Yo-kai Watch Infinite Loops Chapter 12: Welcome to the Shadowside!, a yo-kai watch fanfic

11.1

The Anchor of the Yo-kai Watch Loops let out a low moan at the sound of an alarm clock buzzing in his ear, lazily pulling himself up from under the covers and giving a yawn. Drowsily, the boy looked around his room with the bare minimum of awareness. That is, until a higher sounding yawn emitted from the spot beside him, and he looked over to see a familiar looking woman lying there…

Keita Amano blinked several times as he stared at her. "… F-Fumika!?" the boy nearly chocked, jumping back a bit in shock and with a red face as the woman rose up and rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"Keita-kun? What are you yelling about so early…?" Fumika muttered tiredly.

Keita gaped at the sight of his girlfriend; all grown up. That is when he took a look at his own body and finally came to the realization that he wasn't a 'boy' anymore; he too, had seemingly grown to adulthood overnight!

"Is something the matter, Keita?" Fumika gave her husband a kind smile, she froze up a second later when she got a good look at him, and processed her previous thought, 'hus… band…?'

The two stared at each other for a few more moments, allowing their Loop memories to flash through their minds… of the past 30 years.

Needless to say, Natsume and Keisuke Amano were not expecting the sounds of their parents screaming to be what would get them out of bed this morning…

"Keita, w-what's going on!?" Fumika questioned with a bit of panic after pulling herself from the bed, she kept looking around the room and back to the Anchor, "Is this a Variant, or… is this really…?"

"The Admin-Enma informed me that he was working on restoring a new Expansion for our Loop, but… I never thought it would be something like this," Keita responded, looking a bit frazzled himself, though he had calmed down a bit more than his girlfriend/wife (likely due to being the Anchor), "It could just be a Variant, but I think there's one factor that makes me think that's very unlikely," he gave the female Looper a serious look.

Fumika seemed to understand. "The Conception Patch… the kids," the suddenly-grown woman didn't look like she knew how to react, "Even if it's possible for people from other Loops to take on the role of a Looper's child…"

"That doesn't seem to be what happened here," Keita finished, his serious look unchanging, "They look like they should be our kids… more than that, it feels right…"

"Our kids… Keita-kun, our kids…" Fumika's eyes started to tear up as a soft smile made its way onto her face, Keita took notice of this; getting out of bed and moving over to her, "I mean, I know you already had kids–kind of–and they were like mine too, since we got together, but this…" the Anchor took her hands into his, giving her a comforting smile.

"I know, it's unexpected… it's overwhelming, it's incredible…" the two stared into each other's eyes for a few moments, until the sound of the door creeping open took their attention.

"Mom… dad?" a slightly nervous sounding female voice called out from outside the door, one that hit the two Loopers with a wave of familiarity, despite never having actually heard the voice for themselves before, "Is everything alright…?" Natsume asked carefully as she pushed the door open a bit more, the two occupants of the room could see the concern in their daughter's eyes, they could also see their son not far behind in the hall, looking like he didn't know what to do.

When their eyes lay on them, both Keita and Fumika had to restrain themselves as they felt an overwhelming need to rush over to their kids, sweep them into their arms, and hug them as tightly as they could without hurting them.

"E-everything's alright, Natsume…" Keita managed to speak up, approaching his thirteen-year-old daughter and patting her on the head.

"Dad…?" the young girl looked questioningly at how her father was behaving, she also noticed that her mother seemed to be holding back tears as she stared at her and Keisuke, "Really… what's going on?"

"We heard you both scream, did something happen?" Keisuke managed to finally speak, also making his way into the room.

At that point it seemed Fumika couldn't hold back anymore. "M-my babies," the female Looper squeaked out as tears started to fall from her eyes, she moved over to the two children and pulled them both into her arms.

"Huh!?" they both gasped at the sudden affectionate contact as their mother held them tightly.

"My babies… our babies. I just… I never thought we would actually… at least not until after the Loops ended…" Fumika looked towards Keita, he nodded to her with a loving smile, a few tears welling in his own eyes, before he joined the hug.

The family stayed like this for several minutes, the two children looking to their parents in befuddlement, unsure if they should speak up or not…

Finally, after what felt like an eternity (but, was really only like… five or six minutes?), Keisuke decided to speak up…

"… Seriously! Mom! Dad! What is going on!? I'm freaking out!" the eleven-year-old boy shouted, all restraint he would normally have virtually destroyed by his parents' sudden and worrying behavior.

"Keisuke!" his older sister tried to scold, though she looked as if she was restraining herself from shouting about her confusion as well. The Looping parents finally took note of their kids' distress and released them from the hug.

"… I'm sorry," Keisuke bowed after regaining his bearings, Natsume nodded in approval, though both still looked a bit frazzled.

"Um… we're sorry too, kids, it's just…" Keita looked to his romantic partner for help on an explanation.

Luckily, Fumika seemed ready to respond. "I had a nightmare… that you two were never born, and that I could never have kids," she spoke a bit shakily as she smiled at her two children that looked at her with both love and concern in their eyes; eyes which grew wide at what she had spoken, "I'm so happy it wasn't real…" she almost whispered as she kept looking at her kids, a few more tears falling from her eyes.

"Oh… mom," Natsume gave a smile of pure familial love as she looked up at her mother, "You know Keisuke and I aren't going anywhere, right?"

Keisuke nodded with a smile of his own, though he still looked a bit worried.

Keita looked to his children proudly while Fumika nodded, giving both kids another quick hug, before returning to the Anchor's side.

"I know, but dreams can be scary in the moment… your father was there to comfort me, you two came not long after, and it made everything better…" Fumika chuckled a little as she wiped the last of the tears from her eyes.

Keita subtly did so as well with his own tears. "Yeah, so… why don't you two get changed and ready for school," he interjected, pointing to Natsume and Keisuke's pajama-clad bodies, "And your mother and I will prepare a nice breakfast for us all…"

"… After we get dressed as well, of course," Fumika added with a silly grin, looking down at her own pajamas, as well as Keita's.

"Okay," Natsume and Keisuke nodded, they looked between their mother and father a few more times, before retreating from the room, closing the door behind them.

Once the two Loopers were alone, they let out a couple of breaths.

"Still alive?" Keita questioned, his hand over his heart.

"Yeah, I think so," Fumika nodded, her hand also over her heart.

"That… was something, even if I already have kids…" the Anchor admitted, taking a seat on the bed.

"Yeah, but…" Fumika took a seat by his side, smiling towards him as she put her hand over his, "I can't help but feel like some curse has been lifted from over us…"

"The Conception Patch isn't a curse, it exists for a very good reason," Keita pointed out with a small frown.

Fumika chuckled and patted his hand. "Yes, I know… which is how I also know this isn't some Variant putting other people from the Loops in the role of our kids…" the woman smiled brightly as she looked up towards the ceiling, "It's as you said; it just feels right, I know those two are our kids…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean," the Anchor agreed, his frown turning into a bright smile of his own, "Though, we should get changed and start that breakfast, before the kids beat us downstairs…"

"Right, right, we wouldn't want that," Fumika laughed along with her boyfriend/husband.

The two nodded before standing up from the bed, though Keita paused.

"Wait… where's Jibanyan?" the grown Anchor looked around the room with a bit of concern.

Fumika took note of this as well. "Huh, you're right…? And where's Whisper…? Is Hikikōmori even in the closet?" she questioned as she looked around.

Keita grabbed hold of his head. "I… don't have any memories of where they would be…? Nothing about them leaving…" his eyes grew wide as he continued to go through his Loop memories, "Fumika, I don't seem to have the yo-kai watch at this time… I have no memory of what happened to the yo-kai watch!"

The two Loopers' eyes both grew in concern.

"Well, the kids are off to school. What should we do now?" Keita asked as both he and Fumika sat at the kitchen table.

"I think the first thing we should do is determine if we're the only ones Awake or not," his wife concluded with a shaky grin.

Keita gripped her hand and gave her reassuring smile to calm her. "We've been put in an overwhelming position. You're right, we should at least make sure if any of our friends are Awake…"

Keita and Fumika both let out Pings and were a bit disappointed when they only got three in return.

"Well… if we're thinking about where our friends could have gone, I have a pretty good idea of where one of them could be," the Anchor concluded as he stood up.

"Right, I assume you mean Jibanyan?" the brown-haired woman correctly guessed as she also stood up. "If that nekomata also lost his memories for some reason before Waking, he's probably back at that intersection."

"It has been 30 years, so we can't really be sure, but it's as good a place to start as any. Even if Jibanyan's not one of the Pings we got, I want to make sure my kitty is safe," Keita spoke with a tone of affection in his voice that brought a small smile to Fumika's face.

"Well, let's go find him!" the Looping girl exclaimed enthusiastically, though paused after a moment. "What about work?"

"I suppose I'll just call in sick," the male shrugged, reaching for the phone, when he suddenly froze up with his eyes widening. Fumika looked confused by this, but it didn't take long for her to take on a similar demeaner.

Quickly the two Loopers headed towards the window and looked out into the sky.

"Keita-kun… what is that I'm feeling?" Fumika asked slowly as her eyes narrowed.

"… Of course, it couldn't be a simple time-skip," the Anchor grunted, his eyes also narrowing. "I don't know exactly what that power is, but it doesn't feel good… you wanna bet our kids are going to be getting involved with this?"

"Oh Yggdrasil, no…" Fumika's eyes widened with both horror and rage evident. "You are not giving me kids and then immediately throwing them into some life or death situation, while keeping me out of it! Come on Keita! Let's get our kids and find our friends!" the woman demanded as she marched towards the door.

"I'm right behind you!" her husband responded quickly, following her out the front door, glaring cautiously at the giant object in the sky that seemed to be emitting evil yo-kai energy.

"If I recall correctly, the intersection is over here…" Keita muttered as he and his wife navigated the city, taking in the sights as they did so. "You know… I'm somehow interested in how much the city has changed, while at the same time feeling it hasn't changed enough for thirty years…"

"I know. Shouldn't we have flying cars by now?" Fumika said with a shake of her head, glancing at the roads, filled with the same cars they were used to seeing.

"Yeah. On the other hand, that's what they used to think about the 21st century," the Anchor shrugged, before both Loopers chuckled a bit.

"That disappointment aside, do you see Jibanyan anywhere?" the brown-haired woman questioned, looking around the intersection with interest.

"If he isn't here, I'm not sure where else to search for him," Keita said calmly, also looking around carefully

Despite the pairs' search, their nekomata friend seemed to be nowhere in sight. They were about to try calling out for him, when they both suddenly felt a surge of yo-kai energy.

"Fumika…"

"I know." The two nodded, glancing upwards and spotting a familiar, yet at the same time unfamiliar cat yo-kai, looking down on them.

"Well… what do we have here? Nya…" with a mighty leap, an oversized nekomata jumped down from the top of building and landed before the Looping couple. Despite the shockwave this sent out, the ordinary people going about their day seemed unfazed. "I was just taking a nyice cat nyap, when I suddenly nyotice a couple of old friends hanging around. Nya."

"… Akamaru? What happened to your voice?" Keita questioned slowly, his eyes going wide. "You've become an old man!"

Jibanyan nearly fell over at the blunt comment, Fumika's subtle chuckling didn't help either. He shook his head to regain his bearings before shouting back at the Anchor, "I don't want to hear that from you, Keita-nya!"

"I'm sorry, it was just a shock is all," the brown-haired man laughed a bit, unfazed by the nekomata's growls. "So, you Awake and feeling Loopy?"

Jibanyan huffed before nodding. "Yeah, I assume Fumika is as well?"

"Yeah, Awake and very Loopy. Luckily, I have my Anchor," Fumika smiled, gripping Keita's arm affectionately.

Jibanyan smirked at the Anchor's embarrassed expression. "So, I take it you two are married nyow?"

"Wha–How!?" both humans exchanged looks of surprise at how quickly their yo-kai friend had figured that out.

Jibanyan just laughed at his friends' expressions. "Don't act so shocked! It's been thirty years; I'd think even your Baseline-selves would manage to figure things out by nyow! Nya"

Keita and Fumika both sighed as the cat continued to laugh at them, ignoring the people that gave the humans strange looks as they passed.

"Anyway, it's good to see you Jibanyan, we were worried when we couldn't find you at home," Fumika explained with a small smile.

Jibanyan's laughter died down as he looked between the two. "Oh… you were?"

"Of course we were, we Woke up and couldn't find you anywhere. And I had no memories of what had happened to you, Whisper, Hikikōmori or any of my yo-kai watches or medals!" Keita exclaimed urgently. "We still have to find them too… Akamaru, do you remember how you left my house?"

Jibanyan scratched the back of his ear, his tails moving a bit as he looked around the intersection. "Nyo… everything's a blank. I don't knyow where Whisper or Hikikōmori could be either. I just Woke up here without any clue of what was going on, I was going to head over to your place earlier after I got some Pings, but you got here before I finished my nyap."

"Even now, you're still a lazy cat," Keita sighed with crossed arms.

"And you're still the poster-boy for averagenyess! Nya!" Jibanyan snapped back.

Both Keita and Jibanyan glared at each other intensely as Fumika just gave a fond smile. After a few moments of this, the three all started laughing.

"I'm really happy to see you're okay," Keita smiled, reaching up to give the large nekomata a pat on the head, getting a happy purr in response.

"You know, if Jibanyan's back here, I wouldn't be too surprised if Whisper somehow ended up sealed in the Crank-a-Kai again," Fumika suggested, catching both her husband and the yo-kai's interest.

"That's… a good point, Fumika!" Keita praised enthusiastically. "Though, if that is the case, I hope he hasn't been stuck in there for too long…"

"So, we getting the band back together to figure this Expansion out? Nya," Jibanyan grinned, pounding his fists together eagerly, the humans nodded. "You can count this cat in! I may have to sacrifice a bit of my laziness training, but I want to find out what's with that weird moon thing and why I wasn't sleeping at the foot of Keita's warm bed! I'll just make up for it by being extra lazy next Loop! Nya!"

"Still the laziest cat," the Anchor sighed under his breath, he glanced at Jibanyan again, his expression turning curious. "Before we go looking for Whisper, I have one last question…"

"What would that be? Nya."

"How did you get so tall!?"

"Wait, so yo-kai don't use medals anymore?" Keita questioned as he walked along the sidewalk, accompanied by both Fumika and Jibanyan (who had shrunken down closer to his original size.)

The red cat yo-kai nodded, holding up a key-like object with a depiction of him on the end. "Unless you consider these 'ark' things a type of medal… nya." he flipped the 'ark' around to reveal an image of the larger form he had been in when they had met up.

"Well it has been thirty years. I suppose yo-kai society would progress, they didn't always use the medals we know either," Fumika reasoned with a shrug.

"That makes sense, but I don't really like it… nya," Jibanyan hissed, tossing two arks to the humans.

Keita rolled his eyes as he caught one of the arks. "You just don't like change, Akamaru. You couldn't handle the idea of Emi liking dogs either."

The nekomata's eye twitched, before he shifted back to his larger form and stomped a foot on the ground, glaring at the Anchor. "I thought I said to nyever bring that up again! How dare you attempt to soil my memory of Emi-chan!"

"What does that even mean!? Her liking dogs has nothing to do with you!" Keita countered angrily.

"Both of you shut-it!" Fumika suddenly snapped, causing both males to quiet down. "Honestly, I know you both were worried about each other, but now isn't the time for one of your arguments! If you haven't noticed, we still don't know where all our yo-kai friends are, how our kids are getting involved in this, or what's up with that moon-thing!"

Keita and Jibanyan glanced at each other, before both sighing.

"She's right, we can argue later," the human male nodded.

"Agreed, nya," Jibanyan grunted, reverting to the smaller form again.

"Good, hopefully we can figure out what's going on with this expansion soon," Fumika smiled, glancing around at the people walking around them, she hummed, "Nothing seems to be concerning the general populace so far…"

"Hey, who are you calling 'general populace!?'"

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean for that to be insulting!" the female Looper apologized to the random man in the crowd.

Keita suppressed a chuckle at his wife's behavior, before glancing down at Jibanyan again. "… Say, what's up with that form switching anyway? Seems kind of important, its on both sides of your ark," Keita flipped the arc around to show this.

Fumika glanced back at the two, her own curiosity in her eyes. "Yeah, I was wondering about that too. At first I thought you had just… grown up, Nekomatas get pretty big in a lot of mythology. But that doesn't seem to be the case."

Jibanyan crossed his arms, a small smirk forming on his muzzle. "Oh, well that would be my 'shadowside,' nya.''

"Shadowside?" both humans questioned simultaneously, before blinking, glancing towards each other, and laughing.

"Yes, yes, you two are in sync, har, har," Jibayan rolled his eyes at the couple's behavior. "Anyway, as for what a shadowside is… I don't really knyow other than an alternyate form that's more suited for combat, nya" the nekomata shrugged.

Keita and Fumika stared at the yo-kai with deadpan expressions.

"… What, you two expecting a detailed explanyation or something? I'm still about as confused by this nyew Expanysion as you two! Nya," Jibanyan stuck out his tongue childishly.

"Still same old Jibanyan…" Keita muttered while shaking his head.

"Would you really have it any other way?" Fumika smiled with a sweatdrop.

"No, I suppose not," the Anchor chuckled, but he froze when he saw something small and gray zoom past his peripheral vision. The adult man quickly spun around, narrowing his eyes.

"Keita…?" Fumika gave her husband a concerned look, before stiffening slightly and glancing around as well.

"Nya… there's something here…" Jibanyan hissed as his eyes turned to slits, standing on all fours with the fur on his back sticking up and his tail-flames flaring.

"GAH!"

A sudden cry from nearby caught the three Loopers attention, they looked over to see the man Fumika had apologized to only a few minutes earlier, now on the ground clutching his head while the people around him looked on with concern and confusion.

Keita glared in the direction of the man, noticing a dark aura emitting from him. "Fumika, Jibanyan, do you two feel that…?"

Jibanyan kept hissing, even as the man's form began twisting, and the other people began screaming and running.

"Keita, this is…" Fumika's fists clenched as the human man's head grew to a ridiculous size, his skin changing to a greenish hue and a horn sprung up from his hair, opening a mouth full of sharp teeth with an animalistic roar.

"Of all the things to run into thirty years into the future… kaima!" Keita snarled, noting many small, gray yo-kai appearing, floating through the air, all giving off the aura of kaima…

"How can there be so many…? Tokio Ubaune is gone, right!?" Fumika asked with growing concern, staring at the transformed human as he lumbered forward, towards them. "And that isn't your typical kaima-possession either!"

The transformed human roared, lunging towards the three Loopers.

"Normal!" Keita suddenly shouted, shooting his yo-kai aura towards the possessed human, the oni froze, before falling back to his knees and letting out a pained roar, before one of the small, gray kaima shot out of his body and he reverted to his human form. Keita let out a relieved sigh, "Surprised that actually worked…"

"What the…?" the man blinked, before looking around in confusion.

"Never you mind your loss of memory, sir. There is something dangerous around here, please evacuate the premise like everyone else!" Fumika spoke up in a professional manner.

The man looked around, seeing nobody else except for Keita and Fumika. "Um… okay," he slowly began walking away, before breaking into a sprint, intent on getting as far away as possible.

"Ow… what the heck was that?" a small voice spoke up, the two humans and their yo-kai companion looked and saw the one-eyed grey kaima on the ground, looking both dizzy and confused.

"That human forced you out of your host!" another of the kaima, this one with three-eyes, shouted from the air.

"He's a yo-kai! A yo-kai!" another one-eyed one shouted frantically.

"Quick, find more hosts! Don't let that one near you!" a two-eyed one shouted, a few more echoed this message, before they began dispersing.

"Hey!" Keita lunged forward at super-speed, managing to snag one of the kaima by the tip of its head before it could escape. "Not so fast!"

"Ah!" the small yo-kai gasped in fear.

"Dang, nya," Jibanyan growled after a failed attempt to pounce on an escaping kaima.

"We're not fast enough, Jibanyan," Fumika grunted as the last of the kaima vanished from sight. "Those kaima have strange powers when possessing people, this can't mean anything good," the woman spoke as she glared towards the sky, "And things like this are rarely the whole picture, something bigger is likely coming."

"Well… we might be able to get some answers on what that something bigger is, at least," Keita said, holding up the three-eyed kaima, struggling in his grip.

"No! Release me you part human, part yo-kai abomination!" the small yo-kai shouted frantically.

"Abomination? Is that what you think of me?" Keita frowned, before bringing the strange kaima up to his eye level, an unnaturally wide grin stretched across the Anchor's face, his eyes glowing blue. "Oh, you poor little thing, you have no idea…"

The kaima quivered with a petrified expression, small tears beginning to form in its eyes.

"Keita calm down. That's not going to get you anywhere," Fumika lightly hit the back of the man's head, snapping him out of his intimidating state, before glaring at the gray yo-kai. "Now, tell us. What are you, who is your master, and what is your purpose?"

"I-I… I'll never talk! You humans, yo-kai, and whatever you are!" the creature pointed a shaky finger towards the Anchor, "All of you will never be able to halt our progress! This world will be ours!"

"Is that so? You won't tell us anything?" Keita asked dangerously.

"Um…" the gray yo-kai stiffened, looking fearfully at the one holding him captive, before giving a relenting sigh. "Okay… we are 'Onimaru,' a yo-kai virus that has come to infect humanity and feed on the darkness in their hearts. That is all! You cannot stop us, even if you can force us out of the bodies of humans, there are too many of us!"

"Is that really all?" Keita questioned critically.

"Yes, that is all!" the three-eyed Onimaru insisted while nodding its head rapidly.

"… I don't buy it," Fumika suddenly spoke up, sending a wave of fear through the captured Onimaru. "But… we can't spend all day interrogating a mook. It'll probably be faster to figure out what the Onimaru's goal is ourselves," the adult woman explained logically. "Plus, it's getting to the time the kids would be let out of school, and we should really make sure they're okay."

The small kaima let out a small gasp of relief.

"Nya, want me to slice that thing up?" Jibanyan asked, a smirk on his face with his claws outstretched.

The onimaru stiffened again at the idea of being sliced to pieces by the nekomata's claws.

"No," Keita denied, before letting the small yo-kai go.

"Huh?" the Onimaru blinked in confusion, looking towards the Anchor questioningly.

Keita looked back with a harsh glare. "Behave. Don't try possessing anyone or impeding us. You will get away unscathed if you follow these rules, spread the word."

The Onimaru looked between his three captors, before quickly nodding, flying away and vanishing.

"… You're too nyice sometimes, Keita-nya," Jibanyan criticized with a scoff.

"Like you would actually slice it up," the Anchor countered plainly.

Jibanyan shrugged. "Nya."

"We got what we could without resorting to torture, we can work with this," Fumika pointed out, smiling towards her husband. "Right now, let's head home and make sure the kids are okay, then we'll figure out how to deal with these 'Onimaru.'"

"You knyow the Expanysion is probably going to try putting them into position to be the heroes, right? Nya," Jibanyan pointed out bluntly.

"And if that is the case, we will do anything in our power as parents to make sure they are protected while doing so," Fumika explained, sharing a nod with Keita.

As the trio of Loopers began to leave, the Onimaru that they had just released reappeared behind their backs, subtly sneaking into Fumika's body with a sinister chuckle. 'Whatever you are… You may have caught me by surprise, but I won't let you get away with your interference! I'll hide in your human companion and take her over when you least expect it! You won't be able to stop us, monster! Hahaha…!' the Onimaru thought with evil intention.

However, unknown to the small body-invader, his new host wasn't as ignorant to its entrance than she appeared. 'Interesting, I'll let you stay there for now… but you will definitely regret attempting to use me against my friends and family,' Fumika thought with a threatening smirk.

"… We should probably split up," Keita suddenly suggested, after a moment of thought.

"Huh, but you two are finyally married and have kids! Nya!" Jibanyan pointed out with a panicked expression.

Both humans gave the cat yo-kai deadpan expressions.

"… You mean to get the kids, right?" Fumika questioned, turning her attention back to her husband, whom nodded. "That's probably a good idea, I'll go get Keisuke from the elementary school, you go get Natsume!"

"That sounds like a plan, we'll meet up back at the house and decide what to do next," Keita shared a determined smile with his wife.

"And me-nya?" Jibanyan questioned, feeling a bit embarrassed for his previous misstep.

"You'll go with Keita, Akamaru," Fumika decided quickly. "It will be easier to explain if you run into any non-Loopers that know us from thirty years ago."

"Got it, let's get to it! Nya!" the cat yo-kai cheered, before the group split up.

When Natsumi Amano got up this morning, she certainly wasn't expecting her day to go like this; given some strange watch by a weird ghost-man, having some kind of hydra pop out of a capsule machine and chase her, then some boy her age came over and used some magic power to shoot at the monster, and was now running alongside her away from it as he tried to explain how to use something called an 'ark' with the strange watch.

So, yeah, not a very good day…

"Put that inside the yo-kai watch and turn it!" the boy commanded as he read from a book as the three-headed beast still chased after them.

Natsume didn't argue, inserting the ark into the watch causing the face to pop open. "It opened! What do I do now?"

"There you are, I should've known you'd get into something like this!" the voice of an adult man prevented the boy from continuing his instructions, a voice Natsumi found eerily recognizable…

"Wait– "the girl's thoughts were cut off by a gust of wind, and some kind of blur zooming by and impacting the monster that was pursuing them, sending it hurling backwards. As the dust cleared Natsumi wiped her eyes, before staring in shock along with the boy at her side, at the familiar figure that stood in a very unfamiliar pose.

"What the, who is that!?" the magic-wielding boy questioned in surprise.

Natsume however, had a very different reaction, "D-dad!?"

The three-headed monster snarled as it rose back up, lumbering forward to face the man that dared to get in its way.

The man narrowed his eyes as he held some kind of giant mechanical scythe over his shoulder, looking completely unfazed by the giant monster he was faced with. "Mitsumata Nozuchi, I definitely wasn't expecting to see you of all yo-kai here. How long has it been since we last fought anyway…?" Keita spoke seriously as he held his scythe high, the large yo-kai growling in his direction. "… Oh right, that's the Game Variant. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about."

"DAD!?" Natsume repeated with an expression of shock, awe and disbelief. She noticed the ghost that had given her the watch floating over to her father.

"Keita-kun!? Is that really you!? Whissu!" the ghost questioned with less shock than Natsume, but still a fair amount.

Keita looked at the yo-kai briefly. "Hey Whisper… you got taller."

"Is that really all you have to say!? Whissu!"

"No: what's the big idea setting a boss yo-kai after my little girl!?" the Anchor questioned with a scowl.

The aforementioned boss yo-kai moved to lunge forward, but Keita simply pointed Spectral Fang in its direction; Mitsumata Nozuchi almost immediately halted any movement, lowering its three heads and taking a couple steps back.

"Your little girl? Whissu," Whisper blinked, glancing at Natsume, before looking back at Keita, he looked between the two a few more times. "… Okay, yeah, I see it… whissu."

Natsume took a deep breath to try and keep herself from having a mental breakdown. "Hold on, hold on! Dad, you know this guy!?"

Keita blinked, turning his attention to his daughter. "Know him? He's my butler."

Natsumi gaped, "Your BUTLER!?"

"Why do you keep shouting, nya?"

Natsumi stiffened at the sight of some sort of monstrous cat, jumping down from a rooftop and landing beside her dad.

"Keita-nya, what are you and Fumika teaching this girl? Nya!" Jibanyan grunted, picking at one of his ears.

"Dad, what is going on!?" Natsumi started to look overwhelmed.

"I'll explain everything to you in a second, sweetie," Keita spoke gently to his daughter, before giving the cat yo-kai a stern look. "Jibanyan, don't be cruel, of course she's a little freaked out, she's never had interaction with yo-kai before!"

"Jibanyan!? Whissu!" the yo-kai butler shouted in surprise.

"Hey Whisper-nya," the nekomata regarded plainly, before turning back to the Anchor. "Look, it's nyot my fault you nyever taught your kids about yo-kai! She should know about this kind of stuff by nyow! Nya."

"There's a reason why we didn't!" Keita snapped back, before gaining a thoughtful look, "Though, I still haven't figured out what that reason is… probably the same reason I have no memories of what happened to my yo-kai watch."

"Your yo-kai watch!?" Natsumi gawked at her father's comment, before looking at the device that had been strapped to her wrist. "You mean this thing!?"

Keita looked at the watch on his daughter's wrist with a bit of interest, before shaking his head. "Nah, I'm not familiar with that model. It's not a big deal, I've got plenty at ready access, but it just kind of bugs me that I don't know what happened to it," Keita muttered a bit to himself. "Anyway, where'd you get that watch, Natsumi?"

The thirteen-year-old girl pointed towards Whisper, "He gave it to me! Before he used a capsule machine and unleashed that thing!" she gestured towards the Mitsumata Nozuchi, which had not moved from its spot, but looked like it was ready to try and lunge again.

Keita glared in the boss yo-kai's direction, it immediately froze up again. The Anchor sighed, giving his yo-kai butler/friend an annoyed look. "Of course he did, care to explain yourself, Whisper?"

Whisper nervously scratched his head at the looks he was being given. "Um, well that watch is known as the 'Yo-kai Watch Elder,' it is supposedly an ancient model of yo-kai watch from long ago– "

"Wait a second, I thought grandpa invented the first yo-kai watch in the 50's, how could– "

"RAH!" Mitsumata Nozuchi suddenly roared, having seemingly had enough with cowering, unfortunately for the large yo-kai, this was not the smartest decision.

"HEY! WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSATION HERE! NYA!" Jibanyan shouted, charging forward and slamming a paw into hydra-like yo-kai's chest. Mitsumata Nozuchi gave a roar of pain as it fell back, collapsing before its body dissipated into blue flames, an ark dropping to the ground in its place.

The magic-wielding boy, whom had stayed mostly silent through this whole, confusing conversation, gawked in amazement at the cat yo-kai's power.

"A little overboard Jibanyan, don't you think?" Keita questioned as his daughter stared blankly at the cat.

"Nya, he's fine, see?" the nekomata picked up the ark and showed it off. "Looks like I impressed him and he retreated, nya."

"Um… yes," Whisper sweatdropped. "As I was about to explain. I was ordered by Lord Enma to find the wielder of the Yo-kai Watch Elder and test them to deal with the upcoming threat of the– "

"The 'Onimaru,' we know," Keita waved off the yo-kai butler's explanation.

Whisper glared at the Anchor and crossed his arms. "Well, aren't you rather informed. Whissu."

"Sorry, still a little miffed at you for sending Mitsumata Nozuchi after my kid, even if it was a test," Keita sighed while shaking his head. "I get it if Lord Enma ordered you, but still…"

"Well, you even having a kid is a surprise to me! Whissu!" Whisper pointed out, his shock returning. "Though… I suppose I should have expected something like this, with thirty years passing and all. I assume Fumika is the lucky– "

"DAD! GHOST-BUTLER GUY! WHAT IN THE HECK GOING ON HERE!?" Natsume suddenly shouted, hands clutching her head with both her eyes twitching, all others' eyes turned to the teen girl as she started breathing heavily. "Why does my dad know about this 'yo-kai watch' stuff!? Why is a ghost his butler!? Why is there giant cat that can defeat a three-headed-snake-monster!? Why am I the one that has to be given this other watch that gets monsters sent after you!? Why did great-grandpa invent it!? Why does my dad have a GIANT MECHANICAL SCYTHE!?"

"Natsumi!" Keita quickly placed both hands on his daughter's shoulder's, having the panicking girl look him in the eyes, "Natsumi, please, calm down. I promise I will explain everything to you, just calm down."

Natsumi took a few more panicked breaths, her breathing gradually slowed until it returned to normal levels, she gave her father a slow nod. "R-right, sorry… but, it's just– "

"That you're getting overwhelmed with new information and events that don't match your world-view up until now, I understand," the Anchor gave a slow nod, patting the girl on the head. "It's okay, I've been there, trust me."

The father and daughter shared a nod as both smiled at each other.

"Um, excuse me," the magic-wielding boy raised his hand, turning the attention to him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I kind of forgot you were here," Keita admitted with a sweatdrop. "Is this a friend of yours, Natsumi? I've never seen him before."

"I don't know him, but he did help me, and seems to know about this yo-kai watch stuff," Natsumi explained to the best of her ability.

"Um, I'm Akinori Arihoshi, and um…" the boy started to introduce himself.

"Akinori!" an elderly woman interrupted as she came over, she inspected the group, before staring at Keita and Jibanyan in particular.

"Oh, um, this is my grandmother," Akinori added sheepishly. "We're members of the Arihoshi family, which have been capable of sorcery for many generations. We've been on the lookout for that yo-kai watch."

"This watch again," Natsumi muttered, subtly glaring at the device on her wrist.

"Then where was your family when I was a kid…?" Keita muttered to himself with an aside glance, before noting the sudden appearance of the boy's grandmother, "Also, how long has she been here?"

"Long enough to see that you're no ordinary person!" the old woman snapped, giving the Anchor a serious look, before turning her focus to Jibanyan, "And I also spy the legendary yo-kai Jibanyan among your ranks…"

"… Legendary? This lazy cat?" Keita questioned with a look of disbelief. "I think you must be mistaken."

"Sir, with all due respect, there's no mistake! That is definitely the legendary Jibanyan: a cat yo-kai that has defeated countless strong opponents!" Akinori spoke with reverence.

