In Shadow Inaba

"Continue forward."

The voice persisted with leading me through the shadow world, and like a blind bat I listened. It lead through Inaba and then to Saki. It even helped me move past strong enemies. This voice doesn't belong to Izanagi. This voice doesn't belong to a male that much I know for sure. God, so many questions and no answers to speak of. If my mother were in this situation she'd be ranting on the ridiculousness of this world and its effect on her. Especially on this shadow monster thing that's going on. One in particular has been hounding me.

The Reaper.

It's the only name that comes to mine when I saw that monster and how heated it's been on my trail. It doesn't have any of those cliché giant scythes like you'd expect but instead two massive pitch black long-barrel revolvers. Its face is shrouded from view behind an executioner's head sack with blood, red blood as well, staining it. That sack only had on single hole in it and through it I saw death putting me on a pike and lighting that bitch on fire. That and a single ominious white eye. Like pure white without an inkling of color. It was like a floating brown trench coat with gloves mostly and around that coat are chains. They floated off the body across its left and right shoulders forming a cross. The moment I saw it I ran like a girl. I fought Saki's shadow and it was strong but didn't match up to the Reaper. Saki's shadow wouldn't even be seen as a bug compared to that thing. So, I ran away, and it has persisted with hunting me ever since.

What a dick.

Right now, I'm hiding in some messed up looking house after using my sword in collaboration with Izanagi's abilities to survive, but it's been tough. After awakening him my strength came back twice fold and it shows with me cleaving through legions of those big headed shadows with ease. Hundreds attacked at once but amounted to nothing. Izanagi cleaved through them all until ending it with a godly show of Thor lightning upon them all. He incinerated them in one nicely tight knit swarm in seconds. But just when I begin to get used to fighting these large shadows the freaking Reaper with its twin black revolvers come barreling at me. I can still hear the rattling of the chains dragged behind it as it gave chase.

Dad always told me to never show my back to the enemy. Screw that I can't go all god like on that thing like Saki's shadow. Heck I wasn't even about to do those spells from before when I took her shadow down. I don't even remember the names of it now that I think of it. So that must have been a spur of the moment thing and without that power I needed to get away every time. Three times now it's found me, and I pray to Izanagi that I don't have a fourth. I barely made it out the last time.

This world was unlike any other I could've ever imagined. Before I just walked and fought without paying most of my surroundings any mind but now that I have my bracelet back I've been looking around a bit more.

This place resembles Inaba some much and yet the town is empty and dead. This place was completely devoid of life. Not even a man, women, or child in sight. The sky was distorted, red with a black swirl spinning in an infinite loop as if it is saying what is beyond that portal is too far out of my grasp to reach. The world was this dark and gloomy feeling to it with shadows at every corner. The shadows move around taking different shapes and forms, and rode the walls once they got bored of the ground.

If I grew too close to the living shadows or it approached me fast enough that I couldn't avoid it, the shadow would rise up from the dark and reform itself as a monster with one thing in common. Each wore a mask and whispered some sort of language I couldn't understand. The shadow all appear in different forms but it seems one is constant in certain areas like I found myself in. The giant white head with a swirl design covering its entire body. The shadows also had huge mouths with rancid breath and somehow white teeth. Its tongue was a long as half of my body and hung out at least three feet from its lips.

These shadows for some reason attack on sight and screech loudly as they bum rush you. I was attack many times after leaving the store but compared to Saki's shadow they're easy to kill and fade to black afterwards like the rest. It was interesting to see at first put they just keep coming at and in numbers as well. It's now like squashing cockroaches. Kill one and two take its place. You kill those two and four take its place. The chain goes on and on and seeing that I'm carrying excess baggage it only serves to make this even more difficult.

I sat her down next to me as she breathed softly with her eyes halfway open. I had to take a rest because I'm on my last legs.

"You'll be okay. I'm here," I heard from the "sea of my soul" as Izanagi decided to call it, and I just went with it. I found out the shadows are actually the distorted thoughts, emotions, and desires personified in physical form that take shape in this world. These shadows can actually get attached to me by the looks of it and I was lucky enough to have one decide to follow me willingly. She decided to call herself Pixie. No name but just that. I accepted it for now along with her assistance because she's really helped me when Izanagi's cleave began to wear me down. A single Dia and I could keep going without many issues. The hole in my shoulder is healed leaving nothing to show for it. Not even a blemish or scar. The pain though is still evident though and skin deep. I think it might be dislocated but usable nevertheless.

I rose my hand up and a card like before appeared on top of it. I closed my fist and Pixie cast her magic and rejuvenated my body with her healing light. Without that annoying fog I've been able to navigate the world quite easily. The fog that shrouded the entire town returned after a couple hours of walking through this place, just five or six minutes ago according to my music player. On a good note the shadows seem to be returning to their old one to two hit kill sizes but on the other hand the fog made it much more difficult to navigate this area again.

I felt drain and leaned sluggishly back against the wall. That last Dia is what did it. I'm completely out of spirit power so the fog totally encased the two of us now that I lack the power to hold it back. It feels as if the longer I stay here the frailer I become. It is like this world and its atmosphere sucks the life out of you and the shadows that I see in the fog and darkness as well drain me as well.

