04/16: Before School: Cloudy
My morning routine was the same as the first day. I'd stretch my muscles, do a few exercises, and eat breakfast with my cousin. I've been given the day off by the school to recover from my traumatic experience and all which I'm thankful for. I needed the day to myself anyway while I'm on my medicine anyway and to talk to my persona without anyone around. I don't plan to leave the house any time soon. I'm on house arrest and not supposed to leave. I have a police officer watching the house right now on the lookout for gangsters or dangers to my livelihood. It's nice of them to keep an eye on me but it's better to watch Saki. She's in much better condition than I was. Now that I think of it I think I saw her and someone else on the Midnight Channel yesterday. That's impossible though.
I'm feeling pretty good. My body restored and stronger than ever. The water in the sea of my soul has grown past its old maximum as well. I'm stronger than before and my new other self makes me wonder. I'm capable of accepting the shadows and gain their power in the form of persona. Mrs. Yamamo's is Calliope. I looked up this Calliope on my computer same with the rest of the persona I have with me. Lilim especially. I found a lot of on the mythology of these beings same with Calliope. She's a Muse. Like the Greek Muse of poetry and ballads. She's of the Temperance strangely enough. I looked up the Arcana and they seemed tied to that of tarot cards. Sort of creepy if you ask me because I remember my fortune telling and that tragedy I'll face soon. Not looking forward to that.
I closed the lid of my laptop and pushed it to the side. I took a breath and closed my eyes. I let the breath out and felt a sip of the sea flow through the dam. If this works, which I doubt it will, then I can actually call for a manifestation of myself, one of my selves that is.
"Yes." I opened my eyes and met with the sight of a woman, that's what she came off as. The majority of my persona are female other than Senri and Izanagi and they don't cover their chests. Izanagi has clothing and armor on but Izanagi is male no matter who or what anyone says. She covers her chest with a single strip of cloth with her legs crossed before me from across my table. Her eyes are closed to me and yet I feel as if she's looking through me. "How may I assist you holder of the wild card," Calliope asked me in a near symphonic voice that harmonized with the noise coming from the television. I don't remember cutting it on but Nanako might have left it on accidentally.
"Can you help me Calliope? I need help understanding ma'am."
"There is no need for such pleasantries. That's better left those of more major Arcana who demand such respect; even from one as special as you. I am Temperance. I am the holder of the truth and I give such to all willing and unwilling to listen, my dear." The persona reached up to her bangs of long dark brown yellow hair over her forehead and pulled them away from her still shut eyes to behind her ears. I noticed her raised her arms up and some manner of see through cloth appeared. It was like the wings of a flight suit. "I have spread the words of my mother, my father, and all heroes throughout the ages. All from different walks of life, countries, and empires. Some ended gracefully but most tragically. Every single story ended fittingly. I wonder now," one eye opened.
I stood up and backed away from her from what I saw. I covered my mouth to stop myself from screaming.
"What manner of hero will you be? What story will I sing once you fall to time?" The muse closed her eye and smiled at me. I gulped and sat back down in my seat before the Muse. "Well, I'm sure you'll figure it out in due time. Isn't that correct Yu Narukami."
"That's not my true name," I said remembering what Igor said to me before.
"That's not up to you to decide my dear. True names change and shift with the times and the era. Who you are now and who you will be tomorrow or a year from here will not be the same. You say that isn't your true name, but do you even know yourself? Have you come to terms with who you are and what you represent?" I listened to the woman's words as her hair shifted in cold. Her now bluish black locks fell over to shadow her eyes as well as her ears. "But that isn't what you wished to hear, correct?"
I nodded my head and Calliope smiled once more. Her eyes cracked open a bit so looked away swiftly. "I cannot give you what you wish in the form of knowledge. The beginning of this story starts with you… and not Miyuki Yamano."
So like I first suspected she cannot assist me with finding the truth.
"My dear, do not falter for you are red now but it will shift. Red isn't blue and blue is not black. You do not understand but in time you will. I feel sooner rather than later." Calliope bowed her head as a veil of sorts rose above of head and she faded away bit by bit. When she was gone I sighed in relief.
"Holy hell." I hope never to look into those eyes ever again.
I closed my eyes and focused once more.
"You called me," I heard before me and opened my eyes.
"Angel," I said to the light based being.
"How may I be of use to the Holder of the Wild Card?"
'Is that going to start being a thing? Holders?' I thought to myself.
"It's to gather insight from you as well as for you to understand me. I understand you are me and I am you. That means we know each other but I feel it's only on the outside. I know your faults and your weaknesses like you do mine, but we don't truly "know" each other. Correct?"
