Catch-22: The (Un) Familiar Faces
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Yu meets some familiar and unfamiliar faces.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Come what may, all bad fortune is to be conquered by endurance.-Virgil
"You know…you could say no," Yu said over the phone.
"And have the press haggle me so more, my friend? I think not," Akechi said with the sigh.
The last couple of weeks, Akechi looked like Naoto did after working a case for too long. He almost went down to the station a few times to bring him home or bring him food. Akechi insisted that he was fine but…he was worried.
"There are others who could do it."
"There is but…now that the thieves left their mark again. The press wants my opinion."
"They have a lot of those even without you. Not always a good thing."
"You spoke no truer words. Most of all, they will spin their trust along with the lies. As much as I disagree with the Thieves, I despise injustice. They spread it like a wildfire."
He can definitely understand Goro's point of view there. He has seen it with Rise and Naoto. He knew that his friends tried not to let it get to them but…sometimes…
He saw it in their faces…the tension in their eyes and how they tried to brush it off.
That is why they try so hard to make a home for them when they are there since their jobs don't offer such a safe haven.
"Good luck…you are going to need it. Wait…what time is the interview?"
"It is in the afternoon sometime…I am not sure on the date yet but why?"
"Most of my classes end by the afternoon. I will swing by and we can go and eat lunch after the interview."
"Yu…you don't have too. It is too far."
"I haven't been to that side of the city. It will be nice to explore. Besides, I heard there is a pancake place there. It is supposed to be as good as ones in the states. That is kind of hard to beat. I would like to see if they are up to the challenge."
Akechi laughed.
"That is the sort of challenge that we should test."
"It is."
"I will text the time and date. I am looking forward to it."
"The same."
"Bye."
"Bye."
He lifted the phone to end the phone call. A minute later, his phone started ring again. He looked at the name and laughed.
He hit the button and put his phone back to his ear.
"Hello, Youske."
"Hey, partner. Busy?"
"Nah…just meeting some friends. Rean wanted to check out a bookstore around here. Although, he did just text saying that he is going to be late because he caught up helping a friend. Not entirely surprised."
"Remind me of someone else that I know."
"I am not that bad."
"Uh huh."
He chuckled softly.
"What is wrong? I thought that we were doing Facetime tonight with you and Teddie."
"Teddie disappeared again."
He chuckled.
"I will call Naoto later."
Teddie has a habit popping up unexpectedly especially when he said that he was lonely. He popped up in London because he and Naoto were there. They weren't quite sure how Teddie did it but as long as he was alright….
That is what was important thing.
"Thanks, man."
"So, why else did you call?"
"Right to point."
He hummed softly.
"How do you do it? Going back to school?"
"A good employer."
"YU!"
He chuckled softly.
"Patience with yourself and others. Realize that you are going to make mistakes and decisions that you may not want to make but that is okay."
"Maybe, I should do Shadow Ops instead. She is hiring, right?"
He hummed softly. He just needed to wait for his friend to let out what was bothering him.
"I don't think that I should go back to school."
"Oh?"
"Dad needed help. He said that I am a good manager. Maybe, I should stick around, you know."
"…"
"But that is a terrible idea, you know. I am overworked and unpaid. I love my dad but I think that it is time, you know. Urgh! So indecisive."
He hummed softly. He only had to wait for a moment.
"You know what?! I am going to do it. I am going to turn in my application."
He smiled slightly.
"Good."
"Haha…it is good talking to you, man. You always set me straight. How about you? I have been reading about the whole Thieves. It has been wild there."
"Yes, it is."
"Kind of strange. That is all everyone has been talking about. I want to hear about Rise's new movie. She won't tell me or the others. She said that she wanted it to be a surprise. All that I hear about our thieves."
"Rise said the same thing."
"Hmmm…"
"It is going to get more interesting soon since they are all over the news again."
"You think…man…you always have all of the excitement."
"Not always a good thing," He said with a laugh.
"Man…you're right. Damn it…my shift is about to start. Talk to you tonight?"
"Of course."
"Okay…bye, partner."
"Bye."
He ended the phone call and looked up to see a woman. She looked horrified at him from across the street. He looked around to see if she was looking at him.
Oh…she was.
He looked for a moment then crossed the street.
