Greetings! Chapter 9 is finished, and I hope you enjoy it. I tried to take some more time with the battle here, so i hope it reads well!
Yu had to agree with Yosuke. After what he'd seen inside the T.V, he really didn't want Chie to have come with them. It was bad enough that this place was beyond freaky, strange, and twisted, but they also now knew that it was very dangerous. And what if that thing that happened with Yosuke happened to Chie? Would another clone-shadow show up, or was that just a one-time deal. They couldn't be certain, but it wasn't an appealing thought. However, despite all the warnings the group had given her, she had insisted on coming in, and when they had arrived at the same castle they'd seen the night before (with some help from Teddie, who was acting as their guide in the T.V world), Chie had run off into the castle. She didn't have the special glasses Teddie had made for the boys to allow them to see through the fog, she had no Persona, and no idea what was ahead.
Yu sighed. The boys and Teddie were taking a short break, having just finished off a shadow Teddie had dubbed 'The Happiness Hand', and were trying to catch their breath a bit. Souji was very pleased that they had finished off the shadow, as it had somehow managed to be carrying 2000 yen. Strange how this world had the same currency they had, but he wasn't about to question his good fortune. Yosuke sank to the floor, having just received an electric shock during the battle, which had knocked him flat.
"Teddie, can you smell Chie?" he asked, looking hard at the bear.
Teddie began to sniff, searching for a scent. "Yeah, she's just ahead, I think." responded the bear, looking worried. Souji nodded, and walked over to help Yosuke up. Yu stood up as well, dusting himself off as he did so. He walked over to Souji and Yosuke, who were patching themselves up a bit.
"This is a lot more dangerous than the liquor store. What gives?" the silver-haired youth asked, looking around.
Souji adopted his habitual stance, left hand once again falling on his waist as he thought. "I'm not sure. We don't really have a good idea as to why this place exists, or how this world works." He shook his head, annoyed that he couldn't make sense of their predicament. "It's just a thought, but maybe the shadows respond to whatever created them." The twins looked up, looking at Yosuke.
Teddie nodded. "Yeah, they do, actually. Like I said before, these places are created by a person's inner thoughts. This Yukiko-san person created this castle, and the shadows are responding to the emotion she's feeling. The darker one's secret wishes are, the more powerful the shadows will be. But, it doesn't seem to extend beyond that specific area. This will be the only place you find these specific shadows, I think." The boys nodded, understanding a bit more about the world they were in.
"Alright then" Souji said, looking down the hall before them. "Let's get going. We have to find Chie before she gets hurt, or worse."
Yosuke looked down the same direction, face hardening. "Yeah, let's go."
"She's right behind this door!" Teddie looked up at the group. "Are you guys ready?" he asked, looking from the twins to Yosuke.
They nodded. "We gotta save her, no matter what." Yosuke said simply, steeling his nerves. Souji nodded, a small smile on his face as he inwardly praised Yosuke for throwing aside his reservations when it came to his crush, at least in this instance. Stepping forward, he and Yu pushed open the large double doors, walking into a large circular room.
"A ballroom?" he observed, gazing around.
Yosuke suddenly darted forward. "Chie!" he yelled, running towards the green-clad figure in the middle of the room. The others followed close behind. "Are you all right?" Yosuke asked, but Chie stood still, hearing Yukiko's voice all around her.
"She said that red looks good on me." They heard echo from everywhere and nowhere. "I hated my name…Yukiko…'Snow'…" Yukiko's voice turned sour. "Snow is cold and it melts quickly. It's transient…worthless…But it's perfect for me. Apart from inheriting the inn, I'm worthless. Still…Chie told me that red looks good on me."
Souji's gut began twisting again; this was starting to feel exactly like the liquor store. Would a shadow that looked like him or Yu pop out from nowhere? Or maybe Chie or Teddie? Regardless, he didn't like the feeling. "Chie was the only one who gave my life meaning. She's bright and strong and she can do anything…she has everything that I don't…compared to Chie, I'm…I'm…" Chie's eyes widened, struggling to comprehend what she was hearing. "Chie protects me…she looks after my worthless life…And I…I don't deserve any of it. Chie is so kind…" Yukiko's voice trailed off, and a harsh laughter sounded from ahead of them.
"Crap. I knew this wasn't good."
Souji looked towards the sound of the laughter, spinning his Tonfa around so that the blades would point forward again; he had been running and didn't want to fall on them, so he'd reversed the edges. "'Chie is so kind', huh? What a joke!" the voice said, sounding sardonic as it spoke. Chie's shadow approached the group, Chie sputtering a bit as the thoughts that had just been running through her head were spoken aloud in her voice. Yosuke swore, pulling his Nata out, Jiraiya appearing behind him, preparing for anything.
