you have entered into a contract upon which your very future rides. If this contract goes unfulfilled, your future may prove to be forever lost." He fetched some tea from behind the bar and started pouring a few cups.

"Wait," I said, trying to understand everything, "Do you mean when she promised me to be more open with others? Is that kind of thing really big enough to warrant her needing this place?"

Yukiko sat down beside me, where she had been when I first saw her, "My future...could be destroyed?"

Igor placed the our cups down in front of us, "Indeed, but as with Bryan, we are here to ensure such a disaster does not happen."

She looked at me, uncertain, "You're in a contract?"

I nodded, "To be honest though I can't remember what it is...but so far I feel like I'm on the right track."

Igor nodded, "As you walk your paths in fulfilling your contracts, you will face choices and build bonds with others. These social links will grant you power as they have granted to Bryan, but your roles in fate is yet to be written. You both must take responsibility for your actions, both in the future and in the past."

Yukiko was still a bit overwhelmed, but she was actually taking it pretty good, "I...I guess I can do that." she shook her head with a grin at the ridiculous situation, not fully believing it, "Talk about incentive to change. My whole future could be gone huh?"

Margaret suddenly turned to us and spoke up, "It is time for us to explain our full purpose. Bryan, as I said before, I am able to recall personas you have called upon before, even if you have fused them with my master's assistance. For Yukiko, I am able to recall powers and abilities she has learned, no matter how long ago she has forgotten them. All these are weaved into the lines of the song of your fates."

The pianist, Martin, spoke without turning, in a voice that was deep but smooth and as neutral as his companion's, "I am the composer, scribing your parts in the tune as you develop. When you feel you have gathered enough power, come to me and I shall refine that power for you. Bryan, as you know the remnants of emotions and will that you take within yourself from shadows are fragments of the psyche. I can shape these pieces into a single whole, making new personas and thus new forms for you to take on. Yukiko, you will find yourself taking your fate in an even firmer grasp, and I will be here to help you become the person you wish to be."

Yukiko glanced at me before replying, "Um...thank you..."

Igor smiled, "My role is also to give life to new power, for I can fuse personas together to form entirely new ones, and he same applies to the knowledge our dear Yukiko will gather over time."

I thought about it a moment, "So I can take on many different forms to use their strengths. Yukiko can learn multiple abilities and decide what powers she wants to have?"

"Exactly." Igor nodded.

"Interesting."

Yukiko looked at me, "This is real?"

"Yeah."

"I just got out of that place and I find out I still...?" She looked at her hands, not sure of what to say.

I almost put a hand on her shoulder but remembered it was bare and decided against it, "Hey, you just have to keep your word. You can start by telling me why you're so spooked, I thought you'd be a bit more optimistic about this?"

"I'm just a little..." she shook her head, "No, I'm not going to lie. That guy, Yamizanagi, before you came in and saved me...he promised me everything I wanted...."

"He just wanted to twist you into something you're not."

She looked at me, tears welling up, "Isn't that who I am? That person that hates the inn and wants to run away? I do you know. I do want to run away!" she slammed her hands on the table and Igor took the cue to wander into the back room, "I don't want to...to...!"

"Then don't"

"But..." she looked to me again.

I met her eyes, "Just because that shadow is part of you, it doesn't mean it's the only part of you. The real you is a person that cares so much she'd rather go half-crazy than burden someone else, not some selfish waif."

"Sounds familiar. If I recall, you keep putting my needs above your own."

"I'm better at it than you."

She laughed, "Apparently." Yukiko looked down at her hands again, "Thanks for that by the way. You're such a nice person and I had the nerve to resent you for something like that. I was so wrapped up in my own problems I was trying to make you into my prince."

I fidgeted uncomfortably.

She waved her hands, blushing, "Don't get the wrong idea! It's not like...I mean I tried a lot of ways out and kept resenting them when they fell short of some unrealistic expectation I had. I was always just too afraid to take things into my own hands, but now..." she balled up her fists and swallowed hard, "I refused to take over the Amagi Inn! There! I said it!" she smiled, a burden lifted off of her.

I gave her a thumbs up, "That's the ticket, that isn't selfish in and of itself. There's no reason to hate yourself for it. Now what do you plan to do now that you've taken a grip on your destiny?"

She looked at me and shrugged, "I'm not sure. I guess I need to look at my other options. Will you help me find some information on job licenses?"

"So you want my help now?"

She smiled, "Of course. You're good at it after all."

"Dang straight. You can count on me."

She took a sip of the tea Igor had given us, "I know. So when I ask you to promise me something, I know you will, and that you'll keep it."

"If you really need me to."

She looked me straight in the eyes, "Then promise me you'll open up more too. I can't change alone, I'm willing to admit that now. We have to do this together if I'm ever going to be strong enough to be on my own."

