A/N: So…hi there. This is Chapter 4 of Path of Discovery. I know this story isn't very popular yet, but I'm having fun writing it, so I guess I'll just keep going? Hopefully it'll get more of a following the further along we get. And if not...well, like I said, I'm having too much fun to stop. XD


They emerged from the Velvet Room door into an entirely different place from where they'd entered.

Riko belatedly realized that she hadn't checked out of the motel before coming to the Velvet Room, and then shrugged. She hadn't left anything in the room, and the door had been open when they'd left. Likely the owner would just think she was a careless person who didn't bother to check out properly.

She sighed.

"Something wrong?" Shun asked.

She shook her head. "Nothing serious." As far as problems went, not checking out of the motel room properly was way, way low down on her list. She turned to Katsuya. "Do you know where we are?"

He nodded, frowning slightly. "We're near the library where Tatsuya studies. He's going to become a police officer, too," he added proudly.

Riko smiled despite herself. It was obvious Katsuya cared about his brother a great deal.

"Thought you said he'd be at home?" Baofu said, arching an eyebrow.

Katsuya gave a small shrug. "It's Thursday. Normally we go out for a late lunch together. But I guess he must have an exam coming up or something."

"No way," Ulala said in disbelief. "Little Suou, studying?"

Katsuya smiled. "He's finally taking his studies seriously." He frowned a bit. "You don't think he'll go back to how he was before once he gets his memories back, do you?"

Riko shook her head. "No. He'll get his memories back from before, but he'll also remember everything that's happened since he lost them in the first place. Besides, you two grew closer before he lost his memories, right? I'm sure everything will be fine." She smiled at him reassuringly. Or tried to, at least. Given her decidedly rocky standing with the detective, she doubted any reassurance from her would be particularly well-received. Still, she meant what she said, and that was good enough for her.

They made their way to the library and Katsuya entered with Shun and Riko flanking him, while Baofu and Ulala waited outside.

"He doesn't remember us yet," Baofu had pointed out. "Seeing a bunch of strangers with his brother might make him a little defensive."

Riko had conceded to the logic of that point and agreed to go in with just Shun and the elder Suou. Which actually suited her better anyway; her first meeting with the long-haired man had been less than ideal. Even though the initial misunderstanding was technically her fault, she was still angry towards the man; he hadn't needed to grab her like that. In any case, the less time she spent around him the better it was for everyone.

She stepped into the cool air conditioned building, trailing after Katsuya and Shun.

"Excuse me," Katsuya said, walking up to one of the librarians. "I'm looking for my brother? Have you seen him?" He pulled a small photo out of his wallet.

Riko hid her smile. He carries a picture around? He really was a loving brother. Cute.

"She says he's at a table in the back," Katsuya said, returning from the front desk. "Let's go."

They walked through the shelves of books until they saw Tatsuya. Sitting by himself, he was surrounded by open textbooks that he'd seemingly pulled from the shelves, writing something in a spiral notebook.

"Tatsuya," Katsuya called.

The young man looked up. "Nii-san." He looked surprised for a moment, then composed himself. "I'm sorry for not being home; there's a last-minute exam the day after tomorrow and I wanted to review some more…"

Katsuya got that proud brother look again, but then shook his head. "It's fine. But could we talk to you for a second? It's important."

"We?" Tatsuya noticed Shun and Riko for the first time and frowned slightly. "Who…?"

Riko shifted under his gaze. It was a penetrating look, and it made her uncomfortable.

Katsuya was too concerned for what might happen to his brother to notice Riko's discomfort. "I'll do my best to explain, but we really need to talk."

Tatsuya bit his lip, then nodded. "I'm just about done here anyway." He closed his notebook and slipped it into his backpack.

"I'll put these away for you," Shun offered, reaching for the textbooks.

Tatsuya looked surprised, but grateful. "Thanks."

"No problem." He scooped up the thick volumes and then went to put them away.