Shadow-Chie continued. "Are we talking about THAT Yukiko!? She says I'm protecting her!? She says she's worthless!" the Shadow chuckled, amused by what she'd said. "That's how it should be, right?" she muttered, gazing at Chie evilly, a grin on her face.
Chie looked shocked. "Wh-What are you saying?!" she asked, voice incredulous.
The shadow smirked, continuing with her revelation. "Yukiko's sooo good looking…sooo fair-skinned…sooo feminine. She's the one all the guys drool over." The shadow looked past Chie at the boys, grinning widely. "When Yukiko looked at me with such jealousy…Man, did I get a charge out of that. Yukiko knows the score. She can't do anything if I'm not around. I'm better than her. Much, much better…" The shadow trailed off, voice dripping with disdain.
Chie looked appalled. "No! I have never thought that!" she yelled, upset. The boys looked at one another.
"We need to protect Chie." Yu said, looking at Yosuke.
"Yeah, no question about it." said the brunette, nodding. They moved forward.
Chie heard their footfalls and turned around, eyes wide in horror. "N-No, don't come near me! Don't look at me!" she protested, looking down and covering her head. Yosuke's eyes looked sympathetic.
"Chie…" he said softly, "…calm down." But Chie was too far gone to listen.
"No…No! This isn't me!" she said harshly.
Yu's eyes widened. "Chie, don't say anything else like that!" he warned, but the Shadow began to chuckle again.
"That's right. I'm the one who can't do anything alone…" it said. "I can't win as a girl, let alone as a person. I'm pathetic." The shadow cackled, grin widening as she stared hard at Chie. "I can't even get the boy I like to take me seriously!"
Chie gasped, a look of horror crossing her face. "N-No…n-n-not here…" she said weakly, shoulders shaking.
The shadow cackled again, joyous in its own derisiveness. "Well, not that I can blame him. All I do is talk about steak, or Kung-Fu, or train. Half the time I come to school in a sweat because I didn't keep track of the time during my morning sessions. Of course he doesn't see me as a woman!" The shadow chortled as Chie began to whimper softly.
"Please…" she tried again, but to no avail.
Yosuke's face looked pained; what was the shadow talking about? Was there someone Chie liked? He felt his heart sink. The shadow continued on. "I'm such a brute. Hell, even the transfer students don't think I'm feminine! The first day we met them, and what did I do? I kicked him for breaking a DVD, one I could have replaced easily. I just got sooo angry, because he destroyed one of my things, even if it was on accident! Why would he do that? Why would sweet, cool, goofy, handsome Yosuke do that? Doesn't he know how I feel?" The shadow laughed loudly as Chie fell to her knees, unable to speak or cry. Her heart fell. Yosuke's eyes widened, and he looked incredulously at the twins. Souji simply shook his head, holding a finger to his lips. Now wasn't the time for this.
"But, at least I have someone who does depend on me." Shadow-Chie continued. "I may not be feminine, but…Yukiko depends on me. That's why she's my friend. I'll never loosen my grip on her. She's too important to me. "
Chie stood back up shakily, finding her voice again. "No…That's not how I think of her!" she said, finding something she could fight against again.
"So, you're just going to deny me again?" the shadow asked, beginning to buzz quietly. "But things are different now. When the time comes…I'll be the one left standing. You won't mind, right? I'm still you!"
Chie's face became fierce. "Shut up! Y-You're…"
Yosuke snapped out of his thoughts, hearing Chie. "Chie, no!" he shouted, darting forward.
"You're not me!" Chie screamed. Yosuke froze; the twins summoned their Personas, a look of determination on their faces; Teddie ran backwards, staying back to provide support once more. Chie's Shadow hummed, and her face twisted in an evil smile. She began to cackle maniacally, just as Shadow-Yosuke had done.
"Yosuke, get Chie back!" Souji shouted, moving forward alongside Yu. Yosuke picked Chie up, who had fainted as her Shadow began to power up, and moved her back to Teddie, leaving her in his care. He rushed back to stand alongside the silverettes, adopting a battle stance.
"Let's beat this thing!" he shouted, and the twins nodded. Their Personas rose up, flanking the newly formed Shadow.
It appeared as a dominatrix, dressed in skin tight yellow leather, its midriff exposed. Its face was covered by a long yellow mask, similar to one Souji had read about that had been prominent in America many years ago. It held a three pronged whip, and sat atop a tower of gray beings, dressed as human students from their school, a large black cape extending from its back. "Scream for me!" It shouted, cracking its whip.
"I am a Shadow…the True Self! What do you guys think you're doing? Trying to defend the 'real me'?" it cackled again. "Then you're gonna pay the price!"
