Chapter 2: Distance doesn't matter

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING! Characters belong to the makers of persona 4

Author's note: I really didn't want to get too much into what happened to Yosuke, reason being that I don't want to change the rating from T yet. I very well may end up making it an M rated story. I would love some feedback on this! SO please review on this chapter!

Yosuke woke up slowly, his mind still groggy with sleep. He blinked a couple of times as he looked around; his mind slowly began to take in the dark world around him. He tried to sit up only to find out he couldn't move, he was strapped down to a bed. His eyes widened in shock as panic sank in. He closed his eyes, struggling like he was, wasn't going to help right now and with that thought he willed himself to relax; he began taking deep breaths as he slowly opened his eyes again. This time fully taking in his surroundings, with his limited movement; he could tell that the room was dark, just slightly brighter than a movie theater. He moved his gaze to the ceiling and saw a layer of smoke, and it felt almost like a mist, this confirmed that he really was in the TV world and not in a nightmare. He turned his head to the side and noted that the posters around the room where the ones he had in his bed room when he was ten years old. He sighed and moved to look at the ceiling again, but something caught his eye. He sat up the very most that he could and saw what he thought to be a movie theater screen. This can't be good, he thought to himself. That's when he heard the bed room door open and close, and footsteps moving closer to the bed.

"Ah GoOd, you WokE up!"

Yosuke tried to get a look at him, but sighed as he remembered that he couldn't move. The footsteps stopped next to the bed and the face that met his gaze was one he never wanted to see again. His heart rate spiked, he remembered where he heard the voice before now that he had face to match it, Lee Pimper, his old baby sitter. Yosuke glared up at him, the man hadn't changed a bit; he still had his messy black-brown hair, his creepy smirk looking smile, his dull lifeless brown eyes, Yosuke wanted to burn this image from his mind forever. "You're supposed to still be in jail! What the hell?"

A real smirk slowly crept up onto his face as Lee looked down at him, "I suppose you could say good behavior." He let his fake voice drop, now that Yosuke realized who he was; there was no need for it. He then undid some of the straps holding Yosuke down so he could sit up, how was Yosuke supposed to watch the movie lying down? Lee looked at Yosuke's face and said," I was just watching your memories, I'm not in many of them." The smirk only grew as he said, "we will have to change that."

Yosuke sat up, he looked and felt even more sick then he did before as he whispered; more to himself but knew Lee heard him, "Watching my memories?" he looked at him in disgust and almost shouted, "THEY ARE NOT A MOVIE!" Yosuke was pissed off, he wanted to vomit, punch him, and run away all at the same time, he really wished this was all just some horrible dream he was trapped in. He was once again reminded of the fact that this was really happing when he felt a cold hand touch his face and force him to turn towards Lee.

"I think it's time that we watch our memories. Back when you were mine."

Yosuke jerked his head away from him as his glare turned into a look of disgust, to a disheartened expression. He didn't even know if anyone knew he was missing; if they did it would just be Teddie, and his manager. Even if they were looking for him he was inside the TV; no one would find him here.

Next to Nanako being stuck in the TV, this was the longest day at school Souji has ever had to sit though. He couldn't focus on anything, he also kept checking the clock and he couldn't stop fidgeting. At one point he even thought time was slowing down; he couldn't even remember what he did though out his lunch period even. Souji was now staring at the clock, it was his last class of the day, and when the bell finally rang he was all too ready to go. The group met at Junes and entered the TV just like they used too. It felt just like it had three years ago.

"Teddie you've got to help me look! We are looking for Yosuke of course, it may be better if we knew who the other man was, but this should work." Rise summoned her persona, as she was scanning, Teddie was sniffing around.

"Whoa! There is this crazy powerful smell almost completely covering Yosuke's. It's going to make it bery hard for me to pin-point his location." Teddie frowned; he looked down at his feet.

"It's like something is trying to block Yosuke out, but don't worry, I've got general idea of which way to go." Rise pointed out which way, Souji said, "Let's head that way. Good job you two, if nothing else, we know he isn't alone. Let's hurry." The group followed Rise to what looked like a simple family style home. It had a well maintained yard, a white fence with a tree in the front yard that had a swing on it. "This has to be it," Rise trued to look at the group, Teddie added, "Both scents are here!"

