A/N: Really sorry that it took a solid month to get this chapter up. I really meant to get it up sooner. I'll try my best to develop a more balanced schedule going forward. Couple of points though:

First of all, thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter. You guys are the fuel who keep me going. Secondly, special thanks to everyone who favorited the story. If you like it, drop a review!

This finishes off Act II. Together, Acts I and II really form the prologue to this story. It's from here that we'll really be taking off. I hope you enjoy what lies ahead. Also, I've left a poll on my profile page regarding the summary. So far, I've changed it from Act to Act. I'd like your feedback about what you want to see.

Finally, in regards to the Anime. I've got mixed feelings about it. For one, I started writing this story in March, and the anime has already caught up with me :(. Secondly, this may be the one anime where I am genuinely looking forward to the english dub. And finally, it feels kinda...flat. Like there isn't enough energy to carry the story forward. Then again, I felt like the cutscenes were the weakest part of it, so...eh. However, any interesting ideas that the anime develops that I think will benefit the story will be used, so we'll see what happens.

That's my two cents. And now, the finale to Act II.

Key

#... Archangel

$... Nestis

%... Sylph

^... Orobas

&... Nata Taishi

*... Omoikane

+... Lilim

=... Valkyrie

\ …... Forneus

Chapter 35: Everything Begins Here

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

With one final pitiful cry, the bird disappears, once again taking on the form of it's host, watching silently and saying nothing. I observe it while Chie and Yosuke run over to help Amagi up. Why do these shadows initially become belligerent, challenging their host for the right to replace them, but once beaten, simply stand there and listen?

In any case, Amagi slowly rises to her feet, a little dazed. She's resting one hand on Teddie's head, and another is being held by Chie.

"Yukiko, are you hurt?" Chie's asking her, looking anxious.

"No," Amagi whispered in a barely audible voice, "I'm fine." Despite these words she has yet to raise her head at either us or her shadow, and her eyes are fixated on a non-descript section on the floor. Yosuke and I share a glance, and I nod my head.

"We understand. You're not the only one like that, Yukiko-san. Everyone has something they can't show to other people, or don't want to admit to themselves." Huh. Yosuke can say something good once in a while. Chie, on the other hand, has waterfalls gushing from her eyes.

"Yukiko...I'm sorry. I was so self-centered that...I never understood what you were going through. I'm your friend, and I still...Oh, I'm so sorry. I was always jealous of you, Yukiko. You had everything that I didn't...that jealousy was like a wall, and I was so lonely! I thought I was protecting you, but I wanted you to need me. But it was me who needed you. I can't do anything right on my own. I've caused so much trouble for everyone. If y-you weren't by my side, I-I wouldn't know what to do."

Amagi seems stunned by what Chie says, then thinks. After a long while, she finally nods her head. She starts walking towards her shadow, who hasn't moved and is simply observing her.

"Chie, I never saw the real you either. I was too busy trying to find an easy way out. 'I want to run away.' 'I want someone to save me.' You're right, those feelings are part of me, too. I understand now. You're me."

As she utters these words, the shadow smiles and nods, transforming into a woman wearing what looks like a cheerleading uniform, with red flower petals descending from each arm. At the same time a voice whispers inside my mind.

"Konohana Sakuya, of the Priestess Arcana. I pledge myself to your service."

Neither Yosuke's nor Chie's said that. Still, I guess this means that our band has increased to four now, huh? Then again, perhaps Chie will want Amagi to stay on the sidelines. But I suppose that's a discussion for another time. The persona dissipates, transforming into a tarot card like the one the three of use wield. As the tarot card drops into her hands, the blue flames it emits reflect in her eyes before the card disappears. Amagi immediately sags once more, but Chie and Teddie catch her.

"Are you okay?" Chie asks anxiously. Amagi nods her head.

"Yes. You all came to rescue me?" She seems surprised by this fact. Yosuke just grins.

"Well, some of us needed a bit more persuasion, but yeah, we weren't going to leave you in here," he says, deliberately looking away. Amagi seems confused, but nods anyway.

"Thank you," she says, but Chie immediately shushes her.

"Don't even mention it. I'm just so glad you're safe." she says, tears still welling up. With that, Teddie steps in front of Amagi.

"So, who threw you in here?" Amagi seems to be focusing on him for the first time, and is staring in surprise. Just wait till she finds out what's inside the costume.

