Chapter 4: Into the TV

"We're certain it was him?" Yukiko asked.

"I know," Yosuke replied. "I can't forget that face."

"But that was so unlike the Haiyo we know," Chie added. "He looked so depressed."

"And the last I saw him," Yosuke added, "he was fuming mad."

"So we're going back in?" Yukiko asked.

"We have to," Yu replied. "If we don't, who will?"

"Plus he'd die," Yosuke added passionately, "and I couldn't bear to see my entire house grieving."

"And don't forget his parents," Yu added.

"Y-Yeah," Chie stuttered. "Anyways, we won't let that happen. Let's go in, guys!"

"Right," Yu replied in a stoic tone.

"For sure!" Yukiko added.

Yosuke looked to his friends. "Thanks guys. It means a lot."

P4

After entering the TV world through their usual spot, the group approached their guide in this world: Teddie.

"Hmm?" the giant costumed bear uttered. He turned around to face his new friends. "Oh, hey guys! What's new?"

"We think there may be another person that was thrown in here recently," Yu replied.

"And we need you to find him as quick as you can!" Yosuke added quickly.

"I thought things felt a little different today," Teddie responded. "I felt another presence appear out of nowhere yesterday, but whoever is out there has been a little active."

"Can you take us to where he is?" Yu asked.

"In a minute," Teddie replied. "I need to sniff them out first." He then stuck his nose into the air sniffing from every direction in an attempt to find the source. It did take him a little while, since there were plenty of places that occupied the area.

"You think he'll find him?" Yosuke asked.

"He found Yukiko," Yu began, "so I don't see why he can't find Haiyo. Just relax a little."

"Y-Yeah, you're right." Yosuke then looked into the emptiness of the TV world. "But it's hard for me to do that when he's all alone out there somewhere."

"And with his shadow, probably," Yu added.

"And he's probably unsatisfied with him. We need to hurry."

"Oh, I've found something!" Teddie exclaimed. "Follow me!" As Teddie ran on one of the various walkways, the group followed him into the deep yellow fog.

"Are you sure he's this way?" Yosuke asked.

"I'm bear-y positive," Teddie replied.

"Don't joke with me, bear!"

"I'm not!"

"Yosuke!" Yu shouted. "Remember what we talked about!" Yosuke let out a sigh and focused back on the path. After a solid minute of running, a shine of red appeared in the distance.

"Is that it?" Yosuke asked once more.

"I think so," Teddie replied. Then, at long last, the group came to a halt in front of the mansion-like building; whereas the building as a whole resembled the school, the front door resembled a suburban, solid wood door, with streams of yellow light shining through the cracks. The building was also covered in cracks that, instead of yellow light, seeped a familiar red light.

"So this is where Haiyo is?" Yukiko asked.

"It looks like what we saw on the Midnight Channel," Yu confirmed.

"It looks like a total mess," Yosuke added.

"Yeah," Chie replied. "It's totally different from Yukiko's castle."

"So are you all heading in?" Teddie asked.

"That's why we're here, aren't we?" Yosuke replied.

"Then let's head in," Teddie announced.

P4

Haiyo stuttered awake after taking a long nap, and fortunately for him, the other of him was nowhere to be seen. At least, that's what the thing said it was. He decided to explore the room, taking better note of his surroundings. The various pictures that were hanged on the wall were old family portraits with his parents, as well as pictures with friends, and with Yosuke in particular.

I've come so far since those days, he thought. There's no way I could be similar to him nowadays. He's just so much more obnoxious and immature. He proceeded to the door that stood in front of him. When he attempted to open it, the door seemed less like locked, but more like something was forcing it closed.

"Hello?" Haiyo shouted. "Is anyone out there?" He heard no response, so he was left with no ideas as to the source of the force.

"Figures," he said to himself. "That'd be too easy that way, whoever is keeping me locked in here."

"You're the only one trapping yourself in here," a similar voice responded. Haiyo turned around to see that his doppelganger had returned.

"It's you," Haiyo said. "I've got some questions for you."

"Go ahead," the lookalike replied. "I can't lie to myself."

"Who are you? Really?"

"I told you already. I'm you."

"You say that, but you act completely different from me."

"I'm specifically your polar opposite. I'm everything that you suppress. I'm the manifestation of your true feelings."

"What do you mean? I am who I am."

"No. You're lying to yourself. I should know."

"Oh, you can just go to Hell!"

"I am in Hell. Your mind traps me like a prison. I'm just showing you how it feels to be rejected for so long."

"I grew up, and parts of me have to go. So I suppose that's you."

"Now you're getting it."

"But if you're composed of my past feelings, that also makes you a separate person as well."

"Untrue. Whether I'm represented by your past or your future, every version of you IS you."

"No! That's not at all true!" Haiyo then proceeded to cover his ears and babble incoherently to ignore the other being.

"You can't fight it! I am you, you are me, and because of this, you have yet to truly mature. You're still just a child."

"Shut up! This isn't real! You aren't real!"

"Quit wasting your breath. How can I convince you of your own true feelings?"

"Damn it. Now I know why I got rid of you. You're just as annoying as Yosuke! I've outgrown that mindset! I'm my own person!" At that moment, he turned to notice the group had materialized from the now open door, with Yosuke as center stage.

"G-Guys?" Haiyo stuttered. "W-What the hell is going on here?!"

"We're here to rescue you," Yu replied.

"Rescue?" Haiyo asked before looking back to his doppelganger. "Yes, rescue. You're here to save me from this, this, imposter!"

"He's not an imposter," Yosuke countered. "That thing is your shadow, so he, in short, is you."

"Thank you, Yosuke," the shadow replied as his eyes began to shine yellow.

"Y-Yosuke," Haiyo stuttered, "you mean to tell me you believe that this thing is me?"

"It's okay. Everyone has this thing inside…"

"Just stop!" Haiyo shouted. "I've had enough of this bullshit! There are many things I can accept, but to say this thing is me is not one of them." He turned around, facing his shadow once more in his peering eyes.

"Now I'm only going to say this once, and don't ANY of you forget it! This thing, this 'shadow,' is…"

"No, don't!" Yu shouted.

"THIS THING IS NOT ME!"

Hey guys. Welcome, as always, to the end of this chapter. Now if you follow me as an author (and why wouldn't you unless you're trying to hurt my feelings), you've probably noticed that I've updated all of my fanfics with a new chapter. This wasn't by chance, either, because this was the point; if you're following me, then you are now aware of my four other fanfic series, and I just wanted to make sure all of my series were updated to accommodate all my fans.

And sorry, for those reading, for this obligatory to be continued ending, but I need some more time to come up with the actual battle with Haiyo's shadow because I don't want to disappoint you. So that's why you have this chapter, but I still hope you like it and will continue to follow/read my story. Also, thanks to ElementDragon02 for leaving the review that sparked my plan to not only get a new P4 chapter out, but to update all five of my fanfics with a new chapter.

Until next time, I hope you're having a fantastic day!

Read on!

-rjm324