Live like We're Dying

A/N: I am so sorry about the lateness of this chapter, but sadly work has been kicking my ass recently and I barely found myself with time enough to write, hopefully this chapter is still enjoyable though! The next chapter will hopefully be released much sooner than this one took, because after this chapter we're really kicking it into high gear!

A/N: Also, I've been thinking of beginning an Attack on Titan story, not sure what kind of story, I have a few ideas lined up in my head, and I'm wondering if there would be any interest in such a thing? Lemme know in the comments if possible!

Chapter 3: Sometimes we fall down

He shot up from his bed, his eyes wide and fearful, in an extreme panic he scans his current location, he was back in his bedroom? He was even back in his bed… how could that be? He closes his eyes and places his palm against his face, he couldn't remember anything… wait, that was a lie, he could recall something…

Wild-card… fool… Seek the truth… Persona…

Izanagi…

His hand dropped as his eyes gaped open, that was right! He fell into his TV and awoke something called a persona… or… that's at least what that Igor fellow from that room told him.

"Welcome to the velvet room".

Velvet room? What was that place? His eyes moved towards his TV, still unplugged on his desk, he checked the time on his phone.

5:25am

357

How was this possible!? How did he… His eyes glances back at the TV, he needed to see if it was all true, he just needed to, he needed to know he wasn't totally insane, he moved over to the desk, sweat dripping down his brow in fearful anticipation, he carefully raises his left hand and places it gently against the TV screen, his brows shoot up into his hairline when his hand, just like before slips through, into the TV, creating a kind of ripple effect around where his hand entered. He pulled it back, remembering what happened last time.

So, it wasn't just some lucid dream… honestly, he couldn't tell which would have been better, because if the TV thing was real, then that meant those… creatures were real as well… but it also meant…

He raised his hand.

"Persona".

Nothing happened, no rush of power, no feeling of being enveloped by the power of another being, his confusion rose, he didn't understand, why did the TV let him through but he couldn't summon Izanagi like before…

Maybe… Maybe he could only summon him in the TV world? It'd make as much sense as everything else to do with this did, but his mind was still plagued with one important question, how did he end up back in bed?

"It seems our time is running short… do not fret, as when you next wake, you will be safe…"

That Igor! He had somehow transported him back into his room, but who or what was that Igor? And that blond woman… Margaret… who or what was she? He groaned, all he was succeeding in doing was hurting his brain, he didn't have time to be thinking about this right now, he needed a shower and to get ready for school, he had some questions to ask Chie it seemed, as she was the one who suggested the damn Midnight Channel, perhaps she could shed some more light on his situation? It was certainly a long-shot, but sadly, it was the best he had at the moment. As he rose to his feet, he recalled something.

That girl in the TV… the one the Midnight Channel showed, what happened to her? She looked in pain… and if she somehow ended up in there, and if those creatures were there, he chanced a look back at his TV.

It'd be fine, right? If he found the power of his Persona, then she surely must've as-well right? She'd be just fine… He hoped, after-all it wasn't like it was his problem, right? And with that, he went ahead with his shower.

He showered, dressed and smacked his limp arm against the wall, grabbed his pills and headed downstairs to greet Nanako, just like he did every day since he came here. Well he would've if he'd not come down an hour before Nanako even got out of bed, so he found himself downstairs by himself, the food they made last night, left for Dojima gone, hopefully eaten, he still hadn't seen his uncle, it was beginning to become ridiculous at this point. He shrugged as he went to clean up the plate his uncle left, when his eyes caught a piece of paper attached to the plate.

Hey! Thanks for the food, it was delicious! Sorry I haven't seen you much since you got here, I'm planning on ordering Chinese tonight, so make sure you don't eat much in the day! Again, I'm sorry we have not had much time to chat, but hopefully we will tonight! Thanks again for the food!

Your Uncle; Dojima!

Why did he write "your uncle" as if he wouldn't know it was him? Who else could have it been!? He'd have to let Nanako know, she'd be ecstatic, he smirked, he'd be able to tell Dojima that Nanako helped with the making of the food. He'd also have to ask about money for food shopping on Sunday... they had maybe one more meal they could make before they'd have to resort to take-out, thankfully tonight was Chinese and tomorrow was Saturday, which meant they wouldn't have to worry about food if Dojima lets him and Nanako get the shopping.

