Chapter 8

That next day Yu was walking to school and could've sworn he was being watched.

He figured it could've been Takaya or Jin but they would've attacked him.

Still the closer he got to the school the more of an uneasy feeling he was getting.

He pulled out his phone and called Naoto who answered after a few rings.

"Senpai?" She asked, "Shouldn't you be in school by now?"

"Yeah just wanted to see how the research was going," Yu said wanting not to worry her though he knew he should say something, "Find anything with Mitsuru's help?"

"Yeah a lot of things," Naoto said, "But I'm still just looking through everything I can't give you any answers yet."

"Oh," Yu said, "You're pretty busy than huh?"

"Yeah," Naoto said noticing something was off, "Are you okay Senpai?"

"It's just I feel like I'm being watched," Yu said, "If it's those Strega guys they aren't attacking me."

"And it would be a strategic move to do so alone…" Naoto said, "Senpai don't school grounds after school and we'll meet you there."

"Naoto…" Yu started.

"Your safety comes first Senpai," Naoto said, "So please just stay there after school until we get there."

"I will," Yu said and heard the bell, "I need to get in there."

"Right be careful Senpai," Naoto said.

Yu headed inside the school and hoped he wouldn't be followed inside.

He could handle being late but he was still getting that uneasy feeling.

Naoto meanwhile put her files aside and went to a local hotel where Yosuke and the rest were staying.

"Miss Kirijo was awesome paying for our rooms," Yosuke said.

"Yeah," Yukiko said and saw Naoto come in and could tell something was wrong, "Naoto what's wrong?"

"I got a call from Yu," Naoto said, "he thinks he's being watched and I could tell it was bothering him when he called me."

"Is it those two again?" Kanji asked.

"He doesn't know," Naoto replied, "I told him to wait inside school grounds after school until we arrive."

"But it doesn't make sense," Rise said, "I don't sense those two anywhere near the school that means someone else is involved."

"But who?" Yosuke asked.

"I can't tell," Rise said, "Whoever it is can block my power from scanning them."

"Forgive the intrusion but I overheard," Mitsuru said coming in with the others except Aigis who seemed to be absent, "This person is also blocking Yamagishi's powers."

"It could be whoever they are brought back Strega," Fuuka said, "But only a few groups have the money for that kind of research."

"Which ones?" Naoto asked.

"There's mine but we suspended such research after the incident," Mitsuru said, "It could be the group Ikkuski…"

"Wait like the same Ikkuski we knew?" Junpei asked.

"Yes," Mitsuru said, "I didn't realize it at the time but he was working with his own group and they could've brought back Strega."

"So what do you know about them?" Naoto asked.

"Not much I'm afraid," Mitsuru said, "There are some records I can't get unsealed but I recall a document I found later of a woman working with him but her name was blacked out."

Meanwhile Yu was outside during PE class and his teacher called him over from the track.

"Hey Narukami someone wants to talk to you," He said, "She says it's important."

Yu saw a woman wearing a black business like jacket with a white shirt underneath, She had a black skirt on and black high heels.

She was fairly attractive with Dark Brown hair, and Jade Green eyes.

"Who is she?" Yu asked.

"She says she knows your parents," The coach said, "Guess she has a message from them."

"Right…" Yu said and walked over getting a creepy feeling from her, "You know my parents?"

"Well we've met in the past a few times," She said, "Forgive me I haven't introduced myself I'm Mariko Ikkutski."

"Ikkutski?" Yu asked, "I heard that name somewhere before."

"Yes my brother," She said, "He was killed a couple years ago."

"I'm sorry," Yu replied, "But uh what did you want?"

"Oh right…" She said, "I was wondering if we could talk privately."

"Sorry I have to get back to class," Yu said, "If that's all you wanted I better get back."

"It's not," Mariko said, "You see my brother was a very brilliant scientist though few saw him as one."

"Okay so?" Yu asked.

"He was on to some research about a power we all have inside of us," She said, "Like a mask to protect us."

'Personas…' Yu thought.

"He found a select few that could use this 'great power' as he called it and worked with another group on an experiment dealing with Shadows," Mariko said.

Yu wondered if this was what Mitsuru's company did but didn't let on.

"Look um this all sounds crazy," Yu said, "No offense Shadows and Masks?"

"I know it must sound crazy but it's true," Mariko said, "The experiment was a failure and the shadow they called 'death' escaped but it was incomplete."

"Look I really need…" Yu said.

"It was eventually reformed and nearly destroyed the entire world but was stopped by a boy with a mysterious power," Mariko said.

'She talking about the wild card?' Yu thought.

"Okay…" Yu said acting like he wasn't buying any of it.

"That boy mysteriously died soon after and well I believe it's happening again," Mariko said, "I've been watching you for some time and I know you have the same power as that boy and I came for your help."

'She was watching me?' Yu thought.

"Sorry I don't buy it," Yu said, "And even if I did you're admitting to stalking me which I'm pretty sure is a crime."

"True," Mariko said, "But I wouldn't have told you all this if I didn't want to stop this from all happening again."

"Look I can't help you," Yu said, "I'm really considering calling the cops on you so please leave me alone."

He ran back to the track and Mariko walked off heading to her car in the parking lot.

"So how'd it go?" Takaya asked, "He buy it?"

"No," Mariko said, "he didn't even sweat when I mentioned shadows…so you had better be sure this is the person you saw."

"He is," Jin said, "He's definitely the guy…"

"He seems to be rather calm though," Mariko said, "He'll be hard to crack."

"So what's the plan boss lady?" Jin asked.

"Put on the pressure," Mariko said, "I need to study this 'wild card' power and I will have it…my brothers research will continue."

Jin and Takaya were about to step out to cause a scene but froze seeing someone on the roof staring at them.

It was a boy with dark Blue hair covering one eye and wearing a school uniform.

The boy seemed to stare at them and they got back into the car looking up as they did.

The boy was gone a second later and the car drove off.

The boy stepped out from a post and looked at Yu running the track nearby.

"I hope he's ready…" He said and closed his eyes.

Yu later was walking out of the school after it let out and thought he saw a kid staring at him.

He wasn't wearing the same uniform and no one else seemed to notice him.

The boy stared at him and seemed to walk towards him but Yu's vision of him was blocked by someone walking by and when they passed he was gone.

"Who was that?" Yu asked running over to where the boy was but found nothing to show anyone was there, "Not even footprints…"

"Yu!" Yukiko yelled running over, "Is everything all right?"

"There was a boy here," Yu said, "But if he was there'd be footprints here."

"I didn't see anyone," Yukiko replied.

"I…He was…" Yu said, "I saw him and he was staring right at me."

"Senpai are you sure?" Kanji asked, "We didn't see anything."

"Yeah Partner we'd notice someone staring at you," Yosuke said.

"Maybe it's my nerves," Yu said, "I had a strange visitor today…"

"Was it a woman?" Naoto asked.

"Yeah," Yu said, "Why?"

"I was afraid to that," Naoto replied, "we have something to tell you."

End Chapter

And Minato is appearing in the story but he's not really in physical form as of yet. He'll appear later more in a physical sense but think of him as a guardian angel for the time being.

Anyways please read and review.