Chapter 27 / Unrest
February 13th, 2012 / After School
Yasogami High Rooftop
Taking off a couple days was fine but...another day? Well if you want to get technical this was far from being a day off. Still with Graduation coming up I was going to have more time to work on the album but this was infinitely more important. It wasn't like Mom was complaining. Far from it, she was happy I was spending time with friends. It was something she never really had to deal with when it came to me before. Even now, Mom was going out of her way for me to go into the music industry. I knew what was at stake. That her very reputation was on the line. Even though we were all gathered to go save Marie. I still had a part of my mind thinking I should be working in the studio right now. Not that I didn't want to save Marie. I wanted to support Yu and the others in this.
"Brr, it's cold...Oh well, let's start this meeting," Yosuke spoke.
"It's not like we didn't know it was going to be cold. Satonaka...aren't you cold without stockings or something?" I commented as she was the only girl that had bare legs.
"Huh? No it's fine. Besides it doesn't bother me if my legs are cold. Plus it kinda be rough if I had to bring a change of clothes when we go in to save Marie-chan," Satonaka quickly explained.
"Well you're pretty active so I can see that," I shrugged. Even if thats the case she'll still get cold, but it wasn't my place to push the subject.
Naoto stepped forward to take the floor, "First, allow me to report. Just in case, I've checked for missing people in the local jurisdiction to see if anyone may have wandered in there. Zero results. There are no missing person requests, either. It seems that this place really doesn't have anything to do with our previous case."
I looked to her, it was natural but Marie was a resident of the Velvet Room. Her existence was likely unique, probably different then even Miyuki's. I'm sure that man, Philemon was a special case as well. Still that also meant she would never be reported missing, as she had no family or anyone else that even knew about her other than the people in this group and other people connected to Yu and her interactions with him.
"Hey, no fair. You said to rest, and yet you went and did research. That said, I went and checked the newspaper, too. I looked for any news of missing people, but there wasn't any," Chie quickly added.
"I also tried asking our suppliers and customers if there was anything going on, but there aren't any rumors," Yukiko spoke to confirm it.
"Ditto. I asked around at work, but didn't come up with anything. You can't underestimate the Housewife Network," Yosuke added with a shrug.
"Yeah, I tried talking with some former punks, but didn't get jack," Kanji moved and sat down.
"Considering that none of us could find evidene, perhaps it's safe to say that no one has wandered in accidentally. But more important is whatever Teddie and Rise-san found. How did your search go?" Naoto was now moving the conversation. I noticed Yu silently sitting with Yukiko holding his hand.
Marie was in danger, his mind was focused, maybe too much. Well, Yukiko was looking out for him. I would too, of course. But it was strange, not seeing the usual confident Yu leading the charge, guiding the group. He must have realized it and looked up, he looked at me for a moment, and then smiled as if to assure me he was okay. What a horrible liar he was.
"I can feel that Hollow Forest really far away, but that's it. At least from our side in the TV here. So there really is no way to get to it from Junes," Rise had met up with Teddie this morning and went to Junes as it opened in the morning before school started. Just to see if what Margaret said was true.
"I couldn't sense Emmy-chan's presence at all," Teddie added. Emmy-chan? Well I think I understood how he got that nickname but, well I guess that wasn't important right now.
"That place, it's big. I'm glad we didn't just jump in there without making sure we were ready for it. It isn't going to be easy," Rise was obviously worried about what we were going to get ourselves into.
"The Hollow Forest, huh? Is that place also affected by the mind of the person inside? If that's the case...then did Marie-chan make that area?" Chie asked.
Those words struck me. "A Hollow Forest, its incredibly, unnerving." The words in conjunction held a rather disturbing meaning.
"I agree, it certainly doesn't bring much hope when thinking of it," Naoto said pushing her glasses up.
"Am I missing something?" Kanji scratched his head.
"To be honest, calling it a Hollow Forest seems somewhat redundant. The word Hollow has many different meanings in the English language. It is used to describe a small valley or on occasion a steam bank which is a channel at the bottom of a stream, river or creek, essentially the hollow in this use is a reference to the channel in which water flow is confined. Naturally it also refers to tree's that are empty, although its usually just where animals make there home," I shook my head explaining it. "The last one is a reference to being a ghost. If we assume the places we go to are named with meaning then, it could explain something about that place."
"Meaning in the name?" Yu echoed. "That's right, all the dungeons in the TV World had names associated with it. Each one, referenced the theme of that dungeon. So what would the Hollow Forest reference?"
"A hollow forest born from bloated desire and false imagery. If we take what Ameno-sagiri said then it's possible that that world is simply that...it was humanities desire to look away from the truth. So it is a forest that is ultimately empty, a facade and Marie has gone there to disappear, to disappear along with the world that we stopped from engulfing our world," I said. I knew it would likely be a jump in logic from before.
"I have to agree on this line of thinking. If it is indeed the place Ameno-sagiri mentioned. Then it is the place that gave birth to those who answer the desires and wishes for lies of humans..." Naoto looked to me.
"Well, only one way to find out," I got to my feet.
"Hold on. Are you guys saying that the image in Marie-chan's mind is the same forest that created that monster?" Yosuke asked.
I shook my head, "No, it existed before hand. I'm guessing its part of the reason that the TV world exists to begin with. Part of it. We don't have any way to know that. But either way we can't just stand around and wait."
"Look, the nature of Marie, is complicated. According to Margaret her existence is tied to me, or is important to me in some way. If she wasn't then she wouldn't be able to have been able to come to my Velvet Room," Yu got to his feet. "But there is no time to speculate. We have to go."
Everyone was in agreement and got up as everyone walked off. All except Yukiko and me. She hadn't moved, so I came to her and offered her my hand. "Stop it," I said softly as she looked up at me.
"Huh? Senpai? The others we should..." Yukiko started but I saw right through her.
"Yukiko," I spoke her first name and this time she finally looked at me. It felt really weird saying her first name but it got the desired affect I wanted. It shook her enough for her to really see me. "Stop bottling it up. You're just going to blow up and then what?"
"I-I'm worried about Marie-chan too but...but..." Yukiko hands turned to fists. "Why? Why am I so angry?"
I thought as much, but she had been holding it in for so long now. I had a feeling it had been building up for a while. "Listen, I don't know how it is between Yu and yourself, but you don't have any reason to be jealous. You know, better than anyone he would never do anything to hurt you. Not consciously. I don't think he realizes it to be honest. Yu is earnest and dangerously observant. But he's about as thick as it comes to realizing when he makes others worry. And his mind has been so focused on the fact that Marie is missing, he doesn't know how he's made you feel as a result."
Yukiko took my hand and I pulled her to her feet. "Thank you, Senpai. I know Yu is just wanting to get his friend back. I just...I want him to go back to being his usual self."
