Disclaimer: I do not own Persona or Fate or anything in the nasuverse, any resemblance to any other Persona 4/Fate fan fiction is coincidental and plagiarism is not intended. No flames please constructive criticism only.

AN: Just an FYI I decided to skip Level 2 of Marie's Slink. So I wrote out Level three instead. In that event Marie never showed her ability to see Heroic Spirits hence the surprise.

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[05/01, Parking Lot, North Shopping district, Inaba]

It was late into the night and the sun had long since set, however this did nothing to discourage the young man known as Kanji Tatsumi who was surrounded by a biker gang that kept returning after he crushed them the last time. There were about a forty of them, but their numbers didn't scare him. His problem was that they kept revving up their damn bikes which stopped his mother from getting any sleep, hence why he'd been crushing Biker gangs in the area for a few years now.

Predictably they had come to the parking lot and Kanji had been waiting for them. He was already into the fray; beating down the morons who rushed him one after another sometimes even flipping them around and throwing them into their buddies. He ignored the camera crew that was recording the whole thing like a TV show. He couldn't think about them, right now he had to take down these assholes.

It was while Kanji was distracted fighting off two others, that a biker with a wooden sword rushed him intending to take him down from behind.

"Behind you villain!" a voice called from the shadows.

"What in the hell is tha-OOF" the sword wielding biker was cut off as a shadow leapt from atop a roof and landed by planting his foot into the biker's head sending him to the ground knocking him unconscious.

The figure was wearing a gentlemen's tuxedo, a blond wig on covering his hair and a silver mask adorning his face with a comical smile on it. His appearance caused Kanji and the Biker's to pause in their fight. The intruder stepped off of the biker he had been standing on and picked up a wooden sword.

"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" The apparent leader of the gang demanded angrily.

"I'm glad you asked delinquent scum." the silver masked figure said deliberately with a clearly fake deep and heroic voice. "I have heard the cries of the people living in this area forced to suffer the intolerable noise you thugs make night after night, yet even as this brave young man" the masked figure motioned to Kanji "crushes you time and again like a rash on the towns backside you continue to flare up, well rapscallions no more for I am this towns rash soothing cream, prepare to taste the fury of..." the figure struck a pose so his body was shaped like a capital Y " Space Samurai...Y!"

Kanji and the camera crew who were watching the exchange sweat dropped when the masked figure finished his speech and struck his pose. A few seconds passed and the biker's all burst into laughter.

"Who the hell is this guy?"

" Is he for real?"

" What does he think this is a cartoon?"

" Get lost, this ain't Featherman pal."

"Wait did he just call us an ass rash?"

" Underestimate me at your own peril ne'er-do-wells." Space Samurai Y held up the wooden sword in a ready stance which amused the bikers.

"I'll take care of this loser." one of the bikers wearing a tattered jacket said cracking his knuckles "Say goodnight hero."

The thug charged at the samurai, however quicker than any of the witnesses could think the charging biker had his feet swiped from under him and was sent to the ground hard as the wooden sword slammed into his exposed back.

"What the hell? Who in the fuck are you?" the leader of the biker's demanded angrily.

"I have already told you I am Space Samurai Y, a passing ally of justice here to punish you hoodlums." the Samurai stated before looking at Kanji "Young man, let's teach these rapscallions a lesson they won't soon forget, what say you?"

" Huh...er yeah I'm ready damn it." Kanji yelled clenching his fists as he prepared to fight again.

"Very well" The samurai leapt into the air and landed so he was standing next to Kanji. "I'll take the twenty on the right you take the twenty on the left."

" Screw that I'll take twenty one" Kanji yelled pumped up.

"That's the spirit." the Samurai stated preparing to fight.

"W-what the hell are you all waiting for an engraved invitation?" the Leader yelled at his men "Kill these morons."

After a second of hesitation the gang rushed the two hoping to take them down quickly.

"Very well, all at once it is, have at thee rapscallions." the Samurai cried leaping into battle.

"I'LL BEAT YOU ALL DOWN DAMN IT!" Kanji yelled as his fists flew into the faces of bikers.

Battle cries echoed into the night as the 'fight' resumed. It could hardly be called a fight though, one sided beat down was more accurate as Kanji the Space Samurai beat the delinquents down left and right. In the beginning of the fight the samurai was doing more damage to the gang members he struck down, with some loosing teeth and having broken noses and even broken arms as they were sent to the ground by the wooden sword.

However as the fight dragged on his swings which seemed to be slightly wild became more focused, any master of the sword who was watching the fight could tell that he was quickly going from displaying the skill of an rookie to that of a novice to an amateur, to an expert and finally a professional with the skill of years all within seconds.

Such rapid improvement especially in a street brawl like this was unheard of and the few weapon practitioners who continued preserving their art that were watching the fight on the news would have their interest piqued when they would watch the masked man in action.

It was long before the fight began to wind down with less than ten bikers left conscious. They charged over their comrades to try and take the two down only to meet the same fate as their comrades.

"STAY DOWN! ASSHOLES!" Kanji yelled as he smashed together the heads of two bikers together.

One who had engaged the Samurai kept trying to grab the masked man only for him to toy with him by dancing out of the way.

"Stay. Still. Bas. tard." The biker growled grabbing at the masked intruder with every syllable.

It was when the delinquent grabbed at his wig that the Space Samurai had enough and smashed him on the head knocking him to the ground.

"Don't grab there that wig was expensi-I mean that's my hair you fiend." The Samurai yelled correcting himself quickly.

As the masked fighter knocked down the hair grabbing biker he dropped the wooden sword and dusted off his gloved hands watching as Kanji finished the fighter by smashing the leaders head into his own bike sending him to dreamland with the rest of his crew.

"Now stay away from this place damn it, go bike or whatever somewhere else." Kanji yelled shaking the unconscious gang leader before dropping him and turning to the masked man who had helped him fight. "Hey…er thanks for the help man."

"No thanks necessary citizen" The Samurai said still putting using his deep heroic voice "Now I must be off duty calls" the samurai leapt off "till next ti-YEOW SON OF A-" or tried to when he was suddenly sent back to earth due to smashing his head by leaping up into a streetlight "Who moved that damned streetlight?" he suddenly stiffened and flinched when he saw that Kanji and the news crew were still staring at him, the samurai sweat dropped, cleared his throat and stood up. "As I was saying, 'till next time citizens. Space Samurai Y AWAY!"