"I'm sorry," the persona said with tears threatening to fall from her eyes. I smiled up to Pixie and pat her over the head. I felt a bit of warmth from her forest brown hair and light radiating off of her wings. She's sad that she can no longer heal me now that I'm out of energy from the "sea of my soul" as Izanagi called it. It's okay if I'm out of energy because it's the fact she worries for me that I find myself not caring too much. Pixie is the only light I have in this world.

"You're the best summoner." Pixie smiled at me before flying down and placing a kiss on my cheek before disappearing. I felt my smile grow then let it go. I wonder what other persona I can acquire and what they will be like. Hopefully they're supportive and nice to be around like Pixie. With the environment I'm in right now she was a welcoming presence.

For what felt like hours and could very well be days, I sat in this spot to rest and listened to my music. One of my favorite James is one I heard while in Iwatodai. "Mass Destruction" is the name and it's got the upbeat blues tone to it. A little "Old Folk Blues" from one of my favorite anime played as I sat down to rest a bit more. Then I turned to some Nujabes instead. Something to calm me down and keep my would in this messed up apartment I've found myself in. It's a mess littered with posters and flyers of some women all with the faces cut out.

Whoever did this has problems. If this world is a distorted reflection of the real world that means this place would reflect the dark and light deposition of the occupant in the real world. If the guy that lives here feels this cross about women then he has some real issues he needs to talk to someone about. The thoughts and feelings I'm picking up from this room are terrible. This guy is crazy with a mixture of obsession and possessiveness.

"Kept in mind…destiny…"

I heard the voice again and took a breath. Every time I've heard the voice it's been meant to be coupled with an action on top of that. I looked around the apartment building and prepped to leave the empty room. Whatever presence that left its mark on this room is no longer here. I don't wish to meet the owner of this room. I feel he might be a closet serial killer or something.

"Hey, Narukami-kun," Saki mumbled as she turned her tired eyes towards me. I pulled my left headphone off and drew my attention towards her. "Where're we?"

I shrugged and remained silent.

I honestly don't know where we are. I don't know Inaba that well. I've only been in Inaba for three days and I've only had time to walk from home to school, school to Junes, and Junes back home. I haven't explored like I wanted to but I thought I'd have time to learn my way around before I had to navigate around. Being in an inverse world doesn't help much on this as well.

"You carried me the entire way huh?" Again I didn't answer. I opted to look away from her tired knowing smile though. "Thank you," she said, and I scoffed in response. "I can't believe you survived that," she admitted.

That's the thing, I didn't survive. I died. I know I died, but I came back. I know what death is and what it feels like, and I wasn't just close like I was so many years ago. I'm not sure how I came back. Maybe it was Izanagi or maybe the beads on my wrist. I'm not sure and hesitate to hunt for the truth.

"I'm happy you did though," she kept going. "I'm sorry… about my other self," she apologized after a couple pauses.

"It's fine," I waved it off. "I'm alive and you're alive. That's all that matters."

Saki just opted to give me a look of skepticism. "Yeah, you're right," she dropped the topic and just sat down with me in the quite with the fog enshrouding us both.

I rose my headphone to my ear but stopped for a moment. I rose it in front of her instead. "Want to listen?" I asked.

Saki looked down to it and rose her hand up to take my head phone. She brought it up to her ear and hung it on top. I turned my music back on and closed my eyes to rest a bit more now that she's awake. After listening to a couple songs in silence I opened my eyes and climbed up to my feet. Saki watched as I forced my body up and took my head phone back.

"Let's go," I said thought with a bit of my enervation showing. I'm really starting to feel it. It's not the fact that I'm physically fatigued, because Dia rejuvenate me, it's that I'm spiritually drained. I feel so empty right now like my life is just barely hanging on by a thread. Like my soul is moments from falling out of my throat. That light based attach really broke me and I'm going to have nightmares from it but that's for future me to deal with. Right now we need to get out of here. We need to escape.

"Right," Saki said maybe as bushed as me. She climbed up to her feet herself and took a couple labored breaths. She walked with me up to the door to leave. I stopped once I felt something on my shoulder. She rose her hand up and took me by it. I looked at it then back to her and a single raised brow. "I'll lend you my shoulder," she offered.

If she's offering I'll take it.

I took her hand and she helped me off the wall and let me have her shoulder. I placed some of my weight on her shoulder and she snaked her arm around my waist. I'm taller than her but she seems able to keep me up. I can't use Zio or Dia anymore but… Saki has a persona as well. I saw it and it smiled at me.

"Your persona," I said. Saki blinked and looked at me. "What…powers does it… she have?" I corrected myself

"I don't know." Saki said dismissively.

"Ask," I stressed. If I can talk to mine, and I don't know what hell I'm doing, I'm sure she can do the same. I've fought her damn shadow and it is more than powerful enough to destroy legions of these shadows.

"I-I can't," she shook her head at this.

I know a lie when I hear one. She's afraid. For the love of god I'm afraid right now. We could die in here and, if that announcer is any indication, end up suspended on a television antenna the next morning. I could die again and I doubt I have that Deus Ex Machina Lazarus Rising power to help me out again. "Now's not the time. Please," I begged her, and I'm not a beggar. "I can't… not alone."

Saki seems to understand what I meant by this. She bit her lips to control the quiver on it and nodded her head. "I'll try." Saki stared out to space as she began her mental conversation. I waited as she spoke to her other self until she eyes flickered and nodded at me. "Lady Kiritsubo said she'll help in any way she can."

