Author's Note: This chapter addresses the previous chapter's faults and involves progressing the storyline. Sorry about the last chapter... Now looking back, I should of combined that part with this one, somehow. But this chapter focuses on the sanitarium and involves meeting a greedy fairy as well.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all rights go to their respective owners.

Persona 2 EP - Chapter 3 - The Sanitarium

Runa was holding a naginata in her hands and hummed merrily as she strolled though the forest. Katsuya glared at her and told her. "You better be careful with that… As soon as this is over, you are never to get involve in any of my investigations again."

"Yeah, yeah… Thanks for paying for it by the way. I'm glad I talked you around to the idea," Runa replied.

"You forced your way along," Katsuya pointed out.

"Ugh… My feet are killing me. Remind me again why we couldn't take the main road?" Ulala complained as trudged along the faint path.

"The shady security guard wouldn't let us take the main road, remember?" Maya answered

"It was a rhetorical question," Ulala grumbled.

"Come on, Ulala. I'm sure it's not that far," Maya assured her friend.

"Sometimes Ma-ya, I wish I had had your optimism," Ulala sighed.

"You don't need it. She was right. We're here," Baofu announced.

All eyes looked toward the rear entrance of the sanitarium and they soon entered the building.

Past the door revealed a room with gashes marring the walls and broken glass scattered across the floor. Two bodies with pools of blood underneath them were sprawled on the ground. Runa gulped. The door shut behind her and Ulala. What the hell happened here?

"This room has been torn apart," Maya said as she directed her attention away from the dead.

Ulala dropped to the ground and screamed. "A-a-a-ah-h-h-h-h-h! A-Another dead person!"

"Don't make such a loud fuss…" Baofu scolded.

Ulala slowly stood as Katsuya went to one of the bodies. Maya and Baofu went to the door that lead further into the building with their weapons ready. Katsuya knelt down and examined the scene. "They're not ordinary, they are all armed. Kuroboshi…. Fired off all rounds… Cuts, stab wounds, bruises, internal injuries…They tired, but got killed by demons. Guess that about sums it up. They're not Japanese."

"It's the Tien Tao Lien… The Taiwanese Mafia. I recognise one of the faces," Baofu said.

"Your buddies…?" Katsuya eyed Baofu carefully and guessed.

"Say that again, I'll put a hole in your face," Baofu retorted.

"Stop it, Baofu," Maya lowered her guns and scolded.

"Tch… " Baofu reluctantly relented.

"Is the Taiwanese Mafia involved with what's been happening lately?" Maya asked him.

"These guys are dogs of Tatsuzou. He's been on good terms with them for 5 years when he was the Minister of Justice," Baofu explained.

"…Wait a second. Why would Tatsuzou and the Mafia attack the very sanitarium his own son was in?" Katsuya asked him.

"How the hell should I know? We came to find that out," Baofu responded.

Katsuya reflected with mild disbelief. "Demons, murderers, and now the Mafia… Is this still Japan here? I can't understand it all…"
"It's such a brutal way to die…" Maya said as she looked at the corpses.

Baofu told them. "With this, I don't know what's coming up… You ready? …This is your last chance to turn back."

"I've been so shaken up these days… Why do I have to put up with this? Why does a rumour become true…" Ulala said staring at the bodies, her eyes wide. She closed eyes and added. "But I'm not turning back. Not until Maya's safe."

"I'll help out if I can," Runa nodded in agreement.

"Fine, but try and not complain about it later," Baofu said before they ventured further in the sanatarium.

For unknown reasons, one of the doors in the sanatarium lead to a room with a spring of water at it's centre. Marble pillars surrounded the water and many doors floating around the space making Runa a tad nervous as to what might happen if one picked the wrong door on the way out.

A fairy, dressed in a pink nurse's outfit hovered over the water. The fairy had pale green hair, a red cross painted on her cheek and a stethoscope around her neck.

Katsuya wondered as he looked around. "W-What is this room? It feels thaw same as Philemon's dimension… Is this another world, too…?"

"Maybe, it's nice and refreshing," Runa guessed. She gave a content sigh, she could her energy returning to her by just being in the space.

"Wow~ …Look Ma-ya, a fairy! I've never seen one before! Should I take a picture?" Ulala excitedly exclaimed.

"Ha-aha, maybe next time. We'll have to bring a camera," Maya laughed and then she asked Baofu. "So do you know about room, Baofu?"