Now… what's for breakfast? He'd have to make Nanako something in thanks for the times she made him toast. She didn't have to… and it touched him that she did anyway. He checked the cupboards, he found some bread and some spreading chocolate… he smiled, he knew what he was making for breakfast this morning!

"Good morning Nanako!"

He smiled at the young girl who trudged down the stairs, rubbing sleep out of her eyes, she looked up at his in confusion, she must have been surprised someone was down before her, but he eyes soon glanced at the plate he was offering to her, she moved over to it as he placed it onto the counter, as she climb up onto the stool, he waited as he drank the coffee he had made earlier, he had already eaten his piece and he didn't like to brag… well that was a lie, he loved to brag when he could, his condition didn't allow for much bragging anymore, so he took what he could get.

"OH! Chocolate on toast!" Nanako squealed happily as she immediately began crunching down on her breakfast, a happy smile on her face, he laughed quietly, that was how kids her age should be, smiling and happy about simple things like chocolate on toast, his mind turned sour, not hanging up the washing or waiting for someone to finally come home by herself.

He really needed to ask Dojima about that. He didn't care what his job was, he was practically neglecting his daughter for Christ sake! He did wonder where Nanako's mother was, when he asked his parents about this, they got all quiet and mumbled something about an accident, a word he hated with a passion.

"Thank-you! That was great!" Nanako hopped of her stool and placed the empty dish into the sink, he smiled at her gratefulness, her happiness was infectious it seemed.

"You ready for school then?" She nodded as she grabbed her small puffy pink coat and school-bag, he shoulders his satchel and finished the rest of his coffee.

"Dojima mentioned we're having Chinese tonight, he said not to have too much to eat today."

"Daddy's coming home early tonight!?"

"I think so, the note didn't really say what time, only that we're having Chinese… are you excited?"

Nanako nodded happily as she skipped out of the door, he chuckled, shaking his head as he followed.

That girl was almost too much sometimes.

It wasn't long before he found himself eating his home-made dinner at school with Chie and Yosuke sat around his desk.

"So?"

"So, what?"

"What do you mean what? You know what I'm talking about!"

Oh, please don't start this.

"No, I don't! How would I know? I can't read your mind!"

"Ugh! You're so dim sometimes Yosuke!"

"HEY! Who're you call dim karate-girl!?"

Okay… this is not happening.

"What'd you say?"

"So… about that Midnight channel yeah? Did you guys, do it?"

His voice cut in, silencing the pointless bickering the pair seemed to love to do. Immediately Chie blushed and turned her face to the side, whilst Yosuke's face grew disturbed.

"Ye-yeah, I saw it… I saw a girl in mine, couldn't really tell who she was though, looked like school student to me."

"That sounds eerily like what I saw, girl, couldn't tell who, but she seemed to be wearing a school uniform from what I could tell… what about you Chie? You did check it right? I mean, you did tell us about it" he was surprised with how much he spoke, but he found himself overly curious of what they all saw, because something told him that the whole 'true love' myth, was nothing more than that; a myth, he felt there was something much bigger going on, such as a certain TV world filled with monsters.

"I-I did! Of-course I did!" Chie spoke loudly, drawing some fellow students' attention, but they quickly lost interest as they returned to their own conversations.

"Then what did you see Chie?" Yosuke asked, his interest piqued as-well.

"I saw… a girl as-well… the same as yours…" her voice trailed off as she finished, obviously not happy with her apparent revel of her 'true love'.

"Oh… whoa! I didn't think you swung that way Chie?"

Is that worry in your voice Yosuke?

"I DON'T! It was wrong!" Chie stood up, he arms flailing wildly in Yosuke's direction, he raised his arms, trying to placate the 'beast' as it were. And as amusing as this entire ordeal was, he needed to know more than just that.

"Did any of you see or do something else?"

"Like what?"

"Like…" He sighed, time to take the insane plunge it seemed.

"like your hand slipping through the screen?"

Silence was the answer he received, before Yosuke and Chie suddenly burst out laughing, and their mocking laughs immediately decided for him.

"Okay, if it's so funny how about I show you!? Where can we find massive TV's?" His voice held back his obvious irritation, he'd show them.

"Okay… hahah…. Dude, we can go to Junes after school and you can try your 'magic trick' on one of the flat-screens, just don't break it!"

"Yeah! That reminds me, my parents are interested in getting a new TV after our old one broke!"

"Broke? You mean you kicked it re-enacting one of your Kung-Fu movies!?"

"Hey s-shut up!"

