Chapter 57 / Illusion

? October 25th, 2011 / Evening ?
Kayane's House

Huh? Where was I? I blinked as I found myself in the last place I expected to be. My room, at home in Inaba. This wasn't right, I know that isn't where I should be. No, the last thing I remembered was... singing? Someone singing to me. It wasn't Rise, but something that looked like her. Yeah, that was it. My Shadow was using a Shadow version of Rise. One that had been created to use against us in that whole fiasco with Kagutsuchi. The Shadow that was supposedly mine had gathered them to use. He had stolen from another beings plan and those were the ones with him. But, why was I here? Why my room? I had been in the studio... with the members of Kanamin Kitchen.

The lights were off in my room. I went to the light switch and flipped it, but nothing happened. The power was out? Something about this felt familiar to me. I look down to see that I'm wearing pajamas. Black bottoms and a long sleeve dark blue shirt. I crossed back over to my desk and picked up my phone. October 25th? That can't be right. It should be July. October was shortly after I had fallen into the TV and the others had rescued me. I don't understand. How was I here right now?

"Senpai... you in there?" the voice of Rise came from the other side of my door.

Wait, I remember this. This was the night of the storm, the first time that she had stayed over at my house. She was over to practice for our culture festival performance, but when the storm started and the power went out it was decided she would stay the night. She even took a bath and changed into some of my clothes as she had none to change into for herself.

"Yeah... come on in, Kujikawa," I spoke but it wasn't really me saying it. I mean it was me, but I hadn't tried to talk. Just what in the hell is going on? Is this just a memory? But why this one? This shouldn't be possible. Yet my movement and actions followed that memory, it was as if I was just a passenger along for the ride.

The door slid opened and standing there was Rise. Even in the dim candlelight I could only think of how beautiful she was. Yeah, I definitely remember this night. I had lent her a pair of my boxers and a shirt for her to change into. How could I have forgotten this sight? Yet I hadn't thought much of it at the time. I was just going along with the flow then. Trying to improve my life by not hiding away. That was until she came into my room that night.

Standing before me was a scene that many of her fans would pay an arm and a leg to just get a glimpse at much less experience. She stood there, her hair down, still slightly damp, a stark difference to her usual pigtails. Wearing a black pair of boxers and a long sleeve black shirt of mine and was clearly a bit big for her. She walked in and I could only steal glances at her while trying to convince myself to look away. She was looking around my room so casually. The girl I had listened to, had comforted me with her music was standing in my room. At that time I found it hard to keep my composure.

Rise seemed to take note of all the things I had, which wasn't much. I barely spent time in my room. Most of it was spent in the music studio and I guess I just didn't have the same interests as others. She seemed to be looking for something in particular. There wasn't anything of interest to find in my room though.

"Looking for incriminating evidence, Kujikawa?" I found myself asking as even my body seemed to automatically turn and taking a candle, placing it by the window and lighting it. I had probably set up too many candles in my room at the time. But, what was with this? Was I just a spectator? But I was able to control my actions before she came in, did her coming in cause the memory to take control? I was here because of them right? My Shadow was forcing me to see this. But why?

"Do you have any? No dirty magazines hiding under your futon or in your closet?" Rise was teasing me. I guess if it was any normal guy it might be considered normal. Pornography or at least some visible interest into the object of their attraction. Rise knew less about me then, only the bare minimum of information about what had happened to me as a kid. Not all the details or even just how much it had affected me. Teasing me was also her flirting with me, I just was trying to get through the night. Hoping to learn more about why they had even come to rescue me. Even after all this time it was hard to consider they would put so much effort to save someone they didn't know.

I suppose this was an aspect that was hard for me to truly understand. I knew why I wanted to protect them. But that feeling came over time, when I became close to them and we faced against Shadows. But if it had been me, and I knew someone was trapped in the TV world and they were a complete stranger, I'm not sure I could ever make the decision to save them. To risk so much for no reward? Maybe I could do it now. But I would still hesitate to put in so much danger for a stranger.

"Close the door behind you," my voice was impartial and dismissive of her teasing. I was just a spectator as those words had come unprompted by me. Rise did so and closed the door, and instead got a full view of a poster of herself. I hadn't even thought about the fact that it was there. Since when would I ever have to worry about the actual Kujikawa Rise coming into my room? Yet the one and only Risette was standing in my room and in my clothes. I had barely believe it was possible then. I constantly doubted it now.

She turned towards me and was biting her upper lip. The expression she had on her face was hard to decipher. Was it that surprising to her that I had a poster of her? My body acted on its own and sat at the table of my room, sitting on my knees as I grabbed a notebook that was on it and a pen and opened it, skimming the pages. That's right, this was my lyric notebook. Despite how uncomfortable I was spending time with Rise then, it had also inspired me to write a new song. Because there were feelings I needed to get out. Feelings I didn't understand at the time.

"What 'cha doin'?" Rise took this opportunity to sit next to me. Wait, huh? I'm positive that at the time she sat across from me. The next moment she reached over and took my hand, my body froze, I wanted to pull away from her. Something about this felt horribly wrong. This wasn't what happened.

"Kujikawa, what are you-" I started to speak but she used her other hand to put a finger to my lips, and for some reason I stopped. As if I couldn't defy her. My body started to react, beginning to shake from her being too close. I wanted to move away from her, but I couldn't. The anxiety was overwhelming my mind.

"-Shhhhh. Senpai," her voice at a whisper but seductive, lustful. "Do you know how hard it is to hold back? Do you know just how sexy and desirable you are? Or how much I crave to run my hands over you, to feel you under my own skin? But I'm supposed to hold back for your sake. To wait until you're ready for it. You selfish prick."

This is wrong. This isn't what happened! This isn't Rise! Despite me knowing this, her appearance and voice matched Rise. I was having a difficult time convincing myself that it wasn't really her. This wasn't right. I attempted to move again, but no matter how much I struggled, my body didn't respond. What my body did do was shake, clearly reacting negatively to her touch, but she simply ignored it. No, if anything that reaction spurred her to move closer.

