Aaaaaaaand new chappie! We get to meet the new guy real and proper now! :)

Hope you all enjoy it!

Obligatory Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Tirin

The air of stupefied shock was almost stifling, and so thick Yu felt he could have cut into it with a knife had his mind not been so completely overwhelmed by the person standing in front of them. A person who looked like he was enjoying their thunderstruck expressions very, very much, if the small, cat-like smile on his face was anything to go by. Knocking his head slightly to one side, he cheekily quipped, "Well, they do say beauty can strike people dumb.~"

The light, airy words broke Yu out of his stupor, bringing him back to the reality that this was in fact happening right now. And apparently he wasn't alone, because before he could speak, exclamations of bewilderment and alarm suddenly rose up in a tidal wave of noise behind him.

"What the fuck?!" Kanji and Yosuke.

"Oh my god," Yukiko.

"Who the hell is that?!" Chie.

"What in the world-?!" Rise.

"W-w-w-why does he look like me?!" Teddie, utterly baffled. Then, with a growl, he pointed accusingly, "There's only one explanation for this! You're an imposter!"

The strange Teddie look-a-like slightly tilted his head to one side, "Oh? I'd say you're the imposter here. Imposters, actually."

"Wha- . . . hey, we ain't imposters!" Kanji shouted defensively.

"Then what are you?" the stranger asked, though his tone sounded teasing rather than serious.

"Hey, we're the ones who should be asking the questions here!" Yosuke snapped, though in his eyes Yu could see the uneasiness flicker like a storm. Behind his bravado, he was clearly unnerved by who stood before them.

"Yeah, so start talking!" Chie demanded bravely, "Just who the hell are you?!"

"A-and why do you have my face?" Teddie added, a demand followed by loud sneeze as the chill brought by his waterlogged clothes began to take affect once more.

The stranger only looked passingly amused, and it was a look Yu recognized well. The only people who wore it were those who didn't feel they were in any danger at all. Whoever this person was, whether it was Teddie or . . . or something else, he clearly did not see them as a threat.

And right now, we hardly are, he reflected, knowing full well the disadvantage they were at.

"Well, what exactly is it you want to know?" he asked blithely, "My name, what I do?"

"Hey, cut the crap! You know what we wanna know, so start talkin'!" Kanji shouted.

The stranger smirked, "Now, now, I know I'm a rather dashing specimen of many wonderful talents, but sadly, telepathy isn't one of them."

Kanji glowered at the strange doppelganger, a vein popping as he took a threatening step forward, "I swear, I'm gonna-!"

Yu held up a hand and motioned him back, voice stern, yet low, "Kanji, wait. We don't know what he's capable of, and we're not in any shape to defend ourselves if things go sour."

"Agreed," Naoto said quietly as she place a hand on Kanji's arm, which wasn't difficult as she was still leaning on him for support, "In our condition, picking a fight would not be our best course of action. So far, this . . . other Teddie has been cordial with us. A diplomatic approach would be the best way to ensure he remains so."

Kanji growled, eyeing the stranger with deep distrust. But he backed off, and though his muscles remained tense, ready to spring into action if need be, he kept his peace. Around him, Yu heard the rest of the group murmur in agreement, calm enough now to see the sense of Naoto's words.

With the situation no longer in danger of flying off the handle, Yu stepped forward, faltering slightly when the stranger's eyes locked on him like a raptor spying a mouse. His eyes . . . they weren't like Teddie's eyes. They were duller, suffused with a hue of gray that dimmed the blue considerably, like a smooth stone under the rippling surface of a crystalline lake. They pierced rather than observed, and Yu couldn't help but feel like he was being visually dissected. And . . . though it may have just been the poor lighting . . . it almost looked like his pupils were as thin and sharp as a cat's . . .

Yu could tell from that gaze alone that while he may look like Teddie . . . the resemblance may very well only be skin deep.

Steeling his nerves and reminding himself he was not alone, Yu spoke with a voice as level as an undisturbed pond, "Who are you? Were you the one who saved us just now?"

"Well, I don't mean to brag . . . but yes, I did! Just like a knight, even if I didn't have a shining steed!" was his chipper response, waving a hand at the dead spider beneath him, "It's alright to swoon. As for my name . . ." he placed a hand to his chest and inclined his head to them in slight, subtle bow, "You can call me Tirin."

Yu relaxed a little. So, he hadn't imagined the hand giving him the vial. And if he'd bothered saving them, then perhaps their situation wasn't as precarious as they'd thought. Bowing slightly in return, Yu said, "Thank you. If you hadn't, we most likely would have died."

The stranger, 'Tirin', nodded, accepting the gratitude with a degree of humility Yu wouldn't expect to see on someone who looked so like the excitable (and somewhat egotistical) Teddie. But he guessed that this was only scratching the surface of the differences they were likely to see.

