A/N: Key
#...Izanagi
$...Nestis
%...Pixie
^...Sandman
&...Apsaras
*...Omoikane
()()()()()()()()()()
"Hi Souji! I'm Ryotaro Dojima, and this is my wife, Chisato. I'm your uncle!"
"Hi Ryotaro!"
"No, no. Uncle. Gosh, kids these days have no respect. So, how old are you, Souji?"
"I'm eleven!"
"That's great! You've got a cute kid, Haruko."
"So, when are you expecting a kid?"
"Haha. Chisato is one month pregnant."
"Oh really? What are you going to name the child?"
"If it's a boy, We were thinking of Ichika. If it's a girl, we were thinking of naming her Nanako."
"That's a cute name."
"Haruko, your son is really bright. But I think you might be interested in encouraging him to believe in hard work as well. He seems to believe that talent is everything."
"Chisato, what are you saying? In this world, talent is everything. When has hard work paid off? As long as you have talent, you can find a career in the civil service, and you will be established forever."
"I suppose, but aren't you limiting his options like this?"
"I know better. And Souji is a prodigy. He's unlike other children."
()()()()()()()()()()
Chapter 20: A Chariot and a Heirophant
Monday, April 18, 2011
I exit the TV in the store-room, bag in tow. I open it up, half-expecting to see an empty bag. Instead, all the items that we collected from our time in the TV world are still there. I pick up a coin dropped by a shadow and examine it. From what I can tell, it definitely looks like money. And the glasses that Teddie made are still in my pocket. The rules of that world truly leave me confused.
As I glance around I realize that the clock on the wall shows the time as 4:30. According to my watch it's after 9, which means that we spent close to six hours in the TV world, and yet only sixty minutes have passed in this world. Every hour we spent inside equaled ten minutes in the real world. Either that, or the clock stopped. I should tell Yosuke and Chie about this.
I exit the store-room to see Yosuke and Chie standing by one of the TVs. They wave, and I walk over.
"Wow, that was some fight, huh? I'm feeling a little sore," Yosuke says, rubbing his side.
"Um, sorry about that. I don't remember it so..." Chie looks downcast.
"Eh, don't worry about it! A little sleep and I'll be good as new!" Yosuke flexes his arms, showing off.
"I s-should be fine a-as well, Chie. A-are you going to be o-okay getting home?" Chie still looks a little unsteady.
"Here, let me help you get home. I don't live too far away, so it won't be a problem," Yosuke offers.
"T-Thanks. I wasn't really excited about going home by myself," Chie chuckles. Yosuke turns to me.
"Alright. Let's check the weather forecast tonight, and then meet tomorrow after classes end to decide what our next plan should be. Teddie said it before, but it's worth repeating: that castle is no joke. If we go in unprepared, it's going to hurt." Both Chie and I nod.
"B-By the way, I l-learned something i-interesting."
"What is it?" The other two look at me.
"F-For every hour we spend in the TV world, only t-ten minutes p-pass in the real world." Yosuke looks down at his watch, and his eyebrows arch.
"You're right! I didn't notice that before. Well, that makes it a lot easier then! We don't have to worry about getting locked in Junes when the store closes." Chie chuckles.
"Well, if that happens, the manager's son can pay for our dinner, right?"
"Yeah right. Don't forget that I'm trying to save up for a motorbike. I've got no extra money!"
"W-why a motorbike?" I ask.
"Why? Because it looks cool! Why else? Plus, I'm tired of taking the bus everywhere," Yosuke admits sheepishly. "Alright, let's get you home Chie. Souji, we'll meet tomorrow." With that, the two of them depart Junes.
I leave Junes as well, catching the bus that will lead me home. As I'm trying to sit in such a way that my muscles don't scream at me, I open the bag and begin looking at the items we collected in the TV world. One is nothing more than a giant black lump, another looks like an overgrown tooth.
'I wonder if these are the items that Daidara was looking for? I doubt it. After all, how would he know what to do with them?'
%'Are you going to see him? I want to see what he looks like!'
'Pixie? I would, but I'm exhausted. I just want to get home and sleep. I'll take care of it some other time. Plus, we managed to earn five thousand from this trip, which means I don't need to worry about a job for a while yet.'
At least, I hope that's true. Based on Daidara's prices, this money could disappear rather quickly. As I worry about the safety of my wallet, the bus pulls up to my stop.
