'Welcome back everybody, to Persona 4: Golden-'

"Sire! Forgive me!"

'...What're you doing here?'

"I had also gotten the narrator's letter, but I was unable to make it in time. Please, forgive milord!"

'What did I tell you about calling me that'

Last I checked, you told her not to

'Exactly'

"Forgive me sir. Lady"

'I give up. Just read what has happened so far before joining us'

"Yes sir"

'Wait!'

"Milord?'

'You have to say the disclaimer first'

"Oh. Uh, of course. Ahem. The StoneMasked Taliesin does not own this series of...uh..."

Persona

"Of Persona, which belongs to...to...to their creators. He ones the original characters and ideas"

'Nice job'

"Thank you milord"

We're holding up the chapter. Roll the chapter!

Chapter 5: The Mysterious Bear

Souji

He felt much, much better in the morning. Completely refreshed. Dojima was already leaving for work by the time he walked downstairs.

"Oh, your awake. Well, I'm off to work", Dojima said before leaving hurriedly.

Nanako turned to him, picking at her plate.

"Dad got a call, that's why he went to work early". She looked worried.

"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be fine", he reassured her.

She nodded, but the worry didn't go away completely. He ate a sandwich before leaving for school. It was another rainy day. He vaguely heard police sirens in the distance. He wondered what had happened. Hopefully nothing too serious.

He got to school without any incident, and was sitting in the class room when an announcement for a special assembly was, well, announced. A short while later, and everyone was in the assembly hall, muttering and wondering what happened.

"Oi, shaddup you brats!", Morooka roared. Ms Soufe, the history teacher, tapped the microphone. "

All right, settle down. The principal has something to say".

While the principal made his way to the podium, he glanced at Yosuke. He seemed unusually downcast today.

"I regret to inform", the principal began, "that a third year student, Saki Konishi...has passed away".

He blinked in shock as muttering broke out around him. Saki had died? How? Why? He blinked and turned around to find Yosuke, only to see him retreating into the crowd, almost running. The principal continued to speak, but he ignored him. He remembered how Dojima said that Saki had disappeared yesterday. He watched as Yosuke walked further and further away, until he disappeared in the crowd.

Crystal

She walked behind Souji and Chie as they tried to find Yosuke. Saki died. She was dead. Death was no foreign concept to her, but it was slightly surreal. Saki, a girl she'd seen not a day before yesterday, was now gone.

She couldn't begin to think how bad a state Yosuke was right now. She lifted her head up as she heard two girls talking about how Saki had died in a similar way to the announcer. She narrowed her eyes. Had she been killed? Well, that made things a touch different.

"Hey, there he is", Chie said, pointing.

She looked and saw Yosuke sitting on the chairs, looking down at the ground. He was holding a ticket. They walked up to him.

"Yosuke, are you okay?", Chie asked.

She mentally snorted. Was he okay? Wasn't it obvious? Yosuke was silent for a moment.

"Hey...Did you guys see the Midnight Channel last night?", he asked.

"Yosuke! Not you too!", Chie said.

"Just be quite for a second! I think the person on the Channel last night was...Saki-Senpai".

Yosuke continued to speak, ignoring the looks of surprise. "There's no mistaking it...Senpai looked like she was writhing in pain. And then...", Yosuke put his head in his hands," She disappeared from the screen", he said sorrowfully.

She blinked in surprise.

"What?", Chie asked, confused.

"You know how Senpai's body was found in a similar state to the announcer's? Well, remember how you said that some guy was exited about how the announcer was his soulmate? That got me thinking...Maybe she appeared on the Midnight Channel too before she died"

"Hold on. Are you saying that people who appear on that Channel...die?"

"I can't say for sure. but something tells me I can't just dismiss this as coincidence. Plus remember what that bear thing said? How that place was dangerous and we should leave before the fog clears? It also said that someone's been throwing people in there. And that weird room. It has to have something to do with the announcer's death. I mean, don't you think there's some sort of connection there? Couldn't that world in the TV have something to do with Senpai and the announcer's death?".

She had to hand it to Yosuke, he had given a pretty good theory. It made sense. Though in these situations, there was always other info, a bigger picture. Yosuke turned to Souji.