The angel gazed upon me with her eyes covered by the black band that binds her. "There is little I can tell you that you don't already know Holder of the Wild Card. You contain the Holder of Truth as well as the Holder of Rebirth so I'm unsure of what to tell you that they cannot." The Holder of Truth is Calliope and maybe Izanagi for the last, but I'm not sure. "I am your Angel. I am a servant of my lord and will smite his enemies with light and follow the lead of their charge. I will always protect you from all heathens that use my father's light or 'its' light against you. I will bring retribution for as long as Justice is truly on our side," Angel spoke firmly and with strength that barreled down upon my shoulders. The confidence in her words shown just how powerful they really are.
"What do you mean by Justice being on my side?"
"I am a manifestation of thought. I am Angel meaning I personify what you see within as an angel. Because of your thoughts, wishes, and beliefs if you are to divert from the righteous path your hold over me will weaken. My power will become stagnant. You will become weaker and while I will never leave your side the light will soon abandon you. Your future will be full of darkness and destruction and you will follow," Angel spoke with full seriousness and bearing meaning that she knows this. Its not a belief but knowledge to her that if I leave the side of justice my life will lead to darkness and destruction. "I see you understand."
"I do. Thank you for the insight."
Angel bowed her head with her wings opening to their full span before fading away as well.
I rubbed my head and took another breath to call the next one.
I felt a soothing presence in the room. I let my hand fall and bowed my head to Apsaras who returned it equally. "I'm sure you know but I called you so we can talk."
Apsaras didn't talk to me but instead smiled and nodded.
"Are you a mute?" Again she nodded. Well this will make things much harder.
"Then I can speak to you. You know my name and I know yours. You are me and I am you. I'm still a bit confused when it pertains to you and your arcana."
Apsaras tilted her head as if confused on where I'm going with this.
"I looked up your arcana, being Temperance, but I'm not sure where my actions can fit within it. Angel told me my temperament is what will decide my fate, ultimately. I already knew this but she made it sound as if more than a couple lives are on the balance. Does your arcana mean that I'm going need to be careful or neutral maybe?"
Apsaras rose her hand and made a "somewhat" gesture.
She rose her other hand and beckoned me forward. I hesitated. I'm not sure of this power of mine and the fact I can bring deities to life with my mind. It's strange. That smile though was so inviting and honest. I felt that she wouldn't harm me if she could. I stood up in my chair and leaned forward towards her. She met me half way and cupped the side of my head. I felt her touch me. Her touch was cold but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was like putting an ice pack on a bad burn. I groaned and felt my eyes grow heavy. "Find your inner balance," I heard a beautiful voice in my head. "Hold on to your balance and let nothing falter you from your chosen path. My Holder of the Wild Card."
I opened my eyes when the voice went away and found myself alone once more. I leaned back in my chair feeling… good. I felt good. My mind feels clearer than before. This has been an interesting experience but first I need to speak to Pixie while I have the chance. She still hasn't talked to me and I'm beginning to become concerned.
"Pixie," I called to her. "Please talk to me." I looked around for something. Anything to tell me she's here. I looked within myself but found nothing. "Pixie?" I searched and searched but I couldn't feel her. "Pixie." I stood up from my chair and closed my eyes. Maybe she's hiding in the recesses of my soul somewhere. She has to be here some for there are… Six persona within… but Pixie isn't here. I accounted for Angel, Apsaras, Calliope, Izanagi, Senri, and Lilim. That's six.
Pixie… she's gone.
I fell back in my chair as the possibilities all compiled together within my head. Maybe she left. Maybe she got tired of me and left me. Maybe she was lost in one of my battles or took one of those mortal blows for me. The more I thought on it the more I came to the truth of the matter. Calliope had to take her place alongside me and pixie was by far the weakest of my persona. Lilim hits harder and has more spell power than Pixie and Apsaras is a healer by nature. It only makes sense that she was replaced even without my knowing. Somewhere down the line I lost her to another persona. I felt full as I went through the world and it burst the seams after I felt Calliope.
"Damn it." I rubbed my head.
"Damn it." I slammed my hand on the table.
"Damn it!" I stood up from my chair. I'm not sure what to feel right now. I couldn't even say I was sorry before she was taken away. This doesn't sit well with me. Unfinished business and bad blood between myself and another I can tolerate unacceptable. Sadly, there's nothing I can do now that she's gone. I can't do anything except let this stay with me until I forget. Maybe something to do will be nice. Get some gaming done for once. I've been neglecting my games for a while now and should at least put forth the effort to play them.
I heard an erratic series of knocks at the front and pushed off of the table. "Narukami!" More knocks followed the desperate cry. I recognized the voice and she happens to be skipping school today I guess.
With my conversations with myself finished I walked to the door to answer her. "Yeah," I said as I opened the door. Suddenly I was hit with hysterics from Saki. I stood there and waited as she prattled on about something about Yosuke and the television world and a shadow, and other stuff that I couldn't understand. From what I'm gathering from bits and pieces of what she was telling me Yosuke went to the television world after I denied my furthered interaction with it to investigate for…reasons that she kept prattling around. Then she told me that they met a set of shadows they couldn't handle, Yosuke was hit hard by them, and everything basically went south from there. My one and only question I had to ask was whether or not Yosuke was alive. She told me she didn't know but of course that's a terrible way to say that he's more than likely dead.