The masked man leapt up onto the roof in an incredible display of acrobatics and ran across it fading into the night, looking like a cool superhero….or he did look cool until he could be heard tripping and falling off of the rooftop and crash landed into some trash cans on the other side.

"WAAAHH-OOOF, why are these rooftops so damned small and what is in these cans?" the sound of sniffing could be heard "Oh good lord it's tuna, this'll take forever to wash out."

Kanji was so distracted by spectacle that he almost forgot to give the news crew a piece of his mind, all of them sweat dropped at the goofy masked man's antics as he ran off.

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[05/02, Hallway, Yasogami High, Inaba]

The next morning the students all gossiped in awe and fear as one Kanji Tatsumi stormed by ignoring them all.

"Hey, did you hear about the new freshman student?" one student asked another in a not so quiet tone.

"I did but, is it legit? Did he really beat up an entire biker gang?" his friend asked curiously.

"They say it's true. It was him and some guy in a mask versus a hundred and the two of them kicked the crap out of those bikers!"

"When they finished, the freshman became their boss and the masked guy became his right hand man. Apparently he even got interviewed by some TV station."

"nah, man that's not what I heard."

"What did you hear?"

"I heard the masked guy was pissed that Kanji became the biker's boss and yelled that he would destroy all evil and then the two had an epic clash that ended with the two beating each other senseless."

"That's bullshit I heard the masked guy just ran off after the fight."

"Whatever, what do you think a thug like that's doin' in our school?"

"I dunno but he should crawl back to whatever gutter he came from." The other remarked snidely.

They laughed until the boy in question began walking towards them, hands in his pockets. When they spotted him they immediately gained nervous looks and skulked off, his gaze followed them before he growled and made to keep walking. He stopped when all of a sudden someone tapped on his shoulder.

"Is this yours?" He whipped around, and there stood Yu, holding a fluffy pink bunny keychain. Face becoming red; he snatched it out of the other boy's hand.

"G-gimme that!"

With that Kanji immediately pocketed the keychain and began storming off a little bit faster.

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[05/02, Rooftop, Yasogami High, Inaba]

Lunchtime finally rolled around, a surprising number of people had chosen to stay in their classrooms or the halls for lunch today, no one felt like going outside which was perfect for Yu who had need to have the rooftop all to himself for what he wanted to do.

"I looked around in spirit form, we're alone, no one the see what we're doing up here." The Hound of Ulster reported. "But are you sure this'll work?"

" It can't hurt to try" Yu replied coolly. "The worst that can happen is that I look like an idiot with no one around to see It."

"Alright, but let's just hope this ain't too flashy or we're gonna have a hard time explaining this." Cu Chulainn sighed.

Yu took a deep breath before extending his hand outwards and reaching within to his bond with Marie.

"I call to the power of the bonds within, you who align yourself with The Aeon Arcana" a short ways away from Yu there appeared a large circle that glowed blue with a mask in the centre that was half light half dark underneath. Floating above it in the air was a tarot card with the image of an Egyptian deity holding a staff on it, when it rotated around its image changed to that of an armoured man driving a Chariot with word the Roman numeral XX next to the word Rider. It changed back and forth from this image as it slowly spun in the air. "I call to you under this bond and ask that you appear to me now, come forth Rider of the Aeon."

Yu clenched his fist and the Arcana shattered and blue flame's swirled around the circle. After a few seconds they dissipated and revealed a woman dressed in black and dark purple attire which left little to the imagination. The toga like dress she wore displayed a generous amount of her impressive cleavage and hugged her body tightly, ending in a short skirt. Her arms were covered in sleeves disconnected from her toga that began at her biceps with bands keeping them in place and ended in handcuffs around her wrists. Her legs were donned similarly with black leggings that went up to her thighs and black boots underneath.

Her eyes were covered by a purple headband that matched colours to the choker she wore. Completing her physical appearance was her absurdly long purple hair a few strands of which brushed against the ground; a red marking of some sort adorned her forehead.

A few seconds passed and Cu Chulainn let out an appreciative whistle.

'Woah babe alert, you sure know how to summon 'em.' the Hound of Ulster commented with a grin.

"So you're the Aeon Arcana Persona right?" Yu asked

'Correct.' she answered stoically staring at him through her blindfold.

"So who are you?"

"I am Medusa." She answered shortly; apparently she wasn't one for giving out long answers.

'So we can be summoned this world too, not just the TV World.' Gawain said appearing in spirit form. 'That is good to know in case of an emergency. You are of the Rider Class if I am not mistaken, correct?' Medusa nodded at the knight in silent confirmation.

"Yeah, but it's a bit harder here, like it take's more energy maintain." Yu stated trying to catch his breath.

In response to her masters situation Medusa took spirit form becoming invisible to all expect Persona users thus relieving him of the burden.

"Thank you." Yu expressed his gratitude towards the Persona for relieving him of the burden.

'It is no trouble….Space Samurai Y.'" Medusa replied while trying to fight down a smirk.

A pause and the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed. Gawains face had become firmly buried in his hands apparently mortified at being reminded about last night.

'My King, even if your actions were for a noble cause, couldn't you have protected your identity in a less...unsightly way?' The Knight of the Sun pleaded while Cu Chulainn began laughing his ass off at the memory of last nights…escapade.

"People consider me a calm, collected and serious person." Yu replied to his Persona while still looking at Medusa whose smirk had quickly disappeared from her face; however the Wild Card could feel an aura of humour pouring off of the Persona. "By acting that way no one will ever suspect that it's me."

'Why do I have the feeling this is not the last time we will be doing this?' Gawain asked mortified.

"I need the practice." Yu stated feeling no shame. "Even with just a wooden sword against some thugs, it's good practice for real opponents like the shadows."

Gawain had no words and settled for shaking his head trying not the think about anymore excursion like the one last night. Cu Chulainn had finally stopped laughing and began hitting on Medusa who was giving him the cold shoulder.

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[05/02, Dojima residence, Inaba]

It was the evening and night had fallen. Both Yu and Nanako sat eating dinner together.

"Isn't this fried chicken good?" Nanako asked.

"Yeah, it is." Yu looked at the TV.

The phone rang, and Nanako perked up.

"Maybe it's Dad!"

Yu watched the girl pop up to answer, but quickly turned his attention back to the TV.

"Hello?" Nanako chirped. "Uh-huh? Oh…" Her face fell. "Okay. I see." She turned to Yu. ""Daddy wants to talk to you."