I sighed in relief from this. "Tell her I appreciate it." I'm curious to see another persona in action anyway.

Saki smiled, "I'll tell her later."

Saki and I left the building and almost instantly we made contact with eight or so shadows. I separated from Saki and took a high stance as the shadows began to form. Just as I was about to make the first move Saki stepped in front of me with a blue circle forming around her. A card formed in front of her which she took in hand between her thumb and index finger.

"Persona," she whispered and snapped her finger this shattering the card.

"Lady Kiritsubo," she beckoned and her persona appeared before me. I stepped back with my hand over my eyes for that persona of hers picked up dirt and rocks and the like that threatened to pierce my eye.

The persona stood before us with her whip in hand and left side forward. She stood straight like you'd expect of a noble woman of proud standing and smiled gently upon all of us.

"When you have the favor of your lord, no matter the lack of support always strive to set yourself apart from the minor." Lady Kiritsubo actually spoke to us in a voice was just as powerful and smooth as she is graceful. Her scaly gown pushed back as the soul power from within Saki burst pushing even me back.

"A True Lady provokes the jealousy of others but remains a lady with well-founded hopes of becoming Queen." The white triangle upon this persona's back glowed and the four swords levitating behind her back arced with electricity.

"And no matter how low your status is." The persona let her whip drop and it crackled the ground with it's weight.

"Even if inflicted by the harassment of the lesser and the humiliations of the court." This Fair Lady rose up her hands and allowed on to hold the grip of the whip and other to hold and feed the whip out.

That smile as well turned a bit ominous. Her eyes as well remained shut and yet her look was equally as menacing.

"A Lady will always remain A Lady." The persona let the whip fly around and smack the building to the right cracking the windows and even pushing the shadows further back away from us.

"Let us show them what a True Lady can do." The persona finished its chant/introduction as I watched from the sides, mystified.

"Yes," Saki smiled as her eyes flashed golden yellow. She blinked and like that they appeared to be normal. "Don't look so shocked," Saki said to maybe all of us with her right hand out and fingers together. She snapped them and her persona mirrored it with her chin point upward towards to the shadows and her back arced to the rear a bit as if critically looking down upon them. I've heard in olden times noble did this gesture towards those they saw as lesser, but to see it in such a way was… I don't have words for it.

In a literal snap. Lightning arced from the swords pointing downward from her back and shot up. Then all together in single, but multiple simultaneous strikes they fell down upon every single one of shadows. Five of which ended up disintegrated. Three were that lovers duo but that shock forced them all into some manner of DOWN'd position. Saki's persona faded away a moment later now that her purpose has been served.

She hit them all at once? I can only do it one at a time, or when they're all in a very large group thus expending more energy. But she can hit eight at once?

"Surprised," Saki asked. I nodded then she smirked at me, and I did as well. "Let's do this," she declared.

"Right behind you," I declared. I moved with her and in moments we crushed the shadows. Saki literally stomped and kicked them to death while I did a classic finisher. Those boots of hers are deadly. I'm surprised that she's so good at this all of the sudden. Before she was like a damsel in distress, then again I thought back to when I was watching overhead. She showed a lot of strength to do what she did. I never would've imagined her fangs and claws being that sharp. She's the independent sort that's for sure and a real Lady.

"That wasn't hard," she remarked upon. She said that now but after the twentieth confrontation she'll sing a different tune. And the only reason she got it so fast is because of watching me do it dozens of times.

I sheath my sword on my hip and leaned against a light pole. I've a feeling her persona is of a high as hell level. Maybe equal or greater than mine. How did I survive again? A couple lucky but lethal blows I believe. If it uses lightning then how did mine DOWN her before? That makes no sense. Then again none of this makes any sense. I'll just go with that in this Shadow Inaba.

Saki and that thing that attacked her in that inner nightmare, the same that I fought, is the shadow of her true self. Talk about facing yourself. To think you literally do that here in this world. Having to admit to the deepest and darkest secrets in your mind and body. That sends chills down my spine. So far a shadow of me hasn't appeared, and I pray one doesn't. I still feel remnants of the power the shadow used before. Well, more like the memory of it. I'm trying to swallow it but I still catch myself trembling a bit. God, what if I die permanently here in this world? For all I know I might come back as a shadow and this place will grow truly dark if that ever happens. My shadow would be a massive bastard. I know myself that well.

As we walked Saki took charge. She recognized a couple landmarks and had an idea of where to go once I explained to her that this was shadow world basically. As we made our way through the fog I noticed that shadow interaction grew less and less. More in number but also more time between instances. Saki made a mistake and sustained a hit from one bad shadow forcing her to lean on me instead of the other way around. Thankfully while she did her persona magic thing I rested and very rarely had to attack at all. That power got to her head, and I just let it go. She ran out of steam soon but we reached an area were the shadows were more docile. They left us alone for the most part.

"I think we're in the clear," I told her.

"Thank freaking god," she sighed.

I heard our footsteps clank on the ground instead of clunk meaning we changed surfaces during the time of my long walk. I looked down to a metal surface that I could see through with all the holes on it like a rafter at the top of a studio. I walked along it feeling a shift in the presence that surrounded me. I made my way into the center of the studio and saw that it lead to seven different pathways other than the one I came from. I couldn't see any shadows like from before and made my way to the railing to rest. This place was less draining than the others especially that one room. I scanned the room and noticed something leaning against the railing to my left.