Idiots.
I did warn them and told Yosuke not to go there. Here I hoped the figures I saw on the Midnight Channel weren't who I thought it was, but I was wrong. I can wager that Saki didn't notice my police guardian angel outside who more than likely saw her come in. I glanced around her shoulder and took notice of him listening in.
"Saki," I called her nam calmly. "I know what happened before was traumatizing but you need to calm down and take a breath. I'm sure you had a bad dream that felt real. You did do all this close to midnight after all so…"
"Are you listening to me! Yosuke could be dead!" She screamed.
"Saki," I said firmly with my hand ready to slap her across the face if she kept this going. "You need to calm down like I said. You're probably imagining everything because how can there be this world you're talking about. I think you might be…"
SLAP!
My face shot to the side but I didn't feel that much pain. Ghoul made it so and he's made my resistances towards physical abilities grow well enough. Now that I'm thinking about it that makes seven persona that I have instead of six. I thought I could only hold six before but then again after getting ghoul I don't remember summoning Pixie after that. I lost someone for Calliope I believe but maybe this is a special case. I might have to ask Igor about this later when I have a moment to myself.
"What is wrong with you?" she snort behind grit teeth.
I rubbed my cheek and looked down at the girl. "I could ask you the same Saki. I'm resting right now and you walked into my uncles home screaming hysterics about monsters and Yosuke. Why were you even with him in the first place?"
"I told you. He wanted to investigate yesterday and… And then we… I…" I waited for her to finish but she just looked down to the ground and trembled. I took her by the shoulder, but she yanked herself back out of my grip.
"Are you coming inside or not? You're letting the heat in and the cold out."
Saki glared at me.
"Well," I said impatiently. Saki clenched her fists. At first I thought she was going to hit me again but she brushed past me into the house. "Take your boots off as well." I said before she could step on the carpet with her boots on. Saki quickly did so before she rudely sat down on at the table and crossed her legs and arms. She looked back over her shoulder awaiting me to sit down. I shook my head and closed the door.
"Upstairs." I walked to my room and went into my room. I sat down on my couch and waited for Saki to follow. She finally charged in and looked around my room for a moment I think to find a place to sit. I don't have a place for her to sit and I don't plan on getting her one. I'm not in the best mood now that I know that these two idiots decided to take a trip to the Shadow World and who knows who else they included into their little trip.
"What is with you?" she demanded.
"That fact that I have a policeman watching my house only for you to come up screaming bloody murder," I stressed through my tired state.
"A policeman?" I nodded my head.
"And here you come screaming causing a scene. I didn't think my senior could be such an idiot," I narrowed my eyes at her as I rested my elbow on the arm rest of my couch.
"Don't talk to me that way!" She screamed at me.
"There you go screaming again even though I'm right," I leaned in and controlled my voice so not to go any louder than where it is now. "You didn't listen to me and went to some world you knew nothing about and now because of you Yosuke is more likely dead than not."
"I didn't think…"
"Yes you didn't think," I rose my voice a bit but calmed down after a breath. I don't like to yell. Even when in battle I keep my voice down at a balanced level. "So you lost him yesterday and when he didn't turn up today you came here expecting me to do what exactly? Return to the world when I said I wanted nothing to do with it anymore. His death is on your shoulders and his blood on your hands. YOU," I pointed at her this time. "You killed him when you let him go and left him there."
"What else was I supposed to do! Stay there and die!"
"I don't know. I very well could have left you in that store and let your shadow strangle the life out of you, but I distinctly remember staying and saving you." I spoke in a dull tone. "I guess Yosuke didn't deserve the same," I shot at her.
"Don't you put this all on me! The bear told me that you were in the world yesterday as well!"
"Your point?" I yawned.
"You said that you wouldn't go back!"
"And how does me going back equate to the fact that Yosuke is dead because of you?" I crossed my legs and waited for her to answer. I didn't get one. "If what happened to Mrs. Yamano means anything then more than likely his body will be found in our world once he dies. If not then maybe his body is still in the shadow world and still alive. Either way he will be declared missing and will be one of the first the police go to in order to find out why."
Saki's eyes widened at this and looked weak in the knees. I watched as she stepped back and caught on to my desk to keep her from falling. Her chin dropped and I left her to think this through without my intervention. "W-What do we do?"
I shrugged. "I wasn't there, and I don't have a plan to explain this. I think you might be on your own this time around."
"What!? No, you can't just abandon me!"
"And why not? I've done enough and getting involved in another case that we're already connect to on top of the first one won't look good for either one of us. I can deny knowing his whereabouts yesterday and resist interrogation so I'm fine. I'm not sure about you and I'm not sure if I should help you or not."
