Catch-22: The Maze of Life
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Yu met a pair of familiar faces before moving onto the next disaster.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Any time you're in a maze there's multiple ways to get to the end.-Martellus Bennett
Yu landed on his face when he came out of the portal. He couldn't quite get his legs under him in time before he landed.
This might be payback for those times that he dropped his students but at least, he was gentle.
"Oh…my…are you okay?!" A familiar voice shouted above him.
He groaned softly as he scrambled to his feet. He looked around to see…his old high school?
Huh?
This is a little weird.
Laddie…a little weird?
Well…we did land in a palace before this.
Good point.
"Huh…sir?" A voice jolted him out of his thoughts.
His eyes widened when he realized who he was talking to.
Rei hasn't changed a bit. She still had her long blonde hair sprinkle with little tiny white flower hairpins. She was the same height, same pale skin and uniform….
She was wearing a Yasogami school uniform.
"I'm sorry…I wasn't paying attention and I tripped. I was in town and wanted to see my old high school," He said as he struggled to get his bearings.
Rei's face lights up.
"You went here?! That would make you my Senpai." She said excitedly.
He chuckled.
"I don't think so. I have been out of school for several years."
Rei nodded her head excitedly.
"Yes, you are!"
He chuckled softly then he noticed something out of the corner of his eye, he saw a pair of students with boxes going into the main building. Another set of students struggling with balloons on its steps. He could barely make out the noise of students coming from inside of the buildings.
"School Culture Festival?" He asked.
"YES! I'm so excited! This is my first one!" Rei said happily.
"What are you doing?"
"A café! Kind of…it has crepes and ice cream, Senpai!"
"Helping by baking…or eating?" He teased her..
He watched as her face turned red.
"A little bit of both?"
He laughed softly.
"What was yours?" She asked eagerly.
"A dating café," He said
"OMG…I thought that those were rumors!"
"No, those weren't rumors. I rather enjoyed it. No one else in my group did. They said that it was a disaster. It could have been better but it was still fun. Are you still doing the pageant?"
"Yes. We have plenty of girls sign up…not so much on the boys' side," Rei said with a pout.
"I did. I got to dress up and be pretty. It was fun. My advice: Bets. Although, my friends signed up because my friend signed them. Of course, the girls pay him back by signing us up. He has regrets." He noted mildly.
He didn't. It was fun. Although he wasn't too fond of the wig, it was too itchy.
Rei giggled.
"I will…keep that in mind."
"Rei…is this person bothering you?" Another familiar voice jolted them out of the conversation. His eyes widened slightly at Zen's appearance. Same hair…same everything…expect the uniform.
It was Zen.
"Oh, no! We were talking about the festival! He was a student here too!" Rei said.
"Many years ago. Is this your first one as well?" He asked Zen.
"Yes…it is rather…noisy," Zen answered.
"It can be. You will have fun especially when you get leftovers."
Zen's eyes widened.
"We get to eat the leftovers?!"
"Yes. That is why you make more than you think that you will need," He said with a grin and wink.
"Don't tell him that!" Rei shouted.
He laughed.
"Rei! Zen! Come and help us with the streamers!" Another student shouted from the entryway of the school.
"Coming!" Rei shouted back before turning to him.
"We must go. It was nice meeting you!" Rei said as she grabbed Zen and pulled him in the direction of the school.
"The same. Good luck," He said as he waved the pair good-bye.
"Good-bye," Zen said as he was dragged off.
Rei waved back as she dragged Zen toward the school. Suddenly, Zen stopped in his tracks to get out of Rei's grip then he turned toward him. He stared at him for a moment before nodding his head. He nodded back. He stood and watched as Rei grabbed Zen then the pair disappeared into the school.
You held a lot of regret about that time, laddie.
We forgot. We forgot our experiences….our growth…our connections…our new friends. I watch my friends struggle all over again because those memories are gone.
But they overcame them.
They did.
Then what is the problem, lad?
We change people around us…just by existing. We touch each other's lives…maybe for a moment or longer. And they charged us but we forgot them. We forgot their existence. I feel guilty about it.
That has always been a point of contention between long nose one and our Master.
I can see why, Isis. Well…you got some resolution…they are happy…mostly. That Zen kid might or might not know that he has a girl that has him wrapped around her finger.
He laughed.
"Oh, he will realize. Sooner or later…" He said.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another glowing portal.
I guess that we are off again.
He took a step into the portal. He stumbled onto a battlefield. He could smell the smoke, ash and fuel and burning of flesh. He could hear screaming, gunfire, and clash of weapons. He could make out the wreckage of cars, the pieces of broken road and surrounding buildings.
Veles….where are we?
Laddie! Look out!
He felt him before he could see him. He barely had time to draw his sword and deflect a blow that caused him to tumble. He glanced to see the tall figure coming out of the smoke.
"A puppet ready to fall," The voice said as he came into view.
He is taller than you.
Yes.
And his sword is bigger than yours.
I can see that.
Plans?
Do my cards work here?
….
Hehe….
"Sorry to disappoint you but I'm still standing," He said as he returned to his feet.
"Not for long," The stranger said as he rushed toward him.
He just needs to get close enough to slip one of his cards into his very big black jacket with lots of chains.
It doesn't seem practical for a fight.
Like your suit.
Point taken.
He was able to block the stranger's attacks but the height difference was showing. The stranger could press each attack. Normally, he would keep a greater distance but…he wanted the stranger to get close and slipped a card right into his pocket.