If Riko had felt uncomfortable before, she now felt downright out of place. It didn't matter that she had to be there; being left alone with two people she'd just met was extremely awkward. Not to mention the undeniable fact that she was socially incompetent in the best of circumstances, the necessities of her job at the café not withstanding.

Tatsuya tilted his head slightly, looking her over. "Are you going to introduce yourself, or just stand there?"

She flushed. Yep. Rude moron, that's me. "I'm Riko. Nice to meet you," she added, because somehow it was, even with the oppressive atmosphere. She'd finally found the first of the four. Or the last of the four, according to the list. But Riko was inclined to be less than impressed by Igor's list at the moment, especially since things had not worked out all neat and tidy like he'd implied they would.

Tatsuya raised an eyebrow. "No last name?"

Katsuya opened his mouth but Riko cut him off. "Just Riko."

The detective shot her a severe look, but she ignored him.

"I'm Tatsuya Suou," he said after the silence had stretched on for too long.

"I know."

He arched an eyebrow.

She crossed her arms.

Katsuya sighed. Just what I need, two combative kids to look after. He knew Tatsuya wasn't exactly a kid anymore, and neither was Riko, but he was already getting the distinct feeling of being a babysitter.

It didn't help that Riko's presence put him on edge. Her attitude alone screamed trouble, not to mention her records. He didn't want Tatsuya involved with someone with a record like that, not when he was finally getting things together.

"So…" Katsuya said, when the silence started to become oppressive, with Tatsuya and Riko both staring each other down, "what do you do for a living, Riko-san?"

She gave him a look that seemed to say Really? You're asking something like that now? "I work at a café."

"One around here?"

She shook her head. "I don't live in this district."

Katsuya opened his mouth to say something more, but Shun returned.

"I put them all back," he told Tatsuya.

Tatsuya nodded. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

The younger Suou turned to his brother. "Shall we go?"

Katsuya hesitated a moment, then nodded briskly. "Let's go."

Riko and Shun trailed after them as they left the library.

"Where are we going?" Riko called up to them.

"You tell me," Katsuya said. "Did you have someplace in mind for," he glanced at Tatsuya and then away, "you know."

She sighed. "Not really. Somewhere secluded would be nice. Being interrupted would be bad."

Tatsuya looked back and forth between them, looking confused. "Nii-san?"

Katsuya bit his lip. "I'll explain, Tatsuya, I promise."

"Hurry up and explain to him then," Riko said, growing impatient. "I'm in a hurry."

Katsuya nodded, though he didn't look particularly thrilled. "Tatsuya…"

Riko didn't really want to listen in on the brothers' private conversation, even if it did involve her, so she decided to take the opportunity to catch up with Shun. She'd barely had a chance to speak to him since he'd gotten swept up in her little quest, and she couldn't deny that she really had missed him when they'd been separated.

"So," she said, "you looked for me all night?"

He flushed a bit. "I was worried. Igor dumped me in the middle of some sidewalk and you were nowhere nearby."

"Sorry," she said, feeling genuinely apologetic. "My first meeting with Ulala didn't really go well."

"Didn't quite go well?" an amused voice repeated.

Riko turned to see Baofu and Ulala coming over.

"It was a freakin' disaster," Ulala said matter-of-factly. "Which is your fault, by the way."

Riko glared. "If you'd just come with me when I asked-"

"Yeah," Ulala snorted, "like I'd just take off on your word alone."

"I was telling the truth!" Riko retorted.

"How I was supposed to know that? No offense, but you don't look very trustworthy."

Pot, meet kettle. "And please, tell me how I look to you." She crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow.

Shun sighed, but no one paid him any attention.

Ulala looked her over. "You look like a troublesome kid, to be honest."

Riko tamped down on her temper. "Is that so."

"It's not like you can deny it," Baofu pointed out. "Your file pretty much sums up who you are."

Shun looked over at Riko. "File?"

She scowled. "The older brother's a detective. He pulled my records."

Shun stared at her. "You have records?"

She winced. "What of it."

