Disclaimer: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona belongs to ATLUS. Touhou Project belongs to Zun. I have no ownership of the copyrights of either series in any way.


Chapter 26: Tuning in to Wonderland

"So… you're sure about this?" I ask Yukari as I stare at Reimu's TV. Reimu was sent out on a random incident by Yukari to serve as a distraction so that I may use the TV in this manner with little interference. It was a herculean effort to also deny Sukuna's help as well as keep Ruukoto at home. "She's… okay that's just weird, even considering all I've been through…"

"However, it is true. I can feel it. That screen acts as a border, and Reimu's TV happens to lead to the closest spot to where your little sister is," She replied. I look ardently at the set. Koishi, if you're really there…

"Why can't you just take me there directly?"

"I'm still ascertaining the exact nature of this border. You're too precious to use as a guinea pig." I guess that is true. I don't want to end up somewhere nowhere near to Koishi. "That, and there's some force in there barring even my entry to where it is the TV leads to."

"So, it's that powerful?"

"Yes… I'll try to support you as best I can from my side. I've tried to enter, but my attempts have yielded only failure. It's like my portals to the moon, something is stopping me and I need to figure out how to get around it. I'll be studying the TV while I'm here, so that hopefully by the time you're done, I'll be able to bring you back immediately."

"Right. So I just go into the screen?" It's just big enough…

"Yes, that's all you need to do; no chant or ritual. I'm making conjecture that perhaps it is your Persona that is allowing you entry, however that is only a theory for now. Any who," Yukari says as she takes from her cleavage an orb stylized to look like the yin and yang symbol, only colored red and white rather than black and white. "Take this, it will allow me to maintain contact with you as you explore within." I nod and take the orb in hand, placing it in the pocket I usually kept Sukuna in.

"Thanks for everything, Maribel." I could see her become visibly miffed at my calling her that name. However, she didn't let it show for more than but a moment.

"So, you really are going then? There's no stopping you?"

"No. I'm going. I'm going to save… my little sister. Besides that, I made a promise to bring her home. I can't go breaking promises."

"No, I suppose you cannot," She said with an exasperated smile. "Well, I suppose without further ado," she said as she gestured towards the television.

"Right." I reach out towards the screen. Upon being touched by my finger, the screen rippled, as if it were water. I nearly flinched at the sight but immediately renewed my resolve in short order. "I'll be back before you know it."

"Of course, you will," She said, with a pat on my back. "Just be careful."

"I will." I nod as well, and dive straight in.

"Good Luck, Minato!" I hear as the world is engulfed in alternating white and black boxes.

Break

"Well… this is different." Quite so. I've apparently landed onto a walkway that seemed straight out of a TV filming set. The world was mostly a dominant yellow color, a stark contrast to the dark blues and greens of the Dark Hour, however the atmosphere between the two felt very similar, which perhaps made it even stranger. Speaking of atmosphere… fog. There was a near impenetrable fog. I actually, if I concentrated, could see through the fog, but it was still a task that required a not so insubstantial amount of effort, at least so much that continuing to use it would be a strain. I can't afford a headache at this point in time.

"It seems that this fog will be quite the problem," I hear Yukari say from the orb she gave me. "If it is like this for the entire area, this will present quite the issue."

"Yeah…" I reply as I look at my MP3. Okay it still works, the date says… July 10th. Oh… it's summer. That's not important right now. "I still have to find Koishi-chan."

"I detect a presence in the direction you're facing." I look harder, and at least the walkway was straightforward. "I cannot tell what it is, but it will be quite helpful."

"Right…" I'll prepare Skuld just in case. Invoking my persona as I bring a doll out, I place the doll in my coat pocket to keep it safe and on hand once I made sure that Skuld had fully possessed the doll.

"Oh! How sweet," Yukari giggled.

"Please concentrate on the task at hand." She probably could tell that this Persona was the Ultimate representation of my bond with her, but she can joke about it later.

"Of course, head straight ahead." I just hope that what we run into won't kill me…

Break

"You're… You're seeing this, right?" I say as I look upon what my travels had stumbled upon while hiding behind a particularly large camera. The walkway apparently led straight to a platform of which eerily held a number of body outlines along with cameras and other pieces of studio equipment. Chief among these strange things was an entrance to the velvet room of all things. I'll have to see to that later. However those weren't the cause for alarm. No, what was cause for alarm was the thing in the middle… doing sit ups.

"How interesting. It seems to be a shadow, but it's… different. It seems both sentient, and sapient. Now intelligent? That's the question," Yukari chimed in. Luckily the orb was transmitting her communications directly into my brain, or else the Bear would have heard us. Yeah, I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around the fact that there is a mascot like bear thing with blue fur wearing a red jump suit with a white middle which had more red buttons sporting big round eyes. I'd guess girls would find it adorable, but right now, it seems a bit creepy. It's still doing sit ups. It's also making some crazy faces. Skuld's analysis brought me some info… Persona user… Kintoki Douji… not human… but not quite a shadow. How odd.

"I don't know, but you said that I have to pass by, here right?" This place did seem to be a junction of sorts, but Yukari's aid was vague, though I don't think it was because she could help it. Still this seems like a good place to maybe get closer, but how do I-

"Who's there?" I heard from the junction. I look to find that the bear was now scanning the area intensely. Pretty perceptive… wait is it sniffing the air? Well it is a bear. No point in hiding I suppose. It will only make things worse. Besides I might be able to swing the momentum in my favor if I do so.

"Minato Arisato," I answer confidently. He did ask after all.

"Huh!?" I seemed to have caught it off guard. "Well I wasn't expecting an answer." Looks like it worked in a way. "But that doesn't change my question! Who are you?" He continued.

"Minato Arisato, I'm here looking for a little girl. I'm told she wandered into here. She has green hair and eyes, where's a yellow dress with a green skirt and a black hat. Has all these purple veins going all around her like rope, have you seen her?" I ask.

"Wait what do you mean someone wandered in here?" The bear questioned in mild surprise. "People don't just wander in here. They're sort of thrown in here, unless you've got a Persona, in which case you can just go into a TV whenever you want. Wait, if you're in here…" All of a sudden, he seemed to become hostile. "You're the culprit, aren't you?" He said with a very stylized accusatory point.

"Huh?" Culprit? Persona… Wait Culprit? "I plead innocence."

"Don't lie to me, criminal! You're the one who threw Yuki-chan, Kanji-kun, and Rise-chan in here! Confess and I may be merciful!" Oh, he has a zipper. I think I can use this.

"Hyup!" I let out as a form of kiai as I quickly, using the skills I learned from Youmu, removed the mascot's head within a second to see… huh…

"NOOOOOOOOO! My surprise…" A blue eyed, blonde haired pretty boy cried from within the costume… and it seemed he was only wearing the costume.

"Well that wasn't what I was expecting," I said as I put the head back on.

"How… How could you? Now I can never be married!"

"Be quiet…" I say in a way to try and get him to quiet down faster. It seemed to work, because it got him to shut up pretty quickly. "I'm not your culprit, but it seems we may have something in common." I started, the boy in the bear suit paying attention to my every word. "As I told you, I'm looking for a little girl who I've heard has gone missing in here. How she wandered into here, I don't know. She's weird like that, but is there anything you can tell me so that I can find her in short order and bring her back home?"

"So… you're not the culprit?" He asked like a child would.

"No. If you're not going to help, then I'm going. I have a promise to bring her home safely, and I can't afford to waste time here." Koishi's homecoming has taken just a bit too long.

"A promise…" The words seemed to have struck him. I won't pry. "Um, I'm sorry about accusing you. My name's Teddie, the most adorable Persona user you'll ever meet!" I'd say Koromaru has you beat by a mile, but I'll stay silent. "Nice to meet you Minato-kun," he says as he reaches out for a handshake. He's like a big kid.

"Um, Likewise," I say as I take his grip in hand. It's quite soft and plushy. "But I was serious when I said that if you don't have any help to offer, then I'm taking my leave." I can't afford to waste time.

"Oh, well I can tell you all about this world then!" Well this should be interesting.

Break

"So, to sum it all up," without all the random blathering, "This world inside the TV is a world in people's hearts. In this place, shadows roam with impunity and those that get thrown in here manifest around themselves spaces that represent their inner psyche and that if they aren't saved when the fog hits the outside, they get killed by their own shadows? Is this correct?"

"Uh huh! And shadows are really untamed Personas. I forgot to mention that… but I guess you already knew that, given that you were able to get in here," Teddie added.

"Well, sort of…" That is sort of what happened with the Abyss. "And having a Persona grants you access to this place, right?"

"Uh-huh!" Teddie answered with a bit of energy. Hmm, a world of the unconscious… Considering how Koishi could enter my Velvet Room, it might not be farfetched to say she just wandered in her as well. That girl just seems to end up in the strangest of places.

"I think you also said something about this place being your home? What exactly are you?" I seemed to have hit some sort of landmine, as Teddie seemed to freeze up. "I'm guessing you're a shadow then?" A place where shadows can roam with impunity. He considers this place home, and his poker face is terrible.

"You're… you're not going to attack Teddie, right?" He said with a timid voice. "I might not be as good as Rise-chan, but I can smell it. You're beary powerful." Um, wow. I guess I should be impressed he tried that even while cowering like he is. It takes quite a bit of fortitude to joke, even under stress.

"Not unless you attack me first," I told him, trying to add as much understanding as I could into my voice so that I could make it through to him. Ryoji also had dubious origins… and quite dangerous ones at that, but despite that, I still consider him a valuable friend to this day. I still hold my time with Pharos close to my heart. "Now back to my original question. Have you seen the little girl I was talking about earlier?"

"Well, I remember something strange happening a couple of days ago. A weird swell of power coming from somewhere, but it died. No that's not the word. It merged into this world. It's like it melted. I've sort of ignored it, but if even a foreign Persona user has come to check it out, I guess I better tell Sensei and the others about it. WAIT A SECOND! YOU'RE A PERSONA USER THAT'S NOT CONNECTED TO THE CASE!" It's… just hit him now? I don't know what to say about this things intellect. Talk about calling it, Yukari. "I didn't even know there were others out there that could use Personas besides Sensei, but I guess it would make sense."

"Look if you're not going to help me, then I'll be on my way."

"Wait!" He said as he began to rummage behind his back. "Here! I was making them for Rise-chan, but I was overzealous and made two. These are a sharp crimson, but I thought that a lighter pink would suit her better. Since these babies won't really see use, how about you use them?"

"Why?" I mean why use glasses, as that was exactly what he was handing over to me. They were crimson red, just like he said, but there were some blue highlights running down them as well…

"Just put them on!" He insisted. Well as long as they don't drill into my skull the moment I put them on or some other trap.

"Okay…" I take another look once more. The glasses didn't look all that special, other than their interesting color scheme. Well, the moment of truth. I place them on, getting awkward feeling on my face as a result I don't usually wear glasses of any kind. "Huh?" It's like when I'm concentrating. The fog's gone. "Well, that's convenient."

"Isn't it?" Teddie seemed quite proud, with his arms behind him.

"Yeah, I don't have to concentrate to eliminate the fog from my vision." This will make it less stressful to traverse this fog.

"Huh? Wait, you can see through the fog by yourself?" I guess it isn't common.

"Not without effort, and not an insignificant amount." I can't maintain it without a migraine.

"I see. Not even Sensei can do that. Mind If I call you, Boss?" Boss… whatever.

"Whatever. Now is that it?" I got something here, but I don't want to waste more time than I need to.

"Well, I might be able to find her. Do you mind telling me more about her? I might be able to sniff her out."

"Can you really?" I ask immediately. If he really can do this…

"Um, yeah. Hey, can you be gentler!? You're squeezing too hard, Boss!" I hadn't realized it, but I had grabbed him by both shoulders. I let him go and regain my composure.

"What information do you need?"

"Anything really, but the more the better!" Well, what do I know about her exactly? "Just letting you know, your results may vary, and I might not be able to find her, but I don't think it hurts to try."

"Just give it your best shot. "Now then," I've already told you what she looks like, so…. She's not human. She's a satori, a youkai that can read people's minds, but she's closed that ability off and has gained a new one in its place. She can now manipulate the subconscious. In fact, she's not even conscious anymore. She just operates on instinct, on id." I notice during my explanation that Teddie is paying as much attention as possible, perhaps surprised to hear what I said about Koishi. "The reason she closed off that ability, is because, it's because she wanted to be liked by people. To have friends… Her sister misses her, and I've promised to bring Koishi home, and… I want to save her too. Is that enough information?" I ask the bear who had become quite silent. Then suddenly… sniffling?

"UWAAAAAAAAAH!" Teddie started crying. "How sad. I can totally understand her. I want to save Koishi-chan too!" Well at least he's enthusiastic. "Grrr! I won't let this maiden go unsaved! Teddie is on the case!"

