Chapter 6: Close Your Eyes and Trust Me

He's the one Yusuke told me about, his friend that only spoke when words mattered.

The feminine voice she heard was coming from Joker's phone, and it spoke her thoughts aloud word for word. "Yes," Joker replied.

So, she understood, this was how she was going to communicate with him. You are the one who came before me.

"Yes."

Igor chose you to replace me.

"That's right, but first," Joker pulled both of his red gloves by the wrist so they were taut around his hands, "I must destroy you."

Natsumi gasped in terror. Joker came toward her with a menacing look in his eyes. Natsumi could hear her heart throbbing in her ears. All she could think of to do was back away, but when she was pressed against a shelf, she just looked up in fear and breathed heavy.

But then he stopped, and a mischievous smile crossed his lips. "Just kidding."

How could he do that? Natsumi took a deep breath to try to calm down.

"He still wants you."

That cured the fear because it just made her feel annoyed. Then he's a fool!

"Heh," Joker chuckled.

And that made it worse. He is! I thought that you might be on the spectrum, but now I see you are the perfect normal guy! You're strong, you're agile, you're coordinated, you're brave, you're . . . charming, I'm none of those things. I never will be.

"You're wrong. I'm not perfect. I had to learn all those things, just like you. And you will."

I tried all my life. It's not happening. You're a better candidate. Tell Igor you're taking over. Natsumi turned away and started to leave.

"And what about your sister?"

She stopped. How'd he know about her?

"Don't you think it's odd, how quickly she changed? It's not normal, is it?"

No such thing.

"It is out of the ordinary. This is change of heart."

She turned back around. Is he saying what she thinks he is? She's in the gingerbread house?

"Maybe. Maybe not, but the shadows' hold on her is obvious." He started coming closer to her again, this time more gently. "You know her better than anyone, and you have the power now to save her. Don't you want to?"

Natsumi bowed her head shamefully and looked at her feet. I want to.

He put two of his gloved fingers under her chin and raised her face up, forcing her to make eye contact. "Here," he said softly. "Why don't you and I make a deal?"

At the very sound of that word, "deal," Natsumi felt something deep inside her soul, like a jolt of lightning in her heart. It made her gasp in surprise.

"You get back to it, return to the Metaverse, rescue your friend, and I will teach you everything I learned from being a Phantom Thief."

It sounded like a good deal, especially with how high in esteem Yusuke and Futaba held him, but Natsumi just couldn't see how it would be possible. She shook her head. Sorry, but if I can't do it, no amount of advice will help me. She turned away and started to walk out of the room.

But with a whoosh, Joker appeared and blocked her path. "Who says that all I have to offer is advice?" He knelt down to look at her closer. "Close your eyes."

Why?

"Close your eyes and trust me."

So, she closed her eyes. Immediately, she felt him put his hands on her head. That was an unexpected touch, so she began to panic. She stiffened up and moaned, but then she remembered that he told her to trust him. So she took a deep breath and tried to relax. She felt his hands push something around the crown of her head for a moment. Then he whispered in her ear, "Open your eyes."

When she opened her eyes, the Velvet Room looked completely different. It was still dark, but it was like the shadows of the shelves were amplified. Something had completely changed. The air felt different, and there was a light hum around her. She felt like she was seeing a different world. She started turning around, looking in every direction, but before she turned too far, she saw Joker's gloved hand point. "What that?"

She looked where he was pointing, and she saw a small, glowing, golden ball in one of the shelves. She walked forward toward the strange orb, full of curiosity. As she approached the shelf, she took the book out in front of the ball, then reached out and grabbed the ball itself. She still couldn't tell what it was as she looked at it, but it was pretty. Suddenly, she felt something hot around her eyes and for a second, she saw something that looked like blue flames before her eyes. When they were gone, that hum disappeared, and the Velvet Room looked like it did before, and that orb was no longer gold. Natsumi was holding a plain pearl.

"That ability is called Third Eye, and it's very useful. In the Metaverse, it will help you solve puzzles, size up shadows, discover hidden treasures, and find places to take cover, where the Shadow won't see you. It has some functions in the real world as well."

Natsumi looked at him and then realized what he did when he touched her head. He put his mask on her! She put her hands on her eyes and looked through her fingers. Is this how you see the world?

"It's how you see the world now."

She took her hands off her eyes and looked at him in amazement.

"That's right. It's yours. All you have to do is concentrate and focus. It'll become natural after a while. You can have that Bead, too; it restores HP." He came closer to her again. "And that's just the beginning. I'm a trickster, and I've got a lot of tricks up my sleeve. But it won't do you any good unless you take the deal." He reached out his right hand to her.