Yu took the phone getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Hello?"

"Hey there, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna be working late tonight" Dojima sighed and flipped some paperwork. "Feel free to lock the door and hit he sack if you want."

"Yeah sure, no problem." Yu said to his uncle.

'Why do I get the feeling this isn't all he has to say?' Cu Chulainn sighed shaking his head.

"Oh and about us taking off on the fourth and the fifth… one of our rookies got pretty sick and it doesn't look like the case he was working on will wait until he gets back, so I'm stuck filling in."

"Nanako will be crushed when she finds out." Yu whispered into the phone.

"I-I know….I know….I'm sorry… can you to watch over Nanako for me?" Dojima requested apologetically.

"Alright." Yu conceded with a disappointed sigh.

"Thanks." Dojima hung up leaving Yu to put the phone back in its cradle.

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[05/03, Dojima residence, Inaba]

The next morning the doorbell rang. Yu opened it up and was surprised to see Chie cheerfully standing outside the door.

"Good morning'!" Chie saluted as soon as the front door slid open.

"Chie?" Yu blinked.

He hadn't expected anyone to come over, he wasn't really used to people coming over to ask him to hang out. This was mainly due to having no friends because of how he moved constantly.

"So, are you free today?" Chie asked enthusiastically "Because if you are, you wanna hang with us? Yukiko will be there," her voice became less enthusiastic as she rolled her eyes. "And if we have to, we can invite Yosuke, too."

"Sorry, but I can't today." Yu said with a sigh.

It would be wrong of him to just take off with his friends when his little cousin had been eagerly anticipating Golden Week only for it to be cancelled at the last minute.

The sound of small feet padding against the floor drew Chie's attention. She peered past her friend to see a little girl wearing a white turtleneck under a sleeveless dress in pink and two shades of red, white socks and pink shoes.

"Hm? Oh," she smiled and leaned down to be more at his eye level. "You must be Nanako, Whadaya say, you wanna join us?"

Nanako gave off a squeak and didn't say anything instead opting to look at her cousin who had an assuring smile on his face that seemed to put her at ease at ease.

"Come on, it'll be fun." Yu encouraged her with a friendly tone.

"You sure it's ok?" she ventured still a bit nervous.

"'Course it is!" Chie's smile remained. "And you'll have a great time."

"Can we go now?"

Yu hurried to put on his shoes as Nanako went upstairs to get dressed, and left holding his cousin's hand all the way.

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[05/03, Junes, Food Court Inaba]

"Tada!" Yosuke slapped a plate of meat onto the round metal table in front of the little girl. "One giant steak!"

The cut was bigger than Nanako's head, and smelled delicious. "Wow! It looks yummy!"

Chie swiped the cutlery from Yosuke's hand with a growl.

"My god, you're slow!" She offered it to their small guest, with a large smile. "Here. Dig in, Nanako. Eat it all up."

Nanako thanked her politely.

"You may have to chew it a lot." Yukiko stated. "They don't have the best quality steak here."

"Aw, come on. At least don't say that stuff while I'm standing right here." Yosuke balked. He flopped down into one of the chairs at the table and sloppily pulled his the apron.

"Are you through with work now?" Yu asked, taking a bite of her own steak.

"Nah, I'm just on a break," He sighed and glanced around the busy rooftop. "But dude, what are you guys doing wasting your whole Golden Week hanging out here at the Junes food court?"

"There's nowhere else to go." Chie snapped at him.

"But what about Nanako?" Yosuke frowned. "You bring her here? Of all the places you could take her?"

"Yeah," Yukiko said with a sad sigh. "I feel so bad for her."

"You know, there are worse places on earth." Yosuke said defensively changing his tune.

All of sudden Nanako perked up when the Junes jingle played over the loudspeakers.

"Every day's great at your Junes!" She sang along to the jingle, rocking in her seat. "I love Junes!" Nanako giggled.

"And I love Nanako!" Yosuke exclaimed, his heart soaring at having someone on his side.

"The only thing missing is the picnic. We're supposed to have a picnic basket today." Nanako popped another piece of steak in her mouth and began chewing it.

"A picnic?" Yukiko leaned in. "Were you going to make the picnic?"

Nanako shook his head and turned a knowing smile to his older cousin.

Yu froze midway through a bite of steak when everyone's eyes turned to him.

"So," Yosuke sat up, impressed that the new, cute, transfer student had made such lofty plans. "You were going to make a mean picnic basket, huh?"

"Yeah, Just for fun." Yu replied nonchalantly.

Chie leaned on one hand, grinning.

"Really? That's cool you were going to make a picnic for the whole family." Her smile widened and her tone became a teasing one. "Big bro."

Nanako looked up at Yu from her plate of steak and blinked.

"Big bro?"

"Seriously," Yosuke added light heartedly. "I think the fact that you were going to do that is totally impressive. It means you've already got better cooking skills than Chie."

"Wait a sec!" Chie brandished her fork and knife threateningly. "What the hell makes you think I don't know how to cook, huh?!"

"Wait." Yukiko looked genuinely confused now. "So you can?"

Nanako joined her shock, pausing through a cut of meat. "You can cook?"

"Ok, it's a cook off between you and me!" Chie shouted unamused as she pointed accusingly at Yosuke.

"Ok, bring it on." He said meeting her challenge with a smug grin.

Chie froze; she hadn't expected him to call her bluff. Now she couldn't back down. Worse, she knew for a fact that she couldn't cook home meals that well.

"We'll need an impartial person to be our judge." He grinned at the little girl slurping down a soft drink clutched in both hands. "That's you, Nanako."

"Huh?" She looked up, confused.

"Am I competing to?" Yukiko asked.

"I'm pretty good," Yosuke bragged. "I might even whip up something better than your own mom's cooking," He added a laugh trying to keep the mood light.

Nanako's hand froze. She glanced up from her food, locking her eyes on Yu before looking at her soda again.

"Probably, I don't have a mom." she said it like with a neutral tone. "She died in an accident." She sipped more of her drink.

Everyone's mood crashed. Chie suddenly felt something tap her leg from the side. She looked to see Yu still sitting at the table smiling up at her, another tap this time slightly harder, Yu's eyes quickly motioned towards Yosuke and back a couple of times. Another tap to her leg and she got the message.

"Idiot!"

"AUGH!" Yosuke exclaimed as he received a powerful kick to the leg from Chie.