"So, Tirin," Yu started again, using his name as a show of respect, "Do you know where-?"

"Ah-ah-ah," Tirin interrupted, holding up a silencing finger, "My turn to ask a question now! Who are you?"

Yu glanced back at the others, seeing them shift uneasily at the thought of exposing anything to this virtual stranger. But then, they didn't have much choice. Hopefully, just their names would suffice, for now, at least.

Turning back to Tirin, he held his head up and took the lead, "My name is Yu Narukami. You'll have to forgive me if I don't shake your hand."

Tirin only inclined his head to him at that, an amused smile tweaking the corners of his lips. Yu's introduction did get the ball rolling, however, everyone soon stepping up to give their own names in return;

"Yosuke. Hanamura," Yosuke said, tone clipped and guarded.

"I'm Chie Satonaka," Chie answered right after, holding herself up to appear strong and self-assured despite the uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

Yukiko came next, nodding her head in a show of rigid courtesy she saved for people she didn't know or trust, "My name is Yukiko Amagi."

"Kanji Tatsumi," Kanji said, voice gruff and wary.

"Rise. Rise Kujikawa," Rise said, perhaps the most openly friendly of the group. At least, outwardly she was. Yu knew her well enough to know that the affability she threw about was just a cover for her suspicion.

"Naoto Shirogane," Naoto said softly, face a carefully controlled neutral that gave away nothing.

Teddie pursed his lips, as if he were reluctant to answer his strange 'other', but finally he acquiesced, "I'm Teddie. And that's my name, not yours!"

Tirin, who had been nodding his head to each person in turn, paused at Teddie's declaration, a slightly bemused expression crossing his face. He mumbled something under his breath, a jumble of words that sounded foreign to Yu's ears, before shaking his head and pushing himself off the rock he leaned against. In the process, he stepped out of it's shadow, affording a clearer view of his appearance.

Tirin was definitely dressed for a fight, Yu saw that right off the bat. His armor was sleek and snug against his lithe frame, the black fabric appearing glossy in texture as the frail light slid across its surface like oil. Peering closer, he realized with a start that the reason why was because the armor itself was made from what looked like an innumerable number of opaque black scales all painstakingly stitched into the fiber. Black bracers wound around his wrists, small arrow insignias wrought in silver embedded into the backs of each one. His boots cut off just below his knees, with delicate silver tracery coiled around the ankles and traveling up the sides to the top, striking against the black leather. Disturbingly enough, the soles made no noise as he padded over the stone, as if he were made of air rather than solid flesh and blood. On his head were a pair of ebony goggles held in place with a black leather cord, the lenses of which were made of smoothly polished crystal that glinted in the dim light despite their smoky hue. They stuck out against his blonde hair, but Yu imagined they weren't there to be fashionable. A cloth belt of green, black, and gold thread was tied around his waist, its simplistic appearance making it stand out against the otherwise stupendous set of armor.

Of particular note to Yu, however, were the weapons hanging from his sides. They were a pair of punching daggers, not unlike the claws Teddie would use when they'd explored the TV world in the past. Each dagger had twin six-inch blades that ran parallel together from the flat guard, the tips of each curving down to mimic the appearance of great fangs. The metal was black and bore a strangely glossy sheen, each blade bearing a green tint like they'd been dipped in poison. The guard itself was roughly an inch in width, and set into the heart right between the blades of each dagger was a small green gemstone, their surfaces glimmering like pearls of solidified acid.

What bare skin Yu could see was strangely pale, almost snowy in color, and looked as if it gave off just the subtlest of glows, like the soft light of a candle. He looked older, too, older than any of them at any rate. But that wasn't as important as the very real, very lethal looking weapons attached to his hips.

"Dude, he looks like he jumped straight out of an rpg," Yu heard Yosuke whisper behind him.

"I don't think now's really the time, Yosuke-Senpai," Rise whispered after that, though she didn't take her wondering eyes off the stranger.

The man's arms went akimbo as he inclined his head in their direction, eyes flashing with curiosity, "R-P-G? Is that a compliment?" he smiled, winking, "If it is, please, don't hold back! Speak up! It's not everyday you get to see something as gorgeous as myself, after all!~"

"But still egotistical. Figures . . ."

Yosuke's words were quickly drowned out by Teddie's indignant exclamation as he jumped to the fore and pointed accusingly at Tirin, "OOOB-JEC-TION! No one here is more gorgeous than me, and that most definitely includes imposters trying to bemirch my good name!"

Tirin lifted an eyebrow, idly digging the toe of one boot against the stone, "Bemirch? Do you mean besmirch? Because if anyone's doing any besmirching here, it's you, oh soggy one."