Everything in her was trembling, begging her to take it. It sounded great. This ability alone sounded like it could make things so much easier, but there was something else, something she was worried he wouldn't teach her because he assumed it was innate. She had to ask him first. What did her parents tell her? When making a request, be polite, be humble, make sure to bow, and use a respectful honorific. What would be most respectful? Not chan, not kun . . . only one will do.

She bowed. Joker-sensei, will you teach me how to make friends?

"Of course. Take the deal, and you will have already made one."

For just a moment, she looked into his eyes. His face seemed very friendly. Maybe he did mean it. How could he be her friend, though? He didn't even know her! Still, there was no reason to turn him down.

She grabbed his hand. It's a deal!

A wave of relief suddenly rushed over her. The air went eerily still, like time had stopped. Then, she heard Medusa's voice echo around her singing that same strange tune she sang the first day she appeared. "Thou art I, I am thou. This day, thou hast made a vow! As our goals intertwine, the Fool's confidant is thine!"

She looked around her, confused about what just happened. Joker just smiled mischievously. He let go of her hand and with a whoosh jumped onto a shelf and into a window she didn't even notice was there before. Just before leaping out of the room, he turned back to her one time. "See you, Siren."

The next moment, Natsumi opened her eyes. She was in her bed; it was a dream. The first signs of light were poking through the horizon, as the dawn was just beginning. Somehow, the word was still on her lips, and she whispered it. "Siren?"

She realized that her hand was clenched, and she opened it and saw a small pearl. So it was like her last dream in the Velvet Room; it really happened. So does this mean . . . ?

Focus and concentrate.

She squinted her eyes and thought really hard. She admitted, the room looked different, but that just might be because of her squinted eyes. She couldn't tell if Third Eye was working. Despite what Joker said, she probably had to be in the Metaverse for it to work. So, she had to go back. She hoped she could do it.

She got ready and met Hanso for breakfast. "You feeling better?" he asked.

She nodded.

"When I came back with the burgers, you were out like a light. I heard of the phrase 'I cried myself to sleep,' but I've never seen someone actually do it. Well, I'll make you a good breakfast."

"Senpai?" she texted.

"Yeah?"

"That dream, with the gingerbread house? What does it taste like?"

An expression of bliss crossed his face. "Oh, it's wonderful! It's like homemade cookies, fresh from the oven! Better, even! Oh, but that's not the best part. You know I told you that I met the woman who lives there? Well, she has this awesome chocolate sauce. She let me taste a little bit, and it was so good. Now, she lets me have all I can want."

This sounded very troubling. It was like Futaba said, his mind has been altered. Whatever this chocolate sauce is must be something really foul. In the story, the woman who lived in the gingerbread house was a witch. Could this be a witch's brew? She had an idea. She squinted her eyes again and looked at Hanso again, and she thought she saw something above his head. It surprised her, and she gasped.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head.

"Alright, well, let's finish up and get to school."

Oh, she's gotta find Art! How could she get to that nature preserve in time? She decided to eat quickly so she could leave early. So she ate as quickly as she could, brushed her teeth, got her books, and went out the door.

"Psst!" she heard someone whisper. She looked around but didn't see anyone, so she started walking on. "Psssst!" the whisper came again. She looked where it was coming from, and Art hopped over. "I had a feeling you'd might change your mind, hon, so I made sure to make it back. Did you change your mind?"

Natsumi nodded.

"Great!" Art came closer. "Now, I shoulda made this official earlier, and that was my fault. I'll remedy that now. If you keep taking care of me, give me a place to sleep and give me all the arugula to eat and water to drink, I'll keep being your 'service animal.' I'll give you all the advice I know about this world and the Metaverse. Now, I ain't claiming to be an expert in either one of those subjects, but I'll gladly tell you what I know. And I'll let you pet me when you're anxious, and I won't bite or scratch, I promise. So, we got a deal?"

It happened again. Right when Art said "deal," Natsumi felt that sudden jolt deep in her heart. That must be a magic word. Wait, Igor said when she found a good friend who will help her that she would know it. This must be how she'd know. So there was no reason to turn her down. Natsumi nodded, held out her hand, and took Art's paw.

Sure enough, the air went still again, and once more she heard Medusa's voice singing. "Thou art I, I am thou. This day, thou hast made a vow! As our goals intertwine, the Moon Confidant is thine!"

Then, time seemed to restart again. "Alright, enough of this boondoggle. Let's get to school. We'll see about getting back to that gingerbread house later today, OK?"

Natsumi nodded.

She didn't see Yusuke at the mural in the morning and decided she'd meet him there in the afternoon. Yet after school, when she went to the mural, she still didn't see him. She wandered around the mural wondering if he was just taking a break somewhere.