"S-sorry." Yosuke groaned, regretfully both of the fact that he had something so ignorant and the fact that he couldn't complain about Chie kicking him this time, because he did kind of deserve it. "I didn't know. Um...sorry"

"Why?" The little girl set the cup down and smiled slightly. "I do just fine. I don't have a mommy, but I still have my daddy around and…" she blushed slightly. "I have a big brother."

Yu looked at his cousin with surprise; he hadn't expected to be so important to her.

Nanako wrapped her hands around the cup. "Plus, I got to visit Junes today." She looked up, a broad smile adorning her face. "And it's really fun!"

The metal chair legs screech along the cement as Yosuke and Chie burst up from their seats.

"Anytime you want someone to play with you, Nanako, just let us know! We'll be there!" Chie offered joyfully.

"Yeah, just ask us," Yukiko chimed in.

"Ok, thanks." Nanako nodded going back to slurping her soda.

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[05/04, Okina city, Inaba]

Yesterday after spending the day with Nanako Yu took Marie back to Junes where they saw Chie who as per usual wanted more steak. They had joined her for lunch and Chie had run off to get drinks after Marie pointed out that if she ate so fast she would get fat. Marie had then admitted that she didn't know her real name and Marie was name that Margaret had given her.

Today Yu decided to take Marie to Okina City. He had brought Marie by train to satisfy her curiosity about the big city.

"Yu and oh, Marie!" Chie's voice exclaimed.

They turned around to see both Chie and Yukiko approaching.

"Hello. Um…Is she your friend, Narukami?" Yukiko asked.

"Oh right…you haven't met her before, huh?" Chie realised. "This is Marie; I had lunch with her and Yu yesterday in the afternoon. This is Yukiko Amagi, She's our friend."

"…Friend," Marie echoed…as if she was tasting a new kind of food for the first time.

"If she's someone you know, then she must not be from around here, right?" Yukiko asked.

"She does travel a lot…" Yu said. It was technically true; the Velvet Room took the form a car and was always on the move.

"Did she come from the big city?" Yukiko inquired.

"Oh, so THAT must be why she's in Okina then…" Chie said with realisation. "There's diddly-squat to do around where we live right? Yeah I know that feeling."

Marie looked at Yu, "…and a red one today. What are Green and Red doing here?"

"Green and… red?" Yukiko echoed with surprise ignoring Francis Drake's snickers as the pirate appeared in spirit form. "…green and red?!"

"Ah… Haha… I was wearing green last time I saw you, wasn't I?" Chie realised with a wince as Li Shuwen laughed at her.

"I didn't say it was bad. You look good in those colours." Marie stated.

"Oh, uh… Th-Thanks….I didn't think it was a compliment." Chie chuckled.

"She's a nice girl. There's no doubt about that."

"But Red Girl's all red. Does Green Girl always wear the same thing all the time?" Marie asked causing Yu to sweat drop.

"To the point as ever…" Chie mumbled.

"But she's right," Yukiko realised, looking downcast.

"No, that's not what I meant," Marie clarified. "It's just…It's a waste. Humans can change their clothes, right? You should try wearing other clothes."

"I-Is that so…?" Yukiko said nervously. "I don't always pick out my own outfits…I usually get opinions."

"I know!" Chie said. "We were just on our way to get some new clothes. Why don't you come with us, Yu? And you too Marie."

"Chie they already have plans of their own, don't just assume that they can come at a moments notice." Yukiko admonished her friend.

"I don't mind," Yu said, and then looked at Marie to see what she thought.

"Huh? I…don't mind…" She said echoing Yu.

Yukiko and Chie looked Happy and then each took Marie by the arm, she looked rather looked uncomfortable as they began pulling her along to the clothing store.

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[05/04, Croco Fur, Okina city, Inaba]

"Hey, how's this shirt? Don't you think it's a good colour?" Chie said holding up a green shirt.

"I don't know…" Yu said tactfully attempting to hurt no ones feelings.

"It's green." Marie pointed out bluntly.

"Whoa! You're right!" Chie exclaimed looking surprised. "Why do I keep buying myself green clothes?!" Then she smiled. "Marie, what's your favourite colour? Don't tell me…blue, right?"

"Er, I don't really have one…" Marie answered looking uncomfortable.

Chie sweat dropped at that, and kept looking through the clothes.

Yukiko who had been looking at clothes on a different rack turned around "What do you think of this skirt? Is it too mature for me?" She asked holding up a crimson skirt.

"It is an eye catching colour." Yu stated carefully.

"It is...eye-catchingly red." Marie pointed out causing Francis Drake and Li Shuwen to burst into another fit of laughter. "And you look like someone lit your head on fire." She said looking at Li Shuwen causing him to choke and Francis Drake to snort with laughter. "You look like a pirate but you don't have a hat."

"Oh yeah I left it at ho-you see us?" the pirate stated as the realisation finally hit her.

"Woah she can see them?" Chie exclaimed.

"Oh yeah, sorry I forgot she can see our Persona's in Spirit Form like we can." Yu explained.

"Wait how?" Yukiko asked only to receive a shrug in return from both Marie and Yu.

"Oh man this is weird. You attract all sorts don't you Narukami?" Chie commented going back to rummaging through a clothes rack before pulling out a green jacket. "What about this? Does this say 'me'?"

"Green again?"

"How about this one? Away with simplicity!" Yukiko said pulling out a multi-coloured dress.

"There are too many colours with that one. I'm getting dizzy" Marie commented.

"I'm with the blue capped lass on this." Francis Drake said agreeing with Marie.

"I forgot how much I like this girl." Cu Chulainn chuckled "She's as blunt as you are."

"This skirt's cute! It would go well with… How's this?" Chie said displaying a yellow shirt and a blue skirt.

"At least it's not green…" Marie said.

"Wait… But, Yellow and blue… make green, right?" Yukiko pointed out.

"Indeed it does." Li Shuwen said with a smirk.

Everybody but Yukiko, Li Shuwen and Francis Drake sweat dropped.

"Oh, Ahahaha, you're right. Maybe it's some kind of instinct…?" Chie said, embarrassed.

"You instinctively seek out the colour green; perhaps I can work that into your training regimen." Li Shuwen pondered stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"You're not doing it on purpose…?" Marie asked stunned.

Eventually Yukiko and Chie finished their shopping and returned to the train station with Yu and Marie.

"Ugh…" Chie said with visible disappointment, "Why was everything in my size out?"