My baseball bat bag?

I reached the area where I began when I entered the television. The exit is here somewhere in this area. I just need to find it.

I looked around but couldn't find anything. No doors or portals of any kind that will help us escape. Come on, we made it so far. Can't we have something go our way?

I couldn't find anything so I relented to rest in this Safe Zone.

I let Saki down from my shoulder and scooped her in my arms in bridal carry. I sat down after placing her down on the metal platform next to me. I kept her close to me as she unconsciously did the same when her arm wrapped around my neck over my shoulder. Near death experiences do that I guess, make girls really grabby and all. I rested my head on the railing and ignored the moving in the fog the best I could to calm down. It's a mirage I think. Well, I hope.

"Are we going to die here Narukami?" Saki asked.

I honestly didn't know and I think my silence only made the situation grimmer. We're exhausted in every form of the word and on top of that this world is killing us one breath at a time. The air here is poisonous, that is the only explanation I could think of from this kind of exhaustion. My muscles aren't getting rest from inactivity like is normal when you do nothing. The body enters a resting stage. No here though. We could breathe yet not breathe at the same time. My muscles aren't receiving the oxygen they needed to continue on for this long. This damn fog as well is sucking each bit of energy left in my body.

I looked down to Saki and thought on what her shadow self said. She knows Yosuke. She called him Hana-chan, or rather her shadow did. She knows her junior has a crush on her as well but keeps him at a distance like that of a child's attraction towards an older woman. I'm not sad to say that Saki and Yosuke getting together isn't going to happen if the shadow Saki was speaking the truth. This girl almost completely despises the kid and is a bit on the bitch side. She did kill me after all and called herself one multiple times. With the life she's living right now and all the bull crap from high school I'd be stressed too.

The Prince of Junes. I scoffed a bit at that title. It sounds more like a joke or insult to me, and apparently it's one placed on this Hana-chan's shoulders. Seeing someone's deepest darkest secrets shown in such a way like that isn't an experience that I'd like to repeat like ever again.

God I'm tired.

So very tired.

'I think I might just close my eyes for a bit.' I thought to myself as my eyes grew heavy. 'Just for a couple minutes.'

Just when my eye lids began fall I noticed the form of a... What the hell is that?

"What are you?" I asked. I blinked a couple times to make sure I wasn't dreaming, if I can dream here. and examined the thing in front of me. It looked like a bear mascot or a giant teddy bear suit with blue fur and wears of all things a red and white jumpsuit. This think had large eyes as well that seemed to look at me as a whole instead of separate. They're that big. The bear, I think it is, jumped back in surprise at the sound of my voice and backed away.

I reached for my sword.

"He will help you…not kill."

I halted my motion an inch from taking my sword in hand and brought it back down to my lap "Are you a bear or something?" I asked just so it wouldn't leave. This is one of the first shadows in this world that didn't attack first and ask questions later. Pixie joined with me willingly and didn't fight me at all.

"Ah... yeah I'm Teddie," the male bear introduced himself.

"Be nice…will exit."

And why not? In a world like this why shouldn't what appears to be the mascot of a middle class high school be the key to my escape?

I put the best smile I could manage on and gleamed at the kuma plush doll. "Come closer, I can't see you well with all this fog." Kuma hesitated though I understood why after all I am as much a stranger to him as he is to me. Kuma examined me from what I could see though how he could see me in all this fog is beyond me.

"Okay, you won't do anything will you?" The little shadow monster asked with obvious fear in his large eyes and also shivering a little in place. It was afraid of me it seems which I found a little relieving despite how backwards that should sound. After fighting monsters with no fear for the longest time just seeing something with some inkling of emotion more than rage made me feel a little anxious but at ease. The fear was just a good addition to this things survival if it was the way out.

A feeling rose in my chest at the little bear. The inner bastard I never knew I had inside of me grew and with it so did that smirk on my face. "I don't know. I'm a little cold and I hear bear fur is warm." I snickered evilly making the bear jump back and trot away. I laughed loudly at the joke and settled down. The little bear was out of sight, but it was fine, I have his scent now and can find him anywhere in this place.

I laid my head back down and closed my eyes again. The shadows are gone for the moment thankfully making it easier to fall asleep in all of this. I sighed and felt the last of my consciousness slipping away.

"Ahh." My eyes opened in an instant to the bear teddy thing that was face to face with me. "Man you look terrible."

I sighed tiredly and nodded. "This place takes a lot out of you Kuma. You, not being human and all, wouldn't understand that." Even I could tell that this thing is a shadow. A shadow of what or who I'm not entirely sure because unlike those shadows I've killed over and over again this thing doesn't seem to rely on just one trait. Some of the shadows I came across use abilities of different variety and seemed to be immune to certain damage. Some talk in a way that I can't understand but others speak in a language I can. I listen to most of them and figure out what they are.

I hear them talk about moments in life as if they once lived in the human world. They talked of ways they died to how someone left them. They all fell into darkness and lost their way and depending on each person they are placed into categories. I've spoken to a few but most just attack me. It's all about the signs really. I'm not sure what to call these signs are but there's only one they align to. It's based on the power they project.

