Author's Note! :D

So…Apologies for this chapter being a bit shorter than the last. Just consider this one a breather, case the next chapter's probably going to be the longest so far.

Oh, random bit: In P4 Arena, Yosuke's got an Eikichi palette…! :DDD Makes me happy, but it would be awesome-er if all the Persona characters could get in on the action…:/

Lastly, Thanks to all you folks for reading! :D

Chapter 3: Philemon

It was a strange journey, so similar in feeling to slowly falling asleep. The three students did not feel afraid, despite not understanding quite where they were or what was happening as they drifted through worlds of memory and emotion, unconsciously following what appeared to be a golden butterfly.

It was here that Tatsuya caught sight of someone and another person, both familiar to him. Focusing his mind on the two blurry figures, he saw that one of them was himself as a child, who seemed to be speaking with another young boy with black hair. The other boy took something from his pocket and handed it to the young Tatsuya. It was a zippo lighter, the same one Tatsuya always carried.

"This belonged to my dad," the boy said as Tatsuya examined it, gazing at the engraving. "I'm giving it to you because…I want you to have this, so you don't forget about me…"

Tatsuya, realizing its value to his friend, shook his head; he couldn't accept something so irreplaceable.

The other boy laughed softly and insisted that he not worry about such things. "That lighter is very important to me, but not as much as you are, Tatsuya. So please, take it."

Tatsuya hesitated before finally nodding, placing the lighter in his pocket. He then took a silver wristwatch out of the opposite pocket and handed it to the other boy.

"This…This was your dad's—"suddenly, he nodded, smiling wide, "I understand. No matter what, you and I will never be apart."

The last moment of this scene that Tatsuya viewed was of the boy and his wistful but gentle smile.

Becoming aware of a floor beneath him, Tatsuya opened his eyes—or, rather, felt a sensation similar to opening his eyes, like waking from a dream—and looked around. Nothing here was familiar, yet he felt very connected to this place that resembled a grand temple of sorts, though the architecture was not like anything he'd ever seen, much less thought was physically possible. It was a calm, ethereal realm, so unreal and surrounded by stars. He momentarily wondered if he was somehow in outer space, but something made him doubt it; not just the fact that he was not imploding, but a feeling within him, like a part of him already knew exactly where he was.

"Hey…Where are we?" Eikichi asked, rubbing his eyes sleepily and startling Tatsuya, who had been lost in his thoughts.

Tatsuya looked at him, shaking his head; he didn't know either.

"Man…Oh, wait! What about everyone else? What happened to them?" The death boss said, sounding uncharacteristically worried.

"Hey…What's going on…Oh!" Lisa noticed the others and ran over to them, relieved. "Tatsuya, I'm so glad you're here! And…Undie Boss? What are you doing here?"

"Wanna repeat that blondie?" Eikichi retorted, frowning.

Just as Tatsuya thought he might have to referee an impromptu wrestling match, a voice that not one of the three had ever heard, yet so familiar that it almost seemed to be echoing from within their own hearts, interrupted: "Tatsuya Sou, Eikichi Mishina, Lisa Silverman, I'm glad to see you're doing well in this realm."

The three jumped in surprise before quickly facing the speaker: A man in a black suit, face partially obscured by a mask in the shape of a butterfly.

Lisa was the first to react, hopping backwards and assuming her stance. "Wai! Who are you?"

The masked man smiled, yet Tatsuya noted it somehow still did not reveal so much as the slightest trace of emotion. At last he spoke: "You all surely remember the experience that brought you here?"

Eikichi frowned. "We fainted?"

Tatsuya shook his head, flicking the lid of his lighter open and closed, remembering the moment the strange creature had answered his call from within. "Persona," he muttered, snapping the lid shut.

"That's right," The man in the mask said as Lisa and Eikichi looked questioningly at Tatsuya. "The power that has been bestowed upon you…it is called 'Persona'."

"Persona…?" Lisa and Eikichi gasped—nearly in tandem—from the inexplicable familiarity of the term, as if they had known it all their lives.

"Humans live by wearing different masks…the self infused with divine love; the self capable of demonic hatred…to materialize these selves is your power," The man said.

Eikichi scratched his head in confusion. "I'm…not sure I get it, but…wait, dude, you haven't answered our question yet! Just who the hell are you?"

The man smiled once again. "I am Philemon. I will trust that you all use this power to solve the troublesome curiosities occurring in your world. "

The scene began to blur. Tatsuya felt his consciousness was fading. He looked once more to the mysterious figure before closing his eyes.

"I'm certain we will meet again," Philemon said.