Teddie's gasp was scandalized, "And so unbearlivably rude! I'll tell you something, you-you-a, ah- . . . ACHOO!"

Teddie sneezed explosively, and Yu was beginning to suspect the onset of a cold. Given their conditions, it wasn't implausible they'd all come down with something at this rate. And that wasn't even taking into account their injuries. He felt as if he'd run through a field of barbed wire, not to mention the pain throbbing at the base of his skull. They needed to find someplace warm and safe, and fast.

"Listen," Yu said, stepping forward and gesturing for the others to calm down, "We're lost and don't know where we are. As you can probably tell, some of us are hurt and need treatment. Since you seem to know this area, we would be grateful if you could point us in the direction of a town or city."

Tirin let out a short bark of laughter, as if Yu had said a joke only he understood, "You don't want to go to any of the cities around here, trust me." He mumbled something under his breath that sounded disturbingly like 'they'd eat you alive', but it was too quiet to tell.

"And why should we trust you?" Yosuke probed, eyes narrowed and fingers twitching to where his kunai would be had he had them, "Sure, you saved us, but whose to say it isn't just to lead us somewhere worse? And that's not even getting into the fact that you look exactly like one of our friends!"

"Yeah, that's more than a little suspicious!" Chie added sharply, posture rigid.

"What they s-s-s-said!" Teddie shouted.

Tirin made face of over-exaggerated hurt, placing a hand over his heart as if in shock, "Oh, now those words just cut right to the core! And after I swooped in and rescued you from certain peril, how cruel!"

When neither Yosuke nor Chie relaxed, the man dropped his pout and lifted his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright, yeesh. Tough crowd . . ."

If he was going to say anything else, it was cut off by Kanji's panicked exclamation, "Wh-whoa, hey, N-Naoto, are you okay?"

Yu spun around in alarm, seeing that the blue-haired girl had slumped over where she stood, Kanji's arm the only thing keeping her from falling as her hat slipped off her head and landed on the floor.

"Naoto-kun?!" Rise asked in alarm, rushing to her friend's side only to hover there indecisively, at a loss for what to do.

Yukiko had swept up to her side as well, leaning over to peer into the girl's pale face, "Naoto-kun? Naoto-kun, can you hear me?"

For a few seconds, she didn't respond. Then, with a soft groan and a wince of pain, Naoto opened her eyes and struggled to rise back to her feet. Kanji helped her out, looking as if he feared even the faintest breeze could knock her down. Yu was struggling with the same fear himself as he came over to her, taking in her pallid skin and sweaty brow. She looked bad . . .

"M-my apologies . . ." she said, voice pained and face white, "I . . . seem to be having difficulty keeping my eyes open . . ."

"Hey, if you ain't feelin' well, don't push yourself," Kanji chided, shifting his arm slightly to take more of Naoto's weight against his own.

"I appreciate the concern, b-but now is not the time too be . . . doting on me . . ." Naoto was keeping a brave front, but it was clear that whatever was ailing her was winning out, her head continuously nodding forward until she jerked it up again.

"It won't do us any good if you hurt yourself in the process," Yu said firmly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. He could feel heat radiate under the cloth, "Take it easy. We'll get out of here soon."

"Which we'd better do," Yu jumped slightly when the voice appeared right next to him, startled eyes landing on Tirin, who'd somehow teleported into their midst without any of them noticing. He paid no mind to the startled gasps and shocked stares he received, eyes roving over Naoto's face even as Kanji started to growl, "Hey, back off!"

"Shh!" Tirin hushed rather sharply, And Yu noticed that the pretense of joviality he'd been holding up before had utterly vanished, face now uncharacteristically serious as he stared Kanji down, "Unless you want your friend to die, you'll let me help."

"Die?" Chie repeated in shock, eyes wide, "Wha-wha-what'dya you mean 'die'?!"

"She's been poisoned," he replied with an air of rather disturbing calm, "The spider's fangs probably nicked her when it attacked her."

"Ah . . . so that would explain the tingling . . ." Naoto murmured, only to be quietly hushed by Rise, who was stroking the other girl's back.

"Shit!" he heard Yosuke curse under his breath, "Our personas are all out, and we don't have any Dokudami Tea!"

"Nao-chan . . ." Teddie whimpered in worry, fingers twining together as if he hoped to somehow will his persona into existence.

"Can you help her?" Yu asked as he turned to the stranger, knowing that the man who had their friend's face was their best-and really, their only-option now.

To his relief, Tirin nodded, "Of course I can help! Wouldn't be a very good adventurer if I couldn't take care of something as easy as a spider bite!"