()()()()()()()()()()
%'Wow! So this is your home! It looks...it looks small! I'm disappointed!'
&'Indeed. M'lord should live in a much grander domicile!'
^'Ahh...I don't care so long as I can get some sleep.'
'Slime! Slime!'
%'You're right Slime!'
As usual, the voices in my head are having a grand time. Ever since I returned from the TV world, they've been constantly commenting on just about everything, from the clothes people wear to the cars on the street. I'm too tired to tell them that this place is fine for me. And I still have no idea what Slime is saying.
As I close the door behind me, Nanako comes to the entrance. She stares at me, and then at the bag slung over my shoulder.
"Welcome home. Did you buy something nice?"
"Um, j-just some stuff f-for school." I wonder why she's interested in it. Nanako nods.
"Do you need some help?"
"N-No. It's fine. Thank you."
"Okay." With that, Nanako returns to the living room. I head upstairs, and drop the bag as soon as I enter my room. I drag myself over to my futon, and collapse into it.
'I need some rest. Can someone wake me up in an hour?' Might as well put these voices to some use.
^'Sleep, huh? This is my specialty. See you in an hour.'
Sandman materializes, and sprinkles something onto my eyelids. Next second, I'm fast asleep.
()()()()()()()()()()
%'Hey Souji! Hey Souji! Wake up! It's time to get up!'
'..Huh? Wha...?' I groan as I look at the clock, and see that it's 6:00. I get up, and head to the bathroom to take a shower. As I walk, I realize that my muscles are extremely sore and my movements are stiff. I definitely won't be any good tomorrow in the castle at this rate.
After finishing my shower, I head downstairs to see Uncle and Nanako at the table, watching the news.
"Ah! I was just about to send Nanako to wake you up. You hungry?" Uncle points to the food on the table, obviously bought from some store.
"Y-Yeah, thanks." I sit down and grab a bowl. As I start eating, Uncle stares at me, unsure of something. He thinks better of it, and starts eating. I look at the TV as the weather lady comes on.
"A high pressure front is currently over the city. This means that we will be enjoying sunny skies and temperatures ranging from fourteen to eighteen degrees for the rest of the week. That rain we had the last few days won't be back for quite a while. On a related note, meteorologists are still debating the cause of the fog that has been blanketing the city lately after consecutive days of rain. Some argue that it is a result of Tokyo Bay, however, studies have concluded that the fog is not emanating from the harbor. And now back to you in the studio."
That's good. It means that we still have time to rescue Amagi. I was worried, since the fog came extremely quickly when Saki Konishi died.
"In other news, city officials have expressed alarm at a new statistics released by the Tokyo Police Department showing that drug use amongst teenagers is on the rise after having declined for the past few years. This rise is being blamed on a new drug that people have taken to calling 'Red Ice', because of a characteristic red eye and cooler body temperature experienced by those who take the drug. Public Health officials are also concerned because the drug has a significant addictive effect on users."
Red ice? I wonder if it has anything to do with what those two guys in my class were talking about last week? I wonder why anybody would take a drug that lowers your body temperature?
%'Do you think it's like candy?'
$'Ignorant mouse. Do you understand so little about this world?'
%'Don't call me stupid! I'm not stupid!'
$'I called you ignorant not stupid. Are you too ignorant to know the difference or too stupid?'
%'Souji, you don't think I'm stupid, do you? I'm not!'
I'm spared from having to answer that question when Uncle puts down his plate and stares at me.
"We received a report from Missing Persons. Yukiko Amagi, the heiress to the Amagi Hotel has gone missing."
That's odd. Uncle usually doesn't talk about work much.
"The reason I'm bringing this up is because I remember seeing you walking with her and another girl when Mayumi Yamano was discovered. I was wondering if you know anything about what happened to her. Did she say that she was having difficulties at home or at school by any chance?"
Uncle stares at me intently. I start sweating without realizing it. What should I say? The police suspect her after all.
"U-Um, she didn't s-say anything about h-having trouble. I was s-surprised when sh-she disappeared as well." Uncle doesn't seem convinced. However, before he can say anything else, Nanako looks up.
"What's wrong? Are the two of you fighting?" This surprises me.
&'She is a pitiful child. Will you say nothing, M'lord?'
"No, we're not having a fight." Uncle tries to convince her. She doesn't buy it.
"This isn't the police station."
