Chapter 8 – What's an Izanagi?
"Ow... What did I just land on?"
I was trying to stand up from the large impact, when I found Yosuke on top of me from falling. He wasn't heavy, but it kind of hurts after you fall flat on your stomach. Yosuke had rolled off of me after he fell.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah.." He helped me stand up after he brushed himself off. "Is this-?! So it really is connected from place to place!"
"That's kind of creepy, but it seems helpful."
"You guys?! Why did you come back?!"
We looked toward us only to find that crazy looking bear again. He started stomping around and growling for a minute. "So you guys are the ones behind this!"
"And you, you're that thing- Wait a minute, 'us'?!" Yosuke jumped on him.
"Someone's been throwing other people in here, lately." The bear explained, "This world's becoming really chaotic. This is the second time you came here, so I don't think people forced you in. You guys must be the ones throwing people in here!"
"What?!" I screamed at him, backing him away from the small little rawr he made. "Hell no!"
"And what's all this about 'throwing people in?!'" Yosuke began to yell at the bear, too. "If someone was thrown in here, they can die y'know! Who would do such a-"
"Thing?" I looked back at Yosuke, who just realized he had led himself to something else. "Yosuke-san?"
"Wait." He walked up to me as we huddled up to whisper. "Throwing someone in here... Does that bear mean Senpai and the announcer?"
"Could be." I replied. It could've been true. All those posters showing Mayumi Yamano could link to this place somehow.. At least, what we saw about it. "What about those posters? A-And that noose?"
"I agree." Yosuke nodded, "Assume he's telling the truth. Just assume. Could it be that someone's tossing others in here?"
"What're you two mumbling about over there?" The bear interrupted our talk. "Why did you come back, anyways? I had to let you out, remember? You can't go out once you're in!"
"Yeah, okay," Yosuke picked up the rope that we had taken into the place with us, but that just kind of scared me now that I saw it. "We don't need your help. This time, we have a lifel-"
"Y-Yosuke-san..." I pointed at the ripped piece of string around him.
"What the hell?!" He then looked back at the bear, probably frustrated from the bear's accusations. "Goddamn it, you better let us out of here once we're done investigating!"
"Grr, I'm the one who wants to investigate!" The bear made a funny growling noise. "I've lived here for quite awhile, but it's never been super noisy as it is right now!"
"That still doesn't give you the right to accuse that we're the ones who toss people in here like it's some type of game." I pointed out.
"Well, do you have proof?" The bear asked. "I need proof to tell that you're not the ones doing it."
"Proof?!" I exclaimed. How were we supposed to have proof of something we didn't do?
"See!" He was acting like a little kid. "So it is you guys!"
"For the last time, it's not us!" Yosuke was really moody right now. I'm guessing from everything that's happened.. "We have nothing to prove to you, and besides... We're dead serious. Listen, every time it gets foggy in our world, someone dies. It has to be connected with this place, and you better tell us all you know!"
"Whoa, dead bodies? When the fog appears..?" It seemed like we had a lead now. "I know that if it fogs up in your world, it lifts here. It's when the Shadows get really angry and powerful..." Huh? Shadows? "Oh.. I see.."
"Huh?" Yosuke looked up at him, "You get it, right? Then explain it to us!"
"If it gets foggy in our world it isn't here..?" I was trying to think as hard as I could. "Shadows get stronger..?"
"That's why I said to hurry back, it's really dangerous when that happens!" The bear was panicking. "No more questions, I know you guys did it, so confess already!"
"We told you we aren't the ones doing it!" Yosuke was obviously aggravated. "I've already had it with you.. Why don't you listen to what we're saying?!"
"I'm just saying.."
"What's up with the place anyway?" Yosuke was blabbering about. "It looks like a TV Studio. Is something being filmed here?"
"Wait, so that show we've been watching might be filmed here?!" I looked back at Yosuke. "How is that?!"
"Huh?" The bear obviously had no clue what we were talking about. "Film? There's been nothing like that over here. What's 'filmed' mean anyways?"
"So, no one's being recorded or anything here?" I tried to make it simple.
"Nothing like that 'film' thing has ever been shown here." The bear spoke, "It's always been like this."
"'Always been like this?'" I began to ask. "W-What do you mean by that?"
"There are only me and Shadows in here." The bear seemed like he was getting annoyed from all our questions. "I've told you before!"
