The past month was nuts for me causing me to nearly forget that I kind of need to update stuff…sorry *sweatdrops*. Any who a lot of stuff is going to happen now, I hope you are prepared.

….

"Is it ever going to stop raining around here?"

"It did stop for three hours this morning before a new storm moved in."

"Not what I meant Astral." Yuma sighed as he made his way to Junes. They were going to meet up again there today to talk about what happened last night. Shark had even said he'll join them, might as well is what he said. "How are you feeling anyway? Since last night?" Yuma asked his friend.

"Myself?" Astral seemed surprised then thought for a moment, "I suppose I feel…relieved. Like an enormous pressure was lifted from my mind."

"That's good." Yuma couldn't help but smile, "And you've got a Persona out of it too."

Astral chuckled, "Yes there's that too…..though to be honest, the events leading up to it trouble me."

"You mean Vector?"

"Not just him…" Astral said, "I've been in that world two times prior to the encounter last night. So didn't my Shadow reveal itself then?"

Yuma mused, that was a very good point, "We should ask Yu and the others that. They might have a better idea."

"A good idea, they have more experience with the TV world than we do."

"That they do….."

"You have something else on your mind Yuma." Astral could read him like a book sometimes.

Yuma let out another sigh, "It's Shark and Rio…something happened in those ruins….Yosuke knows why but he won't talk about it."

Astral watched Yuma continue to walk for several moments before asking, "What did you see when we were in those ruins?"

"Um….We ran up to Shark during his duel….then we ended up in some sort of battle…And Shark was wearing armor for some reason."

"Did you notice any details about him?"

"Ahhhhhh…..No?"

Astral shook his head, "I saw him as well, he was wearing a pendant that was identical to the Barian emblem."

Yuma jumped back in alarm, "Why was he wearing something like that?!"

"I'm not sure….Though it could imply that Shark might have a connection to the Barians."

"But….he's our friend….."

"I know he is Yuma but don't forget what I said last night…." Astral gave him a smile, "I want to find out more before I act on anything. I want to hear what Shark has to say before I decide anything."

"Thank you Astral….." Yuma's D-Gazer rang in his pocket, "Hello?"

"Yuma….I need some help".

"Help? What's going on Shark?"

"There's reporters at the hospital….they're trying to get into Rio's room."

…

Why aren't there locks on these doors! Shark pushed with all his might trying to keep it closed.

"Mr. Kamishiro! A word please!"

"Does your sister have a mysterious illness?"

"The doctor said this wasn't a plague but what are your words on it?"

"No comment!" Shark called back. Why do reporters have to be so insistent? And how did they get inside the hospital anyway? Shouldn't security turn them away at the lobby?

"Back it up! Everyone out! If you continue to harass the staff and patients I will arrest you for trespassing!" A new voice interjected with command causing the reporters to scurry away in a hurry. Whoever it was knocked on the door, "I'm Detective Ryotaro Dojima, can I come in?"

Shark sighed in relief, it was a police officer. About time one showed up. Shark opened the door to allow the scruffy looking man inside. "You doing alright kid?"

"Yeah….I don't get how they got this close."

"Me neither…They should have been turned away at the front desk." Dojima rubbed his temples, "These reporters are rather desperate for some news if they're trying to break into a hospital room. I'll arrange to have someone keep guard in case they try again."

"That would be greatly appreciated…." Shark looked over to his sister's sleeping form. The commotion hadn't stirred her at all.

"There wasn't a chance she might have been attack? I am a cop so even if there was a chance, I'll make a report to have it on file." Dojima offered.

"No…..she just won't wake up. I just got her back from a hospital!" Shark sank back into his chair, "Now we're in another one…"

"I'm sure the doctors are doing all they can for her….." Dojima said, "Though reporters on your tail won't help. I'm glad that Yu called."

"You know Yu?" Shark asked.

"He's my nephew. And your friend Yuma is currently staying with us. They both called me when you called Yuma."

So that's how he knew to come here….Shark thought.

"I've got to get back to my rounds….call me if you need anything." Dojima handed Shark business card.

"I will….thanks for shaking those reporters off."

"No problem…." Dojima left the hospital room. He couldn't ignore the gut feeling that he was getting now. If the pattern he has been seeing that past few months was true, he had just meet the next person who would disappear mysteriously.

…..

Durbe paced as he waited for time to pass. If Merga's plan was right, within the next two days Ryoga would end up inside the fog world and hopefully be confronted with his true nature. The next step was to prevent Yuma and his friends from interfering. This plan had a lot of risks but, he was willing to do anything get his leader back.

"Are you going in?"

"No way! You know you don't approach him like this."

Gilag and Alit's voices caught Durbe's attention. The two were hovering near Vector's chambers seemingly trying to edge each other into the room.

"What is going on here?"

The two Barians nearly jumped at Durbe's presence. "You really shouldn't go in there." Alit said.

"What is going on in there?" Durbe was already on a short fuse, if this involved Vector somehow it was already getting on his nerve.

"Nothing!" Gilag insisted, "Just Vector being Vector."