"I don't know much about this room. That flying bug is the owner, right? Why don't you ask her?" Baofu suggested.

Maya shrugged and approached the blue-green winged fairy.

The fairy seeing her, announced. "This world is give and take!"

"…Huh?" Maya froze dumbfounded by the fairy's words.

"Oh! …You're new here, right?" The fairy realised. The fairy introduced herself. "I'm Trish. I protect this place of recovery. I heal your wounded bodies. Not for free, of course. This world is give and take! You can recover from anything, depending on your wallet!"

"How much does it cost?" Maya asked.

"100,000 yen," Trish said with a wicked grin.

"What…!? Thank you, but I'll just stick with Runa-chan healing us. She's free."

"My healing far superior, it's more complete and your energy will be replenished to the highest quality, in no time. Dia's are fine and all, but I'll give a demonstration," Trish directed her attention to Katsuya and light surrounded him.

Runa watched to see what Trish was doing and found that Trish was replenishing Katsuya's spiritual energy. Runa then felt eyes on her. "Um… What is it…?"

Trish had ceased her previous action and now was floating right in front of Runa. Her glare was so intense Runa could feel it. Trish held her hands on her hips and demanded. "What are you doing? How on earth did you learn that technique!? That's mine!"

"Er… I guessed learnt instinctively and…" Runa attempted to answer.

"You can't just instinctively know stuff like that!"

"I can't…?"

"NO! Of course not! Who taught you!? When!? Where!?"

"I-I d-don't know!"

"Why are you getting so worked up over this?" Maya interjected.

"Because I can tell that she has more advanced techniques than me!" Trish snapped. She then realised what she just said and went silent for a minute. She then shouted. "Damn it… …You didn't hear me say that! That never happened! …I'll make a deal with you!"

"Sur…"Maya started.

"Don't finish that! Fairies never make deals in which they lose. Do not risk it," Runa warned cutting Maya off before she said anything.

"Okay, but how do you know that?" Maya nodded and asked.

"I'm not sure. I do read a lot about myths. So maybe it's from that," Runa shrugged.

"Or perhaps you met one of us before, you do bear the resonance of one who dabbled in the fae world," Trish mentioned offhandedly.

"Huh? I don't remember meeting many of your kind," Runa admitted as she placed her hands in the water. The water's properties were similar to the room's but magnified and there was another quality to it that Runa couldn't quite name.

"Such things matter little… You are correct, however. I only make deals in which I reap a profit, it's wise to remember that," Trish cautioned before she said. "Leave… Return if you must, and if you do… Tell me about what you have learnt of the fae realms in your travels. I'm interested in rumours and I'm happy to exchange tips for such knowledge. Which I'll sell at prices which I deemed acceptable and necessary!"

"Um… Alright," Runa nodded and shook Trish's outstretched hand. She hissed in pain and yanked her hand back.

"What the hell!?" Runa yelped. A small wound had appeared and a drop of blood started to gathered on her finger.

"Aha-ha, shaking hands with a fairy like me. Most unwise," Trish giggled while she hid the sharp object that she had used.

Runa winced and placed her wounded finger in her mouth. Why are Little small wounds more annoying than big ones?

"Do come again, won't you?" Trish grinned as Runa healed her finger.

There were mixed feelings about returning to the spring from everyone. They all left, some of their expectations of how fairies acted were crushed.

Past the door of room 206 there was a nurse with short dyed brown hair arranged in a falling apart bun held by a hairpin. The nurse was trembling in there corner of the room her green clipboard clutched tightly to her chest. She jumped and spun around her clipboard ready to strike.

Runa dropped her naginata and with the others raised her empty hands. The nurse saw this and she lowered her clip board hesitantly. "Y-You're a… hu… man… right?"

"We're all human. There's no need to be frighten, we're here to help," Maya assured the nurse.

"R-Really?" She questioned after she gulped.

"Yes, madam. I'm a police officer. We will do what we can to assist you," Katsuya promised.

"Then… P-P-P… Please save me!" The nurse cried as her legs buckled and she fell to her knees. She let the tears she had been holding back pour down her face as she sobbed.

Maya placed a hand on the back of the woman's shoulder and said soothing words to her. Once the nurse had calmed down, Maya asked her. "Can you tell us what happened here?"

"Demons…. Demons have appeared!" The nurse answered her eyes unfocused.

"We noticed," Baofu muttered.