This fake Rise leaned against me, catching my earlobe between her lips briefly and kissing below my ear on my neck and then running her tongue along the outside of my ear. "Who do you think you are?" her voice a whisper in my ear, sending shivers down me that only served to drive my reaction further in a negative way. I needed to get away from her, to push her away! "I can have anyone I want and you react this way to me? I will teach you to crave this touch, to want me so much you'll beg for me to be close to you. You belong to me, Senpai. Every single inch of you."

After those words I could feel her kissing my ear and neck, each one causing my body to react without permission. My body shook from her touch, not wanting it, needing it to stop, but it didn't. I couldn't move against her, couldn't fight her off. Instead I felt her hands reaching over my body, again and again, before her hands gripped the hem of my shirt and pulled it up to reveal my bare chest. My scars, cuts and evidence of the abuse I had taken from my Uncle all those years ago laid bare to her. Somehow she managed to get my body to comply to her as she freed my shirt from my arms and tossed it aside. Taking a moment to look over the abuse I had sustained in my life.

She ignored it and instead grinned, "All of this, belongs to me." She place her hand against my chest. She leaned forward, pushing me onto the floor of my room. Her voice dropping to a whisper, "Fight if you want, but by the end you will follow my every desire."


July 27th, 2012 / Late Afternoon
YU's POINT OF VIEW

This is incredibly creepy... I mean I understand that this is likely an atmosphere that is adhering to the stage this was meant to be for but something was definitely off. And judging by everyone else here with me, they looked like they were feeling the same thing I was.

"This is a very different look compared to the last place..." Yukiko stated as we found ourselves looking to a massive clown face, with an open mouth that served as a doorway. The door was more of a gate and held a sign that clearly read Welcome to the Circus.

"What is this? Why is it modeled after some weird circus?" Yosuke was definitely creeped out.

Chie, oddly, was calm about it and observed the surroundings, "The TV world changed according to the mind of whoever appeared on the Midnight Channel. If there is Shadows around and we can call on our Personas then maybe the Midnight Stage works in a similar fashion..."

"If that's true then we might see similar circumstances here. Violence might not be allowed but psychological damage seems to be fair game. Especially if this place works to amplify expression, possibly emotion," I spoke up after a few moments contemplating the words of my companions. This meant the dangers here were likely more impacting than it would be otherwise. Sure, physical pain was one thing, but thinking logically it was easier to get over. But things that affected your mind stayed with you for much longer. Something Kayane knew more than any of us. And why we couldn't waste our time here.

Our conversation was quickly interrupted by the eerie voice from before, "Hmhm... Welcome to Uesugi Tamami's Midnight Stage."

The gate was still open, that likely wasn't going to last long. I only spared the others a glance before the four of us took off in a dead sprint and sliding in through the open gate before it slammed shut behind us.

"Are you truly so eager to see Tamami perform? Though it will be wonderful as she becomes the Tamami everyone wants-a true star-shining brightly at our eternal concert," the eerie voice taunted us.

Just as I had seen before with Rise and Naoto. The ribbons worked by brainwashing... or something similar. I imagine what was happening had to do with the Shadows. Thinking of it logically might provide a better explanation. We know that Shadows are created from people, and they made up the audiences for this Midnight Stage. That ribbon was then connected to all of the Shadows and then the intended target. It had to be Shadows familiar with the target, right? Especially if these Shadows were actually people that had fallen into comas after watching the video on the LMB festival website at midnight.

It all fit.

"What is it, Yu?" Yukiko had likely noted the look on my face. It seemed the eerie voice had lost interest, despite us getting in further than it likely wanted.

"Those ribbons, I'm pretty sure they force the targets to become what people see them to be. Specifically the unified thoughts of the Shadows," I gave my theory. Wasn't much proof to it at the moment but it was better than having nothing to work off. Plus I felt confident that my hunch was on the money.

"I see, it lines up with what Naoto-kun was saying too," Chie nodded.

"What about the Shadows then?" Yukiko asked.

"I think, they were brought here," I answered looking to my girlfriend. Her eyes widened and moved next to me.

"So related to the rumor about the website then..." Yukiko realized that there was a lot more lives at stake if it was true.

"Hmmm... Let's say they're from inside the TV. You'd think Teddie would've noticed their presence first thing, right? Or Rise even?" Yosuke brought up a good point. "But if it's not the TV they came from, that'd mean there could be Shadows... anywhere."

"Uh, first off, where even is here? This definitely isn't the TV world," Chie side glanced at her significant other. "Teddie said that much. But come on, we met people that had dealt with Shadows before. They've been around a long time so they of course have to be in a lot of different places for there to be an organization created to deal with them."

"Yeah, that's true," Yosuke looked to me. "This place magnifies expression and feeling. That's what you, Naoto and Rise said."

I nodded, "That voice said that no one hurts, or gets hurt. But I'm pretty sure it is meant to be physical only. After all they are forcefully trying to override how people feel to go with the flow. To be what people want them to be. That is a different kind of pain that no one should ever have to experience."

Of course we did know what that pain was like. We had seen it happen in front of us, day after day. I looked to the ground as his name popped into my head, Ikakure Kayane. All these years he had simply done that. Been what people wanted him to be. Then everything changed for him. He was given a choice, a chance to be himself and be accepted. But we weren't equipped enough to help him, to truly understand the struggle he has every day with his demons. Rise fought with all her might against that onslaught of memories and pain. But it wasn't that easy. They had all underestimated it.

"Speaking of," Yosuke broke through my thoughts. "Who the heck is that voice, anyway? Sounds like they know a lot about this world."

"And what about Kayane's Shadow?" Yukiko brought up.

"What about me?"

Almost as if he appeared at his mere mention. He stood in the path ahead of us. He grinned with satisfaction.

"You," I growled, wishing with all I am that I could beat the shit out of him. "Where is Kayane?"

"As if I would make it so easy. You'll have to rescue the girls first. Then you'll at least get to him," he laughed, amused by our anger and frustration. He was going to abuse the rules of this world every inch of the way. To taunt us and get under out skin. Yeah, that wasn't going to get old real quick.