"Wow, you really knyow how to lay expectations onto a cat, nya," Jibanyan grunted, switching back his 'light side' form.

"Call him what you will, he's still the same lazy cat that always slept at the foot of my bed at night and ate all my food," Keita stated with a dismissive wave.

"Well, that's putting it rather bluntly, Keita-nya," Jibanyan muttered with a scratch of his ears.

Akinori blinked. "Wait… sir, are you… the legendary Yo-kai Master!?"

"That title still exists?" Keita scratched his head.

"My dad is a 'Yo-kai Master!?'" Natsumi had an unreadable expression.

"It's a title I never agreed to," Keita corrected quickly.

"Yes, I see…" Akinori's grandmother nodded with a thoughtful look. "You're that boy! The one that become entwined with the Yo-kai World all those years ago! I never thought I would meet you face-to-face."

"Oh, so you were around thirty years ago, you just didn't do anything," the brown-haired man deadpanned, before he was bonked on the head by the woman's cane. "Ow!"

"The Arihoshi family doesn't get involved with just any yo-kai nonsense, foolish boy! No threat to the magnitude of the Onimaru occurred during those times, so our intervention wasn't required!" the grandmother snapped with an irritated tone.

Keita rubbed his head with an annoyed expression. "No threat? Kaima screwing with time and a giant sky-whale almost breaking reality come to mind, but yeah, sure, nothing happened." Keita turned his attention back to his daughter, noting the ark in her hand, "Natsumi, what's that?"

Natsumi held it up with a bit of surprise, "Oh, I'd nearly forgotten I was given this."

"Himojii's ark, I handed it to her to help with the enemy yo-kai, but… then you guys showed up," Akinori sweatdropped as he gave a respectful bow.

"And ruined the test, whissu…" Whisper grumbled to himself.

"Himojii? So, he's got one of these arks too?" Keita took hold of the ark, looking at both sides observantly. "Hmm… hey, Natsumi, let's try that watch of yours out."

"Huh," Natsumi blinked, holding up her wrist with a troubled expression. "You want me to use it…?"

"Well, I'd say you're too young to get involved with yo-kai nonsense, but I was only eleven when I started," Keita chuckled a bit, which did nothing to ease his daughter's troubled look. "If you're going to have that thing, you might as well learn how to summon your yo-kai friends. And I think an old companion will be a good place to start."

"You know Himojii?" Akinori looked surprised, before shaking his head. "Wait, of course you do. Anyway, I was walking her through the summoning process, so uh… if you could turn the ark in the watch again?"

"Alright…" Natsumi looked unsure, inserting the ark into the watch again and turning it to cause the face to open.

"Okay, so that's how the arks are supposed to work," Keita observed thoughtfully. "… Why is the 'ancient' yo-kai watch compatible with the 'newer' version of yo-kai medals?"

"Now's not the time for those kinds of questions, Keita-kun, whissu…" Whisper groaned.

"Okay, now hold the ark over the watch," Akinori instructed, nodding as Natsumi did so. "Now, repeat after me: Summoning!"

"Summoning…" Natsumi repeated carefully.

"Come on out my friend!"

"Himojii!"

"Smoothie!"

All the other occupants of the area nearly fell over at the girl's slip up.

"Smoothie? Seriously? Nya…" Jibanyan groaned while shaking his head in disbelief.

"It's okay, Natsumi, try again," Keita encouraged as best he could.

The thirteen-year-old girl looked a bit embarrassed, before attempting the summoning again. "Okay, let's see… Come on out my friend! Himojii!"

Light!

Natsumi's shadow stretched out, before the form of the yo-kai Himojii formed out of it.

"You did it!" Akinori cheered at the sight of the successfully summoned yo-kai.

"So, she is the one," the grandmother muttered with a hum.

"I… did it?" Natsumi blinked, staring at the old man-looking yo-kai looking at them.

"Hmm… I'm hungry… what's going on?" the newly summoned yo-kai questioned as he looked around.

Keita gave a cough as he stepped forward, waving, "Um, Himojii, remember me?"

"Hmm…" Himojii squinted his eyes as the Anchor approached, before smiling. "Oh, Keita my boy, it's been quite a few years since you've summoned me, hasn't it? It's good to see you, my have you grown, what are you in um… high school now?"

"I'm in my 40's, Himojii."

"I see, oh how time flies, doesn't it?" Himojii chuckled.

"Yes, it certainly does," Keita muttered. "Um, I'm sorry if this was inconvenient though, there's nothing we need you to do at the moment, my daughter was being taught how to summon a yo-kai," the man explained awkwardly. "I thought an old friend would be a good place to start."

"Daughter?" Himojii rose an eyebrow questioningly, before noticing Natsumi. "Oh, hello there!"

"Um… hi… Mr. Himojii…?" Natsumi waved unsurely. "I'm… uh, Natsumi Amano."

"Oh, what a lovely girl, she looks just like you Keita," the elderly yo-kai gave a gentle smile.

"Oh, thank you," Keita bowed respectfully.

A short time later, Himojii had left, and the group was now on their way to the Amano household.

"Once we get back home, your mother and I will explain all we can to you and your brother," Keita assured from the head of the group.

Natsumi looked up from staring at her watch. "Wait, mom knows about this stuff!?"

"Of course she does, Fumi-chan and Keita-kun have been very close for a very long time! Whissu," Whisper explained with a grin as he floated by.

"And, once we're home, you're also going to explain everything about this mission from Lord Enma that involved sending a boss yo-kai to attack my daughter," Keita stated seriously.

"I'll explain my reasoning perfectly, Keita-kun! Whissu!" Whisper smiled a bit nervously.

"By the way, you are Awake and Loopy, right?" The Anchor whispered.

"Of course, whissu," the yo-kai butler whispered back.

"We're home Fumi-chan, I brought Natsume… and some others, including an old friend!" Keita announced as the group entered the Amano household.

"Keita-kun," the brown-haired woman smiled at the sight of her husband.

"Dad?" a confused looking Keisuke questioned as he stepped over, only to stiffen at the sight of the strange cat and ghost that were accompanying him. "W-What the!?"

"How nice it is to see you again, Fumi-chan! Or, would you prefer I call you 'Mrs. Amano' now? Whissu," Whisper greeted with a mischievous grin

The female Looper chuckled, "Whisper? Is that really you? You look so different, like a real dignified butler!"

The yo-kai butler crossed his arms proudly, giving the Anchor a side-glance. "See, she noticed more than my height! Whissu!"

"She also implied that you didn't look like a 'dignified butler' before," Keita snarked with a roll of his eyes.

"Yes, whissu…" Whisper nodded with a smile. "… WHISSU!?"

"Mom!" Natsume suddenly spoke up, rushing over to her mother's side. "You know this… guy, too!?"

"Of course, he's your father's butler, sometimes he works for me, but it's usually your father," Fumika smiled, giving her daughter a pat on the head.

"… Who are my parents?" Natsume stood there with a blank expression on her face.

"So, you know about the Onimaru invasion too?" Akinori asked with interest as he stepped into the house.

Fumika gave the boy a curious look. "I know about as much as my husband did when he went to get our daughter. Speaking of which, are you one of her friends? I don't seem to recall seeing you before…"

"Um… well, actually I just met your daughter and husband today, my name is Akinori Arihoshi, and this is my grandmother," he gestured to the elderly woman that followed at the tail of the group. "Our family has been dealing with yo-kai related issues for generations, which is how we got involved with this."

"Oh, that's interesting," Fumika nodded with a smile, before narrowing her eyes at his grandmother. "So, where were you when a sky-whale almost broke reality?"

"I already tried asking about that, Honey," Keita muttered with a small sigh, indicating to his partner how well it had gone.

Akinori sent a concerned expression towards his grandmother. "Did that really happen?"

"Now's not the time to discuss that!" Akinori's grandmother snapped, walking over to the near-comatose Natsume and tapping her on the shoulder. "Wake up girl!"

"Huh, what? I just had the strangest dream…" Natsume began before noting the elderly woman that had prodded her, as well as the boy, cat-creature and ghost butler that were here, slowly she glanced down at her wrist, and the Yo-kai Watch Elder. "… Never mind."

"Excuse me," Keisuke raised his hand, a really freaked out expression on his face as he tried not to look directly at Whisper or Jibanyan. "Mom, dad, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!?"

"Oh yeah, I reacted like that earlier too," Natsume commented, placing her hand to her head and letting out a long groan. "I'm still really confused…"

Keita stepped into the living room, gesturing for the others to follow his lead. "I said everything would be explained once we got home, so we should probably get to that! Fumika, Whisper, Jibanyan, want to help? I also seem to recall a certain ghost has some explaining of his own to do…"

"Hahaha, I'll of course tell you everything, Keita-kun," Whisper nervously rubbed his hands together as he floated alongside Fumika and Jibanyan.

"Explaining? About what?" Fumika gave the yo-kai butler a suspicious look.

"Don't look at me like that, I just said I'd explain myself, whissu," Whisper assured with a small cough.

"Do you not understand that there is no time to waste? The Onimaru are spreading more and more as we speak!" The elderly woman chided the group as she followed into the living room.

"I get that, but the kids are overwhelmed, and if my daughter is the 'chosen one' that is supposed to stop these Onimaru, I think she should at least get an explanation, about as much of this as we can provide," Keita said firmly.

Akinori's grandmother didn't argue, but she did grumble a bit under her breath.

"Okay, so should we start this story on the faithful day you met Whisper, or go way back to when your grandfather invented the first yo-kai watch?" Fumika questioned as she took a seat on the couch, next to her husband.

"Oh yeah, that's another thing: Grandpa might not have invented the first yo-kai watch after all…" Keita added with a long sigh.

"Wait, what?" Fumika blinked with a confused expression.

"Never mind that for now, it's not important to the overall situation," Keita assured, before focusing his attention of their two children. "Let's just start with how your mother and I first stumbled into the world of yo-kai…"

Whisper watched patiently as the parents started explaining their previous experiences with yo-kai, Jibanyan chiming in every now and then. He knew it would soon be time for him to explain himself as well…

'Whisper!'

"Whissu?" the yo-kai butler reeled back in surprise at the sudden voice that invaded his head. "Lord Enma…?"

'Yes, Whisper, what are you doing? The Onimaru have already chosen the recipient of the Kigan Gear! Time is of the essence, haven't you gotten the user of the Yo-kai Watch Elder yet?'

"Er, well… yes and no. There was a certain, complication, whissu," Whisper explained sheepishly, noting that his master/friend had halted his story and was now looking his way.

'Yes, and no? What complications, Whisper?'

"That would be me," Keita suddenly spoke up, a hand on the yo-kai butler's back.

"Keita-kun?" Whisper blinked in surprise at the Anchor's sudden contact.

'What, Keita!? Keita Amano!?' Enma's voice was full of barely contained shock.

"That's right, and before you ask: Yes, I can hear you, and yes, I'm angry with you!" the brown-haired man explained with a small snarl. "What's going on here Enma!? I know you had something to do with my yo-kai watch going missing, as well as ordering my butler to send a boss yo-kai after my daughter!"

While this was going on, Keisuke, Natsume and Akinori were watching what appeared to be Keita yelling at nothing with his hand on Whisper, with varying expressions of confusion and concern.

"Mom… all this stuff about yo-kai and watches and junk is a lot to take in and I'm not sure how much more I can handle, much less Keisuke," the teenage girl gestured to her brother, whom was hugging his legs and shaking his head.

"None of this is real! No, it's some kind of crazy dream!" the young boy shouted adamantly.

Natsume sighed, before turning back to her mother. "But I don't care what kind of world-shaking, supernatural explanation you have to give, please tell me dad hasn't gone crazy!"

"Don't worry, your father's just having a conversation with Lord Enma, king of the Yo-kai World. He's not any crazier than he's always been," Fumika assured with an amused grin directed towards the Anchor. "You just can't hear Enma because he's not here and was only trying to talk to Whisper, but he didn't account for your father's spiritual sensitivity."

"… Yeah, doesn't sound like anything to worry about at all," Natsume nodded with an unreadable expression.

Akinori however, looked towards the Anchor with amazement. "Wait, he's talking to the Lord Enma now!? How many amazing things are going to happen today!?"

"Glad you're enjoying this so much," Natsume gave the teen boy an aside glare.

"What's this 'Kigan Gear' Enma, what do you know about the Onimaru… and what did you do with my yo-kai watch! And don't play innocent! I know it was you!" Keita shouted, causing Whisper to flinch. "… Enma?"

"It seems he… hung up," Whisper shrugged.

The Anchor groaned as he pinched his forehead. "Great, well there's only one way to get answers out of him it seems…"

'This is my chance,' the Onimaru inside of Fumika smirked, viewing the frustrated Keita through his host's eyes. 'You won't see this one coming, monster!'

"Keita-nya," Jibanyan tapped the Anchor's shoulder.

Keita shook his head and sighed. "Okay, so a small change of plans, I think– "whatever the man was about to say was cut off by the pained moans of his wife. "Fumika!?"

"Oh man, I didn't think that little bugger would be this feisty…" Fumika muttered as she clutched her stomach.

"Mom!?" Natsume looked towards her mother worriedly.

"What's going on now? what's wrong with mom!?" Keisuke cried out fearfully.

Fumika let out some more grunts as her skin changed pink, and her body started shifting and bulging.

"She's been infected by the Onimaru!" Akinori's grandmother suddenly shouted.

"What!?" the three kids looked shocked.

"Oh man, this feels so… so RAH!" the female Looper roared as her head grew in size, a horn poking out through her hair and fangs jutting from her mouth.

"No! Mom!" Natsume shouted in distress, before looking towards her father. "Dad! What do we do!?"

Keita said nothing as his onified wife lumbered towards him threateningly, letting out several low growls.

"Dad? DAD!?" Natsume was growing increasingly panicked as her father did nothing at the approaching threat. "Dad! You said you were an expert on this stuff, you can help her! Right? RIGHT!?"

Keita still gave no answer as the infected Fumika stood right in front of him, her growling increasing in volume.

"This isn't real, this isn't real…" Keisuke was shaking as he averted his eyes from the scene.

"Why isn't anyone doing anything!?" Akinori cried out, looking towards Jibanyan and Whisper, neither seemed concerned.

"Boy! I know she's your wife, but she's been infected by a creature that has tapped into all her dark emotions! And I'm sure you have a happy marriage and all, but plenty of those dark emotions are probably directed at you! Don't just stand there, defend yourself!"

Keita glanced towards the older woman briefly, before looking back towards the pink oni. A dreadful silence filled the room for a moment, before the Anchor smiled.

The fear of the other humans in the room soon turned to confusion as Fumika's growling slowly changed to laughter, which Keita soon joined in on.

'What the!? She should be ripping him apart now! What's going on!?' the Onimaru within Fumika thought with dread, trying with all his might to will his host into attacking, but he soon found himself being forcedly pulled from the body. 'Huh!?' "AAAHHH!" the kaima screamed as he was propelled out of his host body and banged into a wall. "Ouch!"

"There, that feels better," despite her oni-body, Fumika's voice sounded no different. She smirked down at the Onimaru that was ejected from her, as her body shrunk back to its normal proportions, though she kept the pink skin, horn, and fangs. "Thanks for the oni-power little guy, now I truly feel like the Oni Queen!"

"M-my power…?" the Onimaru looked at his shaking hands as a realization set in, he had been ejected from his host, but his power had not. "H-how!?"

"How is irrelevant, but I do believe I've seen you before," Keita's voice sent a chill down the small kaima's back.

"Mom, how…?" Natsume was staring at her mother with a look of disbelief.

"You took the power of the Onimaru for yourself, without being consumed by it…?" Akinori's grandmother seemed to be taking this turn of events better than the children, though still was shocked. "It seems I've underestimated you."

"Wow, even the Yo-kai Master's wife is amazing!" Akinori exclaimed in awe.

Fumika twitched a bit, looking towards the teen boy. "My name is Fumika Amano, and I may be Keita's wife, but I'm much more than just 'the Yo-kai Master's wife.' Listen here kid!" the human-turned-oni gave a proud smirk as she pointed a clawed finger towards Akinori, making him flinch. "I'm 'Oni Queen Fumika,' don't you forget it!"

"R-right, my apologies… Oni Queen Fumika," Akinori bowed with a nervous smile.

"Wait, now my mom is the 'Oni Queen!?'" Natsume's expression was unreadable.

"That's our Fumi-chan all right, nya," Jibanyan smirk as Whisper gave a chuckle.

"Lalala! Not listening! There're no such things as ghosts, monsters or yo-kai! And my mom is not an Oni Queen! This is just some weird dream, or hallucination!" Keisuke plugged his ears as he shouted in protest.

"Son, I know it's perfectly reasonable to have doubts on such things, but there is a point where it just becomes denial," Keita sighed as he put his hand on his son's shoulder.

With the attention off itself, the Onimaru shakily stood up, finding itself unable to float, he tried to carefully tiptoe out of the room.

"Hold your horses, kaima! Nya!"

The Onimaru didn't get very far, as he found his path blocked by a smirking nekomata.

"Gah! I-I– "the Onimaru whimpered as he looked around for some way to escape.

"As Keita-nya pointed out: I do believe we've met before. I also recall that we let you go free in exchange for nyot causing us any more trouble, nya…" Jibanyan extended his claws threateningly. "Surely you wouldn't willfully break your word on such a mannyer, would you? Nyo… there must be some misunderstanding, yes? Nya…"

"Well, I ah… AH!" the Onimaru fell to his knees in fear as he failed to even form a coherent sentence.

"Let the little thing go, Jibanyan," Fumika spoke up.

"Nya?" the cat yo-kai looked towards the other Looper curiously.

"Wha…?" the powerless Onimaru looked up in disbelief.

"It has no power now, it can't do anything," Fumika stepped over to the Onimaru and looked down at it. "Leave here, don't bother us again, we won't have any problems. Break our trust again, you won't like what happens," she bared her new fangs threateningly. "Got it?"

"G-got it!" the Onimaru nodded, before running for the exit, as he ran, he briefly glanced back at Keita. 'It wasn't him I should have been fearing…' his vision turned to Fumika, before he shuddered, turning back to the exit, with no plans to ever see these… people, ever again.

Keita stared in the direction the terrified kaima had left in, before turning to his wife, a practically mesmerized look on his face. "… Fumika, I love you."

"I know you do," the pink oni smirked, taking a seat in an armchair, giving her arms a good stretch. "So, you were raging something about Lord Enma, right?"

The Anchor blinked, before shaking his head to snap himself out of his daze. "Right! Fumika, if it's not too much to ask, do you think you could handle things with the kids and stuff here for a bit?"

"I think I can manage, seeing as I can tell where you're going with this," Fumika nodded with a playful smile, showing off her fangs again.

"Wait, what's going on? You guys just started explaining all this junk, and now suddenly all this happened, and now dad has to go to… Okay, I know I asked this before, and it's probably getting tiresome, but: WHAT'S GOING ON!?" Natsume exclaimed with a maddened expression.

"Don't you worry, sweetie. I'm sure you'll get the hang of this soon, and your mother will be watching your back, so you've got nothing to worry about," Keita assured. "Just look after your brother if you can, I find it a little hard to believe that he's still in denial, and I'm growing concerned…" the Anchor sighed, glancing towards his shaking son.

"I… suppose," the newest yo-kai watch-user accepted, despite her growing concerns and confusions with the situation. To her it seemed like with every answer she got, a dozen more questions popped up. But she trusted her parents, so she would go with this, for now.

"So, um… what are you planning on doing, Keita? Whissu," Whisper questioned, looking a bit nervous. "Do you still require an explanation of my mission? Whissu…"

"You can explain on the way, come on. You too, Jibanyan," Keita spoke seriously as he headed for the door.

"Nya?" the cat yo-kai looked to his human friend questioningly but followed along with Whisper.

"Where are you going now?" Akinori spoke up with concern on his face.

The grandmother tapped her cane on the floor with an irritated expression. "Yes, you do remember that time is of the essence, right!?"

"As was indicated only a moment ago, Fumika can handle things here perfectly well in my place," the Anchor assured, gesturing towards his wife, whom was giving a cheerful smile. "And we won't be gone long, we just need to get some answers," Keita gave an evil smirk as he approached the front door.

"Answers, Keita-kun? Whissu…" Whisper blinked.

"Are we going where I think we're going? Nya," Jibanyan spoke up as he walked on all fours, jumping in front of Keita and scratching at the door before the Anchor opened it.

Keita gave a nod. "Yup. Whisper, Jibanyan, we're going to the Yo-kai World!"

"So, what's the plan anyway, Keita-kun? Whissu," Whisper questioned as he followed his master/friend, along with Jibanyan, as they walked down the street, towards Oomori Yama (also sometimes known as 'Mt. Wildwood.')

"Simple; we go to the Yo-kai World, demand an explanation from Enma, and get that explanation," the Anchor stated plainly.

"Makes sense to me, nya," Jibanyan commented, looking like he didn't care much.

Whisper sweatdropped at his companions' attitudes. "Are you sure that's the… wisest move, Keita-kun? Lord Enma isn't a bad guy, he's only trying to do his best to protect both worlds, plus there's this situation going on with his position– "

"What situation, you didn't mention that!" Keita suddenly snapped, turning to glare at the ghost butler.

"… Slipped my mind, sorry, whissu," Whisper bowed.

Keita grunted, glaring in the direction of the mountain. "Whatever his reasons are, I know he's not a bad guy. But he still wanted to 'test' my daughter by throwing a boss yo-kai at her, and I'm pretty sure he's at least partly responsible for my unAwake self's loss of memory and yo-kai watch! So, I will be demanding answers from him, and he will give them to me!"

"Well… I suppose there's no talking you out of it, whissu," Whisper sighed.

Jibanyan lazily scratched one of his ears, before giving his companions a dull look, "Say, how are we gonnya get to the Yo-kai World anyaway?"

The Anchor paused, still looking towards the mountain, "I was going to see if the elevator was at the Sacred Tree like in a Game Loop, it's sometimes in Baseline, but…" reaching into his sub-space pocket, Keita pulled out standard model yo-kai watch, as well as a Ungaikyō medal, "Might as well see if this works…"

"That husband of yours is rather foolhardy," Akinori's grandmother commented to the, still oni-form, Fumika with sigh, "Going off to confront the lord of the Yo-kai World, while the very fate of this one hangs in the balance…"

Fumika giggled a bit, before noting the annoyed look the (seemingly) older woman was giving her. "Sorry, I just got a little giddy when you called him my 'husband.'" she giggled a little more, her eyes sparkling a bit, "He really is my husband…"

The elder Arihoshi gave the Looper a confused look, "I would think a woman your age, married with two kids, would be long passed getting 'giddy' over referring to the man you married as your 'husband…'"

"I suppose you're right, but sometimes it feels like we were just married the day before," Fumika said with another laugh. 'Or rather, just this morning.'

The grandmother gave a suspicious look for a brief moment, but quickly turned back to her initial concern. "Regardless, what is that man thinking? We can't afford to waste any time!"

"And we won't," Fumika held a hand up, giving a serious expression. "Keita-kun is doing important information gathering, going to Enma to figure out exactly what's going on, and why the world is depending on our little girl to save it, this time."

Natsume gave a nervous hum as she stood by the couch.

Keisuke was still seated, mumbling a bit to himself, seemingly trying to convince himself this was all a dream.

"Also, as he told you all before he left; I'm plenty to deal with the threat these Onimaru pose!" the pink-skinned woman gave a proud smirk. "You've got the Oni Queen on world saving-duty now, lady! And I won't allow any of these Onimaru, or whatever boss monster they're likely following, to harm even one hair on my babies' heads!" An overwhelming aura of maternal instinct seemed to emit from the oni woman.

"Huh, somehow, I believe you," the elder commented, sounding a bit impressed.

"Both of your parents are amazing, Amano-san," Akinori commented to Natsume as he stared at Fumika in amazement.

"Why are you so excited by all this stuff that freaks me out?" Natsume questioned the boy, a deadpan tone to her voice, glancing between him and her yo-kai watch. "… And don't look at my mom that way!"

Akinori blinked, giving Natsume a confused look, "Like… what?"

"Why haven't I woken up yet?" Keisuke muttered dizzily, hugging his legs to his chest.

Fumika looked towards her son, giving a concerned sigh, "Oh sweetie, this really isn't a dream; the sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be." The Looper walked over to the couch and tried to give the boy a comforting head-pat, careful not to hurt him with her claws.

Keisuke seemed to calm down a bit at his mother's touch, but still seemed to be trying to ignore the immediate reality around him.

"Now…" Fumika glanced at Natsume and Akinori, "Natsume, though you seem to be 'destined' to save the world, or something, I don't think we'll be able to avoid that."

The thirteen-year-old girl gave her mother a blank look, her eyes twitching a bit, "You… you can't be serious, mom!"

The adult woman held up a finger to signify she wasn't done speaking, "But, neither I, nor your father, have any intention of letting you do so without our help!" Fumika's hand turned to a fist as she gave her daughter a confident grin. "So, rest assured, nothing will harm you so long as either of us are still standing!"

Natsume looked surprised at her mom's words, unsure of how to respond. With a defeated sigh, the young girl glanced at her wrist where the Yo-kai Watch Elder was strapped on, "I don't know what to think about all this mom… so much is happening so fast, and you and dad seem to already know what's going on, I just can't keep up…"

Fumika looked at her daughter with sympathetic eyes, "I know it's confusing honey, we don't know everything that's going on either, your father and I just have a lot of experience with yo-kai related stuff…" after a moment, Fumika reached into her sub-space pocket and pulled out a copy of her original pendant-style yo-kai watch. "Speaking of which, I think I should call in an old friend to help out a bit."

Natsume blinked, staring at the device her mother had pulled from seemingly-nowhere, "Wait, what is that…?"

Akinori gave an amazed gasp as he stared at the watch as well, "Is that another yo-kai watch!? Where did you get that!? How is it possible!?"

"Boy, stop shouting!" the grandmother's command silenced the young man, she glared at Fumika, "That is indeed another yo-kai watch, a different type than the Elder, but it is a yo-kai watch. Where did you get that?"

Fumika chuckled a bit as she held her yo-kai watch up, putting it around her neck, "Where did I get it? I really can't recall where I got this specific yo-kai watch, I've had so many." The oni-fied woman gave a thoughtful pause, "Do they not still sell them in the Yo-kai World? I recall them being marketed like cellphones back when Keita and I were kids!" she gave another chuckle at how ridiculous that probably sounded.

"… Oh, right, I had almost forgotten about that…" Akinori's grandmother muttered, sounding displeased at the idea of mass-producing yo-kai watches.

Akinori's eyes were wide, "Wait, you used to be able to buy yo-kai watches!?"

Natsume sighed, tapping at her yo-kai watch, "I don't really feel like I can be surprised by anything anymore, but if you and dad have a bunch of these things, and they mass-produced them for purchase, what makes this stupid thing so special!?"

"Models of yo-kai watches may have come off a product-line and been sold like any old trinket in the past, but the Yo-kai Watch Elder is unique!" the elderly woman spoke up again, looking a bit aggravated. "We have no time to go over exact specifics, but you need to stop the Onimaru! We cannot afford to waste any more time!"

"Why won't you give me a proper explanation!?" Natsume snapped angrily.

"Hold on!" Fumika exclaimed, interrupting Akinori's grandmother from rebuffing Natsume, looking through her pocket again she pulled out one of her Kyubi medals. "We'll get moving to do our part in whatever needs to be done, but I figured it would do to call in a bit more help!"

Akinori looked at the medal, his eyes lighting up in recognition, "Kyubi!? No, wait…" the boy paused, looking a bit confused at the object the Looper held, "What is that? It's not an ark?"

"You know him? This is a medal," Fumika smiled fondly as she held up the coin-like object. "My best friend Kyubi gave it to me a long, long time ago. The picture's probably out of date, but it should still bring him here." With enthusiasm, Fumika inserted the medal into her yo-kai watch. "Come on out my friend! Calling Kyubi! Yo-kai medal do your thing!" The watch lit up, and a voice emitted from it.

"Fushigi-zoku! Fushigi! Fushigi! Boogie woogie! We only want to have a great time!"

The yo-kai watch unleashed a swirling tornado of yellow runes, from them appeared the form of a humanoid fox-man, with mostly yellow and white fur, clad in a purple kimono. He took a dignified pose as he came to stand in before the woman who summoned him, before announcing himself, "Kyubi!"

Silence filled the room when the fox turned to look at Fumika, and stared at her, she stared back, both seemed to be at a bit of a loss.

"… Kyubi?" Fumika questioned carefully.

"… Fumi-chan?" the fox yo-kai questioned in the same manner, squinting his eyes a bit. "You're taller… and pink."

"And you seem to have gotten a new… style, I suppose," Fumika scratched her chin thoughtfully. "What's with the get-up anyway?"

"A lot happens in thirty years, Fumi-chan, though it escapes me exactly when and how this started," the nine-tailed fox shrugged, giving a Ping in the process, which Fumika returned. "What about you?"

"The me being an oni thing is a recent development, I personally think it looks great on me," Fumika smirked a bit as she did a twirl.

Kyubi couldn't help but chuckle a bit, "Well, I can't say it doesn't suite you. You've been going on about how you're the 'Oni Queen' for so long after all." The nine-tailed fox glanced around the room for a moment, his eyes briefly scanning over Natsume and Keisuke. "Speaking of which, where's your 'King?' I assume you and Keita tied the knot after thirty years, and those two kits are obviously yours."

"… Kits?" Natsume questioned with a dumbfounded expression, still trying to figure out how her mom being friends with this strange nine-tailed fox-man fit into all the other craziness that had happened so far.

"Just a dream, it's just a dream," Keisuke muttered quickly.

Natsume twitched, before sending her brother a glare, "Okay, enough of that! I am not suffering this on my own, and your rejection of this, admittedly hard to believe, reality can't get you out of it! SO, SNAP OUT OF IT!" with a roar, the thirteen-old-girl grabbed the eleven-year-old boy by the shoulders, pulled him up from the couch, and started shaking him.

"AH!" Keisuke yelled as he was pulled by his sister, looking unsure of what to do as she shook him.

Fumika sighed, steppin over to her kids and pulling the two apart, "Natsume, don't shake your brother. Keisuke, this is real, sorry…"

"I-I… okay," Keisuke muttered in defeat, finding nothing else to do but give his mom a hug, which, despite her being in the form of an oni, still gave him comfort.

"… Sorry," Natsume muttered, bowing her head towards her mother and sibling. "Everything's just going so nuts…"

"I can see that you're not used to the dealings of yo-kai," Kyubi commented, hovering over to the Looper and her two children, giving a skeptical look. "What exactly have you and Keita been teaching these kids, Fumi-chan?"

"It's some Loopy stuff, okay Kyubi?" Fumika stated firmly.

Kyubi nodded at the signal of Looper-related things to discuss later, giving a shrug, "I suppose I can accept that. Still hard to believe that the children of the 'Yo-kai Master,' and 'Oni Queen' would have never had any experience with yo-kai."

"Well, excuse us for not living up to some legacy we were never told once about," Natsume muttered sarcastically as she glared towards the fox yo-kai, though the subtle side-glare she gave her mother did not go unnoticed.

"Natsume, there's a perfectly good reason why your father and I never told you about yo-kai," the Looping woman sighed, giving her son another comforting pat on the head before releasing him from her hug and putting a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "But it can wait, there's still urgent matters we need to attend to."

"So, you are finally ready to have us begin combating the Onimaru?" Akinori's grandmother questioned as she stepped over, a rather impatient frown stretched across her face.

Fumika smiled towards the old woman with confidence, "That is, after all, why I summoned Kyubi now."

Kyubi gave a huff as he crossed his arms, trying to hide the smirk slipping onto his muzzle, "Nice to know I'm the first you consider calling to help you with world-ending disasters. And I thought you called me over just to say 'hi' and introduce me to your family."

Fumika chuckled, "Well, you certainly are useful in some tough situations. Though I suppose I should give a proper introduction." Fumika gestured to both of her kids, "Kyubi, this is my precious little girl Natsume Amano, and my adorable little boy Keisuke Amano!" she looked to her kids and pointed to the fox, "Kids, this is my best yo-kai friend; Kiwi the Kyubi!"

Natsume, Keisuke and even Akinori all blinked and questioned in univson, "Kiwi…?"

Kyubi twitched, a slight snarl escaping his mouth, "It's just Kyubi! KY-U-BI! Not Kiwi! I think that joke would have gotten stale after thirty years!"

Fumika chuckled mischievously while the kids looked at her in confusion, and the elderly woman just gave an annoyed grunt.

An Ungaikyō sat lazily on the corner of a street in the yo-kai, before it suddenly jumped up, the glass of its mirror glowing.

Keita, Whisper and Jibanyan all grunted as they came flying out of the mirror yo-kai's body and onto the street, getting up and collecting themselves with a few more.

"Well, at least that worked," Keita muttered, brushing himself off before looking towards the confused Ungaikyō and giving a wave, "Thanks for having us, and tell the Ungaikyō on the other side thanks too, if you can."

The mirror yo-kai blinked, staring with a blank expression as it was still trying to process this sudden interruption of this previously lazy day.

"So, where to nyow?" Jibanyan asked as he leapt onto his back paws and looked towards Keita.