"How did they get here?" Runa asked the nurse.

"…" The nurse closed her eyes, and replied. "He did it… He called the demons… The patient in Room 303… Tatsuya Sudou summoned the demons!"

"Sudou…" Runa stepped back. The killer was in this building. I want to run away…

Runa shook her head of such thoughts and she picked up her naginata. I won't turn back. Not before I get to the bottom of all this.

"The demons attacked my patients and my co-workers… It's no lie! … You saw them, too, right!? All those corpses!" The nurse continued with desperation. She wanted to be wrong.

"We saw them…" Baofu confirmed.

"Baofu!" Ulala scolded.

"It's no use lying to her," Baofu countered.

"He's right, no matter how much I want to… No one can safely live in denial forever," the nurse stated as she managed to rise to her feet with Maya's help. "Thank you…"

"Is there anything we can do to assist you?" Katsuya inquired.

"Perhaps… Ugh, this is all too surreal…Unknown armed men attacking demons and failing to defeat them. They aren't even supposed to be real! When I agreed to volunteer here as a nurse, I never thought I would see so much bloodshed in my life. It's all so inconceivable, but I know it's real… I saw it with my own eyes," the nurse said before she straighten her stance and she tucked her hair behind her ears.

Katsuya said concerned. "Madam?"

"I get the feeling you are here to put a stop to this. I won't ask you to escort me, but if you can give me some advice on how to deal with demons, I would appreciate it. I need to get home and check on family," the nurse said without hesitation.

"Talking helps but please, take these… They are some clean salts, they'll help you avoid most of the demons," Katsuya handed the woman some items.

"Thank you… Make Sudou pay for what he did, but save him from himself if you can. His life hasn't been easy. Goodbye," the nurse told them before she rushed out the door.

"Bye…" Runa muttered as the door closed.

"That nurse seems to be very confused, but considering this horrible condition… Everything must be true," Katsuya rationalised.

"The nurse said she saw a mysterious, armed group take on some demons! Could it be those dead Mafia guys back there?" Ulala wondered as she turned to Maya.

"Most likely," Maya agreed.

"I can't believe the nurse wanted us to help Sudou after what he did," Runa marvelled at notion.

"Speaking of Sudou… It seems that Tatsuzou is making enormous contributions to this sanitarium. He probably bribed them under the mask of charity, but she spilled her guts quickly. Well, it can't be helped in this situation," Baofu observed and reasoned.

"Sudou's room is Room 303, we should see what we can find out," Katsuya determined before they decided to exit the room.

On the third floor, outside of Room 303, Katsuya held out his hand and said. "Wait, Amano-chan. 'Tatsuya Sudou…' This must be Sudou's son's room. Let's investigate it."

"Very well, there is bound to be some clues," Maya nodded.

Katsuya opened the door and leaped into the room his gun drawn. Maya went in next holding her pink handguns ready to shoot. Runa slipped in next to Katsuya and she was met with a bewildering sight. The three stared at the walls covered in writing.

"He's not here, but…" Maya said putting her guns away.

"What… is… this…?" Katsuya finished before he returned his gun to it's holster.

Maya looked to her right and suddenly she walked towards the writing transfixed. Baofu and Ulala entered as well. Katsuya went to the papers covering the left wall and remarked. "These pictures on the wall… They're all victims of the murders… It seems that Sudou's son is the 'Old Maid.'"

"…" Runa stared the face of one of the victims, he seemed faintly familiar. The purple haired boy stood with his older sister in the photo with a bright smile. She realised the boy was Takuya Minashiro and his sister Shiori.

I hadn't seen his face in so long… Somehow I have forgotten it. That fact terrifies me… How could I forget? Runa asked herself.

"What's wrong… Amano? You look pale… Something wrong with that poem thing?" Baofu asked Maya as she stared at the words written in front of her.

Runa directed her attention toward the journalist. Maya shook her head. "It's nothing… It's just the name took me off guard. Though I feel like I've heard of it before, somewhere."

"…'Oracle of Maia…?'" Katsuya read aloud.

"The twinkling star of Pleiades set times in motion: Dance of pleasure, Feast of shadow, Tongue of stranger, Atonement lights above.

The Lion's roar echoes throughout…

The 5 skulls shine in Hades…

The holy cross shines in the Heavens…

The moment the stars stop rising…

The beat of the virgin Maia also ceases…

Paradise remains on earth…" Maya recited the words written on wall.