"Huh? Who are you? Or rather, what are you?" Good question. One we're still trying to figure out.

"I'm Teddie. So who threw you in?" Now, the rest of us are also watching her. Maybe this could be the big reveal.

"I don't know...I think...someone called my name...But my memory's a blur. I can't remember who it was...I'm sorry, um... Teddie," Amagi responds sadly.

"No new clues, huh?"

"That's not necessarily true," Yosuke says, stroking his chin. "At the very least, we now know for sure that someone threw Yukiko-san in."

"Hmm. Then I guess it really wasn't you guys, huh?" Teddie says, looking downcast.

"You little… You still thought it was us?" Yosuke is drawing his daggers. Teddie quickly runs behind me but I simply step out of the way.

"I-I always believed it wasn't you guys!" Teddie starts running as Yosuke chases after him. Amagi lets out a little chuckle before looking at me.

"Um, Souji-san. Thank you. I heard your words at the end. I'm ashamed that I didn't think of that myself," she says softly.

"U-Um, don't w-worry about it. They just k-kinda came out on their o-own. But we s-should be heading back and let you r-rest." Chie nods, and loops an arm under Amagi's to help her walk out. Yosuke, having finished with Teddie, quickly moves to the other side, and together, we head out. Just as I'm about to head down the stairs, something, like a prickle at the back of my neck, makes me stop.

='Master, I feel something, like a presence.'

'Ay, laddie. It's fremmit, like ill win' blawing o're lown moor.'

I look back. The throne room is completely empty. Perhaps it's just nerves? Of course, it's also possible that the Reaper is watching. My body shivers.

"Sensei? Is something wrong?" Teddie asks, as the other three head down the stairs.

"N-No, it's just my i-imagination. Let's go, Teddie."

()()()()()()()()()()

We make it back to the studio without any surprises, and head for the exit. Just as we're about to go through, Teddie speaks up.

"Huh? Wait, you're leaving me here?"

"Leave you? What are you talking about? You live here!" Yosuke says, exasperated. Teddie just lowers his head.

"Y-yeah...but..." I think I understand, though I'll never say it out loud: Teddie's afraid of being left alone.

$'Do you see yourself in that thing's place, boy?'

Nestis' question surprises me. Before I have a chance to think it over, Amagi walks over to him, and scratches his head.

"I'm sorry, Teddie. I promise to come again... So be a good boy and wait here until then." Teddie growls in response. Seemingly happy, we wave one more time to him, and then the four of us leave the TV world behind.

()()()()()()()()()()

"Man, I was getting a little worried there. I know we said we were going to save her today," Yosuke says as we leave the storage-room, "but deep down inside, I didn't know if we were going to make it. That Reaper-thing freaked me out." I nod, remembering the fearsome monster who almost finished me off.

"Alright, let's go two by two, guys," Chie says as we reach the door leading to the actual store. "Otherwise, it's going to look kinda weird for all of us to come out at the same time, you know, with Yukiko in a kimono. Let's meet up at the food court."

We nod, and Chie takes Yukiko and heads through the door. After it closes, Yosuke turns to me.

"Well, we've saved Yukiko-san, and that's great. But we've still got a problem about the TV. Now that she doesn't remember what happened to her, we're going to have to come up with the money to buy it. Plus, we need a place to store the thing. What do you think?"

I suppose this is one of the responsibilities of leadership, huh? I'd really like to just say "Yosuke, I'm leaving this up to you!" but I doubt it works like that.

"L-Let's first get Amagi home. A-After that, let's get Chie and b-brainstorm options. It may come down to us h-holding a bake sale." Yosuke thinks about this for a moment.

"That's an excellent idea. I just have one question for you: Do you really think Chie can cook?"

()()()()()()()()()()

After making sure that Amagi was feeling okay, and promising to meet up tomorrow to discuss what to do next, the four of us split up, Chie taking Amagi home, and Yosuke staying behind to stack shelves. I wave goodbye, and head for the bus, still thinking about Yosuke's question.

It's possible, right? Chie should be able to cook, at least on the same level as Nanako, right?

^'Hahaha!'

'Huh? What's so funny, Orobas?'