This creature in front of me is different though. It's a shadow but not like the ones I've come across because of what I see in those eyes. It still has an inkling of humanity inside of all that…whatever it's made out of. This kuma might be the 'person' holding answers to all the questions I have rolling thought my mind.

As I went through my thoughts silently the bear shuffled in place. The bear frowned and turned my head left and right. I didn't even notice it move toward me. I didn't even feel it touch my cheeks. That wasn't a good sign. My rose my hands up and noticed them turning a demented gray coloration. This shadow world was talking the life in my body away from me and is leaving me a husk even passing minute.

"Wow you're in really bad shape," Kuma stated on as he lifted my head up looking into my eyes. Again, I couldn't feel his touch. "If you don't leave soon you both might not get better." I heard a loud bang and felt it on the floor around me. I looked around but the fog was twice as dense as before which couldn't have been a good sign. I could see the bear yet nothing else. My sight was beginning to go.

Kuma grabbed my hand and lifted me up to my feet. "Come on," he panted as he dragged me up. "The way out is this way."

I felt energy I thought I had lost long ago fill me again at the mention of an exit. "Saki," I tapped her cheek a bit. She was beginning to fall asleep, and that's bad last I checked. Saki blinked and her tired eyes rose up to look at me. "We have a way out," I pointed at the television sets stacked on top of each other. Saki drew her dull eyes towards the televisions then back to me in disbelief. "Come on." I showed her my hand and took her shoulder in hand and looped my other arm under hers. Slowly she got up to her feet while using the railing as support.

She panted and I gave her room to breathe. "O-okay… I'm good." I took her by the hand and the bear took mine to lead us both there. We past my bag so I made sure to grab it.

"Thank you Kuma you're grand," I thanked the bear.

"Heheheh, thank you beary much for the compliment." The pun wasn't lost on me and made me grunt as he led me through the fog to three televisions stacked on top of each other.

"Narukami, what's that thing?" Saki more than likely was referring to Kuma here.

"A resident that is helping us," I answered as I put my sword into my baseball bat case right behind the bear mascot.

"How can we trust it though?" She rose a good point.

"He hasn't killed us yet," I pointed out. "When he very well could have so maybe we can."

"I would never harm you ma'am," Kuma said for himself from his place next to the television sets. "I'd never to such a beautiful flower." Saki snort and I smiled a little from the bears flirting. "Anyway, come on and go Tatsujin." I rose and eyebrow at the nickname the bear gave me but left is as is for now.

Kuma pushed us both into the televisions and a worm hole or something of white box swirls that sucked me in then threw us out.

Inaba – Junes Electronic Department

I fell on to my back and grunted at the sudden impact that made me gasp when something landed on top of me. I groaned thinking that a little fall like that would never faze me but now does in my weakened state. I leaned up with Saki in my arms and looked around. A catchy tune was playing above me and I was surrounded by televisions including a big flat screen that I most likely fell out of. I took a deep breath and tasted the clean non-foggy air.

"Every day is great at your Junes~," I sang that wonderfully catchy and annoying tune of the Junes store.

I made it.

We made it out.

We survived.

I breathed in fresh air and it tasted like the finest wine in the land. I leaned on a shelf sucking in the air around me, loving the refreshing energy that filled my core and spread throughout my entire body. I stayed there building my strength so I could continue on. I rose my hand up and saw the color return on my hand. Tan, red, and blue was slowly taking the place of grey skin, white palms, and my empty blood vessels as well. My hand finally turned its normal color and the rest of my surroundings followed. Even Saki was beginning to breathe easy now that we have taken our place in the real world yet again.

Slowly, I stood to my feet while leaning on a small rack next to the television and took in the nice air a bit more. Saki struggled but also stood up on her feet on the opposite side as me and sat on the stand for one of the flat screens. She looked around a bit the sighed in relief.

She smiled exhaustedly at me. "We made it." She said.

"Yeah," I nodded and leaned back more on the rack. Saki stood up but almost immediately fell forward. I had to catch her on my back again else we both would have stumbled to the ground. I've energy left to get home and hit my bed. I could use a shower as well.

"Hey, sorry to ask this Naru-kun but can you carry me a bit more?" Saki asked.

"I'm not sure if I have enough in me to do that," I leveled with her. "But I can try." I strapped my bag to my chest with my katana resting within. I turned and waited for her to get on my back. I took her legs in hand as she looped her arms around my neck. Her legs are soft and smooth. I gulped a bit when her body conformed to mine and her chin rested on my shoulder. But the looks of things she's beginning to go in and out again and again. She had a mantra she repeated before when I had to carry her and she continued it once more.

She'd asked the same question to me. "Am I almost home?"

And I responded every time with a "Yes, just rest for a while longer."

Before stepping off I looked in the reflection I saw from on television and saw that I was breathing hard and my slightly tanned skin happened to be a bit pale. Saki was worse off than I was. The fog would've killed the both us if we stayed any longer. I'ill have to thank that kuma next time. I'll get him some chocolates or some other weird gift that teddy bears like.

Junes sure is weird past closing times. I didn't see anyone or any guards in my area so slipping through to the escalator wasn't too difficult. I walked through the store and looked at the clock the store had at the elevators. It's not even one in the morning yet. I looked out the windows and by the looks of it foggy outside the store making my stomach fall. Even here the fog follows me.

