November 22th

Yu climbed into the SUV as Naoto mirrored his movement to get into the driver's side of the vehicle. His partner had actually slept the night before and looked far more ready to face the day then she normally did. He on the other hand hadn't gotten much sleep as he would have liked, then again it was something he was use to by now. Yu just didn't sleep well most nights. Naoto was the type that needed coffee in the morning and so far just the one cup had sustained her. They were no doubt going to get more coffee at their destination so Naoto was probably waiting until then to go for that precious second cup. Sojiro brewed a good cup of coffee. Even if the shop wasn't the place their person of interest Ren Amamiya was staying the two detectives would still probably frequent the place well in Tokyo.

Yesterday had been a busy, between helping the Inaba crew set travel arrangements and interviewing Makoto Niijima about the finer details of their Phantom Thief exploits it had been a fairly full day. They also managed to do one on one interviews with all of the thieves. It was just down right eerie how close their situation was to the one from their exploits 5 years ago. It was as if history was repeating itself and even Mitsuru was a bit surprised by the similarities.

A report had been sent out last night and when the two detectives woke up Mitsuru had already gotten to reading both reports and sending a reply. The reply a simple a go ahead to continue helping the new set of teens. The head of the shadow operatives just she wanted to kept up to date on everything. Honestly Yu was mildly surprised they hadn't been pulled once all the information about this involving the other world had been confirmed. Mitsuru could have sent a whole shadow operative team but she was specifically holding back on that. Either the shadow operatives were busy with something else or Mitsuru was planning something. Yu gut told him it was the later. Mitsuru was too smart not to have a plan.

Naoto pulled into the familiar back alley way before both detectives got out. Yu stretched and rolled his shoulders before he followed a few steps behind his blue haired cohort. They were arriving early to the small café to check up on Ren before they had a small meeting with Sae Niijima this morning. The meeting was more of a show of good faith to give her their reports as well as a fake report Naoto had drafted yesterday. After all Sae was really putting her neck on the line by letting them take Ren. She gave both detectives the feeling that she was more after the truth then the simple lies that the apparent corruption wanted them to believe, so they were putting their faith in her by offering her information on the other world. Mitsuru approved of course but she was the one that pointed them in Sae's direction in the first place. After the meet up with Sae it would probably be time to pick some of their friends up at the airport.

The gentle jingle of the bell over the door of Leblanc announced their arrival as Sojiro the shop's proprietor glanced in their direction. Naoto moved to take a seat at the counter as Yu scanned the room a bit disappointed to see Ren wasn't down yet, Futaba was however there hiding behind her laptop. The kid had been pretty out of it the last time they spoke. Yu had to wonder if it would still be another day or two before the boy was able to resume his life and possibly start looking at ways to get himself out of his current life or death predicament.

"2 Coffees, black." Naoto ordered.

"Comin' right up." Sojiro nodded before started to get the order ready.

"Think Ren will be able to be up today?" Yu mused out loud as he took a place next to his partner at the counter.

"He should be, he's up right now and should be down in just a moment." Morgana moved across the counter to sit in front of the detectives.

Naoto stared at the cat before her as it sat upon the counter of the café. The cat stared back as if they were both sizing each other up silent. This went on for several long seconds before Naoto reached out rubbing the feline's cheeks and instantly the fierceness the cat had been holding seemed to melt into Naoto's touch. It was at that moment Naoto suddenly put all of her effort into petting said cat. Sojiro placed two coffee mugs down in front of the two detectives as Naoto petted the feline.

"He's so fuzzy..." Naoto reported to Yu with a small smile. "And adorable."

Yu reached for the dark roast coffee Sojiro had prepared for him a few seconds ago and took a long sip. "Kanji is rubbing off on you."

"Perhaps." Naoto deduced; smile fading to be replaced by a cool business like demeanor before reaching up and giving the cat a final scratch. "Thank you for letting me pet you Morgana-san,"

"No problem Naoto-san, you have a surprising soft touch for a hard-boiled detective." Morgana seemed to purr.