^'Nothing, nothing, m'lord. All answers shall be revealed in good time.' However, Orobas cannot hide the underlying mirth in his voice. What exactly does he know? Putting aside the question of whether or not Chie can cook, I instead focus on what to do about the TV. No matter how I look at it, ninety grand is a lot of money, money I just don't have on me. I still need to pay off Uncle's loan for my phone.

#'Something approaches, exalted one! Beware!'

I jerk my head at Archangel's warning, only to realize that night has descended, a night so black that I can barely see five meters in front of my eyes. I glance down at my watch, only to find that no numbers are present. A quick check shows my cellphone is also displaying only dashes where the time should be.

"W-What the hell is going on here?"

"Greetings, chosen one. It has been some time since we last spoke."

I spin around, scared witless by the voice that seemed to speak from everywhere.

"Hmmhmm. It seems that you haven't grown as much as I gave you credit for. Do you not have them? Your 'eyes that see the Truth?' With those, such a simple illusion would be easily dismissed." The voice laughs, an old woman's laugh. It sounds vaguely familiar, but for now, I focus on clearing my mind, and forcing my eyes to activate. I feel the power awaken, though the strain makes my eyes water. When I open them again, the darkness is still present, but directly in front of me is a figure I never thought I'd see again: the fortune teller from the first day of university.

"Wonderful, wonderful. It seems as though you have a basic grasp, though fully utilizing them seems difficult. Well, no matter. Would you care to have a seat?" the woman asks, shuffling a deck of cards in her hands.

+'Be like, very, very careful with her! Old people are like, really dangerous and stuff!'

*'And something else feels different, aspirant. Are you sure this is the same person you saw before?'

I swallow, and take the seat across from her, staring down at the cloth that covers the table. The picture in the middle catches my eye. A massive tower stretches into the sky, and a group of warriors stand at the base, staring upward. Beneath them, seemingly unnoticed, a mass of hands stretch out, as if to drag them down into the blackness.

"Well now, after looking at you more closely, I'd say that you have grown quite a bit since our last encounter. This is good. A person who doesn't grow at all as he experiences life is either someone who is unaffected by it, or is too ignorant to understand what he sees. You are neither of those," she begins, as she starts laying cards face down in a cross-like fashion.

"However, simply growing doesn't necessarily mean that you have improved, or that you are reaching the goals you set out for yourself. Growth can come in a number of ways: positive growth, negative growth, or simply growth for growth's sake. Tell me, do you believe in fortune telling?" she stares intently at me, as if this one question carries more weight than the world itself. Thinking back to Igor and what he said, I nod.

"Interesting. I would have thought for certain that you would say no. After all, these are simply cards with pictures drawn on them. How could they possibly understand something as vast and indecipherable as the future? There are a million different possibilities, and only nine thousand, two hundred and forty card combinations. This can't possibly account for all of them, can it? So tell me, child: why do you think they do?"

"I b-believe in fortune t-telling because I have seen, f-first hand, a person's predictions come true."

"I see, I see. So simply because someone claims to see the future, and their future comes true, you accept it all, then? Even the belief that the future cannot be rewritten? That destiny cannot be denied?" she cackles, as she lays down the last card, then looks up.

"Well, perhaps that is not completely fair. After all, you are but a single bird, barely beginning to fly. To ask you about destiny, and whether it can be denied, is perhaps beyond your ken, right now. Then, let us begin revealing your future, which you believe so strongly to be true."

She turns over the first card, revealing a young man carrying a sack on a stick, with the number zero. "The fool, a being who accepts everything as it is, full of greatness and good fortune, merely looking forward to the road ahead, never at what lies at his feet. This is what you are, I suspect."

I'm surprised. Igor and Margaret both made reference to the fool, and it has come up again. Just who is she?

She turns over the next card. It is a picture of two people staring up at a star, as night surrounds them on all sides. "The Star. Despite the darkness, it shines, providing a beacon of hope to those that need it. For you, I suspect that the potential lies within you to inspire others, and encourage them in their time of trial. Perhaps you have already done so."

Me, inspire others? What on earth does she mean?

"Is there something wrong child? Ah, perhaps it's the cards that speak to you. Very well, let us look at this last card," she says as she moves her hand over the last card in the line. She stops, however, and examines the card, before finally staring back at me.

"How interesting. How much do you know about history, child?"

What? What kind of question is that? Let's see, what have I learned from Professor Matsumoto's class?