Souji looked at the house, "Then this shouldn't take too long." He walked into the house first and looked at his new surroundings. Teddie blinked as he appeared at Souji's side, "sensei!" He walked around the living room, "This is Yosuke's old house; I saw it in a picture." The group looked around the room again, sure enough, they saw family photos, there was a good size TV, furniture. It looked like a normal living room except for the fog hanging around. Souji started to head for the stairs, they were getting nowhere by looking around. As he reached the steps, the house made a strange groaning sound and started moving.

"So, you think you can just walk right in huh? This is a house you know! You're supposed to knock!" The house made a louder moan and the stairs started to stretch up ward, as they looked around, every part of the house was stretching and growing in every direction. "Good luck reaching the top, I'm making a maze for you!" the laughter that they heard sounded almost demonic.

The house settled down, Souji sighed inwardly; it looks like it got crossed with a limousine. Souji looked up the stairs; this isn't going to stop me. I will find you Yosuke! He looked at the others, "Let go! "The group nodded and followed Souji up the step, but as they continued their way Chie blurted out, "It's so quiet! Other places had music or something going in the back ground." The group looked at her as they reached the top just before the promised maze they heard about.

Teddie thought for a moment, "Hey! Maybe it really is Yosuke's music we were hearing before! I was thinking and before all the craziness that was happing here, I remember it always being this quiet." The group just looked at each other, this was getting weird. Just then, they heard a small child's voice float over them.

"I don't want to! L…leave me alone! You're not supposed to do this, it's a bad thing!"

"Aw, but Yosuke, it will be so muchfun!"

"No!" it was quiet for a moment before in much louder than before, the other voice replied.

"Who is the damn adult here boy? It's no you, so do as I say!"

Souji paled, they could hear Yosuke struggle against the man, and they could also hear a dragging sound. "Get into that room!" they heard some footsteps and the slamming of a door, then nothing. The group stared at each other, the sudden silence making its way over to consume them again. Souji headed for the maze, knowing everyone was close behind him. He really didn't want to think about what was really going on in that memory they just over heard, he reminded himself not to think about it, he didn't even want to ask Yosuke about it.

They worked their way further into the maze, Teddie stopped; "guy's heads up!" out of nowhere shadows began to swarm them. Kanji growled out, "Out of the way damn it!" he called out his persona and had it pound two of the shadows, Naoto also summoned her persona; having it aide Kanji's.

"Go on a head, Kanji and I got this! We will follow you soon!"

Souji nodded and continued on, Rise staying behind the help Kanji and Naoto. Teddie slowed down, "This way! I can smell Yosuke, he's really close!" They reached a simple bed room door, Souji, not hesitating, opened the door and walked in.

"S…Souji?" Yosuke was staring at him, "H…how are you all here?"

Souji ran over to Yosuke, "Are you okay?!" he was working on untying Yosuke when Lee walked back in the room. At the sight of Souji being so close to Yosuke, his face twisted in anger.

"Get away from what's mine!'" Shadows began to swarm around him, becoming part of him, some slamming into him hard enough to make disgusting crunching sounds. Before Souji could pull Yosuke to safety, Lee wrapped a shadowy hand around Yosuke, and pulled him violently off the bed, and to himself.

"Souji!"

"Yosuke!" Souji watched as Lee held onto Yosuke tightly, his normal stoic mask cracking with worry.

"You can't have him!" They heard Yosuke gasp as the hoard of shadows swallowed them, just to explode away to reveal Lee's new form. He was huge; one large clammy hand was wrapped tightly around Yosuke. His other hand on the floor to hold himself up, his legs where curled under him, his skin was a sickly white blotchy color. Lee's face was an elongated version of a chimpanzee's; with red burring eyes. Some small shadows still hovered around him, Lee took them all in as Kanji, Naoto and Rise joined them, Rise already scanning him with her persona. "I dOn'T KnOW HoW you FoUND uS, but YOSuKe Is STaYinG With me HeRE! We ArE gOinG to Build a World together!" his grip tightened on Yosuke, who in turn started to cough, and gasp for air.

"You're only hurting him! He's sick!" Yukiko called out to Lee. Chie glared and sent her persona at him; it kicked him hard in the head, Lee's head jerked back hard, a normal person would have had a broken neck. He flicked his head up right again and turned his fiery eyes one her, he smirked at her as he set fire to Chie's persona. Chie cried out as she hit the ground along with her persona. Yukiko rushed to her side, Souji called out Izanagi, he Kanji and Naoto sent their personas at Lee. Naoto's trying to cut Yosuke from his hand. Lee screamed as he started launching random attacks at all of them.