Yu...I hope you know just how important you've become to her. It wasn't my place to interfere but they were all my friends. I wanted them all to be happy. I had no idea how I could do that. I wasn't that good in my own life, how could I ever be good enough to help others? Rise, she was a fire in my life. My world had always been cold and dark but she pushed all of that away. Could I ever make it up to them?
All I could do was support them.
February 13th, 2012 / After School
Ski Cottage
"We're here!" Teddie said as we all moved into the small cottage.
"We can get to that Hollow Forest by entering this TV..." Yukiko said. She was standing next to Yu. She seemed to have calm down but she was holding a lot in. Her brief admittance to me was only partially what she was feeling. I knew that. You couldn't see it with Yukiko walking arm and arm but there was a rift between them and Yukiko was desperately trying to fix it. And Yu, did he realize what was happening between them? Or was he really oblivious that the girl who loves him was suffering at his side?
"Let's hurry and jump in there, then! That place is gonna get closed off soon, right?" Kanji was looking ready to charge in for sure.
"Yeah, that Margaret person said it was definitely going to happen...I think we're still okay for today, but I can sense it further and further away..." Rise spoke from next to me. I had given her a heads up to look out for Yukiko. I don't know why but the situation between Yu and her was bothering me.
"Wait, Does that mean we have no idea what'll happen tomorrow!?" Chie alarmed at this.
"That is quite likely. It was a completely different place until very recently. Since there's no guarentee that we'll be able to enter it tomorrow, we must do something about it today," Naoto said evenly.
"Right. It'll be a bit tough, but we've got to do this. We're going to save Marie-chan today!" Yosuke said resolutely.
"Let's not waste any time," Yu said and moved to the TV and dived in. The rest of us were quick to follow behind him.
The moment we arrived we could feel something was different. It was likely because our time to do something was limited. As Rise had said it was getting further and further away. Soon we would not be able to reach it.
"Huh? What is this?" Yukiko put her hand out as something white was seemingly falling but it wasn't snow.
"These are...flower petals," Naoto noted.
"Listen...To my voice...
My shouting, bellowing voice...
Here I am
Pouring my blood into my words
Yelling at the very edge of the world...
I am the little mermaid...
Unable to return, the little mermaid...
Fated to foam, the little mermaid..."
The voice was no doubt belonging to Marie.
"It's Marie-chan...she sounds sad," Rise grabbed my arm.
"She wants to be saved. She wants to be heard but she thinks she is fated to die...to disappear...just like the little mermaid," I found myself saying to the others. I forgot something else. We were surrounded by Haniwa. How could I have been so dense? Haniwa were traditionally used for funerals
"Of course!" Naoto must have realized it too. "That explains the Haniwa...she's...she's prepared a place for herself to...No...I refuse. What kind of memory could have caused her to do this? She could have come to us."
"At first I thought it was snow...but these are flower petals. What kind of flower are these from?" Yukiko said as she picked some up from the ground.
"Let's get moving. There is no telling how far we'll have to go to get to her," Yu was transitioning to battle mode. "Yukiko, Kanji and Yosuke...we'll be the main fighting force for now. Let's try and even out the work just in case we're in here a while."
I took up the rear with Rise walking ahead of me. She would stop and summon her Persona from time to time to get a deeper scan. So Naoto, Chie, Teddie and I would stop with her. Since Yu's group was clearing the way, it was best we stayed with Rise when she needed to scan ahead...plus she kept us all connected so we could talk with the others as needed. As we came up to a threshold we found ourselves stopped.
"Where am I going, you ask? Don't ask stupid questions.
I don't need a map.
I threw away my compass. My heart will show me the way.
I walk by myself.
Am I not lonely, you ask? Yeah, right?
I scorn the company of my own shadow.
Why don't you try and hold me down?
I will die magnificently in front of you.
No one can break my wings.
I don't need anything.
I just walk by myself."
"That was Marie-chan's voice again. Hey! No way! Senpai, look! All your items are gone! Marie-chan...she must be affecting this place and us. Everyone be careful, this place is really dangerous," Rise was warning the others. But all of our items? We had our weapons but...I pulled mine out but...wait what? These weren't the ones I usually used. What was going on?
After a few battles against Shadows that infested this area...we found that they left items behind. Not only that but ones that seemed like they might be vital to us later on. So Yu made the decision to engage in as much battle as possible and cover every inch of this place before we moved on. Treasure chests were littered around and seemed to have useful items and armor. Either way...while the fights weren't tough...we also felt vulnerable not having our usual weapons and armor...as well as the stock of items we had to use.
Still eventually we felt ready and moved on to the next area.
"You are a murderer.
By your silent, smile, by your composed voice,
By your dark eyes, by your bashful fingers I am slain.
I am a corpse.
Foolish, wretched, happy.
Surely, I'll simply rot away...
Because you killed me..."
They kept moving...I contemplated those words. I understood them...vividly. That feeling...where you felt you were un-deserving of feelings given to you. Yet despite that feeling you selfishly want more of it...but your self loathing only goes up with each passing moment. Was she referring to her relationship with Yu? How did she feel about him? Poetry is often left ambiguous so that it can reach a wider audience...but Marie...was this a poem directed at Yu? And Yukiko...what did she think about this?
We kept closer to the main group as we went...I could see Yukiko's determination...she always looked so graceful as she fought. But today...she was determined...and I could only think that she was trying to get his attention. As we got closer to the end of the area I switched out Kanji and Teddie in for Yosuke.
It had definitely been some time since I last fought, but after a few battles I was getting back into the groove of things. Yukiko was still fighting, but I picked up on fire duty so that she could hang back and catch her breath on occasion. She wasn't going to admit she needed it. No...she was determined to stay in the fight along side Yu. We continued on, fighting more shadows as we progressed deeper in to the Hollow Forest.
"For mornings when I can't see you
Spicy mint tea...
For brunch a marmalade muffin.
A touch of bitter fits my mood.
A sigh is stardust.
It's like our own Milky Way.
I can't catch up to your distant back.
Look! Twilight creeps up on us.
The distance to you is like and eternal night...
An eternal pre-dawn..."
"Kayane..." Rise's voice came to me. And seemingly only me, guessing by the reactions from the others. "What do you think Marie-chan means by all of this? These poems seem like they are..."
"Yeah," I thought back. "It's likely all of them so far are directed at Yu. At the very least, it's about someone important to her. Someone she feels inadequate to spend time with, but she also can't stop herself. And now it sounds like their time coming to an end and she's the one being left behind. This could be more relevant to the memories she's lost, and not necessarily Yu. But each new one we here is making Yukiko uncomfortable." Uncomfortable was probably putting it lightly too. There was no real way to properly see the turmoil of what Yukiko was feeling. She was also worried about Marie, but the feelings being displayed towards her boyfriend had to be hard for her to manage.
"I know, but she won't talk to me," Rise added. That was concerning. Still we needed to focus on one thing at a time. I needed to focus on the battles for now. "Kayane...are you worried for Yukiko-san?"
"Aren't you?" I responded simply as we pressed into a new battle.