"But can you find her?" Also, what's with the 'maiden'?

"Well, I could use a bit more information to make it more precise, but I think I have enough to go on. Now just let me give the old nose a go!" After his declaration, he began to sniff the air. Like a dog, he made occasional turns, and the steps forward. It all seemed too random to me though. He seemed to have picked up on something if nothing else. He… he is getting something, right? "Got it! The old nose never fails! This way!" I'm surprised. Did it work? He then ran over and onto one of the walkways.

"I think he may be on to something," I hear Yukari finally say. "I've tried to detect something from that direction and it seems he may have indeed found her. What a peculiar bear." I decide to have Skuld scan that direction as well.

"I'm getting a ping through Skuld…" Something is there.

"Hey, let's go!" I hear Teddie yell from the distance.

"Right…" I say, as I follow him at my own pace. Koishi, I'll be there soon.

Break

"Um… He-here we a-are!" Teddie said, visibly shaking. I couldn't blame him though.

He and I stood at the edge of a very large hole that seemed to be without a bottom. Surrounding the hole was a world and atmosphere of red's and blacks, almost making the world look like it was painted in blood of varying ages. Dead trees, dried ground, and undulating shadows dotted the scenery, giving me the feeling like I was very alone, despite Teddie being here with me. However, that was not the most disturbing part.

Around the hole en-mass, were strange statues, effigies of people. Well, they were effigies in a sense that their basic silhouette could be seen as human, but their details revealed twisted bodies of various expressions contorted to inhuman levels. Some statues showed happiness that bordered on the maniacal, so happy that it seemed to be derived from delusion. Others exuded hatred and disgust that deformed the statues to seem almost monstrous; teeth flared and clear enmity showing. Other statues were filled with grief so massive that their own expressions were just as equally twisted, stone tears and agape mouths seemed to indicate a deep wailing and sadness that threatened to consume them.

And those were just the statues whose emotions I could identify. Some I couldn't even begin to describe due to how extreme, disturbing, incomprehensible, or a combination of the three that the statues seemed to encompass. The only thing that these statues seemed to share were hollow eyes that bore deep into those who stared back… that is if one got in front of their gazes which were trained upon the hole in the ground. All of them were positioned in a way that all of them, faced the center.

"It's like a twisted version of Hell's entrance." Even the entrance to Hell wasn't this scary. In fact, it was just an above average sized hole in a regular scenic environment.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about, but, this place is probably the scariest one yet!" Teddie nearly cried. "I don't think we can handle this one on our own. I think we should wait for Sensei and the others."

"I don't have time to wait," I said as I soldiered on, walking towards the hole despite the clear danger that was being warned by the environment.

"But… wait! Can't I go out those? You wait here! I'll go get Sensei. We'll save Koishi together!" Before I could reply I saw that he had already ran out of sight, leaving me alone. Perhaps he used this as an excuse to just leave. Well he got me this far. He had no obligation to help me. I turn back to the hole, holding my glasses as I looked down to prevent them from falling off.

"Well it's a good thing you can fly," I heard Yukari note.

"Yeah…"

"Not, going to wait for this Sensei and friends?" She said with a bit of teasing, but I guess it was to try and make this place less scary… it was working just a bit.

"I'm… going it alone. I can't let Koishi be alone any longer." Skuld… this place… it's dangerous. At least as much as Tartarus' mid floors to high floors. I might encounter some…

"Minato are you sure you cannot wait?" She sounds really worried. I forget sometimes how much she does care.

"Merry..." I could almost feel her freeze up from my saying her old nickname. "I'll be fine. I'll be sure to come home." A pregnant pause was conceived between us as she took the time to take in my reply. A moment later, a sigh was let out and she finally spoke up.

"If you need anything, let me know."

"Right." I look down and begin to let gravity take its course. "I'm going in." The rush of wind began, and the world began to darken as the hole began to swallow my being into it. Koishi, it won't be long now.

Break

"Rock bottom," I said as I observed the ground coming up. I don't know how long I was falling, but some relief came to know that it was going to end soon. Activating the charm, I started to slow my descent. Doing so allowed me to take in the subterranean environment in greater detail, or for what was lacking in such. Unlike the descriptions of hell I was given by the elder Komeiji sister, it was a simple rocky hole whose only notable feature was its lack of features.

"A place of the heart. That is what he said," I reminded myself as I landed on the ground… which mirrored the ground in the Palace that Satori called home. I guess Koishi didn't really care about the other things in the hole, just what mattered to her… or maybe I'm reading too much into it. I look around the place to make sure it's safe. The cavern like area had one part which seemed to transform into the halls of the Palace… but dyed in blood red and black. It seems to be a recurring color in here…

"Doesn't that look inviting?" Yukari says. "What is Skuld saying?" Right. Skuld's readings are getting stronger. This is going to be dangerous. Though I have my special Helel, if I get caught off guard, I'm dead. I have to be careful and watch out. I better pay extra attention to Skuld's readings as I go further in. "There's still time to go back," I hear Yukari say once more, though I guess that only applies because I can fly. I don't know how those other guys that Teddie mentioned would be able to get out, but whatever.

"Time I'm not wasting," was my reply and I slowly took my first steps into the oddly placed palace. The fog was thick enough now that even the glasses were having some trouble seeing through it, but I could see enough despite that, so I think I should be fine. The Palace really did look just like Satori's, but whereas her's was a soft blue, this place was, as I noted earlier, a sharp red. "This… is wrong." This is her inner world? It was already wrong up there, but still, how twisted had she become because of-

"Monster! Get away from her! You do not belong here! It's over here! Push them back! Where's the Shrine Maiden? She'll seal them soon right? You do not belong here! Back monster! You'll bring terror no longer! We've got one! One is sealed in, now the other! You do not belong here! You're the only one left! Leave peacefully! You do not belong here! You do not belong here! You don't belong anywhere!"

"WHY!?" A single childish scream that was half crying that sprang like an overly wound spring from a lone little girl pierced the cacophony of humanity's inquisition of hatred. That voice…

"Koishi," That was Koishi's voice!

"It seems somewhere she remembers that time quiet well," Yukari remarked, snapping back to reality.

"What was that incident?" I ask. Obviously if Yukari can place it, then-

"It was when the greater Youkai, the most dangerous of them all, were sealed in the hole that lead straight to The Hell of Blazing Fires. Satori were some of the first to be pushed in."

"I see…" Or at least now I can hear it, and can see the effect it's had on her. I begin walking at a faster pace than normal.

"You can feel them, can't you? The shadows have marked you," Yukari warns…

"I don't have the time. I'm not stopping until I've gotten to Koishi." I evoke the cards to appear at the ready, one at each of my sides. Shadows begin to jump behind this world's twisted pillars, taking shapes that were usual, but Skuld's analysis told me otherwise, not that it matters. Without breaking my stride, I smash the cards at the same time in the respective hands. "ARMAGEDDON!' I call, making the analysis useless as I began to already walk past the forming of the ultimate attack. The shadows instinctively braced themselves from the oncoming disaster. I ignored them and kept going. Koishi's inner world became bathed in a soft blue-white light.

"Can you keep that up?" I hear in a slightly sarcastic manner. I hear Helel's victory cry, from that I could feel my body replenishing itself.

"Can I keep what up?" I shot back.

"Fair enough." Now where could she be?

Break

I landed once more, the previous floor's exit having been another drop. This should be B3 according to just the floor numbers, though there was no telling just how far I have fallen, though it still doesn't seem as low as Hell's reactor yet.

"This floor seems different to the previous one. Oh, and if it matters, the shadows have gotten stronger as well."

"It really doesn't, but thanks for telling me." I look around to find that the fog was getting even thicker, but only slightly. The area itself however was clearly changing, if only in small ways. "That's not good." The pillars were starting to deviate from their originally straight form and began to become twisted. The still reached the ceiling, but the way they did so was contorted in impossible ways. The hallways also seemed to have become somewhat uneven and broken. Halls seemed crooked, and the red light seemed dimmer, making greater darkness.

"Oh no." I finally noticed. Blood was seeping from the walls, just like in Tartarus, but unlike in the tower, this was Koishi's inner world. The blood was here for a reason. Again I can't help but wonder…

"I think they're here," Yukari chimed in. Who? Oh, Teddie and friends, or so Skuld told me. "Considering how thoroughly you annihilated anything in your way that moved, I'd say that you might be expecting them soon."

"I see." I went into my ring and grabbed two items I found in a chest in one of the preceding floors. They were the same item, and Skuld's analysis told me they were apparently called Goho-ms. The chest had two. I don't know if they have one, but I'll leave one for them here. There, can't miss it.

"You have that attack ready again?" Yukari asked as I saw more coming my way. A single blue white light later answered her question. Immediately I rushed through the warped version of Koishi's old home. The shadows continued to come out of the wood work, but each one died all the same. The doors of the halls seemed to have remained intact, though that may change as the floors go on… "Wait a moment!" I hear Yukari warn, just as I was about to open the latest door I had come across.

"I know, something is behind her, and it feels like her, but… it's off."

"Well if you know…" She's looking out for me, but I can handle this. She's panicked too, given that I've never seen her this nervous outside of our time on the moon.

"I'm heading in," I say just as I open the door to a dark room. I took slow steps into the room. I might have Armageddon to take care of anything in my way, but I still have to be careful due to my defense still having holes in it. My slow steps small sounds still reached my ears due to how silent the rest of the room had become. What sort of trap was this? Something has to happen. Something is going to happen. This room is too different not for something to happen…

Suddenly my phone rang, causing me to startle as it became the only sound in the vincinity.

"What the-" That gave me a scare. My phone went off for some reason. I have signal? Unfortunately, in my panic, the phone's ringing stopped. I guess it ran out… But just as I thought it was finished, it started ringing a second time. However, I was ready for it.

"Again?" This time I answered. "Hello? This is Minato Arisato speaking." I replied, still being wary of my surroundings. Wait how am I even getting service? I'm dead in the outside world. I only carry my phone out of habit, but…

"Onii-chan!"

"Koishi!?" I recognize that voice anywhere. I'd recognize her anywhere. "Koishi where are? Are you okay?" I ask, trying to keep reserved so that I can listen to her, rather than bombard her with too many questions.

"Onii-chan, you're on the third floor…" Suddenly the tone began to ring, signaling a lack of connection… the call died? What was that about, what's going on? Actually, where did she get a phone?

"Welcome…" I suddenly heard creep from the shadows. "To the Haunted Palace of Reject!" Suddenly the upturned. In the center, a spotlight revealed a giant stylized sign made of creepy letters stained in blood with skulls, ghosts, tombstones and various other stereotypical spooky things saying what apparently was the name of this place… This would be a terrible show…

"Ooooooh" I hear from the distance… we have an audience? The spotlight then went on to reveal two different figures.

"Welcome!" They both said… the two of them being shadowy facsimiles of Utsuho and Orin, Satori's precious pets. Of course, Koishi would know them. "I see there might be only 1 of you today!" No time to waste.

"ARMAGEDDON!" I yell once more, the two's expressions didn't change as their guaranteed destruction came upon them. The two disappeared in the blast, leaving nothing of their existence. Skuld's analysis made it known to me that they were definitely gone.

"Ha… ah… hehehe" A creepy laugh softly resounded in the quiet room. It certainly isn't a voice I recognize. For one, it was clearly male, and the majority of acquaintances now are women…

"Laugh while you can," I say as I move on, adjusting my glasses as I walk towards what I think are the stairs. "If it's you that took Koishi, I'm going to give you a hell of a punch."

Break

"I think this is 6…" Basement 6, according Skuld's getting a proper reading of the end now, Basement 9 is the last floor, though it's quite large. As if on cue, my phone rang again. Without hesitating I rushed to pick it up.

"Onii-chan, you're on the 6th floor! It won't be long now!" The line cut, even before I could register that the call had ended. What's with these phone calls? The walls and floors are now twisting in impossible directions. Pillars now contort every which way, connected to the sides just as often as they are the floor and ceiling. The colors are also haphazard and unpredictable, there's no telling why any one place is lit and another is dark, and the light itself somehow had become even more blood red if that was even possible. Some of these shadows though… seem…

"Oh…" I see. The shadows… are shaped like people. They littered the floor, their expressions and shapes reminding me of the twisted statues at the top. I take a step in, but as soon as I do, the shadows scatter like fish, swimming on the surfaces they were attached to. "I'll keep an eye out." This could be a trap.

Like floor B3, a door held behind it a relatively powerful presence, not that it matters. Opening the door…

"Ah looks like someone wasn't scared!" This time it was a fake Satori Komeiji.

