Mitsuru's call at noon the next day proved Akihiko's suspicions right. She had demanded that he meet her at the station when her train arrived at six, and, knowing a lost cause when he heard one, he grudgingly agreed. At 6:04, he trotted up the platform's short staircase to find Mitsuru talking sternly with a handful of men and women who could only have come from the Kirijo caretaking service.

Akihiko lifted a hand in reluctant greeting. "Are they going to help you move in?"

"Yes," Mitsuru said, and with a final nod, the hired help departed. "They will transfer my belongings to my room at the inn, and Kai is in transit with my motorcycle."

Akihiko nodded, shuffling from food to foot. "I asked you to stay," he said, because he felt it was called for.

"Luckily, you've never had the power to tell me what I can and can't do," Mitsuru replied with a small smile. "Besides, you didn't actually expect me to sit idle while you ran around doing my job, did you?"

"Nah, I really didn't," Akihiko said, fighting an exasperated grin. He leaned back against the paneling on one of the station's walls. "So, why'd you want me to meet you here? I could have gone straight to the inn to help you unpack."

Mitsuru shrugged elegantly. "It was one part sentimentality and two parts practicality," she said. "It is customarily appropriate to be greeted at the station upon arrival, although your tardiness ruined that opportunity."

"I couldn't get off work on time."

"Which is a rather good excuse," Mitsuru said, turning to head for the door. Akihiko followed obediently.

"So, what's the practical part?" He asked, falling into step at here side.

"It seems to me that now, while my rooms are uninhabitable, is the perfect time for you to tell me what's been going on here, Akihiko. In lieu of the nightly reports you promised, I've received only four sparse text messages. I need information."

"Yeah, sorry," Akihiko said. "Uh, I've been taking morning runs along the river, and there's a nice path that starts near here and heads into town. It's cold, but we could walk that and talk or something."

"That sounds marvelous," Mitsuru said with a soft smile before getting down to business. "So, they don't need evokers?"

"No, and, uh," Akihiko said, walking backwards so he could look at her head-on. "Do not use your evoker under any circumstances. It's…it's brutal stuff."

"Then what are we supposed to do? My foil and your fists can only carry us so far."

"Look, I don't know. I still haven't actually seen any of the others summon, so I don't know how they do it. I just trust that they can."

Mitsuru hummed in acceptance. "What is the other world like? Does it resemble Tartarus?"

"Uh, it's yellow and foggy," Akihiko said, flinching away from Mitsuru's withering look. "What? I didn't see much of it. I've only been over once, and that was kind of…short lived."

Mitsuru scoffed.

"You'll have to ask Souji," Akihiko said with a shrug. "He'll be patient enough to explain things."

"How is he as a leader?"

Akihiko's brows knitted. "He's the best," he said, simply.

Mitsuru's cold stare turned murderous.

"I mean…oh, shit, Mitsuru. We, uh…there's some stuff you need to know."

"Enlighten me," Mitsuru said, her voice pure acid.

"S-so Ryoji," Akihiko said, turning off the street and onto the paved, tree-lined path that followed the Samegawa. "Remember on the phone? He started to talk about our old leader before he got cut off."

Mitsuru's eyes sharpened, and she straightened attentively. "Yes. What was he talking about? He said that Arisato might…might not be…gone."

"He's not," Akihiko said, and heard her startled gasp beside him. "He's not," he said again, turning bright silver eyes to meet her burgundy ones. "But it's complicated."

"Complicated how, Akihiko?" She said, desperation escaping through the cracks in her reserved mask.

"Damn it, how do I even begin this?" Akihiko growled, scratching at the back of his head in frustration. The leather of his gloves prevented him from gaining any satisfaction from it.

"The beginning might be a good place to start," Mitsuru said, her nostrils flaring.

"I know, I know. Damn. I feel like I need back up for this or something."

"Might I offer some assistance," came a soft, familiar voice from the left, and Ryoji poked his head over the scrub-bushes that stood at the edge of the hill before it dived down to the riverbanks. He looked both embarrassed and pleased.

"I'm sorry," he said, passing through the brush with infuriating ease before moving to stand before them. "We caught a glimpse of you from the banks, and I thought I might alert you to our presence. I didn't want to interrupt, but the timing was too perfect," he said, grinning cheekily. To Mitsuru, he added, "It's nice to see you again, Ms Kirijo. I do hope you had a comfortable journey."

"It's good to see you again as well," Mitsuru said, slipping easily into the social graces and ignoring her own discomfort. "And thank you. My trip was perfectly pleasant."

"That's nice to hear," Ryoji said, raising a hand to his chest in a remarkably earnest gesture. The shadow smiled, turning back to Akihiko. "Souji, Ms Amagi and I were fishing down at the docks if you would like to join us for a spell."

