After searching for the rest of the team, which took a while to decipher Chie's text, (It really should have been easy for him to understand 'Jns' would equal 'Junes') The four members of the Investigation Team started to talk over the case, only to find out that they didn't really get anywhere in the Investigation. Yu managed to 'discover' that all the victims appeared on T.V. The four parted separate ways, Yukiko to go back to the Inn, Yosuke to continue working at his job at Junes, leaving Yu and Chie to walk back to their homes together. On the way back, they stopped at the Samegawa as a suggestion from Chie.
"I mean, now's the time to train right? We have to get stronger." Yu nodded at the Chariot.
"Right. Let's go, no holding back." With that, Yu moved into a stance, knees slightly bent, left arm behind him and his right arm in a prepared block. Chie started bouncing back and forth on her feet, a grin on her face.
"I won't lose!" And with that Chie charged towards him. With a jump, she flung a kick directly towards the side of Yu's face, in which he responded with blocking with his right arm. In a single fluid motion, Yu spun around and back-kicked the Advancing Kung-fu nut. Chie looked on in surprise.
Yu's stance was changed and mirrored his previous stance, his left side now facing Chie. "Stay determined, Chie!" And with that, and onslaught of kicks, punches, and grapples came from the Chariot, each one being evaded or blocked. Yu ducked another kick and responded with elbowing the girl in the square of her now unprotected back, knocking the air out of her as she fell to the ground, breathing deeply. "You have to keep moving! If this was in the Shadow World, this would be a bad spot for you to get winded! You won't be able to protect anyone like this!" Like a fire was ignited in her soul, she sprung up from the ground and began her relentless assault once again, attacking again and again, pushing Yu back to the edge of the river bed. All she needed was another push, and she would be able to push him into the water. Chie charged a galactic punt towards the Fool, only for Yu to fall to lie down on the ground. A loud splash reached his ears.
Yu gave her a smile as she sprung up from the cool water. He reached a hand out to the now wet teen to pull her out of the river, but Chie had second thoughts. With a tug, Yu was pulled into the water. Once Yu breached the water, he was greeted by Chie's satisfied face. "That's what I call training! I couldn't do anything the whole time! You just kept dodging and blocking and it was so cool! We need to train more often!"
"Looks like you're steadily gaining the power to protect others." Yu commented. "I'll be counting on more of these training sessions Chie." She blushed at the praise, and nodded happily.
"I hope you'll teach me some more, Yu!" With that, she raised her hand for a high five which he gladly returned. The second their hands touched, time stopped around them and the world grew dark.
"Rank Up! Thy bond is strengthened by the hopes you both hold for the future. The Chariot has learned some knowledge of a previous life-time." Time resumed once again, and Chie grabbed her head. "Jeez, I guess all this new exercise is taking it's toll on me."
"It also doesn't help that you're soaking wet, Chie. Go home and dry up. I'll see you tomorrow at School, okay?" With a nod, they both left their separate ways.
Yu was welcomed home by a confused Nanako. "Why are you all wet?"
Crap crap crap crap crap, what should I say? "I fell in some water. These people were bullying this girl, and I stood up to them for her. I thought her how to defend herself just incase anyone else tried to bully her or try and hurt her. So while I was teaching her, She pushed me into the water in the nearby river." A look of understanding crossed her innocent face.
"Oh! I see. Do you think Dad might teach me some stuff if I ask?" Yu nodded immediately.
"He really should. I'll tell you what, if he says no, I'll teach you myself okay? I'm not gonna let you go around defenseless." Nanako put on a face that looked a mixture between determined and cute. Yu almost wanted laugh.
"I'm gonna go dry off. What do you want me to make for dinner?" Yu asked as he started to climb upstairs.
"Dad said he got off early! He's gonna bring food from Junes~!" Called Nanako's happy voice. Yu just laughed as he entered the bathroom.
Once he got out of the bath and changed, he noticed that his uncle had returned home with food and with a very unwelcome guest.
Yu's expression remained neutral throughout the entire encounter, but it still took every fiber of his being to not to grab the Blazefire Sabre and to shoot the Bastard to death. Once the night finally ended, the Fool went to his room and laid on his futon. Damn it Izanagi, this isn't easy, pretending to be nice and chummy with that Igor damned Bastard. But, we just have to keep moving right? Only for eight more months.
'What did you say to the Chariot earlier? Stay Determined. That will be the only way you can get through this. No matter how bad it is, we have to keep moving forward in order to keep our friends alive.'
Why did you call Chie that? The Chariot?
'She is the only Chariot that is important to you. The same goes for the Magician. Their must be hundereds of Yosuke's and Chie's out there. But if I call them by their Arcana Name, you will know immediately who I'm talking about.' Yu pondered on that for a bit.
You have a solid point. Well, hopefully tomorrow will be less hectic.
*APRIL 18th, Monday, Early Morning*
"Alright everyone, please pay attention. There's someone I'd like to introduce to you. He's recently moved here from Europe to live with his Guardian. Please come introduce yourself."
This didn't happen before… Yu sat up a little straighter, as the door slid open. His eyes widened as a boy with platinum hair and bright emerald eyes entered the room as Ms. Soufe slid over with a gesture of her Egyptian rod. The boy bowed to the class before smiling at them politely.
"Hello Everyone, my name is Hope Esthiem. Pleased to meet you all. I hope we all get along well!"