"Armageddon…" I said for the umpteenth time, tired of having to repeat over and over, as I walk into the room without pause. I don't know how many times I've used it now. Like the other two fakes, this one didn't change its expressions as it faded into nothingness.

"Hehe… not bad…" I hear from beyond the fading light. That voice… A spotlight seemed to come from nowhere and shined itself upon the other side of the room. In it, a lone figure stood wearing a simple white mask that held a form similar to a human face with contours for a mouth, nose, and holes for eyes. A dark blue kimono with various red splotches adorned him, and he wore a hat similar to Byakuren's, making it impossible to discern any real descriptions of the man… I think it's a man anyway. "Though you're quite hasty. That's not like you at all."

"Whatever." I grab my katana, and rush forward. Either he wasn't aware of what was happening, or he had supreme confidence as I closed the gap within a fraction of a second using the super speed taught to me by Youmu and preformed an iai strike right at his head in order to try and cut it in half.

"How rude," He said as he made a gesture to dodge, but at the last moment, I too adjusted my swing and at least managed to nick… something. "Oh my," he says as the lower half of his mask falls down, revealing his mouth and nose, but not his eyes. Still nothing useful. "I must say, I should have seen that coming. But won't you at least hear me out?"

"No." I need to get moving.

"Then I'll make you." Suddenly, a strange pulse of energy sprang forth from behind the door that lead out, reaching out to every corner of the room. I leapt back, looking all about to check if something was amiss. Skuld was going crazy.

"Whoa!" I let out as the floor suddenly... no, not just the floor, the whole room began to produce spikes, fissures, various kinds of unnatural movements all seemed to target me. Dodging them was of no issue, but they all seemed to…

"Now that's better." I hear from the far side of the room. I see… that attack was just to subdue me temporarily. That, most likely, wasn't all that he could do. Alright, then another…

"Huh?" It's not coming out?

"Now I can ask you a question. Do you really think you're helping anything by trying to save that little monster?" I can work without my Personas for now and I can figure out later what's causing it… but still…

"What did you just say?" Little monster?

"She left on her own, she's here of her own will. What right do you have to trample on her intentions? She knows she's a monster. She knows she doesn't belong. She knows that her presence only harms those around her. Why not just let her be? Just leave. No one would blame you."

"I'd blame myself!" I say as I rush through the gaps in the various protrusions and fissures left by his previous attack, preparing my sword once more. As I slash this time however, the figure disappears in a red mist.

"You still haven't answered any of my other questions, hehe. Well just think on it. You aren't one to hurt your friends, are you?" I hear echo throughout the room. Looking behind me, I see the protrusions and fissures begin to recede back to normal. However, amongst them…

"You hear that?" Yukari adds. Footsteps, running… I guess they're here… I had hoped that I could finish this before they arrived, but… too much time wasted. I might as well deal with them now while it's relatively safe… Skuld… I see… quite a group aren't they, and… huh? This feeling. It feels familiar…

Break

"Hold it right there!" I hear a young voice yell as they rush into the room. I look up from my MP3 to see all of them standing together facing me from the side of the room I entered in. All of them except for Tedddie wearing some form of the same school uniform.

"Well I wasn't really going anywhere…" I was waiting for you lot after all.

"I thought I told you to wait for us, Boss!" I hear as I zero in on Teddie.

"Thought it would be faster to go it alone…" I tell him as I take my headphone off. "Besides, I'm here to at least warn you that you're all in over your heads."

"What? And you're saying that you aren't?" The Brunette with reddish headphones replied. He wore his school uniform in a mostly normal fashion, buttoned up and everything.

"Well look how haggard you all are compared to myself…" I noticed as they ran in here. I thought it was because they rushed in here, but their lingering tiredness indicated that it was more than that… They've been struggling. I've just coasted through pretty much everything so far…

"Just let us catch our breaths… You're only talkin' tough cause you've been resting, while we've been bustin' our asses getting here!" This time it was the blonde-haired delinquent looking fellow. He wore his uniform open, a skull shirt visible within.

"Look, we heard from Teddie that you're a Persona user, but don't you think it's a bit dangerous to be jumping into a place you don't really know?" This time this silver haired boy spoke… Skuld? Ah, so he's the one. "Wouldn't it have been easier to wait for us and work together?"

"Not really," I reply swiftly. It doesn't get easier if the difficulty was zero to begin with.

"Wow… harsh…" The Brunette girl said in response, and that's a really bright green jacket…

"Look, I appreciate the sentiments, and I'm not going to tell you to stay out of this because this doesn't involve you, because I know you'll ignore that." I pretty much just the same. "So, let me propose to you a game." I'll show them just how outmatched they are. I suppose Gensokyou's rubbed off on me more than it should.

"Isn't now not really the time to be doing such things? I mean, Teddie told us you were pretty urgent. I can tell how powerful you are, but I'm sure there's nothing wrong with us helping out right?" She can tell… a sensor type? The red head whose hair was in two large pigtails seemed a bit more tired than the rest of them though.

"Well I know that talking won't get us anywhere when we're all probably so stubborn." I place myself in a ready stance. However just as I was about to call the duel…

"You sound very familiar… oh! The boy who asked about the music club! How was the meet up?" This time it was the black-haired girl in red… wait what?

"Huh?" I vocalized as my stance broke.

"Yukiko, what are you talking about?" The green girl asked.

"Don't you remember, Chie? Last October, there was a boy from another school who showed up asking about the music club," Yukiko (apparently), reminded.

"Huh? Actually now that you mention it…" Chie (apparently) mused.

"Hey wait a second, it's you! You were my first customer! I mean, the first guy I helped out at Junes!" The brunette stated in surprise. Small world…

"So, wait, you know our Senpais?" The delinquent boy asked.

"Well, we've met… but I guess as a refresher… I'm Minato Arisato." I forgot to introduce myself now that I think about it.

"Yu Narukami," The silver haired boy said in quick manner like I had done.

"Oh! Yosuke Hanamura, at your service!" So that's the Brunette with Headphones.

"Chie Satonaka, nice to see you again!" Green jacket girl…

"I'm Yukiko Amagi, a pleasure to see you again." Red cardigan girl…

"Um… Kanji Tatsumi, nice to meet you…" the delinquent… reminds me of Shinji…

"I'm Rise Kujikawa, I hope we can get along," How… practiced. This red-haired girl seems odd… she also seems familiar.

"And I'm Teddie! Though I guess you already knew that…" yeah that's Teddie alright.

"Well with that out of the way, I know how stubborn all of us are, so how about we play a game. The stakes are simple. If I win, you leave. If you win, you can stay. Is that alright?"

"Why can't we just work together? Again, we'd have a much easier time if we all just put our efforts together to save the girl trapped in here," Yu said with a familiar sense of assurance.

"Because I doubt you all would be able to do much of anything to help, and that I can't guarantee I can keep you safe." I turn to Rise. "You feel it don't you, how dangerous this place is. I've done my own detecting before coming in here and I can tell that this is one of the most dangerous places in here. The only way I can force you out, is through a game."

"So, we just have to win? Then bring it on!" Chie spouts heartily.

"Yeah, you tell him Senpai!" Kanji followed. The others, save for Yu, also said similar things accordingly.

"We'll I guess we just have to beat you at this game." I smiled at Yu's response. It was familiar, but it's too bad.

"Well then the rules are simple. If any of you can land a hit on me in 99 seconds after I say go, then you win. You can all work together as you wish. However, all of you can only get hit 7 times each. Once you run out, you won't be able to move until the game is over, understood?" I state as I bring out the orb that Yukari gave me.

"Did you hear all that Yukari?" I ask

"Loud and clear! I'll enforce the rules myself," Yukari replied, this time so that all could hear.

"Are you sure? That doesn't seem fair..." Yu replied

"I'll take that as an agreement," I said as I track the orb as floated into the air through Yukari's power. All of them nodded, ready to take me on. For a few moments, the room felt still as the orb slowly rose up into the air. It was clear that Yukari was milking it for all it was worth, but that didn't stop the atmosphere becoming tense. Looking at each of them, not a single one wasn't ready. They were still tired of course, but none of them looked ready to back down. I guess they believe in themselves just that much… How nostalgic.

"Alright then, on go. 3…" Concentrate the mind… "2…" Gently mutter spell at foci… "1…" Aim at opponent… "Go!" Unleash the annihilation of love!

"MASTER SPARK!" I yell, the spell I learned from Yuuka formally, borrowed from Marisa. The giant laser fired at them, however I aimed it slightly upwards, to give them an angle to hide and scatter. Good, momentum is my way.

"Duck!" I think Rise yelled. That's a sensing type for you I guess.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!" I think Chie yelled as the spell died down and I began to fly up while they were still in a dust cloud.

"Guys he didn't use his Persona for that! That was done on his own," Rise said… definitely a sensing type. Materialize my dolls…

"What kind of monster is this guy!? Kanji said that one… I think. Ready shots…

"Hey where'd he go?" I hear Yosuke ask. The dust began to settle as they then scrambled to look around.

"Above!" A sensing type is very dangerous…

"Holy crap! Is he flying?" Chie yelled again…

"No way… just who is he?" This time that was Yukiko.

"Quick, use magic to get him out of the sky!" I guess Yu is the leader here. Well before they get a chance…

"Fire…" I say more for theatrics. My dolls began to unleash a hail of bullets, unpowered by any element. Just simple white balls of energy, but that's enough.

"WAAAAHHH!" *pichun**pichun* *pichun*

"WOAAH!" *pichun* *pichun*

"DAMNIT, WHAT THE HELL!?" *pichun* *pichun* *pichun* *pichun*

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" *pichun* *pichun* *pichun*

"NOT MY FUR!" *pichun* *pichun* *pichun* *pichun*

"KEEP IT TOGETHER! KANJI BLOCK THE BULLETS!" A scramble of words under and sounds of impact, though it seems someone is keeping it together.

"Roger Senpai!" Despite his earlier panic, he quickly got back around, generating a card and crushing it with a lawn chair he was carrying somewhere… "Come Takemikazuchi!" A hulking black mechanical figure with a skeleton pattern appeared and, using its giant weapon shaped like a lightning bolt, began to block the incoming bullets. The rest of them began to huddle behind.

"Yosuke, use wind magic to try and divert the bullets. Yukiko, pelt him back with fire magic, concentrate on the dolls, they seem to be the source. Chie, cover Yukiko, bat away any bullets coming your way. Rise tell us if he's going to try anything like that laser again. Teddie I want you to keep Kanji's strength up. Kanji you keep that up!" Quite a good leader. I'm impressed, but I can hear you from here.

"What are you going to do, Sensei?" I think Teddie asked.

"Just trust me," He said as he drew his katana from its sheath; very interesting. He turned around their panic, turning it around without question, and being given their trust… If only they were more powerful. "Go!" And so, they all began to implement their given instructions. Each of them summoned their respective Personas.

"Jiraiya!" Yosuke's was some manner of frog, ninja, and disco fever dream.

"Tomoe!" Chie's wore a familiar yellow jump suit and stylized motorcycle helmet, along with a metal skirt like that of a Samurais while wielding a laser naginata.

"Come, Konohana Sakuya!" Yukiko's looked like a pink cheer leader whose pompoms were connected with something resembling wings.

"Kintoki Douji!" Teddie's was a round mechanical thing with stubby arms and a large… tomahawk missile.

"Himiko!" Lastly, Rise's looked like an unusually large woman with a satellite for a face holding some eye apparatus that was currently filling Rise's vision.

"Not bad…" I said as I started to have to move my dolls to keep them out of harm's way and figure ways around the Garus that Yosuke was piling on to keep my bullets from hitting them entirely. However, the sound of my attacks connecting still occasionally rang out. It was nothing like the rapid fire one from the start, but it still happened every few seconds or so. They're running out.

"Agilao!" Huh?

"Crap…" I said as I noticed the flow of magical energy being directed towards me this time.

"Bufula!" Teddie shouted. Damn, this is tying my movements down…

"Garula!" I see… movement limitations… Well then…

"Makarakarn!" I yell as their magic began to be reflected back, but then they all ran behind Kanji's Persona.

"Dammit!" I hear as Kanji took the hits instead. *pichun* I could hear panting, and then… "What the hell? I can't move!" I guess that means he ran out of hits. Yukari is doing her job. Kanji's Persona faded out of existence as he fell to his knees

"Crap Kanji's down! Ted, I thought you were on heal duty?" Yosuke half cried.

"I have been healing him! I've been as vigilant as possible!" Teddie argued back as they continued to dodge my assault, though I was letting up just to give them a break.