"Yeah, sure," Akihiko said quickly before Mitsuru could object. At her curious look, he added, "You're going to have to meet some of the group eventually, right?"

Mitsuru nodded slowly, her eyes still confused and lightly suspicious. Akihiko smiled as disarmingly as he knew how and turned back to Ryoji, motioning him to lead the way. Ryoji's cheeky grin had turned hesitant, but he nodded nonetheless, walking along the path in front of them until he reached a pair of stone stairs.

A large blanket had been stretched out across the stone docks that extended out into the river, and its corners were held to the ground by a weighty tackle box and a square, Styrofoam container. Souji sat close to the water's edge, a fishing rod held loosely in his hands. Yukiko sat farther back, away from the coldest winds that swept across the river, and she was wrapped in a second blanket. She looked remarkably snug as he, Ryoji and Mitsuru approached.

Souji looked up as the neared the dock, and Akihiko saw the brief flash of nervous anticipation that filled his eyes before his face returned to its usual state of peaceful placidity. Souji set his fishing pole aside, climbing easily to his feet as he moved to meet the trio halfway. A warm, soft smile crawled its way onto the boy's face, and his arms twitched like he planned to use them in an embrace, but when Mitsuru's expression did not shift away from pleasant indifference, his arms settled and his shoulders slumped. He did, however, keep his smile in place, and when they were close enough, he gave a light bow.

"It's good to see you," he said, his voice warm but his words vague. He met Mitsuru's eyes in a way Akihiko had never quite been able to master.

Mitsuru returned the bow, her natural grace turning it into something majestic despite its simplicity. "Likewise, Seta. I've heard quite a bit about you," she said, straightening. Akihiko caught Souji's eye, and if the slight eye roll he got was any indication, Souji was thinking, 'Clearly she hasn't heard enough.' Akihiko tried to look apologetic.

Souji turned, moving back to his spot on the blanket, and Yukiko waved the three to sit. Akihiko and Mitsuru claimed places on the opposite side of the spread, while Ryoji slotted in next to Souji, close enough that their shoulders bumped.

Yukiko introduced herself quietly to Mitsuru, and Mitsuru responded in turn, outwardly at ease.

Not sure how to begin, Akihiko asked, "Why are you guys fishing? It's foggy and cold."

Yukiko and Ryoji chuckled softly while Souji just shook his head. "Naoto Shirogane is planning a get-together tomorrow with the whole team, and she convinced me to cook," Souji said, leaning backwards and propping himself up on his hands. "Most of the team's at Junes right now getting ingredients and party supplies so that we don't have to go running around tomorrow."

Akihiko nodded, looking towards Yukiko with interest. "So you're helping him fish?"

For some reason, Yukiko's face fell, and she blushed furiously. "Um…no. See, they…I wasn't allowed to go shopping with the others."

Souji chuckled, and Yukiko glared at him. "I don't see what you all thought I would do," Yukiko said anxiously. "I'm not incapable of following directions. Besides, Chie's as bad as I am."

Souji made a strange sound in his throat, but remained silent. Yukiko huddled in on herself, looking fierce and upset in equal measures.

"Am I?" she asked, frowning at Souji. When Souji still did not respond, she glowered. "Souji."

"You're…you are worse than Chie," Souji said at last with a sigh. "Chie can't cook, but she doesn't get super experimental, either."

"Well, how am I supposed to get better if you won't ever let me try?"

This seemed to exasperate Souji more than Akihiko thought was warranted. "Yukiko, I've offered to taste test your food if you ever make any. You know I have. You've just never taken me up on it."

Yukiko mumbled something into her knees.

"Ms Amagi," Ryoji said, looking perfectly concerned.

"I have," Yukiko said, lifting her chin away from her knees to be heard.

Souji frowned. "When?"

"I made Chicken Katsu one day and brought it in to try and –this is ridiculous. I'm sorry. Nevermind," she muttered quickly, lowering her head back to her knees.

"Yukiko," Souji said in that tone, the one that could get a person to talk about anything, about everything. Akihiko almost smiled, because hearing it not directed at him was wonderful.

"You, umm…you had made lunch that day. It was so amazing, like, some sort of tofu dish, only you had made two portions of it with beef instead for Chie and Yosuke, and there was no way I could have competed with that. My cooking's terrible, and you must have worked so hard on that."

Souji shook his head, laughing. "First of all," he said, softly, "I cook all the time. One lunch I made can go to waste, especially if you struggled to cook something for yourself. Secondly, I promised, so if you ever want to try again, my offer to try your food still stands."

Yukiko smiled, her cheeks turning lightly pink. "Thanks, leader."

Souji nodded.