Could they just go already! He couldn't wait for school to be over finally.

"Alright you little crotch-spawns, GET BACK IN YER SEATS!"

And then there's this asshole.

School couldn't end any quicker, as soon as the bell ended, he found himself almost frog-marching the pair to Junes, and considering his condition, he was lucky he didn't over-exert himself, once they reached Junes, Yosuke led them to the TV section and to be honest, he was floored with the sheer number of large TV's aligning the shelfs, Junes really did have everything it seemed.

"Geez… I didn't expect the TV's to so… expensive…" Chie's voice sounded defeated, he smiled evilly, he was petty, he knew that. As the pair argued over prices he found the right TV for his 'trick', he scanned a few different TV's until he found a 42inch flat-screen TV, it was perfect, easily enterable, that was, if his 'power' worked on other TV's other than his own, it'd be a pretty rubbish power if he could only enter his own TV. He readied himself, preparing for whatever may come. He raised his hand and gently placed it against the TV, his hand slipping through just as easily as his own TV.

Now what?

"OH, MY JESUS DUDE, WHAT DID YOU DO?"

Oh right… Yosuke and Chie.

They ran over, their mouths agape in shock at what his hand was doing.

Suck it!

"How did you do that!?"

"I was telling the truth…"

With that he placed his upper body into the TV, curious to see it was the same place he was in when he first entered a TV. However, all he saw was simply fog once again. How strange, he couldn't even hear Yosuke or Chie behind him, like being in the TV world prevented hearing the 'real' world. But he did feel someone grab onto his waist and try to pull him back, in his initial surprise, he attempted to remove their hands from him, he wasn't comfortable with physical contact at all! He managed to push one of their arms of him when he felt something shove into him.

And now he was falling.

Faaaaaantastic…

His ass hurts.

He fell onto his ass and now it hurt, well at least the left side of his ass hurt.

It was so bizarre how his body worked sometimes.

"Ugh… I think I landed on my keys…" Yosuke groaned as he stood, Yu was already on his feet, dusting his legs off, Chie on the other hand.

"AHHHHHHH! Oh my god, where are we!? Are we in the TV!?"

He glanced around, this was certainly a different area then before, he could make out some kind of scaffolding surrounding him, and the floor looked different, different colours adorning the ground, it looked like a kind of stage to him, he managed to make out a few different paths leading away from their location, no obvious exit, the blue door from his last visit to this world no-where to be seen, they'd have to pick a path and hope for the best at the moment, that reminded him, how were Chie and Yosuke doing?

"What the hell is going on!?"

"We are going to die down here, we are going to die!"

That sounded about right.

"Guys, calm down, we need to think clearly right now!"

"What do you mean 'clearly'? We're in a god-damned TV dude! How could we think clearly right now!?"

He had a point. He really did.

"Listen, just calm down, if we keep panicking like this, we're never going to get out of here!"

"Dude, how can you be so calm about this? We're in a god-damned TV!"

Yu walked over to Yosuke and Chie, his eyes scanning for any of those creatures, they were in dangerous territory now, and it was mostly his fault really… He shouldn't have been such an idiot with poking his head through the TV again.

"I told you that I went into my TV yesterday, I was telling the truth!"

Chie jumped forward, grasping his collar "then how do we get out of here then!? You've been here before, right?" He carefully grabbed her hands in his one, and pried them of him, she had the decency to mumble an apology at her aggressive action.

"This isn't the same place I ended up as yesterday, and I'm not even sure how I got out of here, I just woke up in my bed in the morning!"

"You woke up in your bed? How the hell does that help us!?"

He frowned as he shook his hand through his greyish hair in frustration.

"I don't know okay! I didn't expect to be pushed into this damn place! Let's just pick a path and head down it!"

"Y-you wanna look around?"

He turned to a random path and began to walk slowly.

"It's better than waiting here and dying, right?"

"Dy… DYING!?"

"C'mon!"

The pair ended up following him, discussing what this place could even be, how it existed, they asked him what he knew of the place, to which he answered the best he could, leaving out details about the monsters and that weird 'Velvet room'. He didn't want to panic them more than they already were, after all, if any monsters showed up, he should be able to take care of them. He hoped. They followed a path lined with doors, none of them were openable, and seemed more like they were painted onto the wall then actually being doors. He began to feel slightly ill at this point, the atmosphere of the TV world must've been affecting worse than the last time he was here. It felt like before one of his episodes, so he was Internally thankful he had his pills on him, it would really suck to have an episode in here with no way to prevent it.