"Kanji-kun's fine guys, but… something is holding him down! It might be something related to this game." I miss having a scan type. Skuld does the job just fine. But I can't focus all my attention on it like a pure scan type can. Rise also seems to have a good head on her shoulders too for reading the mood. Oh well, they're distracted now. "Kyaaa!" *pichun* She screamed as I got one more hit in. They're low power, so the most they should do is sting like in a normal duel. "Oh man, was that my last one?" She asked as she lay on the floor, frozen, though not unconscious. They all turned to me.

"Hey that was low blow!" This time, it was Chie who responded and…

"So?" I ask as I had another doll shoot her down.

"Aaaaah!" *pichun* She yelled as she too hit the floor.

"Everyone get it together! Yukiko, return fire! Teddie, back her up! Yosuke, back me up!" Well that was quick.

"But what about them, Sensei?" Teddie asked.

"You guys'll be fine. If the rules are being enforced like this, I don't think he'll kill us."

"I won't!" I yell from above. "They'll be fine after this is over!"

"Well you heard him! Now, let's go!" Yu commanded. As he and Yosuke ran up, Yukiko and Teddie began to fire at me and my dolls with as much magic as they could muster… which was honestly paled in comparison to the volleys I had become accustomed to, but for what it was worth, it would work as a tactic for most shadows. But on a person…

"Cutie Phalanx!" I yell as I have six my dolls replicate one of Allice's signature attacks. From right behind Teddie and Yukiko. My volley was letting up, because I had them hidden.

"No good!" I hear Yu Narukami say as he ran up. "Izanagi!" I hear him say as his own Persona rose up. Izanagi wore predominantly black and seemed like a very stylized Japanese male cheer leader. It looked proud as it materialized into existence, its spear like weapon held in prominence as it pointed towards my dolls behind them. "Maziodyne!" I didn't expect that… A large cluster of lightning bolts came down on each of my dolls stopping their assault in the process.

"Retreat!" I command as my dolls the magically return to my control ring, disappearing in rainbow light as they did so. But as I was paying attention to that…

"Agilao!"

"Bufula!" I hear once more from Yukiko and Teddie as they then aimed their attacks at me, Beijing, and Minerva. I prepare a counter volley as I hear from behind-

"Garula!" Oh damn… I quickly glance behind me to see Yosuke attacking me from behind… However, I can still…

"Ziodyne!" I look right below me to find Yu's finally destination of his charge, right below me. A four-pronged attack. They're really going all out, aren't they? Guess I have to do the same…

"Konpaku Art!" I say as I materialize my katan in my hand. "Cherry Blossom Flashing!" I call while drawing the blade.

"Kyaaaa!" *pichun*

"Auuuggh!" *pichun* Yukiko and Teddie yell as my slash gets them, ethereal cherry blossoms falling and disappearing in my wake.

"Not bad…" I say as the two of them crumple to the ground as the others had done before. "But then there were two…"

"Oh, come on!" Yosuke whined from seeing their strategy fail.

"Heart Excerpt Slash!" I say before Yosuke can get another word in.

"Huh?" Was all he could say as I rushed in and cut him down as well. *pichun*

"Dammnit!" he yelled as he two fell.

"Yosuke!" I could hear Yu say as his last ally was taken out.

"And then there was one…" I say as I point my katana towards him, taking the stance that Youmu graciously taught me. He, unsurprisingly, pointed his own katana back. "I thought so…"

"Don't give up, Partner!"

"Sensei, you can do it!"

"Senpai, show him what's what!"

"Senpai, be careful."

"Yu-kun, I believe in you!"

"Yu-kun, don't give up! You can do it!" I hear resounding behind him… more nostalgia…

"You have some good friends…" I tell him

"The best…" He confidently tells me back… was I ever this close with SEES? I mean, we worked together, but I don't think we were this close until the very near end when we had to stop Nyx… To see them this close…

"But do you really think that that's enough?" I ask him

"It might not be, but it's all we have. We might as well make the most of it." He reminds me of myself…

"You do know how this is going to go right? You're functionally alone, outmatched, you're going to lose…" What will he tell me now?

"That doesn't mean I have to give up," he replies without hesitation. "Besides, in spirit, I'm not alone. I think I can still pull a win…" A strange shift occurred in his Person… I see… he is a fool… If they're this stubborn… looks like I failed to show them how outmatched they were… 15 seconds remaining…

"Whatever…" I say as I return my dolls and sword to my ring. "I give up."

"Huh?" he lets out in surprise.

"WHAT!?" I hear the rest of them ask.

"I changed my mind. Let's go…" That's all it is. Besides, something tells me they wouldn't hold their end of the duel anyways, they'll just use some smart-ass loop hole to come with me anyways. I just have to make sure that they don't get in too much danger.

"Sometimes you give up faster than Reimu does," I heard Yukari say from the orb as it returned to my person.

"Wait that's it?" I hear Rise ask.

"If you don't want to come, then go back. I'm going to leave in a bit. You have a minute to rest, then I'm leaving," I tell them. They all look at each other as they start to realize that their restraints had disappeared. They then scrambled, using all manner of healing spells and items to bring them back up to full… Yu was apparently one of the first to be healed.

"Glad to see you see it our way." He stood next to me, a confident look on his face, but not so much that it was arrogant.

"Who says I have? I just think it would be more bothersome to have to keep you here than to look out for you guys as we get to the bottom…"

"Still, let's work hard together." I see him hold his hand out. I can't help but let a wry smile paint my lips.

"Yeah, just don't get in my way…" I tell him as I take his hand.

"We'll be sure not to." Well at least he recognizes that I would have won… but I wonder what would happen if we were more even… "Is everyone ready?" he says as our hands come apart.

"Everyone's ready to go Partner!" Yosuke was first to confirm. Various other forms of confirmation came from the group soon after.

"Yup and we didn't even use that many items!" Teddie added but seemed to be largely ignored.

"I know this might be a waste of time, but this is your last chance to leave. Otherwise, I can't guarantee anything." I'm… no, the looks on their faces…

"You're right, that was a waste of time…We're still standing! We didn't come all this way to quit now!" Kanji replied.

"We're the Investigation Team! You won't take us off the case!" Chie followed. I looked at the rest of them to see that they were in solidarity in their decision. I look over them a couple more times over, scanning their every move… trying to discern even a single moments weakness… well color me impressed.

"Well let's go then. I'll take point…" I say as I approach the door I hadn't been through yet.

"Right, we'll be right behind. Everyone, same formation as always!"

"YEAH!" They all resounded as they fell into line behind me. It's been awhile… working with a group of Persona users…

Break

"This is it guys, last set of stairs that I can detect. This should be as low as we can go with stairs," Rise says as we descend to B9. "I'm detecting something below us however. Stay alert." As she says this I take a look at our surroundings. Particularly in front of us was a huge door that looked familiar.

"Elevator door," I vacantly muttered as I walked through the now nearly diametrically colored world. The world was now either solid Red or Black, however unlike the previous floors, this one seemed normal in its construction. Considering how twisted it got by that previous floor…

"What makes you say that?" Yosuke piped in.

"I've seen that door before…" It was the door that led from the Palace of Earth Spirits to the Fusion Reactor. There was another one in a hole near Youkai Mountain "It was in Koishi's home, which had a huge elevator…" I explained as I approached and opened the door with little ceremony. Inside was the elevator as I had remembered it. Stony walls, and an almost magical looking construct… it probably was made of magic…

"Well, that's something…" Kanji commented, not really sure of what to make of what he saw from what I could tell by him scratching his own head.

"Well it is the elevator… and I don't think we have any other options." There isn't any other way I can see, and not only that, this would make some degree of sense. Everyone followed me in as we then took our own spaces within.

"So, how does this thing work, Boss?" Teddie asks.

"Well, it should start…" The elevator began to move right then… "…automatically." The elevator began to descend at its usual slow pace. I believe I was told it was designed such that it could take as much weight as possible and keep them relatively safe… "We'll be here a while."

"Oh! Then I think right now's a good time." All of us look at Rise who didn't shy away from the attention or change in any noticeable way. "Would you mind telling us more about this little girl, Koishi-chan? Teddie told us a few things, but second hand only goes so far, even if it can be accurate." This girl is unusually mature… even if she is bubble like nothing else…

"Well you already know her name," I started… I suppose there's nothing wrong with telling them, since they're already so deep into this. "What else do you know?"

"Well Teddie told us she wasn't human, that she had the power to read people's minds and was shunned for it, so she sealed that ability away so that she could be liked, and that the result was that she gained another ability instead. The rest he told us… didn't make much sense," Yu clarified.

"Well then allow me to fill in the rest. The power to read minds she had was tied to her consciousness. With it shut off… well…"

"So, she's asleep?" Yukiko asks in my pause…

"Sort of. The ability she gained was the power to manipulate the subconscious. She now operates her body subconsciously, but there are other effects as well. Some pretty bad ones that honestly make me think she was better off reading people's minds." If I remember right, the subconscious is considered one of the more dubious aspect of psychology, being quite a headache for those who study it. Then again Koishi comes from Gensokyou…

"Like what? I mean it's pretty crazy that she can do that, but can it really be that bad than being hated by people?"

"Try being forgotten, and ignored by everyone you meet, not only can she not perceive herself anymore, almost no one else can do so either. She's invisible, she got her wish of no longer being hated… but it cost her the ability to be loved as well… and worst of all, her condition has caused her to be unable to be aware of the situation either…"

"While that's interesting, being ignored and all, but that doesn't explain something... How are you able to remember her?"

"Honestly, I think it might be because she was in contact with my subconscious for a great length of time. Combine that with the fact that I've met her sister, who told me more, I think that's why I can remember Koishi." I look to Yu as I finally said, "She was almost like… a Velvet attendant." I could see his eyes flicker. I guess he understands.

"So, let me get this straight, cause I've been a bit confused over the whole thing since I first heard it. This girl who gets hate from total strangers because of something she was born with ran away and tried to fix the problem, and only made things worse?" Kanji seems to get it despite claiming otherwise.

"That's the gist of it."

"No wonder her inner world is so…" Rise whispered into a trail of silence. "Also, there's something else bothering me. You're a Persona user, and from what Teddie's told us, you didn't get one from the TV world, so…"

"If you tell me more, I'll tell you more." I say simply. They've proven themselves thus far, but the information I have can break a major economic empire, and I'm sure Mitsuru wouldn't like me spreading more than I should thanks to that. "Well, to a point." The group looks at each other and seemed to silently come to a decision.

"Sure. Let's talk…" Yu states. Their explanation of the situation was rife with commentary, random quips, some hitting, a bit of whining, but it all boiled down to a something fairly simply, though a bit fantastical.

They called themselves the Investigation Team. They were formed originally by Yu, and Yosuke who wanted to investigate the two murders which led to the victim's bodies being flung on to high places and with few, if any, injuries. Yu was the first one to find out about the TV world. The two of them, after the second murder, decided to further explore the TV world, which led to their discovering of Personas after confronting their shadows. Chie then joined them once Yukiko had been kidnapped. The two of them also gained the Personas in the same fashion. Rise and Kanji then followed Yukiko's lead. Teddie was someone they met in the TV world who they said used to be an empty bear suit. They faced his Shadow at the same time they rescued Rise. Soon after that, on the day Rise returned to school, they met me.

They've… faced quite a bit. I thought shooting yourself in the head was a dangerous method of gaining a Persona. Well it's quite strange, but facing oneself is also quite the ordeal. It was essentially what my friends did in the abyss. Though they did it together. But can this team solve the mystery? They've done well so far. Just the fact they're still alive and have succeeded each time is proof of that, but…

"Sorry for the haphazard explanation," I hear Yu apologize as I was internalizing what I was told.

"Um, no problem." I guess it's my turn. They're all looking at me… "So-" The elevator made a large thud as it shook from hitting what I guess was the bottom. "I think we'll have to continue this later…" There was only a single exit which was marked by an ornate door similar to the others, but…

"Um, guys… something is… there's something huge behind that door… We have to be extremely careful when we open it…" Rise chimed in. Skuld was giving me similar warnings.

"I'll take point…" I say as I go up to the door, but just as I was about to open it, my phone rang once more.

The others jumped. I was also somewhat startled, given that it hadn't happened in a while. I quickly grab my phone to answer it.

"You get signal in here?" Yosuke asks as I begin to bring it up to my head.

"Apparently…" I say as the phone rests at my ear. "Hello?"

"Onii-chan!" I snap my head away from the phone as the speaker was unusually loud on my phone, allowing it to resound through the room for all to hear. "You're so close. You're right outside…" The call then cut there, leaving only a monotone, constant ringing…

"Well that wasn't creepy…" Yosuke sarcastically let out.

"I'll say. What the hell was that? Gave me a start, and that voice…" Chie said with a bit of a haggard breath.

"What was that?" Yu asked.

"That… I've been getting that every now and then since I've been in here. And that voice… it's Koishi's," I clarify as I look to the rest of them. "It doesn't change what we're going to do though. I'll go first…" The others nod as I turn back towards the door.

