Disclaimer: The author doesn't onw Okami or Persona 4. They belong to Capcom and ATLUS respectivley.
As always we thank our wonderful Beta-Reader, Timeless Neo Dreamer!
salomjesus3: And thank you for reading!
ARSLOTHES: Here ya go!
Onwards to the chapter!
Chapter 20: Shadows of the Heart
Amaterasu slammed into the mass of darkness and it stumbled back. She gave it no time to rest and bit her fangs into the nearest tentacle. The tentacle was oily and grimy and she almost gagged, but held firm. The creature writhed in pain and the appendage suddenly exploded. She started back, surprised. Suddenly her fur stood on edge and she quirked her head- before jumping back.
A massive spiked appendage slammed into the ground she stood on cracking it. She observed the creature carefully, brush ready. It squelched and writhed in unpleasant manner, and it certainly had an unpalatable taste. But she couldn't sense the same energy demons had on it. No, what worried her was that it felt more...human. That and the way that it screamed and cried...
Tachigami came at her call and she sliced the creature in half. The blade cleaved true and the creature fell into a heap of liquid. She padded towards a puddle and pawed at it. The sludge stuck to her fur and Amaterasu whined.
"Look out!"
Amaterasu didn't have time to turn before she felt fingers digging into her back. She snarled and turned her head back. A smaller version of the creature hung onto her, digging blunt fingers into her skin as it stared at her with a morose mask. She tried to buck the creature off but it hung true. With a growl she concentrated and shone her light, Divine Retribution flaring.
The creature shied at the fire...Before digging its fingers in more, drawing beads of blood. She yelped in confusion. Most things were burnt to cinders when she did that! Amaterasu suddenly heard groaning and saw more masks plopping up to the surface of the puddles.
She had to end this quickly. With a snarl she called on Tachi again. The creature on her back suddenly exploded into tiny droplets as it was rent to shreds. The mask fell onto the ground with a clatter. Amaterasu saw the sludge quiver and start to reform. She smashed the mask with her paw. The fragments glowed before fading away. So that was their weakness.
She glanced at the pools of sludge rising from the floor. More morose mask stared at her and reached for her with grasping hands. Amaterasu snarled. Snarling Beast answered and she took careful aim. A second later ink bullets slammed into the masks, denting them, but not destroying them causing the creatures to stumble back.
However they quickly regained their bearings and faced forward once more, the creatures soon stared at the large hissing object that had suddenly appeared and gathered around it. A bright point of light fizzed at one end and they stared in rapt fascination. One creature seemed to remember where it was and looked around. There was a deafening boom behind it and it fell onto the floor, body heavy. A green point of light stood in front of it.
"Goodbye!" Issun yelled.
A brief mark appeared in the creatures already dented mask and it shattered. The other creatures followed suit, ink bullets slamming into them. Amaterasu fell back onto the ground, Snarling Beast quieting down.
"You okay there, furball?" Issun asked, leaping onto her head. She huffed and looked back at her back. The spots of red slowly faded, but it was still sore.
"Eh, you've had worse!"
True, but still...She shook her head and turned back towards the children. Chie hobbled towards her.
"Amaterasu!"
Chie stumbled and Amaterasu quickly rushed to support the girl. Chie grunted as she leaned on Amaterasu.
"Heh, heh...Dammit," Chie scowled at the wound in her calf. Amaterasu looked at it for a moment. Before licking it.
"Hey, ow!" Chie cried out, clutching her leg. Amaterasu stared at the wound for a moment. Slowly it began to close and Chie blinked.
"...Huh. Neat," Chie said, brushing a hand over the spot the wound was before. Amaterasu nodded to herself and decided to make Souji cook something after this.
Chie slowly got up to her legs.
"...Thanks," Chie said softly, patting Amaterasu on the head. She rolled her eyes and licked Chie's hands. Chie chuckled and scratched Amaterasu behind the ears. Amaterasu growled in pleasure. Yes, right about there…
"Oi! C'mon Furball! Now's not the time!"
Amaterasu rolled her eyes but did as Issun asked, walking back towards the others. Chie turned towards the large glowing building- Junes, Amaterasu believed- before running after them.
Souji was still unconscious. And Mariko was still frozen by fear, though Amaterasu could smell the fear lessen. The bear known as Teddie stared at her in awe.
"Wowie…" the bear breathed, "How did you defeat those Shadows so easily!?"
She could feel Issun jumping in place.
"Heh, how? Bud, you're looking at Okami Amaterasu here! Defeating demons is easy for a goddess!"
But those creatures hadn't been demons. She was sure of- Amaterasu jerked in surprise as she felt inklings of Belief flowing towards her. Teddie stared at her, eyes sparkling. Amaterasu stared back until Chie kneeled down next to her.
"Right," Chie unrolled some gauze, her expression determined, "Anyone else here know how to apply first aid?"
Amaterasu laid down next to Souji as Chie went to work, unrolling a few bandages and opening some of that paste that smelled of herbs. Amaterasu flicked a tail and stared at Souji for a moment. And then she nipped at him. Souji woke up just as Chie was about to apply a bandage.
"Fire!"
"Gah!"
Souji blinked wildly and looked around. Amaterasu barked happily and plopped her head onto Souji's lap.
"Souji? Are you okay?" Chie asked.
Souji winced, looking at his hands.
"Well, I hurt like hell all over. But other than that…"
Chie took Souji's hands and started to wrap them in the smelly bandages. Souji stared at her as she did, wincing. Amaterasu watched this silently.
"Hmm, if Mari wakes up right now~" Issun whispered, chuckling.
Amaterasu flicked an ear dismissively and turned towards the girl in question. Mariko was awake, and sitting up. But she was completely silent, staring off at something only she could see. Amaterasu stood up and padded towards her. Mariko started and stared at Amaterasu.