Afterward she had finished, Baofu questioned. "What does all that c^ ( mean…?"

"Heaven's cross… Is it the 'Grand Cross,' that occurred this summer past? Is… this… some sort of prophecy?" Katsuya theorised.

"You mean where all the planets in the solar system align in a cross formation…? But nothing happened…?" Ulala asked.

"Ah," Maya dropped to her knees and hissed in pain. Her arms crossed over her chest.

Katsuya rushed forward and knelt down. "What's wrong Amano-chan?"

"Does your chest hurt again, Ma-ya?" Ulala also knelt down beside the journalist.

"Again…?" Katsuya glanced up surprised.

"What do you mean by that?" Runa asked Ulala.

"After running into Deja Vu Boy, she got this mysterious bruise that nags her… She doesn't know how she got it…" Ulala explained.

"Don't get so worry. Look, I'm fine!" Maya insisted as she stood up and turned towards them.

"Fine…? You sure about that?" Ulala frowned.

"I'm sure," Maya told her.

Ulala still seemed unconvinced, but decided not to ask Maya about it anymore. She turned her gaze toward another area of the wall. She stared at the eye drawn upon it with disgust. "W-What's with this big eye… Gross! Nyar…Whatever is written on it… I can't read it…"

"It could be Nyarlahotep… But as to why the name of a Lovecraftien deity is doing on Sudou's wall… I don't know," Runa commented as she took a closer look.

"I see why Sudou was hiding him… I guess you can't blame him with such a crazy son. Like father, like son," Baofu reflected.

"He seemed to know you… But what does he know about you, Amano-san. Perhaps this room could yield more clues if we…" Katsuya muttered.

"This place ain't normal… This room vibes can't be trusted. Let's move on. No further use will come of staying here," Baofu determined, cutting Katsuya off.

Katsuya found himself reluctantly agreeing with the man and they soon went in search of the Sudou. If anyone had answers, he would be the one.

The Director's Office of the fourth floor was where they found three dead bodies, a familiar hellhound and a man with wild blonde hair. The man was standing in front of a mirror standing and admiring his face. The man was Tatsuya Sudou.

"You… The annoying little girl do you recall the 'Other Side,' yet?" Sudou inquired as he saw Runa and the others enter via the mirror in front of him.

Runa gritted her teeth for a second prior to shouting. "Hey! I might not know about this 'other side,' but I know you killed my friend when I was younger!"

"Huh? Oh… I see you're the girl who that stupid un-obedient demon helped," Sudou said.

"A demon helped me…?" Runa repeated.

"How about you? Do you remember?" Sudou asked Maya as he glanced at her over his shoulder.

"I still don't know what you're talking about. So, no, I don't," Maya shook her head.

"I see… I feel sorry for that brat," Sudou commented.

"You're… Tatsuya Sudou, aren't you? This serial killing… the killings 10 ten years ago… You did these, didn't you…?" Katsuya stepped closer to Sudou and accused him.

Sudou turned to face him and he recalled. "You mean back then? Ah… how nostalgic. The voices won't let me off with just arson. They said they needed a sacrifice. With the chest all carved out alive… With the tendons cut so they can't escape. Herald, if you were that girl you would remember how I worked. You failed to help anyone, that time. But as they say we learn from our mistakes."

"What are talking about!? Don't treat Takuya-kun's death like some kind of sick ritual! He was my friend!" Runa snapped.

"Who…? Takuya… Oh, was that his name? Oops, it appears that I forgot," Sudou shrugged.

"…F-Forgot?" Runa echoed and she stared blankly at the killer.

"You piece of garbage… How the hell did you get that kind of power being locked up for 10 years?" Baofu demanded.

"'Kotodama,' y'know, Kotodama. Y' know? You say something and it'll happen? The voices tell me anything… That poor excuse for a a dad did this to me," Sudou answered.

"Kotodama…? The rumours? You said that your dad did this to you. Then, why is he after your life?" Katsuya questioned.

Before Sudou could answer, a phone began to ring. Sudou placed a finger to his lips. "Sh-h-h-h…. It's from the guys outside."

Baofu looked out the window and he stood back with a startled look. "…!"

Baofu swiftly moved away from the window and rushed off down the hallway.

Ulala called out. "Wai… Where are you going!?"

Once Baofu left the room, Runa went to the window to see what had caused such a reaction. She saw a black car with three men near it. One man in a white traditional Chinese outfit and who had a scar on his face was talking to someone on a phone. Another two men were wearing red outfits and stood either side of the car parked near the fountain.