"G-Gilgamesh was an e-epic about a man who sought i-immortality?" Really? That's all I can think of in this situation?

"Gilgamesh, hmm? An interesting story to be sure. Though I would say that you are not quite fit for Gilgamesh's personality. Perhaps you are more like Arthur, the King of Knights. However, that is not quite what I am asking," at this, she stops and stares at the card on the table once more, before breaking into a grin. I jerk back a little when I realize there is only one tooth in her mouth. She ignores this and continues.

"Allow me to list a set of names for you. From that, tell me what is the connection that binds them together. Let us begin. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Oda Nobunaga, Joan D'Arc, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Tell me, what is it that they share?"

Who? I didn't recognize any of the names apart from Nobunaga. Wait, was he the one who died before unifying the country? Oh man, I didn't realize there'd be a quiz on this!

"I see. Truly, your world view is lacking. Very well, allow me to explain this to you. The people I just mentioned are historical figures from across the centuries of human history. However, all five of them share a unique characteristic: they shifted the way the world was seen. Each one possessed a personality so powerful, it literally became a force, one that would draw others to them like moths to a flame. Each one then went on to carve their name into history, accomplishing feats that will never be replicated, no matter how much time passes. At their zenith, the world bowed low before them, conquerors of everything in their path." I've completely forgotten about the situation that I'm in. Despite the obvious danger, I am enraptured by her words. Why?

"In many ways, you are similar to them. Though you are only now beginning to grow and develop, in time, you too will show several of the same characteristics as these other figures. Others will gravitate towards you, trusting you, believing in you. To the extent that some of them will even die for you. Such is the power of the fool."

"W-What? I-I don't have any such p-power!"

"Whether you wish it or not, this is your fate, dear child. After all, were you not the one who stated that you believed in fortune telling? But let us set that aside for a moment. There is one other factor that binds all these individuals together. Surely you must have discovered the connection by now, no?" She continues, seemingly oblivious to what I said. I shake my head, and think. What else apart from their conquests make them special? Nobunaga, I'm sure, died, and Caesar died because he was stabbed... no.

"They all died at the height of their greatness, didn't they?" The revelation has left me dazed. The crone chuckles, and turns over the third card, to reveal the grinning face of the skull.

"The final card is Death. Indeed child, at the height of their greatness, each one was struck down. Alexander died because of a disease. Caesar was killed by his closest confidant. Joan was burned at the stake, Nobunaga was forced to commit seppuku and Kennedy was assassinated.. This is the fate of all fools: To achieve greatness, and then die, violently, possibly before their greatest triumph. Such is the fate that awaits you, young man." She stops talking, and simply stares at me.

I'm going to die? Me? It's true that ever since I came to Tokyo, I've come close to dying, more times than I'd like to count, but still. That's-That's insane!

"H-How can I a-avoid it? I d-don't want to die!"

"Even if you do not wish it, Death still reaches out to you," the crone smiles. "In fact, I would dare say that he has already reached out to you once already. There is no denying the ferryman his due. Whether it be sooner or later, all must travel across that river. Besides, do you truly believe that you have the power to deny destiny? Or the power to fight fate? Ah, but it seems that our time together is growing short. Allow me this one last question. Words have always held power. Perhaps the answer to your question can be found here.

"You are in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, the likes of which would make even Helen herself envious. She possesses in vast quantities all the material goods that your heart could desire: wealth, property, jewels. However, if you choose to spend the rest of your life together with her, you will not be happy a single day of your life. Unhappiness and despair shall dog your every step. Even then, would you choose to be with her?" As she finishes speaking, she starts to disappear right in front of my eyes.

"W-Wait! What does t-that mean? How can I f-find the answer from that q-question?" All I hear in response is a laugh. The next second, the sun is shining, birds are chirping in the background, and all around me are people laughing and talking as if nothing had happened. My watch shows the time as a little after five in the afternoon, and my cellphone says the same.

What the hell just happened?

()()()()()()()()()()

To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how I managed to get home. Between the fight with Amagi's shadow, and then the subsequent trip down nightmare lane with that crone, I'm beyond exhausted. All I really want to do is sleep. Then again, her words keep ringing in my ears, both my proclamation of death, and her question. What does that question mean? How do you even answer it? By the time I opened the door, I was ready to start pulling my hair out.