"Enma's place, of course," the 'Yo-kai Master' concluded, looking around the yo-kai city they had appeared in and trying to determine their exact location.

"Um, that's actually part of the 'situation' I wanted to tell you about, Keita-kun. Whissu," Whisper spoke with an unsure chuckle as he floated around the human.

"What do you mean?" Keita asked, his brow raised questioningly.

"Nya?" Jibanyan tilted his head.

Whisper let out a small cough before taking on a more dignified posture, "Well, you see; it's not exactly 'Enma's place' anymore… whissu."

"So, you're the big shot who decided to go and take over the throne, huh?" Keita questioned nonchalantly as he marched into the room.

Jaō Kaira stared with wide eyes at the sudden appearance of a human, but his eyes soon narrowed as he noticed the watch that was on the man's wrist… a model of watch that nobody should be able to obtain anymore.

Ūura quickly moved in the human's path, blocking the way and giving a small chuckle, "However you got here, human, you certainly don't have any right to start speaking to Lord K– " the elderly yo-kai's words were cut off by what felt like a gust of wind blowing by him, before he noticed the human no longer stood before him. "Huh…?"

"As I was saying…"

Ūura turned around with surprise to see that the intruder had somehow gotten past him, continuing to approach his lord's throne.

"You best nyot try anything."

A large, furry paw tightly gripped Ūura's shoulder. The aid to new king of yo-kai stiffly turned his head, only to see a large red nekomata glaring him down, emitting an immense aura.

"We might nyot exactly die but trust me when I say this; you'll live longer-nya!"

Jaō Kaira was keeping his eyes glued to the man as he approached, despite the speed he displayed when moving past Ūura, the man gave off no sign of being anymore than an ordinary human.

"So, you're 'Lord' Kaira, right?" Keita spoke calmly, giving a small smile as he stood just before the throne.

The humanoid yo-kai's fist clenched slightly at the way 'Lord' was said, despite the human's calm tone, he could detect the slight mockery within it. "Who are you, and how did you get here?" he noticed the white ghost who followed along with the nekomata that now had Ūura restrained, he recognized that ghost as one of Lord Enma's followers…

"My name is Keita Amano, and I am truly sorry for dropping in unannounced," Keita introduced with a quick bow. "But you see, there is good reason for this sudden meeting, but there are matters that I must address here, before returning to Earth to help deal with the issues currently happening there…"

'Amano…?' Kaira wasn't sure where, but he was sure he had heard that name somewhere before. Shaking his head of that thought, he stood up from his throne, giving off an air of intimidation.

Keita remained unfazed, keeping his calm smile as he spoke again, "Anyway, I can tell you're very busy, I just want to talk to Lord Enma, so if you could just direct me to him, that would be great."

Something within Jaō Kaira snapped at that moment; not only had some human randomly decided to march into his throne room and demand his attention, but it wasn't even him that this human even wanted to see, it was Enma!? A snarl escaped the new lord's mouth as he moved closer to the human, fully prepared to strike him down for even thinking that a mere human could speak to the king of the Yo-kai World like that. "I don't know, or care, who you think you are, human, but– "

"Oh, you don't know who I think I am?"

Jaō Kaira froze as his arm was caught mid-swing, suddenly feeling an aura of terrifying power flowing from this man's body.

The man's demeanor had changed completely, letting out a fierce growl as he stared the humanoid yo-kai down with a cold glare, keeping the arm in place with a supernaturally strong grip. "I've been at this for longer than you can possibly imagine! I want to speak to Lord Enma now, and I want be blocked by some upstart brat with an inferiority complex!"

Jaō Kaira's eyes widened at the man's words, wanting to shout in protest, but the grip increased in strength, forcing him onto his knees. Ūura was understandily shocked by the sight of his lord being overpowered by a supposedly inferior being, while Whisper and Jibanyan were equally surprised by the level of aggression the Anchor was displaying.

"I am not messing around, so you better tell me where you stashed him right this instant!" Keita hissed as he glared down at the yo-kai, staring him in the eyes as his pupils began to glow blue.

After a moment of this, Kaira felt the intensity of the human's aura lessen, his arm being released. He gave a gasp for air, staring at the ground for a few seconds before looking back up at the intruder. "… H-he's escaped from the prison I put him in, but… I believe I know where he might have gone…"

The Anchor's aura faded, the human giving a pleasant smile to the terrified yo-kai, "Thank you. That wasn't so hard, was it?" helping the yo-kai royal up, Keita gently brushed some of the dirt off his clothing before nodding. "Now then, how about you lead the way?"

"… Yes, of course," Jaō Kaira muttered with a slow nod, internally feeling more powerless than ever.

Jibanyan and Whisper both exchanged uneasy looks.

"Has Keita-nya always been this… violent?"

"Well… I'm guessing this has something to do with having two new kids… whissu," Whisper shrugged.

"What is he…?" Ūura questioned, a petrified expression of terror on his face.

"Saving the world… what exactly are we even supposed to be doing?" Natsume questioned tiredly, exiting her home along with her mother, Kyubi, Keisuke, Akinori and his grandmother.

"You need to use your yo-kai watch to deal with the one who is wielding the Kigan Gear and rid the world of the Onimaru!" the elderly woman stated seriously.

"Kigan Gear…?" Natsume gave a confused blinked, before glancing down at the Yo-kai Watch Elder.

Fumika let out a scoff, "Honestly, why is it always kids that need to save the world? It was my husband thirty years ago, it was his grandfather ninety years ago, and now it's my daughter!" she held up a clawed hand and let out a protective growl. "Why can't Keita and I just take care of this!?"

"Strong you and well-versed in the world of yo-kai you may be, you don't have the tools to deal with this task," Akinori's grandmother stated plainly.

Fumika's eye twitched, "… Why?"

"Yeah, why?" Natsume questioned with a small shiver.

"I'm still processing all of this," Keisuke stuck close to his mother, letting out a bit of a whimper.

Before the grandmother could snap at the group again, Kyubi floated over and placed a calming hand on Fumika's shoulder.

"The way our world works, and how many do in fact, depends a lot on the innocence of children…" the fox yo-kai let out a small sigh, glancing towards Natsume, Keisuke and Akinori. "It's not fair, Fumika, I know, it wasn't fair all those years ago either," a small smirk came to the kitsune's muzzle. "But, remember; we're in a position to defy fate, though your children need to be involved, you are in a very good position to help and protect them."

The onified woman gave her old friend a long stare, before a smirk creeped its way onto her own face, showing off her sharp teeth, "Yeah, I suppose you're right." The mother looked at Natsume, then Keisuke, and gave each of them a nod. "You may need to save the world, but I'm gonna help you do that! And if anything hurts you, you can be sure I'll make good on my earlier promise!"

"A-alright mom…" Natsume nodded, somehow feeling both safe and intimidated by her mother at that moment.

"That goes for you too, Akinori!" Fumika suddenly announced, pointing to the other teen.

"Huh?" Akinori blinked in surprise.

Fumika smiled, "You may not be one of my kids, but you're still a kid, and I won't stand for any harm coming to you while I'm standing!"

"Oh, um… thanks," the teen boy muttered, scratching the back of his head in emberassment.

"Enough of this idle chitchat, we need to move!" Akinori's grandmother suddenly snapped, banging her cane on the ground several times.

Fumika gave an annoyed grunt, but nodded, before turning to her daughter, "Okay, Natsume; first thing's first, if we're going to do this, it seems we're going to need to find this person who has the… 'Kigan Gear?'" the pink-skinned oni glanced towards the elderly woman for confirmation, whom nodded. "Yeah, and then we…" Fumika paused, scratching her head, "What… are we supposed to do with it anyway?"

Unknown to the group (aside from Fumika, whom had sensed them, but didn't say anything as she also sensed something else coming…)

"So that's the girl chosen by the Yo-kai Watch?" Nurarihyon commented as he floated beside Lord Enma, his eyes focused on Natsume, though he spared a glance to Fumika and Kyubi. "Those two though… that woman has an old yo-kai watch model, and she has obsorbed the Onimaru's power without being controlled…?"

Lord Enma frowned, a troubled look in his eyes, "The issue of the Onimaru is worrisome enough, but there is now a completely unforeseen variable, and I fear the one the Yo-kai Watch Elder has chosen has set their wrath onto me…"

Nurarihyon glanced to the shorter humanoid yo-kai, "You are referring to Keita Amano, correct?"

"He should have no memory of yo-kai, or access to a yo-kai watch, but…" Enma gave a frustrated groan, rubbing his forehead, "This is such a strange situation, even if he did somehow remember, he shouldn't have been able to interfere in my contact with Whisper, and seeing what his wife can do as well…"

"You fear I'll see you as an enemy, and come at you with some mysterious means of attack?"

"That's part of it, I suppose, but– "Enma froze as he realized it was not Nurarihyon whom had spoken just then. Both Enma and Nurarihyon slowly turned to see Keita floating their, an intimidating aura surrounding him, with Whisper and Jibanyan floating at his sides.

"Honestly Enma, I do still consider you a friend… so before I do anything, let's just talk…" the 'Yo-kai Master' suggested in a tone that offered no room for questioning.

"Keita… how…?" Enma looked completely baffled by the appearance of the human man.

"We can discuss the 'how' later, what I want to discuss now… is the why," Keita spoke in a calm tone as he stared at the former king of the yo-kai world.

"… The why of what?" before the humanoid yo-kai knew what to think, the 'Yo-kai Master's' arm had shot forward, catching on of his own in what felt like an unbreakable grip.

Keita's eyes narrowed with fatherly fury, his body nearly trembling as he started shaking the former king, "YOU THINK I'M MESSING AROUND!? YOU HAD MY BUTLER SEND A BOSS YO-KAI TO 'TEST' MY LITTLE BABY GIRL! I WANT ANSWERS AND I WANT THEM NOW!"

"K-Keita, please, if you could just calm down, I'll explain everything to you!"

"If you know what's good for you, Amano, you'll unhand Lord Enma right this instant!" Nurarihyon growled threateningly.

"Nobody's talking to you, Nurarihyon!" Keita snapped with a cold glare.

Nurarihyon moved to yell at the 'Yo-kai Master' again, when suddenly a massive aura erupted from the human's body and pushed him back. "W-what!?"

Lord Enma remained in place, giving a small sigh as the man's glare turned back to him. "Alright Keita, let's talk… I understand why you're mad, but you must understand that the hands of fate are not my own."

The brown-haired human let out a small growl, but nodded his head after a moment, "I understand that, Enma. I know you have no part in why my daughter is the one who needs to save the world this time…" he glanced towards his wrist with a small grunt, "And, I assume you're not directly responsible for the loss of my old yo-kai watch, and the failed attempt of removing my memories of the yo-kai…"

The former king of yo-kai flinched slightly as the human gave him a hard look, before he nodded slowly. "Things are complicated Keita… the Yo-kai World has gone through some changes, and not even I have perfect recollection of the previous couple decades…"

"Hmph, something screwed with my memories too," Jibanyan commented, giving a scratch to his ear. "I couldn't even remember Emi-chan until a little while ago, and it took a bit longer for me to remember Keita-nya…"

"The specifics are blurry right now, I suppose, whissu," Whisper nodded.

"On more than one level, probably…" Keita muttered a bit to himself as he glanced at his butler, he then faced the red-skinned humanoid with a look of intent. "You don't have to try and justify why any of this happened, Enma, I just want to know why…" the human's eyes narrowed with a fierce glint, "Why did you choose to send Whisper to put my daughter into that situation, with a boss yo-kai!?"

Enma let out another sigh, "Look, Amano-san, we didn't exactly have a lot of time; we needed to make sure your daughter had what it would take to handle her duties, if I had known you had somehow regained your memories and yo-kai watch, I would have tried contacting you first." The humanoid yo-kai let out a small chuckle, "Besides, that Mitsumata Nozuchi posed no actual threat to your child, I think you'll find that obvious once she tries summoning him."

Nurarihyon gave an agitated growl as he finally came floating back over but held his tongue as he glanced between Keita and Enma, noting how the human seemed to be calming down.

"Alright, acceptable… I suppose the immediate threat to the world is what we should really be focusing on anyway, I can grill you for some more proper answers later," Keita stated plainly.

"That would probably be the smartest thing to do," Enma nodded, having no intention of being anywhere the 'Yo-kai Master' would be able to find him once this whole thing was over…

"Oh, and one last thing," Keita gave a pleasant smile… before punching Lord Enma in the face. "Okay, now we can go!"

"Ow… do you even need a yo-kai watch anymore Keita?" the king of yo-kai muttered as he rubbed his pained jaw.

Nurarihyon rushed over to his lord's side and checked to see if he was fine, before glaring at Keita, looking ready to attack, "What is wrong with you, Keita Amano!? How dare you lay a violent hand on Lord En– "

"Nurarihyon, stop," Enma placed a hand on the other yo-kai's shoulder firmly, shaking his head. "You feel his aura, don't you? You'd never stand a chance against him… besides, he barely did any damage…" the red-skinned yo-kai gave a small smirk. "If he really wanted to hurt me… well, I probably wouldn't be here anymore…"

Nurarihyon looked like he wanted to protest, but after a moment decided it would be best not to, and simply gave a silent nod.

Lord Enma then took notice of another yo-kai watching the group, floating a bit far off, "Jaō Kaira…?"

The new lord of the yo-kai world flinched as the focus was put on him, before he quickly fled.

Keita glared in the direction Jaō Kaira had gone, before giving a huff and looking towards Enma. "That guy is the one who led us to where you were at… after giving him a bit of convincing…" the human man shook his head with disappointment. "Honestly, Enma, why did you let that guy usurp you? You could have easily put him in his place…"

"As I said; things are complicated," The fire-wielding yo-kai waved off the question.

"… You got bored with ruling the Yo-kai World, didn't you?" Keita gave a flat look towards the former yo-kai lord.

Enma gave no response to that question, floating away, followed closely by Nurarihyon. "There is a large threat brewing, Amano-san. I trust you and your family can handle things here, but there is something I must go to do…"

"Yeah, yeah, just go and do what you need to do," Keita waved, giving a bit of a smirk which Enma returned, before they parted ways.

Nurarihyon gave a final glare towards the yo-kai watch holder, before following his master, them both fading from view in a shroud of purple mist.

"Man, you can sure by nyasty when you want to be, Keita-nya," Jibanyan commented as he and Whisper moved over to the human's sides.

"Yes, it was rather shocking, whissu," Whisper added with a nervous glance.

Keita chuckled a bit sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, his mood seemingly doing a 180 from the previous moment. "Yeah, sorry about that. I might have gotten a bit carried away…" he hummed a bit, shaking his head as his expression turned thoughtful, "I just… got really mad, I know how our world works, but…" he closed his eyes, a sentimental smile forming, "I just met Natsume, and Keisuke, but… they're also Fumi-chan and I's little babies! I can't stand the thought of anything hurting them, even if I know that they would probably come out of it okay in Baseline," he glanced to the side, a worried thought crossing his mind, 'And… where in the world is Hanahojin…?'

"I guess it makes sense why you'd feel that way, nya…" Jibanyan gave a sympathetic nod, patting his human friend on the back.

Whisper nodded, looking like he was about to say something insightful, but his attempt to do so was interrupted by a yell from down on the ground.

"Hey! How long are you guys going to hang on up there? You're done with your talk with Lord Enma, so why not come back and join us already!" Fumika shouted up at the hovering trio, shocking the others in the group (aside from Kyubi) as they looked towards the three.

Keita shared a chuckle with Whisper and Jibanyan, before he nodded down at the pink oni, "Coming, honey!"

"This is bad, the Onimaru are multiplying at an incredible rate…" Akinori's grandmother commented, looking over her grandson's shoulder as he held up a device which displayed many red dots, with one being much larger than the others. "We need to hurry."

"Yeah, I can feel them," Keita stated with crossed arms as he stood by the slide, Fumika was by his side and nodded with narrowed eyes. "The power of kaima, pulsating through out town…"

"Why do you have to talk so creepily, dad…?" Keisuke muttered, shivering slightly as he clung to his mother.

The oni woman let out a soothing sound as she patted her son's head in a comforting manner.

Natsume came over to Akinori and looked over his other shoulder, frowning a bit as she glanced at the radar. "What's that big dot?"

The elder gave a troubled frown, "That would in all likelihood; be the Onimaru leader…"

"Their leader?" Natsume questioned.

Kyubi hovered over and gave a nod, putting a hand on the teenage girl's shoulder, "Yes, I can feel it, and I'm sure your parents, Jibanyan, and Whisper can all feel it too…"

"The big energy signature that is causing the spread of the others, whissu," Whisper nodded, hovering over, next to Kyubi, "Getting them organized, turning what would be a spread of chaos into a systematic take over, whissu…"

"Great, nya…" Jibanyan huffed as he sat on top of the slide, crossing his arms in annoyance. "That's exactly what we nyeed…"

"Wait," Natsume held a hand up, looking thoughtful, "So, if we take out the leader–"

"It probably won't amount to much," Keita interrupted his daughter's thought, walking over while looking to be in thought. "While it may seem the 'big dot' is the leader causing the problems, in all likelihood they're just another pawn for the true instigator of all this…"

"Probably," Fumika gave a small sigh as she shook her head. "The real big boss never shows up that easily, likely that whoever this 'leader' is does not even know they're just acting as a pawn for someone else, too…"

Natsume frowned as her parents shot down her idea for a solution.

"But we don't have any other leads," Kyubi spoke up again, "And, whatever this 'leader' is doing, probably falls into the true big bad's plans, so stopping it's not a bad idea, Natsume-chan…"

Seeing both her parents nod in agreement to this statement, Natsume smiled again.

"I… don't know about that whole 'true big bad' thing, but…" Akinori looked towards his grandmother hopefully, "Grandma, do you think we could deal with this Onimaru Leader, and put a stop to all of this?"

"Hmm…" the elder looked unsure for a moment, thinking about that possibility. "The Onimaru Leader will be coming at us with unrelenting force, and not only will they be incredibly powerful, but the entire legion of Onimaru infected people will be acting on their will as well…" she glanced at around at the group that surrounded them, "We have an unprecedented advantage, much more than I had thought we would, with the assistance of your parents, and their powerful yo-kai allies," the old woman looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure if it would be enough to take out the Onimaru leader, but we are certainly in a good position, from what I have observed…"

"Don't forget, I can cure any Onimaru infected humans with the flick of my wrist," Keita stated with a small smirk.

Akinori's grandma looked at Keita blankly, "… You never mentioned you could do that."

"Really? I was pretty sure I did," Keita looked away with an innocent whistle.

Fumika gave a small giggle.

"Don't worry, surely the Yo-kai Master and legendary Jibanyan can take out the Onimaru leader with no issue," Akinori exclaimed with enthusiasm, before he felt a chilling aura wash over him. "A-and, Oni Queen Fumika, of course!"

The pink-skinned woman gave a thumbs-up and a charming smile, no sign of any sinister aura around her…

"Okay, so we move in and take out the 'leader,'" Keita stated firmly.

"Nya, and then when the real big bad shows up, we smack them in the face!" Jibanyan jumped down from the slider and over to Keita, before exchanging a high-five with him.

"I-I'm still not sure what to think about what's happening…" Keisuke stuttered fearfully, his eyes darting in every direction, still keeping close to his mother.

"Oh, don't worry Keisuke-kun, mommy won't let anything happen to you," Fumika assured, giving her son a comforting hug, which did seem to calm him down a bit.

"This is all so crazy…" Natsume muttered as she watched her oni-mother hug her little brother, before listing up her wrist and looking at her yo-kai watch, her eyes narrowed. "But… we do need to put a stop to those Onimaru, so let's do what we need to do!"

"Don't you worry, Natsume! Your Uncle Kyubi's got your back!" the fox yo-kai assured as he kept hovering beside her.

"Wait, now you're my uncle?" Natsume asked with a completely lost expression.

"Of course! Though, obviously I mean that as in 'close friend of your parents' uncle, not biological uncle!"

"That's what I assumed you meant, but with everything that is happening I couldn't be too sure…" the daughter of the Yo-kai Master and Oni Queen shook her head, trying to keep calm in light of the situation, that she knew would soon be escalating…

"The airport?" Keita questioned as he looked upon the building the Onimaru were gathering at, followed by Fumika, Natsume, Akinori, and their yo-kai companions (Akinori's grandmother and Keisuke had opted to stay behind.)

"They must be planning to spread out to the rest of the world," Fumika grunted, giving a small snarl and exposing her fangs.

"Huh, could you just walk in and claim to be one of them?" Kyubi asked Fumika as he hovered around the oni woman.

"Don't even joke about that," the female Looper huffed, lightly smacking the fox yo-kai in the side. "Besides, you know my Keita-kun's got those mooks covered…"

"Right, dad…" Natsume looked towards her father expectantly, but also unsurely. "You said you could cure all of them, right…?"

"It's a large area, but I think I can manage it…" Keita nodded, before stepping ahead of the group and out into the open.

The various onified people took note of his appearance and began to leer in his direction, but that did not end up lasting very long…

"Normal!" Keita shouted, thrusting a hand forward and up to the sky.

A wave of energy washed over the airport, and without another warning, every single oni passed out, the Onimaru that had infected them flying out as the people reverted to their normal forms…

With a satisfied smile, the Anchor turned back to the group and nodded, "Come on, let's go."

Natsume looked stunned as she followed along into the airport, noting how none of the yo-kai, nor her mother, were the slightest bit surprised by this development.

"Wow, so this is the power of the Yo-kai Master…" Akinori muttered in awe as he also followed along, glancing around at all the passed-out humans, whom had been infected by Onimaru just moments before.

"No, my friend," Whisper shook his head as he floated over to the magic-user. "That was the power of 'Fuu2,' whissu!"

Akinori and Natsume both blinked, a confused look shared between them, "Fuu… 2…?"

"What…?" the boy known as Touma Tsukinami questioned as he looked around the room, the many onified people he had at his command moments before, had all collapsed without warning, expelling the Onimaru from their bodies and scattering them to the winds. "What just happened… how could this happen?"

"I don't know, Touma, but I felt a shiver run over me at that moment," one of the three Onimaru that hovered at Touma's side, the one with a single eye, stated as he looked around warily.

"Touma, Touma, somebody just sent all the other Onimaru running…" the three eyed Onimaru said with a frantic wave of his arms. "I don't know how, but your army is gone!"

"No more Onimaru are coming, it's like they've all been repelled from the area…" the two eyed Onimaru said with concern. "Except for us… why?"

Touma's eyes narrowed, before looking down at his wrist where the Kigan Gear was attached. "This will not do; I cannot make myself known to the world like this." His fist clenched as he looked around, trying to find the source of his plan's disruption. "I will find what did this, and make sure it doesn't interfere further."

Touma's three Onimaru companions exchanged worried looks, unsure if the boy could face… whatever terrifying force they had all felt…

"Touma-kun…?"

Touma and the three Onimaru looked over at the sudden female voice, seeing Natsume come into the room, passing by the many passed out humans, looking towards Touma with eyes filled with confusion and worry.

"Don't run ahead, Natsume-chan," Fumika jumped rushed over to her daughter and grabbed her shoulder, moving in front of her protectively, soon to be joined by Keita, Akinori, and the yo-kai.

"… You," Touma's eyes narrowed as he recognized Natsume, before noticing that the woman standing protectively before her was an oni, like those infected by the Onimaru, aside from the preportions being more human, and the way she still seemed to have control of herself. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Touma-kun, why are you…" Natsume moved to look out from behind her mother, even as the onified woman shifted to keep her guarded. "You… you're the Onimaru leader?"

"Touma?" Fumika looked down at her daughter, before narrowing her eyes as she looked towards the boy, her eyes widened as Loop-memories flashed through her mind. "Is that really little Touma…?"

Keita stepped next to his wife, looking towards the 'Onimaru Leader,' internally going through memories as well. "Oh, great tree, it is!" the Anchor facepalme while shaking his head, before glaring in the teenage boy's direction. "Hey, Touma, what are you doing!?"

"Hm, so much for just killing the leader, nya," Jibanyan grunted, walking on all fours, standing behind Keita in a stance that showed he was ready to pounce if needed. "Seems it's just some kid, who's been made a pawn, nya…"

Touma's eye twitched a bit as he glared at all the intruders, before an arrogant smirk came to his face, his eyes flashing red, "Me, a pawn…? You really have no idea what's going on, do you?"

"I think we know more than you," Kyubi gave a huff as he hovered forward, before pointing towards the ghost butler just behind him. "Even Whisper probably knows more than you!"

"Hey! Is that backhanded-insult really necessary, whissu!?" Whisper shouted in protest, shaking his fists a bit.

The holder of the Kigan Gear snarled, feeling his rage building over how they were disregarding him.

"Everyone, please," Natsume motioned for everyone else to stop speaking, stepping out from behind her mother, before looking towards Touma with a pleading look. "Touma-kun, please tell me; why are you doing this?"

Touma's rage subsided momentarily when Natsume questioned him, looking towards her with a slightly confused look. "Why…?"

Natsume nodded, a few tears appearing in her eyes, "Yes… so many… crazy things have happened today, so many things I thought I knew have proven wrong…" she nervously glanced around at her parents, and the yo-kai who surrounded them, before looking firmly towards Touma again, wiping her tears with a sleeve. "But, Touma-kun, I know that you were always a kind person! I know that couldn't be wrong, so… why?"

Touma's expression had turned calm as Natsume had spoken, before it broke into a sinister grin as he let out a laugh, "Me, kind? Do you really think that…?"

"T-Touma…?" Natsume took a step back, shaken by the look in his eye.

Fumika let out a low growl as she placed a protective hand on her daughter's shoulder, watching the Onimaru Leader carefully.

"Don't you get it?" Touma laughed more, his grin and tone turning manic. "Nobody cares that I exist! Not even my parents…" his expression turned sad for a moment, before he quickly shook it off and turned sinister once more. "I won't let them ignore me anymore, nobody; I'll make the whole world see that I exist!" in a burst of spiritual energy, Touma's arms shifted into oversized, oni-arms. "I won't let any of you stop me… I will show I exist…"

Jibanyan hissed, sensing incoming hostility.

Kyubi also growled, shifting into his beastial Shadowside form, looking ready for a fight.

"What's happening?" Akinori, whom had remained silent through the exchange, just looked confused as he watched Touma's approach, his eyes narrowed, preparing to use his spells to fight, if need be.

"Everyone, calm down," Keita grunted, stepping forward, and standing at his daughter's side. "We don't want to hurt him, but we do need to…" the Anchor paused when he heard a sniffle, he looked down to the side, and saw that his daughter's gaze had turned towards the ground, where a small puddle was beginning to form. "Natsume-chan?"

"I really want to believe that Touma-kun's a good person, that he wouldn't do anything bad, but…" the tearful girl glanced up, seeing the Onimaru Leader was still approaching, looking even more sinister from her disorting point of view. "If… if dad's not normal, but a 'Yo-kai Master,' if mom's some kind of 'Oni Queen…' if yo-kai exist, if…" she sniffled slightly as she looked towards the floor again, a few more tears slipping out. "If everything I thought I knew is wrong… that maybe Touma-kun really is…"

Keita frowned at the state his child was in, before he let out a low growl. Keita placed a gentle hand to her arm, before moving her back.

"Huh…?" the new yo-kai watch holder blinked away a few tears, looking at her father with confusion.

"Fumika, hold onto Natsume, please," the Anchor looked towards his wife seriously, before glancing at the yo-kai and Akinori. "Everyone else, please step back," his vision turned forward again, glaring straight at Touma. "I'm going to talk some sense into this kid."

"Honey… please don't be too rough with him," Fumika spoke up, concern in her eyes. "I think he's going through some things…"

"Don't worry, I'm enraged that he made my little girl cry…" Keita's fist clenched briefly, before he let out a calming breath. "But I can tell there's more to this, I'll be careful."

"Wait, what's happening?" Natsume asked worriedly, her mother holding her back as she watched her father move towards the oni-armed boy. "Dad… what are you going to do…?"

"Don't worry, Natsume-chan, your father won't hurt him," Fumika assured in a calm tone, keeping a comforting grip on her daughter, and a careful eye on her husband.

"You…" Touma smirked as he moved forward to face Keita, before he lifted his onified arms up, looking ready to beat into the man. "I don't know what you all did to get rid of all the other Onimaru, but it won't matter, I'll get rid of you now! I… I have the power to– "

"No," Keita interrupted in a blunt tone, snapping his fingers.

Touma's eyes widened when his arms were forcibly reverted to normal, just as he lay a harmless punch into Keita's stomach, "W-what? How could you possibly…?"

"You're out of your league, kid," Keita stepped forward, forcing Touma to step back. Keita gave the teenage boy a disappointed look, shaking his head.

"Y-you can't," Touma growled, thrusting his arm forward to use the Kigan Gear, but a hand motion from the adult man rendered the powers the device gave him inactive. "W-what? HOW!?" he looked towards his wrist with desperation.

"How can you say that nobody cares about you, when my daughter is looking at you with such concern…?" Keita growled slightly, gently grabbing Touma's shoulder, and forcing him to look to where the girl was watching their confrontation.

"Wha…?" Touma blinked, before he did indeed notice the distraught way Natsume was staring at him, peaking out from behind the pink-skinned oni.

"And them…" Keita spoke again, turning the attention to the trio of small yo-kai whom had been trying to remain unnoticed.

Touma's Onimaru flinched when Keita turned his focus, as well as Touma's, towards them.

"Don't think I didn't notice you; you're not like the other Onimaru," Keita gave a nod, glancing between each of the Onimaru trio. "You're not just using Touma, you care about him, you fear that I'm going to hurt him…"

"They, what…?" Touma blinked, looking towards the three Onimaru with a shock.

"We… um," The one-eyed Onimaru took to the lead of the group, before he tried to give an intimidating look. "Y-you, whatever you are… you won't hurt T-Touma!"

Keita stared at the brave Onimaru for a moment, before smiling, letting out a small chuckle. "I'm not going to hurt little Touma, he's not the bad guy here, I can tell that much…" the Anchor gave the momentarily stunned boy a serious, yet kind, look. "Touma, people care about and love you, I know your parents work a lot, but they love you, I'm certain of that," he gripped the boy's wrist, where the Kigan Gear was attached. "Please, don't be the pawn of whoever gave you this corrupted yo-kai watch…"

"… What is happening right now!?" Akinori asked frantically, having been trying to remain silent, but finally breaking from his increasing confusion, but his outburst was quickly reprimanded by a collective 'shush!' from each of the yo-kai standing and/or hovering around him. "Sorry…" he looked apologetic, before a flash of realization crossed his face. "Wait, did he say that the Kigan Gear is a… corrupted yo-kai watch!?"

"Hm, did you nyot knyow?" Jibanyan gave an unimpressed, jumping back and over to Akinori. "It seemed kind of obvious to me-nya."

"Indeed, very obvious, whissu," Whisper nodded in agreement, a proud grin on his face.

"Really, I somehow doubt you knew," Kyubi scoffed, Whisper was about to shout in protest, but Kyubi suddenly held up three of his tails towards the other three's mouths, encouraging them to go silent. "Hold on, we need to be ready, if this goes south…" the fox yo-kai's eyes narrowed, focusing on Touma, who was in thought over Keita's words.

"Touma-kun…" Natsume gripped her chest worriedly, watching for what her schoolmate's next move would be.

"I…" Touma glanced at the Kigan Gear, then he looked towards Natsume. "I…" the boy suddenly let out a gasp of pain, a flash of dark energy pulsing over his body as he fell to his knees.

"Touma!" the three Onimaru all called out in worry, floating over to Touma.

"What the…" Keita looked worried as well, kneeling to Touma's level and looking him over with a keen, spiritual eye.

"Touma-kun…" Natsume's worry increased, seeing the pain the boy appeared to be in. "What's happening to him."

"Some kind of… rejection from the Kigan Gear…?" Fumika's expression looked serious, she walked forward along with her daughter, coming up to her husband's side and kneeling down as well.

"Fumi-chan, can you ease his pain?" Keita asked with a glance towards the other Looper, already knowing the answer.

"Of course," the pink oni smiled gently, before moving a hand forward which let out a soft glow.

Touma let out some more grunts in pain, but after a moment the pain he was in seemed to lessen, before it disappeared completely, and he just let out a few heavy breaths in relief.

"Touma-kun, are you okay?" Natsume moved out from behind her mother to stand beside her parents.

"I– "Touma started to speak, when he suddenly flinched again, another pulse of energy going over him, he let out more grunts of pain.

Natsume and the three Onimaru let out more cries of worry.

Keita and Fumika exchanged a look.

"Healing alone can't fix this, it's an external thing," Fumika stated wisely. "We need to remove the actual problem…"

"Such a strong rejection…"

Keita and Fumika paused in their exchange, looking towards Touma, where the strange voice had come from. All the others also watched, before a form rose up from Touma's shadow; a dark figure, covered in a dark cloak, with a single unblinking eye looking out from under a hood.

"It seems you have a pure heart after all, how unfortunate…" the newly appeared yo-kai commented, looking down at Touma as he still writhed in pain.

"The true leader of the Onimaru, I presume?" Keita questioned, bringing the new foe's gaze towards him. "Or are you just another pawn to the true 'big bad?'"

"Is that really the true Onimaru Leader, not Touma…?" Akinori questioned, glaring in the direction of the shadowy humanoid.