The door creaked as I pushed it open. The process was slow and steady as the door felt heavy and resisted my push as much as it could. The sound of its opening started at a small whisper, but then, with the whole weight of its size, the whisper exponentially grew into a wave of sound until, and with a final screech the door was opened. The room's coloration was, by this point, quite familiar, but inside lay a somewhat large room whose structure was also quite similar to the rest of the Koishi's inner world. What set this room apart was its furniture. While the room was, for the most part bare, at the center was a table with various wares for tea time. Of the five chairs, all but one was filled with a plush doll. Three of the dolls I recognized immediately. They were made in imitation of Koishi's closest, Satori, Utsuho, and Orin. The dolls didn't look creepy in the slightest; in fact, they were quite adorable, each sporting an expression that matched them. Orin's cat smile, Utsuho's gaping wide expression of happiness, and Satori's cool expression made them seem all the more authentic. The last doll however…

"Me?" I let out as I look, who was given an expression I couldn't place… though it might be because I don't normally look at myself often. Then my phone rang. "Again?" I grab my phone once more, the others I notice being quiet and still.

"I'm right behind you." I jump to the side as soon as I heard that, and during the tumble, I could hear the air breaking from a swipe. I quickly store my phone away and look to find Koishi in a post-swing stance with a knife in hand.

"Is that her?" Kanji asks as the rest of them ready themselves.

"Are you okay, Minato-kun?" Yukiko follows.

"I'm fine, and yeah, that's her. That's Koishi…" Koishi looked as she usually did for the most part but looking at her glowing eyes… they seemed… dull.

"Something's wrong."

"I think we can see that Rise-chan!" Teddie replied in a panic.

"No! I mean, I'm detecting some sort of overlap. Could it be possession?" A good possibility actually… Rise looks to me. "I don't think Armageddon is a good idea… We'll have to be careful!" I nod. I didn't think Koishi would be used like this… but…

"Who the hell are you?" I ask him, hoping to shed light on the perpetrator.

"It's quite annoying that there was someone who could see through my ruse so easily. I hadn't had to deal with this last time, but no matter," And eerie, male voice echoes from Koishi's body.

"Are you the one behind the murders?" Yu asks.

"That? I've no obligations to answer you… but for now, maybe I'll say… No, as useful a tool as their creation is, I have no part in your little club house's so-called mystery." I can't do anything, I don't have a means of attacking Koishi safely. "You're under quite the conundrum, aren't you?" The possessed Koishi returned her gaze upon me. "A part of you must be thinking, how could I have taken a hold of this girl's consciousness?" But she isn't… wait…

"You damn thief," I say with bile welling up reflexively from anger. "You took hold of the fact that she isn't conscious, like taking a car for a spin while the owners are away and the keys still in the ignition." That doesn't explain one last thing though. Why Koishi? She's just a little girl.

"Oh, so you get it? As expected of one of his new pawns. I suppose in recent years he's changed from quantity to quality when it comes to his personal selections." Who… who is he talking about? "However, as always, you're in the way." Koishi's body began to float up and, once it reached a certain height, seemed to zoom towards the far end of the room. "I'll just have to take care of you here while I still can." With a wave of Koishi's hand, the ground began to shake uncontrollably. Various shouts of surprise and panic permeated.

"Keep it together guys!" Yu called, which helped to quell the noise. The world however, continued to shake, causing the walls of the room to crack. In fact, the whole room was beginning to completely deteriorate until they began to break away and reveal… The Moriya Shrine on Youkai Mountain?

"Where the hell are we?" Yosuke asked, which representative of everyone else's sentiments.

"The Moriya Shrine! I've been here before!" I answer as I notice Koishi's body looking like it's calling something.

"It's still not Gensokyou though, it's just a copy!" I hear Yukari note from the orb…

"But how did he-" It seemed Yukiko wanted to say more but was getting drowned out.

"I don't know but get ready. He's coming!"

"Now drown in despair!" And with one more gesture, shadows began to manifest at his call, oozing from the ground as they dredged themselves up and into form.

"You guys handle the shadows. I'll handle Koishi! Just buy me time!"

"Right!" Yu replied. "Let's go guys!" And at his call, the others took charge. I don't know how long they'll last, so I have to be quick.

"Does you precious little sister not mean so much to you?" The being taunted.

"She means a lot to me; more than you'll ever know." I say as I send my dolls to assist the Investigation Team.

"Self-Sacrifice? I suppose since you've done it before, you wouldn't mind doing it again." He began to float down, landing with only soft clicks as the shoes hit the floor.

"No. I'm going home with, Koishi."

"So confident, aren't we? Well then… maybe this will change your tune…" Another wave of the hand. Hmm? Something... Something is wrong…

"What the?" Yu started.

"Hey!?"

"What's going on!?"

"Himiko?"

"Hey where the hell are you Takemikazuchi?"

"Tomoe!? Where are you!?"

I look back to see the team now panicked. Their personas now gone, my dolls still moved, but the presence of the personas I assigned to them were also missing. I… I can't even change Personas… I can't feel Orpheus, Thanatos, or the rest of them anymore…

"What did you do?" I ask him, I can guess, but I need confirmation. He did this last time…

"You already know, don't you? I've sealed your Personas!" He said as the summoned shadows slowed in their recovery. He raised his arms high into the sky and exclaimed, "You wished to know why I had chosen this girl? It wasn't just because it was easy, it was because of her power! The power to manipulate the subconscious!"

"But this is a world of the subconscious!" Yu says, reminding me of what Teddie told me when I first met him. "So are you saying that-"

"I am! I'm saying that thanks to this little girl, this world, and by extension all of humanity, is now my toy to play with as I see fit! In here, the world of people's hearts, I can do anything! The game is over!" The world then shifted multiple times, first to Gensokyou in general, I heard more panic as we realized we were in the middle of the sky above the untouched areas of heaven. Then suddenly we hit the ground as the world shifted again to the middle of the human village, the Scarlet Devil Mansion's foyer then entered our view, and it shifted again when it suddenly became reminiscent of my Velvet Room… Then it lastly changed back to the twisted room it was at the start.

"Now do you see?" The possessor said as he began an onslaught of attacks ranging from simple energy blasts, to the room itself contorting into violent forms to strike at us.

"You talk too much…" I say as I throw a few sealing charms towards him. Copying what I saw Reimu do on occasion, I move my arms and chant a few spells, creating a barrier around her. "Everyone get behind me!" I tell the others, who promptly follow my instructions.

"This doesn't look good," Yu was the first to say.

"Already regretting it?" I ask as I place the finishing touches on the seal.

"Nah, but it could be better." The barrier was holding, but was already being strained.

"What are we going to do? We're sort of locked down here." Chie seemed as haggard as everyone else was. To that end, they all seemed to be quite exhausted.

"Hell, what are we gonna do about that scene change thing that dude did?" Kanji asked.

"I… I don't know," I said in response.

"Our Personas are locked, our opponent can control this place like he's god, if you don't know what to do, I think we can say we're officially screwed," Yosuke summed up the situation quite nicely.

"Do you think you might be able to reach her? Anything at all?" Yukiko offered.

"Are you kidding? You've heard him! He's taken over her consciousness, all of it right? What are you supposed to do about that?" Yosuke butted back in… but he's right.

"You're right…" I told him

"I… I am?" He replied in understandable surprise.

"Yeah, she isn't conscious, but for as long as I'd known her, she never was." She was always working off her subconscious! "Koishi! I know you can hear me!" I yell, harder than I have for the longest time.

"What are you doing?" I hear Rise ask, but Yu places a hand on her shoulder before I can respond.

"You think this will work?" He asks.

"Those places we were warped to, no way in hell he chose those on his own. There's no way he could have been there. Koishi is still in there. She chose those places. I just need a chance!" He gives me a nod then turns to face his friends.

"Guys let's trust him. It's our best shot." The rest give their own nods. "We're behind you 100%! Go for it!" With one last acknowledgement I turn back to Koishi.

"Koishi! It's me!" I yell once more

"Go away!" I finally hear Koishi's voice. Thank god, she can hear me but, crying… Now that I could hear her clearly despite the onslaught. "Why are you here Onii-chan?" She asked between the sobs and sniffles.

"I'm here to take you home Koishi. Satori-san is waiting for you, and so are Utsuho and Orin." I muster that sentence using the softest voice I could use given the current circumstances.

"No, they don't!"

"Yes, they do!"

"NO!" A force expels from the yell, breaking my barrier and blowing the others away one by one despite their best efforts to resist.

"UWAH!"

"AAAAH!"

"KYAAAAA!" I hear from behind me, though the large winds made it near impossible to discern the voice outside of whether or not it was male or female.

"Keep going!" I hear out of the blue as I notice Yu literally pushing me forward, still holding his ground. I return to face Koishi after giving him another nod,

"Koishi! I'm here to take you home, to where you have friends and family!" I start again. This time Koishi was placing her hands on her head. She's still in control through the subconscious!

"They don't want me there! No one wants me! Just look at this place! Look how ugly it is! Who wants something this ugly?"

"They don't care Koishi! I don't care! Don't you remember what I said? I said I'd never hate you! I don't hate you! I want you by my side. I'm you're Onii-chan right?" I yell once more, hoping that she heard even the tiniest scrap of what I said. However, the one who answered next-

"He's lying. They always lie. They're always in it for their own benefit." I hear the one who's holding Koishi hostage say from the shadows. "Just slip back. Stop caring."

"Onii-chan…" I hear her say before a raucous laughter from beyond filled me with something I'd forgotten, terror. Her eyes dulled. I'm losing her!

"You see that!" He manages in between the scornful mirth. "She doesn't want to go back!"

"That's because you've tricked her you bastard," I said under my breath. Koishi… no… I can't lose her like this.

"I'd say it's more so because of what people have shown her to begin with. She wouldn't be like this if people weren't… Well, exactly as I thought they were!" He practically guffawed as he spoke.

"I don't know who those people are, but we're nothing like them! People who would make a little girl cry have nothing to do with us!" Yu says behind me, rage also evident in the force he used in his voice.

"Yeah! Don't lump us in with whatever pieces of shit did that to her!" Kanji interjected, not having lost all his energy.

"Who would want to hurt a cutie like Koishi-chan anyway? Bad people that's what!" Teddie made his own comment as he and the rest began to get back up.

"Dammit, we've been in this for a penny for so long, we've already given a pound! Don't count us out just yet!" Yosuke followed as he picked up his knives.

"I see you all need one more lesson. Don't worry, this last one, it's on the house." The being made a single gesture and the whole world began to shake once more…

"I don't have enough time!" I said as I began to try and make another barrier regardless.

"Everyone!" Yu yelled out as it became clear that the possessor was trying to now crush us, impale us. He was trying to kill us any way he could using Koishi's powers to control the world inside the TV.

"Dammit!" I yelled. I might not even be able to save myself at this rate…

"Good nigh-"

*BOOM* A large explosion followed what looked to be a laser impacting Koishi's body. As the dust settled, it was shown that no damage was done except to spires of stone that emerged from the surroundings to block the incoming attack.

"Well I can see that's going to be annoying." All heads turned up to find two entities floating above. The one who voiced her annoyance as she rhythmically kept throwing and catching a knife with ease.

"Mima!?" I called in surprise as I began to recognize the figure as I readjusted my glasses.

"Master, are you alright?"

"Ruukoto!?" I say soon after as I notice her try to lift me up after I had apparently fallen without my noticing. "Well this is surprising."

"I know, you getting your ass kicked? I thought you were better than that?" Mima quipped as she descended.

"I'm not invincible," I state as I gather my breath.

"Yeah, which is why your maid and I had to be called in to help!" Mima said with a cheeky grin.

"Thanks…"

"No proble-"

"Annoying pests!" The possessor interjected as they made another gesture to summon more shadows. At his call, more shadows began to manifest themselves from the surroundings, though Mima didn't seem to be all that affected.

"Not more of these things!" Yosuke noted, clear fatigue making itself known as he raised his arms with a worrying level of effort.

"Guys our Personas are still locked!" Rise reminded us as more and more shadows began to emerge.

"Then what the hell do you suggest we do?" Kanji said as he raised his chair up to try and swat one of the closer ones.

"We've got to do something or we're done for!" Yukiko followed as she fell back with Chie.

"Master…" Ruukoto says solemnly. I-I see.

"Just be careful," I told her. Even as powerful as she is, it was one against an army.

"I'll be right back," Ruukoto said with a calm, but serious tone as her energy wings activated and jettisoned her towards the younger Persona users. I hope I won't regret that…

"We'll keep them busy, you stay alive and get it through that kid's skull what you want tell her!" Mima said as she followed.