"But you have to…"
"Do nothing." I continued for her. "I have to do nothing, and I will do nothing because I warned you both. I told you not to go or get involved and now look at the mess we're in. How could you even leave him despite how strong the shadows were? I was able to…"
"I'm not you!" Saki screamed at me with tears falling down her face. She slunk down and looked moments from falling down to the floor. "I'm not you, okay? I don't have what you have. I was scared, and he told me to run so I ran and he… god I could hear the screaming for so long. It wouldn't stop."
I leaned back in my seat and took a breath. "You're right. You're not me. I am Me." She's suffering that's for sure and this is heavy on her mind, but I can fix this. I don't know the first steps to fixing this for I lack both experience and the understanding of the situation, but I'm sure I can get us through this.
First step though I need to comfort her I think. I remembered a bunch of stuff I read once and seen on the screen that might work. I'm not one facilitating other people's feelings but I'm sure I can handle a girl in the middle of a midlife crisis. I stood up and walked around my table and kneeled down to her level. She drew her eyes up to me and in them I saw desperation, fear, and guilt. I rose my arms up then looped them around her shoulders then back.
"Narukami," she cried and took my shoulders in hand. She grasp the fabric of my white long sleeve shirt then leaned into me. "I-I don't… I left him and I… god what have I done." She ran away but by the sound of things she could either run or die. I guess she forgo weapons as well.
"Listen," I pushed her back away from me and smiled down at her the best I could manage. "We'll handle this okay? It'll be fine." Saki snort and shook her head hopelessly. I fought the frown from coming to my lips. One idea came to mind so I did it. I leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead. Saki gasped in shock at this gesture. Slowly but surely her shoulders stopped quaking and she leaned into me further. I leaned back with that same bright and reassuring smile on my lips. "Don't you trust me Saki?" The girl shivered and stuttered to say something. She took her time and looked up to me with a bit of light in her eyes.
"I-I trust you Narukami."
Suddenly my vision went dark as a card entered my mind. It made little to no sense to me but I know a tarot card when I see one.
Thou art I… And I am thou… Thou hast established a new bond… It brings thee closer to the truth… Though shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Magician Arcana…
I felt a bit different. I felt a bond? I felt a bond form with Saki and the power in my heart strengthening. I pondered on this feeling but knew nothing about this. I really need to go and see Igor. Maybe today or at least tomorrow. I need more insight. I know that I've developed a bond or maybe a Link with Saki in the form of the Magician Arcana. I'm not sure what any of this means but maybe I can figure it out later.
"Well get through this. Just follow my lead, okay?" Saki nodded much like I'd expect a nervous girl to do when she's unsure of her position. "Now get up and take a seat on my couch. You need to rest a little because you look and sound exhausted." Saki sighed just proving my point. I helped her up and guided her to my couch and let her sit down. "Just rest and we'll take this one day at a time."
"O-Okay."
Saki laid down on my couch and slowed her breathing. She was asleep in only a couple minutes leaving me to think this through. God this is a mess and it just gets worse and worse with every passing moment. My days here haven't once been normal and for once I'm wishing for my normal days to come back and stay back. At least things can't get much worse.
"Don't say that," Lilim rightfully yelled at me.
I heard the doorbell go off and walked down the stairs once more. "Narukami!" That voice. That's Chie's voices and that is her banging on my door like the police. Is everyone skipping school today?
I stood up then opened the door and the hysterical girl burst through the doorway and shot up to me. "Yosuke's gone! I can't find him! He's not answering his phone! I think he might have been kidnapped! And… And… I don't know what to do!"
"Calm down for one," I said calmly before reaching up to her hands and gently pulled them from my shirt. I held her slightly rough hands in my own and put on another rehearsed smile once more. "And come in and talk instead of yell, okay?"
Chie took a couple labored breaths in and out and appeared to be near the edge of hyperventilating. Her forehead is covered with a bit of sweat as well almost as if she ran all around town instead of taking a taxi or something. This girl really is lively to run around in panic like this.
"I… but I…" I looked at her and shook my head. I released one of her hands then moved out of the way to let her in. Chie panted and nodded before letting herself in. "Sorry for intruding," she muttered under her breath. "I just don't know what to do. You were gone most of yesterday and today, Yosuke's disappeared, and Yukiko isn't answering her phone and her mom doesn't know where she is."
Jesus this is really getting out of hand and even more so if I'm saying that. I'm not even Christian or Catholic.
"It's okay, I hear you. Want me to take your sweat jacket?" If she's sweating like this I can only imagine what's going on underneath that jacket right now.
Chie looked over her jacket and shook her head. "I-It's fine. I mean I don't want to… well."
"Stink up the place," I chuckled a bit before walking up behind her. I let her hand good then took her shoulders in hand instead. She nearly leapt out of my grasp as this. "Calm down," I said swiftly before she did a jumping spin kick to my face on impulse. "It's fine. Just take it off so I can hang it up. Then take a seat at the table that way you can rest a little because you look stress and need a moment to catch your breath. Can you do that?"
