Mitsuru Kirijo was absolutely furious. Not only did she have to deal with Minato's return, but also with all these damn shadows. She admitted to herself that traveling by way of this world was not the best idea. Granted, her party, consisting of Junpei and Akihiko, could easily handle themselves, and she could see landmarks that signaled her of their destination.

Still, these shadows just wouldn't let up. Akihiko was the first to voice concern as they ran through the streets of a shopping district. "Look, it was a good idea to take this way, but we're attracting too many shadows, don't you think?"

"Don't you think?!" Junpei was lagging behind a little. "Seems like they're coming from America just to kick our asses!"

"Please, I'm trying to find an access point!" She was panicking a little...

"Wow, you are one bear-y pretty lady! Oh, Mitsuru-San, is that you?" A voice came from an alley to their right. "Sha da da doo-be doo-be, Teddie is HERE!" A little blonde boy ran out into the street. "If you wanna get out of here, there's an exit this way!"

"T-teddie?!" Mitsuru and Akihiko were both a little confused.

"Hey! It's the grand prix guy!" Junpei grinned.

"Yeah, it's the grand prix guy, and if you don't hurry up, you guys are gonna get stomped!"

Akihiko nodded. "Good point, let's move!"

Where the TV led was a less-than acceptable place. Not only would Mitsuru need to deal with the damages of a very expensive television, but would also have to explain to one old man how her, and three other people, broke through the television and into the real world.

She hastily dealt with the terror stricken senior, and proceeded outside, where Junpei, Akihiko and Teddie were waiting. She completely forgot about the television.

Teddie looked to Junpei. "So, where's Yuka-Tan?"

"She... uh... well, she is back in there." He said with obvious guilt.

"She'll be fine. If I know Yukari, Fuuka and her are having an easy time of scanning Tartarus." Akihiko presumed.

"Teddie, do you know about the rising of Tartarus in that world?"

"Of course, Mitsuru! It came up about the same time that strange guy came into town!"

"Strange guy?" Junpei queried.

"You don't know? The dude with blue hair?" The bear-boy cocked his head.

Junpei's mouth hung open, as his gaze switched from Teddie to Mitsuru, then back to Akihiko. "Is it... who I think it is?"

Mitsuru smiled. "We didn't tell you because we knew it'd distract you. But, yes, as Teddie put it, the blue haired dude, Arisato, is alive and here."

Junpei's smile grew wider and wider, as he almost felt tears run down his face. "N-no joke, eh?! Oh man, this is freaking awesome! Yuka-Tan is gonna flip!"

"Anyways, we need to rendevous with your 'Investigation Team', if you don't mind." Akihiko looked to Teddie. "And probably a place to stay."

Teddie grinned. "The Amagi Inn! A perfect place to relax and enjoy life! A place where the steam rises and warms not only the body, but the soul!"

"Sounds great, albeit a little strange." Mitsuru nodded. "We just need to be away from this place for a little bit." She gestured to the large Junes building.

"Follow me you three, I'll get you there beary quickly!"

I said goodbye to Minato, as he returned to... wherever he was staying. Marie also said goodbye, and finally, I was left there. I really wish I could have walked away too, but, for some reason, I just stood there. The world was still stopped as I was in the proximity of the velvet room. It was odd seeing both Marie and Minato frozen in front of me. Reaching out for one of them, the door opened behind me. Quickly, I spun around to meet a face I'd not seen in a long time.

"It's good to see you."

"Margaret! Likewise." I smiled.

She looked exactly the same, not a day older. "I apologize that I did not make my presence known, however, I tend to stay away from him." The last word of her sentence dripping with disgust. "I am truly apologetic. He knows not when to quiet himself either. He pushes your buttons to get a rise."

"You might want to stop with the bad mouthing. From what I gather, he's your master's master. He can probably hear you."

She chuckled. "Are you positive of that? No, he cannot hear me. His power is that of an infantile god. For some reason, he is weak, while Nyarlathotep is strong."

My mind started to race. I heard that voice again, that dark voice I heard during my dream, and the fight with my shadow.

SHE IS RIGHT. PHILEMON IS WEAK.

WE CAN KILL HIM.

GIVE ME YOUR BODY.

OPEN PANDORA'S BOX! SEIZE YOUR DESTINY!

"Stop!"

Margaret stepped back, surprised at my sudden outburst. "N-narukami? Are you well?"

My hands had moved to my head, gripping it hard. It seemed that I had another outburst. "Yes... I'm fine.

She shook her head. "No you're not. It's the voice again."

I shot a glance at her. "How do you know?"

"I... have learned many things in these past few days that... I probably shouldn't know." Her look was one of disdain. "How I came into existence. How we all were born. How we die."

"How we... die?"

She frowned. "Yes. That's another reason I wanted to talk to you. Yu Narukami. Please. When you reach the tower of Babel, think twice about your decision. Maybe then, I can prevent the inevitable. For at least a little while."

I couldn't believe my ears. Me, die at this tower of Babel? It seemed extremely improbable. How did she know our future? "How did you find all this out?! What is the tower of Babel?!"