I could smell something nice wafting from the living room. Walking in, I saw that Nanako had already arranged the table. I wonder if something special was happening today. I quickly say hello, and head to my room to drop off my stuff. After a quick wash, I return downstairs, only to find that two more people have arrived: Uncle, and a younger man in his late twenties, early thirties. Clean-shaven, with a sort of harried look to him.

"Oh, you're home," Uncle begins, waving me over. "Allow me to introduce the two of you. This is Tohru Adachi, my partner." The younger man stuck out his hand. Without thinking, I reach out to shake it, and the world pauses. I'm surprised, since I thought that I had brought my eyes under control. However, I'm shocked when I see that Adachi's outline is bathed in purple and black. Nanako and Dojima are bluish, and I'm simply pure white. If it had been any other time, I might have been more curious. For now, I just want to eat dinner and get some rest. I shake his hand, and he grins.

"Nice to meet ya. I'm Adachi, the guy who's been your dad's slave since spring." He laughs as he releases his hand.

"I can still work you harder, you know." Uncle looks completely serious about it too. Somehow, I can believe it.

"Haha, good one, Sir! Haha. Oh, I almost forgot! You're friends with Yukiko Amagi, right? They found her safe and sound! Tell all your friends at school!"

I suppose I shouldn't let out that I had something to do with it. Uncle might get suspicious again.

"Um, t-that's good to know. Thanks!" That sounds about right, right?

"Oh, thanks. Wow, someone thanked me for a job well done. I don't know what to say! But this doesn't mean the case is closed, though. We were just questioning Ms. Amagi, but she says she doesn't remember anything that happened while she was missing. And we can't figure out her whereabouts during the missing period, either. It's like she really disappeared. It's all pretty fishy, if you ask me, like there's something else going on." Man, when did they have time to interview her? Still, it looks like Chie must have convinced her not to talk about the TV world. Otherwise, the police might have recommended a psych evaluation. Adachi only stops talking when Uncle cuffs him on the back of his head

"Stop blabbering, dumbass!" Language, Uncle?

"S-Sorry," Adachi seems genuine in his answer.

"Ignore him. He's just spouting some wild fantasy." I hope so, but I better make sure.

"Are the police s-suspecting A-Amagi?" I ask, hoping my voice has remained neutral.

"Don't worry. The police aren't common hayseeds who believe everything they hear. He's just muttering to himself. Don't take it seriously." Uncle says, waving his hand dismissively.

"I'm hungry," Nanako says, clearly wanting to end this conversation. After a glance, the three of us head to the sink to wash our hands. Dinner itself wasn't too bad. It's good to eat with people who actually talk.

()()()()()()()()()()

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Today's Showa Day, but there'll be little time for me to be reflective. I'm going to need a lot of money, which means I'm heading for Igawa Books and Gifts. Shouko said that she's going to need some help arranging the new arrivals. Hopefully, I can earn some money, even if it's just a little. 'Course, Yosuke, Chie, and I have to meet up later to discuss what's next. Since Amagi can't remember what happened, we are still going to need that TV. Yosuke texted me earlier this morning to let me know he had talked things over with Chie, and that we were going to meet up at a place called Aiya's to discuss things. With that, I head to the bookstore, umbrella in hand. I'm a little surprised. I was certain that I was going to have horrible nightmares about the crone from yesterday, but thankfully, I slept like a log.

As I enter the bookstore, I see that it looks a lot cleaner. Usually some of the windows have a little dust in them, and the books have a more aged appearance. However, the store is spotless and the books are neatly stacked. Oh man, I haven't been fired, have I? I really, really need this job. Shouko walks out from the storage-room, and probably guesses from my appearance what I am thinking about.

"Oh, there's no need to be worried, I didn't do this myself. My granddaughter came to visit, and made it clear in no uncertain terms that she would not allow the store to remain dusty, and so she cleaned it up over the last few days. Of course, the books in the store-room still need to be unpacked, so, please, don't feel as though your help isn't needed," she laughs, and heads for the store-room. As I'm about to follow her, I glance down at a book for children, a fairy tale about a witch and an apple. Immediately, the crone, and her question, jump into my head.

%'Go on, ask her! You know you want to! I mean, that's what older people are for, right? That and mooching off younger people.'

#'How discourteous of you. Elders exist in order to gain wisdom from them.'