"Damn it! How long have we been walking? I'm exhausted!"

"Yosuke! We've been walking for like 10 minutes! How could you be that tired?"

"I don't know damnit, it must be this place or something! Don't you feel tired at all?" Chie didn't respond straight away.

"Now that you mention it… my legs do feel really heavy…"

He wasn't exhausted, he just felt sick, like his body was building up to an attack, perhaps having a persona stopped the exhaustion?

"Hey, is that an open door?"

He looked ahead at what Yosuke pointed at, it was indeed an open doorway that led into a dark room, hopefully it was better than absolute fog all the time.

HE WAS WRONG, HE WAS SO WRONG.

"Is that a freakin' noose!? Holy hell!"

Damn right Yosuke, he scanned the noose hanging from the ceiling fan, dangling above a lone chair, he noticed posters of a woman with the face part ripped off aligning the walls. This place set of so many alarm bells in his mind, and his chest was tightening even more now, he wanted out of this place NOW.

Yosuke suddenly ran into the corner and began to unzip his pants.

Are. You. God-damn. Serious?

"Really Yosuke? Here?"

"Hey, I need to go, I've been holding it forever!"

He shook his head in disgust and turned back to the door, he'd count to 10 and then walk out.

"Damn, I couldn't even go, this sucks!"

Yeah, the fact Yosuke couldn't take a piss really sucked…

They turned back the way they came and came across a stairwell that wasn't there before… spooky! He peered over the edge, it seemed safe to descend, he couldn't see or hear any of the creatures thankfully, maybe they only originated in his TV world?

He realised how stupid that sounded.

He began his descent when suddenly his ears perked up at a recognisable noise.

Oh no…

"H-hey guys, can anyone else hear that growling?"

He turned his head towards the two, a look of mild panic on his face.

"RUN!"

"What?"

"I said run!" He shoved Yosuke and Chie towards the stairs.

"Dude, what's happening?" Yosuke tried to stop, but Yu didn't let up with his shoving.

"No time, just run and don't look back!"

Yosuke hated it, but he ran, Chie behind him, they didn't realise that Yu was not behind them, it wasn't their fault, he hadn't told them he could barely walk, never mind run. He just hoped that didn't realise and try to come back for him, he'd hate himself if they got injured because of his stupid curiosity. He turned back down the hallway, he could see the round figures rushing towards him, how had they snuck up on them so easily? Was it the fog? Did it hide their presence? He shook his head, it didn't matter, all that mattered was stopping them here.

He raised his arm, ready to summon the power he knew he within him, when suddenly his heart crunched in his chest, his breath escaped his lungs, as his body convulsed in pain, he was having an episode. He grasped his chest, desperately trying to regain his breath.

Pills.

He needed his pills now!

He reached into his coat pocket, his hand managing to grasp the small bottle, his entire form was shaking now, his eyes began to blur, he couldn't pass out, not here, not now. The shadowy creatures were upon him now, their long tongues growing far too close to him for comfort.

He didn't have enough time, he wouldn't be able to open the bottle!

Is a desperate panic, he did the only thing he could.

"Pe…PERSONA".

As he hands clenched, he felt his heart practically explode in his chest, as Izanagi formed before him, a deafening screech of pain coming from the persona as it brutally decimated the creatures before him. His eyes grew too heavy as he convulsed in agony, no breath finding its way into his lungs, he only hoped Izanagi could finish the last couple. Another piercing cry rose from his persona as it's one arm grasping the naginata, it slashed left and right, bisecting and dissecting the creatures one by one.

It'd be more appropriate to describe what Izanagi was doing as more of a slaughter then a battle, it decimated them, he could only watch in fear as he fell to his knees, why was Izanagi screaming in pain so much?

A persona is the manifestation of your will… they respond to your needs, your pains… they are you in that respect.

Igor's words struck him, was Izanagi feeling his pain as well?

"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHH" the scream pierced the very air as Izanagi threw his spear into the ground and grabbed one of the creatures, and ploughed the monster into the wall, wailing in agony as it continued to crush the pathetic life from the beast. Black ichor exploding over Izanagi's hand.

His body hit the ground, hard, his vison going black, if only he could reach his pills! But his body wouldn't respond to him anymore, he damned his body, damned his pathetically weak and frail body to hell.