"Well, what do you think?".

Souji frowned."You might be right", he said.

"You think so too huh? Well, if there is a connection, then it's a good bet that the two of them went inside that world. Which means if we look around, we might find something about Senpai's death".

"Yosuke, don't tell me...", Chie said.

"Yeah, I'm thinking of going back in there. I want to find out for myself why Senpai had to die" Yosuke said softly.

Chie frowned.

"D-Don't do this, you should just let the police handle this-"

"You think the police can do anything?! They haven't even made any progress on the other case! Besides, they wouldn't believe anything about a world inside the TV!", Yosuke said angrily, standing up.

He turned to Souji.

"Sorry, but you're the only person who can help me".

She 'ahemed'.

"Don't worry, we got your back, right?" she said, directing the last part to Souji, who nodded.

"Wait, but-".

She interrupted Yosuke with a poke.

"No buts. I'm going with you guys", she said firmly. Yosuke was silent for a moment, before nodding.

"Okay, I'm going to get ready. See you at Junes", he said, before running off.

"I can kind of understand, but there's no way to be sure we'll get out safely again. What should we do?", Chie asked.

"We should help him", Souji said simply.

"Your serious? W-Well, anyway, we should go to Junes. We can't leave Yosuke alone, "Chie said.

She shook her head.

"You guys go on ahead. I gotta get some things", she said.

Souji and Chie nodded, and they went their separate ways.

Souji

He and Chie found Yosuke standing in front of the flat screens, a rope around his waist and a golf club in hand.

"Hey, you guys made it", he said with a smile.

Chie stomped her foot.

"We came here to stop you, idiot!", she said angrily.

"I can't just pretend that this has nothing to go with me. What about you? Could you just walk away?".

He shook his head.

"Neither could I".

Yosuke jumped as Crystal spoke suddenly, standing behind him.

"Gah! Would you stop doing that?". Crystal just blinked owlishly.

Behind her, Florence regarded them with serious eyes.

"Anyway, I'm not going in without a plan Chie", Yosuke said, giving Chie the rope. She looked at it in alarm.

"W-What is this, a lifeline?".

"Yes. Your the most important part of the plan", Yosuke said sincerely.

"If I tug on this rope, you'll pull us out. What ever you do, don't let go". Yosuke turned to the rest of them.

"Alright, so it's the three of us".

Florence stepped forward, but Crystal stopped him, whispering into his ear. Florence opened his mouth as if to argue, before closing it.

"I'll stay with Chie".

"Okay. Now, these are for you", Yosuke said, handing him a first aid kit and a golf club.

"A golf club?", he asked, confused.

"Yeah. Just in case we need something to protect ourselves"

"...So you chose a golf club"

"It was the only thing I could find".

Yosuke turned to the TV.

"Ready?", he asked, glancing at him. He nodded.

"Ready"

"You bet I am".

He poked the TV screen, before they entered the TV.

Chie

She waited for a minute. Then another. One final minute, before she tugged. Just to see if it worked. She pulled...and the rope came out. She looked at the rope in shock, falling to the ground, while Florence growled next to her.

"See...? I knew this wouldn't work...".

Souji

This time, he was ready for the fall, and landed more or less on his feet. Crystal rolled across the ground before springing up to her feet. Yosuke? He didn't.

"Owww", he groaned.

He helped him up. They were in the same place as before.

"Look, it's the same place as last time! So they are connected from place to place!", Yosuke said in surprise.

"Y-You guys? Why'd you come back?".

The mysterious bear from before walked out of the fog. He looked at them confusedly, before becoming angry.

"I get it! You're the ones behind this!".

"Wait, what did you say?", Crystal asked.

"Lately, I can tell someone's been throwing people in here. It's making this world more and more messed up. This is the second time you guys came in here, and I don't think anyone forced you in. And that means you're the most suspicious! That means you must be the ones throwing people in here!", the bear proclaimed, pointing at them, letting out a high pitched, squeaky roar.

"That's not to true at all", he said calmly.

Yosuke was a bit less calm.