He reached around and dug his hand into a small satchel tied to his waist, and Yu thought he could hear the muffled sounds of tinkling vials before he pulled it free. A small, oval bottle sat in Tirin's hands, a viscous green liquid swirling within. He quickly pulled the stopper and held it out to Naoto, "Can you manage?"

She nodded and grabbed the bottle with a shaky hand, but before she could tip the contents into her mouth, Yosuke stepped in, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, are we sure this is okay?"

"Yosuke-senpai . . ." Naoto interjected, words running with an undercurrent of pain, "I do not believe . . . that now is the time to be choosy over where our aid comes from."

The brown-haired boy bit his lip, but stepped back, and Yu placed a quick, comforting hand on his shoulder to ensure him it would be fine. So far, this otherworldly stranger had done them no wrong. And like Naoto said, they weren't exactly spoiled for choice.

Seeing that he was sufficiently mollified, Naoto drank the liquid within, a cringe of disgust twisting her features as she downed it. When the last drop was gone, she dropped her hand and sighed, eyes closed as if in sleep.

"Naoto?" Yu prompted in the silence that followed.

Swallowing, she looked up and opened her eyes again, nodding slightly in reassurance, "I'm . . . alright. Whatever this vial contained, it's quite potent."

"I hope so, otherwise I've been swindled!" Tirin declared, slipping back into a front of carefree cheerfulness. Turning on his heel, he started walking away from the group, steps light and confident over the battle-scarred and web-covered ground. He stopped at the edge of the spider's lair, looking back at them from over his shoulder before gesturing for them to follow, "Come on! There's a place near here where we can camp! We can talk more there!"

He carried on as if he fully expected them to follow, and Yu realized that in reality, they didn't really have a choice. All the same, he stepped forward and raised his voice, "Wait!"

The man stopped and looked back at him, ear cocked and eye flickering with a shred of impatience, "Y-es?"

"Can you give us a few minutes to talk? We'll be quick," he said, hoping to gather a few precious minutes to talk this over with his friends.

Tirin shrugged, "Alright. Just don't take too long!"

He turned back to the group, knowing they only had a limited time to decide. But for a decision like this, it was only fair to leave it to the rest of them, "So? Are you all comfortable with following him?"

"'Comfortable' isn't the word I'd use. This is all just . . . so bizarre," Yosuke said, running a hand through his hair. He then waved a his free hand where the man was, "We wake up in a cave, get chased by a giant fucking spider, and then we're saved by someone who . . . I mean, he's . . . he looks exactly like Teddie, but he's . . . ugh, I don't know what he is!"

"He is weird," Yukiko said, eyebrows knitted together, "I mean, is he really our Teddie, or is he someone else?"

"Of c-c-c-course he isn't your T-T-T-Teddie, because I'm your T-T-T-Teddie!" the bear protested loudly through his chattering teeth, drawing the jacket tighter around his shoulders.

"O-oh, I'm sorry, Teddie, I didn't mean it like that," Yukiko amended, face apologetic.

Teddie sniffed and continued, "I d-d-d-don't like h-h-him. Anyone who t-t-t-tries to steal m-m-my charming looks is o-o-obviously up to kn-kn-know g-g-good!"

"For one, I actually agree with you . . ." Yosuke mumbled.

In the brief lull that followed, Chie stepped up, looking a little spooked as she rocked for one foot to the other, ". . . Did . . . did anyone else see his eyes? They weren't . . . they weren't normal."

"His skin's all . . . glowy too," Kanji said, jaw lined with tension as he stared at the stranger with a guarded look, "He ain't human, whatever he is."

Yu had to agree, and the looks everyone shared said they were of the same opinion. It wasn't Tirin's inhuman nature that irked him, not really. He counted numerous inhuman entities amongst his circle of friends, after all. But it was obvious that wherever they were didn't involve shadows or robots or anything they were used to dealing with. This . . . 'Teddie' could be anything. Whether benign or not was something none of them would be able to tell.

"I think this a discussion best reserved for when we are somewhere a little more secure," Naoto interjected, giving a pointed glance to the dead spider, "And right now, this . . . Tirin, as he calls himself, is the only one who knows where such a place may be found."

"Yeah . . ." Rise mumbled, unconsciously gripping her elbow with a hand, "But, he did save our lives, and if he's anything like our Teddie . . . we can trust him, right?"

"For now, that's all we can do," Naoto said solemnly.

"So we're all agreed. We follow?" Yu asked.

Hesitation followed for a few moments . . . then soft, quiet murmurs of assent were given, slight nods shared as their dangerous circumstances outweighed suspicion.

"Yeah, I guess. Like Naoto-kun said, that's all we can do," Chie said.

"We'll be fine though, right? We're together, that has to count for something," Yukiko added.

Rise nodded, "She's right. If nothing else, we know we can rely on each other."