Izanagi roared as it punched through one of the creatures, into another one open maw, grabbing the second one's tongue, he yanked as hard as he could, pulling the monsters tongue out of its mouth through the first one. More appeared as Izanagi roared in pain one last time as lighting struck down from the heavens and obliterated the remaining monsters, leaving nothing but a scorch mark on the ground.

Then Izanagi faded, leaving behind one final scream of agony.

And Yu Narukami's eyes closed, passing out from the excruciating pain, his bottle of pills lying next to him, unopened.

He didn't want to die like this.

It seems that our dear fools body cannot cope within this world for long.

My, it does seem that Fate despises him.

But what will he do? Will he give in and allow the truth to be lost forever?

Or perhaps does he wish to march on through uncertainty and pain, and reach the truth?

Only time will tell it seems.

But for now, tis time for you to wake, wake and re-join the waking world.

He felt weak, he felt weak all over, even on his numb side, he couldn't even begin to try explaining that. He just felt absolutely defeated, he didn't even want to open his eyes, he just wanted to keep them closed and sleep, but his mind stopped him, he was forgetting something important…

"Dude, are you okay!? What happened!?"

Oh yeah… TV world… Yosuke and Chie.

How was he alive?

He forced his eyes open, squinting in pain, he first saw Yosuke's worried face relax in relief as he realised he was now awake.

"Chie! He's okay!"

Hurried footsteps caught his attention as Chie also entered his vision, a happy smile on her face.

"Thank god! We were so worried, why didn't you follow us!?" Her eyes began to water slightly as a few stray tears managed to escape, she wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Stupid idiot, trying to be a hero or something…"

He tried to chuckle, but he didn't have the energy to do so, his mouth opened.

"Ho- How am I…" He couldn't finish the question, not because he was exhausted, but because he was scared to say the dreaded word. Thankfully Yosuke seemed to understand as he rummaged in one of his pockets, revealing Yu's pills.

"We found these next to you, thankfully we managed to get you to swallow two, how could you not tell us you needed these? We would've never have run then, hell we would've helped carry if we knew!"

All he could manage in response was a sorrowful smile.

He felt bad, he knew why he didn't tell them, he simply didn't trust them enough to reveal he needed them, hell if he hadn't of passed out, they'd still be unaware, he felt sorry, but he just didn't want people to know more than they needed about his condition.

God-forbid, if anyone managed to see his freak show of a right side.

"C'mon, help me up…" He raised his arm as Chie and Yosuke heaved him to his feet, Yosuke wrapping his good arm over his shoulder, he tried to pull away but a fierce look from the both stopped him. Hi eyes scanned their current location, they were back at the start; that kind of stage from before.

"W-What happened? How'd we end up back here?"

"We came back man! Gave you the pills and we carried you here, it's where we entered, so Chie figured an exit might be here as well."

"Yeah! We've been looking around for some kind of exit…"

Something told him that the searching was to no success, as they were still currently within the TV world.

"I'll help look too."

He once again tried to move away from Yosuke, but he was immediately held tighter.

"Like hell you will man! You need to rest, I don't know what happened, but those pills are strong as hell, so whatever happened couldn't have been good for you!" Yosuke's argument was valid, whilst he worded it somewhat confusingly, his pills are extremely strong, so evidence suggests that his condition must be pretty serious to require them. He knew it was futile to argue with them, they were making sure he was okay after what happened, he doubted it was due to pity or anything like that. It didn't mean that couldn't inwardly chastise and insult his own weakness, his own weak and frail body.

He nodded, and allowed Yosuke to lower him to the floor, so he was sitting comfortably, he promised himself that he could at least keep watch for any of those things, and protect the pair if he had to. His eyes found the three different paths leading away from the stage, barring the first one they went down, two remained un-travelled, perhaps one could lead to their safety? Or perhaps it could lead to more of those things? Was the risk worth the reward?

The obvious answer was yes, it was worth the risk, if they didn't take the risk, then chances are, they'd simply die of starvation, if not to the monsters first.

So, the options were; die, die horribly, die slowly, or take one of the two paths.

Seemed like a stupid debate when 3 out of the 4 options ended with certain death.

"He-HEY! What the hell is that!?"