The clock has the date at the top right corner so lucky me as well for that one. I've only been gone for seven hours. I know I was wandering around for maybe six hours before I found Saki and her shadow self in that liquor store. Then maybe four or five more to escape back to Inaba. How the hell does that work? Time being distorted in such a way

Today is the 15th of April, a Friday, like my watch showed and a little past midnight. "What the hell," I said to myself.

Regardless, Saki is lucky I found her when I did.

'Why did I save you to begin with?' I still ask myself that question. Keeping myself alive was a hard enough with the constant attacks and The Reaper. Even after all of that I still took responsibility for her enough to fight her shadow and almost die again to keep her alive. Her power must be large if that thing came from within her.

I wonder if there are any shadows here as well since it gets foggy here too. I doubt it. This is the real world and crazy supernatural stuff like shadows don't exist here. Well, I hope.

I found a nice side hatch to walk out of into the night and bit my lip as I took a step out into the fog. It wasn't dense like the fog in the other world, and I felt like no one was watching my progress this time around.

I walked to the North and made my way through the fog.

Saki mumbled and opened her eyes. Her eyes resembled mine with how weak they looked and they looked around at the fog. She took a deep breath and sighed. "Am I almost home?"

I sigh and nodded. "Yes just rest a little while longer." Saki looped her arms around my neck a bit tighter with her chin resting atop my shoulder as I walked through the fog. I don't know the area that well so I'm not sure how to get to the central that well from Junes. I know I have a good few blocks to travel though if what I saw in Shadow Inaba can transfer to normal Inaba. As I walked I could make out familiar landmarks from the shadow world and followed them accordingly in the direction of Amagi Inn as well as the Central Shopping District.

My thoughts went to where I'm going to go for the night as well. I can't go home to my uncle because he's probably scouring the city in search of me. I'm not in health to withstand an interrogation at the moment. So, I need a place to stay. I can't stay with Saki because that will cause misunderstandings. Again I'm not in shape to correct any adult with their imaginations running rampant about their daughter's virtue. Maybe the Amani Inn. I remember seeing it some time ago but it was in the reverse world.

I let these thoughts go while dragging my feet and slowly making my way up down the hill with Saki's house in view.

"Hey." Saki whispered in my ear in a soft tone. "Thank... you." I chuckled softly and continued on.

The fog was beginning to fade away, possibly to the shadow world again. Maybe the fog comes from that world and maybe an hour past midnight the fog sucks back out of this world. In the Shadow World the loss of the good drove the shadows insane and more powerful than before like Saki's. I'm positive it was smaller than that originally if her persona's size means anything. After a time the fog will return back to the shadow world and lift from this one. Good riddance if you ask me.

When I reached Saki's house I shook her a bit to rouse her from her rest. "Saki, I got you here."

Saki hummed and lifted her chin off my shoulder and look up to the sign. "Thanks." Saki pat me on the back, and I let her down. Her feet touched the ground, and I helped her to the door. Saki guided me to the side of the building and then to the rear for the back door instead of the front. She pulled a key from under a rock and unlocked the door. She turned towards me before entering and smiled. "Thanks again Narukami. I was wrong about you."

That implies she thought of me in a negative light when we first met which is a bit messed up. These thoughts didn't last long though because I felt something warm touch my lips. I blinked as Saki leaned back away from me and winked before walking into her home and closing the door behind her.

I got a kiss. It will do for now I guess. That's probably more than most guys can say.

I rubbed my head and walked away back to the street with my bag on my back instead of my chest. I walked up the hill to the main road and looked both ways along the near empty street. Home should be to my left and school further down right with another right along the river. The inn isn't that much further past the entrance road for my school. It runs between the two on the way to Junes. It could be closed at this time though. I shook my head of my idiocy. I just need to head home and stop being a little girl. I bet uncle isn't even home right now. I need to sleep and get something to eat and seeing that I've money now.

Those shadows had money in them interestingly enough. Like actual Japanese currency in the form of bills and change and with everyone I killed I got currency from it. Saki didn't notice, but I sure did. I took advantage every chance I got to pick it up. For the most part I picked up the golden 500 yen coins and 100 yen coins but focused on bills essentially sadly I got only a few bills being five and they are 1000 yen only. I might've found a nice source of steady currency if I don't mind risking my life to get it. With how easy it was to kill those shadows I won't have much problem until that Reaper with his chain rattling finds me again. I'm not used to running anymore with a pack like my dad had us do when we went hiking. It's been a long time and it shows when I could only sustain a run for a minute and a half with Saki on my back. She's not that heavy but it was wearing on me.

I let these thoughts go and made my way home so to hit my bed. Once I get a chance I'm going to have to get to Junes and do something about the security footage because god knows what was captured in it. If I can just get my hands on it I won't have much problem escaping. If I can enter the television in my room and Junes Electronic department then the ones in the security room should work as well. I can get in, get the film of me being there, enter the television, and then escape the same way Kuma showed me. Maybe there're other ways to escape though. It doesn't make sense if there're a thousand entrances and only a single exit. Maybe I just have to find it. If I can connect it to my room that would be cool. Instead of traffic and peering eyes I'd jump into the television in Junes and make my way home in Shadow Inaba and find the entrance through my television.

First things first, I need a bigger television so I can fit in and climb out without struggle.