Again we cleared the floor, scoured for every resource and treasure chest and updated our equipment as we went. The battles were only rough because we needed more time to recover because of all of our missing items. With them we had ways to stave off exhaustion...but right now we were basically defeating Shadows to gain items...but we were using items as we needed. We couldn't take any risks...so we were stocking up as much as we could but at the same time we didn't hesitate to use them.
We arrived onto the next floor, and greeted by Marie's voice again.
"Hey...
How long you gonna wear that ugly mask?
You know you ain't got the guts for this task.
Cover yourself with paint
You're actin' like you ain't
Afraid of whatcha got in store for your fate
You think you got me? Well, that's too bad!
'Cuz I ain't stupid enough to get had!
So drop the pathetic act
I wanna dance and that's a fact
I am a clown.
A pathetic clown dancing forever."
Everything we heard so far, there was always elements of self-loathing. Continually putting herself down. Even this one, started off confident but it was accusing someone of putting on an act. But no, the last few lines betrayed the true meaning. Whether or not the individual was acting or not didn't matter because it was clear she didn't trust him and ultimately didn't trust herself. She wanted to confront him, but she can't. Or felt like she couldn't. It sure didn't explicitly say that but she called herself a clown. Clowns were often meant to be silly, never to be taken seriously. So after all she said, she was basically throwing all of it out the window and instead blaming herself. Because she could never say it to that person's face.
This time we had a tougher foe to fight when we finally reached the end of this block. It was a Shadow that continually summoned other Shadows. I expended what I had to continually keep the pressure up. Along with Yu we worked to keep it up and Teddie kept us topped off with healing. This allowed Yukiko to focus her fire...and show off just how powerful her magic was. Along with her ability to remove Shadows strength to fire, she could keep all Shadows from being able to avoid her fire. Plus it worked out with me in the group as well as I could add more fire to the mix. Still...my magic was no where near her level. Rise said my stats were pretty balanced, but she noted that my Endurance was higher than anyone else on the team.
Still, we had come out on top this time.
"The hated.
Cold things.
Living a Lie.
People wearing a mask of deceit.
...That is me.
...And that is you.
The liked.
Warm things.
Living a straightforward life.
Kind people who engulf everything.
...That is you."
This...there was no mistake this time. It was about Yu. And it sounded like, she was half blaming her feelings she had developed on him. I think I could understand. I had never really understood what it meant to live. What was it like to be loved? To be wanted? I never believed there was any good in the world. I thought people were all the same. They just wanted you to say what they wanted to hear. They never cared to hear the truth. But everyone here in the Investigation Team, they were different. They wanted the truth. Even if it is something they didn't want to hear. Rise had told me that she wanted me to get angry at her, to yell at her when I felt those emotions. She didn't want me to suppress it. She wanted to know my thoughts and honest feelings.
Marie...her memories...did something about them make her feel bad about her time with Yu? Something that made her feel guilty? That she couldn't continue forward with us? What was it? What she remembered was the central point to all of this and it seemed to be that she didn't even tell Yu about those memories. As he seemed just as clueless as any of us.
We continued. I switched with Chie, and Teddie to Naoto into the combat group this time. Yukiko was insistent to stay in the combat group. Despite knowing why she wanted to stick in the combat group, she was also incredibly deadly today. It was as if she had entered a combat trance. She was ruthless against the Shadows so no one had any objections to this. Considering how exhausting it was here. I had decided to just be ready to jump in if needed. I still wasn't in as great of shape as everyone else after all. It had only been a month or so since I was out of the hospital and I was maintaining a decent workout schedule.
Chie definitely quickly moved to attack, but she was having a rough time. It seemed this place favored magic attacks over physical. And Chie was a powerhouse, but her magic ability wasn't up to par with Teddie, or even mine, when it came to ice magic anyway. However, she could charge her physical strikes. Putting her clear ahead in that department, even over Kanji and myself. Well I was more well rounded as Rise had pointed out before. But I had zero support skills. I guess that made a weird kind of sense if you consider my past and who I am.
As we delved further in, we were once again welcomed by Marie's voice.
"The fallen angel is chained down.
Her wings torn off, eroded by prejudice,
her last breaths full of black despair...
Do you know her name?
Will she eventually return to nothing,
forced into the realm of oblivion...?
No!
Her requiem will become a roar
And tear away the mask of hypocrisy!
You should know her name, she who closes
her eyes and dozes off into a dream..."
No those words felt wrong. What was she really saying? She's going to disappear, but she doesn't want to be forgotten? It links with what Margaret said. When the Hollow Forest disappears, so would she and all memories of her. So there would be nothing left, no way for anyone to remember her? Did she know that? Or was she trying to deny that? Why did she feel she needed to come here?
I could feel it though. We were getting closer. We all charged forward. the end was close...it had to be. Now I wondered what Marie truly wanted. Was she planning to suffer and carry her burdens alone? I could understand that desire better than most. Not wanting to hurt others. Even if that means suffering on your own. Sheltering others from your pain. But no, something was wrong. Still it seemed obvious she had made up her mind. In order to even find her we had to rely on a resident of the Velvet Room to find her.
"Release yourself!
From desire! From impulse!
Release yourself!
Your heart's voice! Your internal scream!
In exchange for a lost voice!
Grab hold of proof of your life!
And with that proof in your heart,
come with me..."
The fog in the area thickened as we progressed, until we finally arrived at a clear destination. This was the end, and where Marie was.
"Look! There is somebody over there!" Chie said as we all ran and came to a stop about eight feet away from the individual. They were in a white cloak...or kimono...either way we couldn't distinguish them.
"Who's there...?" the figure spoke, the voice obviously belonging to Marie. The whole getup she was wearing made more sense if you factored in everything else. She was set to disappear. To be buried alive within the Hollow Forest. She would die here, that was her goal.
"That voice...Marie-chan?" Yosuke stepped forward. "We've been looking for you...What's with that getup? Something wrong?"
Considering where we were and that we know she came her of her own free will...there was a lot of things wrong. I wasn't about to point this out though.
"Stay back...!" Marie turned to us but took a step back away from us.
"Marie, we came here for you," Yu said but didn't step towards her.
"That's right, Marie-chan. We're all here to take you back home. Come on, let's go, okay?" Yukiko backed up Yu's approach to the situation.
She looked up at us and then I saw her eye. Things were starting to make a weird kind of sense.
"I have no home. You don't get it..." she took another step back. Her eye was just like Ameno-sagiri. The color was too distinct to not notice right away. Was she connected? She had to be. Yu had run into her the very moment he was in Inaba. And yet she had never been seen until he arrived. We only got to know her because of Yu to begin with. "I can't believe it. Why'd you come? Why?"
"Marie-chan, listen. We don't know what memories have come back to you, or how bad they are. But nothing good's gonna happen if you lock yourself away in here!" Chie took another step forward and Marie reflexively stepped back.
"We know we're being meddlesome. But we want to help you!" Yukiko pleaded.