"It can't be helped. Let's go back sometime later. They might have some new inventory by then.
" Yukiko said with a smile.

"Yeah…Let's go together…all of us…" Chie said.

"Huh…? Me, too? Why?" Marie asked, stunned.

"Because we're friends…that's why!" Chie said with surprise.

"…Friends? We are? Since when?" Marie said.

"Wait…you didn't have fun?" Chie asked, looking hurt. "W-Was I bothering you today? …And last time, too…?"

"Huh? No, you weren't bothering me. I was just asking why you said 'friends'," Marie replied. "What does it mean to become friends?"

Chie recovered from her apparent hurt and said, "Well…I don't really know. The meaning of friendship…? Hmmm…"

"There's meaning." Yu said plainly.

"Yes, I believe there is meaning…" Yukiko said "There are things you can't do by yourself that you can do together with others…"

Marie looked like she was getting the meaning...

"Like today. We had you to help us choose our clothes." Yukiko continued.

"…I don't get it. After all…" Marie said sounding sad as she trailed off.

"I almost forgot! There's a DVD I wanted!" Chie broke in ruining the mood.

Everyone looked at her with disbelief.

"Let's hurry! It'll sell out!" Chie exclaimed.

"It's a kung fu movie right? I doubt it will sell out." Yukiko sighed.

"Enough talk! Come on, Everybody! Hustle!" Chie yelled ignoring Yukiko and running off with Yukiko in pursuit, this left Yu was with Marie.

"Huh? Me too?" Marie asked.

"Let's hurry." Yu said.

"I don't get it. It's not like I don't wanna go, though."

"That's the spirit…" Yu smiled at the girl.

Marie was lost in thought for a second.

"Hey, and those other two are Persona-users, right? They're 'chasing after the truth' with you, huh…?" Marie paused and gained a thoughtful look on her face. "You can't do that on your own, but you can do it together? Because you're friends…?"

Marie fell silent, thinking deeply about what Yukiko had said to her about friendship.

"Hey! Pick it up, you two! Move, move, move!" Chie yelled.

Marie nodded once and then started walking, Yu naturally followed her, after a but longer exploring the city Yu decided to escort Marie back to the Velvet Room.

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[05/05, Dojima Residence, Inaba]

"I'm home," Dojima called carrying two bags. One with food, the other with something else.

"How many days is he gonna call in sick?" Dojima sighed as he shuffled in "These rookies sure are…"

"Welcome back!" Nanako said excitedly.

"Nanako… I'm sorry I broke my promise again…" Dojima apologised looking very disheartened.

"OH! Um, my big bro and his friends played with me instead."

"I see… thanks." Dojima said

"Nothing to it." Yu said.

"Oh, what's in the Junes bag?" Nanako asked excitedly.

"Good eye. Well, today is the 5th of May, isn't it? That means it's Children's Day…"

He then took out a T-shirt from the bag, and gave it to Nanako.

"Ohhh, a T-shirt! And it has a funny picture on it." Nanako exclaimed happily.

"I'm not saying you're a kid or anything but to keep things fair..." Dojima then pulled out a pair of swimming trunks from the bag; they were light purple, with green and yellow stripes with green arrows bordering a yellow box and a heart with a cupid's arrow through it.

"Well, all right. Good. Glad you like them!" Dojima said gladly.

"Dad, Big Bro, let's all eat together, OK?" Nanako suggested with a smile.

"That's a great idea. It's been ages since we ate together." Dojima agreed.

"Yeah, way too long, we need to dig in before the steak gets cold." Nanako said.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/06, Junes Food Court, Inaba]

The next day the group had gathered for a study session before exams began. However Yosuke was passed out over his book.

"Yosuke insisted on us cramming together and now he's passed out on us." Chie complained looking at the boy who was snoring.

"Hey you know what; there hasn't been a single incident in Golden Week." Yukiko pointed out. "It's odd."

"That's what I was thinking!" Yosuke exclaimed suddenly sitting back up as if hadn't been sound asleep at all. "It's something we need to discuss."

"Sheesh it's like he just came back from the dead!" Chie said with an annoyed tone.

"He looks good for dead…" Yu commented seriously.

"Don't I though?" Yosuke grinned pulling out a notebook "Now that you've brought it up I've put a lot of thought into this and here's what I've come up with. The first victim was Ms Yamano after her it was Saki and then Yukiko here was the third. I don't think the victims were picked at random."

"The criminal had a motive? I think you've cracked the case." A regal feminine voice commented sarcastically.

In Spirit Form next to Yu appeared a slender woman who could be described as a peerlessly beautiful woman, wrapped in a dress that was as dark as midnight, who seemed to emanate a pleasing aroma.

"W-who are you?" Chie asked.

"Under class of Assassin in the Arcana of the Magician, I am Semiramis the Wise Queen of Assyria." The Persona introduced herself.

"Oh I think I've heard of you, I think I read that you were responsible for the first recorded murder by poisoning." Yukiko stated.

"Very good." Semiramis said with a smirk. "There is always a motive for murder. Murderers who have no motive are more often than not simple butchers who will rarely try to hide their identities."

"Besides there's no link between them Yosuke." Chie pointed out.

"Actually that's not true." Yosuke replied "It's nothing concrete but all three victims are linked. Saki is linked to Ms Yamano because she's the one who first found her corpse, and Ms Yamano is linked to you Yukiko because she stayed at your inn right?"

"Yes that's right." The Amagi Girl confirmed.

"But you have a problem." Semiramis interjected "There is no link between Saki and Yukiko and further you have yet to explain the motive. All you have to go on is the fact that females associated with Mayumi Yamano are being targeted and even that is shaky at best. "

"…Admittedly I don't have the answers to those questions." Yosuke confessed looking downcast "But if we don't start fitting together the few pieces we do have then we might not get anywhere."

"Wait a sec." Yukiko put a finger on her chin thoughtfully. "I remember the doorbell ringing and someone calling my name but what I can't remember is who it was, sorry." Yukiko also looked depressed.

"That's not your fault; you got no reason to apologise." Chie said to her friend reassuringly.

"We need to factor in what we see on the Midnight Channel as well." Yu put in.

"That's true." Yosuke said looking to the side. "You know thinking back it may have been trying to warn us as to who the next victim would be."

"A warning…..well if that's the case then we should check the Midnight Channel every night it rains." Yukiko suggested.

"If it helps prevent another murder then we should definitely do that." Yu agreed.