Then quickly, he stumbled back to get some distance between him and the stranger.
Laddie, who in the underworld did you piss off?
Pick a god. Overall, I'm on good terms with a lot of gods, goddesses, and a few other creatures.
A few of his personas snorted at his comment.
"Veles!" He shouted as he summoned his persona.
The root popped out of the ground with a roar to form a barrier between him and the stranger.
"A summoner…how interesting."
Summoner?
Different world…different terms. Worry about it later.
"But…it doesn't matter," The stranger shouted as he started cutting into the roots.
Laddie! Portal!
He glanced over his shoulder to see a portal forming behind him.
"Oh, I think that it does," He said as he snapped his fingers. The card in his pocket burst into flames. He heard the stranger scream as he turned and ran for the portal.
In a flash of light, he landed in a room of utter darkness. He panted softly as he tried to get his bearings.
At least, it was until he saw a roaring fireplace. He could make out a pair of two figures. One was a man in white suit sitting in a wheelchair and the other was a young woman in a black dress and hat covering most of her face. His grip didn't ease on his weapon because he knew who these two were.
"Welcome, Child of Philimon. We mean you no harm," The familiar woman said.
Isis and Veles snorted.
"Lucifer and Lilith," He said as he got to his feet and nodded his head.
Lucifer coughed…almost if he was laughing.
"Hehe…Oh? Lilith said amusedly.
Was that a question?
I think that she is surprised that you know who she is.
She wears many faces. Lilith the shadow is not so different from the original.
Oh?
"You're trying to lure me by wearing a familiar face. Right now, it looks like Rise. If you turn toward the light, it will be Yukiko. OF course, you are Lucifer's first."
"Ah, it is difficult to fool a fool," Lilith said amusedly.
He shrugged.
"I can be but my question, why am I here in the void world?"
"And well-educated, I see," Lilith chuckled.
"Work requires me to do a lot of reading," He said mildly.
Devil Summoners are an interesting bunch. The company has a particular partnership with the village.
It wasn't always pleasant when he gathered from the others. He has never met one yet.
"Interesting. My Master and I are merely curious. It isn't often that we have one of Wild Card in our presence."
"Okay then can I go now?"
Child…
Lucifer chuckled inside of his head.
He knows of my tongue. He knows the longer he is here, the longer that I will try to make him dance.
"Ah…in a moment, we do have a question."
"Go on."
"What do you plan to do about Yaldabaoth?"
"Destroy him."
"Even if he is the desire of man."
He stared at the pair. Lucifer was playing with his cane and staring at him.
"He is a snake oil salesman. He just does it in a pretty little wrapper and sells to the masses. Problem is…not everyone is buying what he is selling. We just don't get a choice in the matter unless we stand."
"Even if we offer him assistance?"
"I doubt you will. As much as you hate humanity, you hate fake gods even more. Besides, you are a rebel…and control is the last thing that you would want."
"How true. Control is the last thing my Master wants. Perhaps, one day, we could ask for your assistance in the matter of freedom."
"At the moment, I'm rather busy."
Lilith laughed.
"Truly. Perhaps…another time. Off you go, young Wild Card," She said as the portal opened.
He turned to leave.
"One more thing…" Lilith said right into his ear. He jerked away before she kissed his cheek and whispered something in his ear before he felt himself falling.
In a flash of light, he tumbled slightly onto…yellow bricks? Once he regained his balance, he saw…really creepy happy flowers. What in the world…
What did she do to me?
He could feel Veles's anger.
Burn the motherfucking place down.
Veles?
Burn it. This hollow place has no purpose here!
He almost stepped back at Veles's reaction. He started to look around at the place that he landed. It almost reminded him of the Wizard of Oz with the yellow brick road. The smiling…empty eyed flowers gave him the creeps. IT didn't help that they were humming and dancing back and forth. They were…familiar.
Maybe he isn't a fan of musicals.
Can it, High Pixie. This place is in opposition to the point of emptiness…toxic…it is a disease that eats away at a person's soul.
Veles…where are we?
….
I'm sorry, laddie.
Veles?
The persona became quiet.
He took in more of his surroundings. The longer he stood there, the more he wanted to burn this place down.
Where was he?
He took a deep breath. First off, he needed to find his students. Maybe, they will have more information.
Veles…I need your help.
…Very well, lad….very well.
"Veles." He said as he tapped his cane on the ground.
His world exploded with darkness, memories, and mazes. It was almost like a movie but he knew where it was…this place.
It was like his experiences before weren't at the same time. He knew where he was…this was a place in between worlds.
He took another deep breath and called out his students' names.
Oracle….Skull…Joker….Queen…Mona…Noir…Fox?
For a moment, there was silence. Clearly…He heard a voice. A lot of them…all at once.
Not It!
For the record, Sensei, we didn't do anything.
It was the portal's fault.
Shit…they weren't lying when they said that you were their Sensei. Wait…are you our Sensei?
Apparently, future you is a badass.
Of course, he is! He is Sensei!
His eyes widened when he realized Yosuke, Teddie, and Chie's voices.
Welcome to the next disaster, lad.
He sighed…that was an underestimate of the century.
End of the Maze of Life
Next Chapter: The Translation, Please?
A/N: Well…Yu…good luck? As for the mysterious swordman that Yu fought…well…:D Anyway, we are almost to 100…and I am just hit Persona Q. I'm thinking that it will be 150 before this story is over with. (Watch it be 200 chapters before I finish.) Anyway, thank you for sticking with this story with your favorites, reviews, and kudos!