"I…" Chie of sighed and let her head fall. Without answering her reached up to the zipper of her jacket and pulled it straight down in one quick swipe. She let her shoulders relax and I pulled it out from her shoulders and arms. "Thanks, Narukami," I think she said bit the scent of her body assaulted my nose. She smells of sweat and and her body odor is sort of getting a tingle out of me.
I like it.
I set the sweat jacket to the side and hung it up on the coat rack next to the umbrella case near the door where my uncle hangs his trench coat. Chie removed her shoes before hitting the hard wood floor and staggered towards the table. She grabbed the first chair she could and sat down and placed her elbows on the table then her head down. I took most of the time I've been watching her to admittedly check her out. Chie is in good physical shape and muscles shown on her arms as well as her legs. Especially those legs because now I can see why Yosuke's would take twenty years to get back up. Chie could drop a fully grown man if she wanted to. My guess is she maybe 109 lb in weight and if she's had the same training as me she can place ever ounce of that weight into a kick. That much weight focused on one single point would hurt, a lot.
Her shoulders have a bit of a size to them, but I can tell that she would us her arms for defense and her legs for offense. Looking at her now she's really cute and quite appealing to the eyes with those tight black spats and grey tank top on. She has a good body odor as well which is a plus but comes from a basic family. That much be a problem.
I shook these thoughts out of my head and walked to the kitchen and grabbed a glass. I reached into the fridge and grabbed some orange juice for her and poured it in. "Here," I said as I approached her and placed the glass in front of her. "Have a drink. It'll help."
Chie pulled her face up and it was then I could see how weighed down she felt right now. She's placing so much on her shoulders that it's not even fun when it's not her fault. She's placing the responsibility of those two on her conscious and it's killing her. "Thank you," she said with a soft breath out before reaching for the glass. I watched her lean up with the glass in hand and tip it back once it hit her lips. She drank it all in four gulps and placed the cup back down with a breath. "Thanks so much. I don't know where else to turn to." She looked towards me and placed the glass in the center of the table.
"It's fine Chie. Just tell me what happened then I'll see if I can set the record straight, Okay?"
"Okay?" She nodded her head and leaned back in her chair which I mirrored as well to match her. "You see Yosuke's and Saki-senpai, well I saw them together after school while I was training. It was like 7 I think but they were walking towards Junes. I mean I thought nothing of it at first but Yosuke's eyes." She looked down to the table. "He had this look in his eye that I've never seen before and I got curious so I followed them." She gulped and coughed a bit so I poured her some more juice. She thanked me and drank it. Once she finished I told her to continue.
"Well, I followed them into the store and I swear they we're talking crazy. Like about a world in a tv and other stuff that made no sense."
Really? They talked about it in the open? Idiots.
"And then what happened?" I urged for her to continue.
"Yosuke took her to that one place where you went missing and then… like… well this is impossible and crazy, but Saki put her hand, like in the tv!" Chie held up her hand and pushed it forward. "Like in the tv Narukami! Not on it but In it!" She exclaimed to the point of almost standing up and flipping the table.
"Continue," I told her once she called down a bit more.
"And like, Yosuke did the same, and then they both went in and disappeared, and I was freaking out, and I didn't know what was real anymore, and…"
"Chie," I gripped her shoulder. I stood up a bit and moved closer to her to keep her from throwing punches or anything. I looked into her eyes and gave her a soft shake before she said anymore on that single breath and passed out. "Calm down okay. I'm here and listening to you."
"T-Thank you," she said unable to comprehend what she witnessed. The line between sanity and drooling out the mouth crazy can get a little blurry during times like this. "I know you think I'm crazy and don't believe me and…"
"I'm not the police and I'm not going to say you're crazy Chie." I swiftly interrupted her. Her eyes widened in shock at my admission, but I wasn't done. I've seen that look before because I had the same when I had my rough patch. If she keeps falling she'll land and hard enough to damage something. "I don't have the right to. I do believe you saw what you saw. Everything will be okay."
"But what I saw… it's crazy and impossible." And normally she'd be right. Even I'm questioning my sanity and debating what happened was real or a figment of my imagination. The injuries could be produced by those kidnappers and I'm just filling the rest with fabricated dreams to help me cope. I know this isn't case though. The discovery to come is what keeps me fascinated enough to return to the world.
"It's going to be okay, alright?"
Chie nodded in a midst of her quivering.
"I will see if I can find Yosuke, wherever he may be, so don't worry about him." Now with Saki and Yosuke out of the way that leaves one more. "What's happened to Yukiko?" I released her shoulders and rested my arms on the table.
Chie blinked and then it came to her. "I tried calling her today and she didn't answer and her mom doesn't know where she is." Chie clenched her fists.