"You…" Natsume clenched her teeth a bit, staring intensely at the cloaked yo-kai. "You're the one who's been manipulating Touma!"

"Hm…" the true Onimaru Leader regarded all the surrounding people with little concern. "You all have been making things rather difficult… particularly you," he turned his eye towards Keita. "Yo-kai Master; Keita Amano…"

Keita growled, looking ready for a fight.

"You are not supposed to be here, you are not supposed to be able to interfere," the Onimaru Leader stated knowingly. "And that strange ability you have, the one to purge the Onimaru from the humans… it is troublesome…" the leader started floating away. "But it matters not, enough malice… can still be gathered, for the King's resurrection…"

"So…" Jibanyan hissed, his ears twitching a bit. "This guy isn't the real big boss, he's just anyother minyion, doing the work of a bigger bad…nya."

"The 'King…?'" Akinori had a look which was a mixture of confusion and worried as he tried to process the new information.

"Touma Tsukinami, you can count yourself lucky, I suppose," the Onimaru Leader regarded the pained boy uncaringly. "All of the… unforeseen factors here, and with the additional work I now need to preform… disposing of you myself would be most troublesome." he watched as Touma let out another gasp of pain, the Kigan Gear gripping at his arm, "It matters not; the Kigan Gear's power will consume you soon enough."

"Touma," the two-eyed Onimaru looked at the boy worriedly as he, and the other two normal Onimaru, floated over to his arm and looked at the Kigan Gear.

The Onimaru Leader looked at the three, before letting out a small huff, "You three have clearly lost your way, your destruction will be assured by the King…"

The Onimaru trio gave a gasp of surprise as they looked up at the leader.

"What are you trying to do!?" Keita growled, looking ready to jump up and strike the Onimaru Leader.

The cloaked kaima looked down at the Yo-kai Master, before wordlessly disappearing.

"Hey!"

"Keita-kun, Touma's getting worse!" Fumika frantically called out, bringing the suffering boy onto her lap and looking him over.

Keita growled, glaring in the direction that the Onimaru Leader had vanished from, before shaking his head and moving over to his wife.

"Touma-kun…" Natsume looked like she might start crying again, seeing her friend in such pain.

Fumika attempted to use healing to sooth the boy's pain again, but it was only a moment later that the pain struck him again, with the Kigan Gear gripping him tighter. The self-decalred Oni Queen shook her head. "My healing can only treat the symptoms here, but the root cause…" she stared at the Kigan Gear, she reached towards it, but a shockwave sent her hand reeling back. "I'm not sure how to deal with this thing."

The three Onimaru exchanged looks, before turning to Keita.

"Please, you… whatever you are, can you help Touma?" the one-eyed Onimaru asked.

"Please," The three-eyed Onimaru pleaded.

"Dad," Natsume looked at Keita with a look of desperation.

The Anchor stepped over, looking at Touma carefully. With a movement of hand Keita tried to place his 'normal' inspiritment over Touma, but it had the same temporary results as Fumika's healing. "No good, like Fumika, I can only treat the symptoms," Keita sighed, looking away with crossed arms, and a thoughtful look. "It's that corrupted yo-kai watch that's the problem. My inspiritment won't work on an object like that, and I'm not familiar enough with the model to work on it…"

"If that hand-watch is the problem, I could just try yanking it off, nya," Jibanyan suggested, putting his fists together and narrowing his glowing eyes.

"No, bad idea," Keita looked at his nekomata friend and shook his head. "There's too much spiritual entanglement between Touma and the watch, forcibly removing it would likely do more harm than good."

"Nya…" Jibanyan gave a grumble as his posture lowered.

"Darn, do none of us have an idea on what to do here…?" Kyubi questioned, not happy to see the kid in such pain, no matter how much trouble he had been causing.

"These new yo-kai problems were bound to throw something at us that we didn't know how to deal with, eventually, whissu," Whisper gave a regretful sigh, briefly browsing through his yo-kai pad for answers, but internally knowing there weren't likely to be any.

Natsume's expression turned more grave as she processed that not even her parents or yo-kai, who had all seemed to have an answer for everything up until this point, could help her suffering classmate, "No, Touma, we have to do something, there must be something we can do!"

"Hold on, my granny might know something!" Akinori suddenly exclaimed. "She's an expert on all this stuff, after all. If anyone can help Touma, I'm sure she could!"

"Hmm…" Akinori's grandmother frowned as she looked over Touma, who had been set on a bench in the park they all stood in, before shaking her head sadly. "I'm afraid this is something I don't know how to deal with."

Touma let out another pain gasp as the Kigan Gear twitched, sparks going across his body.

"Touma, please hold on!" Natsume cried out, clutching the boy's hand.

Keisuke looked nervously at Touma, "What's happening to him, is he going to be okay?"

Fumika grasped her son's shoulder, a troubled frown coming to her face, "I… don't know…"

"Hey," Jibanyan stood next to Keita, both looking up at the sky at the glowing moon-like object. "Isn't that thing seemingly getting more… troubling-nya?"

"Yeah, but that's another thing we don't know how to deal with," the Anchor grit his teeth, shaking his head as he glanced over at Touma.

Suddenly, a glow in the sky caught the group's attention, before a portal opened, with two familiar yo-kai jumping out.

"Enma, Nurarihyon?" Keita questioned as they stepped over.

"Enma…? As in, the Lord Enma?" Akinori's grandmother looked surprised by the sudden appearance.

"The lord of the Yo-kai World, dad said he knew him," Natsume looked over, before blinking, "Though… isn't he a bit more handsome than expected…?"

"Hm, seems even know, my old man's image is what people think of when it comes to 'Lord Enma,'" The red-skinned humanoid commented with a shake of his head, before moving his attention to Touma. "You seem to have stabilized him already, but it won't last for much longe," the yo-kai lord held out a hand, before a glow emitted, washing over Touma's body. "There, that should hold for at least an hour."

"But it's still not a solution, whissu," Whisper pointed out.

"Lord Enma, please; can you help Touma?" the one-eyed Onimaru asked worriedly.

Enma and Nurarihyon both regarded the Onimaru trio for a moment, before deciding not to question it, considering none of the others were concerned.

"It isn't a solution; the issue is about what the Kigan Gear has attached to in his psyche, that darkness in his mind and heart," Enma explained calmly. "To stop this, we would need to heal that darkness, and to that, we must enter his mind."

"Enter… his mind?" Natsume questioned as she looked between Lord Enma and Touma.

"Yes, unfortunately, such power does not exist in the current Yo-kai World," the former king of the Yo-kai World shook his head.

Kyubi floated over to Fumika, giving a questioning look, "Fumi-chan, can you…"

"I may be psychic, but I don't have the means for that kind of spiritual and mental healing," the pink oni explained, sighing a bit as she paced around the grass, unintentionally dragging Keisuke around with her.

"Huh…?" the young boy blinked with confusion.

"There has to be something, if it's not something we're prepared for, surely there's another way," Keita grunted.

"Wait," Akinori's grandmother raised a hand, looking like she had a moment of realization. "I know of magic that can heal the heart and mind; we will need to call on… Kitaro!"

All the Loopers looked towards her in confusion.

"Wait, Kitaro…?" Keita blinked, before his eyes widened with genuine shock. "As in… GeGeGe no Kitaro!?"

"Okay, seriously! Has this always been a part of our world or has this been a Fused Loop the whole time!?" Keita questioned loudly, trudging through 'GeGeGe Forest,' at the tail end of the group along with Fumika, Jibanyan and Whisper.

"Would you calm down already?" Fumika sighed. "What's the big deal anyway? So, there's some crossover with another world involving yo-kai going on here."

"GeGeGe no Kitaro isn't just 'another world involving yo-kai!'" Keita suddenly snapped with a fierce expression. "It's the series involving yo-kai! It's like, one of the oldest manga series from the hub that popularized the idea of yo-kai in modern media!"

Jibanyan let out a grunt as Keita started to go on a bit of a rant, before leaning over to Whisper. "Nya, how long can he freak out about this?"

"Just give him a few more minutes, I'm sure he'll calm down, whissu," the yo-kai butler chuckled.

"Do you have any idea what they're talking about?" Akinori asked, walking with Natsume at the head of the group. Kyubi floating just a bit behind them.

"I've given up understanding all of this at this point," Natsume sighed, her eyes looking determined as they continued moving forward through the strange forest. "Hm, what's that?"

"Huh?" Keita looked up, before speeding to the head of the group, and over to the wooden mailbox that sat in the forest. "This is Kitaro's yo-kai mailbox!"

"Sheesh, really; calm down," Fumika groaned as she also walked past the kids.

The rest of the group all came to the mailbox, looking it over.

"… Nya?" Jibanyan's ears twitched, hearing movement around them.

The group suddenly became aware of shadows moving around them, whispering amongst themselves and closing in on them.

"Hm, whissu?" Whisper crossed his arms quizzically.

"Someone's coming…" Akinori muttered worriedly.

"Is one of them Kitaro?" Natsume asked, watching as four figures started to come into the light.

"Nope!" Keita suddenly stated, completely breaking the mood. "Neko-Musume, Sunakake-Babaa, Konaki-Jijii, Nezumi-Otoko!" the human man stated, pointing to the little girl, elderly woman, old man, and cloaked man with whiskers, in order.

"Hey, hold on, I– "the man Keita had identified as 'Nezumi-Otoko' started to speak, but was interrupted by Keita holding up a hand.

"No time for scams, we need Kitaro, now!"

The rat-like man took a step back, suddenly feeling a fearful amount of power from the 'human' man's aura.

Before any more could be said, the sound of 'clop, clop,' was heard. The group all looked out towards a treehouse, with a short figure walking out from the shadows.

"Hey, what's going on here?" someone who looked like a human boy questioned, wearing striped clothing, with his hair covering one of his eyes. "Nezumi-Otoko, you're not trying to scam people again, are you?"

"W-what, hang on!" Nezumi-Otoko held up his hands defensively.

Keita's eyes widened as he looked at Kitaro, but he quickly shook away his awe and turned serious. "GeGeGe no Kitaro… please, we need your help!"

"Hmm…?" Kitaro looked confused, turning to Keita.

"Kitaro, these strangers just appeared in our forest… and there's something really off about most of them!" Neko-Musume stated, looking at the group cautiously.

"Strange indeed," a voice emitted from Kitaro's hair, before a small form popped out from it. "A group of yo-kai and humans together, as well as humans who appear to have yo-kai auras!"

"Huh!?" Natsume and Akinori's eyes both widened at the figure that had appeared. "A talking eyeball!?"

"Eyeball? How rude!" the 'eyeball' scoffed in disapproval.

"That's Kitaro's father," Keita explained knowingly.

"… What?" Natsume looked baffled by this statement.

"Oh, I can tell!" Fumika grinned, looking at Kitaro and his 'eyeball' dad. "They have the same eye!"

Kitaro's dad looked at Keita and Fumika, "Oh, thank you! I think I can see you two are parents yourselves! How nice!"

"Yes," Keita nodded, before turning serious again. "Look, there's really something we need to discuss; we need your help…"

After the group had brought Kitaro and his friends back to where Touma, Akinori's grandmother, Keisuke, Enma, and Nurarihyon, the child of the Ghost Clan had looked him over, before explaining that they needed to enter his mind to clear the darkness, and it needed to be someone in his memories; Natsume.

Keita and Fumika stepped back, watching as their daughter linked hands with Kitaro to enter Touma's mind. After a small wait, Natsume was released from whatever she had experienced, and the Kigan Gear started to react.

"Now…" Kitaro suddenly pulled off his vest, before slamming it over the evil device. "Wickedness begone!"

In a flash of light, Touma's body calmed, before Kitaro removed his vest and revealed that the Kigan Gear had transformed into what appared to be a black yo-kai watch, which fell off the boy's wrist.

"It worked!" Kyubi exclaimed with an impressed look.

"Hmm, so the Yo-kai Master was right about the Kigan Gear being a corrupted yo-kai watch," Akinori noted, looking at the device.

"Hmph, as if there was ever any doubt, nya," Jibanyan smirked.

"Alright… our job is done," Kitaro said with a smile.

The sudden statement by Kitaro got Natsume's attention, "Eh, you're not going to stay and help deal with what the Onimaru are doing?"

"We're not doing anything," the three-eyed Onimaru hovering by Touma protested quietly.

"No, the others; remember?" the two-eyed one of the trio pointed out.

Kitaro looked at the Onimaru trio briefly, before turning to Natsume and shaking his head, "No, your enemies are something you must face, this is as much as we can help."

Nezumi-Otoko's whiskers twitched a bit, before a devious smirk came to his face and he approached the Ghost Clan boy. "Kitaro, come on; maybe we could help them a little more, especially if they're willing to pay for the service…"

"Nezumi-Otoko, shut up!" Kitaro's father suddenly shouted, startling the rat-man.

Soon, Kitaro's group was waving goodbye as they left back for the GeGeGe Forest.

"Thanks for the help!" Natsume waved with a bright smile.

"It was nice meeting you, I'll come find you again at a less hectic time!" Keita exclaimed with a smirk.

Once the Kitaro gang had left, Akinori turned his focus to the black yo-kai watch, he reached towards it, but it let out a shock and sent him jumping back. "Really, again!?"

"I guess that watch doesn't want you," Fumika chuckled, watching as Touma sat up, and grasped the new yo-kai watch.

"That yo-kai watch, I recognize it," Enma spoke up as he eyed the device in Touma's hands. "That's the Ogre Fuujyukyou!"

"Right, and how old is it?" Keita asked with crossed arms and an annoyed look. "Because I'm really starting to question if my grandfather ripped off the yo-kai watch's design."

Enma gave Keita a blank look, before deciding to continue speaking as if he hadn't been interrupted, "It can summon yo-kai known as 'Genma.' The name that we shall give to it is…" the humanoid yo-kai paused, as if for dramatic effect. "Yo-kai Watch Ogre!"

"Yo-kai Watch… Ogre," Touma muttered as he stared at the watch.

Keita looked at the it with some interest, before shaking his head 'I'll get ahold of the model in another Loop.' "Touma, it's pretty clear that this new watch has chosen you, so you should wear it."

Touma looked surprised by this, before staring at the Yo-kai Watch Ogre again.

"Possession! Genma Omatsu!" Touma exclaimed, having turned the dial of his watch, standing in front of the group, ready to test it out. The face than popped out, before Touma slammed it down. A bright light surrounded the boy as his body began to change.

Watching Touma transforming, Keita had a blank look, before glancing at the other Loopers, "Um, can anyone else say 'Omnitrix…?'"

"What?" Natsume gave a confused look towards her father, despite also trying to focus on Touma's transformation.

"It's nothing, don't worry," Keita assured, but once Natsume had turned away, Keita leaned over to Fumika and gave a frustrated sigh, "But seriously; I've been working on that Yo-kai Omnitrix for countless Loops, and suddenly this shows up…"

"Try not to dwell on it, honey," Fumika tried to keep herself from laughing as she patted Keita's back.

"Omatsu has arrived!" the female, humanoid yo-kai, Touma had transformed into announced, floating in the air, and holding a paper fan.

"Omatsu can free any Onimaru-infected people that remain, even if Keita had gotten most of them," Enma stated as he watched Omatsu float out to do just that.

"Or, I could have just done it," Keita pointed out, walking up to the former yo-kai king's side.

"Ha, it's good to let a new generation take the reigns though, right, old friend?" Enma chuckled, putting a hand to Keita's back.

Keita let out a chuckle as well, glancing over at Natsume, as she watched Omatsu at work. "I suppose so…"

The climax seemed to have come quite abruptly, the 'big boss' as some of the Loopers would put it had appeared; Oni King Rasen. The behemoth of a Kaima Oni had absorbed all of the remaining Onimaru (aside from Touma's trio) and was had begun his attack on the human world.

Enma had brought a strange sword in the stone in from a portal; the Fudou Raimei Ken, which had accepted Touma, allowing him a transformation into its spirit-form; a powerful swordsman yo-kai, who was now facing against the Oni King Rasen.

The Loopers stood back, ready to help out at a moments notice, but Keita moved over to Natsume and nodded.

"Now would be the time to call on a yo-kai friend for assistance, this is surely the true villain," Keita spoke seriously, taking his daughter's hand.

"But… who do I call?" Natsume questioned unsurely.

"You obtained an ark at the beginning of this, didn't you?" Keita smiled. "Try him out, why not?"

Natsume looked unsure for a moment, before nodding, pulling out the ark which showed the form of a three-headed, serpant-like creature, before activating the Yo-kai Watch Elder. "Come on out my friend! Calling, Mitsumata Nozuchi!"

After a brief summoning song, the form of the hydra-like yo-kai erupted from Natsumi's shadow… before it began to shrink, taking on a humanoid form.

"AHA!" the new form of Mitsumata Nozuchi jumped forward, doing a heroic pose.

For once, Natsume and her parents were on the same page; "Eh…?"

"All of you, shall parish!" Oni King Rasen shouted, moving a devesating attack towards a now-depowered Touma, before it was blocked by a speeding blur. "WHAT!?"

"Yeah, no way," Keita appeared, floating before the so-called Oni King, smirking. "Not going to let you hurt my daughter's friend, pal!"

"Me neither," Fumika snarled as she also floated over.

Rasen growled, "You… there's no way you're human! What are you!?"

"Us? We're just a couple of average parents, trying to protect our children…" Keita chuckled innocently. "That being said, you can call me 'Yo-kai Master Keita!'"

"And call me 'Oni Queen Fumika!'" Fumika cheered, "Which, by the way, would make Keita-kun here the 'Oni King,' so pick a new title, why don't you!?"

"Why you… insolent whelps!" the King of Onimaru prepared to attack, but his techniques were easily dodged by the Looping couple. "What!? How!?"

"Do we even need to do anything?" Natsume asked, watching her parents buzz around the Oni King with little trouble.

"Aha! Our time to shine will come, our assistance will surely be needed at a grave moment! That's what heroes are for!" the humanoid form of Mitsumata Nozuchi, designated as 'Micchy' exclaimed with a heroic pose.

"Could you just go back to being a slobbering monster, please…?" Natsume questioned out of annoyance.

"Nya, if you want to be involved, you nyeed to step forward," Jibanyan chuckled, stepping passed Natsume and and Micchy, shifting into his Shadowside form. "Watch and learn… nya." He pointed up at the Oni King, whom was still mostly being occupied by Keita and Fumika flying around him, avoiding his attacks. "Hey! You think this is my limit? Don't make me yawn! Nya!" Jibanyan smirked, before his form was enveloped in a bright light.

"Wait, what's happening to Jibanyan!?" Natsume asked in concern as she watched the nekomata's form increase in size and bulk.

"It looks like he's powering up into some form beyond light or shadowside!" Akinori exclaimed with awe.

"No, what he's doing is being a showoff, whissu," Whisper scoffed with his arms crossed.

Steam burst from Jibanyan's now bulky, and much larger form, surrounding the area and clouding the view of the massive nekomata. After a moment, a pair of red eyes glowed through the steam, and a whirling sound started. All the steam was blown away by two massive drills, attached to the tails of the newly revealed, massive, mechanical cat yo-kai. "ROBONYAN 28! READY FOR BATTLE!"

"… Jibanyan's… a giant robot," Natsume muttered blankly.

"… This doesn't seem very yo-kai-ish," Akinori muttered while scratching his head. "That's more sci-fi, right?"

"Tell me about it, whissu," Whisper shrugged.

"NOTED!" Robonyan 28 boomed, looking down at the group, before flying forward to attack Rasen.

Though the Loopers had kept the Oni King Rasen distracted for a time, they had all held back, knowing that it wasn't them who was to finish off this beast of a yo-kai.

Natsume's reveal that she had the ark for summoning Seiryuu had come as a big surprise, even to the Loopers, and together along with Touma, powered up with the Fudou Raimei Ken again, the Oni King had been finished…

Of course, they Loopers did subtly pass some spiritual power into the kids and dragon yo-kai, just to make sure it had really finished him…

But it was finished now, and Natsume was back in her home, sitting down on the couch with a tired sigh, "Man… that was so crazy…"

"Tell me about it," Keisuke groaned as he sat beside her, "I was barely involved, and I'm still having trouble processing everything!"

"Well, it's the kind of thing you just have to get used to," Keita smiled as he walked up behind the couch.

"Yeah, it gets easier, don't worry," Fumika gave a cheerful grin as she came up next to Keita, having released the oni-power and returned to her human appearance.

"Nya," Jibanyan, in his lightside form, jumped up onto the couch and grabbed the remote. "What's on TV anyaway?"

"Nothing to your taste would interest my refined taste, probably," Kyubi huffed, floating by.

"Kyubi, you're a guest; you shouldn't complain like that, whissu," Whisper smiled as he appeared beside the fox spirit.

Natsume glanced around at all the yo-kai that had appeared in her home, and then glanced down at the yo-kai watch on her wrist, "So… is this just going to be a thing from now on?"

"Sorry, Natsume, but…" Keita shared a smile with his wife, before they both spoke in unison.

"When a yo-kai enters your life, it will never be the same!"

"Why!?" Keisuke shouted, looking around fearfully.

"So, there's no escape?" Natsume groaned as she sunk into the couch.

"NEVER FEAR, NATSUME-CHAN!" Micchy suddenly announced, bursting in from the doorway. "I WILL BE HERE TO PROTECT YOU! MICCHY!" he did a pose again.

"Super-Sentai-Mander, who let you in our house!?" Keita glared at the former boss yo-kai, even as Fumika just laughed at his side.

11.2

"… Well?"

"Well what?" Hailey asked, looking up from her computer game at her yo-kai companion seated on the couch of their detective agency.

Usapyon gave her a suspicious look, "Nate and Katie have been shown as adults in the back-ups of our latest expansion, and as far as I can tell, ya' haven't made such an appearance. Aren't ya' gonna throw a fit and start screaming about how it's 'not fair…?'"

Hailey paused her game, giving the yo-kai a blank look, "… What do you take me for Usapyon, a little kid?" she huffed, "I am a mature individual whom has well exceeded the minimum age of adulthood, not having a solidified adult body is insignificant, and throwing a tantrum because of Nate and Katie having that, while I don't, would accomplish nothing…"

Usapyon stared at his human companion while she spoke, watching her tense up slightly as she clenched her teeth. The otter yo-kai sweatdropped as he looked away from her. "Er… yeah, clearly ya'll don't feel slighted at all…"

11.3

"Nyate! I nyeed to talk to you!" Jibanyan exclaimed as he tapped on the window of the (currently) eleven-year-old Anchor.

Nate came over to the window and opened it, allowing the small nekomata entrance into his home, before giving him a confused look. "Rudy? The Loop just started, I haven't even freed Whisper from the Crank-a-Kai yet. What's got you so anxious?"

Jibanyan paced the floor for a moment, his paws on his head. "I knyow, I just Woke up and the last Expansion was kind of… big, so I nyeeded to talk to you!"

The human boy gave a confused look "Wait, what happened last Expansion?"

Jibanyan crossed his arms and nodded. "Right, you wouldn't have nyoticed… it was kind of out of your way," the cat yo-kai sighed. "Well, first of all Amy, or Emi, has a daughter!"

"Huh, well what do you know, that's nice to hear," Nate smiled. "What's her name?"

"Miho, she's a great kid, looks just like her mother. But that's nyot the big part!" Jibanyan waved his paw quickly. "You see, these reaper guys were going after her and I was trying to protect her, and they blew a hole right through my torso with some laser beam!"

"… They WHAT!?"

"Don't worry, I was fine-nya!" the nekomata assured.

"Oh… good," Nate let out a relieved breath as he held his chest, before giving the yo-kai a slight glare. "Don't scare me like that!"

Jibanyan nodded, a serious look on his face. "But here's the big thing, when they blew the hole in me, it left behind some clumps of my fur, and those all joined together and… well, nyow we knyow where Junyior came from..."

A silence set into the room, lasting for several minutes, before the Anchor finally broke it. "You know what, that somehow doesn't surprise me."

"Yeah, that's what I'd expect from you Nyate, the world of yo-kai, combined with the Loops, has completely desensitized you to weirdness," Jibanyan gave a small chuckle, before letting out a long sigh, "So… I guess I'm a dad nyow."

"Well, I'm not entirely sure if we can call Junior your son– "

"Nyate," Jibanyan interrupted with a serious expression "If Snyottle is your son, there is nyo doubt that Junyior is my son."

"… Okay, I suppose you have a point there," the Anchor admitted, before smiling and giving the cat yo-kai a pat on the head. "So, welcome to the 'Parent Club! I guess.'"

"Thanks… I feel like both nyothing has changed, and everything has changed, at the same time…" Jibanyan muttered with a blank expression.

"You get used to it," Nate assured kindly.

11.4

"Natsume! Get up! Nya!"

Natsume Amano let out a small groan at the little red ball of a spirit bouncing on her, squinting a bit at him. "… J-Junior?"

"Yeah! Nya!" the small yo-kai greeted cheerfully. "It's time to get up! Time to get up! Nya!"

"What are you doing in my room…?" the 13-year-old girl asked sleepily as she sat up, before blinking as she looked around. "Wait… how did…?"

"Natsume," the girl's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the yo-kai butler Whisper, looking in from her doorway. "Your parents are waiting, and your breakfast is getting cold, I do suggest you pull yourself from the land of dreams soon. Whissu."

"I already told her, Whisspy, but she won't get up! Nya!" Junior meowed as he bounced again.

"Hold on, Whisper! How did I get back to my bed!?" Natsume questioned, starting to feel a bit panicked.

The well-dressed ghost paused in thought for a moment. "Well… from what I recall, you fell asleep at your desk again–not a healthy habit, by the way–so your mother tucked you into bed, whissu," Whisper explained with a shoulder-shrug. "She's probably going to scold you for that, so consider this a warning, whiss."

"Ji doesn't remember that because Ji already went to sleepy-nya!" Junior cheered.

"Junior, your father would also like a word with you," Whisper added, a serious tone to his voice.

"Nya?" Junior blinked in confusion.

"Not sure why, just doing my job as a butler; keeping this house in order, and everyone informed," Whisper shrugged, turning around. "So, I do suggest you both come downstairs, quickly, whissu."

Natsume watched in confusion as Whisper left, glancing down at Junior. "Father…? What… is going on!?"

"Nya!" Junior cried he was startled by the girl's shout, flyng from the bed and out of the room.

Natsume let out a heavy breath as she pulled herself from bed, looking around at her room with a mixture of panic and confusion. Something was off… this looked like her room, but things were a bit different, she couldn't put her finger on it though…

'Never mind the room for now!' she shook her head, lightly slapping her face a few times as she tried to focus. 'What happened? I remember… Touma!' her eyes widened in realization. 'He wasn't answering my texts, and there was that suspicious fortune teller; Sendo Rei! Akinori and I went to look for him, this yo-kai blocked our path and… and…' Natsume clutched her with a frustrated expression. 'What happened after that!? Jibanyan fought the yo-kai until it retreated, but after that… I don't know!'

Natsume gave a cry of frustration as she fell back onto her bed. "What's going on here…? Whisper and Junior were acting like nothing was wrong…" as the young teen went over what could be going on in her head, a scent drifting to her, one she found rather odd. "Huh…? Baking?"

"Oh, there you are Natsume."

The somewhat dazed Natsume was first met with the sight of her mother's smiling face when she entered the kitchen. "Um… hi mom."

"Are you feeling alright, sweetie? You overworked yourself again last night… I told you not to do that," Fumika said with a somewhat stern, but worried tone.

"N-no, I'm fine," Natsume assured, taking a seat at the table between Keisuke and… Jibanyan!?

"Nya, where's that little hairball of mine? I nyeed to tell him something, last I checked he was with you," the feline yo-kai commented gruffly, sloppily munching on a piece of bacon.

"Jibanyan, manners."

Natsume blinked at the disapproving tone her mother had taken with the yo-kai, before realizing that her mom had just spoken to Jibanyan! "Huh!?"

"Sis, are you okay? You look a bit flustered," an unfamiliar, yet also somehow familiar voice spoke up, and Natsume looked across the table and spotted some kind of… imp? Goblin? Alien!? She wasn't sure, but it was definitely a yo-kai! A yo-kai that had just called her 'sis!'

'Of course he called you 'sis,' that's Big Brother Hanahojin,' the confused girl froze at the thought that had just crossed through her mind, before noting many more strange memories flashing through her mind, memories of a life that completely contrasted the other life she remembered! Memories of growing up around yo-kai, her parents being aware of them, Jibanyan and Whisper always being around alongside other yo-kai like Big Brother Hanahojin, her many other hanahojin siblings, Auntie Hikikōmori, Uncle Kyubi…

"Natsume…?" Keisuke poked at his frozen sister, a worried look on his face.

"Tada, fresh baked crescent rolls!" Keita exclaimed, speeding into the kitchen in a blur and placing the tray of baked goods alongside the bacon, eggs and other assorted foods.

"Thanks honey, but I think something's wrong with Natsume," Fumika spoke to her husband, looking towards their daughter in concern.

"… Huh?" Natsume looked at her dad, glancing at the rolls on the table as Jibanyan claimed one, before glancing at her dad again. "Dad… those smell amazing…"

"Oh, thanks…" Keita looked at his daughter questioningly, the way she had spoken had seemed off…

"Since when… did you bake…?" the 13-year-old had little emotion in her voice, she looked like she was having trouble just speaking up, holding back a desire to panic behind a calm facade.

Keita's eyes widened slightly, glancing towards his wife with a serious look. "Fumika, do you think…?"

Fumika seemed to understand what her husband was getting at, nodding before both of them turned their focus back to their daughter. "Natsume… sweetie, do you… have some conflicting memories going through your head?"

Natsume stiffened, slowly looking towards her mom with an empty expression.

"And perhaps, you feel like you have jumped back in time…?"

Natsume shook a bit as she turned towards her dad, she opened her mouth, but couldn't find the right words, especially when she spotted a yo-kai watch on her dad's wrist!

"… Well, this day isn't starting like I thought it would, nya," Jibanyan suddenly stood up from his seat. "Whisper! Get in here! Nyatsume's Looping!" the cat yo-kai shouted, startling the table's occupants (aside from Keita and Fumika). "… And, if you knyow where my son is, bring him here too!"

Natsume sat in her parents' bedroom, where they had taken her after having a talk with Jibanyan, Hanahojin and Whisper, having the them keep Keisuke and Junior occupied while the parents had a talk with their daughter.

"And, well that's the scope of it for the most part," Keita finished, trading a concerned look with his wife as their thirteen-year-old daughter just… stared at them.

"Time loops, gods, Anchor…?" Natsume shook her head, looking towards Keita with a desperate expression. "Dad… no, th-this is wrong! You're my dad! My normal dad!" she looked towards Fumika. "And, mom you… you're just supposed to be my mom… neither of you are supposed to be like this, involved with yo-kai and time travel and… all of this!"

Keita sighed, giving the girl a comforting pat on the head. "I'm sorry Natsume, but even without the Loops I was involved with yo-kai long before you, that's probably why you and your brother got involved with them in the first place…"

"Sweetie? Are you going to be alright?" Fumika looked at her daughter with worry, wrapping her arms around her in a comforting manner.

Natsume stat there stiffly for a few moments, but eventually returned her mother's embrace. "I'm so confused, what about Touma? Is he not in danger anymore… but won't the Onimaru come again…?"

The Anchor gave an assuring smile, "Oh, don't worry about the Onimaru. I went off into space and dealt with them earlier this Loop, they won't be showing up this go around."

Natsume gave her father a look of disbelief. "… You went into space and dealt with the Onimaru?"

Fumika chuckled a bit, "We tend to make sure the Onimaru don't show up when we get the chance, don't worry, we still make sure you get a yo-kai watch of some kind, but we'd rather not have you get it in the face of an apocalypse if we can help it."

"So… that means Touma's not in danger, at least," Natsume scratched her head, still trying to process all the information she was being given.

"Not for this Loop, at least," Keita sat on the opposite side of his daughter, giving her a hug like her mother was.

Natsume just sighed, allowing herself to sink into her parents' affectionate contact, and think about where this 'Looper' thing put her now…

"Knock! Knock!" a brown-haired woman smiled as she entered the Amano Family Bakery.

"Hey, Emi, how are you today?" Keita greeted her from behind the counter.

Emi chuckled, waving to the man. "Nice to see you Keita, doing good! How you been treating my Akamaru?"

"Oh, you know; he lazes around all day and eats all my food," Keita answered with a shrug.

"So, same as always then?" the two shared a laugh.

"I'll go get him for you, along with your usual order," Keita nodded to Emi as he moved back to the house portion of the bakery.

Natsume watched her dad enter back into the house from the kitchen, her mother was beside her checking on some pastries in the oven.

"So… dad usually opens a bakery when he… 'Wake up' early enough?" her face scrunched a bit as she thought over the 'Looper terminology' she had been given.

Fumika gave a cheerful nod, telekinetically opening the oven and levitating the tray of baked goods out of it, before levitating a another one into its place and closing the oven once more. "He found he had a surprising passion for baking, probably due in no small part to his sister…"

Natsume blinked, giving her mother a strange look. "Sister?"

The adult woman gave her daughter an amused look, patting her on the head. "That… is probably something that should be saved for later. Let's just get you used to Looping first."