Akihiko cleared his throat, feeling awkward. "So, uh, why fish?"

"And why must you catch it yourself?" Mitsuru added, frowning. "Are there no markets around that could provide such things?"

Souji smiled, leaning forwards. "No, there are, but I'm the chef, and I think fish for dinner sounds great, so there you go. Besides, I've been trying to catch a particular fish here for this one elderly man for a while now, and there's always a chance that today is the day I get lucky."

Akihiko pulled a face. "Why does some old guy want you to catch a fish for him?" Mitsuru, Yukiko and Ryoji looked equally perplexed.

"He taught me how to fish, and he's willing to trade useful things like armor and items for the fish I catch."

"Why would a civilian offer armor in exchange for fish?" Mitsuru asked, shocked.

"Do you think he's part of the conspiracy?" Yukiko asked, eyes sparkling, and a slight smile curling her lips.

Souji sniffed in amusement, but nodded. "Yeah, actually. He's my personal contribution," Souji said, shrugging.

It was Ryoji who voiced Akihiko's confusion. "I think you might have lost us," he said.

"Sorry," Souji said, still looking amused. "It's a stupid inside joke sort of thing between Rise, Yukiko and I, but it's kind of weird."

"Maybe they can tell us if we're being ridiculous or not," Yukiko said.

"Fair enough," Souji said, settling back. "So, it all started about a week after Teddie started living in our world. We realized that with school and our jobs, we weren't going to be able to look after him for large swaths of the day, so Yukiko, Rise and I decided to show him around town and explain all the places that he could go in the case of an emergency."

"We showed him where all of our teammates lived," said Yukiko, "where the pharmacy was and where the restaurants were, and then we started to show him people who would be likely to help if something happened. That's when it got a little strange. See, we took Teddie to Daidara's."

"I don't know that place," Akihiko said.

"I'm not surprised," Souji said. "It's a place that you would only go to if you needed it. Daidara is a weapons expert. At first, we thought his store was one of those novelty places that sell cheap, decorative weaponry to collectors and the like, but we were wrong."

"Daidara's work is sensational, and all of his pieces are handmade," Yukiko said. "Anyways, after leaving the shop, Teddie asked us why everybody didn't wear swords or armor, and we told him that carrying arms in public was illegal. Even owning certain types of weaponry without a permit is illegal."

Akihiko nodded. He could see where this was going.

"That got us thinking," Souji said, his voice gentle, almost passive. "About a month after we started investigating the TV world, I replaced a katana I had been using with a new model. The katana I was replacing was the first real sword that I had ever used, and it was absolutely beautiful. It was simple, but it kept an edge really well, and its weight was nearly perfect. I had purchased it from Daidara for, I don't know, five thousand yen tops. That seemed wrong to me, considering the quality of the blade, so out of curiosity, I decided to have it priced by an appraiser. It was worth…" Souji trailed off, pulling a face like he could barely believe what he was saying, "so much more than that."

"But the fact that he was selling us grossly under priced weaponry was not the most suspicious thing," Yukiko said, jumping in excitedly. "It was the fact that he was selling to us at all. I can understand his possible initial reasons, but, I mean, we buy from him on an almost weekly basis. Selling ornamental katanas or pretty fans to a bunch of weird kids is one thing, but he has to know that we long ago switched from buying the most decorative things to buying the most practical things. Look," she said, reaching into the sleeve of her jumper. "This isn't my main weapon, but I feel uncomfortable lately walking around completely unarmed. I asked Kanji to sew pouches into the sleeves of my sweaters and uniforms."

Yukiko pulled a small fan out of her sweater, one slightly smaller than Akihiko's hand. It was slim and appeared to be made of iron. "Daidara made this," Yukiko said, opening the fan with a flourish. "It's easily concealable and wickedly sharp."

She flicked the fan so that it caught light, and Akihiko could see the blades at its edges.

"It isn't particularly pretty either," Yukiko said with a sigh, closing the fan and slipping it back up her sleeve. "Daidara is a weapons expert. He must know that it wouldn't work as a wall decoration."

"He also sells guns," Souji said. "Naoto has a license, so, technically, selling guns to her is legal, but Naoto rarely goes to Daidara's. He never used to sell firearms, but after I took Naoto by to talk with him about what she wanted, he started to build custom guns just for us. Furthermore, it's usually me who goes to purchase her arms, and I certainly don't have a license. This is past the point of foolishness."

"It's illegal," Yukiko said with a nod. "Even beyond that, we sometimes give him things we've collected off of shadows. Pincers, claws, teeth, strange bits of fiber or hair, we bring them all back to Daidara and he uses them as raw materials for his craft. He's never once even blinked at us for the things we bring. Sometimes, he'll even make requests."