"...What do you want?" Mariko asked sourly.
Amaterasu stared at the girl for a moment, before falling on top of her. Mariko let out an 'oof' and looked at Amaterasu.
"Get off," Mariko growled, trying to push Amaterasu off. Amaterasu didn't budge and after some useless effort, Mariko sighed. They sat there in silence for a moment and Mariko slowly started to rub Amaterasu.
"...I froze," Marie began.
Amaterasu stood up and meet Mariko straight in the face. Mariko stopped. Amaterasu stared. Before giving Mariko a hearty lick.
"Ugh, gah!"
Mariko spluttered while Amaterasu panted. Mariko pushed her off and this time Amaterasu rolled off the girl, lying on her back. Mariko stared at the goddess for a moment, before rubbing Amaterasu's belly. Amaterasu relaxed. Yes, this was a good day indeed…
"Marie," Amaterasu looked up and saw Souji standing upside down.
Amaterasu quickly rolled back to her feet. Souji's hands were covered in bandages but this didn't seem to stop him as he held onto his nodachi. Souji looked at Mariko, concerned.
"Are you-"
"I'm fine," Mariko stated briskly, standing up. Souji raised an eyebrow and Mariko returned with a blank face. Amaterasu glanced between the two.
"If you say so…" Souji said.
"I am," Mariko said firmly, before looking away. "Thanks for saving me though…"
Souji smiled. "Of course."
The two humans stood there for a moment, looking at each other. Amaterasu wondered if she would be blamed if she nudged one of them, just a little… Souji cleared his throat.
"We've got to get going."
"Where?" Mariko asked.
"We're going to get Yosuke back from that thing," Souji said firmly as they walked towards Chie and Teddie.
"What was that thing, by the way? There's no way that was a demon!" Issun was hopping towards them, having overhead Souji's question. Amaterasu barked in agreement, still remembering the taste and feel of those creatures. Those were definitely not demons.
"I keep telling you guys. Those things are Shadows!" Teddie said.
They all stared at him.
"What are Shadows?" Chie asked. Teddie opened his mouth...and didn't say anything.
Before anyone could comment on it the intercom blared to life again.
"I'd like to remind all our wonderful customers that our sale is limited time only. So…" the intercom crackled and screeched painfully, "...Get your asses moving! Hahaha!" There were more screeching sounds from the store and Souji turned towards them.
"We need to move, now! They'll be time later for explanations!"
Amaterasu was already halfway to the store when the others started to run, and she burst through the doors. Or at least she'd like to have. Instead she hit her head, the odd glass doors unyielding.
"Are you okay?" Chie asked, catching up to her. Amaterasu growled, looking at the door. With a whir, they slid open.
"Onwards," Souji ordered, stepping into store. Mariko and Teddie followed. She sighed and followed suit.
Amaterasu had only been in the market called Junes once or twice, but even she knew that this Junes was not the real one, but rather a malign copy. Just one look inside confirmed that much, as unlike the neatly kept market, this place looked like a horde of imps had a drunken party in it. All over the shelves where goods had been kept were now overturned, their contents spilling all over the ground, while the fireless lights were dimmer, looking as if their lights would die at any moment.
Not to mention she could tell this place was infested with those 'Shadows' as the strange bear, Teddie, called them. The smell was not something she'd mistaken. Amaterasu padded into the building carefully, the floor slick underneath her. The children followed her, wide eyed and open mouthed.
"I know people say that supermarket's are the root of evil, but..." Souji began.
"What the heck is with these place?!" Che asked aloud.
"What do you mean?" Marie asked.
"I mean, Saki's house, Junes…" Chie shook her head, "they all look so…" Chie hesitated.
"Twisted?" Souji prompted. Chie nodded. "Yeah, twisted! I mean, this place looks evil!"
"This place is reality for those inside."
They all turned around. Teddie blinked and started to blush, rubbing the back of his head.
"E-er...Why are you guy's staring at Teddie?"
"That thing you just said. Say it again," Souji asked.
"Er, this place is reality for those inside?"
Amaterasu thought for a moment before looking around. Yes, she could definitely see that now…
Chie scratched her head.
"I don't get it."
"I think he means that the people in this world create it."
Now everyone turned towards Mariko. She fidgeted under the sudden gazes but otherwise continued.
"Like, if someone were to fall in here, like that Saki chick. Maybe the world forms itself around them."
Chie stared at Mariko, trying to comprehend what she was saying. Souji however nodded.
"I have a feeling you're right," Souji said.
"But, if this place is created by people, then why is it so…?" Chie stopped. Souji shook his head.
"I don't know. But I do have a feeling that that doppelganger has something to do with it."
"Jeez, do you guys always talk this much?" Issun leapt off her back and towards the children. "I mean, come on! We've been standing here doin nothing for like ten minutes!"
"We're entering an unknown location-" Souji began.
"Pft! You've only taken a step! I say less chatter and more doing!" Issun took a massive leap and landed on Souji's shoulder, staring at him. Souji stared back before nodding.
"Right." Souji turned towards everyone else. "Questions can come later. Right now we save Yosuke."
Chie nodded. "Right!"
"Then let's go," Mariko said, reaching for a naginata...that was no longer there. "Dammit, where-?" Marie hissed.
"You probably dropped it in the fire," Issun said. Marie glowered at nothing in particular.
Amaterasu stopped pawing at the odd fake fruits scattered on the floor and walked up to Mariko. Mariko blinked and stared at her.
"Sunny-?"
The naginata plopped itself into Marie's hands and for a moment there was some tense fumbling. Mariko finally grasped the weapon carefully and sighed.
"Were did you-?" Mariko began. Amaterasu panted, smiling.