"I'll try and call her." I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I searched for Yukiko in my list but stopped once I realized I didn't get her number. Oh, wait I have it. My mom sent me this phone with it in it. That conniving woman. I pressed the number and held the phone to my ear. I waited for the phone to hit voice mail until I heard it pick up.
"Hello. Souji-kun?" I sighed and leaned back in my seat once I heard her voice.
"Hey, Yukiko I…"
"You got a hold of her!" I leaned back out of Chie's reach as she attempted to steal my phone. I put my hand in the middle of her chest to keep her at arm's length as she demanded I'd give her the phone so she can speak with Yukiko. I decided to compromise. I held my phone up and pressed the speaker icon.
"I was wondering what you're doing." I spoke out loud for both of them to hear. "Your best friend is in panic and your mother supposedly doesn't know where you are." I continued despite my sudden interruption. I placed my hand on Chie's shoulder to keep her at arm's distance as well.
"Oh no, don't tell her that," Chie whined but I ignored her.
"Yeah, my old phone is being switched so it's been off for most of the day. You called my work phone though. I didn't recognize the number so it had to be you." I thought on her logic and just left her with that. I don't think that sounds right but whatever.
"My mom knows as well, but I asked her to not tell anyone."
That explains that as well. Yukiko is fine, like always.
"Alright. Can you call Chie once you're finish, please?" I added that at the last moment.
"Uh, yeah I can. Thanks for calling to check up on me Souji-kun."
"It's no problem Yukiko. See you in school."
"Alright," and then she hung up.
I pocketed my phone and faced Chie as she sat dumbfounded. "I get stuff done I guess," I shrugged leaned away from the table back to my chair. I dropped my hand from her chest as well and steadied myself in my chair. "Yukiko is okay Chie and I'll search for Yosuke so don't worry. Leave it to me."
Chie nodded silently and appeared lost. "How did you get her work phone? I didn't know she had a work phone so how did you get it?" Chie asked.
"Our families are familiar with each other," I said dryly. I didn't feel like getting into specifics.
"O-Okay. But what about Saki-senpai? I'm sure if she came back from wherever they went."
"She's on my couch upstairs and out cold after telling me what happened," I admitted before picking up the glass on the table and walking back to the kitchen to wash it.
"What?" Chie looked around her to nothing. I waved for her to follow me and she did up the stairs to my room. I pushed the door open a bit and let her peek inside. Her eyes happened upon Saki who was indeed out cold on the couch despite all the noise that she made. I closed the door once she got her look. "What is she doing here?" She probed as we walked down the stairs back to the table.
"She came here in the same manner you did about missing people and such. Like I told you, I told her that we'll find our missing friends. Yukiko is perfectly fine as you heard." I had it on speaker phone after all.
"But I…"
"Like I said it'll be fine. Whatever you saw doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that he's out there and we just need to find him. Simple as that, agreed?" I tested for a good confirmation from her and got a nod in response. It'll do for now. "Now go home Chie. Chill out a bit if you can alright?"
"Yeah, you're right. TV stuff aside that idiot is out there somewhere. I think if anyone can fine him its you Narukami." She looked up to me with confidence. "I don't know why but I feel that you can do this or anything. It's amazing really," she chuckled shyly. "You get here and saved Saki-senpai and now you're gonna save that Yosuke-baka."
I put on a very fake and practiced smile and helped her up from her chair. "Come on, get something to eat, some water, and chill out for the day. I'll see you at school with Yosuke in tow."
"Yeah, okay then. If you need help call me alright," she stood up before me much more calm than before. "I'd like to help you in any way I can." Chie grinned up to me. "By the way," she looked dead at my bandaged neck. "Are you okay?"
"Wanna see," I teased her a bit.
"Maybe," she thought on it. "But anyway I got your back if you need help."
"Thanks." While I'd like her assistance I'm not sure what she can do to help me. Last thing I need is for her shadow to appear and fight me. Then I'd have to beat it up and gain a very interesting companion. I thought this through and nodded. "Tell you what Chie," I stopped her before she could walk away. "I could use your help with… with that world you mentioned."
She faced me fully with her eyes a bit widened. Before she could speak out I rose my finger to my lips and shook my head. "Listen, in time I'll call you so, can I have your number?" Chie flushed a bit at my direct question.
"Whoa, kinda rushing into this dontcha think?" She smirked a bit at me and I scoffed from amusement. "But you mentioned that world… does that mean you…?"
I just smiled at her in response. I rose my phone up and pulled up the settings with my number on it. "Like I said leave it to me. I still want your number though."
"Why," she asked even though the reason should be apparent. Sadly I have Lilium equipped right now else I'd give her a simple and practical answer.
"To see if you want to go out some time," I shrugged nonchalantly. Chie flushed a bit further and literally was taken aback from my response. "Maybe get some lunch or something."