"No matter what you do, we're going to save him," Chie challenged.

"Save him?" the Shadow shook his head. "We will see." Then just as quickly as he appeared he left.

"Asshole," Yukiko glared.

"Come on, we can't hold up. We should hurry," I urged and started running forward. Attempting to get an idea of the situation wasn't bad but the girls were kidnapped and Kayane was in danger. We couldn't waste time. Fortunately, we had managed to squeeze in through the door before the Voice had a chance to close it on us.

"Look, someone's there," Chie pointing up ahead. A silhouette can be seen as we quickly approach. It's a girl wearing a white outfit, she was one of the girls from Kanamin Kitchen. She looked lost.

"Tamami-san!" I called out as I recognized her as we quickly approached.

"Huh? It's you guys? Narukami-san? Why are you here?" Tamami eyes are surprised more than anything else.

"Dude, awesome... Just like on TV! It's the real Fluffy Hen in the flesh...! Huh? But... why are you in your stage outfit...?" Yosuke stopped noting that the idol was all dressed up for the stage. But it had been so long since she disappeared...

"We were in the conference room after practice with Kayane-san but then... I don't really remember clearly. There was that creepy song, and then something all... flat and slithery wrapped around us, and I don't know what happened, but the next thing I knew, I was here," Tamami was definitely flustered trying to remember. "This doesn't make any sense! Where are we!? And who are you!?"

She only briefly met with the others, but she knew Yukiko and I a bit. So she seemed to at least be slightly relieved at our presence. Still I kept my guard up, we were in enemy territory. And I doubt it would be so easy as to just waltz up and then take her back with us.

"Well, Tamami-san, you already know Yukiko and I but this one is Yosuke and that one over there is Chie. They're friends of ours, no need to worry," I quickly introduced them.

"Yosuke, I didn't realize you were such a fan," Chie muttered through gritted teeth.

"Oh... hehehe," Yosuke had a nervous laugh. "Did I never mention it?"

"Oh its fine, if you want to go all fanboy on her then go right ahead," Chie folded her arms.

"You see, this is why I didn't say anything," Yosuke muttered.

"Yeah, because heaven forbid you actually talk about your interests with me," Chie rolled her eyes.

"I do! I'm pretty sure I mentioned I liked idols! I mean you knew I liked Rise when she had moved into town. It isn't like this is any different," Yosuke defended himself.

Chie then smirked, "You are too easy to rile up."

Yosuke glared at her before he realized what she said, "Hey, that's not cool! I thought you were really angry at me!"

Tamami eyed us all and looked a bit relieved by the interaction it seemed. It must be hard to deal with this environment. Especially when expression seemed to be amplified here. Kayane-senpai, are you doing okay? That fake Shadow of you... what did he want with you? A place like this... it seems too perfect of a weapon to use against you.

The atmosphere around us suddenly changed, and all of us tensed up and readied ourselves for action. I eyed the gate ahead of us. More than likely it was going to close, but making any obvious moves towards it would likely only hasten the action against us.

"Hahaha... I've found you. Oh, Tamami, what a funny girl you are," the eerie voice called out from all around us.

"Well, who do we have here! We won't let you have Tamamin!" Yosuke and the others moved around her to protect her while I carefully positioned myself in a way to get in a good position to make a dash for the gate. It might be a long shot but if I did this right I could stop it from closing and give an opportunity for everyone to get through it. Depending on how this next part all pans out.

"You're still around? Sorry, but it's almost time for Tamami's big performance. Let's go, Tamami... Make everyone laugh, like you always do," the eerie voice called out.

"Wh-Why should I go with you!? Besides, I'm not trying to make anyone laugh," Tamami glared upwards as the voice seemed to come from all around us and so it was hard for her to know where she should direct the voice.

"Oh, I know... You're just working hard, always trying to do your best. But it's a funny thing, isn't it? The harder you work, the farther away you seem to push everyone," the eerie voice pushed. This got an immediate reaction.

"F-Funny!? How dare you! I-"

"It's alright... I understand your pain. If you connect with me, you won't have to suffer at all," the eerie voice called out. Then I saw it, the gates moving to close. I launched myself at them and in a quick decision I summoned Izanagi and halted the shutting of the gates.

"Don't be fooled by that nonsense!" I yelled as I noticed Shadows starting to gather. "That voice is just trying to trap you here! To make you throw away all your hard work!"

"Narukami-san?" Tamami was in awe of my Persona, no doubt. It was hardly believable, but then again neither was this whole situation.

"Yu!" Yukiko was at my side and helped keep the gate open. Chie and Yosuke were quick to add their own support.

"Quick! Everyone through the gate!" I called out, looking to Tamami.

"R-right!" she moved and squeezed by and then all of us one by one moved through the gate. The moment I released my Persona the gate slammed shut.

"You all think you know Tamami? No one likes pain or suffering. You are only causing more unnecessary problems. But continue to resist all you like. You'll see how much you don't understand Tamami's true feelings," The eerie voice was clearly not happy with how we had managed to get past another trap. Because of the rule of no violence there wasn't anything that could be directly done to us, but it didn't mean we couldn't attempt to escape. As long as we could keep our mind our own then there was nothing the voice could do.

"You guys... you all acted without... why go to so much effort for me?" Tamami looked to all of us.

"Why wouldn't we?" I looked to her seeing a swirl of emotions in her eyes. That music was playing. I could see it... it was affecting her.

"I could never do something like that... to just be so honest with my own..." her eyes glazed as she stepped away from us. Something about our actions and the music here was getting to her.

"Do you see now, Tamami? They'll only hurt you. You're not like them. They can't save you," the eerie voice spoke.

"No... I... I need to be number one... The best... Or else, my place... M-My purpose..." Tamami was being swayed by the music.

"Tamami-san! Stay calm!" I tried to break through but I could feel that it was not going to work.

The yellow ribbons erupted from further down the pathway and wrapped around her. I reached out to grab her but she was pulled from my reach as I could hear Tamami scream from the sudden movement and it dragged her into the distance.

