Catch-22: The Plan to Stalk

By: M14Mouse

Summary: Yu thought to himself…..this is what Akechi does what no one was looking.

Disclaimer: Don't own them.

"But none of that really mattered. I had found my tribe. It felt like a family reunion for the family I'd never really known, a homecoming at the place where I was always meant to be but hadn't known how to find."― David Levithan

Once Yu dropped off the others, it was quite easy to find Akechi. He seemed to be talking the cognitive version of Haru in the middle of a hallway. So, she must have left the others. Now, he knew why. There weren't very many shadows to move about. So, he had to be careful.

The lad is a raccoon. How on earth do they miss him?

I think because he hasn't caused a direct conflict with the others yet.

True. We know that your students have the awareness of a stick.

They are improving.

Slowly…very slowly.

"Lord Akechi, Father said that you weren't coming here anymore," the Cognitive version of Haru said as she bowed.

"I'm merely keeping an eye on some guests."

"Very well. Should I inform Father?"

"No. I have it in hand. Thank you."

She nodded her head.

"Anything else, Lord Akechi?"

"Could you please tell the other employees not to bother me while I work?"

"Of course."

Haru bowed once again and walked down another hallway. He watched as Akechi's face morphed from pleasant to disgust.

Hmm…interesting.

He didn't think that he was disgusted with Haru but perhaps, his father's version of her. Akechi started moving down another hallway.

Oracle? Where are you?

We just started in the factory area. Man, how he treats his employees….

Is it as bad as me and Haru feared?

Worse.

He sighed then he shook his head.

Another time…Another time.

Slowly, he started following Akechi. Takeo and Takeshi were behind him. The factory was west of here and that is where his students were located but he didn't seem to be heading in that direction.

Hmm…either he isn't looking for his students or he knows another way.

There is a possibility of both.

Once Akechi reached an elevator, he stopped for a moment.

"Come out…wherever you are."

He stopped in his tracks but he didn't come back out of the shadows.

He really didn't take into account his persona's abilities. Were they like his or Futaba? Or different in general?

"We got this, Sensei," Takeo said.

"Be careful."

He watched as the brothers approached Akechi.

"I told your lord that I don't want to be bothered," Akechi snapped.

"We are new," Takeo said.

"We are from Accounting," Takeshi added.

He pressed his lips together and tried really hard not to laugh.

"And Accounting is this way?" Akechi said in confusion.

"Nope!" Takeo said.

"We are there to make sure we have enough buns," Takeshi said.

The mask hid most of Akechi's face but he could see that he looked slightly confused.

"So, you are going to the Factory?"

"Yup!" Takeo said.

"I suppose you are going to tell your Master where I am," Akechi said.

"Master?" Takeshi said in confusion.

"We don't have a Master. We have a Sensei," Takeo said as he nodded his head.

"That is much better than a Master or a Boss. Sensei is nice."

"Very nice. He gives us jerky."

"We protect him too."

"It doesn't matter what you call him. Although, I am impressed that he figured out a way to send his little personas this far away from him. It is something worth noting," Akechi said.

?

The statement threw him for a moment. Did he think Ren controlled the shadows and sent them out?

"I can't do anything. They don't know that I'm here. So, no harm in making you forget. Of course, if only one of you makes it back to him. Well…he shouldn't let his toys wander off,"

That didn't sound good at all.

"Makajam," Akechi said before he heard the elevator's door opening then closing.

He bolted from his hiding spot but stopped short of getting in front of them. He could see their dazed expressions on their faces.

He didn't want to hurt them or get hurt himself.

"Takeshi…Takeo?" He said softly.

The brothers turned to him in confusion.

"Who is that?" Takeshi said in confusion.

"Who are you?" Takeo said as he pointed to Takeshi.

"Who are you?" Takeshi asked Takeo.

"I don't know."

"Me either."

He cursed to himself. He didn't bring any Relax Capsules and he didn't have any cards for healing. He was just going to have to wait it out until the effect wore off.
"Where are we?"

"It is a weird white place."