"Our point," Souji said firmly, "is that he knows. There's no other explanation, and he isn't the only one."

"I've lived in Inaba for all of my life," Yukiko said. "For as long as I can remember, the Shiroku store has functioned as an odd little pharmacy. Admittedly, Old Lady Shiroku is a bit eccentric, but you would go there to buy ibuprofen, bandages-"

"The usual stuff," Ryoji said, smiling.

"Exactly," said Yukiko. "Anyways, not long after we started buying weapons from Daidara's, Old Lady Shiroku started stocking weird items. Suddenly, alongside the ginger root and digestives, you could find revival beads and macca leaves, and over time, she's been able to assemble a whole collection of items that are useful for fighting shadows but not for much else."

Akihiko took a moment to let all of that information settle. "They must know," he decided at last, looking at Souji. "Officer Kurosawa knew, and that was the only reason that we were able to arm ourselves. It's the same with the pharmacy in the mall."

Souji nodded. "That much we're sure of. It's clear that, for whatever reason, quite a few people around town know how to combat shadows, and are willing to supply us with the necessary equipment to do so. Beyond that," Souji said, looking a bit embarrassed. "Our speculation gets a bit silly."

"I don't think it's silly," Yukiko said, smiling. "Neither does Rise."

"What are your theories?" Mitsuru said sternly. She looked surprised when, instead of recoiling at her tone, Souji smiled fondly.

"There's a rumor going around that the fog," Souji said, gesturing around at the yellow haze that clung to the riverbed, "comes around every fifty years. During those times, weird things have been known to happen. Strange radio broadcasts, television mishaps, even reports of people getting drowsy and," Souji locked eyes with Akihiko, "apathetic."

"At first we thought it was just a rumor, but we've looked up city records from fifty years ago, and there were quite a few reported oddities. So," she said, smiling, "we have this theory that Daidara, Shiroku and a few other people around town were all here fifty years ago, and they must have stopped the shadows."

"Or something along those lines," Souji said, shrugging. "Honestly, we're stretching it a bit, but it's fun to think about."

For the first time, Akihiko looked over at Ryoji who was sitting disturbingly still, staring at the ground with a blank expression.

"Ryoji?" Akihiko asked, drawing everyone's attention to the vacant brunet.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry," he said with a bashful smile. "I was just thinking…if the other world did open up fifty years ago, why did it close? And why would it open up again now?"

Souji shrugged, but it was not nearly as flippant as he had been before. "I don't know," he said, sincerely.

Ryoji's smile was forced when he said, "That's fine. It is interesting, though, don't you think?"

The whole group nodded. The deep rumble of distant thunder caught Akihiko's attention, and he looked up as the rain that had been threatening to fall all day began to pitter down in a soft drizzle.

After a moment of strained silence, Souji said, "Mitsuru, you and I are going to have to talk sometime soon."

"Yes," she agreed. "I would like to discuss the formation of your team with you. I have experience that I can offer, and I would like to be an asset to your investigation."

Souji raised a hand to cover the painfully affectionate smile that was overtaking his face, but Akihiko still saw it. "I would appreciate your input," Souji said from behind his hand.

Mitsuru rose in one fluid motion. "Well, Akihiko, we had best get going. We were in the middle of a discussion, and I would very much like to finish it."

Akihiko stood, rolling his shoulders. When he looked down, Souji was giving him a look that made Akihiko snort and roll his eyes.

"I know," he said out loud, before turning to follow Mitsuru. "I'll see you three later."

"You know, you two are invited," Yukiko said, catching his and Mitsuru's attention. They turned back, startled.

"You are invited," Yukiko said, her dark bangs falling into her eyes. "The dinner is for the whole team, so we expect you to be there."

Souji adopted the same serious tone when he said, "I'm going to be slaving over a hot oven all day. The least you two can do is show up."

A laugh bubbled up from Akihiko's chest before he could stop it. "Won't your uncle get suspicious? He is my boss."

"Suspicious of you? No," Souji said. "Suspicious of me? Probably, but by now it's pretty much a moot point."

It did not take Mitsuru and Akihiko long to agree after that, and the two departed shortly there after, climbing the stone stairs up to the main path along the Samegawa. The two walked side by side for a long while, their steps matched as they made their way towards the shopping district in the rain. It took Akihiko a distressing long amount of time before he noticed that Mitsuru was shaking.

"Mitsuru, what's wrong?"

"That's him," she said, as sure as she was shattered. "Souji's him."

"How did you know?"

Mitsuru gasped slightly in a way that sounded like a sob. "I don't know. I have no idea," she said, shaking her head.

Akihiko looped an arm around her shoulders, and prayed desperately for understanding.