"Alrighty then" Yosuke stood up and put his bag on his shoulder. "Now that we're eon the same page you are all dismissed for the day."

"Yosuke!" Yu said the name of the Magician slowly yet dangerously causing him to freeze. "Did you just try to use the case to get out studying for our mid terms in two days?"

"W-Hey you jerk!" Chie growled "You wasted my valuable studying time cause you don't want to study?!"

"N-no it's not like that I mean….er..."

"Yosuke. Sit. Down." Yosuke immediately complied with Yu's command. "Now Study."

"Yes Sir" Yosuke found himself unable to object to Yu's serious tone and opened the text book in front of him. Three days later on the ninth of May the exams began.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/12, Class 2-2, Yasogami High, Inaba]

The remaining three days passed like lightning and soon it was Monday and Mid Terms began. Yu had managed to force Yosuke to study and thus himself. Throughout the four days of the exams his pencil seemed to move on its own as he had paid attention in class. Before he knew it Thursdays exams had come and gone, although Yosuke was mysteriously absent from the final test.

Yukiko and Yu were sitting in class putting their books away while Chie stared off into space completely wiped out.

"Phew, free at last." Yosuke said with a sigh as he walked into the classroom.

"Yeah it's all over." Chie said with relief.

"So where have you been?" Yu asked him.

"Well I was pretty sure it didn't matter if I showed up or not, I would still get the same grade." Yosuke explained in an easy-going tone.

"Man I wish I was so easy going about things." Chie sighed in an envying tone.

"So do you think you did pretty well on the test?" Yukiko turned around and asked Yu.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/12, Dojima Residence, Inaba]

"Not too bad." Yu said to his Uncle later on during dinner when he asked him the same question that Yukiko had earlier.

"That answer's kind of vague." Dojima chuckled as he put some more food in his mouth.

"Tonight; we have some special footage for you." The TV Anchor said "A masked vigilante identified himself as Space Samurai Y helped a young man in defeating an apparent rival biker gang. After helping the young man, Space Samurai Y fled the scene."

On the TV it showed Space Samurai Y and Kanji's battle against the bikers. They even showed the pose he made when he landed on the first biker and took his wooden sword.

"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" gang leader on TV demanded.

"I'm glad you asked delinquent scum." Came the deep and heroic voice of the masked man. "I have heard the cries of the people living in this area forced to suffer the intolerable noise you thugs make night after night, yet even as this brave young man crushes you time and again like a rash on the towns backside you continue to flare up, well rapscallions no more for I am this towns rash soothing cream, prepare to taste the fury of..." he struck a pose like a capital Y "Space Samurai...Y!"

"That never gets old!" Cu Chulainn laughed loudly at the footage, while Semiramis and Medusa stuck to refined giggling, Gawain however remained silent.

The footage then became one of the ensuing battles, the Samurai and Kanji watched each others backs and dominated the battle sending bikers flying with fists and sword blows.

"Great, I'm not surprised that Tatsumi is pulling that crap, but now a masked lunatic too?" Dojima let out a long suffering sigh. "I can see the mountain of paperwork this guy is gonna cause already, and I just bet the chief is gonna want him caught."

"Who're they?" Nanako asked.

"The blond is Kanji Tatsumi, a troubled teen who loves to fight." Dojima said letting out another sigh. "I've never heard of this Space Samurai Y guy though."

"That's so cool; he's like a real live superhero!" Nanako exclaimed joyfully as the Samurai on TV leapt away onto the roof with an inhuman jump.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/15, Dojima Residence, Inaba]

Two days passed and later the night on the fifteenth Yu was in his room, he looked out the window and sure enough, it was raining, he swept the curtains shut.

The clock clicked down to midnight, and like clockwork the television turned itself on. On the screen Yu could make out a human figure…the jacket he could make out was unmistakable…it was Kanji Tatsumi he was next.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/16, Junes Food Court, Junes, Inaba]

"Now that we are all gathered I hereby begin a meeting of the Special Investigation Unit for the Inaba Serial Murders and Kidnappings." Yosuke declared proudly.

"That's long." Chie grumbled.

"So this is our secret headquarters?" Yukiko asked.

"That's right! Yukiko is on top of it!" Yosuke grinned proud that someone was thinking like he was.

"Moving on…the guy that was on the Midnight Channel…" Yu cleared his throat. "I think it was Kanji Tatsumi."

"Yeah, seeing him totally blows my female victims theory out of the water." Yosuke groaned "And he had no connection to Ms Yamano either."

"Kanji Tatsumi?" Yukiko asked. "He wasn't like this when he was little…"

"Yukiko, you know that psychopath?" Chie asked stunned that her friend would know such a person.

"Yes, his family owns a textile store, our the Inn has sold their stuff in our shop for ages. But I haven't talked to Kanji for a super long time."

"Well that sure does make things easy!" Yosuke grinned "I say we swing by and pay a little visit to this textile shop." Yosuke stood up.

Yukiko nodded. "Your right… If people we see on the Midnight Channel are being pushed into their Televisions…"

"…Then Kanji is next." Yu finished.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/16, Tatsumi Textiles, North Shopping district, Inaba]

When they entered the textile shop, they found that an old lady that Yu assumed to be Mrs Tatsumi was talking to a boy wearing blue detective clothing. Even the boy's eyes and messy, short hair were blue.

"Ah, Yuki! Come on in!" Mrs Tatsumi greeted.

"I think I will be taking my leave." The boy said after studying the group for a few seconds.

"I'm sorry I couldn't have been of more help." Mrs. Tatsumi apologized.

"Not at all, you've given me a lot to think about." With that the boy walked out, giving Yu a cold look for a few seconds as their gazes met.

"What was that all about?" Yosuke wondered looking after the boy.

"Yuki! You're as beautiful as ever!'

"Oh, thank you. You're too nice." Yukiko smiled. "Uh, is Kanji here?"

"No I'm afraid he's still not back yet."

While they continued to talk, Yu spotted something on one of the racks. It was a pink scarf with snowflake pattern embroidered on it. "I've seen this scarf somewhere before." He said walking over to it.

"Yeah, I think I have, too." Chie tapped her chin before coming to a realisation. "Oh I know wasn't it in that creepy room we saw?

"So it was Ms Yamano's scarf?"

"Yes," Mrs Tatsumi confirmed "Were you friends with Mrs. Yamano?"

"I wouldn't say friends." Yosuke scratched the back of his head.

"Mrs. Yamano had that scarf custom made for her."