"You again?" She turned and saw that boy in the smock that Yusuke called Michael. "You looking for sensei? He took another day off for no reason! Stupid sensei, leaving all the work to me to do alone. Oh, don't tell him I said that."

So, Yusuke's not here? He must be . . . he has to be . . . what was that town called again, Yongen? Hanso was setting up for music club again, so she just searched for the platform to get to the subway there. She got on the train and went for that café. It wasn't too far away from the platform.

The same man, the one Yusuke called Boss, was at the counter. "Ah, you're back. Kitagawa-kun wasn't sure you would ever show up again. He told me you liked the coffee, which warms my heart." She got out phone and was about to text a question, but he could read her expression. "He's upstairs. Didn't he tell you? He's renting the room from me while he's working on the subway mural."

She looked surprised that he could figure her out, but then she gave a small bow in thanks and made her way to the stairs.

Yusuke and Futaba were up there, talking about what they saw the previous day. "So, what should we do now?" Futaba asked.

"I think you should get with the others, or perhaps your co-workers, and pursue the matter further," Yusuke answered.

"Me? What about you? Don't tell me you're too busy with the mural."

"Well, I am on a schedule." He sighed. "If only we could contact Art."

"I don't trust that rabbit."

"Really?"

"Still, you know we can't ignore this. Kamoshida's there."

"And that's part of the problem. When I was a phantom thief, I saw the worst, ugliest part of the human heart. I know I was changing things for the better, but what I saw and experienced still haunts my thoughts and dreams, and it seeps into my artwork. I need to see goodness in humanity again. That's why I'm not anxious to start the phantom thief life once more."

"Then why did you tell her-?"

"She needed my help! I pity her. When I first saw her, she was—''

Futaba gasped and pointed behind him. Yusuke turned around and saw her standing at the top of the stairs. "Natsumi, you returned!"

She was a little shocked; she heard Yusuke say he pitied her. But she put that to the side and tapped her phone to speak aloud a sentence she texted just before she made it up the stairs.

"Call me Siren."

"Hey," Futaba said with a smile, "we didn't even talk about code names, and that's a cool one! You come up with that by yourself?"

Natsumi shook her head.

"Well, it doesn't matter. It's still awesome."

"Rather ironic," Yusuke said as he stroked his chin, "A siren who doesn't sing."

"Hey, inari, that doesn't matter. You don't have whiskers. But that does bring up a point. Should we get new code names since we're not in our phantom thieves costumes?"

"I don't think so," Art said as she hopped out of Natumi's bag. "Why fix what ain't broken? You're used to those names."

"I agree," Yusuke nodded. "Besides, I would not want to change code names with as many dreamscapes as we may visit."

"Yeah, good point," Futaba said. "Well, what about you?"

"Me?" Art asked

"Yeah, you need a code name. How about . . . Carrots?"

"Oh, hon, the idea that rabbits like carrots is a myth. I don't really care for 'em. They're actually not good for rabbit all the time, got a lot of sugar. I'm watchin' my figure, you know." She winked at Yusuke.

"Um, OK. What do you like?"

"Lettuce, especially arugula. Mmmm, that stuff's good."

"Yeah, I don't think I'm gonna call you 'Arugula.'"

"We should name you after your most distinguishing feature," Yusuke suggested, "Ears."

"Thanks, sweetie, but I'm actually prouder of my feet. These stompers aren't just great for leaps but are awesome weapons, too."

"I think it would be rather problematic to call you 'Feet.'"

"Wait, rabbit's foot," Futaba said contemplatively. "How about Lucky?"

Art did a little binky. "Now you're talkin', hon! That's right, I'm gonna bring good luck to all y'all 'cause I got four lucky feet!"

"Alright, well, I guess we better get back to it. Now, this time, don't go wandering off!"

Natsumi nodded; she knew what to do now.

When they got into the gingerbread house, Natsumi narrowed her eyes and concentrated. Everything looked different, she could hear that hum, and the oppressive sweet smell lessened a little bit. Most importantly, she found a perfect shade to hide in. She jumped straight into it and waited until a gingerbread man walked toward her and then walked turned around. Then, she jumped up and hit him from behind.

"Yeah, that's the way!" Futaba encouraged her.

Joker was right; Third Eye made the journey so much easier. She knew exactly where to hide and when to come out. She found some hidden treasures in breakable candy, and that was always fun. The only problem was she still had trouble keeping track of the shadows' affinities and bringing out the wrong persona. Yet it was clear that Yusuke and Futaba were impressed. "She reminds me of Joker," she thought she heard Yusuke whisper at one point.

But then they got to the third floor, and they saw Kamoshida was still there. "Well, the security level's better this time," Futaba said, "but we still gotta get past this obstacle. You ready, Siren?"

Natsumi nodded.

"Now, let's be careful this time. Inari, you and I approach him first."

