Catch-22: The Ways
By: M14Mouse
Summary: There are babies and dolls. Have fun, thieves.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Many thanks to AKatsinTcups for betaing this chapter.
I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear. Rosa Parks
Yu heard a soft giggle. He let out a curse. He knew what his students were facing.
He heard the others scream.
"Turn on your phones! They don't like the light!" He shouted into the nothingness above him. He hated being here especially knowing what his students were facing.
"What?" Futaba's voice echoed.
"Turn on your phones. They don't like the light!" He repeated.
He heard some distant mumbling.
"Ohmygod. Ohmygod,"
He heard the panic in Makoto's voice.
"YES! It worked!" Ryuji shouted.
A rush of relief ran through Yu.
"Never been one to stay on the sidelines, lad?" The persona said.
"No. Especially when others are in danger," He said as he turned his attention to the persona.
"Noble."
"My question is how did he know about this place? It was supposed to be erased."
The persona snorted.
"As much as redwoods are pieces of crap, they are trees. They don't forget."
"But that place didn't exist in our reality. I don't remember a single tree there."
"Trees flow with time. Gods and goddesses have played their hand at changing time and reality for as long as I can remember. Hell, I have done it myself a few times. The thing is no matter how much you play with it; the earth and trees remember. I remember. You, on the other hand, there is a lot of things you don't remember. Mortals aren't supposed to remember because they would go insane if they did like that town where everyone wore masks. That Asura had interesting taste in decor," The persona said knowingly.
His body stiffed as he heard Izanami's voice.
Look at you…all in pieces…It must be hard to be so many and yet so few. Oh, I can fix it. Fix it…just like this…
"Support Buddy?" Futaba's voice cut through his thoughts.
"I'm sorry, Oracle. Is everyone okay?" Yu said as he took a shaky breath.
"Everyone is fine. Queen is on the edge of having a panic attack, but everyone is fine. Nom Nom ate one of the dolls and he says it taste awful. By the way, you own me one of the dolls."
"I'll get him some cookies when I get back. You? Not so much. You would probably use the doll for evil purposes."
A second later, Futaba answered back.
"I would not. Okay, maybe. That made Nom Nom happy when you said snacks. So, how did you know about the dolls?"
"I faced them a few times."
Makoto's voice broke up as she tried to say something to him.
"…I….file…."
"…ensi…"
"You're breaking up. I can barely hear anyone of you."
"Queen says she didn't read about any killer dolls then she freely said that she might have skipped that one."
"I don't blame her. They are not fun. Look for a switch. They don't like the light. If babies show up, run."
"Babies? Babies aren't scary," Skull said.
"Imagine the dolls but bigger," Yu replied.
There was a long silence. He must have lost them again. He turned his attention back to the persona.
"What else don't I remember?"
"Laddie, I am not going to be one to tell you bad news."
"It must be hard to be so many and yet so few."
"Who told you that?"
"Izanami."
The persona snorted.
"She did never learn to give anything up. That is what got her in trouble in the first place. Over and over again, she did it. Sometimes, she wakes the power of her children. Sometimes, she wakes the power of warriors of her time. Of course, then came you…you made things so damn interesting. I wonder if Igor did that on purpose…."
He waited for a moment as the persona rambled on.
"You didn't answer my question. What else don't I remember?"
"Izanagi and you are definitely a pair. Some of it was your own doing and others did it. That is all. Knowing won't change anything, lad."
"Lying won't either."
"Support buddy!" Futaba's voice echoed through the darkness.
"Oracle?" He shouted back.
"YES! You're alive. You went out for a little."
"Are you alright?"
"We are good. Queen got over her fears. Totally kick some dolls' asses."
"It was poetry in motion, Sensei," Yusuke said.
"I bet it was. Queen is always impressive," He said with a grin.
"Sensei…"
He knew that he embarrassed his student. He could almost hear her flush.
"QuEeN iS AwesOmE! SaVe Me!" Daito said happily.
"I knew that she would."
"Nom Nom ate one of the dollies. Taste really bad. Nom Nom split it out. Dollie go squee then Nom Nom ate it again. Still taste bad," Nom Nom said.
"Are you okay, Nom Nom?"
"Nom Nom fine, Mr. Sensei. Dollie fought a little but Nom Nom still ate it. Mr. Sensei, okay?"
"Hee HOO!"
Yu grinned softly.
"I'm fine."
"We…looking…switch right now."
"Queen? Oracle?" He shouted.
He sighed in frustration.
"Frustrating, isn't it?" The persona said.
You are doing it wrong.
"Pardon? I'm doing nothing wrong."
The point of forming a contract if both parties come to agreement. You are antagonizing him. He won't form a contract with you.
"Listen, alien chick, I have been doing this before you even existed. Go away."