His head followed Chie's startled voice as he found a roundish shape coming towards them from the fog, damn, looked like he'd have to fight after all, he heaved himself to his feet, shaking wobblily on his feet, he was exhausted, his episodes may physically pain him greatly, his pills drained him mentally, it was funny how the pills that were supposed to help him from physical pain, pained him mentally. He wasn't even sure if he could summon his persona right now, he felt so weak, no longer feeling the slight tingle in the back of his mind which he accommodated as his persona. But it looked like he'd have to try anyway, he'd just have to wait until he could see the creature clearly.

Yosuke and Chie rushed towards him, probably trying to protect him now that he was barely standing on his own feet.

"Uh… G-get the hell away from us!" Chie shouted at the figure, attempting to scare the creature away if possible.

He wondered briefly what kind of vicious monster would attack them now, what horrible beast would attempt to snuff their lives out, what disgusting creature would…

"Hey! It's not beary nice to shout at a stranger!"

What… The… Fu…

"Hi! I'm Teddie!"

Huh…

"WHHHHHHHHAT!?" The pair shouted in shock, he just stared silently at the strange bear mascot looking thing in, his pills didn't give hallucinations, right? This was real, right? His eyes scanned the bear costume, it's paws? On its waist? An adorable frown marring the costumes face.

Nope… this was real, so very real.

What was up with this world? First monsters, now a weird talking teddy bear, the size of a human. What was next? That there was actually nobody within the teddy-bear mascot costume.?

"WHAT THE HELL, THERE'S NO-ONE IN THIS COSTUME?"

He watched as Yosuke held Teddie's head, as the body still stood, the 'costume' being completely empty.

He wanted to go home now.

Yosuke dropped the head, tripping onto his backside, dragging himself back as fast as he possibly could, Chie assumed a fighting pose, her body shivering in fear, but still trying to put a brave face on, for Yu? He simply stared, his brows escaping into his hairline in surprise, he wasn't afraid or worried about this 'Teddie', he could tell that this 'bear' was a harmless as Yosuke, now… was that an insult to Yosuke or Teddie? He couldn't really tell. A Teddie's head hit the ground, his headless body stumbled towards it, waving its arms around wildly, it reached its head and clumsily picked the head up, and placed it back where it belonged. Once back on Teddie's shoulders, his eyes opened in shock and mild annoyance.

"Hey! That was 'beary' rude! Do you always just grab onto people you just meet?"

"Du…dude what the hell are you!?" Demanded Yosuke.

At that question, Teddie seemed to still, it's 'eyes' growing forlorn.

"I'm not really sure…"

"Wha…?"

"I don't really know who I am, all I remember is my name, I just know that this place is where I live…"

And somehow the previously terrified mood went even further down into a depressive mood.

He found himself curious about this; Teddie. A bizarre creature that lived in the TV world that didn't want to attack them, not only that, but this harmless looking creature was apparently suffering from a serious case of missing identity, he actually found himself wanting to help this poor creature, help this poor creature to find itself. He opened his mouth to ask a question when a squelching screech pierced the sombre air around them. He scowled, more of those creatures had found them. Chie and Yosuke circled around him, apparently making sure he was the safest after his episode, for Teddie's part, he had jumped in fear, waving his arms around.

"Oh no! They're here! Quick use these to get out of here!" Teddie clapped his 'paws/hands' and a plume of smoke erupted randomly, when the smoke quickly cleared, three small TV's appeared stacked on-top of each-other.

"What the hell are some TV's gonna do for us?"

TV?

Teddie managed to get behind us and began pushing us towards the stacked televisions, Yu managed to balance himself on Yosuke as he received one final shove before he found himself slipping through one of the televisions. One second he was in mortal danger and the next he found himself lying on the cold floor of the June's electronics department.

So that's what 'some TV's' are going to do for us.

He pushed himself into a sitting position, not caring if some shoppers gave him side-long glances, he was exhausted, he could sit down wherever he pleased. He noticed Yosuke stand up and breath a massive sigh of relief, to which Chie reciprocated, they had made it, that strange bear mascot had effectively saved their lives. Yosuke reached his hand out towards him, to which he accepted the gesture allowed Yosuke to pull him to his shaky feet, Yosuke's eyes frowned at Yu's wobbly stature.

"Hey… you gonna' be okay getting home on your own?" his voice held a level of concern that honestly touched Yu, Yu simply nodded and gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile as an answer. He needed to sleep, literally sleep the second his head touches the pillow in his room.

