Tatsuya was confused. He remembered being at Sumaru Prison about to face down Eikichi because Lisa said something stupid, but this place was definitely not Sumaru Prison. The cold stone walls of Sumaru Prison were replaced by several tall columns lining a circular room. The ceiling was so high up, that he could not see it. An intricate butterfly motif lay upon the floor in the center of the room. Light emitted from the design and reached towards the heavens it seemed.
Eikichi and Lisa were lying on the ground next to him. Tatsuya woke them both up.
"Wha...What is this place?" Eikichi rubbed his head.
"Are we dead?" Lisa was frightened. They were supposed to be at Sumaru Prison. Did they kill each other. If so how did she die and not know about it?
'Welcome to the space between consciousness and unconsciouness. My name is Philemon. You've forgotten, yes?'
A young man clothed in black stood before them.
"Philemon? Why are we here? Whats going on?" Lisa tried to move toward the strange young man, but she found that her feet seemed to be glued to where they were.
'The power you draw on is called your Persona. It is the power to summon another form of your Self that lurks in the depths of your heart, like a god or demon. The god in you falls in love... the demon in you is cruel. People live their lives wearing various masks. Even your current appearance is but one of many masks. Your Persona is also but one of many.'
"Okay, what? Mind talking in a language we can understand?" This guy was beginning to piss Eikichi off. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.
'From now on all of you, together with your Personae, will be betting your very existence and fighting for a greater purpose. Time is running out for you to be oblivious. Sumaru City has changed into a different world, one where rumors become reality. The fight to weave your own fate has begun!'
"Anyone else feel like were talking to a recording?" A small, but noticeable shock coursed through Tatsuya's body. Ow, sheesh. Sooorrry."
'I brought you here to tell you that. Now, with the aid of your Personae, you will break the chain of fated events...'
Darkness swallowed the scene like a black billowing fog. The three awoke to find themselves back at Sumaru Prison.
"Captain...are you okay." Miyabi was kneeling over Eikichi.
"Oh, my head. I had this weird ass dream. You were there, and you were there." Eikichi pointed to Lisa and Tatsuya.
"Thank you Dorothy, we know, we were there too you know." Tatsuya had a bad habit of stating the obvious in a sarcastic manner. He needed to curb that, but at the moment, he wasn't in a hurry to do so.
"So, if that guy was telling the truth, then rumors are becoming reality?" Lisa got up to her feet then helped Tatsuya up. Tatsuya didn't really need help, but he let Lisa have her way. Has anyone tried that Joker charm?
"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Ken, Miyabi, Shogo, and Takeshi stood around the trio looking dumbfounded. Eikichi realized that they had been babbling about something the others probably thought was nonsense.
"Uh...well, you know the ghosts of death we all summoned? Well they're not exactly death. We found out, after losing consciousness, that they are called personas. How we can use them, or why, we don't know. We also learned that rumors are becoming reality. You probably think I'm nuts right now huh?" Eikichi rubbed his head nervously.
"Dude, after what we just saw, I believe you." Shogo helped Eikichi to his feet.
"Well, let's try out this Joker charm then." Lisa clapped her hands excitedly. Tatsuya groaned.
"Of all the rumors that have been running about, you want to try out that retarded genie rumor?" Tatsuya pinched the bridge of his nose hoping to ward off the oncoming headache. Anyone want to volunteer because I'm sure as hell not.
"We will Captain!" Ken, Shogo, and Takeshi saluted Eikichi.
"It's the least we can do after our earlier transgression." Takeshi took out his phone. Ken and Shogo followed.
"Guys, maybe we should think this through a bit." Eikichi warned, but his friends phones were already ringing.
"Good afternoon gentlemen, ladies". A voice seemed to be near, yet far at the same time.
"Where..." Lisa barely got a word out when a voice whispered in her ear.
"Behind you." Lisa shrieked. She spun around flailing her arms so fast that the person who had scared her was struck by the back of her hand. The figure, clothed in white, was knocked back about three feet from the force of the blow. The figure lay sprawled on the ground unmoving.
"Oh shit I think you killed him." Lisa punched Tatsuya in the arm.
"Don't say things like that!" Lisa was near hyperventilating. The figure in white rose to his feet. He compressing the bruising area of his face, which was painted to look like a jesters. One eye was covered by his mask, and the other glared at the gaijin girl.
"Hey, why are you glaring at me?! You were the one who decided to sneak up on me!" Lisa held her clenched fists at her side. How dare this freak scare her.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Joker. I am he who grants one's truest desires." Joker smiled at Ken, Miyabi, Shogo, and Takeshi, while blatantly ignoring the other three.
"Quick tell him your dream. I heard that if you don't your dreams will get stolen... "Miyabi had no way of knowing that her words would seal their fate.
"I'm sorry, but alas your dreams have been compromised. I'm afraid I'll have to confiscate them, as per the terms of the charm." Joker revealed a skull made of the clearest crystal. Lisa guessed it was diamond due to how light played inside of it.
Ken, Shogo, and Takeshi began screaming as the skull seemed to be sucking light out of them.