And then there was a scream and a mass of black sludge rounded the corner. The blank mask saw them and with another scream it hurled itself at them. Amaterasu snarled and was ready to launch herself at the beast when her fur stood up on end. Not a second later a bolt of lightning soared through the air above her, hitting the creature head on. The monster screamed and writhed but twisted towards them once more when the lightning stopped.
A foot slammed into it's mask as Chie vaulted over Amaterasu. The goddess gaped at the girl. Chie rolled when she hit the floor and brought her foot up for another kick. The monster twisted out of the way and tried to grab the girl. Souji's sword sunk into it, carving the mask from its body. The mask clattered onto the floor and a moment later both Souji and Chie were stomping on it. Soon the fine powder on the ground faded and the sludge evaporated. The children breathed heavily and Amaterasu tilted her head, unsure of what to do.
"See! What did I tell ya? Right now's action time!" Issun yelled.
Souji nodded. "You heard him. Let's get out of here with Yosuke, quickly."
Chie grinned. "Right!"
The children knew their way around this odd market better than she did, even if it wasn't the real thing. So Amaterasu allowed them to lead while she followed. They walked through narrow corridors, empty broken shelves lining constantly around them. They maintained a swift pace but this building wasn't rooted either and Amaterasu knew that if they weren't careful they could run all they wanted without seeing any scenery change.
"Yosuke!" Chie cried out.
"Are you sure you want to be doing that?" Mariko muttered, "Maybe we don't want to attract attentio-"
"Man, this stinks…" Yosuke's voice echoed out as the intercom flared to life. But this was the real one. Amaterasu could tell. They stopped.
"Yosuke?" Chie whispered.
"Why the hell did we have to move anyway? We were doing fine back home!" Yosuke was clearly frustrated. "Why…?"
The intercom crackled and Yosuke's voice faded away. Souji looked sympathetic. "Moving is always tough."
Chie looked slightly sad.
"I've never moved, but-"
"So the guy didn't always live here?" Issun, Amaterasu had noted, had an uncanny bluntness to him. It was one of the things that made him refreshing...and at times annoying.
Chie blinked.
"No. He moved here like six months ago."
"Why?"
"Well, his dad got a job…" Chie said.
"Huh. I don't see why he's so annoyed about that," Issun said.
"Well…" Chie hesitated. Amaterasu perked her ears and growled.
"Furball?" Issun asked. A moment later a mass of sludge pooled around the corner.
"Another one?" Chie glared. Souji held up his nodachi.
"Let's get the advantage before it notices."
"Right!"
Chie and Souji ran towards the Shadow. Amaterasu's fur prickled as she realized something wasn't quite right. The mask of the Shadow watched the two children run towards it. And then it floated into the air, the sludge flying up and coalescing around it. Souji and Chie slid to a halt as the sludge became more solid, hardening and turning into an egg with pink and black stripes. The object hung in the air before launching itself towards the children at breakneck speed. Amaterasu wasted no time and rushed over the floor, leaping off the wall. The monster was only a foot away from Souji and Chie when Amaterasu landed in front of them.
Divine Retribution whirled to life and the shadow slammed into the reflector. Amaterasu shouldered the blow and let the shadow bounce off rather than counter attack. Divine Retribution shrunk and Amaterasu hit turned her head to face the monster. A mass of teeth snapped the air inches from her snout. Amaterasu yelped and bounced back. The Shadow now had a massive human mouth, large square pearly whites snapping the air.
"W-What the hell?" Chie yelped.
"Look's like there are different kinds of Shadows!" Souji said.
"You don't say? Furball, watch out!"
Amaterasu narrowly avoided another she didn't avoid was the bulbous red tongue that shot out of the Shadow's mouth, licking her hard enough for her paws to lift off the ground. Amaterasu fell back onto the floor, her fur sticky with slobber. Amaterasu gagged and the Shadow smacked it's large lips appreciatively, tongue shooting out for another lick.
"Oh no you don't!" Souji slashed at the tongue. The nodachi cut through half the bulging muscle before getting stuck. Souji's grunted as black ichor spilled from the now screaming monster.
"Not this again-!"
The Shadow lunged towards Souji's head, square teeth flashing. Amaterasu concentrated and made her stroke. In a shower of ichor the tongue was cut in two and the Shadow screamed, slamming into an empty shelf.
"Duck!" Mariko yelled
The air turned sharp and ducked low to the ground as a bolt of lightning slammed into the Shadow. The Shadow didn't writhe so much as it exploded, splattering them with black ichor. Amaterasu stood up to her paws, black blood dripping off her once pristine coat.
This meant a bath...Amaterasu whined and Chie started shaking herself in disgust.
"Eww, gross, gross!" Chie said, trying to wipe the blood of her.
Souji adjusted his glasses, dripping with black…'shadow blood'.
"It exploded," he noted.
"I didn't put that much power in it!" Mariko said as she walked over to them, screwing her face up.
"Wow you guys are bloody."
"No need to rub it in!" Chie bit back, "Besides, you were the one to zap it!"
"I didn't mean for it to explode!" Mariko shot back.
"That Shadow was weak to Zio."
Mariko and Chie turned towards Teddie.
"Zio?" Mariko asked. Teddie nodded. "Yeah, Zio! Some Shadows are really weak to certain attacks, and I guess this one doesn't like Zio."
"...You didn't think about telling us this sooner?" Issun leapt off Souji's shoulder and onto Amaterasu's head. His glow was dimmed by the sludge covering him.
"Well...uh…" Teddie looked sheepish when he realized that. "I guess I kinda...forgot?"
"And is there anything else you forgot?" Issun asked with fake cheer. Teddie thought for a moment.
"Nope, I don't think so!" his tone was a bit too cheerful for their liking.