"It's o-okay, Nanako. Uncle is j-just asking a q-question, that's a-all."
"Okay." With that, Nanako goes back to eating. Uncle looks at me again.
"Listen, I may be just your uncle, but I did take responsibility for you when you came here. I don't want you getting caught up in something dangerous. That's all."
"T-Thanks, Uncle. I p-promise that I will d-do my best to a-avoid such s-situations."
^'Clever. The promise you made doesn't say anything about what happens once such a situation does arise.'
Uncle doesn't look convinced, but lets it go. We finish dinner in silence. I can barely keep my eyes open as I head upstairs. The fight today took a lot more out of me than I thought. Or it could be that 'adrenaline crash' that people talk about. I enter my room, and look at the text-books that I haven't even opened yet. One night can't hurt, right?
*'Are you truly going to ignore your education? Is that not what you came here for, Aspirant?'
'Huh? Who is that?'
*'Tis true that I have not introduced myself. I am Omoikane of the Heirophant Arcana, representing the power of the group and the society, who change the world to fit their beliefs. Balance and conformity are the goals of the Hierophant, and neither positive nor negative is emphasized - only tradition matters. The Hierophant is also a teacher or a mentor. However, the true Hierophant is one who has a deep respect for his beliefs, but who will not blindly follow them to his own ruin. Should you reach the end of the path of the Heirophant, you will find Kohryuu the Almighty Guardian!'
'I see. I guess I really shouldn't put it off, huh? Gah. Alright, I'll read.' Man, these personae can be annoying. I sit down, and open my economics text book. Professor Hashimoto's lectures are already confusing enough. I don't want to fall behind.
"Now, s-supply and d-demand are opposite sides of...of the d-diagram." As I try to read, my head dips down, and I have to jerk it back up to stay awake.
'Slime! Slime!'
%'Slime says to hang in there! You can do it!'
Do I really need comments even when I am studying? I continue to read. I look up at the clock, and see that the time is 11:30. I look down at the textbook, and realize the letters are swirling. My head hits the table and I close my eyes.
()()()()()()()()()()
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
#'Your education apparently doesn't inspire you.'
I wake to Izanagi's criticism, and feel the sunshine streaming through the window. I look down, and gasp in horror at the drool that ended up on my text book. I must have fallen asleep at the table. I struggle to get up, and let out a small cry of pain as my muscles scream at me. I can barely walk as I realize that the muscle stiffness from yesterday has finally made it's presence felt. How am I going to get to college like this?
'Slime! Slime Slime!'
As soon as Slime finishes, I feel different, and although I can't move quickly, I can at least move. I can't put it off anymore: I need to get in shape, or I will become the anchor that holds the team back.
I make it downstairs to see Nanako in the kitchen. Uncle is nowhere to be seen.
"Morning, N-Nanako. W-Where's Uncle?" I ask as I sit down at the table.
"Dad had to leave early." Nanako takes a piece of toast, then sits next to me. She's obviously disappointed.
"Um, l-let's eat?" She looks at me, then nods. I really don't know what else to say. I usually ate alone at home as well. After an awkward breakfast, we lock up the house, and head off.
()()()()()()()()()()
As I walk towards college, I hear police sirens close by. There are quite a few people milling about, and reporter crews are setting up around what looks like an abandoned lot. How many times has it been now?
I arrive at Nihon University, doing my best to get some blood flow into my legs. Yosuke is waiting, and jogs over after I wave to him.
"Yo! How's it going?" He seems perfectly fine.
"In p-pain. I can't m-move my arms or l-legs much." He grimaces.
"Sorry to hear that. I felt like that last night, but this morning, I felt good as new. Well, guess that means you have to lose a couple of kilos, huh?" He really is tactless.
"Anyway, I walked Chie home yesterday. She went straight to bed. Hopefully she'll be feeling better today." We continue to talk until we reach the main entrance to the university. I notice hundreds of people setting up tables and tents, multicolored stalls, huge notice boards, countless signs and banners. A couple have fired up grills and are creating a mouth-watering smell.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Club Rush starts today. It runs through till the end of the week. The best part? The clubs offer tons of free food to encourage people to join." Yosuke smacks his lips.
"C-Club Rush?"