Natsume gave a troubled expression, not liking the idea about being left in the dark on this matter, but also still feeling a bit overwhelmed by the information she had been given…

"Emi-chan!" Jibanyan suddenly came charging through the house, out the door into the bakery.

Natsume gave her mom a concerned look, but Fumika just smiled with a bit of amusement, before both followed the cat yo-kai, Keita not far behind, with a paper bag in hand.

"Hey there Akamaru, how you been!" Emi smiled as she met with the cheerful nekomata.

Natsume gave the woman a strange look, though she did recognize the name the cat yo-kai had used. She looked to her parents, both fondly smiling at the cat yo-kai nuzzling the human woman. "That's… Jibanyan's old owner, right?"

Keita nodded, "That's right. Emi's the one that looked after Jibanyan when he was just a normal cat," the older yo-kai watch-user looked towards Emi and Jibanyan, his fond smile turning proud. "They were torn apart by Baseline, but though Emi's not Looping, thanks to the Loops Jibanyan has many more chances to see her than he ever could have imagined. Seeing them together is always a heartwarming sight. Jibanyan may be my kitty, but Akamaru will always be Emi's best friend…"

Natsume gave her dad a strange look but nodded with a bit of understanding.

"Akamaru, I'm always so glad to see you!" Emi smiled as she scratched the purring yo-kai's chin, before gaining a mischievous smirk, "Keita tells me you're as lazy as ever."

The cat yo-kai stiffened slightly.

"I seem to recall telling you that you need to start doing more for the Amanos, you live in their house and eat their food, but you don't pay rent or work at all," Emi shook her head in mock disappointment. "I thought I raised you better than that…"

Jibanyan held up his arms defensively, shaking his head. "Hold on Emi-chan! I do stuff for this family! I protect them from evil yo-kai that might do them harm, plus, I look after the kids! And with my duties as a single parent to my own son, it's nyot as lazy a life as Keita-nya probably made it sound!

"Hmm… I'm not sure if I should believe that, sounds like a bunch of excuses…" Emi hummed mischievously, looking over at Keita and Fumika, both smiled and nodded, before Emi gave her own nod and patted Jibanyan on the head. "Alright, sounds like you do a… decent job around here."

"Emi-chan…" Jibanyan drooped a bit as Emi scratched his ears.

"Excuse me, Jibanyan," Keita smiled as he walked out from behind the counter, moving over to the yo-kai-human duo and holding up the bag. "But I have Emi's order."

"Nya…" Jibanyan nodded, moving back as Emi moved to take the bag.

"Thanks Keita, you said this was the usual, right?"

The Anchor nodded. "Yup; three red-bean nekomata claws, and two whisped-cream puffs."

"Thanks Keita, my family and I can't get enough of your treats, just put it on my tab," Emi smiled as she looked into the bag.

Fumika walked over with a laugh. "Emi, we told you; your money's no good here! It's on the house, like we tell you every week."

Emi smirked, waving a finger, "And as I tell you every week; I like supporting a small business."

Keita shook his head with an amused expression. "Same compromise as every week?"

"Half-price? Fine, same as always," Emi nodded in approval, before pausing, looking towards the door to the bakery, spotting a teen girl looking in through the door nervously, before ducking away. "Miho? Have you been standing outside the whole time?"

Miho looked over, looking around a bit, her face red as she glanced towards Keita, "Um… yeah…"

Emi rolled her eyes. "Come on Miho, say hi to Mr and Mrs. Amano, Akamaru and Natsume. It's rude to just hide there the whole time."

"Um, okay…" the brown-haired girl stepped in, glancing towards Jibanyan and waving.

"Miho-chan. Nyice to see you," Jibanyan smiled with a purr.

"Ah, little Miho?" Keita smiled as he looked at Emi's daughter, causing her face to go a deeper shade of red, "You're still growing it looks like, won't be long before you're as tall as your mother!"

"Um t-thank you, M-Mr. Amano," Miho stuttered, trying to avoid eye-contact. "Um… w-where's Junior?"

"He's in the house, you can visit if you want," Fumika offered.

Miho nodded, moving to enter the house. Natsume watched her go, scanning her memories for a moment to confirm that she and Miho were friends in this reality, before deciding to follow after her.

The three adult humans, and one yo-kai remained in the bakery. Emi glanced towards Keita, a half-accusatory, half-amused look on her face. "You know that my daughter has a crush on you, right?"

Keita gave a small laugh and shrug, "Yes, I know. But don't worry, she's still young; she'll get over it in no time."

Fumika hummed for a moment, giving her husband a playful pat on the shoulder. "You sure about that? You're quite the catch after all, she might pine after you well into adulthood…"

The Anchor rolled his eyes, wrapping his shoulder around his wife, "Well let's hope she does get over it, because I'm a happily married man."

Emi huffed, crossing her arms. "That's news to me, and here I've been planning to propose to you for months, Keita-kun."

The three humans that interacted with yo-kai, two Looping, one not, glanced at each other for a moment, before they all broke into laughter.

11.5

[Yo-kai Watch/Made in Abyss]

"Chibi, can you hear me?"

USApyon Awoke to a series of strange sensations and sights. Looking down at his body, he saw a mechanical form, somewhat resembling his usual suit in basic shape and color, but more clearly mechanical, somewhat larger. He looked at one of his robotic hands, testing his grip, he tried to blink, but found he had no eyelids… in fact, there was no sensation of a body within his 'suit,' aside from a vague feeling of a contained energy and consciousness…

"Chibi," the cold, haunting voice spoke up again.

USApyon looked up at the one that called him by the name he went by when he was still a living otter, he wasn't sure what to think of the person towering over him, at first.

Then, the memories hit him…

"This specimen came from another land, it is rather unusual… its awareness is almost a match for a human," the strange man held up the cage, containing a terrified otter, to the mask-wearing figure. "Still, it is not human, and immune to the Curse. Perhaps it can be of use?"

"Yes… I believe so," the masked figure opened the cage.

The otter tried to skitter away but was soon captured by the masked-man's arms. The otter gave a terrified yelp as it struggled, but as the man began stroking its fur, the small mammal slowly calmed down.

"Yes… you will be very useful, you will do incredible things," the masked figure held the otter up, giving the little creature a direct view of his line-split mask. "Chibi."

"The 'Special-Grade Relic: Soul Containment Unit.' Despite its theoretical use, no human soul has ever been able to survive the transference, not even my own… but perhaps, you… Chibi…"

"Frozen solid, in an instance. Excellent work, Chibi. Truly wonderful. We shall call this weapon of yours: 'the Absolute-Zero Cannon."

"Chibi, I would like to introduce you to someone."

"A child, dani?"

"This is my daughter, Prushka. I want you to look after her from now on."

"There is still much to discover about that body of yours, Chibi…"

"Chibi? Can you hear me, Chibi?"

USApyon's body shook as he finished processing his memories, staring at Bondrewd with the unblinking lights that he used as eyes. "Yes… I'm fine… dani."

"Ah, excellent," Bondrewd's tone betrayed no emotion. "That's all the testing we need to do for today, you may go play with Prushka now, if you wish."

"Yes… I will do so, dani…" USApyon nodded, wanting to get as far away from this… man as possible. Though just before his mechanical body made its way to the door's exit, that unnerving voice called out to him once more.

"Oh, but do be prepared. We'll be expecting some interesting guests soon. I would very much like to see how your body compares to one of them in particular…"

"… Of course, dani," USApyon shuddered slightly, before rushing out of the room with unclear goals in mind. 'What will this Loop entail? I have no good feelings about any of this… dani.'

"Chibi, is that you? Are you and papa done with testing for the day?" a young girl's voice–Prushka–chimed as USApyon stepped into a hallway.

USApyon let out a nervous breath (despite not currently having lungs) and turned to face the girl, her cheerful smile unwavering, despite the horrifying things his Loop memories told him. "… Yes, we are finished, dani."

Prushka's smile brightened, her hands taking hold of USApyon's mechanical ones, before pulling him down the hall.

"Oh, you're Papa's guests, right?" Prushka greeted the group, arms crossed while trying to look 'cool.'

'This time I'll save you Prushka, I'll find another way to get to the sixth layer,' Riko thought with determination, before smiling towards her. "Yes, so you're Bondrewd's daughter?"

Nanachi looked bothered by this revelation, as they usually were.

Reg's expression, however, was not as he usually was. The robot/cyborg (Riko still wasn't entirely sure which) boy had an almost lost expression on his face, staring at the building as if he sensed something within its walls.

"… Reg?"

His human friend's questioning tone brought Reg out of whatever trance he was in, shaking his head and looking towards Riko with an unsure smile. "I'm fine, just… had a weird feeling there…"

"Weird feeling? I suppose that's to be expected," Nanachi grunted, glaring at the entrance to the Idofront warily. "Still… we need to go through here."

"Chibi, Papa's guests are here! Chibi!?" Prushka called out as she led the group forward.

'Chibi…? That's new,' Riko couldn't help but note, she knew Variants would happen, but it was still strange to experience something like a new person appearing where none was before. Though perhaps 'Chibi' was simply what Meinya was called this Loop, she hadn't seen any sign of the small creature yet…

"I'm here, Prushka. You know I'll never stray far from you, dani."

The strange, almost echoing voice that answered Prushka's calls had Riko immediately discarding her previous thought, and the… entity that entered their view furthered that confirmation.

"What…?" Reg's expression was barely readable, but it was clear that this 'Chibi' was or had something to do with whatever he had been feeling since they had come here.

"Oh, so you're the 'guests' we've been expecting. I wonder, what could possibly possess a human child to come down into this deathtrap? Dani."

Riko stared at the mechanical entity with interest. 'Chibi's' body almost resembled a deep-sea diving suit, made for a small child (Riko estimated about Kiyui's size), out of a shiny yellow metal. The opening in the 'helmet' was dark, aside from the two glowing-blue lights that seemed to be acting as eyes. But, what most caught Riko's, and probably Reg's eyes, were the robot's arms and legs: aside from the size and color, they were identical to Reg's!

"Well, far be it from me to judge, dani," Chibi shrugged, carefully taking hold of Prushka's hand. "But I do suggest you leave this place as soon as you can, dani."

"Don't be rude, Chibi. These are Papa's guests, one of them is the daughter of another White Whistle. Papa will surely wish to see them," Prushka reprimanded, though still smiling as she held her mechanical companion's hand.

"That's what I'm afraid of, dani…"

"Oh, you've all arrived I see."

The voice that greeted the group caused Riko and Nanachi to go stiff.

"Papa!"

Riko had to keep herself from crying out in outrage when she saw Prushka run to Bondrewd with an expression full of affection.

"There you are, Prushka," the masked White Whistle greeted, lifting the girl up, before looking towards the three visitors. "And hello to you, I have been waiting for your arrival!"

"Yes, we've informed them, dani," Chibi spoke with what seemed to be restrained contempt as he approached Bondrewd.

"Ah, Chibi! Wonderful, truly wonderful!" Bondrewd nodded, Chibi stood completely still as he watched the man lower Prushka back to the ground.

"Hey…" Reg spoke in a dark tone as he looked towards the masked man. "Was it you…?"

"Reg, no," Riko placed a hand on the robot-boy's shoulder, halting him from having an outburst. "I know how you feel, but now's not the time…"

Reg looked at Riko with a trouble expression, glancing towards Nanachi who nodded, before giving a slow nod of his own.

The Anchor gave the White Whistle a serious look, trying to keep the hatred out of her voice. "So, I assume you have no issue allowing us through to the Sixth Layer?"

"Of course not, I don't mind!" Bondrewd shrugged. "But– "

"We won't be able to go down without a White Whistle, and Mom's won't work because they only work for the one they were made for, I know," Riko interrupted with crossed arms.

"Hm, yes; that's exactly correct," the man looked at the small girl with what seemed to be curiosity as he nodded. "You're well-informed, aren't you child?"

"Yes, you could say that," Riko nodded back. "And yes, I know how White Whistles are made. But We'll find a way to get down without resorting to it…"

"Hmm… you do now?"

"Wait, what? How are White Whistles made?" Reg questioned, glancing towards Riko with confusion.

"We can discuss that later," the glasses-wearing girl hissed as she pulled Reg aside.

After a few more, uncomfortable interactions with Bondrewd, Prushka and 'Chibi' led the trio to the room that had been prepared for them. Reg kept giving Chibi strange looks but didn't approach him.

Once she got the opportunity, Riko pulled the unknown variable for the Loop aside, to speak privately.

"You wanted to talk to me, Dani?" 'Chibi' crossed his arms as he looked at Riko.

"Yeah, you're a Looper, aren't you?"

"Hm, so, you're the Anchor here? Dani." The visitor deduced with a hum. "Well in that case, I should let you know; I prefer to go by 'USApyon,' over 'Chibi,' dani."

Riko nodded to the visitor as she looked him over. "Yes, but if we're talking name's; mine's Riko, not 'Dani.'"

USApyon stared at the girl blankly. "… Do you know what a 'verbal-tic' is? Dani."

"Yes, of course I do! And I just told you my name is Riko!" at this exclamation, USApyon gave the Anchor a deadpan look. "… Ohhhhh! I get it."

11.6 Masterweaver

[RWBY][Yo-kai Watch]

"Nyate I'm sorry it just slipped out while I was talking with Zwe–"

Nate blinked at Jibanyan's rambling. "Whoa, hold on, what are you talking about here?"

"Oh, baby broooootheeeeer..."

Ruby sauntered into the room, hands clasped behind her back, a large and friendly smile on her face.

Nate rolled his eyes. "Ruby, I'm not a baby."

"Oh, I suppose not. I mean, whoever heard of a baby with a school. Age. Daughter?" Ruby's smile was still friendly but, as Nate noted, her canines had become more pronounced.

"Okay, stop. First of all, I didn't know about Natsume until the Shadowside expansion. I would have told you sooner, but I've been trying to handle that and you're going through that whole expansion set with Jinn and the Apathy... and basically I forgot to tell you, okay?"

"Oh, I understand. That makes total sense." Ruby shrugged. "What I want to know is when do I get to meet her?"

"... She only just started looping, so–"

Ruby's eyes went wide. "OH MY GOSH SHE'S LOOPING?! OH, THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING I HAVE TO GET THE PRESENTS READY!" She zipped out of the room in a blur of petals.

"I'll bring her over the next time we have a fused loop!" Nate shouted after her.

Jibanyan let out a slow breath. "Well... that went better than expected."

"Yep." Nate leveled a flat look on him. "I was hoping to tell her myself, though."

"Ehehehe... oops?"

11.7

[Yo-kai Watch/RWBY]

"Now, be sure keep both hands on the wheel, Ruby!"

"Dad, I'm telling you; I've got this," the Anchor waved off her UnAwake father's concerns as she drove the car forward at a leisurely pace, Tai seemed to ease up as Ruby began to hum a bit to herself; everything was going fine…

"NYA!" before either could react, a red blur sped in from the side of the road, jumping into the sky, and smashing into their car. Luckily the two passengers survived, but the car was split into two pieces.

"Well… I think this driving session is done for today…" Taiyang muttered with a dazed expression, the front half of the car he and his daughter occupied sliding to a stop.

Ruby glanced behind at the left behind end of the car, as well as the large, cat-like creature that stood by; looking pleased with himself.

"Jibanyan! What the heck!?" the red-clad Anchor cried out with a shake of her fist, the large nekomata glanced her way with a huff.

"… Tough guys don't need to explain themselves," the shadowside yo-kai smirked, Ruby's eye twitched when he gave a thumbs-up and jumped off into the distance.

"… I really need Zwei to have a talk with that cat," Ruby sighed, "You okay, dad?" she looked her father's way, only to see that he had fainted, "Great…"

11.8

[Yo-kai Watch/RWBY]

"We must be careful with our next move, Ozpin is an enemy not to underestimate," Salem spoke to her council carefully, eyeing each of them, particularly Cinder. "Obtaining the Relic is– "

"What is going on here!?" a booming voice suddenly interrupted.

'Nate?' Cinder internally recognized, though the way Salem stiffened at the intrusion made her decide to remain silent and see where this went.

"Who dares to interrupt!? Do you want to die?" Tyrian threatened with a large grin as he looked towards the entrance to the room.

"Die…? That would be pretty hard to pull off," the intruder chuckled darkly, hovering into full view of the room, inciting surprised gasps from all aside from Cinder and Salem. "After all, you'll find I'm already rather lacking in the 'living' department," the semi-transparent, blue spirit taunted.

"F-father…?" Salem spoke with a fearful expression as she took a step back. This time even Cinder couldn't help looking a bit surprised at the reaction from the Queen of Grimm.

The spirit turned his attention towards Salem, his eye narrowing. "That's right, what exactly do you think you're doing, young lady!? I take my eyes off you and your brother for a few measly millenniums and you create some war that's dragged the whole world into chaos!?" Fuu2 gave a disapproving look as he shook his head.

"Father, you don't understand! This is Keisuke's fault!"

"Oh, I'll be talking to your brother soon enough, I assure you. But if you think I'm going to let you get away with making this mess without any repercussions, you've got another thing coming!"

"But dad– "

"Don't you 'but dad' me!"

Salem's council could do no more than just look back and forth between the two arguing entities, seeing their all-powerful leader grow more and more childish in her responses to the apparently undead intruder.

"You are grounded until further notice; do you hear me Natsume?" Fuu2 spoke firmly as he crossed his arms.

Salem reached out to Fuu2 with a desperate look, "But… but– "

"I said: do you hear me!?"

"… Yes daddy," Salem whimpered in defeat, sinking into her throne under the glare of the blue spirit floating over her.

"Good…" the spirit nodded. "Now, I'm going to go find your brother. When I get back, I want all…" he glanced around at the dark castle, and out the windows at the grimm infested land, "This cleaned up." Fuu2 glanced towards Cinder. "Oh, and I'll be taking her with me."

Salem/Natsume gave her father a strange look. "Her, why do you– "a single glare from the blue spirit silenced her. "Um, right, of course father. Go on Cinder, you heard him…"

"Don't have to tell me twice," the Fall Maiden shrugged, getting up from her seat to follow Fuu2 out of the room.

After the two left, Salem was left with her council, in silence.

"So… does anybody want to tell me what just happened here?" Watts questioned with a baffled expression.

"So… what was that all back there?" Cinder asked as she walked alongside her brother.

"Hard to say," Fuu2 shrugged. "I Woke only a short while ago and looked over my Loop-memories. Turns out I've been a spirit for a long time, but asleep. Also, Salem and Ozpin are my kids; Natsume and Keisuke."

"Those two are your kids… okay, so how did things get like how they are?" the local Looper questioned with a raised brow.

The visiting Anchor shrugged. "Also, hard to say, I've apparently been dormant for thousands of years. In that time, it seems Natsume's gone crazy with Kaima power and Keisuke's become some body-hopping conspiracy nut… no offense to Ozpin."

"Don't worry about it, he's not exactly happy with his Baseline-self right now anyway," Cinder assured with a wave.

Fuu2 nodded in understanding. "So, I'm now going to go find my son and drag him back here, and then those two are going to tell me what they did, and I'll probably force them to make-up."

"If only it could actually be that easy in Baseline," the dark-haired woman rolled her eyes. "Though, what if Ozpin's Awake."

"If he is this will all go a bit smoother, and I won't have to yell as much," the Yo-kai Watch Anchor nodded. "If not, you'll get to see me scold Ozpin like a child."

Cinder smirked. "Okay, now I hope he's not Awake."

11.9

[Yo-kai Watch/RWBY]

The currently fifteen-year-old Nate scowled as he stared at his scroll, letting out an annoyed sound.

"Something bothering you?" Weiss questioned her partner for the Loop as she looked over his shoulder. "The Amity Arena game?"

"They called me in to model for a unit in this game…" the Yo-kai Watch Anchor stated grumpily; his scowl unchanging.

The white-haired Jedi gave the visiting Looper a questioning look. "Um, yeah? They did it with the rest of us too. You're replacing Ruby again, so it's to be expected, even if we're still not sure how and/or if this fits into Baseline. What's the issue?"

Nate took a deep breath, before showing Weiss his scroll. "Look!"

Weiss blinked as she saw the model of Nate that was displayed on the screen. "… And what is the issue exactly? I think they got your look down pretty well… hair could stick up a bit more I suppose..."

"Not the model, my stats!" the sometimes-human, sometimes-ghost boy let out a sigh as he moved the scroll away from Weiss. "They gave my unit the most average stats in the game!"

"They did…?" Weiss looked over the boy's shoulder again, looking over stats for the 'Scythe Nate' unit. "Oh, they did."

"Why!? I'm replacing Ruby, I'm not considered 'average' here!" The brown-haired boy raged, closing the game and putting away his scroll. "They didn't even give me any special ability!"

"Nate, it's Yggdrasil, you probably should have expected this," Weiss pointed out.

The Anchor let out a small sigh, nodding. "I suppose… still annoying."

"Excuse me."

The unfamiliar voice brought the Looping duo's attention to a nervous looking police officer.

"Oh, hello. Is there an issue officer?" Weiss asked casually as Nate gave a curious look.

"Um, yes… if it's not too much trouble, could you not ride through the street on a deathstalker?" the officer asked carefully, gesturing to the oversized scorpion-grimm the two were seated on, before gesturing to the surrounding, frightened civilians. "You're causing a bit of a commotion."

Nate blinked, exchanging a look with Weiss, before shrugging. "If you say so, sorry." The visiting Looper tapped the deathstalker's back, before pointing at a near building. "Greta, to the rooftops!"

"I don't think that's what he meant, Nate," the local Looper pointed out, but didn't protest when the giant deathstalker gave a screech and scuttled up the building's side and onto the roof.

"Continue to the Vytal Festival!" Nate cheered as he pointed forward, Greta gave another happy screech as she began hopping from roof-to-roof.

This change, of course, only caused more unrest among the onlooking civilians and law enforcement.

11.10

[RWBY/Yo-kai Watch/Red Vs Blue]

Nate Awoke as he pulled himself from what could only be described as a pool of liquid death and destruction, forming a body resembling a skeletal ghost as he sifted through his memories to understand what was happening. The ectoplasmic entity gave a cough, before focusing on the woman with a deadpan expression. "Let me guess; you went to my brother's lake first, but the lazy bear wouldn't wake up!"

"Huh!?" Salem blinked with a shocked expression. "N-no, I came to you bec– "

"Don't bother lying, I know everyone goes to my brother first, before they realize he's a lazy-butt. It doesn't bother me," the blue god sighed as he hovered over to the human's side. "You know he actually tried to get me to do his job as well as mine. That guy will do anything for a few extra millenniums of sleep…"

"I… yes, that's why I came to you," Salem admitted, still looking confused, but desperate. "You're the only one that can help me."

The spectral god grunted, "Yeah, I think I know why you're here. Look, I– "

"Nate!"

Both the god and human looked over the horizon at the sudden interruption, to see a bright, glowing orange bear tumbling forward.

"Nate! Don't… she came to me first, and– "

"Dexter, stop!" the ghost raised a hand, sighing a bit as his brother lumbered over tiredly. "Let's just think about this for a moment, we both know how the actual Brother Gods handled this, but we can do better."

"I don't want to do better; I want to go back to sleep!" Grif grunted. "But these stupid god senses or whatever won't let me!"

"If we handle this well enough, the others won't have to deal with Salem later in the Loop," Nate reasoned.

"Wait, what?" Salem looked unable to process what the brothers were saying.

"Yeah…" Grif nodded with a grunt. "But if we 'disrupt the balance' or whatever, we're going to get these stupid alerts screaming in our heads for the rest of the Loop!"

"Can somebody tell me what's going on here? Can't either of you bring Ozma back?" Salem questioned desperately.

"We can bring him back but doing so would have consequences… there must be some sort of sacrifice at least…" Nate reasoned with a small sigh.

Grif walked over to his younger brother, a sleepy look still in his eyes. "Well, immortality sucks. Why don't we just bring him back and make them both immortal?"

Salem's eyes widened with hope. "You could do that!?"

"We shouldn't just do that arbitrarily, bro. We have to consider the consequences that could come about!" Nate interjected as his ghostly form rippled a bit. "We have to consider what the others will have to deal with as a result of our decision here!"

Grif let out a long sigh, "Look Nate, I just want to go back to sleep. Let's just give her what she wants with some immortality curse or whatever, she'll live happily ever after with her boyfriend or whatever, and the 'balance' or whatever will be happy that there were consequences, or something…"

"I'll pay whatever price I need to in order to be with Ozma again!" Salem pleaded, looking between the two brothers with her hands clasped.

Nate groaned, floating over to Salem and holding out a blue, skeletal hand. "Fine, fine, I'll bring him back for you. Immortality will be both of your curse until you can… I don't know… achieve world peace."

"And erase the word 'bear' from any known vocabulary of this world!" Grif added hastily.

Salem's look of hope turned to one of confusion as she glanced towards the ursidae-shaped god. "What… I'm sorry, what do you have against bears?"

"No!" Grif shouted, a bit too late.

BEARS!

"… What was that?" Salem had a blank expression.

The light god growled, "Nothing, just never end your sentence with that word again!"

Salem still looked confused. "… Which word… 'bears?'"

BEARS!

"YES! That one! Stop saying it!" Grif snapped with a twitch.

"Okay, moving on!" Nate floated between his brother and the blond woman, holding both of his hands up, turning his attention fully to the human. "So, we have an agreement, right?"

Salem looked into the glowing eye-sockets of the death god, nodding slowly. "To have Ozma back, in exchange for eternal life, until we achieve world piece and… eliminate the word 'bear' from the world's vocabulary. I accept this deal, oh great Brother Gods."

"Please don't call us that," Nate muttered while looking away. "It makes me feel weird."

"Not me, I could use a bit more worshiping over here!" Grif rolled onto his back while waving a paw around.

The ghost gave his bear-brother a deadpan expression. "Grif."

"Fine, fine. Don't get so uptight just because we're gods or whatever, baby bro," Grif rolled his eyes.

"I am not a 'baby!' We've been over this!"

"Um, excuse me?" Salem raised her hand, looking a bit concerned as she glanced between the two. "About Ozma?"

"Right, of course," Nate shook his head. "Just give me a second…" with a flash, an unconscious Ozma appeared before Salem, she quickly ran to his side and embraced him, checked his pulse to make sure he was breathing, and began crying tears of joy when she confirmed he was.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" the woman cried as she hugged her revived love.

"Just remember the deal," Nate sighed as he nodded.

"BOTH PARTS!" Grif shouted as he lumbered out of his brother's domain. "And nobody wake me up again, at least until those conditions have been fulfilled!"

Nate watched his brother leave with his arms crossed. "… Bears."

BEARS!

"DAMMIT NATE!"

"Are you… robbing me?" Ruby spoke just as she Woke up.

The 'goon' gave the Anchor a confused look. "Um… no? I was just asking for the time."

"Oh…" Ruby pulled out her scroll. "It's about six."

"Thanks, kid," the man waved as he went to join the rest of his gang. "It's six guys! We still have some time to pick up pizza for the party!"

"What the…?" Ruby looked around the dust shop, noting that Roman was among the goons, though he was actually paying for his dust. "Huh!?" Ruby looked over her Loop memories, growing quite surprised by the fact that the crime levels in this version of reality were rather low, as were deaths from violent causes. Though three things stuck out most to her. 'Beacon is run by 'Ozma' and Salem. There are yo-kai instead of grimm. And the word 'bear' is nowhere in my Loop-memories… okay, I think I know what happened.'

11.11

[Yo-kai Watch/RWBY]

"You know… I feel like we don't see each other very much anymore."

"Really?" a brown-haired young man glanced towards the blonde woman curiously. "I admit, we've both been having a bit going on lately with our latest Expansions, but we still see each other a good amount, as far as Fused Loops go."

The blonde frowned. "Yeah, but whenever you're here you're usually spending time with Ruby, and I get that, you look up to her, you modeled a lot of your Looping-self after her…" she let out a small cough, looking to the side, "Still, sometimes I can't help feeling a little… jealous."

"Jealous?" the boy looked surprised, noting how his older sister tried to hide her embarrassed look.

The woman shook her head, putting on an awkward grin, "Forget I said that, please. I know it's not right; I get to see Ruby and Cinder all the time, you only get so many chances to see us every so often, and it's not like you ignore me…"

"Hold on, hold on," the brown-haired boy shook his head, giving the blonde woman a stern look, "Yang, don't bury your emotions, you know that's not healthy."

"I'm not," Yang rolled her eyes, placing her hand on her little brother's head, "I'm just trying not to let some of those feelings make me behave irrational, I shouldn't be upset that you spend a lot of your time with Ruby, but…"

"But…?"

"But… do you remember, that I'm the one that introduced you to the Loops in the first place?" she muttered a bit as she looked away again.

The boy blinked, giving his sister a wide-eyed look. "What? Yang, of course I remember that! There's not a day that goes by I'm not grateful to you and what you did for me back then!" the brunette moved in a blur, wrapping the blonde in a hug. "You're my big sister, I love you!"

Yang let out a chuckle as she returned the hug, "Nate, you're still adorable…"

"Hey! I'm not adorable!"

"Yes, you are my little, baby-waby brother-wother!" Yang cooed as she took control of the embrace, lifting Nate off the ground.

"Yaaaaaang!" the younger brother whined as he struggled in her grip. "I'm not a baby! I'm a husband and father!"

Yang just giggled, letting him down and ruffling the embarrassed boy's hair a bit. "It doesn't matter what happens Keita, you're always going to be the baby of this family! You'd be better off just embracing it!"

"Never!" Nate snapped, lightly swatting Yang's hand away, making her giggle harder. Nate shook his head at his laughing sister, before smiling again. "Yang… sorry if I haven't been paying as much attention to you as I should have…"

The blonde paused in her laughing, raising a brow despite her smile, "Eh? Nah! Don't be sorry Natey-Keitey!"

"Katie's my wife…"

"I was trying to make Keita sound cutesy, but it failed," Yang admitted with a shrug. "Anyway, don't sweat about that kind of stuff, I said I understood why you spend so much time with her, and maybe it's kind of been my imagination," she gave a kind smile as she gave Nate a gentle pat on the head, "Still, I'd like it if when we're together, if we could do a little more one-on-one time… not that you should stop spending time with Ruby, don't you dare think that!" Yang's expression turned stern as she said this.

Nate gave his own kind smile, nodding with a big of a chucke, "I'd never do that, I love Ruby, just like I love you, and all our family. But I think I could stand to try and work in a bit more time with you when we're together."

Yang grinned again, giving a nod back to him, "Thanks, Nate. Never forget: first and foremost, you're my little brother, and sometimes I don't feel like sharing…"

"I assume you get the same sort of feelings about Ruby sometimes?" Nate gave a playful smirk.

"I get those feelings about all our siblings, and I'm sure you all get them sometimes too!" Yang gave a thumbs-up with a proud grin. "It's part of being siblings, after all!"

"I suppose that's true…" the boy admitted.

A loud growl was heard from nearby, the two siblings glanced over their shoulders at the source and both sighed.

"Though, can we discuss how we can spend some time together after we deal with… this?"

"What? That sounds like a great way to spend time together to me!" Yang smirked eagerly, slamming her fists together as her eyes turned red and her hair flared.

Nate shook his head, before gaining a similar smirk, pulling Spectral Fang from his pocket.

Glaring into the partially destroyed lighthouse that the Looping duo had taken cover in, the cyborg-grimm-leviathan-dragon-hybrid let out a massive roar, before it was charged by the two hunters.

11.12

[Yo-kai Watch/Made in Abyss/We Bare Bears/Fairy Musketeers/Steven Universe/My Little Pony/Little Witch Academia]

"The world of Volvere: Where fantastical beasts roam, many different races work together with the use of magic and science, treasure is to be found, and adventure is right around the corner! A world with no limitations on what level you can reach if you really put your mind to it, and where anyone can become a hero! This is where our adventure begins!"

"Inaho, who are you talking to?" Lotte questioned with confusion. "We already went over all of this in our memories…"

The purple-haired girl blinked, glancing over at Lotte's sleeping bag, where she sat, before looking around the dimly lit room at the five other occupants that were giving her varying looks of confusion, concern, or annoyance. "Um, duh? It's the intro to our grand adventure! Tomorrow we officially become Adventurers and can start on our fantastical journey! I'm just setting the mood is all, chi-watchi!"

"Well nobody asked you to," Shirayuki spoke with an indignant tone, crossing her arms and glaring at Inaho.

"What's with the attitude?" Connie gave the blue-haired girl a confused look.

"Don't worry about that, Weiss 2.0 is just a spoiled princess," Inaho remarked offhandedly, ignoring said princess's outraged expression.

"What did you just call me? I am Princess Shirayuki, one of the Three Musketeers you little… "

"Um, I don't think fighting amongst ourselves before we even begin adventuring is a very good sign," Chloe spoke up, glancing around nervously.

"Nonsense, the best parties always have some friction between members, it makes things more interesting," Inaho assured, before sticking her tongue out at Shirayuki, making her fume even more.

"Ha, I can already tell this is gonna be a blast!" Riko exclaimed, pulling a pickaxe from the pack by her sleeping bag and holding it over her shoulder.

"… I'm not so sure," Lotte sighed.

"Ditto," Silver Spoon nodded. "Why is this world called 'Volvere' anyway?" the small pony questioned with a raised brow.

"'Volvere' is a Latin word meaning 'to roll,'" Connie pointed out, but looked confused as well.