"Thanks," Yu said from behind as Mima followed Ruukoto's lead. He then turned to me, saying, "I'll watch your back." He raised his katana once more and turned his own back towards mine. That's not fair, but not like have any other decent options.

"Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon Ruukoto, entering battle mode!" Just as the shadows were about to reach them, Ruukoto's Hammer spewed behind it flames and became propelled into the ground, scattering the enemies and smashing any that were caught by the force. "So long and good riddance…" She said in that robotic voice.

"Leave some for me!" Mima shouted from on high as she rained laser death with that knife of hers, killing any shadows that were trying to escape. "Think you kids are good to go yet?"

"Whata!" Chie shouted as a kiai then saying, "No Problem! Keep 'em coming!"

"I haven't gone Bearserk yet!" Teddie followed. I think they've got it handled. They're actually taking them pretty well actually. Turning back around to Koishi then… I have to try again.

"Koishi I know you can hear me!"

"Why do you keep trying?" She answers quickly. Good she is listening. There's still a chance.

"You haven't given me a reason to stop."

"But this worl-"

"YOU! It's you I haven't heard from yet." My interruption caused a visible change on Koishi's face despite the possession; shock, surprise. "This world's just a part of you. It's just one part. I know there's more to you than just this. The fact that you keep listening to me is proof to me there's still something you want. You have a hope that you can get it! You just haven't told it to me, and what kind of big brother would I be if I didn't listen to my little sister." At that moment, tears began to stream down her face. They were small. They dried up almost immediately. They could be counted on my hands alone, but they were there. One last push. "Koishi, what is it that you want Onii-chan to do for you? Anything, just say the word and I promise I'll do it."

"You- you promise?" And like that it was as if a light had returned to her eyes. And in that moment, she began to fight back. "I WANT TO GO HOME! ONII-CHAN, SAVE ME!" I couldn't help but smile to hear another little request.

"Already done!" I say as I warp the sheath of my blade into my ring and summon Lucifer's blade into my off hand. "Think you can keep up?" I tell Yu as I activate the blade of the Morning Star.

"Not really, but I'll try my best." Huh, guess we are alike in some ways.

"Then I'm going first!" I say as I rush towards Koishi. I honestly don't know what I'm doing. Koishi's still possessed. If I attack, I'll still hit her and not the one in control. However, "Here I come!" and I can't back down now. It's time to do something Foolish.

"Insolent Fool!" The voice says as it seems to be struggling to keep control. Despite that however, they made another wave of the hand, causing more pillars to rise from the ground, and parts of the world to begin closing in on me.

"Cherry Blossom Flashing!" I call as I slice all of the attacks that came at me.

"One more!" I hear from my side as Yu slices a particular shadow that was about to jump me after my attack.

"Not bad." Not bad at all. A little more time and maybe he could genuinely keep up with me.

"Just doing what I can, now go! I said I'd got you covered!" I give him a nod and continue rushing forward.

"Do you really care so little for her wellbeing? It won't be me you hurt should you make that cut!" They taunted as more and more was sent my way. One of after the other, I cut them down and whatever I missed Yu made sure to clean up.

"I believe in Koishi!" I state as I crouch down and jump towards Koishi's body.

"Fool…" They say as Koishi's body disappeared all of a sudden.

"Master!" Spikes… protrusions, other various blades, weapons, Eruption? All hidden behind… Just a trap… can't change momentum, too fast, something coming? No position to parry… I'm… Dead?

"Oh no!"

"Kid!"

"Minato-san!" My vision blurred out. Was I… was I hit? But that felt blunt. That wasn't-

"What the?" I let out as my vision began to clear out, but as I did so… blood? No the consistency is off. Oil? Is this what it is? I can't tell in this light, but… I slowly looked up as I noticed more and more of this liquid dripping from above, a dull blue glow… no. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! "Ruukoto?" My voice was weak. Could she even hear me? "Ruukoto?" I try again, trying to put more power into it, but my voice cracked and rasped. Ruukoto hung impaled upon what should have been my fate, her front facing towards me as he back had taken the brunt of the hit. Her maid outfit had been sullied with oil and other fluids. Various blades, protrusions and other… the pierced her body in multiple places, most of them in the torso region. Two caught my eye more than the others. One was impaled right through her head and through her right eye socket, most likely permanently destroying whatever was inside, and the other… the other was right through her chest cavity and taking with it was a fairly large blue plate that looked like it was made of glowing stone. Across it looked to be various patterns like that of a circuit board.

"Mas-ter?" She called as I turned my attention back to her face. Though impaled, the mouth still attempted to form a smile, but the eye that wasn't destroyed could only twitch as it tried to close, but never quite getting there. A small malfunctioning motor sound could be heard each time it tried. "You're okay…" I try to get up to get closer to her ears so I could tell her something but suddenly the spire that had speared that blue plate began to glow an-

"Mina-chan!" EXPLOSION! PAIN! SEARING! PEIRCING! ALL OVER! BREATHE! I CAN'T BREATHE! SHRAPNEL!

"Just hold on!" I hear as I began to writhe on the ground, trying to get the initial shock out of the way… In, out, in, out…

"Well there you have it! You tried to believe but that's what happens. You came in with bravado, so cock sure of yourself. Not only that, someone else paid the price instead!" Bastard…

"Mina-chan! I've healed you somewhat, but it's a quick fix. You have to be quick and finish this soon!" Yukari said, apparently healing up the border body she gave me. As I try to stand, piercing pain shoots up in my body from the places I was pierced. "You'll have to fight through it! I can't remove those pieces from here!"

"You look about ready to fall! Can you still believe after that? After losing someone else close to you because of another?" He taunted again.

"SHUT UP!" I yell in the loudest voice I could muster at that point. It seems however, it was enough as the possessor became quiet. Looking back up to see Koishi's body, I continued. "Koishi!" A definite flinch of fear could be felt when I addressed her. I can… I can deal with Ruukoto later. I don't have a choice. I can't let her sacrifice be in vain. Hopefully- "That wasn't your fault! It was the one who's controlling your consciousness' fault! I'm-" A coughing fit worms its way out, burning my throat as it leaves me. Catching my breath, I soldiered on. "I'm still… Onii-chan's still going to save you!" I tell her as I limp forward, the pain shooting up with every step, my arms also feeling a dull piercing sensation every second. "I'm-"

"And I thought you were going to say something interesting…" Suddenly a twisting shadowy spire emerges from the ground, snaking upward and around before charging towards me like a viper. "This is your end. Eulogize in the next world." Dammit… I need to move! No… my legs… I … I can't fall here…

"Minato-san!"

"Watch out!"

"We got to do something!"

"Kid!"

"ENOUGH!" A voice penetrates the sea of cacophonous sound, its tone signaling the dissipation of the spire that was about to end my life. Koishi's body began to writhe like it was wrestling the air. "I," She turned once. "WILL," She flipped once more. "NOT," she stabilized. "LET YOU HURT ONII-CHAN ANYMORE!" As if the world was glass, a cracking sound resounded through the halls.

"NO! HOW!"I hear voice says as a shadow figure seems to appear about Koishi, trying to hold on to her body. "I won't let it be like this!" He says as he uses what control he still has to summon more shadows to his side, this time stronger than before including ones that looked like tanks, samurai, jotuns…

"Guys! Our Personas!" I think Rise begins.

"Mediarama!" Yukiko immediately follows, as Yu and Mima rush to me.

"You okay?" Yu says as he commanded Izanagi to use another ziodyne to fry an oncoming shadow.

"I'll… I'll be okay…"

"That means you aren't now!" Mima tells me as she looks towards… Ruukoto's remains… "Hey look at me!" She says as she grabs my face. "Silver hair, I've got him covered!"

"But-" Yu tries to start to argue.

"Just go!" She says as she uses a knife to fire another laser at more shadows. Yu simply nods afterwards and runs over to his friends. Mima, once satisfied with what she was seeing, then looked back at me.

"You're not dying today," She starts as she makes my body lean on hers. "Kid, I think I should at least tell you this. I still don't think people can change."

"Why bring this up now?" I force out, but enter another coughing fit as a price for my efforts.

"Because I want you to know, that… well… I don't think they need to change. Why should they, when there's already kids like you and them out there, ready to do this kind of thing for youkai, I think that the worlds good enough as is."

"But-"

"Don't talk, you're hurt," She says in a motherly tone I don't think I'd heard from her before. "Besides, heads is boring without tails. I wouldn't have met you if I wasn't sealed in for being evil. Now are you ready to summon one of your healing Personas or do you need another minute to act like a little baby?" That sounds more like Mima.

"Right, Messiah…" I call forth one of my best and with it- "SALVATION!" I say as my fatigue falls away.

"Woah!"

"Damn this is good!" I hear from the distance. I guess the spell reached over there as well. It might not have removed the shrapnel, but it certainly cured me of the debilitation those pieces were causing.

"Mima… why say that now?"

"You looked too down to fight. I know what just happened is pretty bad, but now's not the time to mull over it. You can think about it later and give her, her final rights later when you can," Mima said as she let me off. "Besides that, I just wanted to get it off my chest. I believe in you too."

"What was that?" I don't think I caught that last part…

"Nothing, you block head. Now get to it! Show them who the number 1 guy in Gensokyou is!"

*CRACK*

Thou art I… And I am thou…

Thou hast Forged bond that will last an Eternity…

Your Universe is now forever broadened

Thou shalt have our blessing when thou chooses

To create a Persona of the Hunger Arcana…

We bequeath unto you the Ultimate Hunger

My mind seemed to flash to the velvet room for but a moment, a nod from both Igor and Theo before I returned to reality. I think they acknowledged this, a new Persona. No, two?

"Watch out!" Rise yells from afar, the rest of them still keeping up the good fight, but Skuld has already told me all I need to know. Shadows were honing in on my position. The others were now just finishing up their enemies. It's time for me to finish up my part.

"Deploy!" I call forth as my dolls spring from my ring and stop the incoming shadows from behind, samurai looking ones whose swords were poised to strike. Each one fell to my Dolls, now empowered once more with my Personas.

"Not yet! I can still make it!" The nameless possessor yells out as he summons more, this time bull looking ones. All of them charged forth at full speed.

"No you can't." I call the card downwards, raising my evoker all the while, to summon my new… something's off… I break the card anyways with a shot from my evoker. A surge of foreign power begins to flow forth, a warm heat from the places I had been pierced the shrapnel begin to make itself known.

A clash of horn and steel erupted in front of me as I took in the Persona that heeded my call.

"He-Hephaestus?" It was Ruukoto's Persona that stood before me, its hammer blocking the Shadow's path. "What are you-"

"Master," I hear resound from within. I… I need to concentrate!

"Hephaestus!" I command as I swing my arm, and in turn, make Hephaestus swing its hammer to knock away the shadows, knocking them away. Now to actually summon what I wanted. A second card, marked by the image for hunger fell near me as I aimed for it. One gunshot later and-

"KERES!" I yell as the new power of Ultimate Hunger seemed to almost claw its way into existence. If it could be described simply, it seemed to be a red, female Thanatos. Everything about it was more violent. Its helmet was stained in blood and contorted with more spikes and protrusions. It's cape of coffins had each casket stabbed with various, bloody weapons. The protrusions however, angled themselves in a way to make them seem like wings of weapons. Unlike Thanatos, a wave of flowing blood red hair spilled forth from behind the mask, and in its hand was a sword, serrated and twisted. I'd heard that while Thanatos was a god of peaceful death, Keres were the opposite. Daughters of Nyx, they represented violent death, decay, or disease. She certainly fits that description.

"Koishi!"

"Almost… got it!" She says as she begins to rip out the shadowy figure once and for all.

"No!" He cries, trying to summon another round of Shadows. I guess he can't affect her very much either. With a single tug more, Koishi rips the being out of herself. One could almost hear the tearing sounds as the being was slowly, bit by bit, ripped off like tape.

"GOT IT!" Koishi signals as she finally throws the figure out and onto the ground. The one who fell resembled the man I tried to slice up earlier. As he struggled to get back up.

"Oh no you don't! Brave Blade!" I yell as Keres rushes forth, practically teleporting to her destination, slashing at the man who had control of my little sister.

"GAH!" He yells as blood marks his trajectory from the impact. I have to keep going.

"Not finished yet!" Need to pin him down… switching… "Messiah! GOD HAND!" A golden fist falls from above and smashes him midflight into the ground. "RAH!" I yell, trying to put more power into it to keep him there and prevent him from bouncing back up just in case. A muffled sound could be heard from him as he made contact and was smashed into the floor. "One more!" I yell as I switch personas again. "Ruukoto…" I whisper, but to no response… I bite my lips just a bit and call it out once more. "HEPHAESTUS! PRIMAL FORCE!" I direct the attack upwards to launch the man high into the sky. However, before I could continue, he managed to right himself in the air, but it was clear that he was battered and weakened, bloody and tired.

