"Ouch, hey watch where you're going Yosuke." Chie snapped as someone bumped into her from behind.
"I didn't do it, I'm in front of you." Yosuke pointed out. "Kanji and Yukiko are behind you."
"He's right, sorry Chie but I can't see a thing." Yukiko admitted.
"We're all walking blind like this, at least Teddie's nose can warn us if there are any Shadows nearby, right?" Kanji asked.
"Yeah, I think I smell some Shadows up ahead." Teddie answered only to pause as he sniffed the air. "Yeah, I think it's… three of them and they're getting closer."
Hearing that the members of the Investigation Team all braced themselves for the inevitable fight only for nothing to happen for a few moments.
"Teddie, are you sure you smelled Shadows heading this way?" Yukiko inquired curiously.
"I'm sure of it… I mean, I definitely smell something." Teddie answered.
"They might be waiting to ambush us, especially if they can see in the dark." Yu pointed out. "We just need to be careful and… there's a door here."
"That has to be where the Shadows are, is everyone ready?" Chie asked.
"Ready as we'll ever be." Kanji replied.
Hearing that Yu slowly opened the door as they entered the room moments before a chain hit Chie and she cried out.
"Chie! Come Konohana Sakuya, Agilao!" Yukiko called as her persona appeared and shot a flame in the direction the chain came as the room briefly lit up revealing four Shadows resembling cowboys with a key in the middle of a huge hole in their torso that were all holding chains and guns as the flames bounced off without doing anything.
"Ok, if fire didn't work maybe electricity can do something." Kanji suggested. "Take-Mikazuchi, Zio!"
The electricity flew towards one of the shadows only for it to again not do anything.
"Damn it, Ted what works on these things?" Chie questioned as she got back to her feet.
Teddie frowned. "I… I don't know."
Hearing that Yosuke frowned before his eyes widened hearing one of the shadows move its chain as he quickly used one of his knives to defend himself as he used the other to try and slash the shadow causing it to groan in pain.
Yu's eyes widened seeing that just as the flames from Yukiko's initial attack faded leaving the room in darkness again. "That just might… change, Ose!"
A new persona resembling a humanoid tiger holding two swords and wearing a cape appeared before charging in the direction one of the shadows had been and slashing at it causing it to groan in pain.
"So that's how these things work." Yosuke smirked. "Pyro Jack, Agilao!"
A small Jack-O-Lantern in a wizard outfit appeared at that before creating a small flame that lit up the room.
"These shadows are susceptible to physical blows." Yu told the others as he slashed at the one Ose struck knocking it off its feet as Yukiko, Chie, and Kanji took the opportunity to strike the other three shadows knocking them off balance.
"Now's our chance, let's take them out!" Kanji called.
"Right behind you." Chie grinned as the five of them charged at the Shadows and struck them quickly destroying them.
"Ok, well that let us know two things at least." Yu mentioned as the Investigation Team paused to try and catch their breath. "There are Shadows in here that our Personas aren't as helpful against."
"Yeah, fire and electricity didn't even faze those guys and I don't think ice or wind would do much better." Chie added. "Good thing we can just take them out the old-fashioned way."
"That's true, but what's the other thing Yu-sempai?" Kanji inquired.
"Whatever Shadow is keeping the lights off is going to be a lot tougher than the ones we just fought." Yu answered. "And I have a feeling it's probably in a room somewhere trying to stay away from us."
"That would make sense, but we're fighting blind until we find that Shadow." Yosuke pointed out. "Especially if Teddie's nose isn't at its best."
"We could wait for our eyes to adjust like Yu suggested." Yukiko mentioned. "It isn't perfect, but it could help."
"Alright, in that case we should stay here for a while." Yu nodded. "In the meantime, we should try and come up with a plan in case we run into any more shadows while we're essentially fighting blind."
"My nose might not be working as well as before, but I can still tell if there are Shadows nearby." Teddie pointed out.
"It's alright Teddie, and actually that might be more than enough." Yu mentioned. "If Teddie can warn us about Shadows before they get the jump on us, we can have someone create some flames for us to see what we're up against. It's not perfect but it should work until we get the lights back on."
"I guess that's our best option, we're counting on you Teddie." Chie told him.
"Well, we won't get anywhere sitting around like this." Kanji pointed out. "Do you smell anymore Shadows Ted?"
Teddie blinked and inhaled only to frown. "I don't smell anything nearby, but I'll keep my nose wide open just in case."
With that the members of the Investigation Team continued moving through the halls to try and find the Shadow that was keeping the lights off only to eventually reach another door that led to a set of stairs.
"Should we head to the next floor, or do you think the Shadow we're looking for is still down here?" Yukiko asked.
"I… I think I smell stronger Shadows above us." Teddie replied only to frown. "At least, I'm pretty sure they're stronger."
"Then going up it is, make sure you stay close just in case." Yu mentioned as the Investigation Team climbed to the next floor of Marukyu Striptease.
(The Investigation Team is slowly trying to progress through the darkness in Marukyu Striptease and are trying to locate the Shadow that's keeping the lights off. Next chapter they'll try and turn the lights back on. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)