"Meddlesome. That's one word for it," Marie said it but it wasn't malicious, it seemed sad. "You thought that I was in danger, didn't you? That I might get killed by the Shadows. It'd be better that way. This is a grave, after all. My grave. I'm going to die here." So she was resolved to die, and yet sounded regretful? What was it about this situation that we didn't know about?
"No, we won't let you," Yu said, his emotions were starting to bubble up. He was trying to remain calm but his frustration was coming from what he didn't understand. I knew that because it was how everyone was feeling.
"Yeah, Senpai's right. We won't let that happen to you!" Rise added.
"Shut up! You don't know anything!" Marie yelled and took another step back.
"Then tell us Marie!" I yelled back.
"Emmy-chan..." Teddie wasn't sure how to contribute, only that he knew that he didn't like this.
"Emmy, Marie...Neither of those is my name!" Marie turned away from us. "I remember...I remember everything. My real name is Kusumi-no-Okami. You guys fought Kunino-sagiri and Ameno-sagiri, right? I'm the same as them. I'm your enemy, one of the ones who covered your town with fog."
I thought so. There was no coincidence when it came to the TV world. And obviously there were being beyond humans responsible for the existence of the fog and the TV world. So the real question, how did she split? So she learned that she had been in part responsible for the things that had occurred to us. Did she blame herself for me? What had happened then? When I couldn't wake up? Was it related? So what did it make her? She wasn't a shadow, not a true resident of the Velvet Room. She was a higher being, right?
"That's what you remembered?" Kanji asked.
"That's right. Sneaking into the human world...Sensing the will of man...My role was to inform Sagiri what the wish of the people was. That's why I'm the only one of them that looks human...Even without my memory, my body fulfilled my role. In your words, I'm a spy," Marie looked to the ground away from us.
"You were spying without knowing it...?" Rise spoke softly. It was hard to believe, even more so was how horrible it must have felt when she remembered. That she had been hurting the people she had become friends with. That was the real reason. This, was a sort of redemption for what she was a part of.
"That's so cruel..." Yukiko added.
"Do you understand now? Plus...I'll tell you something good," she looked back up. "If I don't die, then your world will disappear. So...don't come chasing me." Then she simply vanished. No doubt teleporting deeper into the Hollow Forest.
"Marie-chan!" Yukiko jumped forward but it was too late.
"Our world'll... disappear?" Kanji repeated.
"What does she mean by that...? We know that she's one of those monsters, like the ones that came from within Adachi-san and Namatame...She may have a valid reason for shutting herself in this area," Naoto was trying to come up with a reason.
"Now's not the time for deduction!" Chie interrupted. "She IS trying to kill herself! We can't leave her like this! We can't hesitate!" She didn't even wait and ran off.
"Chie wait!" Yosuke ran after her. We all quickly followed. I was running alongside Naoto and Rise.
"More than likely her existence is tied to all the different aspects that make up one being. She was given a human form in order to properly carryout her function. Something mush have happened that caused her memory to be lost. Yet she was still unconsciously carrying out her responsibility. In that time she had already become friends with us. No only that but she might have gained the memories of who we faced. As a matter of fact I think she recovered their memories as well, especially if they are all essentially the same person," I said as we were moving.
"So by killing herself here...she would be able to eliminate that function? Meaning that without her the rest of it wouldn't work?" Naoto was still speculating the possibilities. "So is she...doing this for us? To protect us?"
"It a possibility and honestly it makes the most sense to me if thats the case," I replied. I shook my head, "She's probably scared of what would happen. And I don't think she would do it, if we hadn't become such good friends with her."
"She's trying to resolve it all on her own," Rise shook her head. "No, we can't let her do this alone."
Yu charged head long into combat, as we went even deeper into the Hallow Forest. A grave...a place that Marie...no Kusumi-no-Okami was seeking to die...to disappear. That name...it was a name from mythology. A god born when Susanoo bit and blew out the fragments of Yasakani-no-Magatama...a gift given to Susanoo from Amaterasu. I wonder if any of those stories were relevant...but so far...what we had faced were all based around humanity. Was that what was important here? Our Persona's were tied to Japanese history and mythology. Right now...getting to Marie was what was most important.
"I am the queen.
This world belongs to me.
I don't need anyone else.
My world is already complete.
I am the queen.
This false world belongs to me.
The lonely queen...
No one knows the real me.
Don't take away my cape.
Because underneath, I am nothing.
Don't chase after me.
Please."
Now Marie was pleading with us to turn back. But trying to convince us it was because we don't know her? That it was because she was nothing. I remember thinking that way. I wasn't worth saving, that the effort people put in to help me was useless. The world was better without me.
"I know these feelings all too well," I comment as we slowed up and Yu was going into another battle with the front group. "But knowing that just being alive could endanger the people you care about. If it was me, I'd probably do the same thing." There had been no reason for my attempted suicide other than me not believing there was a point in continuing to try. Marie's reasons were because, she couldn't bare to think about what would happen to us, and the easy method and most painless for everyone was for her to disappear in the Hollow Forest. Not only would she die, but all memories of her would be erased.
"I think I might have made that same decision as well," Naoto said. Looks like Kanji had joined the main group this time. I hadn't realized Naoto had fallen back from the combat group.
We pushed forward as we went deeper and deeper into the Hollow Forest. We were almost there. Marie spoke to us once more but it was just more of the same. We pressed on, no longer bother to speculate on her reasons. It was obvious by now. She was determined to die but what was her real reason for doing so? For us? Or something else? Still we had no choice but to press forward. We were all worried. There was no reason for her to carry the burden alone. If there was nothing that could be done, we could go from there. But self-destruction was not something anyone should go for, especially when it would be so thoroughly destructive as to remove memories. Her existence would have been meaningless, and that was something I could never agree to.
Reaching the end, we entered a large structure in the center was a coffin with a Margatama over it. And standing in front of it was Marie herself. We ran up, Yu having switched up the combat team. It would be Yu, Yukiko, Yosuke and Teddie heading into the fight. Unless we could find another solution.
"Why...? Why do you come? Why?" Marie turned towards us...seemingly angry. "I told you I'm your enemy...That you don't need to bother with me. Why did you come this far...?" She was frustrated...but even I could see the conflicting emotions she had on her face.
"I'm not done talking to you, Marie! Tell me! Why are you here? Why are you doing this?" Yu yelled. His outburst was surprising. The one most alarmed by this...was Yukiko...who silently stood next to him.
"Haha, I see... You're still searching for the truth, aren't you? Sorry, I forgot. But I'm tired. I...I just want to end it all," Marie looked down. She was ashamed but it was the honest truth. I knew that feeling. Being just tired from going day to day...not caring or expecting anything good to come the next day or even after that. All that was left...was a solution that led to an end to all of that. Death...it was a very final solution to any problem.
"Shut up! You know what that means!? You think we're just gonna lie down and let you do that!?" Kanji stepped forward in his usual manner. Well he was never one to beat around the bush and said what he meant.