Yosuke shouted back at it. "Shut up! Quit being such a pain!" Without looking back, he spoke softly. "Chie, just hang in there a little longer."
The Shadow scoffed. "Huh, think you can stop me that easy?"
Souji and Yu didn't wait for a response. Yu spun his katana forward, blade pointing towards the Shadow, holding it up by his head. Charging forward, he rammed it into the shadows exposed leg. "Izanagi, Cleave!" he yelled, wrenching the blade out.
The Shadow's wound closed quickly, as if unaffected by the attack. It didn't even blink as Izanagi came down, sword held above his head in both hands. Moving quickly, the Persona brought the sword down, cutting a gash in the Shadows base. As Izanagi flew back to Yu, Souji leaped forward with Yosuke, Each boy's twin blades a flurry on the Shadow. Souji thought he heard the Shadow chuckle, and wondered if their attacks were having no effect. Pulling Yosuke back, Souji saw a flash of almighty light appear in his head. It looked powerful.
"Megido!" he yelled again, feeling a bit of energy drain from him as he cast the spell. Morpheus raised both gauntlets high in the air, collecting a ball of energy. He flew high above Chie's Shadow, and then threw the ball down, moving back behind his master as it sped quickly towards its target. The Shadow made no attempt to evade the attack, and was enveloped in light as the energy exploded, blinding the group. The light faded quickly, and the Shadow was shaking its head, somewhat dazed.
Yosuke threw his hand in the air, willing Jiraiya to cast a spell. "Garu!" he yelled, and Jiraiya summoned a gust of wind to assault Chie's Shadow. This spell seemed to hurt it greatly, and it looked dazed, leaning lopsidedly.
"All right!" cheered Teddie "Yosuke found its weakness! Now, everyone! Attack all at once!" The boys grinned, and willed their Personas forward, following closely behind. However, the Shadow looked up, and recovered quickly. Cracking its whip, it summoned lightning to assault the group. Yu stopped short, taking the brunt of the attack, but shrugging it off with a smile.
Souji winced as he was hit, hurt, but not incapacitated. Yosuke screamed as he was hit, getting knocked flat from the electric shock. "Yosuke!" Souji yelled running over to help his friend back up. Yu sprinted to catch up, making it just in time, as Chie's Shadow summoned forth more lightning. Souji turned, cursing as he saw a flash of electricity arcing towards him and Yosuke, and closed his eyes, bracing for the attack. Yu stepped in front of the attack, taking the shock as he and Izanagi resisted the electric assault.
"Is Yosuke alright?" he said through his teeth, the attack obviously causing him some discomfort.
Souji nodded. "Thanks bro, I owe you one" Yu grinned as the attack stopped.
"Yeah, you can pay me back with some of your cooking."
Souji shook his head, grinning. "Whatever." he quipped, helping Yosuke to his feet.
The brunette looked pissed. "That's it, I've had enough of this!" he said, wiping his mouth of some light saliva. "Garu!" he screamed, sending forth gust after gust at the offending shadow, each assault hitting the shadow hard. Yu nodded, turning towards the shadow.
"Izanagi!" he said shortly, and the tall Persona came to a rest in front of him. Yu looked at his friend, nodding. "Thanks. Take a rest real quick" he said, and Izanagi nodded, disappearing with a quick flash. "Angel" Yu yelled, summoning another Persona. Yu then followed Yosuke's example, sending forth Garu after Garu into the Shadow's face, who was having trouble recovering from the repeated assault.
Souji grinned, and decided he would best serve providing support. Pointing his hands towards Yosuke and Yu, he felt a massive amount of energy drain from himself. "Heat Riser!" he yelled, watching as the boys' attacks began to hit harder, their movements a little faster, not flinching as much when hit by the wild thrashings of the Shadows whip.
The Shadow finally became too tired to continue its desperate battle, and leaned to one side again, shuddering heavily. Yosuke and Yu stopped their magical assault, panting. Yu summoned Izanagi once more, and turned to look at Souji, who was nodding, sweat pouring down his face. "Let's try this one more time!" Yu said, and flew forward, sword twirling rapidly. Yosuke grinned, reversing his Nata in his hands as he rushed forward. Souji sprinted towards Chie's Shadow, stabbing his Tonfa deep into the Shadow's sides, while Yu slashed the Shadow deeply; Yosuke slashing and stabbing a bit wildly.