God, I really am an opportunist like my dad. I see a toy or tool I can use to better my quality of life and push it to abnormal extremes. I found a world where I can get money, do some cool video game style fighting, and possibly an ease of travel from one place to the next. Time moves differently in Shadow Inaba compared to normal Inaba. I'm going to have to buy some stop watches and wander around collecting time to see. If I can find the areas were time moves slower or faster I can use that to my advantage depending on situation.

There's also my mother's desires I can fulfill while I'm here. I need to start something in Inaba that much I understand. My mother never does something on a whim. If I can say anything it's that I inherited my calculative nature from her. I'm impulsive like dad for menial tasks but for the most part I plan my way through properly for the future. Mom never tells me the why and leaves me to figure it out. I will figure it out for sure.

I walked down the street that Uncle Ryotaro's house is on and yawned softly. I can't wait to fall on my bed and get some sleep. First I really need a shower. Sadly at this time of night the hot water heater is turned off to conserve power. Looks like I'll be taking a cold shower this morning. It's better than nothing I suppose. Then there's the problem that is my uniform. My school uniform is in tatters, literally. I looked myself over in the mirrors in Shadow Inaba and in the television in Junes to find my clothes ripped, burned, shredded, and just in pieces. My back is basically non-existant. I can't go to school with my pants ripped up and the large claw mark on my chest. One shadow shot fire at me and burned off one of my sleeves even. I'm going to have to wear some armor or something to protect my clothes else I'm going to run out of serviceable apparel before this year is over and done with.

I'm not going to ruin my good clothes if I can help it.

I reached the house and noticed a light was still on inside at the living room. I reached for the knob and to my disappointment it was unlocked.

Really? Anyone could just walk in and steal something or kidnap someone and this house is unlocked, on a foggy night like this. There's a murderer out there on top of this.

I pushed the door open and closed it behind me. I made sure to lock it behind me before taking off my shoes and walking in. I looked towards the living room and saw a figure with their head resting on the table, out cold. Nanako. She must have tried to stay up until I got back home.

I walked up to her and frowned. She didn't need to do that for me, but I do appreciate the gesture. I reached down and picked her up and walked to her room. I kicked her door open and laid her down on top her futon. I pulled the covers over her and made sure she was comfortable before leaving the room and closing the door behind me.

I sneezed and coughed. I wiped my nose and snort.

I'm sick. I've been sick since yesterday being in a new environment and all. I hate being sick.

I walked to the bathroom and stripped down until I was completely naked. I leaned forward as I looked at myself through the mirror. I saw a new mark on my chest, a bit of a cut. My shoulder though is fine without a mark like I thought. Though I did noticed a bit of disfigurement. It must have healed wrong then meaning I'll have to break it again and reset it.

I turned around and looked back. I winced when I saw three red streaks running across my back from the left hip to my right shoulder. I turned back and examined my neck. I have a ring around my neck that was just as red as my back. It's going to take a week or two for these bruises to heal over. I'll need luck to explain the ring around my neck that's for sure and shoulder. The others I can hide with my clothes but I'm not wearing a scarf or anything to hide this. There'd be no point.

I pushed off the sink and got into the shower after i turned the water on. I groaned from discomfort as the cold water washed over my skin. I grabbed my washing rag and soap and quickly washed off the dirt and grime from my body and hair. It was in and out in three minutes and quickly drying myself off with my big towel. I felt better but still need water. I'm dehydrated, and I need a couple glasses of water before I go to bed.

I left the shower naked for the most part and grabbed a cup from the kitchen. I poured myself several cups of water and drank them smoothly. I left the cup at the counter and made my way to my room but stopped by the bathroom to grab my raggedy clothes to take up with me. Once I entered my room I grabbed a pair of boxers and slipped them on. I discarded my clothes in the waste bin and tied up the back to toss out tomorrow.

Without hesitation I fell on top of my bed and closed my eyes. I was gone in seconds.

I opened my eyes unsure of where I was, but wherever I am it's fancy and comfortable. The temperature as well is near perfect for me to be in here. Not hot or cold yet hold a slight chill.

Perfect.

"Welcome... To the Velvet Room."

I looked straight and saw a man behind a small table in the midst of this car? This is a car but more accurately a limousine. The strange man was on the short side. The man looked old with a bald head and white hair coming out of the very back of his head. The old man had a long nose, pointed ears that point back instead of up, and large bulging bloodshot eyes. The old man has a casual black suit on with a handkerchief in his left breast pocket and white gloves. His fingers are interlocked and resting instead of under his chin like a normal person they are under his long nose. Another thing I found weird was the fact he called this place the Velvet Room even though we are in a limousine, but I suppose a room is how you make it not how it was designed.

'Oh crap it's him again,' I thought with an internal cringe. I remember this dream from when I was on the cable car.

"My name is Igor and it is a pleasure to meet you." I nodded not entirely sure on how to go about understanding just where I am. I see the fog shifting around outside the windows like a living thing that long furthered my suspicions I'm not in the house. With how dense this fog is means that I am not in the human world either. Well not in Inaba. Am I back behind the television?

Just when I thought I was out I'm pulled right back in.

"Oh no I assure you have not moved at all. Right now you are asleep and sound in your room."

"So that means this is a dream or maybe a vision?" I asked.

"Yes, it very well might be." The man snickered.