Yusuke nodded, and they walked up to him, both ready to draw their weapons. Kamoshida surprised them both, though, as he looked up weakly at Yusuke. "Excuse me, sir, how do I get out of here? I just want to go home."

Yusuke was so taken aback he only gasped.

"We're not falling for it, Kamoshida," Futaba responded.

"Please. The train station, it's not far from here, is it? The JL's still running, right?"

"Yes, of course," Yusuke answered uncertainly. "It goes all the way to—"

"Inari, what are you doing?!" Futaba interrupted.

"He needs help."

"He's the enemy. What did you say last time, 'filthiest creature on the face of the earth'?"

"Still . . ."

"YOU!" Neither of them noticed that as they argued that Natsumi approached them. "WHY DID YOU COME BACK?!"

"Oh, great," Futaba sighed.

"YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE! THIS IS NO PLACE FOR YOU! YOU STILL HAVE TIME; IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME!" He kept yelling like this, just like last time, and once again, they watched as he transformed into a monster. The others got into formation and began fighting him, but Natsumi got an idea. It just seemed to come out of nowhere, and she knew what to do.

When her turn came, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and clenched her right hand into a fist over her heart. Inside her mind, she made one wish.

Medusa, be my voice.

In a flash, the ghostly woman appeared by her side. Futaba gasped at how beautiful she was. "Glorious," she thought she heard Yusuke whisper.

Medusa came forward and spoke. "Coach, I don't want to hurt you. I want to help you."

It worked. Medusa gave a voice to the words in Natsumi's heart. The monster paused and gazed at the persona.

"You'd want to hurt him if you knew what he did!" Futaba spoke up.

But Natsumi ignored her. "Why do you snap that rubber band when you see me? Why do you cause yourself pain at the sight of me? I don't want that for you. I like you. I like how you're nice to me at P.E. when we both know I stink. I don't want you to hurt. I want you to be my friend. This monster, it's not who you are. You're a person."

The monster started to move again and said in a distorted voice, "I . . . I just want . . . to get out."

He kept saying that. Maybe he really means it. "The exit is downstairs."

The monster actually nodded. "Thank you." Slowly, the monster transformed back into a man. When Kamonshida completely transformed, he gasped and ran out of the room.

"That was . . . something else," Futaba said. "I mean, really, that's was unexpected, but a win's a win. And hey, it looks like the security didn't go up. We're golden."

"Your persona was stunning!" Yusuke said. "I don't think I've ever seen one that looks so lovely."

"And that was purdy smart gettin' her to say what's in your noggin," Art said.

"Indeed, very clever."

"Yeah, I just hope it's not a mistake. He got away, after all," Futaba said. "Hey, Siren, did you just call him, 'Coach?'"

Natsumi nodded.

"Don't tell me he's teaching at your school?"

Natsumi looked confused, but she still nodded.

"Agh, what is Principal Niman thinking? Background check much?! I thought he'd still be in jail, but even if he wasn't . . . ugh! And what was that thing about the rubber band? He really does that? That's weird, why?"

"Because he does want to be a better man."

Everyone looked in astonishment at the one who said that. "Inari?!"

Yusuke was looking away pensively. "I recognize that description. It's a common behaviorism technique I learned in a psychology class. Most people use it for anger management, but it can work in many situations. When one has recurring, unwanted thoughts, he snaps a rubber band around his wrist. In time, he will have those thoughts less often as he comes to associate the thoughts with pain. If Kamoshida truly is practicing this, it shows he is making a conscious effort to change."

"Hang on, why are you studying psychology? What does that have to do with art?"

"I have my reasons. The better question is why aren't you? You're so interested in cognitive psience, yet you do not study the science of the mind?"

"It doesn't help us here."

"It did just now. It gave me a little more faith in humanity."

"Kamoshida wants to be better? I don't believe it."

Art hopped in between them. "Alright, simmer down, y'all. It's like you said, Oracle, 'a wins a win.' We win! A guy got out. Maybe there'll be others, but let's push forward so we can find Siren's roommate."

"Yeah, I guess that's the important thing. OK, then, let's go."

She and Art started going to the next room and Natsumi started to follow, but then Yusuke called to her. "Siren?" She turned around. "I feel I must tell you something. Those undesirable thoughts that Kamoshida are trying to purge? Chance are, you are the one triggering them."

Natsumi gasped in surprised and looked down in shame.

"No, it's not you're fault. You should not feel guilty. He just has these impulses inside him. I'm only saying this to warn you. I know you believe what you said through your persona, but you need to be careful around him. I would not advise being alone with him. He might . . . well, just be careful. Do you understand?"

She nodded, but she wasn't sure if she did.

Yusuke nodded. "Good. Now, let's go forth."