"Tch, that really need sayin?" Kanji asked, a small, good-humored smile flashing over his face, "We already know we got each other's backs."

"Still, given our situation, it is . . . good to hear it," Naoto said, smiling.

"Indeed," Yu agreed, feeling a measure of pride swell in his heart for his friends and the maturity at which they handled their situation.

Yosuke crossed his arms, "Still, lets keep an eye on this guy, okay Partner? We can trust each other with our lives, but we can't say the same about him."

Yu clapped an encouraging hand against his shoulder, "Of course. We won't allow ourselves to fall into a trap. If things start getting suspicious, we'll find our own way."

Yosuke nodded and smiled, eyes flashing with gratitude for Yu understanding his concern.

"Right-o!" Teddie said, snapping to attention despite his quaking limbs, sniffling, "L-l-l-leave it t-t-to me!"

"Yyyyeah . . . no offense Ted, but I think I'll keep my own eyes open anyway," Yosuke muttered.

Reaching down, Yu quickly plucked Naoto's hat from off the floor and nodded, "Alright, let's go. And here . . ." he placed the hat on the girl's head, smiling softly, "You probably don't want to leave that behind."

"No, I do not," Naoto agreed with a soft, if shaky, smile of her own, "Thank you, Senpai."

He turned and walked, the others falling in step behind him. They'd follow him to the ends of the earth, he knew. He'd have to make sure that, in this strange and hostile place they'd fallen into, he didn't let them down.

Tirin, who'd taken to leaning against a stalagmite with his hands laced behind his head, looked over when he heard their approach, blue-gray eyes twinkling almost eerily in the dark, "So? Ready now?"

Yu nodded, ignoring the stinging protest of his feet as he spoke for them all, "Yes. We are."

Tirin smiled, giving a sprightly and slightly embellished bow as he chirped, "Great! Then allow me, your new and certified Underdark guide to show you the way!"

Before he could ask what an 'underdark' was, the man turned and strode away, and all he and the others could do was follow him into the dark.

(-)

The path they traversed felt long and winding, turning left and right through a myriad number of caves that seemed to have no rhyme or reason to them, to the point Yu seriously wondered how Tirin was navigating them at all. The tunnel they were currently in was sloping down at an incline, the narrow walls making it so they had to go single-file, the claustrophobic space making his skin crawl. The rough stone was now dry underfoot, but it felt like sandpaper against his raw skin. That wasn't the biggest problem. The biggest problem was that his feet were starting to go numb, and it went without saying that those who also lacked proper footwear were suffering the effects of prolonged exposure as well. Yukiko had already tried offering her shoes to Chie and Rise, but the offer was quickly declined with smiles and disparaging quips. Naoto might have made the offer as well, but Yu and Kanji both put their foot down on that.

Teddie wasn't doing so hot either, sniffing every minute or so and falling into a state of miserable silence as time progressed, a silence that didn't sit well with Yu at all. It didn't help that every distant, unknown noise would set them all on edge, to the point where they were constantly being followed by a cloud of nervous tension.

Their peculiar 'guide' didn't seem bothered by the sounds, or even by the fact that they had a member among their group who looked like him. He took it all in a strangely calm stride that spoke of a level of . . . he wouldn't say 'comfort' . . . maybe desensitization? Either way, he was obviously used to this sort of environment and the oddities that came with it.

Speaking of oddities, he found that instead of torches, the stranger used small, oval rocks that gave off a bright white glow that banished the darkness, lighting their way quite effectively. One sat in his own hand now, heavy and strangely cool despite the warm light it shed. In Tirin's own words, 'I keep them around for people who can't see in the dark.'

Implying that he . . . saw in the dark.

God, he was looking forward to those answers.

"Hey, are we almost there?" Chie asked from somewhere in the back.

"Mhm!" Tirin responded without looking back, feet gliding confidently across the stone, "In fact, right around this corner!"

He made a sharp right and vanished from sight, and Yu had to stop in surprise as the cave suddenly opened wide into what he could only call a yawning chasm into the abyss. A ledge jutted out before him, maybe ten feet wide, before abruptly cutting off into a vertical slant that vanished into darkness. On the opposite side of the ledge rose a sheer wall of stone that merged with a stalactite-ridden ceiling, the tips of which he could only just see with the light of the stone in his hand. The space beyond the ledge held absolutely nothing, no landmarks of any sort, just a deep, dark emptiness that lead to nothing. If there was a floor, it was impossible to see. A cold wind rose up from the darkness, pulling at his clothes and hair, the crisp smell of sediment rock and earth perfuming the gust. Just looking at the void before him made his head spin, and he did not fancy traveling along this-in his eyes-perilously thin ledge.