"Marie-san, please listen. Even if you are one of those creatures, that's still no reason for you to end your own life. The two Sagiri have been defeated. That means you're..." Naoto was quickly interrupted by Marie.
"Free?" Marie laughed a short but profound laugh. "Is that what you think? Sorry, that's not true...I'm not like you. I don't have freedom."
"What are you talking about?" Yu was...getting angry?
"I told you already. If I don't die, then your world will disappear. Our role was more than to simply find out the wishes of man. Our true role...is to control the fog and bring that wish to fruition," Marie said it and shook her head. In other words...there was another truth to this that held uncomfortable consequences. The wish of humanity as described by Ameno-sagiri. To have the world covered in fog, so it would no longer have to face the truth of their lives.
"To control the fog?" Rise repeated.
Marie elaborated without being prompted, "Don't you think it's strange that the fog never went away? That it lasted for months? The fog that changes people to Shadows."
"W-wait! Then...The reason the fog cleared was..." Yosuke started but Marie stepped in to complete it.
"That's right. When Ameno-sagiri was defeated, the fog covering your town was no longer needed. Then I heard a voice...and all the fog flowed into me. You see, the fog isn't gone. Even now, it's raging inside of me..." Marie looked away from us.
So that is what it was. That fog didn't just disappear...it had to go somewhere...and if it didn't return to the TV world...then...oh God. No wonder she had come here. She had to do something about it.
"No way...So the fog isn't gone after all that!? It's just in you now!?" Chie was floored...no it hit all of us hard. The burden Marie was carrying right now...
"When my mind is completely overpowered by the fog, I will disappear, taking the fog and the hollow Forest with me. Do you understand now? I am a being destined for nonexistence. That's the memory that came back to me. But with this...the world will be saved," Marie said simply.
"So that's why you came to this place. The Hollow Forest, a place that holds nothing and will eventually be nothing. Do you really think that after coming into existence that you are fated to become nothing? So what?! Does any of your time with us mean anything to you! Dying is one thing but you aren't just dying! You're taking our memories of you. Meaning we won't remember any of this at all! And you think that's okay?" I found myself being worked up and stepped forward towards the steps. "Because even if I don't know you as well as the others. I'm not okay with losing what memories we do have together!"
"That's why! That's the reason I left! Because there's no point in seeing you! We'll just hurt each other and then...no. It's okay. It's all okay. I've already made enough memories of my own...Fun...Happy...Memories..." Marie was going to break soon. She didn't want then any more than we did. But she couldn't admit it...wouldn't admit it. Then she looked back, a serious look on her face. "If you're not going to leave now, then I'll have to make you leave by force. Please, just understand..." Marie floated into the air.
"Dammit! Why did it end up like this!? What're we gonna do, partner!?" Yosuke prompted Yu to make the decision.
"Sorry, Marie. But we're not going to let you win this time. We're going to stop you!" Yu pulled out his katana.
"Okay! We're saving her! If we give up here, then why the hell did we even bother coming all this way!?" Chie added.
"Yeah! We're not going to let anyone else suffer from that fog! We can do this," Yukiko pulled out her fan and stood ready next to Yu.
"Let's go, everyone!" Yu said.
"I don't want you to suffer anymore! Why don't you understand that?" Marie called out as the combat group moved forward.
"You're the one that doesn't understand Marie! People have already died. We wanted to clear the fog to save people, to save the town. Do you really believe we would want to sacrifice someone to get to that? It goes against everything we were fighting for!" I yelled out. "Marie...please...you know that this isn't what you want either. You know that in your heart."
"My...heart...I...NO!" Marie released lighting on the group.
I stood back as the others started to fight. I kept my eyes on Marie...she was frantic...desperate...she wanted to save us from that pain. She was going to bare it all alone so that no one would have to wonder. Because when she disappeared, we would have forgotten everything about her. At the same time...it was the problem...it hurt her just as much...if not more. To learn the truth...that the time you spent was going to disappear? How could you face that?
"Marie-chan! You don't have to bear this all on your own! We're your friends...we can be there for you too!" Yukiko yelled.
We all...wanted her to come back safe. Still she persisted. But...after every attack Marie looked more torn. She wasn't liking any of this. I knew she didn't want to fight us...she wanted to convince us that what she was doing was right. I might have agreed with her...if it had been months earlier. But things were different now...I was different now. I knew that without a doubt...we could find a solution that worked for everyone. Including Marie herself.
Marie...then shielded herself with something. Rise let out a warning that she was covering her weaknesses and hold up the attack.
"Why...? Why do you still come!? All you have to do is abandon me!" Marie was breaking. "This sucks...Why don't you understand!? Just give up!"
"Marie!" I stepped up. "Your the one that doesn't understand!"
"Why...Why!? It doesn't matter what happens to me...You're stupid...Hurting yourselves like that. If my death keeps you from being happy...then...then what am I dying for!?" Marie basically screamed out this time. "Please...please listen. I don't want to see you guys hurt...I don't want to see you in pain. I'm trying to save you!"
"Don't say you're going to die!" Teddie yelled out. "Don't worry. It'll be okay. I used to be just a Shadow, too. But even I could change...Emmy-chan, you have to believe!"
"Marie...believe in us, you don't have to do this," Yu was pleading.
"...What good comes of belief? If you take me from here then your world is going to disappear! Is that what you want!? Don't you get it that!? That's what it means when you tell me me to live!" Marie floated down to the ground and stumbled back against the coffin behind her. She collapsed against it. "I look so stupid...Afraid of living off borrowed life, afraid to disappear...Thinking that maybe I could remember something , and then I'd have a life worth living. It's funny...I remember now. I already have a role...and it's to disappear. I shouldn't have ever remembered. It would've been better if I'd never remembered..."
I felt something...a change...something shifted. Something...it gathered around Marie. This wasn't over yet.
"That's right...There is no need for the truth. Ignorance is bliss...There will be no pain if you never try to find out," Marie got back to her feet. Her voice...was like Shadows we had faced in the past...like an echo. Something had changed...this...this was the real fight.
"That's not Marie-chan," Yukiko said as she brought her fan up.
"Is that what she meant byher mind being overpowered? Hey! Snap out of it!" Yosuke went to move forward but Marie held her hand out.
"No! Don't come near me! Go home! Please, just go home! All you losers...You just don't know when to quit. I never should've met any of you! Especially you. I hate you!" Marie was pointing to Yu.
Yu shook his head. "That's fine. Hate me all you want, Marie."
"Yeah, what he said. You really aren't being true to yourself, are you, Marie-chan? You need to work on your acting skills," Rise said. Yeah, but we all knew Marie enough by now. But everyone else knew here better than I did. I had limited interactions with her. They all cared immensely for her.
"Stop lying to me!" Marie shook her head.
"It's not a lie," Yukiko added.