"Well this world is kind of RPG-ish, so maybe like dice rolls? Or maybe just how people adventure and keep on rolling," Inaho shrugged, before bringing up her status screen with an eager grin. "Yeah, I'm a level 1 Summoner! I would have liked to be a Magical Girl, but this works!"

"Oh, cool! I want to try that!" Riko exclaimed, waving her hand in front of her for a moment, before the semi-transparent status screen appeared for her as well. "I'm a level 5 Delver! Cool!"

"Level 5?" Connie looked at Riko questioningly.

"What? Why are you starting on a higher level!?" Inaho shouted with a look of envy.

"According to my memories I practiced in the caverns near town, and leveled up a bit that way," Riko shrugged, laughing a little at the purple-haired girl's face.

"I'm a level 7 Mage," Shirayuki spoke up as she looked at her own status screen, an arrogant smirk on her face. "Seems my intent to learn magic in this world was similar to my Baseline."

"Level 3 Witch," Lotte noted, looking towards Inaho with a bit of nervousness.

"This isn't fair, why am I only level 1!?" Inaho cried out with fists raised.

"Probably because you've never had a chance to do much summoning, and there are no monsters to battle here. I'm only level 1 too," Chloe reasoned with a reassuring smile. "I'm a Cleric."

"Well, that makes me a feel a bit better… but it's still not fair!" Inaho drooped as tears streamed from her eyes.

"Suck it up," Shirayuki huffed.

"Level 2 Alchemist," Silver Spoon read her statues screen critically. "I guess there wasn't much opportunity to practice alchemy in this town…"

"Level 4 Knight," Connie noted, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Well, we seem to be a rather varied team, so we should be able to handle an adventure well enough," Riko smiled enthusiastically.

"Why did our UnAwake selves decide to form a team anyway?" Shirayuki asked, eyeing the six other girls in the room critically.

"You looked at your memories, right? We've all been friends since we were very young," Connie pointed out, trading a small smile with Chloe.

"Yeah, we've been planning this for a long time it seems!" Chloe exclaimed with a nod, pulling up a book of healing magic to skim through.

"And, might I just say that growing up as an earth pony, in a town primarily designed for humans, sucks!" Silver Spoon raised a hoof with a groan. "I remember most people in town were nice enough, but this place just isn't built with ponies in mind…"

Lotte gave the only non-human in a room a sympathetic look. "That's understandable, I suppose. You don't have any hands…"

"Normally I'd just shapeshift to mediate any of those issues, but of course this is a Null Loop," the young equine groaned.

"All the more reason to focus on growing our in-Loop skills!" Inaho smiled, giving a thumbs-up.

"Says the level 1," Shirayuki commented smugly.

Inaho twitched. "I swear, I do not have as much patience as I appear, Weiss 2.0!"

Shirayui hissed. "Stop calling me that! My Baseline material predates Weiss' in the Hub you know!"

"You're right, I suppose Weiss would be the 2.0, since she's an improvement over you and all," the Summoner giggled a bit as Shirayuki turned red with anger.

"Aren't you kids asleep yet?" Connie's father asked as he stepped into the living room, where the seven young girls sleeping bags were arranged. "It wouldn't be a good idea to start your adventure without a good night's sleep, you know."

"Er… right, that's true I suppose," Shirayuki hid her anger, giving her best polite smile. "But you see Mr. Maheswaran, Inaho is just so excited that she can't help going on and on talking about the coming adventure, that she won't let the rest of us get to sleep…" the small princess did a fake yawn. "I'm so sleepy…

"What!? You…" Inaho growled.

"It's actually all of our fault, dad. We're all pretty excited," Connie interjected, giving Shirayuki a disapproving look. "Right?"

"… Yes, fine it wasn't just Inaho, I suppose," the blue-haired girl relented, giving an annoyed pout.

"We're all eager, though we do need to get some sleep," Riko chuckled, putting her pickaxe back into her pack.

"Yeah, we don't want to be tired and lose to a low-level monster, like a Michibiki, that would be embarrassing," Chloe chuckled, putting her healing tome away as well.

"That's not something I'd want people to hear about for our first bout into this word," Lotte shook her head, curling up into her sleeping bag.

Mr. Maheswaran gave a nod of approval as each of the young Adventurers-to-be retreated into their sleeping bags to get some sleep, he turned off the lamp that was slightly illuminating the room, before leaving.

"… Hey, guys? What do you think the 'Big Reveal' about this world is going to be? My bet is post-apocalyptic."

"Inaho, go to sleep," Connie's voice sighed.

"Everyone! Get up! It's morning!" Inaho shouted as she bounced around the living room gleefully.

"Ug, you couldn't just let us wake up normally, could you?" Silver Spoon muttered sleepily as she pulled herself out of her sleeping bag.

"I was already awake," Riko smirked as she sat up. "You're late, Inaho."

"Oh, dangit!" Inaho threw her fist into her hand, before she and Riko both chuckled.

"Well, I suppose the best thing to do first would be to get some food before we report to get our 'Adventurer Licenses," Connie said with a laugh of her own. "I think I can smell breakfast, so I'm sure my parents have already started preparing it."

"Oh yeah, can't start out on an adventure on an empty stomach, that would be a mistake!" Riko gave a thumbs up as she cheered.

"Yeah, that sounds good!" Inaho threw a fist into the air in agreement, pointing towards the doorway to the kitchen with a wide grin. "Glasses Girl Brigade, go!"

"What? When did we agree on that name?" Shirayuki looked displeased, glancing down at the pony by her side.

"No idea, I think she just does whatever she wants…" Silver Spoon shrugged.

"The town of Portsville: A relatively small town located just by the edge of the continent known as Summeroute. Portsville is, as its name suggests, a port town, but it is also much more. Portsville is the main base of operation for the 'Adventurer Administration,' meaning that it is the place where many Adventurers get their start, though not the only place to get an official Adventurer License, many consider it the most 'authentic' way. It's placement on the map means it's also where most visitors to Summeroute from the other continents enter it. Due to all these details, many Guilds set up shop in Portsville with the hope of recruiting more new members and– "

"Inaho, stop doing that!" Shirayuki snapped from a few feet behind the other girl.

"Yeah, at this point you're pretty much just rambling to nobody, about stuff we all already know," Silver Spoon sighed, a hoof to her head.

"Hmph, no sense of atmosphere, any of you," Inaho huffed as she marched back over to her party, from her previous position of looking out over the town.

"I thought what you were doing was cool," Riko pointed out.

"Any of you! Except Riko."

"The rest of us didn't even say anything," Connie sighed. "Although… it is kind of unnecessary, and compared to your last one, don't you think this one was running a little long?"

"ANY OF YOU!" Inaho shouted again. "Except Riko."

"I didn't say anything either, I don't really mind it," Chloe spoke up, raising her hand. "But, shouldn't we get going to get our Adventurers Licenses?"

"Yeah, wasn't that what you were so excited about yesterday? We can't leave this town on our own without those licenses," Lotte added with a small cough.

"That's kind of a strange system, when you think about it, right?" Connie questioned thoughtfully. "We're all around ten-to-sixteen years old, but we can just set off on an adventure with no clear goal if we get these 'Adventurer Licenses.'"

"I bet there will turn out to be some sort of shady corruption in the system with that," Inaho spoke confidently.

"Oh please, not every authority system has something shady about it," Shirayuki rolled her eyes.

"Says the princess," the purple-haired Summoner muttered, walking down a set of wooden steps that would lead from the residential part of town, to the central district.

Lotte paused, looking towards a railing, with a hammerbeak and strawberry fruit bat on it, the hammerbeak perched on the top of the railing, with the fruit bat hanging from it upside down. She shook her head, chasing after the Summoner. "Inaho, wait up!"

"Well that's not a sight I would have expected to see," Riko noted as she looked at the two flying creatures.

"Come on, we should get moving," Silver Spoon trotted by the blond girl, giving a nod to the bird and bat.

"Well, we don't want to get left behind, do we?" Connie smiled at Chloe.

The shorter girl shook her head. "Nope, let's go!"

"Fine, but if our Summoner insults me again, I won't hold back," Shirayuki hissed as she stepped down the stairs.

"Man, Inaho's fast," Lotte sighed as she glanced around the town that was bustling with people. "Which way was it again?"

"I saw her going that way!" Chloe exclaimed as she jumped down the last step, pointing down the street, to the east.

"Well, let's catch up then!" Riko grinned as she jumped down the last step.

"Oh, Riko? You headed to the Adventurer Administration already, they grow up so fast," a large man spoke cheerfully as he stepped over to the group.

Riko paused for a moment in surprise, before smiling widely at the man. "Uncle Habo!"

"Yup! So, you're finally becoming real Adventurers like yours truly?" Habo grinned, patting Riko on the head.

"But Uncle Habo, you never leave town," Riko chuckled as she pushed the large man's hand off her head.

"Maybe not recently, but back in my day I traveled all across Summeroute, completing quests, defeating monsters, and leveling up, alongside my Party, the 'Menacing Monster Bashers!'" Habo exclaimed with an excited grin.

"You and Mom were in the same Party, right?" Riko asked with an interested expression.

"That's right, of course everyone said it wasn't a good idea to have three out of ten party slots occupied by Delvers, but we proved them all wrong!"

"If I remember right, my parents were also part of your Party," Silver Spoon noted, glancing over her memories for a bit.

Habo's expression briefly turned somber, but he quickly smiled again as he patted the filly on the head. "Yes, I admit I don't know about pony culture and all that, but those two were some of the best companions I ever knew. Your father, Silver Sword, was an excellent Blacksmith, he always made sure our team was equipped with only the best of weapons. Your mother, Precious Metal, was an Alchemist, just like you, one of the best I'd ever seen…"

"… Thanks," Silver Spoon nodded, a small smile on her muzzle.

"Well, I shouldn't keep you with my stories of the past for too long, you need to get started on your own story after all," Habo nodded, giving an encouraging grin.

"That's a good point, thanks Uncle Habo! We're going to become Adventurers ourselves, if I find mom on our journey, I'll tell her you said 'hi!'" Riko exclaimed, raising both her arms with a look of determination in her eyes.

"You do that, I'm sure you'll run into her, somewhere out there," the higher-level Delver nodded in approval.

"Hey, guys? I think Inaho's probably gotten to the Adventurer Administration by now," Chloe commented, glancing the direction the purple-haired girl had gone ahead of them.

"Oh great, we need to catch up before she registers our party under some weird name!" Shirayuki exclaimed urgently, rushing forward.

"I'm sure if she registers our party, it wouldn't be anything too bad," Lotte reasoned, following closely behind the blue-haired Mage.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Silver Spoon looked in their direction, giving Habo a respectful nod, before galloping after her companions.

"Thanks for the words of wisdom, Mr. Habo," Connie nodded.

"Yeah, bye!" Chloe waved as she left along with Connie.

"Goodbye, Uncle Habo. I can't wait to tell you all about the amazing adventures we'll have!" Riko waved as she ran after her Party-mates.

Habo waved back as he watched them leave, letting out a small sigh. "Yup, they sure grow up fast…"

"You actually registered our Party as 'Glasses Girl Brigade!?'" Shirayuki looked at her copy of their Party's registration paper incredulously.

"Well if you had been there you could have weighed in your opinion," Inaho shrugged.

"You rushed ahead so we couldn't do that!" Shirayuki snapped.

"I don't mind it, it's not bad," Riko said with a small grin. "You have to admit; it fits."

"Because we're all girls with glasses?" Silver Spoon adjusted her own glasses as she spoke. "Doesn't seem like the best thing to theme our team around, but could be worse…"

"Yes! There's nothing much better for a team than a visual motif that all its members fit into! Chi-watchi!" Inaho jumped up with a cheer.

"I think there are probably things more important for the structure of a team than that," Connie commented with a blink. "Also, I don't even need glasses in my Baseline anymore."

"Well, you need 'em now, so it still fits," Inaho countered with a smug grin.

"Party name aside, should we also think about joining a Guild?" Chloe asked, curiously glancing at some of the stands that had been set up for joining various Guilds.

Inaho shook her head. "Nah, we haven't even started our adventure as a Party yet! Joining a Guild isn't something we should think about until we're a good deal into our journey!"

"I actually agree with you on this one, joining a Guild this early might do more to hinder our freedom than it will to benefit us," Shirayuki said intelligently, looking at the stands for the Guilds critically.

"Okay, so we won't join a Guild, yet at least," Connie noted with a nod.

"Even if you're not joining, remember!" a short, purple woman with a purple gem on her chest suddenly jumped up from within her booth, an excited look. "If you come across some abandoned gem-tech, or manage to poof a corrupted gem, please turn them in to us, The Crystal Gem Guild will reward you for your service. Thank you in advance!"

"Hey Connie!" a dark-haired, pudgy boy, wearing a red shirt with yellow star on it jumped up from behind the booth.

"Hey Steven, Amethyst," Connie waved. "We'll be sure to keep that in mind."

"Hey thanks, Connie! Have fun out there!" Amethyst gave a thumbs up. "Me? I gotta stay here to give out info and recruit applicants…" the gem's enthusiasm dropped as she said this, drooping a bit.

"I'm helping too!" Steven exclaimed, jumping up again.

Amethyst glanced down at the human-gem hybrid, before looking back towards Connie. "I told him he doesn't have to be here, but he kept insisting."

"I need to take my duties as a member of the Crystal Gems seriously!" Steven countered with a hand raised.

"Whatever you say, little man. Me? I don't care much for desk-work," Amethyst sighed as she slumped against the stand's counter.

"Well, I think you're doing a good job, see you guys later," Connie waved, before retreating to her Party-mates.

"Okay, so we do have a list of places to stop at and items to get before we set off, it pays to be prepared," Lotte smiled as she unfolded the list. "We need to stop at my parents' magic shop for some potions. The Blacksmith Bears for some armor. Auntie Laffi's shop for food and supplies…"

"Oh, right…" Inaho nodded with a small sigh. "It's not a good idea to go out into the wilds without that stuff."

"At least you have that much sense," Shirayuki commented with a shrug.

"Please don't incite animosity," Silver Spoon chided, bumping her hoof against Shirayuki's leg.

"She's the one that started it," the princess grunted.

"Anyway! Let's head to Lotte's family shop, since it's closest, and go from there!" Riko interrupted, looking excited. "This is a new kind of adventure for me, I can't wait to see what will happen!"

"Once again, your attitude is a light in the dim darkness, Riko," Inaho praised with her arms held up high.

"Um… are you calling the rest of us the 'dim darkness?'" Chloe asked with an unsure expression, Inaho's lack of an answer didn't help.

"Here we are, Lotte's family's magic shop," Chloe smiled as she opened the door and looked around.

"Mom, dad? You in?" Lotte called out as she looked around, before spotting a blue minotaur standing behind the counter, her memories telling her who this was. "Mr. Iron Will, are my parents here?"

'Iron Will working the counter at a magic shop? Not what I would have expected,' Silver Spoon couldn't help but think as she stepped into the shop.

"Oh, hello Lotte. Mr and Mrs. Jansson had to step out! But don't worry, Iron Will shall happily help you with whatever you need! Yeah!" The minotaur flexed as he spoke.

"Cool! Let's get as many healing and power-up potions as possible!" Inaho exclaimed as she popped up by Lotte's side, making the older girl jump back a bit in surprise.

Iron Will's enthusiasm lowered when he spotted Inaho, giving the purple-haired girl a flat look. "Ms. Misora, Iron Will seems to recall that you were banned from coming in here…"

"Water under the bridge my bull-headed friend, water under the bridge," Inaho assured with a confident wave.

"I remember that, you caused a huge explosion and almost blew the roof off this place," Shirayuki commented as she mentally viewed the memory.

"Mr and Mrs. Jansson have entrusted the safety of their shop in Iron Will's hands! Even if you are Lotte's friend, you've proven yourself to be a danger to everything in this shop on multiple occasions! Iron Will must, politely, ask you to leave." The minotaur waved his hand in a shooing motion towards Inaho.

"Oh, come on!"

"You heard Iron Will, please leave," Iron Will repeated, waving again.

Inaho glared at the larger creature, putting her hands on her hips. "Oh yeah? Well, you can't make me."

Each of Inaho's Party-mates gave varying disapproving looks or sighs.

"Ah!" Inaho yelped as she was, lightly, tossed out of the magic shop.

"And stay out, until you are deemed able to come back here again! Then return any time for all your magical item needs!" Iron Will shouted before slamming the door shut.

Inaho got back to her feet, brushing herself off, before glaring at the shop and shaking fist. "Oh yeah!? Well you get your body-hair all over the counter, and your flexing makes costumers uncomfortable! Nobody will say it to your face, but it's true!"

"Wasn't that a little harsh?" Riko questioned Iron Will as he marched past her and back to the counter.

"Iron Will does not tolerate rule-breaking in the shop of Iron Will's employers! Ms. Misora can return when she learns to not be such a hazard!" the minotaur flexed again, before turning to Lotte. "Now, what did you want Lotte?"

"Um… we're here to get supplies for our adventure," the eldest of the 'Glasses Girl Brigade' spoke with a bit of nervousness.

"Ah! Of course, your parents told Iron Will about this!" the man-bull-hybrid reached below the counter, pulling up a travel pack, presumably filled with supplies. "They prepared this for you, no need to pay Lotte, it's yours!"

"Oh, thank you," the young Witch smiled a bit, taking the bag and looking inside it for a moment.

"Do not thank Iron Will, it was your parents that prepared it, Iron Will is just the messenger!"

"Well, thank you for being the messenger, also all your hard work for the shop," Lotte thanked. "Even if throwing Inaho out was a bit unnecessary… by the way, where are my parents anyway?"

"Iron Will cannot say for sure where Mr and Mrs. Jansson have gone to, but Iron Will can assure you that you will see them before you depart on your journey!" the minotaur exclaimed with another flex.

"Oh, well… if you say so," Lotte nodded unsurely.

"There's a lot of glass containers filled with different colored liquid," Riko commented as she looked at some of the shelves.

"And you probably shouldn't mess with them, unless you want to get banned like Inaho," Silver Spoon sighed.

"Speaking of Inaho, we should go find her," Connie spoke up with a bit of concern.

"Agreed," Lotte nodded, the travel pack now strapped to her back.

"Yeah, who knows what kind of trouble she could get into if left to her own devices…" Shirayuki put a hand to her forehead as she sighed.

"… Kcab era ysug uoy, ho?" Inaho questioned, her Party-mates having found her standing on her head, a few feet from the shop.

"I… um… sure," Shirayuki shrugged with disturbed expression.

"I found her like this, I have no idea what's up with her…" an eleven-year old girl with hair covering her eyes said blankly.

"Thank you, Rina, but I assure you she's fine, it's just Inaho… being Inaho," Riko assured with a little chuckle.

"Naem ot desoppus taht si tahw dna?"

"Inaho, please stop," Chloe pleaded. "It's cool you can speak backwards while standing on your head, but we should get going."

"Enif, ho!" Inaho pouted, before flipping herself right-side up again.

"See, she's fine," Riko reiterated to the curious Rina.

"Hmm… interesting," Rina noted, before nodding and walking off.

"Mind telling us what this stunt was supposed to prove?" Shirayuki asked, narrowing her eyes at the Summoner.

"Stunt? I was just bored waiting for you guys," Inaho shrugged, causing her team (aside from Riko) to look at her oddly. "Now come on, let's get to the Blacksmith Bears!"

"Oh, right! Let's go!" Chloe gave an enthusiastic wave, taking to the head of the group.

"Guys, you here? Grizz? Panda? Ice Bear?" Chloe called out as she stepped into the Blacksmith workshop.

The sound of metal being hit with a hammer was heard, sparks flashing against the wall.

"Oh, hey Chloe!" Grizz waved, holding up his hammer and lifting the mask up from his face. "You here for some armor?"

"Um, yeah, actually we are," Chloe smiled as she stepped over to the brown-furred bear, the other members of her Party entering the workshop after her.

"Grizz, you know that we need to have that order done today, what are you–Oh! Hey Chloe, you too girls! What brings you to our workshop?" Panda greeted as he entered the room, followed shortly by his white-furred brother.

"Ice Bear remembers Chloe and friends are becoming Adventurers today," Ice Bear mentioned in his usual monotone.

"Wait, that was today!?" Grizz gave a shocked expression.

"Grizz, did you really forget?" Panda gave the grizzly bear a disbelieving look.

"Panda forgot too," Ice Bear pointed out.

"W-what? No, no I didn't!" the black and white brother protested.

Inaho glanced at a large sword, resembling an icicle, on the wall. She moved over to it, reaching out with one extended finger.

"Don't touch that," Ice Bear suddenly interjected, halting the Summoner's movement.

Riko was staring at a large, golden axe on a table, reaching for it carefully…

"Don't touch that," Ice Bear popped up next to Riko, causing her to stiffen and slowly back away from the axe.

Silver Spoon stared at some metal ingots with interest, humming to herself with a hoof under her chin.

"Don't touch those."

"Gah! I wasn't gonna!" the gray-furred pony protested, glaring at the polar bear suspiciously. "Are you a ninja?"

Ice Bear stared back at Silver Spoon silently for a few moments, before raising a paw. "You may take one."

"Um… thank you…?" Silver Spoon gave a confused look, reaching out and claiming an iron ingot, Ice Bear nodding in approval.

"So, um… we came to get some armor," Chloe spoke again, focusing on Grizz and Panda.

"Well don't worry about that Chloe, we made some start-up armor for you and your teammates in advance! Here, let me just get it for you," the grizzly bear smiled as he went over to one of the shelves.

"Don't worry about paying us, consider it a gift," Panda explained as he smiled down at Chloe.

"Aw, thanks," Chloe gratefully looked upon seven armor sets. "We'll equipped them right away!"

"This is so cool!" Inaho grinned as she looked at the iron armor that she was wearing, the group exiting the Bears' workshop.

"Somewhat basic, but I can appreciate the craftsmanship," Shirayuki nodded as she looked at her own armor.

"I wouldn't have expected the Bears to be blacksmiths, but they're pretty good at it," Chloe nodded.

"Okay, now that we all have armor equipped, the last stop before we can truly consider ourselves prepared…" Lotte pulled out her list again.

"Auntie Laffi's shop! Yeah! Riko cheered, running ahead of the group.

"Um… yeah," Lotte nodded, putting the list away.

"Auntie Laffi!?" Riko called out as she charged into the shop.

"Riko!?" a brown-haired boy, around the same age as Riko, exclaimed in shock at her sudden entrance.

"Nat? Where's Aunti Laffi?" Riko asked with a slight glare.

"She's upstairs," a dark-haired boy with glasses interjected.

"Hey, Shiggy," Riko greeted briefly.

"We're here to buy supplies for our adventure, so we need to see her!" Inaho exclaimed as she barged into the shop.

"Inaho… why?" the Shiggy muttered with a sigh.

A small, blond-haired boy waved his hand as he looked at the group.

"Hey Kiyui, how are you today?" Connie greeted the small boy kindly.

"So, you're really going on this adventure… with them?" Nat questioned Riko with a critical look on his face.

"Of course, we've been planning it for a while," Riko responded with a serious look.

"Well, I still think it's a bad idea," the brown-haired boy huffed.

"Well, I think your FACE is a bad idea!" Inaho suddenly shouted, a triumphant smirk on her face.

"… What?" Nat stared at the younger girl blankly.

"Now Kiyui, you remember not to grow up to be rude like Nat or Inaho, okay?" Shirayuki spoke gently to the smallest child in the room.

"Okay…" Kiyui nodded slowly as the blue-haired Mage patted his head.

"Hey!" Inaho shouted in protest.

"What is that supposed to mean!?" Nat added angrily.

"Oh my, did you two hear that?" Shirayuki chuckled evilly as she looked away from them.

"I'm over here, and I heard it," Silver Spoon commented from the other side of the shop.

"What's going on now?" a red-haired woman questioned as she came down the stairs. "Oh, Riko, everyone, how nice to see you. Are you here to get supplies for your adventure?"

"Auntie Laffi! Yeah, how'd you know?" Riko asked curiously.

"Well, you've been talking about this for quite a while now," the shopkeeper chuckled kindly, getting off the stairs and walking behind the counter. "I'll be happy to supply you with whatever you might need, and don't worry about paying, you've all helped me with the shop more than enough times to make up for anything you need."

"That's very kind of you, Mrs. Laffi," Connie smiled, glancing at some of the food and other items available in the shop.

"Well, I think that's everything we need to prepare for this adventure, along with the supplies like sleeping bags we already packed," Lotte nodded as she looked over her list, the group walking into the town square.

"Great! So, our grand quest can begin soon!" Riko exclaimed with excitement, before pausing. "Though, didn't that Iron Will guy say you would see your parents before you leave."

"He did, though he also didn't know where they were…" Lotte muttered thoughtfully.

"Well, we're right here!"

A voice Lotte recognized as her father's suddenly spoke up, she looked in the direction it had come from to see both her mom and dad waving as they moved over to her. "Mom, Dad?" Lotte looked surprised at the sudden appearance of her parents.

"I see Mr. Iron Will gave you the supplies we picked out for you," Lotte's mother smiled when she spotted the pack her daughter was carrying.

"Yes, he did, thank you," Lotte smiled to her parents with a nod. "Also… could you maybe think about allowing Inaho in the store again? I swear she's not likely to cause any more explosions."

"Yeah! I'm a full-on responsible Adventurer now!" Inaho shouted, jumping up from behind the young Witch.

"… We'll think about it," her mother said, sharing an unsure look with her husband.

"And as for where we went, well…" Lotte's father reached into a bag he held, before pulling out an old book and handing it to his daughter.

"What is… this?" Lotte looked a bit mesmerized as she looked through a few pages.

"That would be my grandmother's spell book," Lotte's mother stated, surprising her daughter. "We retrieved it from a safe place, we think it's right for you to have it. It's old, and some of the spells are rather complex and will take some time to grasp, but we can't think of a better time to give it to you."

"Wow… thank you," Lotte gave a wistful smile as she held the book tightly, before safely storing it in her bag. "I'll treasure it."

Chloe smiled as she watched the exchange between parents and daughter.

"Hey, Chloe! Leaving town without a final goodbye!"

Grizz's sudden voice had the small girl turn around, seeing her three bear friends approaching. "Guys, you're here?" Chloe asked in surprise at the appearance of the three bears.

"Of course, you think we wouldn't come to give you a send-off?" Grizz gave a good-natured smile. "Oh and be sure to look out for feral bears out there, Chloe. They're not nearly as nice as us."

"That's an understatement," Panda rolled his eyes, before patting the human girl on the shoulder. "Remember to come back and visit every now and then."

"Ice Bear is sure one of the magic-users will obtain a fast-travel spell at some point," the white bear stated, nodding to Chloe. "Be sure to remember all Ice Bear showed you for taking down monsters."

"Ice Bear, I'm the healer," Chloe pointed out, chuckling a little.

"And an excellent one you'll be," Chloe's mother said as she approached, along with her father.

"Mom! Dad!" Chloe cheered, hugging her parents.

"Oh, that's nice," Inaho smiled.

"We're here also, Inaho," Inaho's mother spoke, walking over, along with her little brother.

"Mom, Riku! You both came to see me off!" the purple-haired Summoner exclaimed happily.

"Yeah, though I still think letting you go off on an adventure is a terrible idea," Riku muttered with a disapproving look.

"Now, now, I'm sure she's prepared for this. Plus, she has her team to help her," their mother assured with caring smile.

"Aw, I love you guys!" Inaho pulled her mother and brother into a hug.

The departing Party were soon greeted with the rest of their parents, as well as other friends, giving them departing words and encouragement, before they waved to everyone goodbye and headed for the town's main gate, to start their adventure…

"Oh, wait! We can't leave yet!" Inaho exclaimed, turning around and marching back into town.

"What? Why?" Silver Spoon exchanged a confused look with her other companions.

"Side-Quests!"

"If I recall, it's right around here…" Inaho muttered to herself as she walked around Portsville's business district, looking at each building with a critical eye.

"You ran ahead, when you didn't even remember where the Quest Lodge was?" Shirayuki gave the Summoner a flat look.

"I remember where it is!" Inaho snapped at her blue-haired teammate. "I just haven't quite remembered… its exact location… my UnAwake-self didn't bother memorizing it, okay!?"

"That's no surprise," Shirayuki rolled her eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Inaho glared.

"Okay, enough! It's this way!" Connie interrupted, pointing ahead as she took the lead.

Inaho and Shirayuki glanced at each other as their Party-mates passed them, before shrugging and following.

"Are we going to have to deal with those two fighting the entire Loop?" Chloe questioned with a somewhat worried look.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll become good friends before you know it," Silver Spoon assured as she walked beside the short girl. "Trust me, I've seen this kind of thing before… and much worse."

"Yeah, it seems kind of familiar to me too," Lotte added as she trailed behind them, giving a small smile of her own. "I'm sure they'll end up as good friends…"

"Oh, of course! The Quest Lodge would be near the center of town, considering how important it is!" Inaho nodded with a smirk as she and her Party stood before said building.

"How could you forget something like that?" Shirayuki questioned with a facepalm.

"You didn't remember either," Inaho shot back, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Is this even a good idea?" Silver Spoon interjected, looking at the Quest Lodge's entrance critically. "We just became Adventurers, is it wise for us to try taking on Quests?"

"What better way for us to gain experience?" Riko reasoned, giving the pony a comforting shoulder pat.

"Yeah, plus you always do all available Side-Quests in the area before moving on with the main story! It's just how things are done!" Inaho insisted cheerfully.

"And you're treating this like a game again," Shirayuki sighed.

"To be completely fair, the setting of this Loop does seem to be very RPG-like, we have levels, menus and everything," Connie pointed out with a shrug.

"… Yeah, I suppose," the blue-haired princess gave a bit of a huff as she looked away.

"Well, I guess it would be best to go in…" Chloe seemed a bit nervous as she eyed the door, carefully moving forward and pushing it open, followed shortly by her Party-mates.

The inside of the Quest Lodge resembled a pub, with people that could be assumed to be Adventurers sitting around, talking to one another and trading stories, some with food or drink. Most of the Adventurers were adults, but there were a few teenagers and kids around. There were also a set of stairs leading to another floor, presumably the 'lodge' part of the Quest Lodge.

"Chi-watchi! Where to the Side Quests!" Inaho suddenly shouted, drawing all attention towards her, and her Party.

"Inaho…" Connie sighed while shaking her head, noting how Chloe and Lotte both stiffened up at all the eyes on them.

"Hmm… who are these people?" Riko questioned to herself, looking over the various Adventurers that were seated, not able to really pin an identity on any of them, though she did believe she recalled seeing a few of them around her hometown back in Baseline.

"Excuse us, please forgive our Party-mate here for her outburst. She is very excited to be an Adventurer," Shirayuki spoke politely, placing a hand on Inaho's shoulder.

"Hey," the Summoner pushed the Mage's hand away.

Some mummering was heard amongst the various Adventurers, but this excuse seemed to have been accepted and the attention gradually left the 'Glasses Girl Brigade.'

Both Chloe and Lotte let out the breaths they were holding in, both looking relieved the attention was off them.

"What's with the 'polite act,' I know what I'm doing," Inaho hissed towards Shirayuki.

The magic-wielding princess glared at the Yo-kai Watch Looper. "I swear, before this Loop ends, I will teach you tact!"

Inaho gave a smug look, along with a small, mocking laugh, "Ha! I've had to deal with USApyon criticizing me since before I started Looping, you'll never break me."

"We'll see…" Sparks flashed between both Shirayuki and Inaho's glasses as they shared an intense glare.

"This really doesn't seem like the time for this," Connie sighed as she glanced between the blue and purple-haired girls.

"Would there ever be a time for this?" Silver Spoon asked with a bored expression, Connie looked unsure on how to answer.

"Where do we get Quests anyway…?" Riko muttered outloud as she still was looking around the Quest Lodge, before her eyes were drawn to the counter, and a person she did recognize. "Leader!" she cheered as she approached the counter.

"Hm… Riko?" the white-haired man glanced down at the blond girl, giving a confused look. "What did you just call me…?"

"Um… I mean, Jiruo," the young Adventurer looked a bit embarrassed, remembering that in this Loops world she had never referred to the older Delver as 'Leader.' "It's nothing, nothing… do you have any Quests for a newly starting Party?"

"Huh? So, you actually became Adventurers," Jiruo noted, glancing over the other members of Riko's Party.

"Yup! We're the Glasses Girl Brigade, reporting for duty!" Inaho exclaimed enthusiastically.

"I will never forgive you for that name…" Shirayuki spoke in a monotone, a shine on her glasses hiding her eyes.

"Aw, just wait, you'll come to love it," the purple-haired girl insisted with a laugh.

Shirayuki gave no response.

"Um, so about those quests," Connie decided to speak up to break the tension. "You can help us, right?"

"Hmm… well, I don't know every quest available by heart, you should check the Quest Board over there," Jiruo gestured to a large bulletin board near the back of the room, a few Adventurers were gathered around it. "Any Quests you want to accept, just take the card and bring it to me, and I'll register it to your party, provided you meet the level-requirments…"

"How does that work again? We're not all the same level," Silver Spoon questioned, walking over to the counter and looking up.

"It's based on the highest level in your Party, so you could take Quests with a level requirement of 7 or below," the Quest Lodge worker explained, looking over the 'Glasses Girl Brigade's' information that popped up for him. "Still, only one of you is level 7, and even though you can, I wouldn't recommend taking a Quest of a certain level requirement until your team's average is at that level, or above."