"I'm not done yet! I can still-"

"Be quiet," Koishi appeared behind the being, stabbing him in the back with the knife she held earlier. Looks of disbelief fell upon almost everyone in the room. "Onii-chan," She called as she pulled the knife with a twist and made a similar gesture as the ones before. Claws of metal, stone, magic, and whatever else, grabbed onto him, holding him in place. "Free target practice!" Koishi… is a bit scary like this, but I can use this. "Aww, I'm not that scary, am I?"

"This is going to be new to me," I say to myself as I ignore Koishi's comment. "Everyone back away. You too Koishi!" Alright, so prepare my Personas…

"He's doing that again! Actually wait… both?" Rise says as she and the others try to maintain their distance.

"Both what?" Yosuke asks first before realizing what she meant. "Wait you can't be serious, there might not be anything left."

"Go for it kid!" I hear Mima cheer.

"Don't worry Onii-chan! I'll keep this place from collapsing!" It seems Koishi has full control, but enough of that. I've done fusion spells before, and I've fused spells to spell cards and my magic. Let's see how this ends up.

"HELEL, SATAN!" I call as I raise my evoker into the air and towards the immobilized being.

"You think this will end me?" Concentrate the mind.

"As long as people don't change, I'll return!" Mutter the spell tenderly into foci.

"I'll always return!" Aim at someone I don't like… and unleash the annihilation of love!

"You talk too much…" READY! "ARMAGEDDON! MASTER SPARK!" As I thought, the two spells began to interweave just like all the other times, but the bluish white energy of Armageddon became twisted as it needled its way into the ball of energy that was going to be released in a beam of energy. The orb itself after twisting, turning, churning, and melding, became a ball of outer blue white light with a core of Black and Red. Placing both hands on the grip of the Evoker, I call out the new spell's name.

"TERMINUS SPAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRK!" The orb, like a corked bottle, exploded forth, unleashing its pent-up energy and reaching its target in almost no time, like a true laser. Though the beam immediately sprang forth, the light from the attack flooded the room soon after like an aftershock from an earthquake. As it was sustained, an almost high pitched sound completely enveloped the room.

"AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHH!" Though by comparison the sound was tiny, I could still hear him crying in pain. Hope you enjoy it. Every bit of suffering you gave my little sister, allow me to repay you with interest. I held it for as long as I could. Eventually I lost track of the time the beam had been sustained, but even so, the beam died. A flicker signaling as it sputtered out of existence with a final spark of light, the foul being along with the hands that held him were now gone. No trace of his existence could be found by Skuld.

A silence fell upon the scene as the dark, red room began to fade away like static, slowly clearing bit by bit like a TV getting signal back. What became revealed was a scenic mountain view of Gensokyou, the village in the distance, and all the other landmarks in their proper place. In the middle sat a white table adorned with a little pretty tea set. The same dolls in attendance. I fell to the ground, my legs giving way as I exhaled a great breath that I held in.

"It's over…" I whisper as I close my eyes and let the wind blow over me.

"Onii-chan!" I heard Koishi yell as she made dive-bombed straight into my chest. If I still had air in there, it would have been knocked right out. From there, she sat right up on top of my stomach. From behind, I could hear a number of sighs of relief. Sitting back up, I saw that just like I did, the others fell to the ground and were resting. I guess they did push themselves really far.

"Not bad kid," Mima says as she floats to my side. "Terminus was it? Not as good as my Twilight, but it certainly was impressive." Well that just makes me curious. Twilight spark… wish I could have used that name.

"What stopped you?" Koishi asks… I haven't said any… oh… the ropes red now… and… her heart… "Onii-chan is a bit of pervert…" I look away immediately as Koishi begins to giggle in amusement, but yeah… her hearts reopened… I guess she can read minds now. "And I can control it too! Watch!" In a single moment, her third eye closes, and her veins return to their dark purple color. Her eyes also seem to dull as well.

"Woah!" I hear from behind as I look back to find that a statue of me had shown up in the middle of where the investigation team was sitting.

"Um, wow."

"Where'd that come from?"

"Wow! Can we get one for Sensei? Oh, and me as well?"

"Huh, it's pretty detailed." Chie, Yosuke, Kanji, and Teddie were the ones to vocalize their reaction. The others began to engage in some other small talk I couldn't discern from where I sat.

"That's nice," I started, "but can you put that away?" Ugh. My vision's starting to blur.

"Aww… don't wanna."

"Really? I think it's fine." I look to the side Mima wasn't on to find one Border Manipulator looking on.

"Finally decided to show up?" I tease as I relax again, falling back onto the ground, my eyes weighing heavy.

"Well someone has to watch you as you sleep…" Yeah, I guess it's… catching up to me… that was a lot of magic I used. "Just rest for now. I'll take care of the rest."

"Yeah, wake me up later… Merry."

"Of course." Time to sleep.

Break

"Hmm…" I instinctually let out as my eyes flicker open. "What happened?" I- wait, something seems off. My eyes burst open as I bolt up to find… that I was resting in a futon at what looked to be a classical Japanese building. Huh? My head feels, heavier. Not by much but-

"You're up! Took you long enough!" I look to the side to see Mima… looking like she was snickering at something.

"Onii-chan!" I hear Koishi cry as she crashes into my back.

"Koishi, are you okay?" Man does she have a strong hug. Actually, doesn't she seem to be able to hold me better, and my voice is-

"Umm, about that Onii-chan. It's not that I got bigger." I see that her mind reading is still going strong. "Yeah!" I hear snickering as I look to my left again to find that Mima was about to burst from laughter.

"Okay, what's so funny? What happened… while… I was... out…" My voice… I take my hand to my throat to find… wait my forearm is touching? I look down. I'm wearing a yukata. I take a look insi- "WHY DO I HAVE BREASTS!" I immediately break into a run for the restroom and immediately look at the mirror to find… that's not me. No way! That's not me! no no no no Nonononoonononono! "What the hell happened!?"

The person in the mirror wasn't a blue haired boy that I had come to know as myself. Instead the person that stared back at me, was a girl. She seemed haggard and her red eyes bolted upwards to see long red hair that flowed in beautiful waves. She wore a yukata that clung to her body, revealing a slim, healthy figure, accented by womanly curves that were not too large, but not small either. I place a hand- it's gone.

"No," I said as I knelt down. What the hell is happening? Well, at least I'm pretty. I'd certainly turn my head if it wasn't for the fact that it's me. Can I wear a maid outfit?

"Hey are you okay!?" I hear from the entrance as I stumble out of the bathroom. I find that Yosuke, and the others had apparently come to my room. Why are they…? I look down to find that my Yukata had become disheveled. Oh…

"Hey, stop gawking you pervs!" I heard Chie yell as she shoved the boys to the side and came in with the other girls. "Are you okay? We heard a scream."

"Well, considering what happened to him… I mean her… I mean… this is confusing," Yukiko stuttered through. I guess everyone's just as confused as I am. We sit around the futon that I was resting in.

"Well what do you want to be known as?" Rise asks.

"Um, I guess… whatever. I'm too tired to figure it out right now," I tell them.

"Onii-chan is Onii-chan!" I hear Koishi say. As if a dam had broken, laughter had finally been let out as I look at Mima who was laughing at my situation. She continued to laugh as I notice the three girls give her a sharp look. Well that's just how Mima is. She doesn't mean anything by it.

"Hey what's so funny?" Chie asks in my defense.

"Honestly? The way he squirms when the answer is so simple. The little girl's got it!" Mima clarified.

"You mean Koishi-chan? Though I don't think it's that simple," Yukiko muses.

"It isn't? But Onii-chan is still Onii-chan! He might be a girl now, but he's still him!" Koishi says as she once again hugs me from behind as she floats in the air. I can feel the tug against my hair that got caught under her hug… long hair might be annoying. Maybe I should tie it up with something.

"Hmm… Well, maybe it is that simple. I mean he as a person hasn't changed." Chie notes. Rise and Yukiko look at her before performing some manner of gesture that seemed to indicate that they understood something just now. These are some really nice kids. Though I'm not that much older.

"Huh? This feeling?" I've just noticed that something felt off. I look at my body in an attempt to focus. Ah, that's it. I can still feel her; Ruukoto.

"We… gathered the scraps, but I don't think any of us have the means to put her back together." Rise tells me. "They're over there, in that box." She pointed to a medium sized cardboard box at the side of the room, probably all they could find on short notice. Getting back up, I walked over to it.

"I… see." Various bits and pieces, from nuts and bolts, to pieces of circuit boards, things that looked like misshapen motors, and then… oh… pieces of face, flayed limbs… and… and… "I'm sorry," I say to the scraps as I kneel down and try to hold the box in my arms. "Ruukoto… I'm so sorry…" I say as if the scraps could hear me, but they couldn't. They… weren't working anymore. They might not work ever work anymore. Not even the Kirijo group could possibly repair her to what she was before. She was modified with technologies beyond our time.

"Um… you really cared about her, huh?" I hear Chie comment…

"Yeah…" Though maybe I never really ever did show it. I never was mean to her, but I don't know if I ever did outright say to her that I appreciated her existence. Huh? Something… oh right… I look down at my body once more. That's right. The shrapnel from that thing that looked like the Plumes of Dusk that Elizabeth gave me once, I guess they're still in my body then. Ruukoto? Are you still-

"Well I hate to rush you, but if you're done, we have to head to this shrine in the forest. You'll get your answers there," Mima says to us. "I want to go home as soon as possible." I'm surprised that she even came to help in the first place. But I guess I shouldn't be… maybe in her own way she's rushing us to help me get my answers. I… I can deal with this later… I should do what I can do right now, rather than mull over what I can't do until later…

"I'm guessing Yukari's there?" Mima nods. If there was ever a time I needed to talk to Maribel…

"I've got some spare clothes for you. Take your pick." I turn to see Yukiko showing to me a bag of sorts. I look inside. Well I only have three thoughts. One, do I really have to wear panties? Two, how do I put on a bra? And three, aw… no maid outfit.

Break

The walk through the forest was actually fairly nice. I picked a simple ensemble of summer clothes. Because my options were limited, I went with a simple orange blouse and white skirt that Yukiko had. Though I admit it's a bit tight around the- I hope this doesn't last too long. I also, on the way over, stumbled upon a small store that was still open this late and bought myself a curious hair clip that was in the shape of the roman numeral for 22: XXII. I don't know why I bought it, it just called out to me in a way. It took me a bit of time and some help from the girls to get it in my hair and all tied up. At least my hair isn't getting in my face anymore. Lastly, due to the cool night, despite the summer, I wore a light jacket which kept my various effects. My mp3 and headphones still hung around my neck, and my ring hadn't been moved. I know my skirt has pockets, but… it feels odd for something so fluttery to hold things in it. Also, Koishi continues to grab hold of my back. Luckily, she's floating upwards so it's not heavy, but she's quite grabby. Oh well. It's cute. Oh, she's humming. Wait she can read minds again can't she?

"Well I think you're cute too," she said in a way that would make others think it was quite random. "Oh, they do think it's random!" Well then.

We were led by Mima for quite a while before coming upon a set of worn down stone stairs that led upwards at a familiar angle. The walk had given me time to think about things and calm down. The reason I'm a girl, it's probably Yukari's fault. She's the one who gave me this body in the first place, and it wouldn't be that much of a stretch to say that she could do anything to me. Making me a girl wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. In fact I'm surprised that given her nature, she hadn't done something to my body earlier just to mess with me.

"Finally, the top…" I hear Teddie say. "I couldn't bear to climb any higher!" Groans could be heard coming from the group as we each reached the top of the steps one by one, myself being the last.

"Oh," I say as I take a glance at the shrine darkened by the night. I recognized the shrine. In fact, how could I forget it? It might have been disheveled, but, "The Hakurei Shrine…" or some form of it.

"You know this place?" Yu asked as he and his group took a look around.

"I'm… not too sure," I answer back. It looks the same, save for the varying quality of upkeep.

"I'd heard of the abandoned shrine in the forest. Some tourists every now and then come to try and find it as some sort of rumor or some such." Yukiko commented.

"Well that's nice, but does anyone else notice the lady sitting over there?" I hear Chie ask. "Isn't she the one who showed up at the end there?"

"Oh right, she was the one who changed him into a-" Yosuke replies, clearly also spooked.

"A girl?" Mima finishes in a bit of amusement.

"Yeah," I say as I concentrate my vision. It definitely is Yukari.

"I see you've made it!" Yukari says as she disappears from her spot in front of the shrine to right behind us.

"Whoa!"

"What the?"

"How?"

"Holy cow!"

"Huh…" I heard in cacophonous noise from the rest of the group.