"Oracle?" He said in confusion.
No, I am Necronomicon.
He blinked in surprised. Rarely, do personas talk to others beside those they have formed a contract with it. It might be a navigator ability.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Necronomicon."
There was a moment of silence. She probably left.
There is no pleasure in meeting you. Your lack of presence has caused the group great deal of distress. I wish to change that.
"Well…they can't have him until I'm done with him," The persona grumbled.
After running diagnosis, at your current rate of negotiation, it will be 3 months and 2 days before acceptable contract is formed.
"Everyone is damn critic. Go away!" The persona grumbled as he swung his stick…no, staff. It hit the ground making the whole floor shake. Few moments later, there was silence.
"You didn't harm her?" He asked.
"Hell no. Just made her go away. Kids these days…can't keep their noses out of anyone's business."
That attack was acceptable for normal enemies. If you form a contract, it would have successfully to keep me away. You have remarkable abilities if you use them correctly.
"That is what I am trying to do! He is being difficult. I put out a reasonable request and that damn I…"
"I made contracts before. I know reasonable requests when I see them," Yu pointed out.
Your fault is that you are comfortable. You have no desire to use what is in front of you.
He grinned softly.
"That is where you are wrong. I do, but I choose to reject it."
I am curious on why.
"Simple. When I see him, I see deceit. He already told me the reason for his desire to form a contract. He wants his freedom and power above anything else. I won't be a scapegoat to his plans. I have seen what happens when a persona turns on a person."
Probability of that scenario will happen is low. You desire power, do you not?
"I already have power, Necronomicon. I already have a persona…."
He wanted to add several personas but that was beside the point.
"I have a persona, but it is only extension of who I am. To relate solely on that power is foolish and dangerous."
He heard a click noise then silence.
"So, I take it that is Saklas," He said.
He saw the persona flash a grin.
"Haha…good job, lad. Good job. We are going to have so much fun together. How did you figure it out?" The persona clapped.
"It really didn't sound like her…it did sound like her but I don't know. Didn't feel like her?"
"HAHAHA! Yes, you could tell. Wonderful. I could tell by her tone and it sounded less like one of those inferno machines."
"You know, that is how we get into this world," Yu said in amusement.
"And you stick your hand into TVs. I get your point."
"Sen…i…Su…po….bud…"
Futaba's voice continued to break up.
The persona sighed.
"I figured that may be a problem."
"I guess you are the reason that I can't communicate with the others."
"Oh, you can communicate fine. Disco ball is trying to read your presence. I can't have that at all." The persona said with a wave.
My name is Necronomicon. My name is not Disco Ball.
"You fly, correct?"
Yes
"You glow, correct?"
I scan the area with combination of radio, microwave, and ultraviolet waves.
"You spin around, correct?"
Again, my purpose is to scan the area for threats.
"Then you are a disco ball."
I believe that you are doing this on purpose.
"Of course, lassie."
"Is there a reason for you to hide?" He asked.
"Not to hide. I live among the shadow of the trees and the footsteps of the packs and herds that cross the land," The persona said fondly.
"I didn't know that you're a poet," He said.
"SENSEI!" Mona shouted.
"Mona! Are you okay?" He shouted back.
"Ooo…a new one. Would you die for me too?" The unfamiliar voice said sweetly.
He frowned for a moment.
Die for me. Die for me. It sounded familiar.
She is one of my favorites.
In his mind's eye, he could almost Minato's brief smile.
"Alice?" He said.
"That is my old name. My name is Mint. The one called Mona gave me this name. I'm fond of it," Alice said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mint."
Mint giggled.
"Should I ask?"
"Hee Ho. Hee Ho. Hee Ho. Hee Ho." Black Frost said with a pout.
"I'm sorry. I hope to be out soon, but it seems you made a friend." He said.
"He got someone to carry him around since Joker couldn't do it." Ryuji said.
"It was kind of insane. Mint tried to kill us. Black Frost did a lot of arm waving then bite her. Suddenly, they are friends then they killed the creepy baby together with Mona," Ann said.
"She died for me. It was wonderful," Mint said.
"Hee Ho. Hee."
"Uh huh. Are you okay?"
"Hee Hoo. Hee Hoo."
"That is good."
"Hee Hoo."
"Ouch, that sound like it hurt."
"Hee Hoo. Hee Hoo."
"Uh huh."
"Hee Hoo."
He smiled softly.
"That is sweet that Lila gave Mint a pencil."
"Hee Hoo."
"And you got a pencil too. Fox got one too? Impressive."
"HEE HOO!"
"You didn't need to tell him that, Black Frost!" Lila said in a huff.
"You can tell him the whole story later when we get Sensei out. We need to talk Sensei for a moment," Makoto said.