"What're you talking about, throwing people in!? If someone was thrown in here, and they couldn't get out, they might die! Who would do such a -", Yosuke stopped and all three of them realized what those words implied.

"Wait a minute, throwing people in. Does he mean Senpai and the announcer? What do you think?", he asked them.

"That could be it", he said.

"It's more then likely" Crystal said with certainty. Yosuke nodded.

"I think so too. So assuming he", he gestured to the bear," is telling the truth...does that mean someone's throwing people in here with the intention of killing them?", he said.

"That also seems pretty likely", Crystal said.

"What are you guy's mumbling about?", interrupted the bear.

"Why'd you come here again? It's a one way door. Remember how I had to let you out?"

"Yeah, whatever. See, we don't need your help this time, we have a life-", at this point, everyone noticed that the rope around Yosuke was cut.

"What!", Yosuke exclaimed.

He looked at the rope for a while, before turning back to the bear.

"L-Look, you better let us out after we're done investigating".

The bear growled.

"I'm the one who wants to investigate here! I've lived here for a long time. But it's never been noisy like this till now. Do you have proof!? Prove to me that you're not throwing people in here!"

"Proof!? It doesn't work like that", he said incredulously.

"Hah, then you are the ones throwing people in here".

"Shut up! We aren't the ones throwing people here, so we have nothing to prove to you! Listen up. We're dead serious. People have died in our world. Every time the fog shows up, a dead body shows up with it. It has to be related to this place somehow. If you know something tell us!", Yosuke said.

"A dead body...whenever the fog appears? I know that when it's foggy on your side, the fog lifts here. It's really dangerous when the fog lifts, that's when the Shadows get violent. That's why I told you guys to get out last time. Now no more questions! I know you guys are doing it, so you'd better stop!"

"For the last time, we're not the ones doing it! I've told you time and time again!", Yosuke yelled angrily.

The bear faltered.

"I-I'm just saying that you guys might be the culprits".

"What? Man, this bear is driving me nuts. What is this place anyway? It looks like a studio".

Yosuke's eyes widened.

"Wait, don't tell me...Is that weird show being filmed here!?".

"Weird show? Filmed? I don't get it".

Crystal whispered into Yosuke's ear.

"I don't think he knows what those are".

"No one's ever done this 'filming' thing here. This worlds always been like this".

"Wait, run that be us again?", he asked.

"This world's always been like this. Only me and the Shadows live here"

"What are these Shad-".

Crystal was interrupted by Yosuke.

"We don't know what these Shadow things are! Or even what you are for that matter! You're the most suspicious one here. I think it about time you show yourself!".

Before anyone could stop him, Yosuke walked over to the bear, grabbed his head, and pulled it clean off. And inside was...nothing.

"Whoa!", Yosuke said, dropping the head.

"I-It's empty", he said shock. The now beheaded bear was wandering around, searching for it's head.

"W-What the hell is this thing", Yosuke asked, wide-eyed.

The bear found his head, and put it back on.

"Me?", said the bear, sounding downcast, but otherwise not showing any sign of affect from his temporary beheadment.

"I-I would never do such a thing. I just want things to go back to the way they were before", the bear said slightly sadly. The three of them remained silent.

"Okay, I'll believe you guys aren't the culprits, but in return, you have to find the real ones! Otherwise...I won't let you out!".

"Wait, what!"

"You're practically threatening us!"

"Hell no!".

"If this doesn't stop, my home will keep getting messier and messier, and I'll...I...", the bear started to cry loudly.

"Stop it", he said irritated.

The bear turned to him with pleading eyes.

"Will you guys do it? You're the only people I can turn to".

"Damn bear, practically holding a gun to our heads..." Yosuke grumbled.

"Well, we did come here to find the culprit either way", Crystal said.

"I guess your right", Yosuke said.

He turned to him. He nodded. Yosuke nodded too, and turned to the bear.

"Okay then, we'll do it Might as well introduce ourselves. My name is Yosuke Hanamura. This is Souji Seta", Souji waved his hand, "Hey" "-And this is Cryst-" "Crystal de Tuthua", Crystal interrupted, ignoring the annoyed look Yosuke sent her.

"Why'd you interrupt me?", he whispered.