"Excuse me delivery!" A voice knocked at the back door.

"Oh Coming!" Mrs. Tatsumi stood up. "I'm sorry but I really must attend to this."

"No it's okay. We really should be going now anyway." Yukiko nodded.

As they came out into the street, Yosuke signalled for them to stop.

"Shit! It's Kanji! Hide!" At Yosuke's prompting everyone hid behind a mailbox.

"You wanna have a talk with me?" Kanji asked the blue haired boy.

"That's right." the blue haired boy replied "I find you incredibly intriguing."

"Uh, well I guess that's cool…" Kanji said glancing away from the boy.

"I'm glad to hear it, I'll be waiting for after school tomorrow." The boy said before walking away.

"He finds me intriguing?" Kanji blushed. "He's a dude that finds another dude intriguing. But does that mean he's…"

Kanji stopped as something caught his attention.

"Hey! Whaddaya you looking at?" Kanji screamed at the group

Everyone got up and ran; he waved his fists at them. Kanji glared after them. "Tch… What's their problem?"

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/17 School Gate, Yasogami, Inaba]

The next day the Investigation Team were near the gate of Yasogami High, watching Kanji and waiting the boy he'd spoken to yesterday to arrive.

"Look, there he is!" Chie whispered.

"I'm sorry, were you waiting long?" The blue-garbed teenager asked walking up to Kanji and glancing around the school.

"No, It's cool… I just got here myself." Kanji replied.

The boy walked off, and Kanji followed after him.

"Something about them just doesn't add up." Chie said suspiciously.

"Really why do you think that?" Yosuke asked.

"Well I don't know maybe my imagination is just running wild." Chie replied rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

"Or it's your instincts trying to tell you something." Li Shuwen suggested.

"Really ya think?" Chie asked.

"Indeed, you are progressing well in your training for a beginner." Li Shuwen replied nodding his head "Instinct is a useful tool in battle, hone and learn to trust them."

"Whatever!" Yosuke said. "Chie and I will keep an eye on Kanji."

"What?" Chie asked.

"Why don't you and Yukiko keep an eye on the Textile shop?" Yosuke suggested.

"Let's go!" Yosuke ran after the two boys.

"W-wait!" Chie ran after him.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/17 Tatsuhime Shrine, North Shopping District, Inaba]

As they were waiting at Tatsuhime Shrine, keeping an eye on Tatsumi Textiles, Yukiko came to Yu with two bottles of Soda in her hands.

"Sorry about the wait… This one's for you." She said handing Yu a soda.

"Everything seems fine at the shop. I hope it stays that way." Yukiko said "Do you think the culprit will come?"

"No worries, I'll protect you if he does."

"Huh...? O-Okay...Thanks." Yukiko blushed "...I'm counting on you. It would be scary if the culprit did show up…" Yukiko looked troubled. "But if they do, I'll do what I can to help you catch them." Yukiko fidgeted nervously. "You all saved my life… I don't want to be the only one doing nothing. I mean… I'm sure there's something I can do… Oh…Sorry. I went on and on without realizing… I-I guess I'm a little nervous."

Yukiko then looked away shyly and began to blush. "I've never chatted with a boy my own age like this before… Chie, of course, has no problem getting along with guys because of her personality. But I think she's had more fun hanging out with you, and Yosuke, lately. The same is true for me."

"Say I was wondering have you noticed anything different about yourself lately?" Yu asked "Physically I mean."

"Physically? Well I have noticed that I'm faster, more agile than I was." Yukiko replied thoughtfully "Like the other day I was going taking a drink to serve to a guest at the Inn and I tripped. The cup was already falling and the drink was spilling but I managed to catch it and the drink itself back in the cup. It happened so fast that I thought I was seeing things. I tried to forget it until Chie told me that while she was training in the woods with Li Shuwen one of her kicks toppled a whole tree. I know it sounds crazy but…"

"Don't worry I've noticed it too." Yu reassured the Amagi girl "I've noticed that I'm stronger and faster too, it's kind of how I did so well in the Basketball game a few weeks back."

"I wonder how this is possible." Yukiko wondered. "I tried asking Rider about it, but she said that she has no idea. That it would be best to ask someone adept at magic and stuff."

"I tried asking my own Persona's but none of them were ever fully devoted to magic so they didn't have any answers either." Yu told her "But maybe I'll get a Persona that will be able to explain what's happening to us."

"Thanks, its not that I don't want these powers, I know we'll need them for the investigation if anymore people get thrown into the TV. I'm just afraid…what if I slip up and hurt someone by mistake?"

"That won't happen; I think it's just a matter of learning control, maybe Li Shuwen would be willing to help if you're afraid?" Yu suggested.

"Oh yeah, being a Martial Artist means knowing how to control your strength so he'd definitely know how to help me. Thank you!" Yukiko said with a smile.

"By the way can I have your cell phone number?" Yu asked suddenly changing the subject.

"Huh? O-okay if you want." Yukiko was blushing again caught off guard by Yu's sudden request. "I can't always answer, since I help out around. But feel free to call anytime."

"Thanks." Yu said exchanging numbers with Yukiko.

"Umm…I wonder how Chie and Yosuke are doing."

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/17 Samegawa Flood Plain, Inaba]

Kanji was just walking along with the boy who wanted to meet with him.

"Tell me." Kanji jumped, blushing at the smaller boy's sudden talking.

"Do you mind if I cut to the chase and ask you some questions?" The boy in blue asked.

"Oh, yeah… Sure."

Yosuke hid behind a telephone pole and put his phone up to his ear. "Yosuke to Chie…Yosuke to Chie… Do you copy? Over."

"I hear ya. The target is conversing two hundred meters in front of me. Over."

"So do you mind telling me why we're using our phones?" Yosuke asked looking to see that Chie was about five feet away from him, crouching behind a mailbox.

"Because if he saw us together, it'd be too obvious. Over. Dork."

"Over is supposed to be the last thing you say."

"Listen I just think we need to have a little space between us. Dork. Over."

"Then this stakeout is a total bust then. He could easily nab us at anytime. Over."

"Enough of this. I'm getting the munchies. Over."

"Like I care! If you're so hungry then why don't you just call delivery or something?"

"Delivery?" Chie blinked. "But we're standing on a corner."

"Don't you know Aiya says her place delivers anywhere." Yosuke explained "You just gotta call her up and ask."