Riko smiled, giving a thumbs-up. "Thanks for the advice lead-er-Rijuo, we'll be sure to keep it in mind!"

"Yeah, we wouldn't want to take on something we couldn't handle by mistake," Lotte nodded.

"Good information to note," Shirayuki smiled, before glancing in the direction of their Summoner. "Did you get that, Inaho?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," Inaho waved, not paying much attention as she moved in the direction of the Quest Board, the previous Adventurers clearing from it, seemingly done with their business.

Shirayuki gave an annoyed groan. "She's hopeless…"

"I don't think so, at least not entirely," Connie smiled as she followed Inaho. "Maybe she'll surprise you, and vice-versa."

"Hmph, fat chance of that," Shirayuki scoffed, following towards the Quest Board.

"Let's see, what do you have here?" Inaho's eyes darted across the Quest Board's surface. "Hmm… we should probably just grab 'em all! Jiruo over there can filter out the ones we can't do!"

"That is so foolhardy!" Shirayuki scoffed in disapproval. "Would you really accept a Quest before even reading what it entails!?"

"Yeah, that doesn't sound like a very good idea," Lotte nodded, looking at the board carefully. "Even if we meet the level requirements, some of the Quests might call for skills our party just isn't equipped for…"

"That's stuff you worry about later!" Inaho shot back. "Don't you guys know anything!? You fill up your Quest list now and worry about when and if you can do the Quests later!"

"Like I said; foolhardy," Shirayuki shook her head.

"Oh, come on, I think it could be like a challenge," Riko smiled with enthusiasm in her tone. "If we're going to be real Adventurers after all, we should be able to accomplish any Quest we take on! So why not just accept all the ones we're qualified for and sort out how later?"

Inaho's eyes sparkled as she looked towards the Delver. "Oh Riko, you are still the light of this party!"

"Hmm, 'take down the Orb-Piercer…'" Silver Spoon read out loud, looking at the Quest Board contemplatively.

Riko stiffened, gaining an uncomfortable expression. "Um, let's not take that Quest on, yet…"

"We're not high enough level to take it on anyway." The gray-furred pony pointed out flatly.

"Right, right, of course…" Riko let out a cough, trying to look anywhere than towards her Party-mates stares.

"Huh, Riko?" Inaho looked concerned at her friend's sudden drop in enthusiasm.

"So, um… yeah, we should probably check a Quest's description before we accept it," Riko gave another cough, still not meeting any of the other Loopers' eyes.

"Huh!? But you just said…" Inaho started, before noticing how Riko was averting her eyes. "… Okay, I suppose we should do that."

"I think that's best," Lotte smiled.

"At least you see sense now," Shirayuki grunted with her arms crossed.

"Let's see, this one looks good," Connie picked out one of the cards. "Gathering medicinal herbs, no level-limit on it either."

"This also looks good," Chloe pointed to another card, taking it from the board and looking it over. "'Catch that Noko…' odd name."

"Hmm, that one might not be so easy," Inaho muttered, despite Chloe's confused look. The purple-haired Summoner looked over the board herself, grumbling a bit to herself as she did so, before picking one out. "'Help investigate the 'haunted' schoolhouse?' Huh, this one's from Rina."

"Let's see," Lotte hummed a bit as she scanned the board, before her eyes focused on a specific card. "Huh? My parents put a Quest for some help at the shop?" she grabbed the card, looking at the description carefully.

"Hm…" Chloe nodded, before glancing around and growing nervous. "Um, guys, maybe we've gotten enough Quests for now."

"Huh, why?" Connie questioned, noting the younger girl's nervous look, before glancing around and spotting a crowd of Adventurers waiting, and looking to be getting impatient… "Er, yeah, we've probably got enough for now. Let's give these cards to Jiruo so he can register them to our Party."

"What, oh come on! First you guys say we should take our time reading each Quest, now we need to go!?" Inaho complained, before her arms were grabbed by Shirayuki and Connie. "WHA!" Inaho squeeked as she was yanked away from the Quest Board.

"Hold still you– "Silver Spoon cried out as she chased a golden blur, tripping over her own hooves along the way. "OW!"

"I thought this job would be simple!" Riko grunted as her team's target hopped onto her head, and off again before she could grab it. "Come on!"

"I warned you!" Inaho scoffed, the snake-like creature bouncing to her side, but moving away before she could grab it, causing her to fall on her face. "Oof! Oh, come on you stupid hopping snake!"

"Noko! Noko-noko!" the tsuchinoko stuck its forked tongue out as it did a taunting dance of hops, before a gust of icey wind swept over it, freezing it in place. "No…. ko!?"

"And that's how you get an unruly job done in a simple and elegant manner," Shirayuki commented smugly as she walked over to the incapacitated reptile.

"What? By having your teammates fall all over themselves trying to catch it, and sneaking up on it when it stops to taunt them?" Silver Spoon questioned in a sarcastic tone, having pulled herself up and was now sending the blue-haired girl an annoyed glare.

Shirayuki sent the glare back, "I saw an opportunity and made the most logical decision. You should be happy; despite your failure to succeed at the task at hand, you still contributed to the overall success of the mission!"

"I'll give you a 'contribution,'" the grey-furred pony spoke dangerously as she started approaching the ice-magic user.

"No, Silver Spoon, we still need to turn in the Quest!" Riko shouted as she grabbed the pony's mane and tried to hold her back.

"Yeah, revenge can wait, though I will praise her tactics," Inaho adjusted her glasses as she walked beside Silver Spoon and Riko.

"Hmph, you all have no right to be angry with me, considering you were failing at the Quest!" Shirayuki huffed indignantly.

Silver Spoon let out an angry scream as she charged faster towards the Mage, Riko losing her grip trying to hold her back.

Inaho chuckled a bit, before looking towards the spot where the tsuchinoko was frozen. "… Guys!"

The other three girls paused, before looking down at the spot their purple-haired teammate was pointing and let out a collective groan.

"Noko! Noko-noko!" the golden hopping-snake taunted from the top of a nearby staircase, wagging its tail at the young Adventurers.

Riko scratched the back of her head with a moan, foreseeing this going on for a while. 'I hope the others are doing better with their quest…'

"Hm, I wonder why my parents need help at the shop?" Lotte questioned as she walked alongside Chloe and Connie on the way to her parents' shop.

As the Loopers' memories had informed them, there was an advantage to the Party system in the world of Volvere; even if only some of the members of a Party participated in a Quest, all members of the party would receive benefits for the Quest's completion.

So, seeing as Inaho was still officially banned from Lotte's parents' shop, the 'Glasses Girl Brigade' had decided to split up; while Inaho, Riko, Silver Spoon and Shirayuki went to capture a tsuchinoko (should be an easy task!), the remaining Party members went to see what was up with Lotte's parents requesting assistance in the form of a Quest.

"Maybe things have been getting a bit much for just them and Mr. Iron Will to handle?" Connie suggested, watching some hammerbeaks fly across the sky above them.

"I don't know, my memories tell me that they've never had much issue before; Iron Will's been their only permanent employee for years, and they've never had issue supplying to the townsfolk, or passing Adventurers," the young Witch explained with a thoughtful expression.

"We remember that too, but I think there might have been a bigger influx of passing Adventurers lately…?" Chloe looked thoughtful, careful not to step on the tail of a sleeping jinmenken as they passed it by.

"Hmm…" Lotte frowned in consideration, before shaking her head. "Whatever need my parents' had to put up a Quest, we'll figure it out once we get there!"

The three young, glasses-wearing girls shared a nod, before continuing towards the magic shop.

Unknown to the trio of Adventurers, someone, or possibly something, was watching them from a dark alleyway…

"H-hey, you… you, that's my… ball," the sleeping jinmenken mumbled sleepily as he kicked his leg, the figure hiding in the shadows looked slightly disturbed by how close it realized it was to the slumbering (and possibly drunk) man-faced dog, and quickly slinked back into the alleyway…

11.13

"… Nate?" Whisper questioned his friend/master as he followed him down the dark tunnel.

"What is it, Whisper?"

"Nothing much, but I'd think you'd be averse to the Infinite Tunnel, you know, after that whole… incident, a while back," the yo-kai butler reasoned with the shrug.

"That was like an 'Elevator Glitch,' it's not likely to happen again," the Anchor reasoned with a shrug, continuing on his path. "Besides, there's stuff to be gained by going through this tunnel. You know it's closed up in the latest Game Varient Expansion, right? I'm taking advantage of it while it's here this Loop!"

"Right…" Whisper nodded slowly, a thoughtful look on his face. "And… hopping into a Mirapo and charging headfirst into here had absolutely nothing to do with the obvious signs that this Loop was starting to become a 'Harem Loop?'"

Nate suppressed a shudder, remembering the various 'hints' that he had trained himself to notice early on when he found himself in a 'Harem Loop…' it being a Pocket-Locked-Null-Loop, meaning he didn't have the option to just hide in his sub-space pocket, didn't help either. "That has… not entirely everything to do with this…"

"Nate…" the pillowy-ghost sighed as he kept floating after the boy in the dimly lit tunnel.

"Look, I know I can't hide in the tunnel forever," the human sighed, pointing to a light that they were coming closer to, "Anyway, I see the exit. I'll figure out how to handle the rest of the Loop once we get out…"

"Well… if you say so," the yo-kai butler shrugged with an unsure look.

The pair continued walking towards the light, before finally exiting to the tunnel, finding themselves on the familiar patch of land surrounded by trees, overlooking a lake where the mysterious being known as 'Moody Mary' could be seen floating.

"Come on, let's get out of here," the Anchor muttered, walking towards the spot the exit Mirapo would be… only to see that it was not there. "Huh?"

"Welcome, I've been watching you go down my tunnel… trying to get closer to me," Moody Mary spoke as she drifted over to the boy, in a tone that was unusual, even for her. "I know it has to be you, you've come for me, haven't you? My… Prince…"

Nate's pupils shrunk as realized what this was. "Oh no…"

Whisper sighed, "You probably should have seen this one coming, Nate…"

The human turned to glare at his yo-kai butler but was quickly distracted by the ghostly-pale girl floating around him, before moving close enough to brush against his arm.

"I've been waiting for you, I know you're the one that will be my Prince, my husband…" Moody Mary gave a sweet smile as she leaned close to the Anchor, even as he tried to move away from her.

"Look, you've got this all wrong. First; I may not look it, but I'm way too old for you!" Nate insisted, trying to move away from Moody Mary, only for her to move closer to him, and clamp her arms around his. "Um… second of all; I'm married and have kids!"

The ghost-like girl's smile seemed to twitch at this comment from her 'Prince,' her grip tightening. "Well then, I'll just have to put your so-called-wife's head a on a pike, and then we'll just have to make your-our kids see that I'm their new mommy!"

Nate's eyes widened in realization and terror. 'Oh no, it's even worse than I thought… she's not 'Moody' Mary, she's 'Yandere' Mary!' he turned to his yo-kai butler for help, only to see him speeding back down the tunnel they had come from.

"I'LLBEBACKWITHHELPNATEHOLDON!"

"… You can go back through the tunnel this Loop?" the Anchor question, before he processed what had just happened. "Hey! WHISPER!"

"Don't worry about that strange fellow, my Princey-poo, I'm all you need…" Moody Mary giggled as she kept her grip on his arm… the arm that he wore the yo-kai watch on…

'Darn, I can't summon any help, could this possibly get any worse?' the yo-kai watch user internally moaned, before freezing. 'Wait, did I seriously just think that…?'

And just as he knew that tempting fate would do, even if just with an internal thought, signs showed that things were definitely going to get worse, as a loud voice shook the area.

"WHO DARES ENTER MY DOMAIN!?"

Nate gulped, predicting what was coming, before the massive, hammer-weilding being known as 'Mallice,' came crashing down from the sky, glaring down at the human boy, and how the ghostly girl was clinging to his arm. "Yup… that figures."

"YOU…" Mallice growled, his grip on his hammer tightening as his eyes glowed red. "ARE YOU AFTER MY DAUGHTER!?"

"Oh no, 'over-protective dad' Mallice…" Nate muttered, backing up a bit, even as Moody Mary clung to him tighter, making Mallice grow angrier.

"You can't stop this daddy! I'm in love with this human boy, and we're going to run away together!" Moody Mary shouted defiantly.

'Aparently, he's actually her father this Loop…' Nate thought to himself, before realizing that just made this worse–

"WHAT!?" Mallice roared, slamming his hammer on the ground a little too close to Nate for his comfort.

'Okay, he definitely wants to kill me,' the Anchor wasn't entirely sure if he should fear death or not right now, it was a bit Loop-Variable if he would automatically become Fuu 2 upon death or not in a Null-Loop, either way, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to find out how it worked this Loop right now…

"Come my Prince, let us flee from this place and my overbearing father, and we shall establish a kingdom! I shall gather up a harem of beautiful girls for you and behead any that dare to think they are above me in your eyes, and we shall have many, many, many, many babies!" Moody Mary spoke in a dreamy and slightly insane tone as she rubbed her face against the boy's shoulder.

"Okay, that's even worse than what I thought you would say next!" Nate shouted, trying to break free of the maybe-yo-kai-girl's grip, but he simply was not strong enough. 'Stupid Null-Loops!'

"HAREM!? IS MY DAUGHTER NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU!?" Mallice looked like he was ready to smash Nate, maybe into Fuu 2, and even then, possibly oblivion…

"NATE!"

Nate barely process the sound of his yo-kai butler speeding towards his location, before he saw the white blur ram against Mallice's hammer.

"Wha-HUH!?" the behemoth cried out as he lost his balance and came falling to the ground with a resounding crash.

"Nate! Quickly, duck for cover!" Whisper pleaded as he floated in front of the stunned Anchor.

"Whisper, you came back!?"

"Of course I came back! I said I was going to get help, and I did! See!?" the ghost gestured to the tunnel, where Nate could see a variable army of the yo-kai he had befriended this Loop charging forward.

"Nyate! I'm coming buddy!" Jibanyan shouted from the front of the pack, charging headfirst at the downed Mallice. "PAWS OF FURY!"

"Why did I agree to this?" Manjimutt groaned as he chased after the nekomata.

"Don't get cold feet now, old man!" Roughraff taunted as he charged forward, to join the fight against Mallice.

"What is this, who are all these…?" Moody Mary questioned as she held tightly to Nate's arm, before a one-eyed, female yo-kai with pale skin and red-hair came floating over.

"Now, now, sleepy time…" Sandi chimed as she made Moody Mary look into her eye, forcing her to fall asleep and release her grip on Nate.

The Anchor gave a sigh of relief, before noticing Sandi was smiling softly at him. "Um… hi?"

"Hi, Sweetie," the cycloptic yo-kai giggled as she took hold of his hand.

Nate was about to move away, before he felt his other hand being grabbed, he looked over and spotted Insomni holding it. The Anchor looked around to find himself also surrounded by the likes of Blizzaria, Toiletta, Sailornyan, and many other female yo-kai, all smiling and/or giggling. The Anchor gulped with a fearful look on his face.

"GRAH!" Mallice cried out as he fell in defeat, Jibanyan, Roughraff, Venoct, and many other (though, all suspiciously male) yo-kai stood in triumph.

"See, you can trust me to help you out of a tough spot Nate, I am your faithful butler after all!" Whisper spoke proudly as looked to where Nate was previously being held, only to see a snoozing Moody Mary, and nothing else. "Nate…?" the yo-kai butler looked around, not seeing his friend/master in the small area.

"Thanks for the save Whisper, but when gathering up this little army, did you perhaps forget…"

Whisper, looked up, hearing the boy's voice coming from the tunnel.

"THAT THIS IS A 'HAREM LOOP!?'" the Anchor cried out, trying to struggle free as he was carried off by the various female yo-kai that were part of the rescue team the yo-kai butler had gathered.

Whisper stared after his friend/master with a blank expression, before looking towards the male yo-kai he had gathered, all of whom seemed pretty tired from fighting Mallice.

"Huh, my Prince…" Moody Mary's sleepy voice sounded as she awoke from her slumber, before looking around, and noticing the group of female yo-kai that were carrying away the human boy. "Hey! That's my Prince!" the ghostly girl shouted, floating after them.

Whisper hovered in silence for a few moments, before giving a long groan, "And Nate thinks 'Harem Loops' are hard on him…" with one last sigh, the yo-kai butler gave chase with intent to free the Anchor.

11.14

[Yo-kai Watch/RWBY]

"The 'Apathy' huh?" Nate narrowed his eyes as he stepped down into the cellar.

"Yes, be careful. They have a tendency to get in your head," Yang warned her younger brother as she watched him carefully.

Nate gave a smirk. "Sis, do you know who you're talking to? My Branch might not be the most dangerous… but mental manipulation? Emotion influence? I've learned to resist that kind of stuff long ago…"

A moan alerted the visiting Anchor to the approaching grimm, the Apathy lumbered forward, letting out a loud scream that Nate would admit, hit at his psyche hard.

With a blue flash in his eyes, Nate shook off any feelings of lethargy and stepped forward. "You're just a bunch of overly-demonic D'wanna, I'd consider attempting to become friends with you in any other circumstance…" the Yo-kai Watch Anchor's eyes narrowed, holding Spectral Fang ready. "But the thing is… you really hurt my family…"

"Nate…?" Yang spoke with concern as she noted her brother's form twitching.

"… Close the cellar door, Yang," Nate spoke in a calm voice, not taking his eyes off the Apathy that still ever so slowly approached.

"Er… if you say so You can handle yourself," the blond sighed, shutting the doors. She listened to the sounds of her younger brother slashing at the many grimm that resided under the town, using his speed and wind to cover ground quickly…

After a few moments, the cellar doors opened once more, and a smiling Nate pulled himself out from the darkness. "They're all gone."

"You're not usually that violent, Nate, even against grimm," Yang noted as the boy walked by her and into the living room, where the rest of their (unAwake) group rested.

"I know you all can handle your own Expansions, but I still don't like the thought of what those things were doing to you guys…" Nate muttered, putting Spectral Fang back into his pocket. "They act a lot like yo-kai, in a way. It's a bit creepy…" the young male muttered, looking over the sleeping forms of the others in their group, all of them completely unaware of the horde of grimm that had swiftly been eliminated. "… Next time I'll try and make friends with them," he smiled at his sister.

"… Nate, sometimes you're a bit creepy," Yang commented with a small smirk, before both of them shared a laugh.

11.15

[Yo-kai Watch/RWBY]

"Hey, bro, can I talk to you about something? Nya…"

"Is it about your son?" Zwei questioned the red-colored feline that sat across from him on the couch.

Jibanyan's ears twitched, before he gave a groan, "Who told you? Nya."

"Ruby may have let something slip while she was going on about how she was planning to dote over Natsume and Keisuke," the canine answered with a shoulder-shrug.

Jibanyan shook his head. "Well, whatever, nyot really a secret… but I wanted to be the one to tell you-nya!"

"Well, I still don't know what it is you want to talk to me about him," Zwei got to his feet, jumping down from the couch, Jibanyan following along as they walked through the Xiao Long-Rose household. "So, what's up?"

Jibanyan did a stretch, his currently single tail pointing towards the ceiling, before giving the dog Looper a serious look. "Okay, look… I'm nyot really good at this… 'dad stuff' yet, and I knyow that I should mainly be looking to Keita-nya and the others for help with this, but I still want to ask this of you: If-nyo, nyot if-when Junyior Loops, if he comes here will you…" Jibanyan trailed off a bit, glancing away nervously.

Zwei smirked, having already figured out where this was going. "Help look out for him, be his 'Uncle Zwei?'"

"Er… if you want to…" Jibanyan nodded unsurely.

Zwei chuckled, "Bro, why are you asking that. I'm already his uncle! Even if we're not officially brothers, I'll always look out for you, and I'll help look out for your kit too!"

Jibanyan chuckled a bit as well, walking closer to the dog and giving him a 'high-paw,' "Right, right… I wasn't exactly sure how you saw our relationship really. But glad to knyow we're on the same page," Jibanyan gave a slightly mischievous grin, "Just warn you before you actually meet him; Junyior can be a bit… annyoying…"

"So, the hairball doesn't fall far from the cat?" Zwei laughed.

The feline's smile twitched, "… Hey, what's that supposed to mean!? Nya!"

11.16

"Whisper… do you know why the US has been replaced with some country called 'BBQ' this Loop?" Nate asked his yo-kai butler, whom was currently dusting his bookshelves.

"Hm…" Whisper glanced over to his friend/master, a thoughtful look on his face. "… That's an interesting question Nate… I have no idea!"

"… Well at least you've become more honest in the Loops," the Anchor sighed, putting a hand to his forehead. "Still… why would a country be called 'BBQ!?'"

The ghostly butler shrugged, "You might be better off asking Usapyon, he's the one who's from there this Loop."

"Maybe…" Nate's train of thought was halted by his bedroom door opening, to reveal his Awake mother, holding the phone.

"Hey Sweetie, it's Hailey; she wants to talk to you," the adult woman stated as her son walked over to grab the phone.

"Okay, thanks mom," Nate gave a nod, despite his slightly confused look.

"No problem," Lily smiled, before nodding towards Whisper, "Hello Whisper."

"Mrs. Adams," the yo-kai butler bowed in midair.

The Looping mother groaned, "I said to call me 'Lily…'"

Whipser crossed his arms with a firm expression. "I'm sorry Mrs. Adams, but that simply won't do; my professionalism won't allow it!"

Lily shook her head with a sigh before exiting the room.

Nate rolled his eyes at the interaction, before putting the phone to his ear. "Hailey?"

"Hey Nate! You're thinking about asking Usapyon about the whole 'BBQ' thing, right?"

The Anchor blinked, "Um… yeah, it had crossed my mind."

"Okay, take my advice: Don't!"

Before Nate could respond, his Looping friend had already hung up, he briefly considered calling her back, before shrugging and deciding not to press the issue.

"What was it she wanted, Nate?" Whisper questioned as he floated over to the human boy.

Nate glanced towards the white ghost, before shrugging, "Er… nothing. Let's not worry about this 'BBQ' thing for now…"

The yo-kai butler looked a bit confused by the Anchor's sudden dropping of the subject, but didn't question it as he took the phone from him to put back downstairs…

11.17 (Continuation of 10.34)

[Yo-kai Watch/Kemono Friends]

The small group consisting of one Serval-girl, one human-boy, two yo-kai, and one little cerulean, had so far not had any issues on their journey through the Savanna Area.

Aside, of course, from one nekomata's constant complaining…

"Are we there yet…?" Jibanyan groaned from atop Keita's head.

"No, we are not 'there yet,'" the Anchor answered with a grunt.

"How much farther, nya…?"

"Serval said that the library is in the Forest Area, we're still in the Savanna Area," Keita stated with a roll of his eyes. "And I assume the Forest Area, is quite a ways away."

"That's right!" Serval spoke up, smiling towards Keita, though her eyes would acasionally dart to the small cerulean that the boy had dubbed 'Tiny.' "It will probably take you a few days, or longer, to get there."

Jibanyan let out another, loud groan, "A few days!? I can't make it that far, nya!"

"You aren't even walking, whissu!" Whisper huffed as he floated next to the Anchor, giving the cat yo-kai an annoyed look.

"The heat is getting to me-nya," Jibanyan tried to justify with a lazy wave of his paw.

Keita sighed at the excuse but did not deny that it was hot, "Maybe we should find a place to stop, get a drink of water…"

Serval's ears twitched at that comment, her smile brightening, "Oh! The watering hole isn't far from here! We can rest and get a drink there!"

Keita blinked, having planned to just take some water bottles out of his pocket the next chance they got to rest, though he supposed this way he wouldn't have to come up with an excuse to tell Serval… "That sounds good Serval, you guys agree?"

"So long as it has a good place to nyap," Jibanyan yawned.

Whisper glared at the cat, before nodding with a pleasant smile, "Yes Keita, that sounds very refreshing. Thank you, Serval," he gave a bow.

Tiny let out a squeak of approval (probably?) as she jumped up and down.

Serval chuckled a bit nervously, trying to hide her discomfort with the cerulean's presence. "Well then, I'll lead the way!"

"Ah, shade and relaxation, nya…" Jibanyan purred as he curled up under a tree beside the water.

"If you don't wake up when it's time to move forward, we're leaving you here," Keita stated plainly, but was ignored by the nekomata.

"Strange," Serval expressed concern as she looked around the watering hole, "You usually have a hard time getting a spot, but there's nobody else here…?" she subtly glanced towards the small, blue blob in their group, as 'she' happily hopped around Keita. "Possibly because of the last eruption bringing about more ceruleans…"

"I still find it hard to believe Tiny could be dangerous," Keita shrugged, giving the happy cerulean a pat on the head, causing her to give a squeak of approval, Serval seemed almost visibly disturbed by this sight.

"Keita, Jibanyan could be dangerous, you just have this weird way of pacifying even the most volatile of creature's, whissu," Whisper stated as he floated over his friend/master's shoulder, luckily the cat yo-kai he had refurred to was too far into dream-land to comment on the possible insult. "I mean, you've made friends with grimm; literal soulless monsters, whissu!"

Keita paused. "Well… yeah, that's true, but still…" the Anchor glanced back down at the cerulean he had befriended, staring at him with a single, big eye he couldn't help but find adorable…

"Grimm, what…?" Serval looked completely lost as she looked between Keita and Whisper.

Before any answers could be given, however, a splash in the water was heard, before a humanoid figure erupted from the water.

"Serval, what are you doing out and about in the open?" the woman in the water questioned as she glanced towards the stunned cat-girl, before looking at Keita and Whisper with confusion, before taking notice of tiny hiding behind Keita, her eyes narrowing. "And whoever you might be, I do suggest you take a step away; as I see two ceruleans right beside you!"

"Huh?" Keita blinked, glancing down at Tiny, then at Whisper.

A tick-mark formed on Whisper's head, before he pointed at the dark-haired woman with an angry growl, "I am not cerulean! I am clearly of a pearly white color! Whissu!"

The woman blinked, the small, mammalian-ears on the top of her head twitching. "A… talking cerulean…?"

After the group had gotten it through to Hippo that Whisper, was in fact, not a cerulean, but rather; a ghost, and that the actual cerulean present wasn't a danger, she had taken to examining Keita.

"Hmm… so you said you were a… 'human?'" Hippo questioned the Looper curiously. "And you're not a Friend?"

"Not in the way you all seem to be using the term, though I'm happy to be friends with mostly anyone," Keita explained with a shrug, briefly glancing towards Jibanyan as he lazily slept beneath the shade of a tree, with the cerulean Tiny hopping around him.

"And… you really befriended a cerulean," Hippo sounded like she was still having trouble believing that.

"Tiny's done nothing so far that I see warrenting any violent action against her."

The human's tone held no malice, but Hippo couldn't help but sense an underlining threat that there would be consequences if she chose to attack… 'Tiny.' With a few coughs, the water-dwelling Friend decided to change the subject, "So, you've taken to traveling with Serval?"

"Yeah!" the mentioned cat-girl ran over, patting Keita on the head, before he lightly swatted her hand away. "They're going to the library together to try and figure out how Keita, Whisper, and Jibanyan got here, and some other questions they have about the park! And I'm leading them!" Serval looked proud, giving Keita's head another pat, which resulted in another swipe from him.

"You're their guide, hm?" Hippo looked troubled for a moment, before gaining a gentle smile and turning to Keita. "Well, I do hope you and your companions have good heads on your shoulders, as though Serval is a powerful Friend, she unfortunately isn't… the brightest."

"Hey!" Serval shouted out in offense.

Hippo ignored the outburst as she kept speaking to Keita, "It would be helpful if you didn't just have Serval to depend on if you ran into a cerulean you couldn't… pacify," she gave another unsure look towards Tiny. "Tell me; can you swim?"

"Yes, I can," Keita shrugged.

"Can you fly?"

"Better than you'd expect," The Looping human chuckled a bit.

"Are you strong?"

"From your perspective? Probably."

"Are you fast?"

"Oh yeah."

Hippo seemed to be at a momentary loss, staring at Keita's… small body, processing all he was telling her he could do. "… Is there anything you can't do?"

"Tons, you should see my siblings," Keita just laughed with a dismissive wave.

Hippo coughed again, before letting out an unsure sigh, "Well… presuming you're telling the truth, you should be fine I suppose."

"Excuse me, but you didn't even ask what I'm capable of! Whissu!" Whisper spoke up as he floated over to the water-dwelling mammal.

Hippo looked at Whisper for a moment with curious eyes, before shrugging, "Whatever you can do, I'm sure you'll be fine. But I'm a bit overloaded by everything your friend there can supposedly do…"

Whisper blinked, but nodded after a moment, "Well, that does make sense I suppose, whissu."

"Wait!" Serval looked towards Keita with wide eyes, "You can fly!?"

The Anchor blinked. "Yeah… sometimes."

Serval blinked back at him. "… What do you mean 'sometimes?'"

Keita scratched the back of his head, looking away from the taller girl, "It's complicated."

Serval just stared at him blankly. "… Can you fly right now?"

"I could," the human admitted with a small nod.

"Will you show me?" as the cat-girl asked this, her eyes lit up a little.

Keita glanced toward the sky, then looked at his yo-kai watch, before shaking his head, "Not now, we should get going. Maybe later," with a quick wave, the human moved to retrieve the sleeping nekomata and bouncing cerulean from their spot in the shade.

Serval jumped up a bit, giving a disappointed look, she trailed after Keita with her expression turning to a pout. "What!? Why!? Show me!"

"Later!" Keita snapped, before choosing to ignore Serval as she hovered over his shoulder, staring at him intensely. The boy tapped the napping nekomata on the head, "Come on Jibanyan, we need to get going."

"Hmm, five more minyutes," Jibanyan lazily waved his paw as he turned over in his sleep.

Tiny gave a few sloshing squeeks as she bounced, looking between Keita and Jibanyan.

Whisper sighed and facepalmed, still hovering beside a confused Hippo.

Keita looked down at Jibanyan with a dull expression, before he just grabbed him by the tails and placed him on his head. "Come on, let's go!"

Serval kept staring at Keita as she followed him, she started quetly mumbling, "Fly… fly… fly."

Whisper kept his eyes on his leaving companions, before he turned back to the lake-dweller and gave a bow, "Well, thank you for having us, Miss. Hippo, but we must be off, whissu!"

Hippo gave a small chuckle, "Well, take care," she waved as Whisper flew back to Keita's side, and watched them leaving, before she remembered something, "Oh! I would suggest being careful if you're heading towards the Jungle Area, you should proceed with caution; there has been sightings of a large cerulean near the gate!"

Keita glanced back towards Hippo and nodded, before glancing down at Tiny. "… Serval, do ceruleans get much bigger than this little one?"

The cat-girl stopped in her staring at the question, "Oh, yeah! They can get plenty bigger!"

"So, 'large' is probably substantially larger than 'Tiny' here, whissu," Whisper stated as he floated around from Keita a few times.

Tiny bounced a few times, accompanied by her now-familiar 'sloshing' squeak.

"Nya… nyothing to worry about," Jibanyan sleepily waved a paw as he continued to rest on Keita's head.

The brown-haired boy glanced up at the cat yo-kai, "Don't you think you've napped long enough, Jibanyan?"

"Nyoooooo…" Jibanyan spoke slowly, curling up more on the Anchor's head.

Keita sighed as the group continued to the Forest Area.

Along the path to the Jungle Area, the group had encountered a curious sign, along with a glass box containing maps of Japari Park. There was some amusement between Keita and Whisper on how Serval couldn't seem to figure out how to open the box, despite possessing opposable thumbs, but more so they were glad to optain some hint on exactly what this place was…

Keita still had Jibanyan on his head, now walking at the tail of the group with Tiny hopping at his side. Whisper was a bit ahead, trying to examine the map they had obtained, while Serval looked over his shoulder, occasionally asking what symbols or words meant.

Suddenly, the groups peace was interrupted by a female-sounding scream from up ahead.

"What was that!?" Keita questioned in concern.

"That sounded like a Friend, and since a big cerulean is up ahead," Serval's eyes seemed to widen with dread. "it's probably eating the Friend– "Serval barely finished her sentence before a blur rushed past her, "Huh!? Keita!?"

"Nya?"

Serval blinked, glancing up and seeing the red-furred cat now on her head, "Jibanyan?"

"Keita-kun! Don't just rush ahead without thought! Whissu!" the yo-kai butler chastised, flying after his master.

"… Keita's fast," Serval muttered with a slightly stunned expression, but shook her head before giving chase as well.

"Nya!" Jibanyan grunted in protest as he tried to keep hold of the cat-Friend's ears.

Tiny's sloshing quickened as well as she tried to keep up.

The group came to the sight of a large cerulean, similar to Tiny in color, texture and having a single eye, but much larger, with several tendrils attaching it to the gate which was supposedly leading the Jungle Area. They had emerged just in time to hear Keita's roar and a loud splash as the blur disappeared into the cerulean's body.

"Oh no!" Serval jumped forward, causing Jibanyan to fall off her head.

"Alright, I'm up! Nya!" the cat yo-kai grunted after hitting the ground, getting to his feet and brushing himself off.

"The cerulean ate Keita!" Serval shouted, her eyes glowing slightly as she readied her claws.