He chuckled softly.
"Can you tell me the situation, Queen?"
"We are done with the abandoned building. We seem to be in a very long hallway."
"It might act as a method to go between areas, but we don't seem to be closer to the exit," Ren added.
"He is moving the exit."
"That is what we are guessing. I believe there is some sort of trick to move for…ward." Makoto said as her voice started to break up.
This was getting really annoying.
"You know, I never did ask how you could understand them."
I am curious as well. This language is unknown to me. I have search different databases around the world in order to understand him. I have begun to process his different tones into my system to best understand him.
"Don't feel bad, lassie. I can't understand him either."
"For one, he isn't small. When he is big, he scared away the other shadows. SO, he decided when he wanted to be friends with Lila, he made himself small. Even if he is shy about it, he likes hugs too," He said with a smile.
"Rather clever."
There was a silence between them.
I believe this is adequate time to form a contract. Bio signs has suggested that he returned to his normal emotional state.
"No," He said calmly.
These walls have ears, lassie.
His eyebrow rose slightly.
A moment please…Analyzing area…Analyzing….Foe detect…Securing area. Once the area is completely secure, I will return.
"I like her. She works quick," The persona said.
"Every other Tuesday sound reasonable as long as it doesn't get me into trouble."
"Ah ha!"
"But…I want something from you."
"You get my knowledge and powers. I'm not sure what else I give you."
Power. That word again.
Saklas…The Fake…this persona seeks it.
Thou sought power when thou sought the truth?
He stared at the persona long and hard.
"The truth," He said calmly.
He could almost hear the persona draw a breath.
"You drive a hard bargain."
"I don't think so."
"I could lie and show you something totally false."
A ghost of a smile appeared on his face.
"No, I don't think you will. Maybe, before…maybe even after we form a contract. The truth shouldn't be a bargaining chip. It seems to me that it often is."
"You're correct. The truth is worth more than gold but often throw away like trash. Very well. I can't show you the future. My awareness is only in the past and the present."
"Understandable."
"Don't blame me if you get a headache."
Flash
When he blinked, he realized that he was no longer in darkness but a large circular room. While there were no windows, the room was well lit with torches lining the white walls. It looked familiar. In middle of room, he could clearly see Igor sitting at a table but he couldn't make out the person across from him.
"I choose my trickster, my old friend." The person said across from him.
"Aww…wonderful. I have sent my attendant to sort through the matter," Igor said.
"You allow your attendant to do this?!"
"Of course, old friend. After all, she will be his or her attendant."
"You put too much faith in those attendants of yours."
"I don't think my faith is misplaced at all. They have yet to let me down," Igor said with a familiar grin.
"If she chose wrong?"
"I don't think that she will. She tries so hard to model herself after her older sisters and brother. I'm hoping that with this journey that she will grow along with the trickster. It always wonderful to watch children grow into their true potential."
Interesting. Did Margaret choose him? In some ways, it made sense. They did sort of complement each other.
The blur of a person shifted in his seat as if he was uncomfortable what Igor was saying.
He couldn't make out the words coming out of Igor or the blur. He leaned closer in hopes of hearing something. The blur got up from his seat and pointed at Igor. Igor didn't react but his gaze moved from the blur to his corner.
A slow smile formed Igor's face and he winked.
Igor…you damn…
He felt himself being pulled back. Somehow, he was laying on the ground again with a headache.
"Well?" The persona said.
"Igor is an idiot," Yu said as he slowly stood up.
"That is true."
"Uhh…Sensei….Sensei!" Ryuji shouted.
"Yes?" He shouted back. He winced slightly at his pounding head.
"Do you know a fox?"
He blinked for a moment. Was that a trick question?
"Skull, you are going to confuse Sensei," Yusuke pointed out.
"Okay. Okay. I think that it is a regular fox with something around its neck. I mean, kind of regular fox. Okay, not normal since he is here but…"
"Hiroko looks very annoyed at the creature. She says that he shouldn't change yen for services. I believe that she wants to borrow one of Lila's vases," Yusuke added.
"Oh, that fox. Hello, old friend," He said.
Ahhhaooooo
End of The Ways
Next Chapter: The History Lessons
A/N: Sorry to disappoint you but no dating in this area. Although, me and my beta are planning a dating like chapter in the future. Yes, first reference is to PQ and the creepy dolls. (I took great joy when I was able to beat them into little pieces). Now about GOMP's comment on trees: I took the idea from trees rings. During dry periods, tree rings are smaller. During rainy periods, tree rings are bigger. Time is ingrain into trees and thus they never forget. Wow…I got deep for like 2 seconds. Anyway, I have a ton of new and old reviewers. Welcome and thank you for the kudos, feedback, reviews, and favorites. You guys rock.