"Great. So from now on Mari-chan zaps monsters. And speaking of zapping!" Issun turned towards Souji and Amaterasu yawned. "Why aren't you using that person-whatever?"
Souji rubbed the back of his head.
"It takes time to summon Izanagi. And I can't just keep him manifested forever. I do that and I'll start running on fumes."
Issun hummed.
"Well, make sure to use it when we're near that other Yosuke."
"You think that he'll cause trouble?" Chie asked.
"Chie-chan, there's no way in Yomi that he won't."
Amaterasu nodded. It was the way things were. Nothing ever went easy. Souji nodded.
"Will do."
Amaterasu rolled her eyes and flashed Divine Retribution. The black blood stains started to smoke and fade.
"Whoa!"
Amaterasu grabbed Souji and Chie's hands using her Devout Beads and started to drag them. Time was of the essence! Despite that, several more minutes passed as they navigated through the veritable maze of aisles and shelves.
"How big is this place?!" Chie cried out amongst the empty broken shelves.
Amaterasu growled in agreement. They were getting nowhere. Amaterasu stopped. If they weren't getting through this way...Amaterasu turned towards Souji and motioned with her paw. Souji raised an eye and knelt down towards her. Amaterasu leapt onto his back and launched off it, sending Souji into the ground.
Amaterasu flew into the air, above the shelves. Once she was high enough, she brought out her brush, time stopping around her as the world seemingly changed into a painting, yet she was still fully aware. Scanning the surroundings, she quickly found what she was looking for and 'pocketed' her brush, the world quickly returning to normal as time resumed. Amaterasu fell back onto Souji's back and barked.
"You found a way, furball?"
Amaterasu nodded and Issun cheered.
"Alright!"
Souji groaned and lifted his head up.
"You're welcome," Souji said. Amaterasu smiled at him, licking his face in thanks before getting up and walking forward, barking at the children. They followed her after a moment and they ran through the twisting corridors. In the background she heard the intercom crackle to life once more.
"Why the hell are they blaming me?! It's not like I wanted to come out here! And besides, it's not like Junes is my fault. And it's not my fault that they happen to be going bankrupt…"
"We'd like to remind all our shoppers that our sale won't last forever. Make the most of this deal and shop till you drop!"
Amaterasu tuned out the voices. At the moment they weren't important. She turned the corner and skidded to a halt. Amongst the shelves were two glowing boxes. They audibly hummed and she growled.
"Is that a vending machine?" Amaterasu turned to see Chie staring at the boxes curiously. Mariko hung back, warily eyeing the humming boxes. And Souji stepped forward, unheeding of any danger. Souji put an ear against one of the boxes and knocked on it's side.
"...Seems like a vending machine," Souji said after a moment.
"How can you tell?" Chie asked.
"It says so on the side right here," Souji knocked on the machine once more.
"Great. Can we go now?" Mariko asked. Amaterasu was inclined to agree. Souji, Chie, nor even Issun seemed to listen.
"Whatsa vending machine?" Issun asked, hopping onto Souji's shoulder.
"It's something that dispenses food and other things in exchange for money," Souji explained.
"So, what? Like a fake shop?"
"In a way, yes," Souji said.
"So there's just a bunch of goodies in that box?" Issun checked.
"Yeah?" Souji blinked.
"And nobody just breaks the thing and runs for it?" Issun asked, suspicious.
"What? No, of course not!" Chie said.
"Huh. Strange," Issun muttered, "Anyway, what are you waiting for? Grab something from it!"
Souji glanced at the box.
"I'm not sure that a vending machine in this place could be trusted…"
"What's the worst that could happen? C'mon!"
Souji stared at the box. Amaterasu whined, indicating that maybe they should get going.
"I don't think I really want to spend money on something so uncertain-" Souji began. Chie's foot slammed into the box as she let out a fierce cry. Chie immediately winced and started to massage her foot.
"Why-?" Mariko began.
"I thought it would work," Chie said. Amaterasu started when the machine began to rattle and shake. Everyone else took a step back and looked at the box warily. The clunking and rattling grew and with a final thump the machine became silent.
Souji looked at the dispenser slot...and saw a couple of cans had come out. Taking them out, he looked at the label.
"Hmm…"
"What is it?" Chie asked.
"Some TaP, orange juice, and…" Souji frowned at the last one, "Diet Jack Frost."
"Diet Jack what?" Chie asked.
"Say here on the nutritional display that the calorie count is 'Hee-Ho'," Souji said with a straight face. Amaterasu tilted her head. An awkward silence descended on the group, and as if to add to the atmosphere, a random bit of wind blew through the halls.
"...anyway, since we got something out of this one, let's see what we get out of the other one!" Issun quickly said, hopping over to the second vending machine.
"Alright furball, give it a nice whack!"
Amaterasu sighed slightly, but complied. The sooner they were done here the better. Striking the box with Divine Retribution, the box shook just like the first one. Unlike the first one though, the metal cylinder flew out of the machine, and landed on the ground. Then it shook and stood up.
"What the…?!" Chie managed to gasp...right before the can opened, and a small fountain of familiar black sludge gushed out. The sludge rocketed into the air and started to form the familiar shapes of those mouth Shadows.
"Marie!" Souji called out. Mariko nodded and threw her hands out. Lightning sparked and hit the Shadows. They screamed and exploded. This was the good thing. The bad part was the vending machine exploding as lightning struck it as well. There was a deafening ring in her ears as the intercom crackled to life.
"I'd like to remind all customers that maiming, shoplifting, and especially vandalism are frowned upon in Junes. So prepare to die! Security!"