"Should we be here?"

"I don't know. Why are we here?"

"I don't know. Is it important?"

"It must be because we are here."

The brothers nodded their heads then turned to him.

"Who are you again?"

"I…My name is Sensei,"

"Do we know a Sensei?" Takeshi said.

"I think that we do…maybe?" Takeo said as he stared at him. Takeshi moved closer and stared at him closely.

Takeshi's eyes widened and he hugged him.

"UMPH!" He said as Takeshi hugged him tightly.

"Takeshi?"

"SENSEI!"

Then he felt another pair of arms around him and squeezed him.

"Takeshi? Takeo?"

Takeshi started crying.

"Takeshi?"

"I forgot, Sensei. I forgot."

"It wore off, Takeshi. You're safe and fine," He said smoothly. He tried to pat the brothers' backs to offer some measure of comfort.

"No, it was like before. Empty place," Takeo mumbled.

He always wondered what shadows remember about the sea of souls. Apparently, the others didn't know what it was like before they came into being.

It wasn't the case with the brothers. It is strange that they remember before since Chronos is supposed to wipe their memories before entering the sea.

Maybe he was visiting Rei during that time.

"You are here and you are safe."

"We were nothing then something because of Boss. Then the Boss forgot about us then we became nothing again. Then you came with Ivy and…and you made us something. You made us family!" Takeo said in wonder.

"Yes, we have brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends now! We have a family. We will never be nothing again," Takeshi said excitedly.

"But we forgot…and it was scary."

"It is scary to forget but you remember again."

"But what if the others forgot?!"

He smiled softly.

"They wouldn't because you exist. They remember because you were there."

"Sensei?" Takeo said in confusion.

"Let me go and I will tell you a brief story."

The brothers let him go and set him on the ground.

He adjusted his jacket and smiled softly at the brothers.

"I knew a girl that spent most of her time in a hospital. She was very sick. Toward the end of her life, she screamed that she didn't live. She didn't get to go to school, go to festivals, didn't fall in love…that she didn't make any impact whatsoever. With a little help, she realized that she did exist. By existing, she did make an impact. I know a nurse is very grateful to have known her. I was grateful to know her. You two made an impact just by existing. Your family knows you and loves you. You will never be forgotten. Never again."

The brothers stared at him. Takeshi sniffed a little bit. Takeo looked like he was about to cry.

"But you are family too, Sensei," Takeo said.

"Yes, we are," He smiled softly

The brothers beamed and hugged him again. He heard a sniff inside of his head.

Oracle, aren't you supposed to be doing something?

They can handle it. Soo…we might want to keep Noir away from Akechi for a little bit? She wasn't too happy to see the brothers upset. She is scarier than Queen.

Noted. I also figured out some things. Just gauging by Akechi's reactions. I think he believes that Joker controls my friends.

There was a long pause.

HAHAHAHA! Seriously! AHAHAH!

Funny, isn't it?!

HAHAHAHA! I told Joker and he was chuckling. Support buddy, they like us but they won't listen to us. Except Daito but he will only listen to Queen.

Even so…It does give me an idea.

OOOO…are we going to explode something?

Maybe?

YAY!

I will tell you when I rejoin the others. Where are you?

In space! Or close to it. We haven't made it to the space locks yet.

…..

He heard Veles grumble in his ear.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

End of The Plan to Stalk

Next Chapter: The Plan to Resolve

A/N: Oh, Akechi. You better hope the girls don't find you first. XD My running head cannon that Akechi doesn't always off shadows or turn them crazy. He does different things to them in order cause the effect he wants (forgetness, confusion, etc). So, I'm running with it. Anyway, I'm glad that you like Theodore as Yu's assistant. He wasn't actually supposed to play a huge role in the fic. Well…stuff happens and he is here to stay. Someone comment about Yu being Igor's assistant. I could see it happening (although, I can't stop laughing at the thought because Yu would be so chill about it and be yup, I'm glad that I am over here and not there for once). Anyway, thanks for the reviews, kudos, favorites, etc.