"Dammit! What the hell was that!?" Yosuke stepped forward.

"We can't 'save' Tamami-san? What did that voice mean?" I shook that off.

"Later! We have to hurry!" Chie said as she took off in a run. All of us followed suit. "She wasn't acting normal at all. Tamami-chan is in danger."

All we could do was give chase. In the end we hadn't truly circumvented the eerie voices trap. It had been too long and so, the grip on Tamami's mind was more than enough to capture her again. And to do so in a way that we couldn't quickly retaliate. Instead we had to go forward right to whatever trap that could be ahead. None of these girls should have to go through this. This place, reminded me too much of the TV world. However the influence here was different, if not more potent in some ways. The main power was one of expression, which means in order to counter it we had to lay ourselves bare, to express ourselves with all of our heart. Hesitation or anything else would weaken our ability. We could only do this because of what we had gone through. We know we can't hold anything back.

We didn't know these girls enough. Only the briefest interaction before was hardly enough to know them. And in the depths of this place was one of our own. Kayane-senpai. I had faith we could rescue them all, but what concerned me most was what state would Kayane be in when we got to him?

We moved as fast as we could, the path a twisted number of colors and confusing pathways like that of a circus. This all led to a giant tent. One that all of us couldn't help but be confused about, as it was like that of a real circus tent.

"Is Tamamin really here?" Yosuke asks as we all came to a stop.

"I see here! Over there." Yukiko quickly points.

In the center of the ten, Tamami stands, and as if on cue a spotlight appears on her. She is talking, "Shut up...! I'm going to be the best! The number one idol in the industry! Do you have any idea how much I've done? How hard I've worked for that...!?"

The eerie voice was laughing, "True, you've put a lot of effort into realizing your goal. But is that what YOU really want?"

"Huh?" Tamami looks around trying to find the source of the voice.

"You just want to be accepted. All your life, your famous actress of a mother and your beloved father have told you to be a star," the eerie voice said. This sounded too much like the Shadows of the TV world.

"How could you know about that!?" Tamami's eyes were in a panic. She looked to us. realizing we might have heard it.

The eerie voice just laughed more, "I know everything about you. And I know how badly you're hurting inside. You've been trying hard for them, but you're well aware that you'll never live up to your mother's image. Or even Kanami. And since you're not the best, no one is going to accept you. No one will ever love you. Poor Tamami."

"Stop... Stop it, stop it, STOP IT!" Tamami shakes her head vehemently, she stumbles back before crouching down, trying to reject the words being said. But the words and music drilled it more into her with each passing moment.

I see, so this voice is similar to the Shadows of the TV world. But unlike there it isn't looking for freedom but to integrate people into the Shadows. As it had said before... to 'connect'.

"Tamami-san!" I called out to her.

"Look... They've come for you, Tamami... Stronger, more talented people, here to 'save' a helpless little girl. Yes... I know that you aren't strong. You don't really want to be the best," the eerie voice drove further its point. At this rate, we couldn't stop it. "It's alright... Don't kill yourself over something you're not. People want you just the way you are. Just listen for yourself. Listen to everyone's voices..."

Then the atmosphere became more potent as voices flooded in.

"Tamamin doesn't need to be number one. Her looks are pretty average, but she's still decently popular. Who cares if she doesn't sell that much?" A voice, seemingly ordinary could be heard.

"So, this is how it affects people," I shook my head.

"Yu, there has to be some way we can get through to her," Yukiko grabbed my hand briefly.

"I know, right? As long as she's fun to watch, I'm totally fine. She's kind of a natural airhead. All she needs to do is make us laugh sometimes," another voice added in.

"I don't want her to break out or anything... I'd prefer she just kept being the group's comic relief." the next voice replied.

"I heard she does a ridiculous amount of training on her own, but why? She won't lose her job as long as she keeps people laughing, don'tcha think?" the other voice replied back.

"Ah... I..." Tamami's eyes widen, tears threatening to fall.

"See, Tamami? You don't need to go to such trouble. No one expects it. Won't you accept these people's desires? You can leave your days of pain and hardship behind," the eerie voice pushed her over the edge.

Suddenly, Tamami shook her head and the expression she had was one of... acceptance. "I see. I never needed to work hard..." Then the next moment ribbons fly from all sides and wrap around her, lifting her up into the air. There was nothing we could do because of the rules of this world. We didn't have a choice.

"I see, so you get them to accept the role that society has pegged them in. But you show them a one sided view," I found myself angry for so many reasons. To be manipulated by a stacking of only certain facts. And it was amplified here in the power of this world.

"I don't care anymore," Tamami muttered, hanging from the ribbons. "If that's what everybody wants... I might as well take the easy way." The ribbons wrap around her further, like a cocoon and a black mist appears, and moving around her body.

"What the hell!? Dude, this looks bad!" Yosuke, like all of us, is eager to act but we don't know precisely what we can do.

"Now you can become the Tamami everyone wants. Now that you are connected," The eerie voice spoke.

The black mist condenses and takes form around Tamami... and as it starts to solidify... a new voice could be heard. A laugh, like Tamami, but different... like a shadow. "Yes, it feels great! This is the me that all the people love! I'm totally fine with this. Everybody will accept me now! And all I had to do was forget about myself!"

A clown outfit, a balloon like body that's easily over two meters in height with a giant face drawn on its stomach. This creature stands where Tamami was just a moment ago. Then the stands in this tent that had been empty a moment ago are filled with Shadows connected with ribbons. Likely the ones we had evaded from the previous room. But because we were here for Tamami, the voice knew we couldn't get away from it. That damn song played louder and louder now.

"I've had enough of this! Throwing your feelings away, pandering to people so they'd like you!? There's no point in that! People should be proud of you for training like crazy-for fighting to make yourself even better! I know you know that, Tamami-chan! And I'm not going to forgive anyone who doesn't respect hard work!" Chie outraged yelled out to the new form of Tamami. Chie stepped forward without hesitation. Even if she hadn't been one for dancing she easily took center stage now. It made so much sense. Chie worked so hard for the things she has done in her life. I would say her relationship with Yosuke was proof of that. I know that the main thing that Yosuke was attracted to was Chie's hard work and never giving up. "There's lots of things I hate about myself. I tried to hide them, worried that people might not like me. But everyone here saw me inside and out, and they accepted me for who I am! That's why I'm with them now. All the important stuff that everyone taught me. I'll get it through to you, Tamami-chan!"