Amaterasu heard a rumble and turned her head. A torrent of sludge poured out from underneath the broken shelves, pooling and coalescing. Amaterasu took a step back, growling as the sludge coalesced into multiple Shadows, more sludge pouring out.
"Right, I say we run!" Souji said.
Amaterasu hesitated for a moment, before nodding and turning around, urging the children to run. They did so and she ran after them, nipping at their heels to keep them running. The hoard of Shadows let out a deafening scream and rushed forward. Straight into a line of trees. Amaterasu turned back to admire her handiwork, the ink on her brush still wet. The Shadows clawed at the trees and started to tear them apart. Amaterasu growled, and more trees erupted from the ground underneath the Shadows.
"Furball, come on!"
Amaterasu turned to see Souji beckoning towards her, Issun hopping furiously on his shoulder. Chie was staring at the tree's in wonder. Amaterasu nodded and rushed forward, barking. The children after her and she focused on the path she had seen. She heard the roar of Shadows in the distance. Amaterasu concentrated, thinking fast. Was it left or right? ...Left it was! Amaterasu made an abrupt turn and the children moved to follow her. In front of her were a flight of stairs. She barked and stopped.
"Furball says to move it!" Issun translated.
Mariko ran up the stairs and Chie followed her, glancing at Amaterasu for a moment. Souji stopped next to her.
"Ammy?" Amaterasu growled and motioned for him to go.
"I'm not leaving you behind," Souji said firmly.
Amaterasu rolled her eyes and grabbed the boy by his uniform, hauling him up the stairs. Not a moment later the Shadows pooled around the stairs, screaming. A thicket of thorny trees blocked their way and their prey had already escaped. Slowly the Shadows disappeared, fading away. And the floor was silent once more.
Amaterasu let go of Souji and sat down at the edge of the stairs, resting. The children sat on the ground, panting.
"Well, that was a thing…" Souji groaned.
"You're telling me," Chie panted. Mariko stared down the stairs warily.
"It doesn't look like they're coming up," Mariko said after a moment. Souji sat up straight.
"Look," he pointed.
This small floor was absent of broken shelves. Instead empty pedestals lined the room. The walls were empty shelves, cold mist pouring out of them. Another flight of stairs laid on the other side of the floor.
"Look's like we're in the grocery section," Souji said, standing up.
Amaterasu absently scratched herself before getting up and barking.
"Furball's right. We've got to hurry," Issun leapt onto Amaterasu. Chie helped Marie up.
"Catch."
Chie turned towards Souji and barely caught the thrown can.
"Hope you don't mind TaP," Souji said, handing the orange can to Mariko, who held it curiously.
"Why…?"
"Might as well enjoy them right now," Souji said, opening the light blue can he held.
It hissed and Souji stared into the can dubiously. Chie opened her own can and chugged it down. Marie looked at the can, confused, before picking up the naginata and closing one eye, carefully aiming. Souji took a sip and paused for moment, before taking another sip.
"Interesting…" Souji said after a moment.
Amaterasu pawed at his legs and Souji looked down at her. Amaterasu looked up, ears against her head. Souji stared at her before shrugging and placing the can on the floor.
"I'm not sure how you're going to drink from it-" The top of the can was cleaved free and clattered on the floor. White liquid quivered inside the metal can and Amaterasu stared at it for a moment.
"Uh, Furball?" Issun began.
Amaterasu's ears perked up, and true enough, the intercom crackled to life again.
"Why isn't anyone calling? Why aren't they answering? I thought we were friends…" came Yosuke's voice. "Why'd we have to come here anyway? I never wanted this…" the voice seemed sad. Sad and tired. "Sometimes I wish I could just run away from it all. At least then I wouldn't have to deal with everyone lumping the blame on me for something I didn't do…"
Amaterasu watched as Chie crumpled her can slowly. Mariko and Souji watched the girl carefully. Chie took a breath.
"Alright. We're grabbing Yosuke. And then I'm going to-"
"Hug him?" Mariko said drolly. Chie blinked.
"What? No! I'm going to kick his ass!"
"Right," Mariko raised an eyebrow. Chie waved a hand.
"Alright, maybe not kick his ass. But still…"
"Yosuke has people looking after him," Souji supplied.
Chie nodded. "Yeah!"
Souji smiled. "Truly you are a good friend, Satonaka."
"Chie."
Souji blinked and Chie chuckled.
"I think we can call each other by our first names, yeah?" Chie punched Souji's shoulder. "Besides, you're stuck with me as a friend too, bub!"
"Woe is me," Souji said with a grin.
"Well, let's get going," Marie said impatiently, holding the ruined mess of the orange can in her hand. Chie nodded, serious.
"Right."
They walked towards the stairs. Amaterasu hesitated, before grabbing the blue can and tipping it back. An indescribable taste that brought to mind snow and cheer flew down her throat, before she guzzled it quickly and tossed the can away once she was done, licking her muzzle. And then she slurped the puddle of orange juice from the floor.
"Jeez, Furball! C'mon! Stop being a pig!" Amaterasu panted and ran after the children. They walked up the stairs hurriedly and as they did the store got darker and she grew more wary as she felt the presence.
They cleared the flight of stairs, entering what appeared to be the back room of a manager's office. It was of course contorted to resembling a cave, but the walls and ground were the same material as the rest of the store. At the end of the room the other Yosuke stood next to a large desk, clapping slowly, his yellow eyes glowing malevolently.
Instead of the Uniform he wore before, he was dressed in a bright orange cloak that trailed to his knees. Underneath he wore a sharp looking unbuttoned black suit and black pants. His arms were bandaged and his hands were gloved. From his neck hung thick gold chains, the words Junes hanging upon the largest. His face was shadowed by a hood and they could only see his smirk and his eyes.