"Hopefully we aren't that hard-boiled. Right Yu?" Naoto turned to her partner with a quizzical expression.

Yu took a second to think about it, Dojima was someone he'd call hard-boiled. Then again his uncle had seen a lot but for as many years he had been on this planet so had both he and Naoto. Still he didn't think they fit the stereo typical hard-boiledness they'd probably develop in a few years.

"I think we are safe for now." Yu commented after taking a moment to think.

"REN!" Came a squeal behind the two detectives as suddenly Futaba darted up from her place in the booths and straight towards the teenager descending the stair to the café.

Ren was barely able to brace himself before Futaba flung her arms around him pulling him into a tight hug. Her worry was clear as day to any one standing there and Ren had to smile through the pain in his chest and return the hug. It took a long second before Futaba let go and looked up at Ren, the mist in her eyes spoke volumes to the teen.

"See, I'm fine." Ren tried to reassure his navigator.

"Yeah I knew our plan would work, but still look what they did to you…" Futaba frowned.

Ren put his hand on Futaba's head in an affectionate gesture. "You did a good job. I'd be dead if not for you"

A small smile tipped at the corner of Futaba lips. "Of course!" Her eyes trailed off to the two sitting at counter of Leblanc. "But I ain't the only one. Ren those two are persona users too. They are real monsters. They could of K.O. the whole team if they wanted too"

Ren looked up at the two detectives sitting at Sojiro's counter before he descended down the rest of the stairs to step into Leblanc proper. The soft sound of Futaba mirroring his move down the stairs echoed behind Ren as he stepped up to the two Detective. Now his mind wasn't a muddled concoction of drug and pain Ren got his first good look at the two. Yu turned to meet his gaze, with a hard gaze of his own. It was clear that both of them were sizing up the other. Deep down in his soul he could feel Arsene stir as this feeling of both danger and excitement seemed to mix together as he looked at Yu.

"Ren Amamiya." Ren said breaking the tension and extending his hand a small smirk playing at the corners of his face.

"Yu Narukami." Reached out and shook Ren hand in a firm handshake.

"Geez you two just got something about you, I feel like I watching an episode of dragon ball." Futaba drawled as she slid into her booth at the Café.

"Yeah there is definitely some quality between them. Probably has something to do with the Wild Card." Naoto offered with a shrug before she stepped up next to Yu. "Naoto Shirogane" A hand was extended in Ren direction which he quickly shook.

"You should thank them. If it wasn't for their help you could very well be dead now." Sojiro explained from the other side of the counter. "But I bet you're starving, give me a moment and I'll get some curry ready." With that the old man stepped into the small kitchen and started to cook.

"So who exactly are you?" Ren asked cautiously.

The two exchanged a look before Yu reached for his coffee and sat down. "You're up Naoto."

Naoto paused. "What?! Why me?!" She gave her partner a slight glare before turning to Ren. "As we have already said, we are Detectives. Also Persona users. We were told to investigate what been happening here by the Kirijo group. Anything that concerns that other world seems to concern the Kirijo group. Futaba-chan you said in your interview yesterday that your mother was working on some research regarding Cognitive Psience correct?" Naoto eyes flashed to the hacker sitting at the table.

"Yeah. That was her field of study… All of her research was stolen though." Futaba tone expressed her frustration with the disappearance of her mother's research.

"I know Wakaba was conscripted under the government contract but she had been funded by a private company before then…" Sojiro added. "But everything about her work seemed to disappear shortly after her death and it smelled like a cover-up. They boarded up the lab."