The boys backed off, and their Personas took up flanking positions around the Shadow. Jiraiya threw his shuriken, enhancing their speed with a gust of wind, knocking the Shadow into the air. Morpheus came up under the Shadow, pulling out his twin staves and slamming them into the shadows back, spinning the Shadow as it became caught on the staves. After building some speed, Morpheus threw the foe towards Izanagi, who simply held out his sword, letting the shadow fly into the point, embedding itself onto Izanagi's blade. Izanagi then brought back his left fist, and slammed it into the Shadow's face, removing it from his blade. Black shadow was pouring out of The Shadows many wounds, and it crumbled to the floor, dissipating as Chie's shadow returned to its regular form. The battle was over, and the boys stood, panting. Their Personas disappeared, returning to the minds of their masters, and the group ran back over to Chie, who was recovering.
"Chie! Are you okay?!" Yosuke asked, worried.
Chie held her head, wincing from a headache she had just gained. "What happened?" she asked, looking around. She saw her shadow standing off to the side, looking placid. "What's the matter? Got nothing to say anymore?" Chie spoke harshly, looking at the Shadow as if expecting more bile to spill from her mouth.
Yosuke walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Stop it, Chie. It's all right."
Chie flushed at the touch, looking embarrassed. "B-But…" she stammered, shoulders shaking from the adrenaline pouring through her.
Souji knelt down, looking Chie in the eye as she held her face downcast. "Chie, everyone has some ugly side, some dark secret to hold back." he said. "But that side is only one bit of us. It's not our whole person, and it doesn't make us bad. It makes us Human, with wants and needs and desires and dreams. We understand what that feels like."
Yosuke nodded, and squeezed Chie's shoulder lightly. "Trust me when I say I know how hard it is to face yourself, to face the secrets in your heart. But if you don't do that, this thing will just keep coming back, eating away at you like poison."
Chie looked up, tears brimming in her eyes. She sniffed, and nodded. "You're right…" she murmured. "Thanks." Chie turned around to face her shadow.
"You're me." she began. "You're a side of me that I tried to ignore, that I didn't want to exist. But you do exist. You're a part of me." The Shadow nodded, fading out as a large figure took its place. It was clad in a skin-tight yellow leotard, rippling muscles on a feminine body. It held a double bladed spear, each end razor sharp. Its head was an armored mask, ending in a long spike from the forehead. An armored skirt fell around the figures legs, an aura of confidence brimming from it. "Tomoe…" Chie said, a smile on her face. The Persona nodded, and disappeared as Chie fell backwards onto her legs, exhausted from the stress and adrenaline.
Yosuke held down his hand, a dual offer within the gesture. Chie looked up, flushing slightly, but decided her pride wasn't as important right now.
She took Yosuke's hand, standing up, a small smile on her face that quickly disappeared. "I wasn't lying about being friends with Yukiko…" she started, but was cut off by a laugh from Yosuke.
"Well, that's obvious!" he said, grinning. "The way you took off without us, I was worried there might not be anything for us to do" His eyes twinkled, and the twins nodded; Teddie smiled.
Souji turned to the bear. "We need to get back, let Chie rest before we move on."
Chie looked up, disgruntled. "I never said I couldn't go on!" she said, but Yu shook his head, stopping her.
"Souji's right, Chie. You're in no shape to move on today, and neither are we, for that matter." His gaze softened more than normal as he looked at Chie, a comforting smile on his face. "I know you want to save Yukiko, but we don't know how much farther we have to go, or what the enemies will be like further ahead. We can't save Yukiko if we're dead on our feet, or dead for real."
Chie looked downcast, hearing the truth in the silver-haired teen's words. Souji nodded, agreeing with his brother. "For now, let's go back home and rest. We can come back tomorrow after school. That sound okay, Chie?" he asked, looking at the girl.
"Yeah, that's fine" she responded smiling at Souji.
"Alright then. Yosuke, you know where she lives. Make sure she gets home safe, and then get home yourself. Let's meet up at the Junes food court again tomorrow."
Yosuke snickered, earning an inquisitive look from Souji.
"What's so funny?" he asked, and turned again when he heard Yu begin to chortle as well.
"Well, you kinda sound like a leader, man" replied the brunette, mirth in his eyes.
Yu nodded his agreement. "Yeah, it fits you well." he said, gazing at his brother. Yu sighed, looking up. "How quickly they grow. I still can't believe you're my younger brother."
Souji turned to look at Yu, eyebrows raised and a small frown on his face. "I was only born a minute after you, and that's just because you decided you wanted to go first!" he said, causing his twin to laugh.
"A minute is still a minute, little brother" he said, a grin on his face. He knew this fact irked Souji, and admittedly irked him as well, but teasing Souji was never a boring pastime.
Souji sighed, shaking his head. "Let's head back. This place isn't good for people from your world." Teddie chirped, and the twins nodded in agreement.
"Let's go" they said, and the group headed back towards the entrance.