"I was wondering when you'd show up, hehehe…"
"Who ordered the old dirty bastard?" Souji said, unsheathing his nodachi without preamble. The other Yosuke laughed.
"You're a real hoot, you know that?" The other Yosuke sneered. "I'd say it's a shame to kill you, but-"
"Where's Yosuke?!" Chie snapped. The other Yosuke snapped his fingers.
"You're looking at him, babe." Chie shuddered at the tone. "I mean the real one!"
"I AM the real one!"
"Yeah right, and I'm the Emperor of Nippon!" Issun piped in. "Now tell us the truth, or we'll make you tell us!" Amaterasu nodded, growling. She could identify the smell on this doppelganger, and it smelled like the Shadows they had already encountered.
The Shadow pinched the bridge of his nose. "If you aren't going to listen to me, then…" The Shadow's arm snapped out and rolled the chair at the desk around. The real Yosuke was sitting there limply, head lolled.
"Yosuke!" Chie called out. Yosuke stirred.
"Guys…?" The Shadow slapped Yosuke hard. Mariko grabbed Chie's arm and Souji gritted his teeth. Amaterasu waited patiently, still remembering the glass the Shadow had held.
"Tell them," the Shadow said. Yosuke looked at the Shadow with contempt.
"G-g-go to hell!" Yosuke yelled. The Shadow stared at him for a moment and Yosuke glared back. Yosuke flinched as the Shadow slammed his hands into the seat next to his head.
"Quit acting like such a big shot! We know you're just a loser! A loser without any friends or talent!"
"Yosuke, don't listen to it," Souji said.
"Yeah, we're here for you!" Chie said in agreement.
The Shadow laughed. "C'mon, you guys are here for him? Tell me, if this guy wasn't such a goofball would either of you be anywhere near him? The only way to block out the pain of isolation is by putting on a good show and acting like a dumbass! Besides if you knew the real reason we came to this world-"
"He came here for closure," Mariko said bluntly. She was really starting to get annoyed with this thing.
"Oh, she speaks? Well, let me tell you the truth!"
"Sh-Shut up…"
"He just came here because it sounded like a good time! What else was there to do in a shithole filled with bumpkins!" the Shadow laughed and raised a finger, "But a world inside a TV, that's exciting. Important! Finally, we could be the cool guy, the important one! We could be the hero! But instead we're still stuck as the comic relief! Saki's death? Just an excuse!"
"Shut the hell up!" Yosuke screamed.
The Shadow paused.
"...heh. Ahahahaha! Why so panicked?" the Shadow sneered, thrusting his face inches from Yosuke's, "I thought I was just spouting bullshit...Or maybe...Maybe I do know what you're thinking. Why? Caus-"
Amaterasu took her chance and used Power Slash on the Shadow. An invisible blade struck diagonally, scoring a clean cut in the Shadow's back. The Shadow's screams were mixed with Yosuke's and Amaterasu started in horror when she smelled human blood mix with the ichor of the Shadow.
"Y-Yosuke!" Chie cried out. Yosuke slumped forward and she could see blood drip down the chair back. The Shadow laughed raspily.
"L-Looks like the mutt made my point for me. I am you. And you are me!" Amaterasu felt Issun tense up.
"Wait, isn't that what-?" Souji looked similarly surprised.
"...Shut up…"
The Shadow paused and started at Yosuke in disbelief.
"Still? What more evidence do you-?"
"I said shut up!" Yosuke's head snapped up and he shouted at the Shadow, tears in his eyes.
"Screw that! You aren't me! There's no way in hell you're me, you son of a bitch!" The room echoed for a moment. Yosuke's voice was raw and he breathed deeply. The Shadow looked stunned.
For a moment Amaterasu hoped that this was a case of possession where the demon could be exorcised with conviction. They were the easiest to deal with. But alas-
The Shadow howled, laughing.
"That's right, say it again!"
Yosuke faltered, before gritting his teeth.
"You're not me! You're nothing like me!"
The Shadow started to laugh again.
"I'm not you, huh? Then that means I'm me now, right!?" The Shadow then screamed at the top of his lungs.
Amaterasu felt the surge of power just before it hit and a dark miasma flooded the room as Shadow Yosuke exploded, his screams intermingled with Yosuke's.
"Yosuke!" Chie screamed. Amaterasu stared hard into the miasma but couldn't find anything. However, a part of the miasma suddenly cleared and Yosuke stood there, his back facing them, the cut from her Power Slash still dripped with blood.
"Yosuke?" Souji called out hesitantly. Chie stepped forward and Amaterasu snapped at Chie's feet.
"Amaterasu!?" Amaterasu snarled and stood in front of the children. Whatever that was was not Yosuke!
Yosuke tensed and turned towards them. His eyes were a dull yellow. "Y-Yosuke-?" Chie was interrupted by a voice from the ceiling.
"I am a Shadow, the True Self!"
Slowly, they all looked up. A gigantic monster loomed, grinning at them.
"And I'll crush everything that bores me...Starting with you!"
"Furbal-!" Amaterasu had learned her lesson from the Spider Queen and ran to the side, using the Devout Beads to drag the children with her. The monster slammed into the ground, shattering the panels.
"C'mon, why are you running?!" The Shadow crowed out, turning around to face them.
Amaterasu had seen many demons in her life, and the Shadow wasn't even in the top hundred of horrifying. It was a black humanoid figure from the torso up, a caricature of a human wearing a shinobi shozoku. A blood red scarf fluttered from it's neck and two yellow shurikens glared at them from an otherwise featureless face. It's torso twisted like a wrung out wash cloth and the monster gestured towards them with yellow hands bigger than a bear.
"You really are just snivelling cowards, eh?" The Shadow laughed. Amaterasu felt power rise from behind her and heard the sound of glass shattering.