"Yeah, Chie! Knock 'em dead!" Yosuke grinned.

"Chie-senpai, I heard everything," it was Rise. She connected all of us with her power.

"Rise-chan! It's kinda embarrassing, but I'm not backing down. Cue it up... I'm going to show her what my hard work has gotten me," Chie didn't hesitate.

"You got it. I'm cranking it up, so show us that fancy footwork," Rise said as the next moment music could be heard from all around us. Truly, Rise's power was completely suited for this world.

The song started, an upbeat one. One I hadn't heard before. Was this another song from Synchronicity? Chie was probably the most athletic of all of us, so it wasn't surprising to see just how active she was in her dance. She used the full amount of room of the stage as she moved with the music, adding in kicks and jumps to add flair to the ongoing beat. Before long the Shadows couldn't ignore it, and they all got swept into it. Yosuke couldn't help himself and jumped in to dance with his girlfriend. And seeing the two of them together was something magical in itself.

The two of them argued a lot. They both had strong personalities but it was also because of this that made their relationship so strong. They weren't afraid to express themselves. They weren't afraid of facing their problems head on. There was an affection between them that just couldn't be matched by just anyone. A part of me could easily be jealous of that connection. Yukiko and I definitely had our own strengths but they were different. We're all different after all.

Nothing was easy though, it took effort and hard work to accomplish anything. But when you did, there was a satisfaction and happiness that came with it that couldn't get anywhere else. Sure, you could just do as you are expected. Do just enough to satisfy those around you. After all, other people don't usually have high expectations for others. But you would be doing yourself a disservice by being okay with that. And that was what Chie was conveying through dance to Tamami.

The clown like monster that had come from Tamami let out a scream and writhes. Awakened by Chie's dance, its voice is gradually turning back into Tamami-san's. When it finally breaks down, the monster crumbles away, and only leaving Tamami-san, standing there, hanging her head. No longer bound by the ribbons, she needed to face reality, of what she truly wanted.

"Tamami-chan!" Chie called out and rushing towards her.

"I... What? Oh, that's right..." Tamami looks to the ground. "I guess I really blew it there."

"Eh, no biggie, right?" Yosuke smiles with a shrug and winks at Tamami when she looks up to him.

Chie puts a hand on her shoulder, "What's important is that you get it now, Tamami-chan"

"Oh man. I thought I did everything I could, but I didn't realize I had so much to learn," Tamami grimaced as she shook her head. I could only imagine how much she had gone through to get to where she is now in the business. It is a ruthless arena after all. You can't just be successful with talent alone. You have to take care of your body and so much more just to keep up with the busy schedule. Sometimes you probably get lost in that grind. It looked as if Tamami definitely had. However, I could see a new resolve settle in her, "I'm going to stick to my extra voice training, and all the dance lessons. No matter what anyone else thinks, I won't give up. I'll keep at it so one day, I'll be able to express my real self to those people I heard. Thank you so much, Chie-san. And the rest of you. Narukami-san, Hanamura-san and Yukiko-san."

"Ah, come on. You don't have to be so formal. You can call me Yosuke," Yosuke grinned.

"Anyway," I spoke up. "I know you can do it."

"BUT! I'm still gonna be number one! No more helpless little girl, ever. From now on, I'm the one doing the saving. It'll be exciting! Dramatic! Like I'd suddenly appear and save a puppy caught in a storm drain," Tamami says proudly.

"Hey... You think she knows this kind of stuff is why people think of her as the goofy one?" Yosuke whispers too loud to Chie.

"Don't ask me!" Chie glares.

"You guys, I'm standing right here! I'm an idol! A very serious, very professional, non-comic relief idol!" Tamami puts her hands on her waist.

But as she does something happens. The next moment a thick metal door appears, from thin air.

"What the!?" Chie stumbles back but Yosuke catches her.

"Careful, you'll trip," he helps her.

"Right," Chie gets up but grabs his hand.

"Where do you think it leads?" Yukiko steps towards it, her natural curiosity getting the better of her.

"Wait, is this... the door to our dressing room? Oh, it totally is! It's got the same scratch right across here," Tamami points to a mark that is near the handle of the door. Yeah, there is no mistake. But why here? "It's the one at Takura Productions. It's the same one we always use when we have a recording session or something."

It's similar to the door to the practice room we used with Rise. No reason to doubt Tamami. "Let's go take a look inside. We might find out something." I move forward and open the door and we all go inside. What we find is what you might expect. A dressing room, but there is an eerie red light coming in.

"It's a tiny bit different, but this is the Takura Productions dressing room. I'm sure of it," Tamami confirms as we all take a quick look around.

"I don't sense any enemies around. I think we might be safe here," I look around just in case but my words let everyone relax. Considering how we have been on high alert since we've arrived I'm not surprised. Still its only been an hour or so. And at least we've saved one so far. But there was no telling what could happen moving forward.

"We can't hear that song here," Yukiko says from next to me. "This place is different from the places we've been so far."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Almost makes me forget we're in another world," Yosuke scratches his head while Chie leans against him. She must have worn herself out with that dance.

"What is this?" Tamami speaks up and I turn to her, seeing her eyeing a piece of paper that looks to be taped up to the mirror.

"A note? Does that mean someone was here before us?" Chie asked.

I approached it and looked at it before taking it from the mirror. I shook my head, "No, this is more like a diary entry. The pressure from everyone is crushing me. No one really knows me-I don't have any bonds with anyone. I don't want to sing. I have no right to sing that song. It hurts so much. I feel like I'm suffocating. I want to disappear. I'm too weak even to stand on my own. I just wish I could connect to someone. To have a bond to support me." I finished reading it but looked over the words again.