+'Like, are you sure? 'Cause they're all wrinkly and stuff. Plus they smell bad!'

$'Every second that you speak feels like a million years of agony. Silence that mouth of yours!'

I've gotten a lot better since I first gained Izanagi. Before, I would have been driven nuts by these conversations. Now, I can pretend they're just background noise. But perhaps Shouko can provide me with some help.

"Igawa-san, I w-was hoping to ask you a q-question," I begin. She turns around, seemingly surprised.

"Ara, ara. If you're asking me about my three sizes, I'm afraid I'm going to have to answer 'It's a secret.' After all, a woman has to keep some mysteries in order to remain attractive, right?"

...What? Once again, she reads my expression perfectly.

"Honestly, Souji-kun. You have to be more willing to run a little with these jokes. Otherwise, your face will freeze into that frown you have on right now. But for now, let me hear your question. I'll try to answer it to the best of my ability."

I sigh, and then explain the question that the crone posed to me. After I finish, she thinks about it for a moment. "Hmm. I think the answer is only one you can provide. But perhaps I can give you a hint. How many different ways do you think the question can be answered?"

"T-There should be o-only two, right? E-Either I accept that unhappiness, and s-stay with her, or say n-no, and leave, r-right?" Shouko has a sad smile.

"Are you sure? Then let me turn the question around. How do you think the woman in question would feel, if by you staying with her, only unhappiness would result? Wouldn't that be rude to her?"

I don't even have to think to answer that. "Well, t-then the obvious a-answer would be to find s-someone else, right?"

She shakes her head. "I think you're misunderstanding something, Souji-kun. You're answering as if this is a one-sided response. To be together with someone implies that at least on some level, there is a desire from both to bind themselves to the other. If this woman loved you, then what?"

"Oh, t-then that's easy. It would n-never happen, so I d-don't need to worry about it. T-Thanks! I was wasting m-my time thinking about it." So that's the answer. It's a pointless question! Damn that crone! "Okay, I'll g-get to unpacking the b-boxes. Thanks, Igawa-san!" She seems surprised by this response.

"W-Wait! That's not what I was trying t-" but with that, I head into the store-room to get to work. Glad I took care of that problem.

()()()()()()()()()()

Around noon, I say goodbye to Igawa-san, who still seems hung up about something, and head for the meeting spot. Yosuke had told me that during rainy days, Aiya has some type of special, so we would be meeting there to discuss what to do regarding the TV. As I approach the store, I can see the advertisement outside: "Challenge our mighty meat bowl! If you can finish the bowl, it's free! Otherwise, you must pay three thousand. Are you up for the challenge?" I wonder if this is what Yosuke was talking about. Thanks to the money we earned during our fight in Amagi's castle, I have enough, but I'm once again running low on funds.

As I slide open the door, I notice that Yosuke and Chie have already arrived and taken a table. They wave, and I quickly make my way through the ridiculously crowded store to their table. As I slide into my seat, I notice that the entire counter is filled with people, all eating from gigantic bowls. At least two of them look ready to collapse, and the rest seem to be getting there. Yosuke notices what I'm looking at.

"Heh, the challenge that is the meat bowl. Supposedly, it actually connects to the meat dimension, a never-ending supply of meat. I think, like, three people have successfully finished the bowl."

"It's about to become four!" Chie says, looking confident. "I'm going to challenge the bowl today, and finally beat it! Watch out, record." Yosuke just shakes his head.

"She's been saying that for years. How about you, Souji? You going to give it a shot?" Huh. If only three people have ever beaten it, then there doesn't seem to be much hope, huh? Well, I guess I am hungry, and if I eat all of it, I get it for free, right?

"S-Sure, I'll try as well."

"Haha! Two challengers for the meat bowl test. I'm just going to stick with the regular: Tonkatsu ramen." Chie just snorts.

"You're just saying that to cover up!" Here she turns to me. "The reality is that he's almost flat-broke. He's just trying to put on a brave face is all."

"S-Shut up! I know that you're just trying to finish the meat bowl because you spent all your money on old Kung Fu movies, and you're broke as well!" Yosuke and Chie look like they're about to go on a rampage once more. I better get this discussion back on track.

"So, how is A-Amagi doing?" The two immediately stop sniping and turn back to me.