"We don't know what 'Shadows' are, and neither do we know what you are!" Yosuke about had it with the bear. "You keep blaming us, but you're the most suspicious! What's with the costume? I say it's about time you show your face!"
Yosuke had walked up to the bear and began to pull on his head. It came off with a 'pop!' and totally scared the shit out of me.
"W-What's that supposed to be?!" I whimpered, which was totally not like me. "That's so weird.. What is he?!"
"It's so empty inside.." Yosuke said as the bear put his head back on.
"Me?" The bear looked glum, "I would never do anything like that.. All I do is live here."
I felt so bad for the bear now, wanting to just live here on his own. Whatever these Shadows are must've been tampering with his sleep or something, maybe even messing up his own home. He seemed so scared.
"I won't believe that you guys aren't the real culprits, but.." He sighed, "Please, I want all this to stop. You need to stop him! Promise me that, or else..."
"Huh? Or else what?" I asked him.
"I won't let you out of here." He simply replied. "This can't go on.. My home will be a complete mess if this happens.. and then..!"
He started sobbing once his voice trailed off, obviously wanting a way out from all the Shadows attacking.
"What are you crying for?" Yosuke asked, which I just nudged him on the shoulder.
"Dude, I feel really bad for the poor thing.." I spoke in all honesty. "He really wants his home to be fixed."
"Fine.." Yosuke sighed, "We'll do it."
For some reason though, I heard a voice in my head. I remembered who it was though... That Igor guy.
"It seems that you will encounter a misfortune at your destination... A great mystery will be imposed upon you..." Was this what the Mystery was..?
"Y-You're the only ones I can ask.." The poor bear had stopped sniffling. "Will you promise me this..?"
"Don't worry, little guy. I promise." I began to smile, seeing that all he wanted was some help.
"Ugh.. This bear's practically holding a gun to our heads." Yosuke groaned. "It's true, though. We haven't had any information on the incident, so it was our choice to come here... Bring it on, you've had me promise, too."
The bear smiled at Yosuke, which I could tell was a very grateful one.
"We might as well introduce ourselves," Yosuke scratched the back of his head. "I'm Yosuke Hanamura, and this is my buddy, Remilia Konagi-san."
"Really..?" I sighed. "Just call me Remi, Yosuke-san." I turned to the bear. "What's your name?"
"Teddie."
"Figures..." Yosuke shook his head. "How are we supposed to find the culprit, though?"
"I really don't know, but I can show you where the last person came in." We have a lead?!
"Do you mean Saki-senpai?!" Yosuke's eyes widened.
"I dunno the name, but I can take you there." Thank you, Teddie! "Maybe, you'll be able to find clues. You might wanna put these on."
I was going to ask what he meant by that, but as soon as I opened my mouth, he handed me some glasses in my hand. They were a bright green, and seemed like my kind of style, but I looked at Yosuke. With this, I placed them over my face, and as soon as I blinked my vision became clear enough to see all of the TV world!
"Yosuke..? Whoa!" I backed up a bit like Yosuke did. "I can see you much better now." He looked pretty cool in the glasses, to be honest.
"Whoa..!" Yosuke was also amazed at the glasses' power. "It's like the fog doesn't even exist anymore."
"They can help you walk through the fog." Teddie smiled. "I've been here for a long time, don't worry. I'll help you out!"
"You've already helped us out a bit by giving us these glasses. Thanks, Teddie." I bowed in gratefulness.
"The only thing is," Teddie looked down. "I can only show you where the place is, you guys have to defend yourself."
"What about relying on you?!" Yosuke's smile faded. "There better not be anything that can attack us, alright?!"
"These weapons won't support us.." I picked up the golf club that was on the floor. "Wow, you can even see the club from far away.."
"Even so, we just got here and we're worried about being attacked." Yosuke sighed, "Why aren't you the one protecting us?"
"I got no muscles." Wow. He sounded, really ghetto. "I'll give you guys 'moral support' from a safe distance, how's that sound?"
I couldn't really believe the fact that he couldn't fight. However, I decided to test this out by lightly poking him with two fingers in the forehead. He fell right on the floor, and that kind of made me chuckle.
"N-No!!!" Teddie whined.
"Seriously?" Yosuke moaned. "This is all the backup we get for swearing to find the culprit?"
"It could be worse." I replied. "I mean, it's not like he's going to hurt us or anything."