"Everything in this world is the product of someone's mind. This place is yours. This tomb, and the flowers all over it...Your resolve to die is what created this scenery," Naoto spoke softly. Marie stayed quiet this time. "However...On the way here, we saw things that don't fit a grave. Junes and Souzai Daigaku signs, the bench on the hill, the electric poles, mirrors, school desks. It's all from the town...The home of the people you say you hate so much."
"What, you want us to bury you with all that stuff? If you like 'em that much, why don't you come see for yourself, huh?" Kanji added.
Marie fell. I found myself moving forward now...passing by the others. She looked up and shook her head, "I can't. I have to die."
"Marie, is that what you really believe? Do you remember what you told me?" It was something only she would know. Something only spoken between the two of us. When I had barely been awake and she had been encouraging me to get better. She said nothing but her eyes, she knew what I was talking about. "Let me remind you. Don't give up. I made friends with all of the others. It isn't fair if you aren't among them. I don't want to see them sad. Just what do you think is going to happen by doing this?" I know I was being harsh to her, but she needed to admit just how much this was hurting her. That this was something she didn't want to do.
"I...I...but I don't have a choice! Ikakure! I can't...I can't separate myself from the fog! That's why you have to go. I'm sorry! I don't want to...I don't want to go! But I have to! I don't ever want to hurt you, any of you! Please...you have to go...you need to leave now! It's impossible...There's just no way. If we waste any more time...the fog will take me over and be set free...if that happens...I won't be able to take my own life. I'll become a monster. I won't be me anymore! And if that happens...I can't protect you! Please! I don't want to hurt any of you! I can prevent that right now...but...its useless if you're all here!" Marie was in tears now. She had been on the verge the whole time. Her emotions so close to the surface. She was finally telling the truth.
"What if we defeat the fog?" Yu asked.
"That would mean giving up control of her body, right?" I stopped for a moment. "I could use symphonic discord...wouldn't that separate the fog from you?"
Marie shook her head, "No...your symphonic discord as it is only separates Shadows. The fog and myself are different. But Yu-san...might be right. Maybe right now...You might be able to defeat the fog. I can put my mind to sleep before the fog overpowers it. Once I do that, the fog will then take over my body, but my mind will still be safe, beneath it. After that...the rest comes down to luck, I guess. Which will give out first: the fog, or my life?"
"That's one hell of a gamble..." Yosuke muttered. "What are we gonna do?"
"I'd rather not have to do that. But if there's no other way, then we'll just have to have faith that it'll work," Yukiko was up and by Yu's side.
"Yeah, it's gotta be better than just sitting here and watching her die," Kanji muttered.
"She's not gonna die! We won't let her! This is our friends life on the line. We can't fail now!" Chie was doing her best to keep everyone motivated.
"Marie," I spoke softly from next to her. "I tried to commit suicide once."
Her eyes widened, "Why would you..." she stopped her hand covering her mouth.
I smiled, "It's the truth, you know. That was before I met them. Before I knew what it meant to live. It's the same for you right? You didn't know what life was before hand right? Then you met Yu, and he introduced you to what it was like to live...to have friends...to experience life. We're the same, Marie. We both learned something valuable because of them. So if its the only option and it could potentially work then...don't you want to ask your friends for help? To have that chance to live? Besides, all these guys are stubborn...they don't like being told no."
Marie looked at me and blinked and then she laughed. "You're absolutely right." Marie got to her feet. "Okay. I trust in you all. Even if I do die, it would be a better way than letting the current situation continue. But...please, don't any of you die. You got that?"
I stood up and stepped back. "Don't give up. We'll see you when its over."
"When this is over, I hope we have time to spend time together, Ikakure," She smiled a bit. "I'll see you all soon."
Suddenly she was surrounded by fog. I started to move back.
"No, Senpai. You should fight too. Teddie! Fall back for support right now!"
"You got it Sensei! Go get 'em, Kay-chan!" Teddie exclaimed as I pulled out my sickles.
"Oh come on, Yu. I thought I was going to take it easy on this run?" I said as the fog intensified around Marie. "And Yu...don't think you don't have things to answer for after all this."
"Yeah...I know," he said as we both slid into battle ready positions.
"It's coming...Get ready, everyone!" Yosuke called out.
"What good is it to learn the truth...?" the new being appeared...wearing a red cloak with odd shaped silver and white...armor? And her body was pure black. And on her head was a strange curved silver mask with red eyes what seemed like they extended out beyond the mask and frayed out like lightning. "You want me to throw away my worthless self-satisfaction in exchange for eternal suffering and despair!? I don't need it... I don't need any of it! What's wrong with turning a blind eye to suffering? I don't want a truth full of pain! I want a peaceful lie!"
This was...likely the true form of Kusumi-no-Okami. Lingering behind her was the eye of Ameno-sagiri. It was all part of her...one being split to fulfill different roles.
"Everyone she's rejecting everything...she's...you won't be able to attack her as she is! You have to break her guard somehow," Rise's voice was there to support us.
"We picked up items to break wind resistance. Yukiko, try and keep fire break on and both you and Kayane-Senpai can keep up the pressure with fire. I'll try to mix it up when I can. Don't hesitate...it may be Marie but if we underestimate our opponent we won't succeed," Yu said as an Arcana card floated in front of him. "Scathach!" Yu launched a spell as we all fanned out in different directions, intending to cover more space. I moved off to the right along with Yukiko.
"Ready Senpai?" Yukiko asked as I noticed the tarot card in front of her. I nodded and rushed forward as Kusumi tried to protect herself. "Fire Break!"
The tarot card floated down in front of me, "Benzaiten! Agidyne!" The fire attack went straight through Kusumi's defenses and slammed against her. Looks like Yu had made the right call on this fight. This meant it was going to be a war of attrition. Slowly wearing her down, and breaking down her defenses when needed. Kusumi-no-Okami reacted more defensively but on occasion would unleash a powerful lightning attack. However, both Yukiko and I worked together as a unit to keep up the pressure from one side, while Yu and Yosuke worked as one from the other. Splitting Kusumi's attention coupled with the fact that we kept removing her defenses as she was putting them back up. I covered Yukiko whenever attacks happened, just by instinct. She wasn't as attentive as she usually was.
Her heart wasn't in to this battle. I could tell that even though she wanted to help Marie...her mind was also occupied by the fact that Yu had been so determined and focused on saving Marie. Other thoughts had probably come to her mind. She was having a internal fight as we fought this one...it took off the edge of her attacks. It was find because I could press the attack while she focused on support. That would be more than enough for this fight. Taking things slower was probably the better idea.