"Good evening! Welcome to the outside world's Hakurei Shrine! I'm Yukari Yakumo, a Youkai!" She proclaimed in proud fashion as she stood proud at the edge of the stairs below the tori of the shrine.

"You have some explaining to do, Maribel Hearn…" I start.

"Oh, not in public dear," she teases. "But, you do deserve some explanation."

"Um…" Rise starts to hum, but Yukari seems to be on top of things.

"Oh, do not worry. I already know all of you. You remember, that right?" She states as pointed at me and from one of my coat pockets, the orb she gave me floated over to her.

"Wait, were you listening in on us with that thing?" Kanji asks, about as perplexed as the rest of them.

"Well, more like seeing everything, but that's essentially correct, so we can skip straight over the dull meet and greet and begin questioning!" Yukari said with a bit of flare.

"Well then I'll begin…"

"Ah ah ah, Mina-chan! Let's save your questions for last. I'll answer them to be sure, but let's get the more mundane questions out of the way," She said while holding her palm to my face. "So, what do the rest of you wish to ask?" Damn, worst part is, is that I can't really do anything. Sometimes I really hate how she can just control my body on her whim. Though like that, one by one, questions were either answered, or avoided. The others asked her questions such as who was she, things about Youkai where we came from, all of which she skillfully answered, but with a bit detachment and lack of detail, in the small parts I did catch anyways. All of it I'd heard before. Mima and Koishi deigned to keep silent. Finally, and surprising me with its suddenness…

"Mina-chan, you have a very strong sense of justice and an almost pathological predilection for helping others," She says to begin with.

"So, what if I do?" I say in response, a bit of haste made from the surprise of being suddenly addressed.

"Well, it makes you… predictable," She answers a bit hesitantly, as if she was letting me in on a closely guarded secret. Give the subject though, it might be. "There's nothing wrong with it inherently, but certainly is it not difficult to discern what your next move would be… given what you've heard."

"What do you mean?" How does it make me-

"I know that you have many things you wish to do in the outside world right now. You aren't the kind of person to sit by if you think you can make the situation better. Not only that, I know you seek to remedy your maid's condition…" She said frankly. Well I guess she does know me well.

"But what does that have to do with making me into a girl?" I ask. My eyes wander, and I notice that everyone was now looking intently at our conversation.

"Tell me... what would you do if a dead person came back to life?" Huh? Oh… oh… "Exactly. Minato Arisato died, and his funeral was held over a year and a few months ago. What would happen if you were to parade as your normal self? I'm sad to say this, but your friends… they've most likely moved on with their lives. While you are most certainly most likely not forgotten, you… no longer have a place amongst them," Yukari spoke with a hint of regret, most likely from having to tell me in the first place. "I also know, that you will fight me as hard as you could to come out here and help people. Since I'd foreseen this, thanks in part to your previous venture into the outside world, I developed this as a counter measure."

"But why a girl?" I ask as I shake off the melancholy that took hold of me from… no… I don't know if I've reconciled the fact of reality that Yukari had just given me…

"Well no one would suspect Minato Arisato's return if he was a girl, right?" Yukari's reasoning had some merit to it. "That and I thought it would be funny." And that's thrown out the window.

"And I'm to assume this is non-negotiable?"

"Precisely! Don't worry. I'll take care of your various relations back in Gensokyou while you're gone." So, that's it!?

"Hold on! Are you sure you can't change me into a male?"

"Nope! Don't want to! Besides, you can wear a maid outfit…" Yukari said. Hmm… that does actually sound ni- Dammit! No! Focus! "I'll change you back once you come home…" One of her gaps ripped out of reality behind her. I could hear various shouts of surprise, but I ignored most of them. Damn, she's leaving! "Oh! By the way, I came up with a name for your new female form: Kotone Shiomi I original thought to use Rin Satsuki, but I wanted to avoid bad omens. Whether or not you use it is up to. Tata!" Before I could reply, she was slowly being swallowed by the gap. Koishi let me go, and, along with Mima, headed for the gap.

"Well this is our ride home," Mima says. "I'll see you when you get back, hopefully as a guy, Shiomi-chan…" She's already using that name…

"Is something wrong with the name? I like it." Well, at least Koishi likes it. Wait…

"Mima! Can you make sure Koishi gets home safely?" I tell them as they're almost out of our side of reality. Mima gives me a sly smile.

"What do you think I'm going to do first? Anything for a friend!" She says with her arms crossed.

"Koishi!" I start but-

"I know Onii-chan! I'll be careful, but promise to play with me when you get back!"

"I will!" I made sure to say before the gap completely swallowed them… They're gone. I'm stuck here now. I mean it's nice to know that they're safe but... "…" Dammit… "DAMMIT!" I said in a shrill, something that weirded me out the moment I finished… okay… breath in … breath out… breath in… breath out… this isn't the worst thing in the world…

"Um, Shimoi-chan… it's not that bad being a girl…" Rise starts. Oh no. Are they really going to use that name?

"I know… but…"

"Well, I can't say I can completely sympathize, but we're here for you if you need help," Yu says, trying to sound as kind as possible. "Also, she said that you weren't the kind of person to sit by if possible. Does that mean that you want to help out our investigation?" I… I suppose that is something important to ask.

"Well, I did have thoughts of helping. I guess that was sort of buried under… other issues," I say, to which they all seemed to understand quite readily.

"Well considering how she just left you here, you don't have a place to stay do you? We have an extra room at my place. If I talk to grandma, I'm sure she'll understand," Rise offers to me.

"Aw… I was going to offer the same…" Chie states in disappointment.

"Well, I'd also offer, but if I do so, you'll probably be put to work. I'm not sure you'd be comfortable working as you are now," Yukiko follows. Yeah, I'm not sure I can act as a girl, let alone using classical sensibilities in my step.

"Um… thanks Rise-san. I think I'll take you up on your offer." I then look to Yu and tell him, "If you don't mind, I'd like to help you guys out. I think I can offer something to the team." Yu simply smiles and holds his hand out.

"We'd be glad to have you."

"Yeah! With you around, taking out shadows will be a cinch!" Yosuke added

"It's reassuring to have someone so powerful on our side, especially another girl, sort of…" Chie said with a cheeky grin.

"I hope we get along," I hear Yukiko say.

"Let's get along, Shiomi-senpai!" Kanji said, a bit stiffly. Yeah, a big softie, just like Shinji.

"Yay! Welcome Boss!" Teddie took his turn to chime in.

"We'll be starting at the same time, Shiomi-chan. Let's work hard together," Rise was last to say. I stare at Yu's hand for only a moment longer as I take it in to my own hand.

"I'll do my best."

"Welcome to the team!" Yu said as he and I gave a single hearty shake.

*CRACK*

Thou art I… And I am thou…

Thou hast established a new bond…

It shalt further stretch your Universe

Thou shalt have our blessing when thou chooses

To create a Persona of the World Arcana…

Break

"Yes, Mitsuru-san I've arrived safely at the location. I've also completely moved in to the designated home that you've provided for the mission. Yes, I'm slated to meet with Shirogane-kun and Dojima-san tomorrow in the afternoon to discuss the case. Of course, though it wasn't our intention, through our attempts to find our thief, it was lucky of us to stumble upon these readings of shadow activity. Of course, I'll be sure to let you know if something happens aside from regular reports. Yes. Yes. Goodbye." I ended the call as I proceeded to get up from the sofa I was sitting in to stretch my legs.

It had been a tiring day of unpacking and arranging my belongings. Though I did not have many personal affects, I still had to make sure that the neighbors didn't get too suspicious of the strangely heavy, metallic sounding, boxes. Thankfully the move had been organized by the Kirijo Foundation, rather than a typical moving company. As such, the need for discretion for moving particular things wasn't as imperative.

"These murders... due to their suddenly stopping, we'd have normally ignored it as a simple possibility. However thanks to needing to perform thorough reconnaissance we found strong indication that heavy shadow activity is indeed occurring here." I went through the events aloud by myself as I reached the window as a means to refresh my memory. "I wonder if we'll find our thief here as well. If we do not find the perpetrator soon, we may never retrieve his belongings." It hurt to think that we'd lost his things. First him, then his possessions, it was quite a blow to everyone.

Yukari was especially angry, but, contrary to her youth, she calmed down and seemed to accept that there perhaps was not much she could do. Though still upset, she was patient enough to wait for further news. Fuuka as well, was quite downtrodden that his things went missing. Apparently she had gifted him a pair of custom head phones. In fact many of his possessions were gifts from others. Mitsuru still poured a significant amount of our resources to find his missing things. Thinking about him… it still hurts… but I made a promise that I intend to keep. Opening the window, I felt the rush of the cold night air. It had been dusty inside. Had I been fully human, this would most likely be very refreshing. In the distance I could hear a group of teenagers conversing with one another, though they were not in sight. However as soon as I began to hear them.

"Huh?" I felt something swell within my chest. It feels so familiar. "What is this?" I asked as I placed a hand on my chest. I know this feeling. I remember this feeling, the first thing I felt when I woke up on the island. "This feeling… it can't be… Minato?"


Author's Notes:

I said I'd have something out by now, and there it is, the chapter I wrote over 3 years ago is finally posted. Though heavily edited since I used some really stupid wording in the story back then. Man, I was dumb 3 years ago, but learn ned the Anglish Gud I did. I got gud, hopefully. Anyhow yeah, now's the time for the focus to switch back to the Persona side of things, after so many chapters almost exclusively focused on Touhou. It was a long time coming, but it seems most people didn't mind. Now to see how Minato, I mean Kotone, tries to deal with this. Don't worry, P4 fans, the plot doesn't completely derail, thanks to his… her… presence. I haven't been this confused since I read Houseki no Kuni, and played BBCF against my friend's Mai.

So first off, I decided to use the stage play name for the Female MC… because yeah if you didn't know there was a stage play adaptation of Persona 3. Fun fact, the person who played Kotone Shiomi in the stage adaptation was Kana Asumi, who I mostly know as the seiyuu for Blanc from Neptunia. It's the closest thing she has to an official name, since Atlus refuses to acknowledge her existence otherwise. For understandable reasons sure, but still. Otherwise I was tempted to use Makoto Yuki, since that's actually a viable female name, but everyone knows that because half of the Persona fanbase and their disappointed mothers had Makoto for their Waifu in 5. I was a weird one who picked the pink poodle puff instead.

To address the elephant in the room. My main reasons for turning Minato into FeMC: 1, I thought it would be funny, and 2, I needed a decent way for him to walk around in Japan without causing a massive stir with his return, and 3, I thought it could be really funny. Just want to get that out there, in case some were wondering. And I'm not going to write more on that explanation, for fear of retaliation, and my sanity, because lordy am I not equipped to tackle the topic further, other than some basic, that's not how girls work jokes.

Also, I feel bad that I developed Ruukoto some more, only to kill her right after. Yeah that's kind of why I needed her chapter, but I forgot until the very last minute. Oops. I wanted to avoid that kind of stuff, but hey at least maybe it surprised some of you. Also yeah, when I realized what Koishi's power was, and remembered what Personas are… it kind of made me go: She's broken in the Persona universe. She's basically god to them, practically speaking. Luckily I have the excuse of, Youkai need to stay in Gensokyou, to keep her from completely ruining shit. But yeah, this had been a long time plan. Also I wonder who else in the Persona universe had embedded pieces of Plume of Dusk?

So yeah, aside from that, I'm going to take a break after this to try and suss out more details on what exactly I want to do, because I sort of stopped planning for what's supposed to happen after this. I have broad strokes. I have moments I want to hit, but not any concrete details like I usually have when I write. Planning is important for stories. But it should be easier now that I have P4 to use as a guideline… a guideline I do not remember very well now thanks to it being years since I last touched P4. Don't worry though, the Touhou side is still going to be prominent, but not the focus. I'm trying to reach a balance in the later chapters.

Also lastly, I'm going to go through and edit some of previous chapters now. I'm not going to make a big announcement or anything each time I do it, but it's mostly just going to consist of fixing grammar mistakes, changing the Breaks, into something better, like the ones I do in my more recent fics, maybe rewrite an awkward line here or there, but it won't be George Lucas, Han shot first, levels of rewrites, so don't worry about that. So yeah, hopefully if you come back to read it down the line, it won't read like total trash by then.

But until that time, what did you guys think? Leave a review and tell me how much of a failure I am and how I should KYS and other mean acronyms. Or maybe you actually liked it. All the same, if you find something bad, don't hesitate to let me know. I already work with QAQC on stuff, so I'm used to it. I love to hear you guys' feedback. Regardless, I hoped I entertained you all the same. As always, thank you for reading, and have great day. Now to get on the rest of my other fic in the mean-time along with those mass edits. See you guys next time!