"Come on!" the man called from further up, glancing back at Yu with a confident smile, "It's not that hard! One foot in front of the other, you'll be fine!"

"Partner, what's going on?" Yosuke asked, unable to see the yawning pit for himself.

Swallowing, Yu squared his shoulders and lifted his voice, "Guys, take this next bit slow! And don't look down!"

"What?" Yosuke asked, and Yu could imagine him furrowing his eyebrows in puzzlement.

"Just trust me on this," Yu said. Taking a quick, calming breath, he carefully maneuvered out onto the ledge, keeping one hand braced against the wall and his eyes resolutely forward, trying not to look at the dizzying plunge next to him.

"Ho-ly shit!" Yu paused and slowly looked back until his eyes landed on Yosuke, who was staring open-mouthed at the chasm below. His voice did not echo back, however, the cry swallowed by the abyss itself.

"Yosuke, eyes on me," Yu said, keeping his voice calm and level, "Keep walking and don't look down."

Yosuke's adam's apple bobbed, lips pressed into a tight, nervous line as he forced his eyes away from the pit and onto Yu. He nodded encouragement, keeping his back pressed against the wall to allow his friend to pass, helping him along with a sure and steadying grip. He wished he could go on doing so, but he had to remain for his other friends, who'd soon be needing the same helping hand. He wanted to be in a position where he could help his friend's along, to give reassuring words to ease their fears.

Slowly, one by one, the rest of his friends all filed out onto the ledge, faces pale but spurred on by their leader's encouraging words. It was only when Chie, who'd taken up the rear, finally passed that Yu pushed himself back up and followed, keeping a very careful eye on his friends and the path they walked. The ledge seemed to curve around the wall before them, leading to places unknown. They all pressed close to the stone wall, keeping as far from the ledge as humanely possible, the light from their stones the only thing pushing back the dense shadows that surrounded them. They must be very visible against the rock, and that made him feel incredibly exposed and vulnerable. If something like that spider was nearby, they'd have no trouble picking them out . . .

Then, like a god-send, Tirin's voice echoed from up ahead, "Here it is! Right where I left it, too!"

Everyone sighed in relief, and as the line shuffled forward, it soon became clear where they were headed.

A large crack ran down the side of the cavernous wall, the base of which ended right beside the ledge. It was only about four feet wide, but it was easy enough to slip inside, and Yu thought he could the faint sound of splashing water echo from within. The narrow cleft continued for maybe ten feet in before widening out into a sheltered cave almost spherical in shape, the ceiling roughly twenty feet overhead and spacious enough for everyone to fit. Holding his glowing stone high to shed some light, it became clear that some of the rocks around them had a faint fuzz of moss coating their surface, wild mushrooms growing along the cracks in bulbous patches, some as big as his head. At the very back, he could just make out a small waterfall pouring down through a narrow fissure in the wall, splashing into a tiny rock basin that drained out through a moss-laden rivulet that vanished into the cracks. His friends were already plunking down on the floor, sighing in relief as weight was finally taken off their aching feet.

"Finally," Rise breathed, rubbing the tops of her feet, "I was starting to think we'd never get here."

"Me too," Yosuke agreed, looking over the cuts that marred his skin. His lip curled, "Don't suppose anyone has any neosporin on them?"

"No. I'm sorry . . ." Yukiko mumbled, eyes shadowed with guilt as she looked from one torn up foot to the next.

"Don't worry about it, senpai," Kanji said from where he'd settled next to Naoto, who was leaning back against the cave wall, "Hell, s'not like any of us expected to get thrown ass-backwards into . . . whatever this place is."

"Maybe that guy has something? Tirin, right?" Chie inquired, glancing at the gap where'd they'd squeezed in from.

"We can ask him when he comes inside," Yu said, sitting down himself and exhaling as the continues pain from his feet finally abated. Realistically, he knew the pain should be worse. He just hoped Tirin had more of that strange potion that had helped them before. Perhaps this place's equivalent of a Medicine?

Rise's quiet voice made him look up, "Hey Teddie, are you okay?"

Yu glanced at the blonde-haired boy, and felt pity flush through his core. The poor bear was shaking like a leaf, the jacket no longer offering as much warmth as it once had as the water from his clothes seeped into the fabric. Still, he looked up and offered Rise as charming smile (or at least, an attempt to one), chattering, "Ah, R-R-Rise-chan! You're w-w-w-words of c-c-concern are like a s-s-s-sunny d-d-day!"

"Words of a maiden fair oft give light like the spring air.~"

Yu jerked his head to the left to the face the gap, where the enigmatic Tirin had come waltzing in. An easy-going smile was on his face as he idly carved up something in his hands, the glint of knife flashing from between his gloved fingers. When everyone's eyes were on him, his smile grew just a little bigger and he continued in a conversational manner, "Unfortunately, there isn't any spring air down here, so you're going to have to make do with this."