"I didn't want you to butcher my last name", she whispered back. While they were doing this, the bear turned to him.

"R-Really? You'll really do it?"

"Yeah. We will".

Yosuke and Crystal finished their mini-argument, and joined the conversation.

"So, what's your name?", Crystal asked.

"Teddie", the bear said cheerfully.

He cringed inwardly at his name.

"Huh, figures", Yosuke said in an exasperated groan. Then he realized something.

"How are we going to find the culprit in the first place?", he asked to no one in particular.

"I don't know about that, but I do know where the last person came in", Teddie said.

"Wait, the last person...you mean Saki-Senpai!?"

"I dunno the name of the person, I just know where they appeared. Oh! You guys might also want to wear these", Teddie said, giving them each a pair of glasses. His was grey, Yosuke's was orange, and Crystal's was an emerald-green. As soon as he put them on, the effect was instantaneous.

It was as if the fog wasn't there at all.

"Whoa"

"It's like the fog doesn't exist.", he said.

Crystal remained silent, but was whipping her head around, looking at everything around her.

As Yosuke said, it was in fact a studio, albeit an odd one. It almost looked like an M.C Escher painting, except normal and sane.

"These glasses will help you walk through the fog. I've been here for a long time, so you can depend on me. Though...".

"Though what?", Yosuke said.

"...Your going to have to defend yourselves".

He frowned. He made it sound like there were other things in this place. He recalled about what he mentioned earlier. Something about Shadows.

"What happened to relying on you!? T-There better not be any monsters, you understand!? I mean, we bought weapons-"

"If you can call a golf club a weapon", he muttered.

"-but they're more for show then anything else. We just got here! If it's so dangerous, why don't you do something instead of relying on us!?"

"Uh uh. No way. I've gotten no muscles", Teddie stated matter-o-factly.

"Oh, I know. I'll give you guys moral support from a safe distance. How's that sound?".

By now, he was getting annoyed, and judging by Yosuke's face, he was too. He walked up to Teddie, and before he could say anything, he flicked him between the eyes.

Much to everyone's surprise, Teddie fell over, and started to do his best upturned turtle impression.

"Noooo...", he said pitifully, while flailing around on the ground, unable to get up.

"THIS is all the back up we get? Uh, this is so lame...", Yosuke groaned.

"Cheer up. We didn't even expect to get any back up in the first place", Crystal said, semi-cheerfully.

"Oh yeah, can I ask you guys something?", Teddie said from the ground, not flailing anymore.

"Who's this Saki-Senpai person? Someone you know?".

He looked at Yosuke, who had a pained look on his face.

"...That doesn't matter right now. Anyway, at least we know that Senpai might have been thrown in here. Maybe we can find more information. Let's get moving".

Both he and Yosuke walked away, while Crystal, who had taken pity on him, helped Teddie up.

Florence

He was at a bit of a loss of what to do. After the rope had been cut, Chie had gone into instant Super-Worry mode. She simply stayed on the floor. Her eyes were now red and tears where running down her face. Not knowing quite what to do, he sat next to her. He didn't need his powers to tell what her emotions where. Even depowered, the amount of Worry, Sadness, and Anger coming of her was a beacon.

"I'm sure they'll be fine", he said, hoping to comfort her.

"B-But what if they a-aren't? T-They could be d-dead for all we know!", she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Nice job comforting, a small voice in the back of his head said sarcastically. He ignored it. He remained silent for a moment.

"You're really worried about them, huh?". Chie turned to him, scowling.

"O-of course! Why wouldn't I!", she half shouted.

"You really care about them. They're lucky to have you as a friend", he stated.

Chie's expression went from angry to confused. A moment of silence passed.

"Chie, look at me", he said.

He turned to her, and looked straight into her eyes.

"They'll be fine. My sister doesn't give up so easily".

Chie remained silent for a moment, looking at him straight in the eyes.

"...You really have a lot of faith in her, huh?"

"She's been through worse. All we need is a bit of faith in them. So please, don't worry".

Chie looked a bit confused at the first thing he said, but she said nothing. She turned back to the TV, and he felt some Hope. He turned back to the TV. Those guy's better get out soon.