We're starting a new story arc you guys, I hope you're ready.

….

"It seems that things have become turbulent."

Yu leaned back in his seat in the Velvet Room, "It seems so Igor."

The odd man chuckled, "It seems now that you have met most of the players in this game. I hope you have now realized that the truth isn't just located in the TV world anymore."

Yu blinked, "Are you implying that Personas and Numbers are more connected that I thought?"

"We are," Margaret said, "We know you saw for yourself."

"That vision…..so we weren't hearing things. Someone did summon a Persona then. They've existed for that long?"

"Ever since humanity began and had a sense of self, there always has been Persona." Igor smiled.

"But that isn't the thing that's trouble the most now is it."

Yu sighed at Margaret's observation, "It's Astral….his mission…I don't think it's right. I think he knows this too but he feels obligated to do it."

"Sadly I cannot reveal too much about his mission but do realize that parts of his memory is….incomplete. However that isn't a bad thing all the time."

Yu raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Igor ignored him, "Keep an eye out for people suspicious around town now….you wouldn't want to meet the wrong person in a dark alleyway. We'll see you next time."

…..

The next morning was full of panic to get Yuma's friends packed and checked out of the Amagi Inn and to the train station on time. Everyone exchanged goodbyes except for Shark, who was still at the hospital with his sister.

"You'll keep us updated right?" Tetsuo asked.

"We will, Rio's strong she'll pull through." Yuma reassured him.

"Just don't get into too much trouble Yuma. I won't be there to get you out of detention." Kotori warned.

"We'll keep an eye on him don't worry." Chie promised.

"Who's going to keep an eye on you?"

"What was that Yosuke!?"

"Thanks for letting us stay at your in Yukiko." Cathy said.

"No problem, we look forward to your return."

"Please keep us informed on any events." Takashi said.

"Teddie…" Tokonosuke whispered and handed a brown envelope to him, "Open in private."

"I appreciate your business."

"Make sure you call us." Rise said.

"We will! See you later!" Kotori called out as they bordered.

"Bye!" Yuma waved until the train was out of sight then became down trodden, "I already miss them."

"It's alright…" Kanji reassured him, "I'm pretty sure they'll come back."

"So what are we going to do about Ryoga?" Naoto asked.

"My mother already arranged that he could stay at the inn for two more nights for free until he can figure out some more permanent accommodations." Yukiko said.

"What about transferring Rio to the hospital in their hometown?" Yu asked.

"Shark said something about insurance but it sounds like that won't be an option for a while." Yosuke said. "He keeps playing phone tag with his uncle or someone like that."

"So exactly what happened down there anyway?" Chie asked, "You said she got possessed by something."

"Yosuke was there from the beginning." Naoto said, "What happened before we got there?"

"Well….he…" Yosuke coughed, "He…" he coughed again, "Shark was…" Yosuke broke into a huge coughing fit.

"Whoa! Don't tell me you're getting sick too!" Teddie started to panic.

"Am not!" Yosuke caught his breath, "It's just every time I try to bring what happened up I start coughing so much that I can't get a word out. It's starting to creep me out."

Yu raised an eyebrow. Experience so far had taught him to never believe in coincidences and Yosuke being unable to explain what had happened was something suspicious. "Maybe if Shark is willing to he could tell us."

"He won't be in a sharing mood…he rarely is." Yuma said, "You have to force yourself into the problem before he would begin to accept help."

"What does Astral have to say on this?" Rise asked.

"Actually….I haven't seen him all morning."

"You haven't?" This caught Yu off guard.

"Where did he go? Where can he go anyway?" Naoto wondered.

"He's in here." Yuma held up his pendant, "There's actually a pocket dimension inside, that's where we keep the airship when not in use. Astral usually goes inside if he's bored or needs to think on things."

"So he's been there all morning?" Yukiko asked.

"Yeah…..I hope he comes out soon."

…

Astral sat watching the turning gears of the airship. The event of the last few days had thrown him for a loop and turned everything he knew upside down. He had finally remembered his mission but now he had doubts about it. The look on Yuma's face was heartbreaking. Everything that he learned on Earth was screaming at him that he shouldn't go through with destroying Barian world. But that memory of the man who gave him that order, he felt fear every time he thought of it. Like he was afraid of disappointing this man, or worse. Then there was what he learned about the Barians themselves, of how they used to be human. Part of him wanted to ignore this fact and the other part of him wanted to know why. How did human souls reincarnate as Barian? What kind of conditions had to be met? Which lead to the most troubling thought on his mind…

The possibility that Shark was a Barian.