"And that could mean almost anything….." Durbe shoved his way past the two and was surprised with what he saw.

Vector was crying.

He couldn't believe it, Vector, someone with no heart and loves malice, was crying. It was almost too good to be true. "How long has he been like this?"

"Since he got back from Earth….he started ranting about how his plan didn't work and being lied too." Gilag said.

"Did he say what he planned on doing?"

"Nope…." Alit shook his head, "Didn't tell us….though I did hear foggy world at one point."

Foggy? Durbe had a suspicion, now he needed to confirm it. "Vector!"

The grey Barian didn't even look at him but the sobs ceased, "What is it Durbe?"

"What have you been up to? Have you been to that other realm you spoke of?"

Vector chuckled, "Sharp as a tack, I'll give you that Durbe. Yes I have been there…and so has Astral."

"Astral?"

"Did I stutter?" Vector gave him a glare trying to look intimidating but the evidence of tears ruined the effect, "Astral was so desperate about finding answers that he willing went there to find himself….something that I took advantage of!"

"Did you….finish him?" As much as he hated Vector, Durbe did feel a bit of hope that their enemies were gone.

"NO!" Vector clenched his fist in fury, "Yuma and his pathetic friends ruined everything! It was working so well too…..And bad enough there was even Shadow of…." Vector suddenly froze stopping mid sentence.

"Shadow of what?"

"None of your concern Durbe…." Vector spat out his name. "Just know that Yuma's new allies will be going for us now."

"Which is once again your fault…." Durbe left after that followed by Gilag and Alit. By himself once again, Vector curled up into a ball and tears flowed once again.

"Mother….."

…..

In the Junes food court, the Investigation Team had faced many a smaller crisis in their time together ranging from finals to family problems and now they were facing another.

A very pissed off Shark.

"Here's some coffee….looks like you're going to need it." Yosuke said handing him a cup.

Shark downed it ignoring the temperature, "Press inside a hospital…..I still can't believe they got passed security."

"Well this is a small town….personal boundaries are sort of a lost art." Chie said.

"But there is still more pressing matters. If this ends up on the news tonight and it keeps raining…" Naoto started.

"There's a very good chance that myself or Rio will end up on that Midnight Channel I get it!" Shark finished for her. "As if I didn't have enough problems."

"But will the killer be dumb enough to go kidnap someone in a hospital?" Kanji asked, "I mean….there's going to be more security after the press tried to force their way in."

"But the killer did get Yuma when we were all at Junes, in front of a lot of people," Yu said.

"So the culprit could be deteriorating since we all survived." Naoto said.

"So you think he might slip up?" Yukiko was hopeful.

Yuma glanced to his right before speaking, "Astral said that he can identify who got me if we saw him again."

"But this is a small town…you think we would have run into him by now." Yosuke muttered.

"He might know that too so he might be keeping a low profile." Shark offered.

"So we're back to square one….now we just have to make sure this culprit doesn't go after Shark or Rio-chan…." Chie muttered munching on her food.

"Without looking ridiculous…." Yu said recalling their previous stake outs and the shenanigans they got involved in.

"We could just camp out in Rio-chan's room…." Teddie slyly said earning him a smack square in the forehead from Shark.

"NO!...How do you handling being around this bear?"

"Patience mostly…." Rise said.

Yuma collapsed on the table and let out the biggest sigh he had, "This is getting too intense…..can we just take a break?"

"I second the motion…" Yosuke joined him on laying on the table land.

"Are you two serious?" Shark started questioning their logic, "You guys have a serial killer on the loose who may go after me and my sister next not to mention that the Barians could attack at any time and you want to take a break!?"

"We could use one…"

"Don't tell me you're on board with this idea too Yu!"

"A break does sound nice…" Yukiko was now joining the band wagon.

"I don't believe this…."

"This may be the only chance we've got," Naoto said, "We can't move until we get more information about the killer and we can safely assume that the Barians won't attack after want happened last night."

"You see Shark? Come on let's have a duel!" Yuma pleaded with him.

"You always want to duel me….."

"Can you do it with the holograms? I really want to see the full on duel with the cool effects." Rise asked with sparkles in her eyes.

"Do the holograms really duke it out with each other?" Kanji asked as well getting excited.

"I want to see the hot babes!"

"TEDDIE! NOT IN FRONT OF CHILDREN!"

"Fine! We can have a duel….but I want to choose my opponent!" Shark declared.

"You….you don't want to duel me?" Yuma started to pull the puppy eye look.

"We always duel each other….it get's predictable….I want a new challenge." Shark pointed to Yu, "You've got a deck and a Number Card right?"

"Yeah….."

"Good….you can borrow Yuma's equipment."

"Very well…I accept your challenge." Yu said with a grin.

"Sensei dueling? This is going to be awesome!" Teddie cheered.

"But they can't do it here….it's going to disturb some of the other customers…." Yosuke pointed out.

"The flood plains should work…and it looks like we've got a break in the rain too." Kanji said.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Yuma asked, "Let's get to it!"

….

That's right everyone, Shark vs Yu next chapter!