Chie's eyes widened. "Man I think I might like you," she laughed with a shake of her head. She smiled up to me and nodded. "Alright my number is yours. Call me if you need my help with looking for Yosuke." Chie put her hand out for me to take with my phone in it as well.
I felt like Chie was placing a lot of her trust in me at this and I know for sure I can trust her. This girl is the sort that's too ignorant to lie even to save her own ass. Still though I took her hand with an genuine uplifted feeling in my stomach. Suddenly my vision darkened again.
Thou art I… And I am thou… Thou hast established a new bond… It brings thee closer to the truth… Though shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Chariot Arcana…
She handed me my phone leaving me aghast of what just happened. Before I could catch her, Chie quickly rushed to her jacket and snagged it. "Later Narukami," she waved at me before rushing outside the door and she didn't even close it.
I closed the door after letting her in and walked to the table and sat down. "The Chariot," I said to myself. I grabbed my computer and looked it up quickly and it's meaning. Yeah, that's Chie in a nutshell. A second bond already. I feel there's more but this was… unexpected.
I closed my laptop then rested my elbow on the table and my forehead into the palm of my hand. "This can't get any more complicated?"
'Stop saying that!' I heard in my head again from Lilim.
Just as I looked up I saw a face at my window and a man looking in through said window intently. He noticed I was looking at him and quickly hid away from me. That man did a terrible job at hiding but I'm guessing he heard every word we spoke. He might be a cop or a reporter, either way spells trouble.
Imagine the article or report about deranged teenagers and how they babble about other worlds and other crazy mess.
God damn it, I should have kept my mouth shut.
'I told you.'
"You're not helping." I barked at my devil and wished I had my fairy here right now. Regardless of this I reached or my phone and text the officer watching my home about that man outside my window and waited. A moment later I heard a noise and smiled at the sound of someone resisting arrest. I rested my head down and closed my eyes to rest a bit.
04/16 After School: Couple hours later: Rainy
I dropped my hand after a much needed check of my watch. I heard another knock at the door after my check whilst in the middle of some much needed gaming. I don't care much for the television my uncle has downstairs but made due with my Play Station regardless. I decided to play a little Dragon Age: Origins and continue one with the journey of my Elven Mage badass. I've played a lot of the game in it's two years of release and love every moment of it. I've played as a dwarf and elf mostly and one human. It had to be the generic human noble warrior though. Anything else just felt wrong. I love the fact that if you play the conversations right you can have a romance with both main ladies. Morrigan and Leliana. I can't choose between them and love them both to death. I like the ending as well when I get the card for Morrigan being pregnant and yet traveling with Leliana in the end as well.
Sadly, my gaming for today has to be paused. I just got to my favorite part, The Fade. Most hate the fade, myself included, but the fact I can get free points are cool.
I sighed and climbed up to my feet to answer it. I opened the door and Nanako happened to be behind it. "Hello," she greeted and I smiled down at her. This is good. I can get to Junes' as long as she's here to watch after my friend in the couch.
"Hey Nanako, welcome home." My cousin smiled as well and walked in with a lively step. "How was your day?"
"Good. How was yours?"
"Not bad. Nanako, can you do me a favor?" She blinked and nodded her head like a good little girl. "Can you watch my friend resting on the couch while I'm out?" The girl blinked in confusion and I directed her to my room. We walked up and it was a repeat of what happened with Chie until Nanako walked over to the couch with her book bag in hand and looked at the still form of Saki.
"Is she okay?" She whispered in my ear when I crouched down. I nodded and pat her head gently.
"She's tired and I have business and can't watch her. If she wakes can you send her on her way and offer her water before she leaves?"
"Sure, I guess."
I pat her head again. "Thank you. I got to go to Junes for a bit so…"
"Can I come too!" Nanako asked with all the excitement in the world. I just about said yes until I remembered why I'm going there. "Tomorrow, I'll take you for sure okay?" Nanako was a bit disappointed but nodded her head regardless.
I wondered back up to my room to snag my katana before walking back do to leave. I walked to the door with Junes in my mind to fine me an idiot.
"Uh, have a nice trip." Nanako waved me out.
"Thanks," I pulled my footwear on and walked out the door. I made my way down the street towards Junes with my police escort nowhere to be found. Guess they had someone to arrest like the guy outside my window.
I reached Junes in no time same with the electronics department. I looked around and placed my hand on the screen, not in it. The swirling pattern came alive on the screen and I just about went in until I saw a camera on me. I stopped and turned away so that the camera couldn't see my face. If I can go in maybe my voice can. The door is open after all.
"Kuma." I called from this side. "Teddie." I called his name. I looked around again and then at the television. "Are you there?"
"Tasujin? Is that you?" I heard the bear over the speaker. "Yeah, can you tell me if you can smell anyone or anything strange? Like, another human being?" I looked around again.
"Uh, yeah I still do but it's not as strong as before." I grit my teeth. "Like the girl from before or the woman at the station."
"Ah, both."