"She's doing a lot better. When I got her back to the hotel, her parents were really, really worried. The cops came out, and I think they asked a lot of questions. I honestly don't think they've stopped treating her as a suspect," Chie says somewhat bitterly. "After that, she went to bed, and woke up about an hour ago. Hopefully, she should be fine by tomorrow."

"Yeah, I remember when I got Jirayia. I felt like crap for the rest of the day," Yosuke says, then looks to the man behind the counter. "Two meat bowls and a Tonkatsu, extra spicy, please! So, hopefully, we'll get a chance to talk with her tomorrow about what happened. But we've got another problem to worry about," he says as he looks at the two of us.

"I heard a little bit about it, but can you explain it to me again?" Chie asks. We begin explaining how Yosuke's father is planning on having the TV sent back, and what it means in case anybody else ends up in the TV world. While we're explaining, the food arrives, and we all dig in. Chie takes a bite, then looks at the two of us.

"So, basically the only way to save the TV is if we buy it ourselves. Your dad can't just give you the TV, Yosuke? I mean, it is just broken down, right?" Yosuke shakes his head.

"I already tried that. If it was something small, like a shirt or something, maybe he would have allowed me to take it. But it's a big ticket item, and the distributor won't send a new one unless we send the old one back. Of course, even if we do get our hands on it, where are we going to leave it? I mean, we're going to have to take it out of Junes. Which means we're also going to have to find a new place to store all the other stuff that goes with our explorations."

I get what he's saying. Moving weapons and armor around in broad daylight would risk drawing the attention of the police, and that's something we can't afford to do. On another note, this meat bowl is insane. It's the same size as any other bowl. Why can't I see the bottom of it?

"Right, but for now, let's just focus on getting the TV. How much is he asking?" Chie asks as she takes another bite. Even she's starting to slow down.

"Ninety thousand, by May third. Gives us barely four days." Yosuke responds, picking at his ramen.

"Then our best bet is going to be split the cost three ways, huh? We really can't ask Yukiko, since she just got out of the TV world, and probably is still confused about a lot of things." Chie says, thinking hard.

"Yeah, but even then. I mean, we're all college-students, right? It's not like we're made of money. I know I said I was saving up for a bike, but my savings come out to twenty-five thousand." Yosuke says, looking downcast.

"Damn. I probably shouldn't have bought those new boots. I thought I might be able to use them in the TV world," Chie begins, "All I have at the moment is another fifteen in my account. Also, I'm not getting paid for at least another two weeks. I could ask my parents, but I don't think they'd be able to help much," Chie said. The two of them look at me. Okay, how much do I have exactly?

"U-Um, between working at the bookstore, and whatever money I g-got from Amagi's c-castle, I think I have about nine thousand. The problem is that I s-still need to pay for my cellphone, plus," and here I pause for a moment, before continuing, "since we d-don't know if anybody else is going to get t-thrown in, we n-need to be able to keep some m-money in reserve for n-new equipment. It's likely the shadows c-could get stronger as t-time goes on." That casts a pall over the conversation, with each of us staring into our bowls, Yosuke's almost empty, mine and Chie's almost full.

"Great," Yosuke says as he slams his fist on the table, "no matter how you look at it, we're almost fifty thousand short. Where the heck are we going to find that kind of money in four days? Without going to the Yakuza, I mean," he says, half laughingly. Fifty thousand, huh?

\'Hmph, you fool. You aren't thinking of all the possibilities. There is still one place to which you have not turned yet, that has more than enough for your needs.'

Forneus' words cause me to almost drop my chopsticks. The other two look at me, but I've tuned out the store and everyone in it. The only place that I could think of that would have that kind of money would be... I sigh, then look at them.

"T-There is one place I can think of. B-But, I really don't want to d-do it if I don't have to." I begin, picking at a piece of beef.

"Is it that bad?" Chie says, looking concerned. I nod my head.

"Yeah. I-I'm going to have to ask my grandfather." At this, I shudder.

()()()()()()()()()()

We part ways twenty minutes later. In the end, neither Chie nor I were able to finish the meat bowl, and both ended up having to pay the three thousand yen. Which leaves me even deeper in the hole than before. Though they both seemed to want to ask questions, Yosuke and Chie refrained from asking the obvious: why was I afraid of asking my grandfather for money? The simple answer is he scares me. The long answer would take hours to explain.