He tossed something Teddie's way, the bear crying out as the object bounced between his flailing hands until he managed to get a good grip on it. When he held it up, Yu had to quirk an eyebrow in puzzlement. It looked like a thin slice of a mushroom cap, the folded ridges within hued a warm red while the skin was colored orange.

Teddie gave it a suspicious sniff, "W-w-what is it?"

"Something that'll help with the cold. Just eat it," Tirin said as he strode passed the group, taking a seat on a semi-large boulder near the back beside the pool. Placing his ankle atop his knee, he began shifting through his satchel again, not bothering to check if Teddie had actually eaten the fibrous plant.

Yu noticed that Teddie was looking at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to give the okay. Yu contemplated it for only a moment before nodding, "Go ahead."

The bear pursed his lips, but then squared his shoulders, "Ok-k-k-kay, if Sensei thinks it's good, it's g-g-good!"

With that, he shoved the entire thing into his mouth and chewed, cringing but forcing himself to swallow. He stuck his tongue out when it went down, "Blegh! Spicy . . ."

After a moment, Yu pressed, "So? Feeling any better?"

"Actually . . ." Teddie started, staring at his hands in thought. Then, a smile began to spread across his face, Yu noticing with relief that the shivers were subsiding, "I feel grrrreat! It's like a warm kotatsu right in my heart, all warm and toasty and nice!"

"That's what it's supposed to do!" Tirin commented. He glanced up, gesturing to Teddies' clothes and adding with a finger, "But you should probably take those off. Wet clothes and dark, dank caves don't mix."

Teddie pursed his lips, "And expose myself to the world like a newborn! I think not!"

Tirin shrugged, "Well, don't say I didn't warn you. Aha!" the man held up his hands, evidently finding what he had been searching for, "Here we go!"

In one of Tirin's hands was a roll of bandages, something Yu would not say no too, while in the other was a small jar no wider than his palm. Holding it up and giving it a soft shake, he said, "Now, let's fix those footsies, huh? Ladies first, of course!"

The group was only just beginning to share befuddled stares when a low whispering from the gap made them all freeze. All eyes shot to the narrow cleft, the knuckles of Yu's fingers going white as he gripped the rock beneath him. What could possibly be happening now?

"Calm down, kiddies, it's just Xirskam," Tirin said, hopping off the boulder and walking coolly to where the whispering came from.

"Xir-what?" Yosuke asked, stupefied gaze landing on the man.

"Xir-skam," Tirin enunciated, gazing at Yosuke with a raised eyebrow as his hands went to his hips, "Don't you remember the Shade who stopped that spider from taking a chunk out of your friend?"

Yu shivered at the memory, remembering the gleam of it's fangs all too clearly. But what 'shade' was he . . . ?

Realization hit him like lightning. He meant the shadow!

"Wait, you know that thing that jumped the spider?!" Chie asked, face utterly bewildered as she came to the same conclusion.

"Mhm! Don't worry, he's a friend," Tirin said. Behind him, the whispering intensified, and Yu could swear he saw two tiny specks of white light gleam from the darkness. A shiver went down his spine at the thought of the shadows there being more alive than he'd previously thought, inhabited by a creature that lingered just out of sight. Such a being begged the question . . . just what else existed in this impossible place?

Tirin, who'd cocked his head in the whispering's direction, listened intently before giving a curt nod, "Okay, I need to go check something real quick. Here."

He tossed the bandages and the jar to Yu, who caught them before they hit the ground, "Use that salve on your feet, just enough to cover the cuts, then bandage them tight. Don't leave the cave. I'll be back in a flash!"

Before anyone could say anything, he stepped into the darkness and disappeared as if he were a shadow himself.

" . . . well, that was . . . something," Yosuke said before pinching the bridge of his nose and mumbling, "Jesus christ . . ."

"We're all confused, Yosuke," Yu said, turning to practicality, "But now we'll just have to wait. In the meantime, let's take care of our wounds."

He handed the bandages to Yukiko, who wasted no time in tearing off adequate sized strips for everyone in preparation for use. Meanwhile, Yu unscrewed the jar, pulling back at the pungent scent that hit his nose as the cap fell away. It was . . . like an odiferous mix of rotten fungus and wet soil, almost overwhelming to the senses.

"Eugh, that's ripe!" Chie said, covering her nose with the hem of her sleeve.

Yu was inclined to agree with her, but sensibility overcame his disgust, "Well, we can't be choosy. We'll just have to bear with it for now."