He frowned, looking more worried than angry. "Riko…"

"Let it go," she advised. "It's not worth knowing."

"It's not worth knowing you were involved in a gang?" Baofu asked, raising an eyebrow.

Thanks for sharing what you think is my private history, you bastard. "Not really, no." She shrugged, trying to remain cool and indifferent. "It doesn't matter."

He looked at her, expression inscrutable. "…Really."

She glared back at him. "Really."

"Riko-san?" Katsuya called.

About damn time. "You done explaining?" she asked, trying hard not to snarl and not quite managing it as well as she would've liked.

"Yes."

"Wonderful." She went over to where Katsuya was standing with his younger brother, the others following after. She looked at Tatsuya. He was, Riko decided, an impressively stoic guy. His expression was faintly worried and confused, but otherwise the same.

"How does this work?" Tatsuya asked, meeting her eyes.

She sighed. Time to get started, then. She couldn't help but feel more than a little nervous, and promptly scolded herself. Come on, Riko. Get your shit together; this is what you've come here for.

"You don't have to kiss, do you?" Ulala asked, seeming to read some hint of anxiety in her face.

Riko rolled her eyes, her uneasy feelings settling down just a little. "I wouldn't have taken this job if that were a requirement." She took a step towards Tatsuya and held up her hands, gesturing to his head. "May I?"

He hesitated for a split second, and then nodded.

She stepped forward again, until she was directly in front of him. Katsuya didn't seemed particularly thrilled about this; he shifted nervously, one hand drifting towards his sidearm.

"I won't hurt him," Riko said honestly.

The older Suou didn't look convinced, so she decided to just ignore him. If he didn't trust her, that was his issue. She had more important things to deal with right now.

She brought her hands up until her fingers were hovering above Tatsuya's temples. "I swear this won't hurt you," she whispered, her voice quiet so only he could hear.

"…I believe you."

She smiled a bit, and then touched her fingers to his head.

She felt it at once, the connection that would let her transfer the memories.

Because it wasn't a matter of dredging up the memories, it was literally giving them back. She, for whatever reason, had actually been lugging around the missing memories of the four friends in her own head. So now that she was finally with Tatsuya, touching him, the memories were stirring, reacting.

She closed her eyes, and focused on the memories, pulling to the forefront of her mind. She could also feel Tatsuya's mind; she had a temporary connection to it thanks to the situation. The link would disappear as soon she gave the memories back and stepped away.

She saw the memories in her mind's eye, playing like an old movie reel. It was going backwards, starting with the last chronological memories and then going back to the older ones.

A beautiful woman, clearly someone Tatsuya had cared deeply for...she seemed to be saying goodbye, her expression heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. Tatsuya...Thank you for everything...

A true monster, taunting a group of familiar faces. Am I detestable? But that is what you humans desired...You craved destruction from the depths of your hearts...That is me! The shadow does not forgive anyone who goes against fate.

...Only to be countered by the very people he was trying to dishearten.

Ahhh, shut up...You can take this fate of yours and stick it up your ass! Listen up, Tatsuya...Fate is...
No different than a prediction too late. If something happens,all you have to say is this...
"It was all fate!"

And then going further back, beyond those last battles...

I'm sorry...Jun...Eikichi...Lisa...I'll...save you...I WILL...
Tatsuya...You fought with that monster all this time...
Maya...did you feel that...? That giant energy...It was so deep...Mixed with a bunch of dark emotions...Can we...defeat that...?

Hey, Tatsuya...Something's been bugging me...Why are you the only one who recalls the "Other Side"?

He said I was "the Paradox"...This reality exists on the concept of the resetting of us five...If we all regain our memories, the distortion between the two worlds will grow...And this world will cease to exist...

And back farther still. Her eyes were closed, but she could feel Tatsuya tense up, and she knew the transfer was working on his end, too. He was seeing the memories as she returned them; a crash course in what he'd forgotten.