I check the time, and it's only two in the afternoon. Perhaps it's time to put my long neglected brain to use and actually do some studying. I hear that studying in the library when it rains really helps your knowledge.

Five hours later, I leave the university campus and head for home. Thankfully, I at least managed to look over my notes, and even read a few chapters from my text books, though I felt like I was about to drown with the amount of work I've been neglecting to do. No wonder so many college students take six years to graduate. Despite their best efforts, there is simply no way to catch up with all the work that the professors pile on!

*'Or perhaps you are simply being lazy and searching for excuses, aspirant.'

'Geh...'

='It matters not what the intellect of the person is, all that matters is their will and strength!'

^'Hmph. That type of thinking is what leads to people being manipulated by others. Without the intellect to back up your strength, you will always remain a tool of those above you.'

"I'm home," I say as I open the door to the Dojima residence. The sounds coming from the living room tell me that both Uncle and Nanako are home. The two of them are in the living room, watching the news. I drop my bag at the entrance then head over to see if anything important is on. As I take a seat, the meteorologist is talking.

"Due to the weekend rainfall, clear skies seem unlikely in the area. A thick fog is expected to set in tonight and remain until tomorrow morning, with the heaviest concentration in the Tokyo area. Anyone planning to go out tonight should take care." Uncle looks up with concern.

"More fog, huh...? There's been a lot of that lately. Hopefully it's not a sign of more trouble." As he's saying this, Nanako changes the channel, clearly bored. Uncle looks at her reproachfully. "Ah-ah-ah. What did I say about changing the channel without asking?" Nanako simply ignores him and continues to watch. A commercial comes on, with that annoying jingle.

"Have a great day even during Golden Week at your local Junes! Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!" The commercial ends. Nanako sings the jingle twice before looking at Uncle.

"Dad! They're going to be open during Golden Week!" The excitement in her face can't be denied. "Let's all go somewhere together! Junes! Junes Junes Junes!" Nanako says, doing a little dance. Uncle simply laughs.

"You're sure you want to go to Junes? We can go there anytime," he says as he sees her let out a yawn. "Come on, girl, time for bed. It's late." Nanako nods, and the two of them leave. Well, hopefully I can get some more work done before I go to sleep. Turning off the TV, I head to the fridge to grab some dinner.

()()()()()()()()()()

Ten o'clock finds me sitting at the table, doing some reading. Honestly, even though fog is expected to set in later tonight, why am I, a healthy college student, sitting at my desk reading on a Friday? Shouldn't I be out at a bar, or a club, trying to pick up girls? I snort at the vision of me in my mind, dressed in clothes showing off my belly, trying to pick up women. Perhaps that's what the crone was trying to get at: I'll never have any luck with women no matter what I try. I'm distracted from that train of thought when my cellphone rings.

Picking up, I see that the number is unlisted. I'm fairly certain that Yosuke and Chie, the only two people who should have my cellphone number, come through on Caller ID. Weird.

"H-Hello? Who is this?" In response, all I can hear on the other end of the phone is deep breathing. Is this some type of prank call?

"I-If this is a joke, I-I'm hanging up now!"

"Good evening, Mr. Seta." The voice on the other side finally speaks. However, the voice is too deep to be a human's. It sounds more like the voice of a robot, or...that's right. It sounds like the technology that criminals use when they are trying to hide their true voice! What the hell is the meaning of this?

"We have been observing you since your arrival in Tokyo three weeks ago. The work you have done in preventing the deaths of Yosuke Hanamura, Chie Satonaka, and Yukiko Amagi, as well as the resolution of the threat posed by Fubuki Kiyoshi prove that you are a capable individual, or perhaps, more appropriately, you are an individual with the proper type of power.

"We will make this plain and simple. As of this moment, Souji Seta, you belong to us."

End Act II

A/N: And thus the prologue closes, and our first real antagonists take center stage. The more reviews, the faster Act III will start!

And on a special note, I'd like to take a moment to thank Lesserpawn for the tireless work he has done since the beginning of this story. He has been an absolute god-send when it came to bouncing off ideas or tightening the script. Sadly, he has to move on now to bigger and better projects, so I wish him all the best. I highly recommend his story, Persona Animum debes mutare non caelum, (Change your disposition, not your sky), which really does a great job of bringing the Persona series to a different place.

Till we meet again.