Naoto put a hand to her chin her eyes showing that look of contemplation. "Finding Wakaba's research would be useful but I doubt if Futaba-chan couldn't find it after this long, that information could very well be lost to us… Hopefully it doesn't mirror the work that the Kirijo group did with shadows…" Naoto shook her head no doubt banishing the thought to the back of her head so she continue explaining. "You see this situation seemed to mirror an event that has happened at least two times in the past. A group of teenagers come together to fight in the other world. Reason may differ for why they are there but it's a singularity that seemed to happen. The last time this event happen, we were the teenagers that fought. Our hometown was suddenly the site of two murders and people were getting thrown into the television. We strove for the truth and found it at the feet of almost ruin. A god brought forth by human consciousness wanted the cast the world in fog. We fought and won beating back ruin. That was 5 years ago… Something similar happened to those associated with the Kirijo group, but they lost some people as a result. A great seal to keep humanity safe from their particular ruin was erected but it cost the life of their leader… That was 7 years ago. Anything to add Yu?"

Yu finished off his coffee before leaning back on the stool and looking at Ren. "Along with the teens there is always one that holds the power of the wild card, and is allowed entrance in to the velvet room where Igor and an attendant dwells. Ren you and your friends are fated to keep the world from ruin, well we will help you; but you and your friend are ultimately the ones that need to change this world."

Ren just sat down processing the information before him, his hand going to his head. The words of Igor echoed in his head. This wasn't the first time he heard the world 'ruin.' He had always expected that this whole phantom thief business would lead him to a reformed of society but keep society from ruin? A group of teenagers? Always persona wielders? Just what fate did he stumble upon? Who was Igor? Looking up, his attention turned towards Morgana. So far all their information about that other world had come from the cat.

"Morgana..." Ren started as he quickly regained his composure.

"This is all new information for me too…" Morgana looked down his ears pinning back to the back of his head. "They have a working theory about me too, I can't say they are wrong but… I hope it's not true."

Futaba rose to her feet and picked up Morgana, snuggling him against her chest. "Come on Mona, it's not that bad. So what if you are a shadow, they said their friend turned into a human so that doesn't mean you can't too."

"A shadow?" Ren questioned.

"Yeah, part of our group is a shadow turned man named Teddie. He and Morgana share a lot of similarity. Both were found in the other world with no idea how they got there. Both have knowledge of that other world but don't know why they know. They both first appeared as animals. Granted Morgana appeared before you with a persona, it took Teddie sometime before he obtained his." Yu explained calmly.

Ren turned to Futaba. "How do you know them?"

Futaba looked up from Morgana to Ren, she put Morgana down on one of the counter stools before speaking. "They confronted us when we were escaping Sae palace, Yu there nearly wiped us all out but I used my persona and saved everyone. Naoto stopped the fight and got us to talk. They explained everything then and agreed to help us get you out. They are pretty cool for adults. So everyone knows about them except Akechi."

"Akechi..." Naoto seemed almost lament the name.

"We are going to do something about him Naoto." Yu firmly commented.

"I know." Naoto said.

"We still got plenty of time to explain things later, but for now you need to eat. Futaba come over here and get yours." Sojiro handed Ren a large plate of curry before turning towards the detectives. "There is plenty if you two want some."

"Thanks Sojiro-san but my partner and I have other matters to attend to. We just wanted to check up on the kid. We'll be back later, maybe even bring you some more customers." Naoto explained with a kind smile.

"You guys are coming with us to Mementos today right?" Futaba asked as she grabbed her plate of curry.

So the plan was to go to mementos today? Ren didn't mind, apparently these adult were persona users and Ren definitely wanted to confirm that for himself. Not only that but apparently they were strong… It was something that would be nice to see how he stacked up as leader of phantom thieves.

"You bet." Yu nodded.

Ren took his plate and slid into the booth that Futaba had been using. Futaba had her laptop up, and concerned herself with it as the two Detectives got up from their place at the counter. Both left more than a generous tip to Sojiro before pulling on their respective coats to battle against the cold late November air. Ren caught Yu cast him one last look but Ren made the move to obscure his eyes with the reflection of light off his glasses. The bell above the door of LeBlanc announced the detective's departure.

"They saved you so I can't say they are lying but all that stuff about keeping the world from ruin… What do you make of it Ren?" Futaba asked from over the top of her laptop.