Benzaiten in battle felt more nimble than Tsukuyomi had been. She was one of the seven Gods of Fortune in Japanese mythology. Technically Benzaiten was Saraswati a Hindu God that was migrated in to Japanese Buddhist religion. That was how a lot of things worked in religion...but I was more curious how it worked as Persona's. The fact that our Persona's represented by Gods or Mythological figures probably meant something in itself. And I'm pretty sure I've thought about it before. However, unlike Tsukuyomi...Benzaiten was the Goddess of everything that flows...such as time, words, speech, music, water...and also knowledge. Considering the changes in my life recently that may be the reason why. Or...could it be because I'm so accustomed to going with the flow. Well that probably had something to do with it. Still, did the change indicate I had gotten stronger, or developed a different problem? Benzaiten felt stronger...and moved with an elegance that Tsukuyomi didn't have. All of this was probably left to a better time when I wasn't in a fight for my life.
The body of Kusumi-no-Okami began to crack as we landed more and more attacks. Her attacks became more wild and desperate. Despite the difficulties getting to Marie herself...the fight against her wasn't as difficult...only lengthy. In a final attack...Yukiko's Agidyne caused the last of Kusumi-no-Okami to break apart and Marie was seen floating in the air. She began to fall towards the ground but Yu was there to catch her. He landed with her in his arms and moved to the ground with her. She was leaning against him but she wasn't...
She's not moving. Yu lays her onto the ground and puts his head to her chest, listening for a heartbeat. After a moment he raises his head, somewhat expressionless.
"Emmy-chan? Come on...You're such a sleepy-head. It's time to wake up, okay?" Teddie said approaching Marie and kneeling down next to her. "Emmy-chan! No! This isn't happening! What did we do wrong!? Emmy-chan, wake up! Don't die!" He started shaking her.
"Ge...t offa me!" Marie suddenly sat up pushing Teddie away. She obviously didn't have her strength because she fell back and was caught by Yu, to support her. She was confused for a moment. "Wait...you guys...right. That's right."
"Welcome back," Yu said simply.
Marie turned slightly looking into the eyes of Yu for a really long moment before turning away. "Thank you." She managed before she looked down and away from Yu and the rest of us as well...likely hiding a blush. Suddenly she turned and threw her arms around Yu. "Thank you so much."
Something went off in my head...some sort of warning. I looked around for a moment and then the whole place shook. "Rise, something is coming this way."
She summoned her Persona and I felt her connect with me, "Show me."
I focused my thoughts on the direction.
"What's going on!?" Chie asked.
"Don't tell me! Is this like in the movies where once the bad guy's defeated, his evil fortress self-desturcts!?" Yosuke added as another tremor occurred.
"Sorry," Marie said not moving or letting go of Yu. "I forgot to mention...I don't need to be in this place to die anymore, so it's going to disappear."
"I'll tell you what you don't need. You don't need to be next to Yu anymore," a voice entered...a familiar voice...but there was an echo to it just like a Shadow.
"Yukiko?" Yu looked up.
"It wasn't me, it..." She started to defend herself, but at the entrance stood two individuals.
"Oh it was you alright," Shadow Yukiko stood with a menacing grin and next to her was...a Shadow of Yu. Shadow Yukiko pointed right at Marie from where she sat. "Hey, bitch. Get away from what's mine."
"Kayane...this is just like what happened to us...isn't it?" Rise spoke telepathically through her Persona to me. I had a feeling that something like this would happen. But I thought because we weren't in that section of the TV world that we would be okay. Apparently I had been wrong...but I also hadn't been sure of what exactly was the reason for it to occur between Rise and I.
"Yeah, no doubt its the same. Yu has been so focused on finding and saving Marie that he hasn't realized the strain he put on his relationship with Yukiko," I responded. The real question is...I could understand Yukiko's emotions being strong enough to attract a Shadow that would imitate her...but why was there one of Yu?
"A shadow?" Yukiko stumbled back. "You can't be...because I..."
"Why? Because you were doing your best? Because you were being the dutiful girlfriend and supporting him and just stuffing your own emotions inside? Putting his needs over your own? What do you think happens when you ignore your own emotions? And you? Didn't I tell you to get away from him?" Shadow Yukiko stepped forward and directed herself at Marie once more.
Marie got to her feet, as did Yu. She moved away from Yu, "Yukiko-chan...please it isn't like that. Yu-san, he is important to me but he loves you more than anyone...he would never do anything to..."
"To what? Betray her?" Shadow Yu finally spoke and laughed as he moved next to Shadow Yukiko, he reached around her waist with his left hand and pulled her close. He then reached over with his right hand and ran his hand along the bottom of her shirt. "How much do you know about me? Tell me, do any of you know what life was like for me before I came to Inaba?" Shadow Yu was met with silence as he slowly worked his hand underneath Shadow Yukiko's shirt. "What if there was something I was hiding before that time? I mean would any of you be able to know? Unlike the rest of you, I didn't have to face myself to gain my power."
In those words held an uncomfortable truth. I think I was starting to understand what the true underlying problem was. I looked to Yu...who at this point had wordlessly moved next to Yukiko.
"I don't care," Shadow Yukiko spoke and actually guided Shadow Yu's hand over one of her breast. She was completely subservient to him and she wanted it that way. "I am perfectly okay with being under him, because he's mine. No one else is allowed to be close...no one else is allowed to be touched by him. All of it...should be focused on me. He is my Prince! I found him. So the rest of you whores stay away from him!"
Yukiko shook her head, "No...NO! That isn't how I feel at all. Yu, don't listen to her." She turned as Yu pulled her into his arms. But he didn't say anything.
"Oh man, look at how little you have to do," Shadow Yu laughed. "I bet there is a lot you could get away with and she'd welcome you back, every. single. time."
"You're wrong," Yu finally spoke. "The problem is...I'm afraid. I've never been in a relationship before and then Marie disappeared. I didn't know why she left...I thought I had done something wrong. Soon I became obsessed with finding her...I had to know why...because I feel if I didn't...I could eventually lose Yukiko for the same reason."
Yukiko pulled back and looked into his eyes, "That's why? Why didn't you say anything?"
Yu averted his eyes, "Isn't it obvious? I'm terrified of losing you. I mean I have to move back to the city in a month. Do you know how scared I am that someone might swoop in and I'll lose you in the meantime?"
"That isn't it," I stepped forward to speak. "You both know what this is really about."
"You all can shut the fuck up. None of you matter in this situation," Shadow Yukiko wrapped her arm up around Shadow Yu's neck. "I don't care about his reasons, all I need is him."
"No, you're wrong!" Yukiko finally took a firm stance and looking straight at her would be Shadow. "The problem is, we're both insecure and worried about our future."
Both Shadows flickered. That was it. The truth was that Yu and Yukiko were feeling the exact same thing. I had initially thought it had been different. But, as a matter of fact, both of them were worried about losing the other. Especially with Yu moving back to the city in the next month. It wasn't just Yu's first relationship but Yukiko's as well. So if that was true then the emotion the two Shadows in front of them shared was likely fear of loss. Specifically the fear of losing their attachment. The bond that the two of them shared.
"She's right. Both of us have been, too scared to bring it up. So we've avoided it up until now. I instead focused on Marie and she..."