Connect, bond... those were words that eerie voice had used. If this had been the TV world then I would equate this place to be connected to that. But how did this world even form? And what event could be so powerful as to make a world that had this kind of power. The power here sought to do just what this note wished it could have. Whoever wrote this wanted to be connected, wanted to be supported. So had they not been? Had they truly been without support?

"Why is this here? This isn't the real world. How can it be here?" Yukiko echoed questions that were in my head.

"That voice out there kept telling us and Tamamin to get connected, right? And then there's this note and the idol who committed suicide... I dunno, but I'm getting the idea that it is all..." Yosuke thought out loud.

"Nuh-uh!" Chie hits Yosuke's arm. "You know I can't handle that stuff!"

"An idol... who committed suicide?" Tamami repeated that fact. Did that ring a bell?

"Everyone, are you alright?" Rise's voice connected with us again.

"We saved Tamami. How are things on your side?" I answered.

"Wh-What the!? What's going on!? Oh no! Now I'm hearing voices? Rise-senpai's in my head!" Tamami's eyes widen.

I scratch the temple of my head, it wasn't like it was easy to explain the whole deal of Shadows and Persona to someone. But its hard to not explain it to someone who was in the middle of a situation like this. Tamami was only reacting like anyone would.

"Don't worry, it's like a phone. It's harmless," Yukiko spoke up.

"O-Oh... R-Really?" Tamami seemed to accept that, thankfully.

"We just saved Sumomo," Rise answered after a moment.

"Are you doing okay, Rise?" I ask her pointedly.

"I'll be better when we save Kayane," she didn't hide her frustration. "We're about to move out here. But the place you're in right now, it looks like a dressing room, right?"

"What about it?" I replied.

"I think it'd be best to leave Tamami there to rest, instead of moving on ahead with her," Rise said.

"Wha- Why? I don't want to stay here on my..." Tamami then had to steady herself on the nearby table. She looked like she just had a dizzy spell. "I feel really tired all of a sudden."

"You were in here for quite a while before we could get here. This place will drain your strength just by being here," I say as she sits down in a chair.

"You were thinking the same thing, I see," Rise sounds relieved. "It would do more harm than good if she kept moving with you."

"Is it safe here? What if Shadows pop up again while we're gone?" Yosuke asks.

"This isn't exactly like the TV world. Plus these dressing rooms don't even have any residual Shadow presence, I think they are safe. But I can keep an eye on them in the meantime. We have to keep moving forward," Rise was eager, but she was right. We needed to keep moving and this was likely the best option. "Also Ochimizu-san is fine. She is basically ignored by the Shadows here for some reason. Anyway, we're going to keep moving. You guys shouldn't wait long."

"Got it. We'll meet you at the rendezvous point like planned," I confirmed before Rise's connection was gone.

"Don't worry, I'll stay with her," a new voice entered and the next moment the woman known as Ochimizu-san entered.

"You need someone to stay in order for you to move on, right? So, I'm saying I'll stay," Ochimizu-san glanced at Tamami. "Plus we can head back to Sumomo and stick together. You all need to keep moving. The other girls need your help and... so does Ikakure."

She was worried, and why shouldn't she? Kayane was the son of her good friend. And despite what we have heard there seemed to be a reason why Ochimizu-san had gotten her reputation and most of it seemed to be more for promotional and marketing reasons. Everything I had seen from her so far had been in support to that. Something about this situation was off though. Also if Kanami was targeted originally then there is no reason why she wouldn't get targeted again in our absence. Well, the Shadow Operatives were there so they could protect her.

What was it that we didn't know about this situation? What were we missing? Those questions plagued my mind as we settled and headed out of the room. Hoping to get closer to save the other girls and Kayane.


? October 30th, 2011 / Evening ?
Amagi Inn Balcony

I screamed the moment I was able. My vision was hazy and felt tears coming from my eyes. But my thoughts were a mess. What had just happened? I felt... wrong. It was like I was unclean, tainted by something. Something I had done... or something that had been done to me. But what? Why was it all so hard to recall?

I felt my vision clear up and I look around to find myself on... a balcony? The air was cool and I was sitting on a bench? It was what you would expect to find on a balcony. Wait, this place was familiar. This was the Amagi Inn's balcony. I hadn't been here since... not since after the culture festival. I was alarmed and quickly got to my feet. Maybe I could leave before anything could happen. I approached the railing and put my hands onto it and then tried to pull myself up. But my body refused.

"Ah, here you are, Senpai," it was the familiar voice of Naoto. It was too late. I was now at the mercy of the dream, the memory of a past event. But they were going to change something. I wanted to close my eyes, to turn away from whatever event they wanted to show me. However, my body no longer obeyed me.

"Shirogane? Can I help you?" my voice spoke, unprompted, against my will.

"Everything okay?" She asked me, true concern in her eyes. My body moved automatically to the bench and sat down. Naoto moving in front of me but not sitting.

Again, I began to speak despite me wanting to close my eyes and deny what was happening, "The fact you are leading in to the conversation with that question means you've already deduced as much. Yu has told me a lot about everyone. I didn't realize how completely oblivious I had been to the events in town all this time. I guess I really had given up on living. Well…there is a lot of evidence of that." Right, this had been just a short time after being told the whole truth of the situation. When I was still getting to know everyone.

"We haven't had much time to talk before, Senpai. But I think all of us can at the very least understand how hard it is to try and fit in. Did, Narukami-senpai explain what happened to us with our Shadows?" Naoto looked at me…seemingly unsure of bringing the topic up. This was Naoto trying to make me more comfortable, I'm sure. But the truth was more complicated than that.

"No, of course not. Yu feels that it isn't his place and that if you guys wanted to tell me it would be up to all of you individually," My body shifted against my will and Naoto sat next to me. Wait wasn't something about this different?

"That sounds like Senpai," Naoto smiled briefly. "I spent a lot of time trying to pretend to be a guy. As a detective there just isn't any respect for women… especially one as young as I am. So I… well look at me. Even now I still go on with it. Regardless if I'm okay with who I am, it still doesn't change how the general populace view of law enforcement and having women as detectives."