"We'll see." Ren answered nonchalantly but in reality he had a feeling deep down that their words weren't too far from the truth, reaching down he begin to dig into the curry he had been provided. "What do you make of them Futaba?" Ren asked between bites.

Futaba brow crinkled at the question as she seemed to think. "I want to say we can trust them, after all they are legit detectives. Shirogane apparently is a name that goes way far back in police circles. As for Narukami, he is apparently dating that idol you have the poster of in your room but his detective credentials are also sound."

Ren blinked and glanced towards Futaba, he didn't doubt the information that hacker had provided but that was still mildly shocking news. "He is dating Risette?"

Futaba nodded as Sojiro placed a cup of hot cocoa down in front of her. She smiled at her father figure before spinning her laptop around so Ren could read the article Futaba had brought up as he ate his curry. He scrolled quickly through the article so Futaba could have back her laptop but apparently Yu had been dating the popstar Risette for several years and it was rumored that the relationship had started when Risette took a break in Inaba 5 years prior.

Letting Futaba have back her laptop, Ren sat and thought about the new information as he ate his curry. There was a lot to take in but something in his gut told him he could trust Yu and his detective partner. They had after all gotten him out of that interrogation room without much trouble, even managing to convince Sae to go along with the plan. Ren didn't know how he would have pulled it off without their help, the drugs and the pain alone had been mind numbing and the thought of having to convince Sae Niijima was something he didn't know even he could have pulled off. He had to thank the two detectives for their help with that.

Speaking of that… Ren flexed his aching muscles. He was still in a world of pain from the day before yesterday. The over the counter painkillers he had taken this morning were trying their best. Unfortunately a dull ache persisted over his body, but for the most part they were working fantastic. He had slept most of the day yesterday barely bothered by anyone except Morgana to check in on him. Whatever they had put in his system to get him to talk, he never wanted to experience again. The beating he could take... The drugs… They were something else entirely. Fever dreams and cold sweats had been his reality most of the day yesterday. He hadn't eaten, he didn't even get up… The whole day had been spent recovering from his treatment by the corrupt Tokyo police department.

A warm bath at the public bath down the street would hopefully take the remaining dull ache out of his muscles. Getting cleaned up and ready for the day sounded like a good course of action. A quick glance to the clock on his phone told him he had a few hours before his friends where set to arrive. Not only that but in like 10 minutes most of Sojiro's regulars would be starting to show up soon. It's probably be best if he made himself scare as the less people that saw him the better. Moving to finish off his remaining curry, Ren quickly cleaned and washed the plate before glancing towards Morgana.

"I think I'm going to head to the bath. You want to stay with Futaba or come with me?" Ren asked his feline cohort.

"I'll stay with Futaba." Morgana got up from the chair with a feline stretch.

Ren nodded before starting to head up to the stair before Futaba's voice stopped him midway. "I'm going to head back to my room to check out any more information I can dig up on our new detective pals. I want to make extra sure… there is also the Kirijo group…" Futaba eyes narrowed slightly. "Ren I'm good at hacking but the encryption on the Kirijo servers is next level."

Ren glanced back at Futaba. "Oh so there is a limit to your ability?"

Futaba snorted. "Don't dis the great Alibaba! I'm just saying it might take longer then it normally does for me to get info on the Kirijo group."

Ren nodded. "I believe in you Futaba. Good luck."

Ren headed upstairs to get his bathing stuff and by the time he came down, Futaba and Morgana were both gone. No doubt to head to Futaba's room to work on cracking Kirijo. Hopefully Futaba would find something. Ren headed to the bath and was presently surprised to find it empty. Not that it mattered if anyone was there but it was nice to just soak away his soreness in complete silence as he pondered about the future and his new allies…

This chapter was taken apart and put back together 3 times. It started at about a quarter of the length and I rewrote it. Hopefully it doesn't come off as disjointed but it does have quiet a bit of exposition. Next chapter will probably be a longer one and I'm kind of looking forward to giving it to you.