"I pretended everything was fine," Yukiko finished for Yu. "But now, we'll work through those problems together." Yukiko pulled out her fan as Yu pulled out his katana. The two were finally in sync. Obviously there was a lot for the two of them to talk about, but they attacked their Shadow counterparts in unison. The two Shadows were taken by surprised and blown back by a combined spell of Fire and Wind from Yukiko and Yu. Yukiko stood proudly with her Persona Sumeo-Okami. This was something she only had because of Yu. That was what she had said to me. And Yu was using the Persona Scathach. He called it the Ultimate of the Priestess Arcana and said it only existed because of Yukiko. I had noticed that he used it more than most of his other Persona at his disposal. I shook my head, the two of them truly did care about each other. But this time their fear had taken root and caused this situation.
"We have to hurry, this place looks like it's going to start falling apart," Rise urged on.
"Everyone, take Marie and get out of here. Yukiko and I will finish this ourselves," Yu spoke up as he clashed with Shadow Yukiko.
"Yes, go!" Yukiko added. "We'll be right behind you."
Everyone hesitated but I looked to Yosuke and Kanji. "You two help Marie. Shirogane, Teddie and myself will move ahead to clear anything that gets in the way."
"R-right," Kanji said moving to Marie's side.
"Yu-san...Yukiko-chan," Marie looked at the fight that was happening. "This is all..."
"We can talk about this later," Yosuke said moving to her other side. "Let's go."
I didn't wait and started running ahead with Naoto and Teddie moving next to me. I did glance back seeing Yukiko and Yu continuing their fight with their Shadows or rather what posed as their Shadows.
"So it seems a rift and shared emotions between them caused the same event that you and Rise-chan went through before," Naoto spoke as we ran.
"Yeah and I doubt either of them suspected that there was this kind of problem. But the Shadows have a habit of making the real problem apparent really quickly. More than likely Amagi was feeling jealous on top of her fear of losing him. So she focused more on her jealousy and avoided her fear. Yu focused on the fact that Marie was missing and since the murder was solved, he no doubt had been thinking about the fact that he would be leaving Inaba soon," I said as we made it down further. Were all the Shadows gone? If Marie no longer had a reason to have this place then...did the Shadows not need to be here either?
"So Sensei and Yuki-chan were going to fight one way or another?" Teddie asked.
"Yes, more than likely. The problem is...I don't think they would have realized what the real problem was if this didn't happen. And both of them would have ended up in a worse place because of it," I noted as we turned a corner.
"Up ahead, take a left. We can use it to get back to the entrance," Rise's voice spoke to all of us.
"You got it," I said as I moved around the next corner. I stopped as Kanji, Marie and Yosuke passed me and stood in a circle. Rise was running behind. I held out my hand and she took it the moment she got close. She was breathing heavy, so in a swift motion I picked her up bridal style and started moving. "Kayane...I don't..."
"You've been working double duty and supporting Yu and Yukiko right? You focus on that and I'll get you out of here," I moved quickly with the others and we disappeared and back at the entrance. I knew Rise, she was the type to worry about everyone up until she knew for sure that they were safe. We stood in front of the TV, I still held Rise as she summoned her Persona. Kouzeon appeared around me and easily placed the visor or her eyes. This was a new feeling...her Persona felt...like Rise...as if I was surrounded by only her. But I feel Rise become tense in my arms.
I could imagine the pain held by Yu and Yukiko. Feeling like you finally met someone that understood you...and then the threat of that being taken away. Rise had gone through it with me. And for me...Miyuki had long since been dead. All I could do was live for all of them. Along the way I am sure I would find what I need to really live and enjoy my life. Yu and Yukiko...they always looked so comfortable around each other...they were in perfect harmony, able to move and adjust to each other without even sharing a glance. They knew each other so well...and yet there was still more they didn't know. Yu had never talked about his time before Inaba. I wonder if Yukiko had ever asked him about it.
Regardless...nothing would happen if they didn't make it back. And I wasn't leaving this place until they got back. No matter the consequences.
A/N:
Relationships are hard. Yeah, I know I've said it before. Obviously I've been foreshadowing that things weren't exactly great going into this between Yu and Yukiko. But it's something that he would realistically face. When you play the game as the Protagonist, if you pursue any kind of romantic relationship , then the end of the year is going to be pretty complicated. I mean maybe they don't mean much to you, to which breaking up with them before you leave would be pretty easy I guess. But if you truly grow to care for them, then its going to be a rough time. Yu becomes close friends with a lot of people, so I wondered how hard would it be, and what his life would have been like before Inaba.
All we ever get about Yu's history is a brief anime sequence at the beginning of the game of him standing in front of a class and his teaching informing them that he's going to be living. And you can hear the students aren't happy about it. So obviously it wasn't like Yu came to Inaba needed to reform or something like that. From the sounds of it he's pretty well respected. You learn both of his parents are going overseas for business, whatever that might be. You learn more from Dojima that its been quite a while since they last saw each other. So Yu actually is not used to moving around and likely left all his friends behind, or people he thought were his friends. This is where it gets interesting to me. I realize that it would go against the silent protagonist method if he had any pre-established friendships. So he's essentially a clean slate, but there is kind of a sad truth that exists for this to happen. Yu didn't have any real friends, so when he moved, not a single one ever tried to contact him, and neither does Yu. So what's the relation between that and his relationship with Yukiko? And specifically his fear of losing it? It's because when he moved to Inaba, he lost all connections to his friends, or people he thought was his friends from before. So his fear is stemmed from the fact that he unintentionally equates to leaving Inaba as losing his friends, and Yukiko. And he doesn't make that connection until this moment.
Yukiko is in a similar boat because she has essentially decided that she wants to take over the Amagi Inn. Now she is wondering if its okay with her to want to keep Yu. She feels that him not being in Inaba means she will lose him to someone else. And yet she wants to stay in Inaba, despite everything that she originally thought she wanted. So now, she's conflicted because, she doesn't know what Yu wants in his life. Essentially the two of them are thinking of the future, but they haven't talked to each other.
Plus you didn't think that those weird Shadows weren't coming back right? It's been a long while since they were last seen but, their back. Cliffhanger this week, but don't worry only a week away from the next chapter, haha. This chapter turned out to be longer than I though, which I think is a good thing? I dunno. Either way, next time we wrap up Marie's dungeon portion and start shifting to the end of the school year for Kayane. As well as shifting to the launch of the music career, which will involve quite a bit along the way. And maybe see a sneak peek at characters coming our way. Well Kayane is going to be graduating soon, and then its off to the end of the main Persona 4 game before fully shifting past it. Man, its been a long journey, but lets keep going.
See you all next week with the next Chapter! Read and review! Let me know what you think or what you hope to see in the future.
Also a final note, spoilers for my other Fan Fic Persona 3 Momento Umbrae will be coming up in a couple chapters. So if you don't want to be spoiled then I suggest heading over to my profile where you can find a link to that story. Don't worry I'll also post a warning at the beginning of the chapter so you know that its coming. See you next week.