"Wait, you seriously don't know? Fine, I'll explain it to you. Ahem," Yosuke adopts a pose with his nose in the air. "Club Rush is when all the clubs in Nihon University try to recruit you to join their club by offering free food and stuffing your hands with more flyers than you can handle. There's a club for pretty much anything you can think of. We've got tons of sports clubs from basketball to soccer to martial arts. Heck, we even have an archery club! Tons of culture clubs too, literature, cooking, music, drama, stuff like that. But I never really paid attention to those.
"And finally, there are the rest of the clubs, like the anime and manga appreciation society, various technology clubs, stuff like that. It gets pretty exhausting if you ask me. Sports clubs go first, then culture clubs, and the rest go last. They'll be out here pretty much all week."
Wow. That's a lot of information to digest. But if I am going to get stronger, then there has to be a club here that I can join.
"A-are you in any clubs?" Yosuke looks at me.
"Who, me? Yeah, I joined the extreme sports club last year. Those guys are completely crazy! They did insane stuff like jumping off buildings and bridges. BASE jumping, or something like that. I quit after a week." He grins, "Only reason I did so was because there was this hot girl, but turns out she had a boyfriend."
"F-Figures," Yosuke punches me in the arm, "but are y-you in any clubs r-right now?"
"Yeah. After that, I decided to switch gears. I picked up the guitar. I'm in one of the music bands on campus. We aren't all that good, but we're getting better, believe me!" We continue to chat as we head for classes.
()()()()()()()()()()
As I take a seat in World History, I glance down to where Amagi would be sitting, and with a sinking feeling see that it is empty. The seat next to it is currently occupied by Playboy, who is gesturing wildly while on his cell phone. His eyes scan the hall, as if looking for something. Whatever he's saying, its making those within earshot look at him nervously. I wonder who he is talking to?
Professor Matsumoto walks in, trying to hold together a large stack of papers that were obviously thrown together at the last minute. She makes it to the lectern just before the papers escape from her. She adjusts her glasses, then looks at us.
"I-I hope that everybody had a wonderful w-weekend! Um, today starts club rush, so I e-encourage all of you to jump, I mean join a club, as they are a wonderful way to make friends. I, I am one of the faculty advisers for the history club. So, please consider joining!" Here she bows her head, and bangs it again on the lectern.
"Oooo, that hurt!" She rubs her head while the class laughs. She recomposes herself, and then walks to the board.
"U-Um, today we will be discussing Sumerian culture. Sumer was one of the first civilizations to be found in Mesopotamia, dating back to well over 5000 BC, and had a rich cultural history, even after it was absorbed by the Akkadian peoples. They were one of the earliest peoples to leave behind writings in the form of cuneiform, and even today these texts continue to be read as a way of learning about their lives. Translation of these texts isn't easy, and continues to the present day.
"However, there is another reason why Sumer is famous. It is from Sumer that we get one of the earliest epics in history, the epic of Gilgamesh. For those of you who don't know, Gilgamesh was a historical king of the city of Uruk, which at the time was the largest city on earth. The epic of Gilgamesh is the story of Gilgamesh, who was considered more god than man. He treated the people of Uruk cruelly, and thus the people called out to the gods to aid them. The gods created the wild man Enkidu as a means to distract Gilgamesh.
"This worked, and Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out on a series of quests to gain fame and renown, despite the dangers present, including earning the gods' anger. In particular, after Gilgamesh spurred the advances of Ishtar, she sent the Bull of Heaven to attack them, but Gilgamesh killed it. Ultimately, to punish Gilgamesh, the gods killed Enkidu. Distraught at the loss of his friend, he sought the one thing that he believed would separate him from the gods forever: Immortality.
"However, in the end, Gilgamesh discovers that immortality is something outside his domain, and has to be satisfied with a potion that would restore youth. This is stolen by a snake, and thus he returns to the city empty-handed. When he sees it's mighty walls, he realizes that it is the enduring works of men that are the true form of immortality, since fighting the common fate of humans is futile and diminishes life's joys."
The class has grown quiet as Akiko continues to talk, and by the end, you could hear a pin-drop. When she is in her element, she really is a teacher without peer. She glances around the room, then walks to the center of the stage.
"There is one final lesson that was taught to Gilgamesh, and it is perhaps a lesson that continues through to today. This was spoken by the only man to ever gain immortality, and he told it to Gilgamesh: 'The life that you are seeking you will never find. When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping.' That has not stopped people throughout history from searching for that mystical elixir that would grant them eternal life. That is why I love history so much. Despite the tragedies that litter its pages, there is so much romance in it as well."