"You're plenty strong."

"Just promise me." she insisted.

"Okay, I promise." I offered a handshake as confirmation of the vow and she took my hand. I suddenly felt stronger as a bond formed between us and a strange warm feeling passed over me, maybe I was blushing, but I don't know.

Yukiko however pulled her hand away suddenly and was blushing. "So that's a social link?"

"...y-yeah." I said uncomfortably.

Yukiko changed the topic, "I'm not used to this kind of thing. Talking with people about what's really on my mind, especially with a boy my age. Of all the places I thought I'd talk to you, a supernatural bar in a purple ballroom was hardly one of them."

I laughed, "Yeah...I'm not quite used to the place myself either." I took a long drink of the tea and meant to say something else but I suddenly found that place fading away. I was waking up.

I rubbed my eyes and glanced out the window at the rising sun. It was the crack of dawn already, and most of the staff would be getting ready for the day. It was also time for me to get ready for school. Yukiko was still tired from the whole incident, and Chie's morning schedule had changed (I had the suspicion she had started jogging in the morning), so I was walking to school alone that day. I grabbed the letter to Naoto of my desk and slipped it into my bag before changing. It wasn't hard, as I'd left my uniform out the previous night and had slept only in my boxer briefs.

When I stepped out of my room, I took a moment to listen to the bustle of the staff downstairs. I thought about going to say a quick goodbye to Yukiko, but decided to not bother him. Instead I put my letter in the mail and made the long walk to school. Well, to the bus stop and then the school.

Scary looking math teachers, creepy composition teachers with puppet fixations, and King Moron aside, the morning went by smoothly. Lunch brought surprises though, as a girl came up to my desk with a small lunch box. Her hair was black and in a popular style, and she wore the female uniform like everyone else, but in an odd fashion choice was wearing jogging pants and sneakers under the skirt. It was Sachiko Sayuri, the helpful girl from the front of the class.

She presented the lunch with a bow and a blush, "Here, Neir-san! I noticed you never bring a lunch so I made you a bento! You should really keep your strength up if you're in a sports club!"

I looked at the small box curiously and took it slowly. I had always thought they only gave bentos in anime and stuff like that, but whatever, "Thank you, Sachiko-san. I'm sure it'll taste good. I don't have practice today though."

"Oh! Um...right...," she fidgeted, "Anyway you can call me Yuri-chan if you like, all my friends do."

She had friends? I'd never seen her with anyone, "Alright, Yuri-chan." that sounded kinda familiar...I couldn't place it though, "You have have to call me Bryan though, since we're gonna be friends and all."

She blushed, "O-okay!"

I opened the bento and closed it immediately at the smell, "Garlic..."

She looked crestfallen, "I-I heard it's good for stamina. Is something wrong?"

I stomached the desire to throw up as I opened it again, "There's not too much of it, I can eat this much."

She gasped, "Bryan-kun! You're allergic to garlic?"

"Only a little, I can eat a small amount of it. I found out I can't take large amounts the hard way. One of my relatives loves the stuff. I ate some of her spaghetti and I was bedridden for two days."

She moved to take the bento away, "Y-you can just have my lunch, you don't have to eat-"

"That would be rude, I said I can eat this amount so it's fine." Somehow I managed to get it down as the girl watched in awe, "There. Thank you very much, it tasted pretty good."

She blushed hard, apparently having forgotten to eat herself, "Um...t-thank you. Next time I won't put any garlic in!" For some reason she ran off. Leaving me wondering what the heck had just happened. No wonder those guys in anime always seemed so oblivious...some girls are just odd. Regardless I felt that familiar strengthening sensation. A new social link?

Anyway, with nothing else to do after school I found myself talking to Yosuke over steak croquets in the shopping district. They were tasty, though kinda strange, a fact that Yosuke confirmed.

"Who thought of putting steak in croquets huh? There are good though."

"Yeah."

He took a bite and chewed the heck out of it before swallowing, "A bit though though. Chie says this stuff is nice and tender. What kind of teeth does that girl have?" he chuckled.

It wasn't all that tough to me, "Maybe she just eats more steaks than you?"

He smiled and shrugged, "Well she does love her steak."

"You two known each other long?"

He shook his head, "Not really, I've only lived here a little over six months after all. She and Saki-senpai were pretty much the only two people who treated me normal from the get-go."

"Yukiko treated you different?"

"Of course not, she was her usual shy self, didn't really treat me an particular way."

"Ah."

"Yeah, but until recently Chie and I were really more just acquaintances, I'd be talking with some people and she'd be happening by and slip into the conversation, usually when I was talking about food."

"Yeah you mentioned that earlier." I chuckled.

"How's Yukiko doing by the way?"