"Izanagi!" Souji stepped beside her, Izanagi looming over him.
"What have you done to Yosuke?" Souji yelled.
"I AM Yosuke, partner! And you're an eyesore!" The Shadow's lower body started to turn to face them and the floor shook with each step. The Shadow was human from the waist up. But where there should have been legs the body instead fused into another. Below the human was a mottled green and black frog that stood five times taller than Amaterasu. It's massive limbs ended in human like webbed paws and two eye stalks rose from where it's face should have been. Frogs, as Amaterasu was familiar with them, did not grin but this one has a v-shaped maw of sharp teeth wider than its body. The Shadow stomped towards them.
Amaterasu narrowed her eyes and barked. Underneath the Shadow's body the real Yosuke walked towards them, eyes vacant.
"Yosuke!" Chie called out. Yosuke didn't say anything.
"It looks like a possession," Mariko said grimly.
"What do we do?" Chie asked.
"Exorcism, babe!" Issun yelled to be heard. "When dealing with demonic possession you always go exorcism!"
"Well how do we do that?" Che said, eyeing the Shadow warily as it came closer.
"Leave that to Furball and me, babe! What you got to do is stomp this thing into the ground without killing Yosuke!"
"How?"
"Don't ask me!"
Amaterasu barked and readied herself. Exorcisms were tricky businesses. One had to be extra careful when-
"Outta the way! It's time to finish you all!" The Shadow leapt high into the air towards them. Amaterasu yelped in surprise when she saw that. How did something so big move so fast?!
"Scatter!" Issun yelled.
They all did and barely avoided the Shadow slamming into the ground. What they didn't avoid was the gale of wind that was expunged from it. The wind tore at her coat and she narrowed her eyes. Issun was clinging to her fur and yelling. Amaterasu had felt stronger winds before, and she was fine. The others weren't.
Chie stumbled to her knees as the winds hit her, blocking her face with her arms. And Souji and Mariko- The wind seemed to slice through Izanagi and she could smell blood blossom on Souji's skin as he fell to the ground with Izanagi. Marie rolled across the floor like a rag doll and came to a halt against a wall.
"Oh no! Souji and Marie are weak to Garu!" Amaterasu heard Teddie and turned to see the bear hiding next to the desk.
"Is that all you guys got? Boring!" the Shadow laughed gleefully. Amaterasu snarled and lunged towards the Shadow, Snarling Beast growling. The Shadow twisted to face her.
"I'll crush everything that bores me!"
Souji felt like an onion. That was cut and slightly teary. He gasped as he got to his feet. What the hell was that? It felt like the wind had cut him straight to the bone! Izanagi grunted as they got up, his coat in tatters.
"Souji!"
Souji turned to see Chie running up to him.
"Are you okay? Y-You're bleeding!"
Souji looked at his arms. Then he looked up. The room was brightly lit, and that was why he could see the Shadow writhe around as Amaterasu laid into it, biting its body as her weapon sawed into it. Suddenly the Shadow slapped Amaterasu hard and she was sent flying, skidding over the ground.
"Pain in the ass! Now, diaghghaghg!"
Izanagi's lightning struck true and the Shadow writhed, screaming. Izanagi stopped the lightning just as quickly and the Shadow slumped to the glanced at Chie.
"Looks like he's weak to lightning. Go grab Marie!" Chie hesitated before nodding. "Right!"
Souji turned back to the Shadow.
"Now I'm going to-"
A wrench flew through the air and he barely deflected it. His blade rung and the real Yosuke rushed towards him, his other wrench raised over his head high. Souji blocked the wrench with his nodachi and they both struggled. Souji stared into Yosuke's blank eyes. Then he glanced to the side to see Chie looked between them, torn.
"Go!" Souji yelled.
Chie nodded and ran off. Souji turned back to Yosuke and pushed. They both disengaged and Souji sheathed his nodachi. He brandished the sheathed nodachi at Yosuke.
"Yosuke, snap out of it!" Yosuke started to walk forward. "C'mon, I don't want to do this!" Souji gritted his teeth as Yosuke stepped closer.
"Really? Well I want to do this!" Izanagi blocked the Shadow's hands, naginata struggling against shurikens as Shadow Yosuke loomed over Yosuke.
"I'm coming after you with everything I got! So I hope you're ready, partner!"
Amaterasu got up to her feet and stared at the battle ensuing in front of her.
Souji and Yosuke's battle was mirrored and enhanced by Izanagi and the Shadow. Souji swung his sheathed weapon with skill, but without power so as to not hurt Yosuke. The tranced Yosuke showed no such inhibition and went all out in trying to brain Souji. The boy was surprising fast and his arms blurred as he swung his weapons.
But Yosuke's weapons were simple tools and the boy lacked Souji's training, which showed. Their battle was a standstill. The battle between Izanagi and Souji was anything but.
Izanagi swung his naginata around in dangerous arcs, lightning sparking off him. The Persona gouged the ground with his bladed geta as he danced the deadly dance of naginatajutsu. Each strike was meant, if not to maim, than to injure. The Shadow laughed while dodging Izanagi's attacks, waving its arms wildly.
"This! This is it! Destroying everything is what I live for!" The Shadow cackled.
The Shadow's attacks were tinged with the fell wind from before and lightning and wind clashed and neutralized one another. For a faint moment she remembered Gekigami's and Kazegami's arguments and she felt a small wave of nostalgia at the memory, but quickly shook it off. This was not a simple argument between two of her fellow gods. It was a matter of life and death for Souji and most likely, Yosuke too.
"Amaterasu!" Amaterasu turned to see Chie running up to her, supporting Mariko.
"Hey, babe! Are you two okay?" Issun asked.