He didn't want to admit it but there was far too much evidence to think otherwise. The vision from the ruins showed that he had a past life and that version of him was wearing the Barian symbol. Thinking back on it, it could explain of how Shark was able to create a Chaos Number with no assistance. And it was very possible that Rio was a Barian as well. Astral mentally cursed himself for not noticing the signs sooner. Why did they question her abilities before? It was suspicious thinking back on it that she could always tell when there was Barian activity. But Astral didn't want to think of them as enemies…they two of them had helped Yuma with no hidden intentions. Could there be a chance that they didn't know they were Barians? If that was the case, were they at risk for being attacked or even kidnapped for their supposed Barian nature? And what if destroying Barian world meant killing them as well?

Astral leaned back against the cool metal. He wished there was someone he could talk too. But it was quite in the Key, the Numbers hadn't given him anything, not even that mysterious warrior that had tested him and Yuma before unlocking his memory of the Numeron Code. He just wanted to know what was right. Astral sighed, there were still something else that had gotten him curious, Persona.

It was like a giant puzzle falling into place, there was defiantly a connection between Numbers and Personas as evident by the past Vector summoning on in such a manner. Hopefully the present day Vector lacked such ability. Thinking on what Yu and his friends had told him, Persona's were a reflection of one self, and the Shadows were very similar but were repressed emotions but they were still part of a person. Like talking to a copy of yourself that knew what you were going through.

Astral stood up in a hurry. Maybe….just maybe….that was the answer for now. He could go into the TV and located his Shadow self. If it contained his true emotions about what was happening maybe then he could figure out what to do. It was a risky plan yes but if he didn't reject the Shadow, he should be in no danger. He did recall the last two times he was in the TV world he felt a tug towards something, it must have been his Shadow.

Should he tell Yuma about this? No, it would get him all worried plus he wasn't ready to share something things and Yu…..he would probably bring everyone and he wasn't comfortable with everyone knowing of his dilemma. If he went into the TV tonight once they were asleep, he should be back by morning with his answer. Astral took a deep breath to calm himself. Tonight he was going to get his answer.

….

It was homework time at the Dojima household. Due to their eventful weekend, Yu and Yuma were a little behind with their studies. Nanako also still had homework to do so the three of them were gathered around the table working as fast as they can.

"If x equals 3 then y equals 7+z…..arrrrggggg…." Yuma's head met the table, "I can't get this."

"Sure you can." Yu reassured him.

"But when does math involved letters?! It's like they're making up the rules as they go." Yuma pouted.

"You can do it Yuma. Big Bro can make any subject easy." Nanako smiled.

"He's already explained this to me three times…" Yuma melted into the table, "I'll never get this."

"If you give up I am not making you rice balls."

Yuma sat back up, "Yes ma'am!"

The door opened as Ryotaro arrived home, "I'm home…."

"Welcome back daddy! How was work?" Nanako ran up and gave her father a hug.

"Long….we've got someone new at the department."

"Why?" Yu was a bit curious.

"Something about lightening the workload so that resources could be dedicate to cases." He said as he sat down, "Personally I think it's unnecessary but he did turn Adachi's mess of a desk into the cleanest desk in the office."

"That's good I guess."

"And there's the weird habit of his of yelling Heart Burning in English. That one got awkward after awhile."

Yuma dropped his pencil in shock. That catch phrase was extremely familiar to him.

"Anyway…I heard one of your friends ended up in the hospital Yuma, are they doing alright?" Ryotaro changed the subject.

"I don't know…Shark's been with her all day but he hasn't called about any changes." Yuma pouted.

"Just what were you guys doing before she collapsed?" Ryotaro's detective side was kicking in.

"I wouldn't say she collapsed…"Yu started, "We were showing them around town and Rio said she was feeling exhausted so she fell asleep. Then she got worse…"

"I see…."

"We should visit her and bring flowers!" Nanako piped up, "And bring some food for her brother. He might get so worried that he won't eat. Daddy get's like that when he works too hard."

"I wouldn't say that…" Ryotaro tried to laugh it off, "But we can do that. But first….homework."

…

Astral calculated that it was rather late in the evening so he emerged from the key and looked around. Both Yu and Yuma were in deep slumber so they never notice his presence. "It's now or never…." Astral looked to the small television that Yu kept in his room. He should be able to fit through it. Now he hoped that he could actually enter the TV world rather than just phase through the set. Taking a deep breath, Astral placed his hand on the glass surface.

It rippled like water.

"I'm sorry Yuma but….I'll be back…" With that…Astral entered the TV world, alone.

…..

So we get more hints as to who Persona's and Numbers are linked and Astral is now alone in the TV world! Will it go according to his plan? Naaaaaaaahhhhh….