'Immortality, huh? Would I want to live forever?'
#'A fool like you who knows not what he lives for? If you seek immortality simply because you are afraid to die, then even immortality is pointless.'
%'You don't need to be afraid! We're here with you!'
^'Ahhh...Besides, even if you lived forever, the people around you would be lost to the seas of time. Eventually, you would exist, alone, at the end.'
'Guys, I was just joking. After all, immortality doesn't exist. Everybody knows this!' And yet, the personae were surprisingly quiet.
()()()()()()()()()()
Yosuke and I head to the food court after class. Yosuke looks surprisingly concerned for a change.
"Hey, how do you think Chie is doing? Too much stuff happened yesterday. I hope she's okay..."
"S-She should be fine. She's as t-tough as she looks."
"Don't I know it. I don't know how many times she's ended up kicking me..." We both wince. As I look up, I spot Chie looking around the court. I wave my hand, and she makes her way over to our table. She takes a seat and looks at the two of us.
"Morning."
"M-Morning."
"You feeling okay?" Yosuke asks with concern.
"Yep. Um, listen. Thanks for yesterday. It's kinda embarrassing, you know? You two were right there to see my hidden feelings and all..." She looks down, blushing.
"Eh, don't sweat it. We know you are more than just your shadow," Yosuke replies.
"The same thing happened to Yosuke, right? Sooo what was it like?" A lot of whining if you ask me, but I'll keep my mouth shut on this one. Yosuke looks at me, then starts sweating.
"Huh? Uhh... How should I put this...Oh! I nearly forgot. Nothing like that happened when yours awakened, right? Hmm, could that be because you have nothing to hide?"
$'We all have something to hide. Whether we realize it or not.'
#'Simply by living, we make mistakes. But there is no shame in realizing that fact, and growing from it.'
%'Yeah! After all, it's much more fun to laugh than to cry!'
$'This is why I say that you are ignorant.'
%'Souji, the old lady is being mean to me again!'
"Oh, so nothing happened for you, huh? How strange. Though I suppose there is a strange air around you..." Wait, what does that mean?
'Slime! Slime Slime!'
%'Slime says that you did not release gas, so that's probably not what she meant.'
"T-thanks for that...I guess." I think it was a compliment.
"Anyways, what's most important right now is rescuing Yukiko. I'm coming, and you can't say no. You promised!" I nod my head.
"We remember." Yosuke looks at his plate.
"Ah, I'm going to get some juice. Be right back." Chie watches him leave, then turns to me.
"Hey, um...Thanks for saving me. Yosuke told me that it was you who came up with the plan that brought my shadow down." Yosuke said that?
"I-It was nothing. I-I'm just glad that y-you are safe." She blushes, then looks at me.
"I guess I was a little surprised to be honest. When you showed up, I thought that you were just going to be an extra body. I didn't think that you would end up being our leader...I guess it feels like you won't let me down."
Before I can answer, a voice from deep within speaks.
Thou Art I and I am Thou. Thou hast established a new bond.
It brings thee closer to the truth.
Thou shalt be blessed when making Personas of the Chariot Arcana
The Chariot Arcana, huh? So at the end of this road lies Futsunushi, huh?
"T-Thanks. I'll do my best to n-not betray y-your trust."
"Oh yeah, you'll need my cell number won't you? To stay in touch. Here."
()()()()()()()()()()
If Professor Matsumoto is an example of a great professor, then King Moron is the antithesis of her: The very epitome of the worst professor in existence.
"Bah! So where is our pretty heiress, huh? Probably out disgracing herself for a cheap thrill. I guarantee you that it was the same thing with those other women who died as well. You should learn a lesson from them and not repeat their behavior. Oh who am I kidding? You aren't intelligent enough for that!"
&'Is this man truly so heartless? How dare he speak so ill of them? Speak up, M'lord!'
'Let it go. We speak up, and we get our grades slashed. It's just the way things are.'
Even as I say that, I am gritting my teeth. I look around, and see that it is taking everything Chie has to not jump across the table and destroy Morooka. I look behind me, and Yosuke isn't looking any better. I return my gaze to Morooka, and see that he is oblivious to the venomous stares of the class.
"Alright, listen up. This next part is going to be on the test..."
Just one more hour of this. One more hour...
End Chapter 20