"STOP IT!" Eikichi lunged for Joker, but he was forced back by an invisible barrier. Eikichi called Rhadamanthus, but it was too late. All that remained of his friends were shadows.
"BEAT THAT GUYS ASS TO A PULP!" Tears threatened to fall from Eikichi's eyes as his quivering voice commanded Rhadamanthus to attack. A persona appeared above Joker. The apparition's appearance was predominately black and white, much like its master. It too had one eye covered. Tears of blood fell from its good eye. The new persona deflected Rhadamanthus attack.
"Such a fool. Do you think you can defeat me?" Joker smirked. His eyes observed the remaining occupants in the room. When his gaze fell upon Tatsuya, his smirk became a sneer.
"You! It's been a long time Tatsuya Suou. I patiently awaited the day you would call me forth. Would you like to see something of interest. Unlike the ghostly visages of your so called personae, it's a real demon." A slime appeared beside Joker.
"Fan ah! A real monster! Im not going to die before having one of my dreams come true." Tatsuya was completely caught off guard. He felt Lisa's lips on his, but was powerless to do anything. Her kiss was aggressive and hungry. It wouldn't have been so bad if they weren't in a life or death situation. Joker's eye twitched at the sight.
Tears began to flow from Eikichi's eyes. He wanted to kill Joker for what he did to his friends. Eikichi could tell Rhadamanthus was also pissed off. His persona took great offense to Jokers comment.
"Hey, we can't defeat him alone, but maybe if we attack as one we can beat him." Eikichi gritted his teeth.
"Uh...okay." Tatsuya gently pushed Lisa off of him and called out for Vulcanus. He felt the heat rise as Vulcanus heeded his call.
"Um...Eros..?" Lisa felt sturdy as a rock. Like nothing and no one could knock her down. Her confidence grew at this realization. Alright. Persona!
Eros, Rhadamanthus, and Vulcanus attacked. Their magic collided above Joker. The impact caused a mana torrent that resembled a whirlpool in a body of water. The slime was vanquished immediately by the power of the attack. Joker, however, stood there laughing.
"Fusion magic. Very good, but it's not enough to beat me. As you are now, you couldn't defeat me in a thousand years!" Tatsuya, Eikichi, and Lisa were knocked off their feet by an invisible force. Eikichi, being the least injured, helped Lisa get back to her feet. Tatsuya attempted to get up, but something heavy on his chest was weighing him down. Joker loomed over him, his foot planted firmly on Tatsuya's chest. The white clad jester placed an iris next to Tatsuya.
"Eikichi Mishina, Lisa Silverman, and you, who takes away dreams...it's time to die! The Wheel of Fortune cannot be stopped!" Tatsuya smirked at Joker. Why are you smiling when you know youre going to die Tatsuya?
"Because you have chosen incorrectly." Tatsuyas smile only widened.
"What?!" Joker felt something solid collide with his back. The impact caused him to lose his footing and stumble several feet into a drum set. Tatsuya, now free from the extra burden, rose to his feet.
"You're good with magic, I'll give you that. But, I bet you couldn't beat me in hand to hand combat." Tatsuya boasted. Joker rose to his feet. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes. This was just like him. Always picking on others. Destroying their dreams. He would make him pay.
"You haven't changed since that day have you. You who stand over the slain dreams of others. What is your dream? I know. You may try to hide it, but I know. It is my business to know as the one who grants dreams. You wanted to go to college right? Fat chance of that happening." Joker spat. Tatsuya only smiled at Joker. This was pissing off Joker to no end.
"Your'e only partially correct. Yeah I do plan on going to college, but it is merely a stepping stone to fulfilling my dream. That in itself is not my dream. I bet you don't even know what it is. Thats because I haven't told anyone what it is. I am the only one who knows what my dream is and it is going to stay that way." Tatsuya stated. Joker only sneered at Tatsuya.
"As if I would make your dreams come true. You surely understand why I appear before you..." Joker spoke. Eikichi couldn't hold his tongue anymore.
"How the FUCK should we know you bastard!" Eikichi screamed. Lisa was shaking. Everything was happening so fast.
"Did we do something to you?" She felt like crying, but held it in. Big girls don't cry.
Joker looked to Eikichi and Lisa. Bewilderment on his face. He looked to Tatsuya, who merely shrugged at him. Bewilderment turned to shock.
"You don't remember? How can you not remember? What good does it do to kill you when you don't remember why?! That iris I gave you is my stamp. You can run from here to the ends of the Earth. My demon followers will find you. When you do remember the sin you committed, I will take my revenge!" With that Joker departed, vanishing into thin air.
"How bad is everyone hurt?" Lisa asked. Lisa heard Eros tell her about a healing spell she could perform whenever someone was injured. She told Eros to have it ready just in case anyone needed it.
"Im slightly bruised, but I'll be fi..." A cooling sensation came over Tatsuya. His back, which had been badly bruised by the rough landing he had, felt renewed and strong. Thanks.
"Ken...Shogo...Takeshi... Oh guys...Im...Sorry..." Eikichi fell to his knees and wept. He didn't care if he was crying around other people, or even Suou for that matter. He had caused his friends to lose their dreams. It was his fault they were shadows.