I remember this conversation, but I was sure that Naoto had sat across from me, not next to me. The scene kept moving as I heard my voice respond. "Still, you successfully deceived most of them for quite a long time. I'm just guessing though."

"No you're right. Maybe some more than others but…" Naoto shrugged. "Like most cases, as soon as the police thought they had a culprit, they were quick to pin the blame and promptly kicked me off the case. Even though I had strong doubts about the one they captured, named Mitsuo."

"Right, Yu said that they had all been convinced that he had been the killer. Even they had been at the time when they went after him in the TV. But you saw something more and developed a theory based on the similar circumstances on not just the murders but the kidnappings as well. At the time you made the connection to the kidnappings that up to that point only Yu and the rest of the Investigation Team knew about. I don't think Yu really specified it though." This conversation, it had been when I was just getting my footing on how everything had happened in the case up to that point. My voice was even inquisitive, wondering, trying to figure out the answers.

"Well it is something we had somewhat explained to you. The target is someone that has recently gotten well known through the media. That I had been able to determine on my own. As I had been pulled from the case I had no choice but to test my theory in order to ensure that the killer was still not at large. Given my reputation as the Detective Prince, I was able to arrange for myself to meet that criteria. Appearing on TV to become more well known through the media. Although I had no idea exactly what would happen after that point. But even though I had been prepared for it, I had been scared out of my mind. Still I couldn't allow the case to be brushed under the rug like it was going to be. Only maybe I had done it for the wrong reason," Naoto sighed. "In the end I found out more about myself than I cared to admit. Things I had pushed far out of my mind. In the end all I ever wanted was to be accepted. That was why I had tried so hard to be a guy. I knew it was the quickest path to acceptance and really it did work. I have acquired quite a bit of notoriety as a result. Though it is only representative of a portion of who I really am." Then out of nowhere, Naoto's hand casually is placed on my leg. I can feel myself freeze up and react to the touch.

"Yeah, I can understand all of that. As for me… I wish it was as simple as being accepted. I'm not saying it's easier but… my problem is a bit…" My voice seemed to not even acknowledge the action that Naoto was taking. What the hell? Was it happening again? Why couldn't I get away? Why was she doing this? No, this wasn't Naoto!

"Your problem is a deeply engraved pathway. When certain motions are done around you, your body reacts as a defense mechanism. It's because of what your Uncle did to you. He didn't just beat you, Senpai. He psychologically hurt you deeply. There are ways in which you can deal with it, but they will take time no matter what you do. And neither you nor Rise-san should feel responsible for what happened at the school," as she said this her hand ventured away from my leg and up my side to my chest, Naoto took a more direct angle towards me and smiled... but one twisted with desire.

"So I react that way… because of him, huh? Even after all these years? Hmm, developmental psychology huh? Why do you know all this anyway?" my voice replied as if nothing was happening. And yet my body began to shake from that proximity and action from Naoto. Again, powerless against this attack on me.

"My studies in psychology, naturally. It's essential knowledge as a detective. It is also possible that your anxiety attacks could be part of your body's defense mechanism that tries to actively prevent those situations." Naoto then stood up in front of me, she was being more direct than before, and despite all of this my body didn't move. My body shook wanting her to stop. I could feel the anxiety seizing my head in response.

"You're saying that my body is… instinctively trying to keep myself at length from people… to even go as far as to force myself to be physically ill? You said that there is ways to deal with it though." my voice remained indifferent to the event happening in front of me. As my body was acting just as I described it.

"It would take significant time and willpower… as well as considerable amount of bravery. Think of it this way… your brain is essentially hard wired to these reactions to keep people at a distance so they cannot have a chance to hurt you as your Uncle did in your past. In order to change this, we have to basically rip out that wiring and create a new foundation. Like I said, it would not be easy… and it would take time. Unfortunately these reactions we build during traumatic moments in our lives are engraved heavily and it could be that no matter how much we try, they will still be there. That doesn't mean it has to continue to control your life, Senpai. I'm sure we can find a way for it to be better," Naoto words and expression didn't match, she straddled my lap and purposely pushed her body against mine.

"You've spend some time on this… haven't you?" I asked in a hushed tone.

"Yes, but what I've said is based merely on observation of your behavior. I am not an expert in the field but from what knowledge I have gained it seems highly likely. I just want to help." Naoto said as once more her words didn't match her actions. She clutched my head and leaned in and licked my lips playfully.

"So, what can I do?" my voice not affected by her actions despite my body shaking more violently. But things changed in the next moment, as different words came from Naoto that she had not said.

"Well you can start by staying away from the attention seeking whore, Rise," Naoto's voice became venom. And more disturbingly, her voice and actions finally synced up together. My eyes widened as my mind fully connected with what was happening. "Honestly, its disgusting. You even have her scent all over you. What was it that caught your attention that I couldn't? Was it her sweet comforting words? Or maybe its that lustful body of hers?"

Naoto then tossed her hat off and undid the front of her blue jacket, and then took it off, "I've spent so much fucking time trying to convince the world I'm a man for some childish dream. So because of that when a man worth my attention shows himself, he get taken by the prettied up hussy. Let me show you how much more of a woman I am than that bitch."

I could do nothing but watch as Naoto stripped off her button up shirt and revealed bandages? It was wrapping around her chest. This was... how she hid she was a girl? She went this far? I didn't realize it had meant that much to her. This isn't how I should find this out. No, this should be something that Naoto would tell only if it was her choice. No, none of this was true, it wasn't the real Naoto. This wasn't real! Even if I can't speak or move, I know the truth!

Words left me as this fake Naoto pulled the wrapping off of her chest, exposing herself to me, Her breast were... "Surprised? I'm bigger than Rise, than any of the other girls. But you chose her. But here... oh here you can't get away. You have no choice but to accept what I want! This is what I need! Do you know the jealousy or the pain I endured because of you? Because you wouldn't look my way. But in this place... you have to endure what I want. What you made me want. I'll have you take responsibility with your body." She took my shaking hand and put it to her breast. "When were done you'll forget all about Kujikawa Rise."