Steeling himself, he scooped out a small helping of it on his fingers, cringing at the slimy consistency, the substance slicking his fingers with a wetness that felt like oil. He passed it to Yosuke next, who took it reluctantly, face pinched as he stared into the jar. Trusting the others to do what needed to be done, Yu leaned over and pressed the salve against his damaged skin.

He jerked his hand back instantly, biting his lip to keep from crying out as his cuts seared to life, the wounds burning like fire!

"S-Senpai, are you okay?" Rise asked in alarm, reaching out to him.

He held up a reassuring hand, trying not to wince, and probably failing, "Yes, I'm fine. It just stung more than I expected . . ."

"Ah!" Yosuke cried out, quickly finding out for himself how potent the salve was, "Crap, just what the hell is in this stuff?!"

"Maybe it's like hydrogen peroxide," Yukiko supplied with a smile, "If it hurts, that means it's working!"

"Well, glad you can be so optimistic," Yosuke muttered, glaring at the oily substance still on his hands.

Teddie, who was holding the jar now, began to slowly offer it out to Chie, "U-um, I think I'll be okay. Besides, what sort of gentleman would I be if I didn't let the ladies treat their aches and pains first?"

"Don't I just feel special . . ." Chie mumbled.

"Teddie," Yu spoke up, and the boy gave him his immediate attention, "You've dealt with worse things than this. We all have. Just grit your teeth and get through it. Okay?"

"Yeah, that's definitely true," Yosuke nodded in agreement. With a good-natured smile, he added, "Guess we kinda are being babies about it, huh?"

"Just a bit. But we'll get through it," Yu said, smiling back.

Teddie looked between Yu and Yosuke before puffing out his chest and declaring, "Rrright! Let the manliest man win!"

"This isn't a competition, you know," Yukiko said softly, but her words mostly went unheard as Teddie scooped out a generous amount before passing it to Kanji.

The flow restored, Yu let out a short breath before reaching down with the salve once more. He winced hard as the burning intensified again, but he dutifully rubbed the ointment until both soles were lathered in the stuff. Yukiko swooped in as soon as he was done, tying the bandages neatly around his feet with an ease born of numerous practice. Once they were in place, he sighed as the sting lessened to a tingle, a buzz that was uncomfortable but not as painful as before.

"Ouch, ow, ow, ow, ouch, ouch, ow . . ." Teddie was chanting over and over again as he spread the salve on.

"Damn, this stuff stings," Kanji mumbled tightly, giving a brief glance at the ointment on his fingers before continuing.

"I'll say," Chie agreed, but there was a smile on her face, one she wore whenever she was presented with a challenge, "But its a good burn! Mean's its doing its job!"

"That's one way of looking at it. Ouch . . ." Rise winced, patting the substance against her skin.

Yukiko went to everyone like a nurse in a hospital ward, not leaving until she sure the bandages were good and tight. Yu had to wonder if her diligence partly had something to do with the fact that she'd been one of the lucky few to be brought with shoes.

She stopped in front of Naoto with the excess bandages, asking, "Naoto-kun, do you need any- . . . oh? Naoto-kun?"

Yu leaned over to see what was wrong, only for his expression to soften when he saw Naoto's head drooped against her chest, eyes closed and face relaxed. She'd fallen asleep. It would certainly explain why he hadn't heard any input from her in the last few minutes.

"Aw, poor Naoto-kun . . ." Rise whispered, giving her friend a pitying look.

"Well, what'dya expect?" Yosuke asked, voice low in light of their sleeping companion, "She probably got hit the hardest out of any of us."

"Let her sleep," Yu said, leaning back against the stone. Aside from her wounds, her body could very well be fighting of the remaining dregs of the spider's venom. Sleep would ensure a faster recovery.

Truthfully, seeing Naoto like that made him aware of just how tired he was. He hadn't gotten the proper night's rest from the evening before. Throw that in with a spider chase, adrenaline, confusion, fear, and his injuries, it was no wonder he felt drained. But he had a heavy suspicion that he wouldn't be able to sleep. Not here, where seemingly every rock and shadow hid a potential threat. He glanced around at his friends and saw fatigue his reflected there, but it was overshadowed by wariness, a wariness he understood completely.

"False alarm!~"

Everyone snapped to attention as Tirin reemerged from the gloom, striding back over to his boulder and reclaiming his seat with a graceful hop. He gave a quick, cursory glance at their bandaged feet and nodded, "And good, you patched up nicely! One less thing to worry about! Now then . . ."

He crossed one leg over the other and leaned back with his hands braced against the stone, lips curled up into a smile as his blue-gray eyes gleamed, piercing, "I think we have some things to talk about, don't we?"

And done! Next couple chapters aren't going to be very exciting fight-wise, but it won't stay that way. Promise! ;)

Rate and review if it pleases you.