"What for real?" She ended the call and punched in a new number. "Hello? I'd like to order delivery two orders of nikudon, please!"

"I don't ask for anything!" Yosuke said angrily at her.

"Who said I was getting anything for you? I placed both those orders for me!" Chie snapped glaring at him.

"Well of course you did."

"Well actually… I'm at the corner of…" A shadow fell over the arguing duo.

"Just whaddaya think your doing?" Kanji towered over them, a suspicious look on his face.

Both of them froze up. Yosuke was the first to speak.

"We're just an everyday loving couple passing by!" Yosuke lied nervously.

"Yeah right!" Chie screamed.

"Don't work against me stupid… this is working!" Yosuke whispered.

"You couldn't come up with something else!" Chie persisted.

While this was happening the boy in blue walked away.

"Hey, didn't I seen you yesterday?" Kanji asked pausing to think for a second.

"We're not trying to follow you or anything!" Chie said rapidly in a panic "Nor do we think you might be gay but if you are that's totally cool too."

"Did you say gay?" Kanji blushed heavily.

"Chie you moron you just couldn't keep your mouth shut!" Yosuke griped at Chie. "Run for it!" He sprinted off.

"What a sec? Yosuke-don't leave me standing here!" Chie dashed after him.

"Hey! Get back here!" Kanji screamed giving chase to the duo. "I know what it looks like but your wrong, it's not like that!"

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[05/17 Tatsuhime Shrine, North Shopping District, Inaba]

Yu and Yukiko heard a familiar screaming pair of voices getting closer.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Chie and Yosuke came even using some of their enhanced speed to do so.

"Sorry we brought trouble." Yosuke yelled running past Yu and Yukiko.

"I'll beat you and beat you good!" Kanji howled after them. "There ain't gonna be nothing left of you!"

"He's behind them?" Yukiko said watching Chie and Yosuke run.

"We should run." Yu dashed down the steps, with Yukiko following him.

"Great." Yosuke panted. "He's gonna get us all at this rate!" They were high-tailing it down the streets on Inaba at a faster speed than most students their age could run. It was actually pretty impressive that Kanji was able to keep up with them.

"You're so dead! You're so freaking dead!" Kanji screamed angrily as he continued to chase them

"Hey, Chie time for you to shake him off our tail!" Yosuke turned to the girl running beside him.

"Huh why me?!"

"You know that line in the movies… 'You keeping going and I'll handle this guy'… Well now's your chance to say it!"

"I have always wanted to say that…" Chie said seriously considering it.

"Chie don't let him trick you!" Yukiko cried.

"I said to stop running from me you- Huh? What the hell?" A motorcycle sped past Kanji.

Aika drove a small delivery motorcycle and matched the speed of the running teenagers.

"I've got your order here, two bowls of Nikudon." Aika said dutifully. "The total is sixteen hundred yen."

"This is just weird" Yosuke cried sparing a glance at Aika who held out a tray with two bowls on it.

"Sorry, do you have any change?" Chie asked rummaging into her pockets.

"Here's 100 yen, Chie!" Yukiko pulled a coin out of her purse.

"Save it for later!" Yosuke yelled.

"Thanks." Chie paid the Aika and took the tray.

"When you're done just leave the bowls." Aika said.

"WHERE THE HELL DO WE DO THAT?!" Yosuke screamed as the girl accelerated and drove off.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

A little while later the team had finally managed to ditch Yosuke and were catching their breath under a bridge.

"We finally ditched that guy." Yosuke gasped leaning against a wall.

"Chie… Is it good?" Yukiko turned to look at her friend. The martial artist had sat down and begun digging into her meal.

"Yeah it is." Chie sighed happily. "It's delicious!"

"Man this sucks we totally failed on our first mission. We might as well give up." Yosuke threw his hands up and began walking away.

"But what will happen to Kanji?" Yukiko queried.

"That guys gonna be fine on his own." Yosuke sighed pausing to answer Yukiko. "He won't let anyone take him down without a fight."

"Lets still keep an eye on him just a bit longer." Yu suggested.

"Alright sure, but we are done for today." Yosuke sighed waving as he walked off.

"Hey guys?" Chie called out holding two empty bowls. "Where do you think I should leave the bowls?"

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

[Wizard Marshal Zelretchs office, Clock Tower, London]

Waver Velvet a.k.a Lord El Melloi II entered Zelretchs office with a few pieces of paper in hand. When he approached the desk of the Old Man of the Jewels whose chair was face away from the door he cleared his throat to gain the old vampires attention.

"I was just wondering about you Waver." Zelretch said trying to get comfortable in his chair.

"Wondering what exactly?" Waver asked in a no nonsense tone.

"Why you've stopped replacing your familiars in Inaba." Zelretch snickered knowingly.

"Because I became sick of that girl find and destroying them all the time." Waver snapped before coughing and regaining his composure. "Anyway I sent a notice to the Nakamura family; they'll take over monitoring the situation for us as well as do damage control just in case."

"It was a good a idea to have them placed there in advance, Grail Wars have a tendency to get….messy." Zelretch commented.

"The group has begun investigating one Kanji Tatsumi another candidate that you selected." Waver informed him. "According to the Nakamura's he appeared on the Midnight Channel."

"That explains it. It looks like things are starting move into high gear." Zelretch commented taking a sip of some wine he had in a glass nearby.

"There are a couple of things that concern me." Waver continued reading off the papers he had in his hand. "Yosuke Hanamuras communication with his Persona, Diarmuid Ua Dubhine has dropped to an all time low. Do you think we should be concerned?"

"Nah, Command Seals or no Diarmuid would never rebel against his master." Zelretch waved him off "Not this time. So what was your other concern?"

"Apparently the Church intends to have an someone in Inaba report to them about the situation." Waver explained "They never said why nor do I know why they even bothered to tell me in the first place."

"Perhaps I touched a sensitive spot somehow?"

"This is becoming one big mess." Waver sighed. "This could get dangerous with the Church involved."

"If it helps you sleep at night Lord El-Melloi the second, I'll do my best to smooth things over with the Church." Zelretch gave Waver a mocking smile and took victory when saw a vein bulging on Waver's forehead. "Did they mention who the agent was?"

"No they didn't." Waver replied shaking his head.

"This can only get more interesting." Zelretch said leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his wine.

"That is what I am afraid of." Waver said with a long suffering sigh.

[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]

AN: That's right everyone the Church has an agent in Inaba. A cyber cookie to anyone who can successfully guess who it is.