? December 20th, 2011 / After School ?
Yasogami High School Classroom 3-2

Again I found myself screaming before I realized that I was no longer there. Instead I found myself back in Yasogami High, sitting at my desk. It was going to be another one. Another vision. Twisting events that had already happened into something different, something meant to torment me. To show me how much I feared the power the people in my life had on me. I stood up and turned and...

"Still studying Ikakure-san?" Ichide Tsubasa was in front of me. Her dark brown hair and brown eyes and the Yasogami High Uniform was all as I remembered it being. Not far from her was Mitsuragi Saya. I could only imagine what was going to happen now. The rest of the room was empty.

Not waiting I leaped around them and to the door and went to open it but... it refused. I then rushed to the other door, hoping for it to be different but... No... it wasn't going to. I was trapped here. I turned around and faced them as they both had looked at me, as if confused by my actions. "What is it you want from me?"

"Um... Ikakure-san we wanted to talk to you," Saya spoke softly. I think I remember this... it had been a time that I was trying to be better at opening up and talking to my classmates. I had to put effort into improving after all. But this was not then. This was an illusion. It was a lie... they weren't real.

"The three of us have been classmates for a long time... ever since middle school. Saya-chan and I have never once tried to talk to you... and we bought in to a lot of the rumors and other stuff that was said about you... so we never tried to know you," Tsubasa said as she slowly raised her head along with Saya.

"When Risette asked about you, when you were missing, we realized that... you never talked to anyone...and we were part of the problem too. Risette is a couple years younger than you and us but she cared more than we did. We thought about you after that and realized we didn't know anything about you. And when we saw you perform at the Culture Festival... I think that was more than enough to show us how big of a mistake its been to not talk to you." Saya had always been the quiet one, but in this instance she had put effort into talking with me. I was impressed at the time. But... this was different. This was a lie.

I shook my head automatically as part of the preconceived actions of the scene and then spoke with me unable to change it, "It wouldn't have mattered. It wasn't til recently that I... had a breakthrough of sorts. I would have ignored you... or something else to make you not talk to me. Things have been differently lately though."

"It still doesn't excuse the fact that in all these years we never tried to talk to you. Regardless of the outcome, we never tried," Tsubasa shook her head. But both of them then moved me up to the front of the classroom against the desk. Their hands not moving from my body. Again my mind and body wanted to escape, to get away, to yell at them to stop. Why? Why was this happening?

My body no longer reacted to my actions, it now did as it was being told to do as did the words that followed the scene that had happened so long ago. However, my body and the actions of the girl were not lined up with the scene I remembered, "Did you hear what happened in the past? I'm sure there are a few rumors about me still going around about it in Middle School. I had made national news at one point."

"I remember," Saya was the one that spoke. "Your Uncle was arrested for child abuse and neglect. And you were also a key witness in the case of a girls death. You must have been close to her."

"I was," I did my best to try and move, to break myself out from this spell I was under. What could I possibly do to break this cycle? Just what kind of hell had I walked into. Rise! Rise! Where are you!? I... I need you...

"But none of that matters now you know," Tsubasa put a hand up to my face.

"No one else is here. No one is going to come for you," Saya's voice took a seductive and lustful voice I would never expect from her. "I was here, all this time! Before anyone else. I admired you, watched you from afar when you played the piano. I knew how amazing you were. That slut, Rise came in and stole what was rightfully mine!" She became angry and pulled my school jacket off of me. I could do nothing as she did this.

Was this how she felt? Had Saya held such feelings for me? Maybe. It isn't like I ever cared to notice the people around me. Saya had in fact tried to interact with me several times over the years. She'd always been respectful... nice to me. I always received something from her around my birthday. I just, told her to stop. I never thought much of her feelings. I just dismissed it. Is that what these dreams were? Punishment for not acknowledging the people that had cared for me?

Even with that thought I couldn't do anything as both Saya and Tsubasa stripped off my clothes. I was shaking from this, how I could not fight against them. Their hands moved across my body.

"You're more fit that I thought, Kayane," Tsubasa bit her lip as she took in m body.

"We're not going to let you go until I've had my fill," Saya then moved and forced my lips to hers. There was a coldness to this... it was all wrong. No, this wasn't the Saya I knew, even if she might feel this way in real life.

I felt tears leave my eyes. I deserved this, didn't I? I had been so selfish in my life. Not allowing anyone in, and pushing everyone away. Because I blamed myself... because I believed that Miyuki's death had been my fault. What did I know? I ran my whole life. I deserved to be punished, for what I had done to everyone.


A/N:

Okay so... It's been a long time. Understatement, I know. It has been over a year since I updated this, which is precisely the opposite of what I wanted to happen. So much has been happening in my personal life that things have just kind of happened this way. I have been sitting on this chapter for a while but I just had to finish editing it, and well, it isn't perfected and probably could use another revision I just wanted to get this out. See, I'm not dead!

I want to explain part of it, but most of it has to do with my job, getting a promotion, training, and now on the rise of getting yet another one. It can take a lot of my energy out when I get home. But I also had a friend who's Mom got breast cancer, and so for a few months I was helping them. It was a lot of emotional struggle and trying to get myself back into writing has been incredibly difficult. It still is now! But I really am trying. I am going to finish this story, dammit! And believe it or not, we're getting there.

Enough about me. Things happened but here we are. As you can see from the events that have happened here that Kayane is not in the best of places. He's being assaulted on a deep psychological level, using the power of the Midnight Stage to assault him. The Shadow of Kayane is lingering around and will definitely be more prevalent as we move forward.

We have a lot to cover but we're actually entering the end of the story. I know I've said this a few times up to this point and really its my fault this hasn't been more evident because of my lack of posts. So I'm sorry guys! I really want to get through this because I want to get back to the other stories. Not to mention I now have Bitter Fool and my Chrono Trigger story to get to. AND I have to get back to Momento Umbrae's sequel, Momento Reliquum! So much to do!

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and yes, I'm already working on the next chapter! Aiming to get it up much MUCH sooner. Let me know what you guys think!