Runa turned back toward Sudou immediately afterwards when he picked up the sanatarium staff members phone. Sudou answered the phone and said. "If you're wondering about your men, I already ripped open their guts. I'm free, you got that? 'I'm coming for you soon!' …Give that message to my f#(%!#' dad!"

Sudou ended the phone and laughed. Katsuya questioned him. "What do you hope to accomplished!? To keep on killing!? To get revenge on your father!?"

"Hy-aha-ha! I used to kill for pleasure, but now I only kill because people give me a call,"Sudou chuckled and answered. He cocked his head and added. "Right?"

"…" Ulala stepped back at Sudou's words.

She must be shocked he could think that way, and he is in fact the Joker, Runa concluded.

"My real purpose is… to right the wrong. 'This Side' is wrong, and the 'Other Side' is right. My f#(%!#' dad doesn't understand that… You understand, don't you?" Sudou explained staring at Maya.

"No, I don't understand any of this," Maya disagreed with him.

"Tch… How long are you gonna keep up this act!?" Sudou demanded banishing his sword in the air in front of him. He gestured to the hellhound beside him and said. "I'lll make you remember… If this guy doesn't eat you, come to the Aerospace Museum!"

The hellhound stood as Sudou disappeared in a ball of malevolent energy. Katsuya fired shots at the mass of energy as Sudou escaped. "Wait, Sudou!"
The energy disappeared and the hellhound reared it's head and howled at them. The next thing that occurred was that Katsuya, Ulala, Maya and Runa found themselves in a battle realm with the hellhound as their opponent.

"Stone Rise," Katsuya, Maya and Ulala combined their power to strike the demon.

The hellhound flinched before it let out a low growl. There was other sound and smoke began to rise from the demon's nostrils.

Runa threw up her hands and shouted. "Fire Wall."

The hellhound's mouth open and flames spewed forth at the group. Instead of the flames burning the group, the flames collided with the opaque wall surrounding the group. The flames turned into thin air and the Persona-users were left unharmed.

"Now, go! Aqua!" Maya commanded her Persona Maia. A surge of water met the hellhound forcing it further away from the group.

"Magnus!" Ulala shouted and rocks smashed into the demon.

The demon howled and rushed at Katsuya with it's teeth highly visible. "Grrr-ah!"

Katsuya used his gun and shot at the demon repeatedly until the hellhound dropped to the ground. Maya used the opportunity and casted another water spell finishing the hellhound off.

Once the battle had ended, the four Persona-users went in search of Baofu. Ulala had found him by the fountain at the front of the sanatarium. "There he is!"

Maya, Katsuya and Runa followed Ulala and saw Baofu. The car and men surrounding the car that Runa had seen from the window, were nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, you! Why'd you disappear when we needed you!? Because of you…" Ulala began to scold.

Baofu ignored her words. He lit a cigarette and started smoking it as Ulala continued to yell at him. Eventually she gave up and shook her head silently at the man.

"You seem to have a reason… Did you know him?" Katsuya inquired.

"…" Baofu didn't say a word, but from the way his jaw muscle tightened it was clear he at least knew of man who he saw from the window.

Katsuya realised Baofu wasn't going to tell him anything and got out his phone.

Baofu glanced at Katsuya and said. "Knock it off… They'll find out without a report tom us. Besides, how are you gonna explain this?"

"I am an officer of the law. I can't just let it go…" Katsuya put down his phone and replied. He pushed a few buttons and proceed to ring the authorities.

"Heh… You can't look the other way, huh…? You're too soft," Baofu scoffed.

Once Katsuya had finished his call, he told Maya, Ulala, Baofu and Runa. "Let the firemen and police handle this, and let's head to the Aerospace Museum. We can't let Sudou stay on the loose."

Runa's eyes glanced to the ground. What Sudou did here was… Unbearably cruel. And if he hurts more people…? Could I save those people, or would I fail?

"We will stop Sudou. We won't let Sudou hurt anymore people. We won't let something like this happen again," Maya promised Runa.

When Maya-san says so, I think we could stop him… I might only of known her for a short time, but I'm certain I can trust her, Runa nodded silently and reflected.

Thanks for reading this next chapter is the Aerospace Museum where some characters from my previous Persona 2 fanfic will make an appearance and blimps will fly.