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Teddie was eying us the best way he could. "Who's this Saki-senpai person? Is it someone you know?"
"..." Yosuke looked down, and I was looking at him.
"Yosuke.." I muttered, but looked back at Teddie. "T-That doesn't matter right now. All that matters is finding the culprit!"
"W-Waait!" He struggled as Yosuke and I began to walk off, completely brushing off the small bear.
…
When we kept walking, I looked around to see a red sky, a bunch of buildings, and Yosuke mentioned something about it looking like the shopping district.
"What's going on here?" Yosuke asked, curious to know.
"Weird places have appeared here lately," Teddie began to explain to us, "Things are really getting messy, so I have no idea what I can do!"
"Oh? Why are you standing so far away from us?" I asked him. It was kind of suspicious when I turn around to see him like 5 feet away.
"You better not run if something comes up." Yosuke grit his teeth.
"Hah, no way." Teddie spoke, blush on his face forming for some reason or another. "I-I mean, I can't stand too close, I'd get in your way."
"Whatever." I rubbed my head, since I know how it feels to get a headache from Teddie now.
"Man, look at this.." Yosuke created converse. "I wonder why they created a copy of the shopping district."
"The places created are reality for the ones who come here." Teddie voiced out what he knew, but that didn't help much.
"That still doesn't make much sense." Yosuke implied. "If this is the Shopping District, then we're not far off from Saki-senpai's-" That's when Yosuke began to dash off, leaving Teddie and I behind. Something that belonged to the Konishi girl had to be here, so I had to run after Yosuke as well.
"Yosuke-" I skid to a stop as I saw him standing in front of a building that had a sign on the top saying 'Konishi Liquors.' I looked back at Yosuke, who seemed like he was really thinking.
"I knew it!" He spoke out, "This is the store that Senpai's parents run."
"Really?" I asked him. "That's kind of creepy."
"Does that mean Senpai disappeared here..?" Yosuke looked back down, kicking his feet against the floor. "What happened..?" He began to walk, but that's when Teddie stopped him.
"Wait! They're here!" He yelped.
"What do you mean 'they?'" I demanded an answer from the bear now.
"S-Shadows..." Teddie's face appeared gloomy again. "I had a feeling they were going to attack."
I took the golf club and held it in both of my hands. I was determined to fight off what was going to attack us, and I don't want anything to happen to my aquaintences.
"H-Huh..?" Yosuke looked back at the red spiral that was at the door.. and so was I.
"G-Gah!!" I screamed as I saw what seemed like a mask and black goop fall onto the floor. Then another thing that looked exactly like it came up as well. "W-What's going on?!" Yosuke fell to the floor in fear, and that's exactly what they were going after. They were going after him!
"Ah!" Yosuke squeaked.
"Yosuke!!" I backed up a bit, wanting to run to the blondie, but also wanting to get away. They had turned into some type of pink gumball thing.. with tongues. Blech. "K-Kh!!"
My head started to hurt again.. "I am thou.. Thou art I... The time has come. Open thy eyes, and call forth what is within!"
"H-Huh?!" My eyes widened as I saw something similar to a card appear in my hand. When I flipped it over to check the other side, it already began to glow. "..."
"Waah!" Teddie was surprised, but this card was revealing all my true thoughts. All the pain and sorrow I've felt were all rushing into my view, as if I had to accept them.
"..Per.." I began to speak without realizing it. "so..."
"...Na!"
...The card turned into a blue flame as I held it up with my hand. This seemed to lure the Shadows to me, as I dropped the Golf Club and held this 'flame' close to my chest. I'm scared. Honestly, I'm scared of what will happen to me if I suddenly like drop this card. I clutched it into my hand, and began to scream my true feelings. "Leave them alone!!!"
As soon as I did this, blue flames started to surround me from behind, and I swore to myself I could hear something else drop. With this, I closed my eyes, feeling the surge of energy overwhelm me with the power it could.
Then a creature stood by my side.. At least, I decided to call it that. It wore what seemed like a black robe, and a white-scarf around it. The head made it seem like metallic armor, and that's when I realized something new about myself.
I faced my inner thoughts... and I dragged myself to fight the Shadows that were now standing in front of me!
Remi has gained her Persona of Izanagi, and is now learning how to fight! Will she make it out of the place alive?
Persona 4 (C) ATLUS
Remilia Konagi (C) Me~