That wasn't even a straight answer but there is nothing straight away about this place call Inaba.

"This Velvet room, what is it exactly?" I asked.

The man's grin grew slightly even more wide if that is even possible. "This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter... and I am surprised to see a guest so interesting so soon." Igor waved his hand across my desk and a folder opened on top of the surface. A pen materialized next to the paper that rested in the folder at the same time as well. "Ah, in my excitement I forgot to introduce the other resident here in the Velvet Room. This is Margaret."

I noticed a woman standing sitting to my right but to this Igor's left. She was writing something a piece of paper. I couldn't see what from my position though. The woman finished and placed her pen down on then turned her attention back to me and just like that my eyes widened and my fists clenched. I can't believe I missed her, again.

This women is still amazingly beautiful with long yet shoulder length platinum blonde hair in a ponytail that is pulled back and held by a blue hairband. Bangs of her hair do fall down but only on the left side of her face facing me between her eye and ear. Her hair wasn't neat as I could've been but kept enough to be acceptable. Her skin is pale and her eyes golden making my own gaze at them with wonder. Gold eyes, sort of like the shadow self of Saki.

She is wearing Velvet Room blue coat that reached down to mid-thigh with eight golden rings sewn into is. Four at her chest area in the trace of a box and in the center before the next four at her waist is a blue belt around her stomach. From what I could see this women has black stockings on and blue high heeled shoes. Not sure what is under that coat or if there is anything to begin with. I'd like to find out regardless.

The woman smiled heavenly at me on her from her seat and faced me. "This a pleasure to meet one so strange and yet... Capable." Even her voice was beautiful as well with a deep suave tone to it. The woman examined me then smiled warmly with the most hypnotic gaze I've ever seen in golden eyes.

Oh man I hope I'm not in love right now.

I felt my cheeks burn but swallowed the blush the best I could and said, "Thank you but if you don't mind me asking how and why I am here in the Velvet room? You make it sound as if I'm an abnormal so then why am I here?"

"Even that is a mystery the needs to be solved. There is a first time for everything as they see." Igor chuckled.

"But seeing that you're here means that it's fate that bought you here." Margaret opened her purple book titled "Le Grimoire" to a page in the middle. "You've already started down the path to your own personal truth by acquiring the power of the Wild card. Your display of power and ingenuity truly swayed me," the woman smiled warmly. "I look forward to assisting you on your journey and to see you advance in the ability of Persona."

I felt happy at the praise yet had to ask, "Persona?"

"Yes." Igor waved his hand again and a card formed on the table along with a sheet of paper. A shadow of a woman with a cone in hand seemed to be sending a message to a family of three below her with a rising sun in the background. The woman could almost be taken for a god spreading a message or maybe something more. "An example of the following persona and arcana would be The Judgement Arcana or the Confinement card which is much like a force always imposing on others as it does the user. It is always ever shifting but of course you know much about the concept I speak of."

That my dad in a nutshell. The card fell from its place in midair to the table on top of the paper.

"As well as this, the Empress," Margaret said next with a hint of amusement in her tone. A card appeared in front of her with a black ram scull in the center and the shadow of a man and women on opposite sides. "The Empress strives for prosperity, embraces the spirit of creatively, and usually exhibit their authority on others in a way." The woman giggled this time and pulled my heart strings.

That's my mom. She's the brains and likes to be in charge. That card as well fell upon the table into the paper as well.

"This power was unlocked in your time of need and in your call your persona heeded your call," Igor said.

An different card compared to the first two appeared before me. It was weird like a fool or a jester laughing close to the edge of a cliff. By his side was a dog right at his heels.

"The Fool," Margaret said though not out of spite but almost like respect. I didn't like the sound of it or that I'm associated with this though. "Before, you appeared to be busy so I'll explain once more," she noted and I looked away with the decency to feel sheepish. I was a dream and a weird one. I can't be blame for not listening.

"The Fool Arcana is also know as the "Wild' Card. In your time of need one such Persona associated with this Arcana came to your aid." Izanagi formed before me and nodded his head before fading away. "The Fool Arcana may be a zero but that does not mean that it can be taken lightly." She smiled at me. "It is the void from which all other things come into being."

That didn't really make sense to me but at the same time did. Before I could question her on what she meant I felt a pull on my being and Igor chuckled. "It seems our time is coming to an end but before you go please sign the contract."

I looked at the paper and read it over finding it to be simple. "All you ask is if I be accountable for my actions?" I asked.

"Yes indeed for your actions will change everything." I looked back down to the paper and picked up the pen. "As you write your name can you please tell me yours?"

"Yū Narukami," I shrugged making the man shake his head.

"No please I mean your real name." He said.

I rose an eyebrow at the strange man. How does he know that that wasn't my real name? I nodded my head, "Souji Seta," I said and wrote down at the same time. That name was my first name and it's the one I feel the most familiar towards, I think.

"Hmm, I see, before you go please take this." Another wave of Igor's hand and a key appeared above me. I opened my palms and it fell into my hands. "That is a key to the Velvet Room so that you may return in the real world."

I pocketed the key and nodded. "Thank you."

Igor chuckled, "A first time for everything." Igor bowed and Margaret smiled warmly at me while giving me a short head bow. "Until we meet again." He sent me off.

The vision faded as the black covered my sight.

A/N: Another Chapter revised to improve the flow a bit.