"R-really, I think Keita's just being reckless, whissu," Whisper muttered, floating near with a defeated expression.

Serval didn't seem to hear the white yo-kai. "I have to save him! If he's eaten by the cerulean, he'll lose his memories!" the wild cat-girl looked ready to charge but paused when the large cerulean's body started shaking.

With a splashing sound, the human boy burst out from the blob-like creature, another humanoid figure in hand, hovering in the air for a moment, before he zoomed over to Serval, and dropped the unconscious Friend by her side. "Watch over her, will you?"

"Keita!?" Serval wasn't sure to respond, the glow in her eyes dimming, she had wanted to see Keita fly, but him flying out of a cerulean certainly wasn't how she expected she would get to see it.

"Yeah, sorry I rushed in like that," the human boy smiled a bit as he floated in the air.

"You should be, you almost blew the map out of my hand, and then where'd we be!? Whissu!" Whisper shouted in an angry tone.

"And you left me on the crazy girl's head, nya," Jibanyan grunted with crossed arms.

Serval blinked, glancing down at the smaller cat, "… Crazy girl?"

Tiny gave a few squeeks, jumping up and down frantically.

Keita sighed a bit, nodding to the complaints, "Right… still, saving her was a priority."

The group glanced toward the girl Keita had gotten out of the cerulean, noting that she seemed to be waking up.

"Um… what's going on, did I get eaten…?" the gril was dressed mostly in white with some black stripes, the canine-looking ears on her head twitched as her dark eyes opened, the dark, bushy tail that came out from the back of her shorts twitching. "Was it just a dream–AH THE CERULEAN'S STILL THERE!"

The newly awakened Friend's outburst reminded the group that, yes, the large cerulean was still there, and blocking their path.

"I've got this," Keita nodded, floating forward carefully, giving a friendly wave, "Hi, so– "Keita's words were cut off when the cerulean lunged forward, smashing into him like a wrecking ball.

Serval, Tiny and the newly awakened friend all screamed (well, with Tiny it was more a squeal,) Jibanyan and Whisper on the other hand, just gave annoyed sighs.

After a moment, Keita burst out through the cerulean's body again, completely unharmed, the Looper sighed and crossed his arms, "Okay, that was a little uncalled for, but I understand. You're not going to be very easy to convince to be friendly, are you?"

In response, the cerulean sent a tendril lashing towards the Anchor, which he easily dodged.

Keita shook his head, "Okay, you want to battle? Let's battle!"

"W-what's going on here?" the Friend Keita had rescued questioned fearfully.

"Hm, I guess Keita's going to fight the cerulean?" Serval gave an unsure look.

"B-but… shouldn't we help him?" the recently rescued Friend asked with a bit of concern.

"Oh, I wouldn't bother," Whisper spoke up, floating between the two Friends, and causing Aardwolf to jump a bit in surprise, "And no, I'm not a 'cerulean!'" the yo-kai butler preemptively halted that mistake from happening a third time. "Don't you worry, Keita will be just fine! Whissu!"

"Besides, if he nyeeds help, he'll ask, nya," Jibanyan commented, wagging his twin tails a bit.

Keita kept floating as he glared at the cerulean, its one large eye keeping track of him. "So, are you the type that will only listen after I beat you in a fight?"

The cerulean gave a deep, screeching sound, shooting another tendril towards Keita, however this time he didn't dodge it; he caught it in his hand.

"I don't prefer fighting, but I will if I have to," the Anchor stated firmly, yanking the tendril forward, forcing the entire cerulean into the air, holding it up so he could look into its eye, Keita stared at the blob-monster. "So, is there anyway to convince you to stop trying to eat the Friends?"

A few more tendrils shot up, trying to strike Keita and force him to release the cerulean.

Keita took the strikes with no ill-effect to him, before he let out a sigh, "No, I suppose you're too set. I don't have time to work out how to befriend you… I suppose I have no choice but to put you somewhere you can't hurt them!" and after those words, both Keita and the cerulean vanished.

"W-where did he go!?" the black and white Friend asked with a look of distress.

"Keita… disappeared!?" Serval looked shocked and just as distressed.

Tiny gave a few worried shrieks as she stared up at where Keita had been.

Whisper and Jibanyan glanced toward each other tiredly and weren't surprised when their Anchor reappeared before they could even attempt to tell the other three not to worry.

"Okay… that takes care of that for now," Keita nodded, floating down to the group and looking towards Whisper and Jibanyan, "I put the cerulean in an appropriate habitat in my pocket, where it should be able to be comfortable for the time being, until I can find a suitable area to unpocket it this
Loop."

"Reckless, nya," Jibanyan grunted while shaking his head.

"Wait, what just happened!? How did Keita disappear, and where did the cerulean go!?" Serval shouted with a very confused expression.

The human looked towards the humanoid serval, before shrugging a bit and smiling, "Eh… there's a lot about me you don't need to know."

The non-answer only seemed to make Serval give a frustrated grunt.

"Well… all that aside," Whisper gave a cough, floating over to Keita with the map in hand, "I do believe the Jungle Area is just ahead."

Keita nodded, glancing back towards Serval, "Right, so is this where we part ways? I think you said you were only going to help us get to the Jungle Area."

At the suggestion of leaving the group, the cat-girl was quick to protest, "No way!" Serval shook her head rapidly. "After all that!? I'm going to keep following you! I don't want to miss what else happens!"

Keita shrugged, "Well, you're welcome to stay with us I suppose."

"Um, excuse me," the friend that had been rescued from the cerulean spoke timidly as she stepped over to the human child. "I, um, don't really know what that was, but thanks for saving me, I'm Aardwolf."

Keita glanced towards the newcomer curiously for a moment, before recognizing her and giving a friendly smile, "Oh, nice to meet you Aardwolf! And it was no trouble, my sister Ruby would have reacted even faster if she heard your scream."

"Faster…?" Serval asked with a blank expression.

"Um, right, s-so, can I… c-come with you guys?" Aardwolf asked nervously, tapping her fingers together, averting her face which was red from embarrassment. "I think a-after you helped me, it's the l-least I can do."

"Anyother party member-nya?" Jibanyan questioned with a scatch to his head.

"It seems so, whissu," Whisper shrugged.

Keita ignored the two Looping yo-kai, giving Aardwolf a nod, "Sure, of course you're welcome to join us!"

"T-thank you, Keita-san," Aardwolf gave a respectful bow.

The Anchor took a step back, looking a bit surprised by the show of respect, "Uh, you're welcome…?"

Tiny hopped over to Keita's side, giving a few happy sounding squeeks.

Aardwolf's eyes widened at the small cerulean, which she aparantly had not noticed up until then, "Ah! Another cerulean! K-Keita-san, stand back, I-I'll save you this time!" Aardwolf spoke fearfully but looked determined as she stood protectively in front of the small human.

Tiny looked up with confusion in her eye.

Keita sighed, placing a hand on the new Friend's shoulder, "No need for that."

"… Huh?" Aardwolf blinked in confusion, and her confusion only grew when Keita stepped around her and proceeded to pet the small cerulean on the head. "… HUH!?"

"We're going to get that kind of reaction a lot when it comes to Tiny, aren't we? Whissu," Whisper questioned, glancing toward Serval with a blunt look.

The wild cat-girl shrugged, a cheerful grin coming to her face, "Well, we're not really used to cerulean's being friendly."

It took a moment, but after Keita had finished explaining Tiny to Aardwolf, and had gotten her to calm down, the group set-out to the Jungle Area.

11.18

[Yo-kai Watch/RWBY]

"OH, MY LITTLE NEICE! I LOVE HER TOO MUCH ALREADY!"

"Ruby, she can't breathe!" Keita scolded as he glared at his sister, whom was currently hugging a struggling, three-year-old Natsume.

"MPH! MPH!" Natsume cried at as she flailed her arms about.

"Oh, sorry!" Ruby laughed a bit, releasing the small girl from her grip. "Sometimes I forget people need to breathe…"

The currently small, but Awake Natsume stared at her… aunt (?) blankly. "… What?"

"OH! SO CUTE!" Ruby hugged her again, this time careful not to suffocate her.

Keita shook his head as he stood nearby.

Fumika laughed, holding onto a baby Keisuke whom just had a blank stare on his face.

"Ruby! Don't hog her, I want to play with my niece too!" Yang shouted as she walked up to her sister.

Ruby stuck her tongue out at Yang, holding Natsume out of her reach.

"Mom, Dad, what is happening…?" Natsume whimpered as she desperately glanced towards her parents.

"You'll be fine sweetie! They're just excited!" Fumika assured, an amused smile on her face.

"Ba…" Keisuke babbled, waving his arms at his sister.

Keita sighed, looking towards Fumika as his sisters started to fight over Natsume, who could still barely react to what was happening around her. "I know they won't hurt her, but it's just bad luck for Natsume that the first time she, Ruby and Yang are Awake together, she's a three-year-old…."

11.19

[Yo-kai Watch/RWBY}

Blake Awoke to the familiar situation of being cornered by Adam, the sound of a motorcycle incoming. Giving the bull faunus a glare, she smirked.

"You're wrong Adam, I'm not alo– "

"NYA!"

"WHAT THE!?" Adam called out in shock at the sudden appearance of a small motorcycle driving off the above cliffedge, and straight into him, which was being driven by a grey-furred, two-tailed cat, with a jacket and sunglasses.

Blake blinked, having expected Yang, not… "Jibanyan…?"

The cat yo-kai huffed, glaring at the downed Adam, one of his eyes glowing red under the shades. "Jibanyan? Ha! I am the Terminyanator!"

Blake just gave the undead feline an unimpressed look, even as he sent a Ping her way to confirm that it was Jibanyan.

"WHAT is this… THING!?" Adam growled as he pulled himself back to his feet, holding his blade ready. "No, you know what; I don't CARE! Whatever it is, it's going to die if it intends to stand in my way!"

The 'Terminyanator' scoffed at that, "Die…? Idiot, you can't kill what's already dead, nya!"

"… What–AH!" The mad bull faunus' questioning was cut off by the small cat on motorcycle driving forward, doing a wheelie so the top wheel hit him… right between the legs.

"Keep your eyes on your opponyent!" the cat yo-kai lowered his sunglasses as he glanced towards Blake with a smirk, his body starting to glow. "Meowl be back!"

Before any response could be given, the Terminyanator exploded, sending Adam flying into the stratosphere.

Blake stared as Adam became a twinkle in the sky, before glancing at the smoking crator the visiting Looper had left. The local Looper let out a sigh as she shook her head, "I don't think I'll ever understand yo-kai…" she gave another look around, frowning at the silence. "… Where is Yang anyway?"

11.20 Masterweaver

[RWBY][Skullgirls][Yo-kai Watch]

Ruby, trembling with a wider-than-normal grin, was very visibly keeping herself from squealing in joy.

Nadia took one look at her and rolled her eyes, pressing her ears flat. "Ten seconds, and you're paying for the tinnitus."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-!"

Natsume winced, backing away a touch. "Um...?"

"She's very enthusiastic about her looping family," Hanahojin explained. "So, ending up with a team comprised of all her nieces and nephews is probably very exciting for her."

"–EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE–!"

Nadia held up a hand. "Three, two, one–"

"–EEEEEOh my gosh you're all here we're going to have so much fun together I promise I'll be the best auntie you could have this Loop you'll love team RAHN do you need anything if you need anything just let me know oh I am going to spoil you all rotten you know what right now what we need to do is get you a tasty breakfast I'll get you all some pancakes!"

In a blur of motion, the others found a table in their dorm room with five plates, four already having a small pile of pancakes and the fifth laden with a steaming heap. Ruby was standing to one side, wearing an apron with the phrase "snuggle the cook", wielding a pitcher of syrup and a jug of orange juice.

"... R-right," Natsume swallowed. "Is she... always like this?"

"Only when she's spent a long time alone," Nadia assured her, taking a chair. "She'll calm down in a day or two. Hey, Ruby, do you mind if I help out with baseline cleanup?"

"I mean I can handle it myself–"

"Nah, I just want to give Adam the old what-for after what he did to K-Mom and D-Mom in baseline."

Ruby's joy lessened just a touch. "... Right. Sure, that makes sense. Yeah, I'll leave him to you this loop."

Natsume blinked. "What... what did he do?"

"...Terrible things," Ruby said quietly. "He hasn't done them yet, this Loop, but... well. Suffice it to say he needs to be contained fast."

Hanahojin nodded grimly. "Well... we can talk about that later. Right now, we've got pancakes!"

"... Yeah, sure." Natsume sat down. "Um, can I have a little syrup... um... auntie...?"

Ruby inhaled sharply, a grin on her face–

"No squeeing," Nadia deadpanned.

–and nodded rapidly. "Oh yes of course Natsume just tell me when to stop okay here you go sweetie!"

11.21 Boohoooo!

(Transformers X Yo-Kai Watch)

It was an average Springdale Day, specifically in the attic of the Thomas residence.

USApyon took a deep breath as his meditation began. He focused on his emotions. Nothing could ruin this!

"What zzztrange rabbit guy doing?" An annoying voice asked in curiousity.

"What in tarnation?!" The Sith Yo-Kai grunted as he opened his eyes to see the ever-abused Predacon, Waspinator.

"... What do ya want?!" The Otter spirit impatiently asked after a few moments of silence.

"Wazzzpinaror want to be powerful! Pleazzze train Wazzzpinator!" Waspinator begged. USApyon stared before smirking.

"Ah, ya came to da right place pardner!" He cackled; his ego clearly stroked. Waspinator didn't have the heart to point out he was his 6th Choice as he smiled.

"So, you'll do it?!"

"Of course! From this day forward, you are Darth Waspinator! Ya will strike terror in hearts eveywhere!" USApyon laughed.

"Wazzzpinator ezzzpeting more creative name."

"SHUT IT AND GET TO TRAINING!"

And so, they did (after Waspinator fell down the stairs).

11.22

Owls were hooting as night fell upon Springdale, and a certain man-dog Looper trotted through the streets, on his way to his usual drinking spot…

As Manjimutt made his way through the town, careful not to do anything that would send the cops his way, he spotted someone he wasn't expecting to see, sitting in a puddle of water… "Mermaidyn?"

"Hm…?" the Classic yo-kai looked over at the approaching Looper, before giving a huff and looking away.

"What's with that attitude, have I offended you somehow," Manjimutt's eyes narrowed.

"Your presence is offensive, dog-face, you stink!" the aquatic yo-kai huffed, sending a wave of water towards him, soaking his body, "There, now you're somewhat clean!"

Manjimutt shook his body, growling a bit at the annoying feeling of wet fur, "The heck!? Don't do that to a guy unprovoked!"

"Your stench provoked me," Mermaidyn justified, floating out of the puddle she was sitting in and doing a flip in the air.

"Whatever…" Manjimutt decided not to argue, using his fire-powers to dry himself quickly. "What are you doing, sitting out here anyway?"

Mermaidyn crossed her arms, looking away from the other yo-kai with a huff, "Well, it's really not any of your business, but if you must know…" she stopped speaking for a moment, before mumbling something.

"… What?" Manjimutt's ear perked up, trying to hear what the aquatic yo-kai had said.

"… I'm bored, okay?" the female Looper spoke a bit louder, her face going a bit red. "Nate fished me out of a puddle before, so I was checking if there was something odd about them… but nothing, it seems it's just Nate's fishing-pole that causes things like that to happen, not anything about the puddles…"

"Oh…" Manjimutt nodded slowly, "Well… I'm going to get a drink now, so I'll leave you… to that."

"Yeah, whatever," Mermaidyn grunted, looking away from the dog-like yo-kai as he kept walking.

As Manjimutt kept moving, he paused and glanced back, seeing Mermaidyn just floating there, still refusing to look at him as she kept her arms crossed. "… Hey, are you done with that whole… puddle thing?"

"There's nothing more to look into with it," the mermaid-like yo-kai muttered, before giving the other yo-kai a glare. "Why?"

"Well, if you're not doing anything else, why don't you join me for a drink?"

"Yeah right, you probably just want to get me drink so you can do inappropriate things to me…" the mermaid-like yo-kai hissed, hugging herself protectively.

"… Do you really think I'd do something like that?"

"… No, not really," the Classic yo-kai sighed, lowering her guard a bit, "It just felt like the right thing to say at that moment…" she looked away, her expression one of embarrassment.

"That sounds like a reasoning Hailey would use," Manjimutt pointed out while scratching his head.

Mermaidyn's body went stiff for a moment, before she glared at the Earie yo-kai, "Don't ever tell her I said something like that…"

"I wouldn't exactly want anyone to hear you accused me of such a thing anyway," the man-faced dog grunted, "There's more to me than being a miserable, old pervert, you know…"

Mermaidyn scoffed, "Yeah, you also can't seem to keep from getting arrested," as she said this, she noticed at the other Looper drooped. "… I'm sorry."

"It's fine, I know it's true, Baseline-wise at least," the dog-man sighed as he looked back at the fish-girl, "My Baseline-self blamed it on Nate for a bit, because of him summoning me out of jail, but a lot of it was thanks to my own actions. Though even when I try to avoid doing those things, it seems like the police just want to arrest me at times…" the male yo-kai gave a tired groan, "At least in the Loops someone's usually there to help me out."

"Yeah, well… I'm not exactly happy with Nate in Baseline sometimes either, or even Looping…" she grunted, glaring off to the side, "Why does he even try to fish anymore? He always fishes me up, no matter where we both are!"

"Well, not all the time, there's Game Variants," Manjimutt pointed out weakly.

The aquatic yo-kai huffed, "The few times it doesn't apply to the Loop doesn't excuse him trying, you realize how inconvenient it is to have a fishing hook in your hair!?"

"I guess that would be annoying," the man-faced dog nodded, "Still… Nate's a good kid most of the time."

Mermaidyn grumbled a bit, nodding, "Yeah, I guess he is." She looked towards the sky for a moment, before doing a small flip in the air, flicking her tail towards the other yo-kai, "You know what, I think I'll take you up on that drink offer."

Manjimutt looked at the ningyo with surprise, "… Really?"

The Slippery yo-kai shrugged, "Yeah, I got nothing else going on…" she looked away for a second, grumbling to herself, "Feels like I haven't had anything going on for ages, in fact…"

"Um… did you say something?" Manjimutt questioned with a scratch of his head.

"Nothing, nothing, lead the way why don't you?" the mermaid-like yo-kai grunted, hovering over to the half-dog and pushing him forward.

"Alright!" Manjimutt started walking, whipping his tail a bit to get Mermaidyn to stop pushing him.

"Great," the female yo-kai nodded with a cheery smiled as she followed his lead. "Oh, also; you're paying!"

"It's not like money really matters to either of us," the dog-like yo-kai pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. You're still paying," Mermaidyn smirked.

Manjimutt shook his head, but smiled as he kept walking, his half-fish companion not far behind.

"Hey there, I'm back again for a drink!" Manjimutt greeted the mustached man that ran the little food stand, taking a seat, with Mermaidyn seating herself next to him.

"You want the usual 'toilet water?'" the owner questioned in a slightly amused tone.

"No need to dance around it, there's no kids here tonight," Manjimutt waved a paw with a light chuckle, "Give us a round of saké, on my tab!"

The human man nodded, though gave a suspicious glance towards Mermaidyn. "Hold on; is she old enough to drink?"

"Don't give me flak, human, I'm a Classic yo-kai, I've been swimming around since long before you could even form a coherent sentence. So just shut up and give me a drink!" Mermaidyn shouted, slamming a fist on the counter.

With a shrug, the man nodded, getting out the drink bottle and some glasses.

"And I'm telling you, there's no way Jibanyan hasn't thought about it!" Mermaidyn gave a drunken laugh as she emptied her glass. "Another round, sir!"

"Whatever you say," the human stall owner shrugged, topping off the two yo-kai's drink glasses as they both kept laughing and talking loudly.

"Man, you're a lightweight, Mermaidy, drunk already!?" Manjimutt laughed, despite looking rather inebriated himself.

"Don't give me that, dog-face! I ain't as use-ta this as you!" Mermaidyn lightly tapped her fists against Manjimutt's side. "Don't go insulting me!"

"I won't, I won't!" Manjimutt laughed as he took another drink.

Mermaidyn nodded, before pausing for a moment, and smirking, "Say… isn't this like a date…?"

Manjimutt nearly spat out his drink, looking towards the female yo-kai in surprise, "Huh!?"

"Cause if it is, ain't you cheating…?" Mermaid questioned with a mischievous expression. "You've got a wife, don'cha? Don't think she'd like you seeing another woman…"

"This isn't a date, I just wanted to invite a friend out to have some fun," Manjimutt assured, looking away from the Slippery yo-kai. "And as for my wife… there's nothing there," he sighed. "I died after all, and there's no solid Baseline information on who she was anyway! And… by my Baseline-selve's actions, I probably wasn't that attached…" he drooped a bit as guilty expression formed on him.

Mermaidyn seemed to a pout at the denial of it being a date, before grinning again as she took another drink, "Well… just as well. She probably would'a gonna dump you anyway."

"… What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're ugly man!" Mermaidyn laughed, even as the canine yo-kai glared at her. "Your Baseline-self probably knew your wife was planning to end it soon anyway, and that's why he didn't care! Unclear info or not, you having a girl at all is a surprising thought."

"Yeah well… it's not like you could get a girl… or guy, either!" Manjimutt countered angrily.

Mermaidyn paused, before giving him an annoyed look, "What now…? Are you blind? I'm super cute, of course I could get a girl… or guy!"

"You may be cute, but that's about all you have going for you…" Manjimutt slammed his glass on the counter. "Personality-wise though? I don't see how anyone could stand dating you!"

The stall-owner ignored the escalating conflict, though he did take a moment to remove the two yo-kai's drink glasses before they could ingest anymore alcohol.

"Excuse me!? Like you have any right to criticize me! Even if what you say is true, at least I have looks, you have no looks, or personality! You would be more than lucky to date a girl like me!" Mermaidyn shouted, her hands balled into fists as she gave a fierce glare, a small burp escaped her mouth though, and she moved her hands to her mouth, "Excuse me!"

"It's fine," Manjimutt muttered, before shaking his head and growling a bit, "And like heck I'd be lucky to date you! I may already be dead, but I doubt I'd survive having to put up with your horrible personality!"

"Horrible personality!?" Mermaidyn gave the man-dog a shove, "Well I'd never want to put up with dating you because of your horrible… everything!"

"Horrible everything!? At least I… I," Manjimutt panted a bit as he tried to come up with something else to say. "I can… fight better than you!"

"Oh, you want to battle, is that it!?" Mermaidyn grunted, floating off the seat and taking a battle-ready stance.

"I didn't say that, but if you're going be like this, I suppose I've no choice!" Manjimutt hiccuped, jumping from his seat, a few stray flames sparking from his body.

The stall-owner bucked behind his stand in response to the upcoming battle.

Mermaidyn gave a drunken smirk, a small circle of water forming below her, "So you really are an idiot, aren't you? Did you forget basic elemental rock-paper-scissors!? Water beats fire!"

"That may be so!" Manjimutt wabbled a bit as he stood across from his opponent, a circle of flames forming around him. "But… enough heat, can easily dry up your H2O!"

"Do you really think that, stupid old man," the aquatic yo-kai huffed, ball of water taking shape in her hands.

"Hey, Baseline wise, you're actually older than me," the drunken dog-man pointed out with a frustrated grunt.

The Classic yo-kai's eyes narrowed, her mouth twisting from a smirk to a snarl, before she screamed and started shooting bullets of water from the water ball in her hand.

Manjimutt, despite his drunken state, was able to dance around the attack with only a few close calls (though Mermaidyn was also drunk, so her aim was pretty off…), he gave a howl before charging forward, his body surrounded by flames.

Mermaidyn gave a small yelp, before twirling out of the way, she coated her body in water before grabbing hold of Manjimutt's ears as he ran by, the water that covered her mixing with the dog-like yo-kai's fire and filling the air with steam. "You're no match for me, stupid mutt!"

"Hey, watch who you're calling stupid, you…" Manjimutt growled, throwing Mermaidyn off his back before pinning her to the ground, "Uh… fish!"

"Fish is only half right!" Mermaidyn hissed, slapping the dog-man with her tail floating back into an upright position, before an energy started charging around her. "Beach Wave!" waves of water started forming around her, lashing towards her half-canine opponent.

"Creepy Superbite!" Manjimutt shouted as he unleashed his own Soultimate move to counter his opponent's. Manjimutt's bites did nothing much to the incoming waves, though to his credit he managed to get through them without much visible damage to himself.

Soon the yo-kai battle had dissolved into not much more than just the two yo-kai charging into each other, and soon even that became simply them sitting beside each other, both looking exhausted.

"… Why did we fight?" Manjimutt questioned after a few moments of the two sitting by each other, wiping some sweat from his brow.

"Because we felt like it, we're yo-kai…" Mermaidyn look annoyed, despite her fatigue. "That's just how we solve things… most of the time."

"… You're really not that bad, you know," Manjimutt let out a sigh, falling onto his back, "I said you had not much aside from looks, but I'm not sure I meant it, you have a temper, sure, but your personality's not that bad."

Mermaidyn let out a weak chuckle, "I was a bit harsh too… you may not be all that much to look at, but you've got pretty decent personality…"

"Hah… thanks," the man-faced dog grinned.

Mermaidyn let out another chuckle, her mind racing, her body tired from the battle, and still rather drunk from her earlier consumption of alcohol. Without warning, the half-fish yo-kai flopped forward, and onto the other Looping yo-kai.

"Wha!?" Manjimutt looked shocked at the sudden body contact, and even more so at the alluring look Mermaidyn was sending him.

"You know what!? Let's just make-out!"

"Huh, why the…?"

"What, dog-man, am I not good enough for you!?" Mermaidyn grabbed Manjimutt's face with a vicious smirk, "Let's just do this thing!"

"… Okay," was the only response the dog-man could give, before the fish-girl kissed him.

The birds cawed as the sun rose over Springdale, a pair of yo-kai were lying on the ground by a food stand, both moaning a bit as they woke up.

"What happened last…" Mermaidyn trailed off, before she noticed the yo-kai was lying very close to.

"Huh, what happened…?" Manjimutt groaned, before he noticed Mermaidyn staring at him with wide eyes, "… Uh…"

"Oh Mermother, did we…?" the mermaid-like yo-kai's face went red as she thought about what could have happened.

"No, you just slept next to each other!" the owner of the stand grunted as he stepped over, an annoyed look on his face. "To be specific, you both got drunk, argued, decided to attack each other with your fancy powers, before finally making and passing out!"

Mermaidyn and Manjimutt both stared at the human with blank eyes and red faces, "We did what…?"

"Yeah, thanks for all of that, by the way, I really wanted to see that," the man muttered sarcastically, before stepping away, back towards his stand, "Oh, and we're closed now, so you best get a move on!"

Without another word, the stunned pair of Looping yo-kai got back up and began walking/floating away.

After a few minutes of walking in silence, one of the two finally decided to speak.

"So… all of that apparently happened…" Manjimutt spoke with an unsure tone.

"Yeah… yeah," Mermaidyn nodded, looking around at anything but the yo-kai at her side, her face still red.

"So… I don't think we'll ever be doing that again, right?" the man-dog sighed, scratching one of his ears with a downcast expression.

Mermaidyn made a humming noise, but giving an unsure smile, "I don't know, it did get kind of nuts… but, maybe we could…?"

"… Huh!?" Manjimutt gave the other yo-kai a disbelieving look.

Mermaidyn chuckled a bit, scratching one of the man-faced dog's ears. "That really didn't go how I expected, and my memories a little fuzzy, but I think I actually had fun with you!"

"… Well that's really not what I expected to hear," Manjimutt smiled a bit, though still unsurely, "You sure about that? I'm just an old, ugly dog-man after all."

"Don't put yourself down so much, and I'm older than you!" Mermaidyn smirked, lightly slapping the Earie yo-kai on the back. "I wouldn't be opposed to doing something like that again, okay?"

"Okay," Manjimutt nodded slowly, before he blinked as he remembered a certain detail, "Um… what about the making-out part…?"

Mermaidyn's smirk faded as she paused, staring at the other yo-kai silently.

"So, yeah, I guess we're going out now…" Mermaidyn finished recounting, reclining on the couch of the Ha-pyon Detective Agency.

"We're not therapists, ya' know," Usapyon grunted as he stood by the couch. "But thanks fer thinking of comin' ta us… I guess…"

Mermaidyn didn't seem like she heard what the otter yo-kai had said. "Honestly, I'm not sure where this is going, we never seemed compatible, but… well we're having fun, we'll see where it goes, I suppose…"

"… Right," Usapyon nodded slowly, shaking his head, before glancing toward his human partner. "Ya' got something to add to this, Hailey?"

Hailey slammed her hands on her desk, "I can't believe it!"

Mermaidyn looked towards the purple-haired girl like she was nuts.

Usapyon just seemed to take the reaction in stride, "That those two could possibly end up in a romantic relationship?"

"No! That Manjimutt could get a date before me!" Hailey shouted while clutching her head.

"Of course…" Usapyon shook his head.

"Well… thanks for listening, guys…" Mermaidyn let out a small cough as she floated up from the couch, "I've gotta go meet Manjimutt now, so uh… bye!" with a small wave, the mermaid-like yo-kai made her exit.

With the Classic yo-kai gone, both Hailey and Usapyon were left in silence…

"…Hey Danny, how about we date?" Hailey suggested with an amused grin.

"… Yeah, that ain't happenin'," the otter yo-kai responded bluntly.

Hailey shrugged, "Eh, that's probably for the best, didn't really want to anyway…"

11.23

"Wait, what?" Keita questioned with a blank look as he stood in the park, his wife had a similar expression as she held onto their infant daughter nearby.

Keita and Fumika had just recently Woken up, finding themselves adults, with their daughter Natsume a couple months old, and were given a surprising bit of news when their purple-haired friend had come to greet them during an outing to the local park.

"Jinmenken and Ningyo… are dating?" Fumika questioned slowly, holding onto her baby carefully as she tried to process this.

"Ba-ba-gaga!" Natsume wasn't Awake, and clearly didn't understand anything that was happening, so she took this moment to see if her tiny hands could reach her mother's ponytail.

"Hey, I wasn't expecting it either, but it happened," Inaho gave a shrug as she sat on a bench, giving a bit of a smug look towards her companions' reactions.

"I don't know… how do we know you're not trying to trick us… again?" the Anchor questioned, his blank expression giving way to a skeptical one. "I'd think we'd hear about this from them before we did from you, if it were true."

"Believe what you want, or just ask 'em yourselves!" Inaho chuckled with a roll of her eyes.

Natsume giggled and clapped her hands, having given up the challenge of grabbing her mom's ponytail.

Inaho smiled at the baby, before glancing between Keita and Fumika, "Anyway, you probably haven't heard about it because the two don't really know where this is going, they're just having fun I guess."

Keita sighed, his arms crossed, "I mean, it's not like I can't see it being possible… but still, I'd think Jinmenken would mention this before you would tell me…"

Before this could be discussed any further, a distinctinctively foul scent began to drift through the air, causing the three adults to wince as the infant began to whine a little with clear discomfort.

"We can figure out what's going on with Jinmenken and Ningyo's love-life next time we see them, but right now," Fumika held Natsume up a little higher, the infant now starting to cry a little. "I think our little girl needs a change."

"Better get to that before she stinks up the whole park!" Inaho laughed, one hand holding her nose shut.

Keita glared at the purple-haired woman, lightly bopping her on the head.

"Hey!"

The Anchor ignored the protest before moving over to his wife and daughter. Keita touched Fumika's arm, and an instant later, the the parents and child had vanished.

Inaho rubbed her head, glancing at the sunny sky, before letting out a scoff, "Teleporting to change a stinky diaper? Really, Keita?" she regained her smug look as moved her arms behind her neck. "Wonder how they'll react when they see I wasn't pulling their legs…"

11.1: As the title of the chapter says; Welcome to the Shadowside!

11.2: Hailey demonstrates her growth and maturity… but seriously, where is Inaho in Shadowside?

11.3: And suddenly, without warning, our Looping nekomata is thrust into fatherhood!

11.4: Not far behind is Natsume, thrust into the Loops.

11.5: Creepy…

11.6: Jibanyan let the cat out of the bag a bit early. :3

11.7: No car is safe from Shadowside Jibanyan!

11.8: Sibling rivalry, taken to dangerous levels…

11.9: No matter how hard he tries, Nate just can't seem to shake the 'average' label.

11.10: One can only wonder what people call 'bears' in that new world, if the word 'bear' has been erased.

11.11: The bond between a brother and sister is powerful, especially when working together to take down a giant monster!

11.12: This is sure to just be the beginning of a grand adventure!

11.13: 'Harem Loops' are not just the bane of Nate/Keita's Looping existence, but also Whisper's, sometimes.

11.14: Anyone wonder if a D'wanna could make the Apathy not want to affect people as they do…?

11.15: Uncle Zwei!

11.16: Where in the world is 'BBQ' anyway?

11.17: The adventure through Japari Park continues! And will continue again, later!

11.18: Natsume meets her aunts… well, two of them.

11.19: The Terminyanator will be back indeed… probably.

11.20: It's sure to be a fun time when Auntie Ruby is in charge!

11.21: I can only imagine this ending badly.

11.22: Well… that was unexpected.

11.23: Really, would you believe it without seeing it?