"I do not wish to keep things from you, so I will make it simple; my master knew many things. He had the power to tell futures. He always knew, no matter what, how the future would turn. Our job is to not interfere with a preordained future, but... you are... special to me." I noticed a blush cross her cheeks before disappearing quickly. "In any case, please, just remember what I say. And..." She reached into her pocket to procure a sheet of paper. "...You would do well to remember what you signed all those years ago."

"A contract." I nodded.

"Good. Now I must go. If you need a fusion performed, I am here."

"Definitely. I... don't know what to say, Margaret."

"Just be careful." And with that, she disappeared into the velvet room.

I admit, wholeheartedly, I was absolutely terrified. Tower of Babel, my death, what was going on in this world? Without too much hesitation, I headed home. I just needed to see Naoto, and get my head clear. Yeah, that'll help... Naoto.

Rain started to come down, but she didn't mind. The umbrella she had brought was adequate. Besides, she wanted to stay at the memorial site for a little while longer. "Grampa? I... I'm here. I've brought you something."

She set down a small wooden box. "It's jasmine... your favorite. W-well, you enjoy the others as well, I had just assumed..." She started to breathe heavy, tears escaping her eyes. "I am so sorry I was not there..."

More rain poured down, harder and harder, the wind kicked up like a tempest, blowing her umbrella away. She weakly reached out to it, but with no result, when she pulled her hand away. Getting wet was of no consequence. "If anything... I deserve to catch hypothermia."

She sat there, the rain pouring down. Her clothes became soaking wet, and she could not care any less. While stuck in her brooding, she didn't notice footsteps behind her. She turned as the figure drew closer, realizing instantly who it was.

"Naoto? What are you doing here?" Chie Satonaka, fully clothed in police official gear, knelt down beside her friend. "Jeez, you're soaking wet! Oh man, you'll catch a cold out here! Come on, get into my car." The much taller Satonaka hoisted Naoto to her feet with ease. "... So this is where he is. You can call me, Naoto. I can come with you."

Naoto gave no answer, as she simply smiled at her friend and coworker.

"Why didn't you bring Yu here? He would have come with you." Chie, holding Naoto by the arm, said as they walked towards her car.

"He has his own problems..." Naoto's voice was quiet, hoarse, the voice one would expect from a leper. "He... shouldn't burden himself... with mine."

As they entered Chie's car, Naoto let it all out. Tears openly streamed down her face, and she secretly hoped the rain would mask it. "Oh... Naoto... I'm so sorry." The older girl pulled the younger, wetter one into her arms, without a word.

"I wasn't there, Chie! He died and I wasn't there! He must hate me, I d-didn't even get to say g-goodbye..." Naoto choked through sobs that racked her body. It felt like she was going to throw up. In fact, she really did have to throw up. "I'm g-gonna puke-,"

"AHH! Here, get out of the car!" Chie immediately pulled Naoto out of the car, and as her hands and knees hit the pavement, the detective evacuated what little she ate on the ground. Satonaka looked down into the gross mixture, and suddenly found herself a little upset. "Naoto, you haven't been eating."

Still kneeling on the wet pavement, Naoto looked up at her. "N-no, I haven't..."

"Look, you may be a better detective than me, but I'll tell you what; no healthy person's puke looks like that, w-well nobody healthy pukes, b-but you get my point!"

Naoto then found herself on her feet, dizzy and turned around. "C-chie... I need... to sleep." Completely exhausted, she threw an arm around her friend. "P-please..."

The older girl shook her head. "Who knew someone so smart could be so stupid sometimes... you don't need to face this stuff alone. Okay?"

"Yes... thank you... Chie..."

Tatsuya was exhausted, so being stopped by the ice queen herself, and the rest of her crew was not the best thing to happen to him. Besides, the rain would mess up the leather, and that wasn't happening. He was right outside the damn hotel, home free.

"Suou-San, I do realize that you've come here at the behest of our own organization, but not that we are here, you are no longer needed. You do not have to burden yourself with this now."

"Burden myself?" He scoffed. "Look, I'm here and this is happening. Besides, I'm not here at the behest of anybody. I'm here for my own reasons. So, I'm staying."

Junpei shook his head. "I really don't see why the dude has to go."

"Me neither." Akihiko agreed.

Mitsuru sighed. "Alright. Then go about your business."

Tatsuya smiled. "Sure thing." The others watched him walk into the Inn, as they stood out in the rain.

Brushing her bangs out of her face, Mitsuru shook her head. "It's just that... that man has ulterior motives. I can just tell..."

Ryotaro Dojima, the police chief of Inaba, found himself in unfamiliar territory. Underneath him, a floor that looked like a road. Walls were nonexistent, so the view was easy to see: mountains concealed by red fog, in the sky seemed to be an endless flame. Cars were crashed around him on this road, corpses seemed to be trapped under them.

"What in the living hell is this place...?"

A familiar voice behind him; "Oh, it's your world."

Dojima's eyes grew wide. "I know that voice..." He turned. "... Adachi!"

Adachi smiled and put up a hand. "Heh, guilty as charged, boss."