"Good, she's mainly just really tired. Thought I get the feeling she'll come back really refreshed pretty soon."

"Good to hear, maybe she'll recall something soon. We could really use a lead."

A pair of housewives walked by, stopping as they spotted Yosuke then scurrying off to gossip about him. They were saying all sorts of things I guessed were typical. Mostly about Junes running the local shops out of business.

Yosuke took it in stride, "Ah, my infamy strikes again."

"Must be hard." I thought back to the incident in the TV world in which the taunts about Saki working for Junes quickly turned the place into Yosuke's hell.

He shook his head, "Not really...I think everyone in town knows who I am, but most of the hate is really directed at my parents. Does suck that I have to watch my manners all the time though."

"I can relate."

"Hmm?"

"Back home I was the guy everyone in my family came to with their problems, even with my few friends I was always the stable square guy. I always had to be a certain way. Always had to keep a strong image and a clear head no matter what was bothering me."

He frowned suddenly, "Sounds a little familiar. Just to let you know man you don't have to be like that around me. I know you're tough, you can't hurt that image by venting occasionally."

I nodded, then put on a smile. It felt like our bond had strengthened a bit as we grew closer, "Same to you dude. It's not like you can hide from the awesome psychic might of my mind anyway."

He laughed, "True, your power is too much for me man." He stood, "I'm gonna get some more croquets. You want some?"

"Sure, to go, I'll share them with Yukiko later since she isn't going to be able to get out much."

He gave me a curious look and then nodded, "Right, that's a good idea."

Yukiko's Perspective

I woke up again in the evening, having gone back to sleep several times during the day, each time having up with that strange warm feeling that lulled my already tired body back into dreamland. None of the dreams I dreamed were anything like that room had been. My mind couldn't make up anything like that. It couldn't recreate that beautiful dress I'd been wearing, or the soft feel of the silk fabric or the gentle touch of that shawl-like robe caressing my arms. It had felt like I was wrapped up in good feelings. I couldn't help but want to go back to that dream that had not been a dream.

And that suit Bryan had been in, it had suit him so well. Simple, but a strange dynamic feel to it. Though just like any tuxedo, there was something about the cut of it, the lines were slightly skewed and dramatic, the cuffs subdued somehow and messy in a way that worked. The undershirt was white with a silver-blue tint that reminded me of his eyes. We'd been dressed for a ball, but...

I hid in my blanket at thought of dancing like that with him. It was just too embarrassing. I had taken dance lessons, but only in traditional Japanese dances, and those weren't for couples. Even though doing those steps always made some part of me feel pretty, it had always seemed a lonely way to dance. Maybe I could take some ballroom dance lessons?

I thrashed about, shaking the thoughts from my head. Why did I want to learn all of a sudden? To dance in that place, in that dress, with him in that suit? Ha! There I was, having nearly died or fallen into the hands of some creepy shadow guy, and I was trying to run off into some fantasy world again. I had to face forward and look to the future. That was obvious.

My thoughts wandered back to that warm feeling from the social link, when Bryan promised he would be there for me, help me. I snuggled in again at those feelings, such warm feelings that tempted me back to sleep. Even though I wanted to be self-reliant, it was still nice to have someone to take care of you. Someone who understood and would never judge, who was willing to bear all my pain if it meant I didn't have to feel it. It made me feel somewhat nostalgic, though I wasn't sure why.

I had more good dreams.

Next Chapter: Strength

In the next chapter, the Strength social link actually starts. I'm still unsure of the pacing between incidents, as if I try to recount every single random event between them it will inevitably make the story 55 or more chapters long. I think I'll be limiting most of the stuff between kidnappings to 2-3 chapters depending on how the flow goes and how much happens in the gap. I planned to include lots of social links in the story, but I'm not sure, I'll probably have to limit them to only a few. Ozawa Yumi (the Drama Club version of the Sun Arcana) is due for an appearance soon, and I wanted her link to be a part of the story, but I might not have space. So I'll ask you folks: Would you enjoy a separate fic (still in continuity) solely about the Ozawa Yumi link and Bryan's activities in the drama club? What other links would you want to see in at least separate fics (keeping in mind that Yukiko might be doing some of the links the MC had instead of Bryan)? The Dojima family and new versions of the Strength, Temperance, and Tower social links are going to be in the story, and so are the party links, so don't worry about those.

NOTICE!!!: My updating rate may be hampered due to the fact that my Internet connection suddenly up and quit on me. As you can see though I managed to get a connection long enough to get an update out. You'll also note that my writing rate didn't diminish, as I have actually posted two chapters at once this time. It may be at least a week before I can update again, or reply to any reviews, but I'll try and keep a steady pace with the writing part and post at least two chapters each update from here on.