"Eikichi. Who are you talking to?" Miyabi asked. Eikichi lifted his tear stained face to Miyabi. Disbelief etched on his ruined visage.
"Eikichi, she's already forgotten. It's like he said." Tatsuya bowed his head. He knew that it was him Joker wanted, but he couldn't think of why. Joker insinuated that he had done something to him. The only time he could remember someone getting hurt around him was when he was in middle school. He remembered being bullied by an upperclassman and his lackeys. Tatsuya even remembered getting really angry at them. After that he only remembered lying in a hospital bed, being told that the other kid had sustained severe burns and would probably die from them. Despite the grim prognosis, the other kid lived. Last Tatsuya remembered, the kid was home schooled and surrounded by nurses day and night. This guy who fought him, was in great physical shape. He ruled out the possibility of his childhood bully.
"Eikichi, we can, we will save them. We can't do it without you." Tatsuya held the iris he was given delicately in his hands. He let his gaze wander. Sumaru Prison used to be just that, a prison. It was shut down, then later renovated and turned into a band hangout. Tatsuya felt that it had once again become its original incarnation. A prison. "This Joker asshole wants us to remember something. He especially wants me to remember. Apparently I did something to him, but I can't think of what I did, or to whom I did whatever to for all of this to happen."
"With all those monsters lurking about we should probably stick together." Lisa was frightened. Everything was happening so fast. Eikichi's friends were shadow, and if they didn't figure things out fast enough they would be gone for good.
"Shes right. We need to stick together. Sadly we can't stay at my place. After all of this I don't want to deal with my dad." Eikichi looked to Lisa for a solution.
"It can't be my place. I would never hear the end of it if I brought home two boys." Lisa and Eikichi looked to Tatsuya.
"I...Shit." Tatsuya took out his phone and dialed Katsuyas number.
"I might be able to help you find Joker. I've been gathering information on him as well as on other rumors. Also, you'll want to find protection for yourselves. I heard a rumor that Kameya Alley Ramen Shops owner is a weapons smuggler. She used to be a spy or something. Thats what I heard anyway. I hope it helps." Miyabi smiled. Even if she didn't have the abilities her friends did, she could still help them by gathering information for them.
"Hey Katsuya, it's me...Uh I was wondering. Would it be alright if a few of my friends spent the night...That's fine sure...I didn't do anything! why...Just because I'm critical doesn't mean someone else will be...Fine. Let me get a pen and paper...okay...cucumber, carrots, chicken, lettuce, milk, confectioners sugar, eggs, flour...okay...no problem...I'll see you later then...bye." Tatsuya put his phone in his pocket. "Okay, Katsuya said it was okay, but we have to stop by the grocery store first. He wanted me to ask you guys if you had any food preferences or allergies."
"I'm a strict vegetarian. I also only eat low fat or non fat foods." Eikichi was a bit puzzled by being asked what foods he preferred eating, but none the less divulged the information.
"I'll eat pretty much anything as long as it's not boiled or fish." Lisa stated. Tatsuya noted everyone's preferences, retrieved his phone, then text his brother.
'Eikichi's a vegetarian, so no meat or fattening foods. Lisa doesn't like boiled foods or fish.' Within a minute Tatsuya received a response.
'Okay, I guess desert will be angel food cake. In that case pick up some heavy cream and a packet of jello mix. You guys can decide on the flavor. Also pick up some more bell peppers and mushrooms.'
"Alright, I have our shopping list. It's getting late, so well visit the ramen shop tomorrow. Uhm...theres a slight problem. My bike can only seat two people." Tatsuya didn't know how they were going solve the problem regarding traveling arrangements.
"I'll ride the bus with Hanaji and make sure she gets home okay. Im so pissed off right now, I don't think demons will want to mess with me. If they do then I'll give them hell. Hanaji, would you mind waiting a moment? I need to freshen up before we leave." Eikichi ran into the boys bathroom to reapply his face. Hanaji giggled lightly at Eikichi's mannerisms.
"Guys, would you do me a favor. Please don't tell Eikichi my real name. I know it sounds silly, but will you promise not to tell him?" Miyabi asked. Tatsuya smiled and nodded his agreement to the promise.
"Of course, we promise." Lisa smiled warmly at Miyabi.
"Thank you!" Miyabi said. Eikichi returned from the bathroom. His make up flawless.
"Ah, much better...Is it alright to leave them here?..." Eikichi looked to his friends' shades. Guilt washed over him like a tidal wave.
"I don't think anything can happen to them as they are, but we better hurry and figure things out before they fade away." Tatsuya put a reassuring hand on Eikichis shoulder. Eikichi smiled sadly at Tatsuya.
"Alright, let's head out before it gets dark." Eikichi stated. Eikichi escorted Miyabi to the bus station. Tatsuya and Lisa boarded his bike and made their way to Satomi Tadashi's. Tatsuya could feel that the three of them were about to embark on a long, strange journey. Tonight would mark the beginning of it. Tatsuya could feel that it would be a long night indeed.