It seemed like he'd have to skip out on the Chinese food tonight, Dojima would understand given his condition, and Nanako probably wouldn't mind that much, or at least he hoped that she wouldn't mind that much. He took a cautious step away from Chie and Yosuke, and immediately found himself stumbling to the ground, thankfully it seemed like Yosuke was prepared for this, and quickly balanced him from collapsing to the ground. He couldn't even find the energy to be angry at being helped up, his pride could take a hike at this point.

"I'm fine, I'm fine…" His assurance was sadly hollow, he was most certainly not fine.

"C'mon man, let us help you back to yours at least, me and Chie can handle it, right Chie?"

"Yeah, definitely!"

"No… not to my house, my guardians a cop, he'd ask questions, he'd think we're crazy, just help me to the shrine on the market-street, I can manage on my own from there."

He could tell that neither of the pair were happy with his refusal, but they acquiesced all the same, realising that they couldn't explain what happened to his guardian, he'd be seen as crazy. Yosuke hefted his arm over his shoulder for support and Chie stood to the side, ready to assist at a moment's notice if needed.

They made it to the shrine with little incident, Yu even managing to walk by himself the closer they got to their destination. Of-course Yosuke and Chie were upon him like mother hens if he ever stumbled, he found it too endearing to be annoyed at their obvious concern at this point. He found the usual bench he sat at on his way home these days, just outside of the local shrine, although he was here much later than usual, the sky bearing a dark night above.

"Thanks guys, really… but I'm good from here."

Chie steps forward, rubbing her hands together to gather some warmth in them.

"You sure? We can help you to your street at least, we don't mind, honest!"

Yu simply shook his head, a calming smile on his face. "No, it's fine really, I'm thankful that you both helped me here in the first place, but it'd be best if you both get home now before your parents begin to worry." Yosuke and Chie look against his idea initially, but in the end, both nod their heads to his suggestion, he was right after all, it was getting rather late and it'd be best they get home before anyone became concerned. And so, they left, giving him their best wishes. He no found himself alone on the bench, simply relaxing allowing the cool air to calm his body and soul, he let out a relieved sigh, he needed this apparently, after such a terrifyingly hectic day, leaning back on a wooden bench with the wind slightly blowing through your hair was just what the doctor ordered.

He did grumble however, he would have to get moving soon enough, and he was absolutely exhausted still, but he could still wait here for a while longer, he was sure Dojima would understand when he told him his half-truth of what happened today. As he relaxed, his mind wondered to the Tv world, why did it exist? How did it exist? What were those monsters? Why did he have a Persona? What made him so special?

He was just a boy doomed to a death he was failing to come to terms with most days. His eyes widened, that Teddie character! Maybe he could shed some light on that world, he didn't have a chance to ask him any questions before because of the monsters, but perhaps on another day he could?

He checked his watch, it was getting too late, he'd better be getting home now, he leans forward on the bench and takes a deep breath, counting down in his mind from 3.

3

2

1

He heaved himself to his shaky feet, taking extra care not to trip and fall like a fool. He focused entirely on getting home, now that he was standing, he felt so tired, he was so tired in fact that when he got home, all he could manage was a weak wave and nod to Dojima and Nanako eating Chinese food, the pair surrounded him, worried for him, Dojima covertly asked Nanako to fill a cup of water and take it into his room and as she did so, Dojima leaned in.

"Are you okay?"

He wasn't, he was nowhere near okay.

"I'm fine… just had an episode and the pills I used knock me for a loop, I just need to sleep…"

Dojima's eyes softened at that, sombrely nodding as he helped him up the stairs, he didn't even have the energy to complain that he could do it himself.

"We'll save some Chinese food for you, and if you're not up for it, don't feel pressured to go into school tomorrow okay?"

The teen could only nod as he was worried his words would simply fail him right now.

He was helped into his room, Nanako big eyes filled with worry, he gave her his best smile he could at the time and hoped that it was enough. Soon enough he found himself lying in his bed, wishing a goodnight and thanks to his uncle and cousin. The moment they left the room, his eyelids felt as heavy as steel and he quickly found himself succumbing to the sweet embrace of sleep. Not caring about anything else for the moment.

However, maybe he should have, as if he had checked the Midnight Channel, perhaps he could have prevented a tragedy.

Chap end

Did you enjoy it? As a said above, I'm sorry about the lateness of this chapter, work's a bitch that way sadly. I can't confirm when the next chapter will be, but hopefully it won't take as long as this one did.

I thank-you for reading and have a good day.

And remember to:

Live like you're dying!