"Are you okay?"
The woman blinked at him. She had purple eyes, long blonde hair, and wears a big navy-blue headband. She wore a necklace with a small red jewel resembling a teardrop. Her outfit was interesting too.
She was wearing a clock dress?
"Oh..oh…I am sorry. I am so sorry. I should…I should…but I saw the chains. I…you aren't safe. Not at all."
"Oh?" He said in confusion.
"Oh, I am sorry. My name is Chichya Mifane, a fortune teller." She said with a bow.
"Oh."
Margaret has definitely shared her thoughts on fortune tellers. Not always kindly…
They didn't always talk about personas and fusions when he was in the Velvet Room.
"I saw you…you are bound in chains. So many chains. It is almost choking you. I have something to protect you. A holy stone! Please, sir, I beg of you!"
Margaret would definitely have words for her.
"No thank you. I am good."
"No…no…you can't be. You will die," Mifane said as tears formed in her eyes.
Wait…was she crying?
He reached over and put his hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay."
She jerked at his touch.
"No, it isn't…"
"Do you have a practice deck?"
He learned from Margaret that some fortune tellers don't like for others to touch their cards. So, they will have a secondary deck.
"Yes…"
"Can I show you something?"
Mifane nodded her head in confusion and headed toward a table that was nearby. She took a seat and got out a deck of cards from her bag. He followed her and took a seat across from her. He picked up the deck and started to shuffle the cards.
The question is how the deck is laid. Only fakes and fools lay down the cards without a purpose.
He grinned softly as Margaret's voice rang in his head. He laid down the cards in Celtic Cross like she taught him.
"I believe that you have heard the journey of the fool?"
She nodded her head but she looked so unsure.
He smiled brightly as he flipped over the first card. It didn't surprise him too much when he saw the Fool card.
"The fool represents the journey and the infinite possibilities in that journey. Not all of the time we follow the journey. Sometimes, the fool takes on the other characteristics of arcana."
He flipped over the Tower card.
"Never a bad thing, of course. The fool learned from the others that came in contract with on the journey. Sometimes, the fool will rest and reflect on the past."
He flipped over the hanged man card next.
I thought that I taught you better than this. A little flare perhaps?
"Sometimes, the fool will also reflect the future," He said as he flipped over the judgment card.
"The fool isn't perfect. The mistakes happen."
Death.
Temperance.
"But it is important to let those mistakes happen and learn from them. To grow with them."
He flipped over some more cards.
Justice.
Magician.
Star.
"Because of that growth…it will help that fool make it to the destination. A little wise…a little more bruised…but happier. So, you said that you saw me in chains? Those are only part of the journey. Because in the end…I will promise you. I will break free," He said as he flipped over the last card.
World.
He got up from his chair and bowed slightly.
"But I do thank you for the warning. I will keep it in mind," He said with a grin.
He turned away with the fortune teller's face in awe and Margaret laughing in his head.
-P4P5P4-
When he opened the door to his apartment, he heard a loud crash. His hand reached for his phone then a familiar voice stopped him.
"I can cook, thank you beary much! And I want to cook for sensei!"
"You can barely manage water, sir. I do not want you to kill him with your terrible cooking skills!"
"I will not!"
"Will too!"
He walked into the kitchen to see Teddie and Theo arguing. They were covered in flour in the middle of his kitchen. He wasn't quite sure why Teddie…okay, he knew why he was there but…Theo? What was he doing here? Last time he heard, Theo was with Elizabeth.
He wondered what happened.
"WILL NOT!"
"WILL TOO!"
He watched in amusement as he watched Theo point a frying pan at Teddie.
Guess it was take out tonight.
End of The (Un) Familiar Faces
Next Chapter: Break In Play: The Sensei Effect
A/N: No, Yu didn't break any of the rules of his contract with fake Igor because he didn't invite them. Yes, I do know the events of arena but keep in mind, he isn't going to spill details about the tv world thus the silent response at the end of the last chapter. I also finished majority of the Sensei Effect and following chapter, the Conversation which large chapters in itself. I still want to go back and add more details to both chapters. Read and review if you wish.
Fun Research Fact: Some forture tellers have multiple deck of cards depending on the situation and personal preference.