"Guys he's scanning us! Be careful!"

Teddie and Yukiko's personas now joining them, Lee only seemed to get angrier, but this did give Naoto the chance she needed, her persona was able to cut Yosuke loose from Lee's tight grip; Izanagi catching Yosuke as he slipped from Lee's hand. Izanagi brought Yosuke over to Souji. In the back ground he could faintly hear Rise telling the others which attack to use or which way they should move, or what Lee was doing. Izanagi set Yosuke down. "Hey Yosuke," Souji knelt next to him, so he could lean Yosuke against him.

Yosuke looked at him, he smiled and said, "Not that I'm not happy to see you but, aren't you supposed to be with your parents?"

"It was supposed to be a surprise for you, I'm staying another year." Souji frowned as he got a better look at Yosuke's appearance, "Did he hurt you?"

Yosuke shook his head and said, "Not including when he shocked me," he looked up at him and to Souji's surprise; he kissed him. Souji responded immediately, he slightly deepened the kiss briefly, remembering where they were Yosuke pulled back at the sound of footsteps rushing towards them.

Yukiko stopped in front of them, "I don't know if I can help much, but let me try." Souji laid Yosuke down carful so that Yukiko could try her healing magic on him, Rise called to him, "Now that Yosuke's safe let's put an end to this guy!"

"You really think you can stop me?! Give Yosuke back!" Lee's attacks were becoming erratic in his attempt to get Yosuke back, and keeping Izanagi at bay.

"Souji!" Rise was pointing at Lee's chest, "Just like with Teddie's shadow, there is a spot right there that will take him out!" Souji nodded at her, "Thanks," Izanagi appeared next to him, Souji then looked up at Lee. Lee's skin seemed to be melting right off of him; their team work seemed to have done something to overheat him. He then sent Izanagi straight at him, Izanagi then plunged his sword right into his chest. With the task done, Izanagi then yanked the sword out and few away. Lee screamed, he then proceeded to implode onto himself, black blood like substance spurting from the wound. He fell to the ground hard once the shadows abandoned him.

Behind them, Yosuke sat back up slowly; Teddie had given him new glasses, now Yosuke could really get a good look around. He really did copy my room I had back then…with the glasses making it easier on his eyes, he stood up in time to see Kanji dragging Lee over with Naoto and Souji. "Thank you guys, I don't know what would have happened if you didn't find me."

"Damn it dude, you should have told us that this piece of trash was following you!" Kanji shook Lee for empathies.

Yosuke laughed a little, "I couldn't even bring myself to tell Souji, I'm sorry, I guess I thought I could handle it myself." Souji looked at him and said," Let's get you out of here. You don't look very good."

Yosuke sighed but nodded, it had been hard for him to stand up as it was. He was grateful when Souji walked over to him to help on their way out. They ended up in front of the TV in Junes, Naoto was calling the cops, Kanji was holding onto a struggling Lee. Yosuke sighed and sat slumped on the ground, Souji right next to him.

"They will be here shortly." Naoto hung up her phone and looked at Yosuke, "Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor?"

"You yourself said the TV world didn't hurt us. I'm just very tired." He leaned his back against the TV.

Dojima sighed, "Why is it always you guys?" he paused as his new partner took Lee away from Kanji, "It's always Junes too…Yosuke after I ask you a few questions you are free to go. Come with me please. "Yosuke nodded and got up to follow him. "Dojima looked back at Souji "You may as well come too. The rest of you, it's late. Go home." The group split up, Yukiko taking Teddie with her to help at the Inn that night. After his questions he took Yosuke home, while dropping Souji off with him.

Yosuke walked into his house and sighed, "Souji, I'm sorry about all this."

Souji shut the door behind him, "You should have told me about him, if not me, at least you should have told my uncle. Who knows what he would have done had we not gotten there Yosuke." He was happy that Yosuke was safe, but he was also quite upset that Yosuke didn't tell him anything at all.

Yosuke frowned and said," I was going to tell you. He just got to me before I could." He was looking down and Souji walked over and hugged him tightly, Yosuke latched onto him and mumbled, "I do have something to tell you…"

Souji sighed, he leaned his head on top of Yosuke's, "Tomorrow after school, right now you need to sleep." He felt Yosuke nod his head, he stepped back, tilted Yosuke's up so he could look at him, "I will be here all night." Souji kissed him, Yosuke smiled and lead the way up to his room.