Chie nodded and turned to Mariko. "Marie-chan's hurt pretty bad though-"
"I'm fine!" Mariko waved Chie off irritably. A trickle of blood ran down the side of her face and Mariko wobbled on her feet.
"Just fine."
Amaterasu traded a glance with Issun. Before they could do anything they heard a loud crash. They whirled around to see Izanagi on the floor, the Shadow trying to crush him with its shurikens as Izanagi blocked with his naginata. Souji was in a similar position, Yosuke hanging over him and trying to brain him with a wrench. Wind and Lightning flew off both of them and nullified each other once again.
"Souji!" Chie ran towards the fight and this time Amaterasu didn't stop her. Instead she watched the fight carefully.
"I know that look, Furball. You've got an idea!"
Amaterasu flicked an ear and turned towards Mariko.
"...What?" Mariko asked. Amaterasu grinned.
"Ha, it this all you've got! Boring!"
The Shadow increased its pressure and Izanagi struggled. Souji could feel the pressure in his own arms as Izanagi struggled against the Shadow. This was a problem as Yosuke was still trying to brain him. Yosuke raised an arm up high and Souji's hand shot out and grabbed it. Yosuke struggled, staring at him blankly.
"What's the matter? What happened to all that fight? Your attacks are nothing!" The Shadow laughed and he felt the wind increase. The Shadow stared down at him malevolently.
"It's time to crush you!" The burst of wind was sudden and cut through Souji and Izanagi. Izanagi grunted and Souji gasped, his back arching in pain. Through blurry eyes he saw Yosuke twirl the wrench, before aiming for his head.
"Hwata!"
Souji blinked as Yosuke disappeared from view. Souji mentally replayed the past few seconds. Yosuke was about to splatter his brains when a green blur…
Souji turned his head just in time to see Chie get up to her feet. Yosuke was laying on the ground, motionless.
"And stay down!" Chie yelled. The hair on the back of his neck suddenly rose and he got up to his knees.
"Chie-!"
A blast of wind sent him flying and the only reason he didn't hit the wall was because Izanagi got in the way. Chie whirled around.
"Souji-?" A giant hand slammed into her and closed itself around her. The Shadow brought Chie up to it's face.
"Pain in the ass…!" the Shadow growled. Chie struggled.
"Let go of me, let go-"
Souji's blood chilled as the Shadow squeezed and Chie screamed. Souji gritted his teeth and got up to his legs. Izanagi rushed towards the Shadow, blade arcing. The Shadow snapped towards them.
"Get outta my sight!"
Another blast of wind hit them straight on. Izanagi threw an arm up to block it. Souji bit back a yell as the wind hit. Izanagi flew back, feet gouging the floor. Souji's arm fell to his side numb, and Izanagi glanced between Souji, the Shadow, and Chie as the Persona was starting to fade.
"How long can you survive this!?" The Shadow yelled, only to cry out.
Chie started to struggled again.
"You bitch, did you just bite m-aghg! Oh, that's it!"
Chie screamed as the Shadow squeezed again and the Shadow's other hand reached for her head.
"Chie!" Souji yelled, Izanagi melding into his voice.
The Shadow laughed at what it was doing, but at that moment Snarling Beast whirled through the air and slammed into the Shadow's arm. The Shadow grunted at the impact, and Souji wasn't sure why, but at the moment it hit he saw the air warp and for a brief glimpse saw...a mouse…?
Snarling Beast whirled away and the Shadow's arm fell off, black blood pouring from the wound.
"AGHGHG!" The Shadow screamed, clutching it's stump. Chie fell from the falling hand, unconscious. A streak of white flew through the air and suddenly Amaterasu was next to him, Chie in her teeth.
"Ammy-?" he blinked. In the all the commotion he had actually forgotten the Goddess was there too.
"Get your head in the game, Souji!" Issun tossed him a slip of paper and Souji caught it instinctively. It was an exorcism slip.
"On our signal you slam that into the real Yosuke as hard as possible!" Issun yelled.
"What signal-?"
"You…" The Shadow glared at them while standing unsteadily, "You...You're seriously pissing me off! It's time to end this!"
The Shadow lifted its remaining hand and the shuriken started to spin rapidly.
"I am a Shadow, the True-!" A bolt of lightning struck the Shadow and it started to convulse. Marie concentrated, both hands out.
"Now, furball!"
Amaterasu barked and Snarling Beast suddenly flew past the Shadow. The rosary around Amaterasu spun and shot out at the Shadow, wrapping around it. Marie fell to the ground, the lightning gone. This didn't matter because now the rosary was firmly wrapped around the Shadow, burning it. The Shadow screamed and Souji saw Yosuke getting up to his feet unsteadily, clutching his head.
Souji ran on autopilot and leapt to his feet, running at Yosuke. Izanagi rushed towards the Shadow. Souji's legs pumped and he wondered how he was supposed to use an exorcism slip in the first place.
Oh well, here went nothing.
Souji gritted his teeth and pulled his fist back. Yosuke looked up, yellow eyes staring at him in confusion, just in time for Souji's fist to slam into his stomach. At the same time Izanagi swung with a roar and cleaved the Shadow, the air warping around the blade. The exorcism slip went off, and the world went white.
The last thing he saw was the Shadow as it fell to the ground in a small storm of brilliant flowers, and amidst the odd sight he heard a wolf howl triumphantly.
Boss Battle Finished! Cue Victory Howl!
Souji's very good at knocking himself out along with the bosses. Hopefully he and the others grow outta it.
The Junes dungeon was short, but what else would it be? Not only is it the first dungeon, but it's a supermarket, not a bloody castle or something (Prince of Junes besides the point.)
What happened to Yosuke? What happened to the Shadow? What happened to everyone? Is the sale still on? Tune in next time to find out! Remember to review!