The Joker...was my former best friend, Jun, who was being manipulated by false memories...No...it wasn't only Jun...

Eikichi...Lisa...Maya...and me...All of us...we were all friends "playing Masquerade"...Separated by Sudou's arson 10 years ago...Maya taught us the importance of dreams. Forever, the five of us all together...we all believed that...But Maya had to leave town for family reasons...We couldn't bear that, so we locked Maya in the shrine...And then Sudou set it aflame...We thought Maya had died, so we were scared...And each of us suppressed the memory...Jun remembered that and became a Joker. Controlled by him, he tried to end the world in exchange for the ideal evolution.

The memories came faster and faster, increasing with speed and intensity the farther back they went. Soon enough, all she was seeing were snippets of memories, the images and sounds flashing by too fast for her to get more than glimpses.

That can't be...This shrine hasn't been set on fire. I used to bring Tatsuya here when we were little. No doubt about it.
In this world, anyway...
Say what...?

I'm not...your little brother...
What the hell do you mean!?...You are my brother! No matter what!

Amano went through a lot, just to see you.. She was even marked for death by a Joker because of that idiot there. Haven't you done enough all by yourself...?

Why did you come...!?
What do you mean, why...?

Tatsuya-senpai...? Wh-why are you here...?
Stand back, Lisa...

Tatsuya Suou...Who are you...?

Don't worry...It's not your fault...
Tatsuya! Where were you!? What is this all about!?

Stop...! Don't try to remember anything!

It went on and on, from the big things like saving and ending the world, to little things like the school lunches at Seven Sisters. A lifetime of pain and sorrow and joy and love, all condensed into a seemingly endless torrent of memories and emotions and sensations. Riko felt like she was being blasted to pieces as the transfer picked up in pace to the point where it was all a technicolor blur in her mind, all the voices and sounds and feelings melding together into an overwhelming flood.

One last bit stood out for her though, and stuck with her even after the transfer began to slow to a halt.

You look so depressed...Did you lose something important?

The last of the memories flooded out of her mind quickly, eager to return to where they belonged. Once they were gone, all she could see in her mind's eye was darkness, pure black. Silence.

She didn't open her eyes.

"Riko…"

She opened her eyes, and saw Tatsuya looking down at her. She lowered her hands, and tried to clear her head. It wasn't that she was still seeing his memories…she just felt really ill and tired all of a sudden.

'The transference will exhaust you. You have to understand, carrying the memories of another is taxing in itself, even without you conciously accessing them. And you will be carrying the accumulated memories of not one but four different people, and then have to return them.'

'I understand.'

'Hmm…Do you?'

She blinked slowly, feeling dizzy.

"Riko?" Tatsuya touched her on the shoulder.

She inhaled, though it felt like her lungs were made of solid rock. So heavy. "Yeah."

"Thank you."

She looked at him. He smiled.

She smiled back, and then collapsed, blacking out.


A/N: So...yeah. That was Chapter 4. If there were any dialogue errors in the memory-transfer sequence, I apologize; I'm working from a translation of the original Japanese version of P2: Batsu/Eternal Punishment. I'm almost positive the translations are pretty accurate, but there could be some minor differences between the original and the American version (is there even an American version yet? I'm so behind...).

In any case, I also found that chapter more than a little emotionally exhausting, since I had to go through the whole Eternal Punishment script, looking for the parts that really stuck with me, by which I mean the ones that make me want to cry and/or hug Tatsuya (sometimes both at once). I would have included scenes from the original game, Innocent Sin, too but that would made this chapter into an even longer montage. And it's clocking in at a solid three thousand words already, so...yeah. :)

Also...Riko's not looking so good at the end there, is she? Yeah, the memory transference isn't going to be an easy thing for her, which is to be expected, really. Can't go lugging around bits of another person's identity in your own mind without consequences. It'll be interesting to see how that develops down the road, not to mention how the other characters will react to it. ;)

Anyway, reviews would be much appreciated, if it's not too much trouble. I truly do love feedback. :D