So he's made contact with his shadow. I need to get in here… and I might need Saki to tackle this.
I pulled back from the tv and walked up to the camera. I climbed up and pulled a cord in the back. I made sure to use my sleeve and not my fingers directly and made my way to the television before stepping in.
04/16: Shadow World
My feet touched down on steel and I looked around for a moment at the fog. I pat my jacket down but my glasses are nowhere to be found. Where did I put them?
"You're back!" The bear ran up to me with those wide eyes of his on me. "I thought you wouldn't come in for a moment there." He's not the only one, but I have to find that fool before he ends up dead. "Oh, here you go." Kuma held up a pair of glasses for me and I took them with a nod. I pulled them on and the fog cleared away leaving the Backside of the Television clear. I looked around and saw a small knapsack in the corner. I walked to it and noticed a rolled up white sheet of canvass next to it above me.
"Like it? I made if after you left." I'm wondering on how he made this more than anything. Maybe scavenging around. Kuma walked to the side and reached up to a rope to the side. He pulled it down and the sheet fell open and contained my armor set and weapon from before. I didn't bother question how that worked.
"Nice." A sheet to hold my current load out. I got outfitted in my riot armor in an instant. "Good job kuma." I pat the bear over the dome. I tied my katana's sheathe down on my hip. I prefer this over a long sword any day.
"Kuma, can you lead me to where this scent is?"
"Uh, yeah I think so. Follow me." Kuma began to step off I followed right behind him.
The shadows outside the dungeons left us alone as he guided me on through Shadow Inaba. I wonder if Yosuke made it this long in this world. It's been a while unless he's lucky enough to get into an area when time moves super slow versus that of the normal world. A hyperbolic time chamber of sorts. That would be sort of cool to find since I've proven that time in certain areas moves at differing rates than others. Speaking of which.
"Did you get the times of the areas you could get to before Kuma?" I asked him.
"Some of them but not all. It seems to move really fast in this one place. Like an minute in there was only a second here."
"Really," I mused at this. "Anywhere else?"
"Well, one area seems to move slower but the shadows protect it. A hospital I think and an inn."
"I see. Thanks, we'll take care of those areas in time then." If I want to use this world as a means of travel I don't want to deal with shadows coming out of the ground and walls during my stroll in key areas.
"There!"
I blinked and refocused on the area before me. I walked up to the building before me and rubbed my head at what I saw. "Is this a circus tent?" I looked around the area and tried to wrap my mind over this. The reporter had a television station but Yosuke is at an circus is a bit… strange. I guess the reporter wanted to be a host more than anything and her desires reflected her. Maybe Yosuke wants to be young, wild, and free like kids can be at the circus. Free of bias and what not.
I looked at the door way and just about approached until I noticed something strange. A clown in front was waving slowly. Like really slowly. Like to the point that it's like he's not moving but he hand changed its position that's for sure. It's slight but there. Even the rides on the other side of the tent are moving excessively slow. How slow is time in this place?
I reached for my stop watch and cut on the timer. I slid it into the distortion field and stood back as it entered.
"What are you…"
"Testing something," I swiftly interrupted the bear and watched while keeping count with my foot. I stopped at a minute and reached into the field to freeze the time and pulled the phone out. I looked at the time and blinked in shock. Time normally moves slower already in this world but this Living Nightmare moves at a hundredth of that time. One minute here is only even seconds in there. I pocketed my phone and took breath before traversing the field like this was that one Souls game that just came out. Thank you Dark Souls.
Teddy followed me in and the clown was now waving normally. I heard the groans of shadows louder than ever from behind the swirls and clenched the sword in my hands. "You really going in there because clowns scare me."
"Yeah," I solemnly stated. "Head back Kuma. I got this."
"What? But how will you find the person inside?"
I rose my hand and a temperance care appeared before me. I felt the seer within whisper in my ear and pointed out towards the swirls. "I'll be fine. I'll be back and if anyone arrives tell them to leave. Can you do that Kuma?"
"Ah, yeah I think." I pat the bear and turned towards the swirls. I took a breath before running to circus hating life more so than usual.
"Welcome to the Circus of Values. Stage one of five heheheh," the clown announced and made my spine shiver. What made it worse is the fact this mechanical clown has the voice of Yosuke. "Please enter and enjoy your stay friend huhahuha!"
"Right," I walked into the portal into passageway of sheets and canvas. I took a step and right off the bat a shadow appeared before me and stood over me by two feet. It was a clown with keys and a hole in its fat stomach. I rose my hand and felt resolution fill me.
"Let's get started."
A/N: When I imagined a palace dungeon for Yosuke a place of fun kept coming up. A place to escape and a creepy circus seemed the best option. The Magician Arcana is supposed to be Yosuke but I twisted around since his first contract with Saki. Chariot will remain Chie. Most arcana will follow the trend of the Sun in Golden. Two different people for every arcana but alike stories.
Thanks for reading and please review.