Catch-22: The Present Tense
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Yu gets to observe his not-students while causing as much *chaos* as he possible can.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.-Marcus Aurelius
"Uhh…Sensei…why is there a guy with a bug head in the café?" Yoshizawa asked him. She was standing at the doorway of Leblanc.
Just staring.
He didn't know if that was a normal thing for her. He didn't have a Yoshizawa in his world but he will check on her to make sure that she is alright.
While he sat at one of the tables, happily, drinking his coffee. He watched as Khepri and Sojiro debated the finer points of coffee. He was glad that they were having fun.
"That is Khepri, the god of bugs…and Sojiro can't see him. For some reason or another, he wants us to see him as he is," Morgana mumbled from his spot on one of the bar stools. Morgana was slightly put out with the appearance of Khepri.
"Inserts are excellent at blending in with their environments. There is camouflage…Oh! He could have taken over a human, eat out their internal organs, wearing it around as a suit then abandoned it when he is done. That leads to a lot of red flags. So, boss doesn't do it," His assistant, Clara, said across from him.
There was a moment of silence.
"She…she is joking, right?" Yoshizawa said in a panic.
"No, some inserts can take over a host body. Although, Khepri doesn't like messes, so he probably wouldn't do it. Probably," He answered.
"Most insects pride themselves on cleanness," Clara said with a nod.
Futaba smirked from her spot by the counter.
"Now, you see what I had to deal with," Futaba said.
Futaba…she wasn't quite like his Futaba. His Futaba was more comfortable in her skin. She was ready to cause "chaos" at a moment's notice. This Futaba still wants to cause "chaos" but she is unsure. Her eyes dart from him to the others or her stumbling over her words if an idea or situation makes her uncomfortable.
"You're having fun," He said mildly.
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Will you two stop?! Honestly…you're acting like children," Morgana grumbled.
Morgana was…an earlier Morgana and yet, wasn't? It was strange. His Morgana has already worked out his insecurities. This one still had them but to a lesser degree. He really hoped that he didn't have to punch him or fight him again.
He really didn't want to punch him but…
If he had too, he would.
Once you hit someone, they are remarkable at listening to what you had to say or just knocking some common sense into them.
"We're joking. It is good to lighten the mood from time to time," He said.
"Yup. Besides, you're just upset that you're a cat again and Sensei can take over the world," Futaba added.
He sighed.
"I have no desire to take over the world. You were…human?"
His Morgana would be thrilled but apparently, it didn't hold. Hmm…Oh…Ah…
Hmm…that would make sense.
He wondered if he should say something.
"Yes! I'm still human…still trapped in a cat's body! It is complicated." Morgana shouted.
"Not really. You don't really want to be human," He added.
There was a moment of silence.
"I…I…DO WANT TO BE HUMAN! I DO! You have no understanding of…of anything!" Morgana shouted.
"Well…he does have a point," Ren said as he came out of the cleaning area.
A sense of pride rushed him even if he wasn't his Ren. He could see the man that Ren was becoming. A man no longer hiding…more confident in his own skin. A Fool at the end of his journey.
Well…one journey.
"You were human but you still had such cat-like qualities. I think that you miss being a cat," Ren added.
"I DO NOT! I…I like being human! I DID! I don't miss sleeping in your bed…or fish…or getting carried around. I DON'T!" Morgana shouted.
"I think that you like being a cat more," Ren added.
"Besides, shadows can't become human," Futaba mumbled.
"Not true. I know two that did it. One wanted to hit on girls. The other one was worried about me…and wanted fuzzy pencils. She is my assistant," He said as he took another sip of his coffee.
There was another moment of silence and a snicker from Khepri.
"I don't think that he is lying," Ren said to Futaba.
"Me either," Futaba mumbled back.
-P4P5P4-
"It is wonderful to see such young art in bloom," Queen Tatiana said softly as she stood in front of an art piece.
Queen Titania and King Oberon wanted to see the beauty of this world. Instantly, Yusuke dragged the group to a local museum. It has been entertaining to watch Yusuke drag the king of the faeries around to each art piece.
The Yusuke of this world was a lot like his expected skinner.
He is going to work on that before he leaves.
"It is…even among the chaos, there is beauty," He said mildly.
"You have become a poet, Master Gambler," She said with a laugh.
He stopped and took Tatiana's hand then gently kissed her knuckles.
"Many poets have spoken of your beauty but it is your soul that shines the brightest like fireflies lighting the night sky. Your wit is like the edge of a razor…dancing so close to sharp to joyous. Your knowledge grows like the deepest redwood," He said with a wink.
Laddie…stop confusing the children.
He glanced over Ann and Haru's expressions. Their faces were bright red and their eyes were looking away.
Oh, yes, sex and shadow talk when he gets home.
Tatiana laughed.
"Oh, Master Gambler, how delightful you are," She said with the tilt of her head.
"I'm humble that you think so," He said.
He heard Ann mumbling something about charming…and age.
Veles and High Pixie were laughing inside of his head.
This world's Ann grew into herself more so than his Ann. There were still moments of uncertainty but her confidence grows in everything that she does. It was wonderful to see.
"Why thank you," He said as he turned with a bow.
If Ann's face could turn any redder…
"You are worse than Ren," Ann mumbled.
No, Ren was definitely flirtier than him.
"There is a difference between dishonesty and sincerity. My words are honest and sincere. Everyone comments on Queen Tatiana's beauty but no one looks beyond that. She is smart and witty. As much as I respect King Oberon, she is the power behind the throne."
Was Queen Tatiana actually blushing?
"I…I…I have a question if you don't mind me asking. If you are Queen Tatiana…why are shadows of you running around?" Haru asked.
He read about Haru's father. She still carries her grief in her shoulders and her eyes. She has strength much like his Haru. She will grow and bloom like the flowers that she tends to in her gardens.
"Are there not kings and queens among you? I don't speak of royal blood. No, child, I speak of those souls that will have a jump in their step, beauty that no one can keep their eyes off them, and a hint of mischief and wit in their eyes. There is only one of me but many souls who carry my essence. How is that not a bad thing?" Queen Tatiana answered
A loud crash caught their attention. The group turned to King Oberon and Yusuke in a fountain. The pair was soaked and wet but very excited about something.
"That was a marvelous view. Yes, we should go higher," Yusuke said excitedly.
"Yes, we should!" King Oberon with equal excitement.
The pair is going to do something that everyone is going to regret and judging by their expressions.
He was right.
-P4P5P4-
"Why are we visiting a giant snake?" Ryuji asked as the group went down the steps into Mementos.
"Because I want to know if the lore is true or not. Who better to ask than Níðhöggr himself?" She answered.
"But still! A HUGE SNAKE THAT COULD PROBABLY EAT US?!" Ryuji shouted.
"Probably but he won't," He said mildly.
"Oh?" Makoto asked him.
"Gods are rather particular about their bargains and contracts. Our deal is a lot more tempering than eating you," He answered mildly.
"Why is that?"
"I gave him better things to eat," He said with a shrug.
The pair stared at him for a moment. He turned to start walking down the tunnel. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something.
"You're limping…are you okay, Skull?" He asked.
Much like Yusuke, Ryuji was very much like Ryuji from his world. For some reason, he seemed scared of him. He would jump slightly when he asked a question. Show a moment of concern, a flash of panic in his eyes.
Was he that terrifying?
"I….I'm not limping," Ryuji said in a panic.
"Yes, you are," He said as he pointed to Skull's injured knee.
"No…No…Well…a little. I might have overworked it," Ryuji mumbled.
"Skull! That is dangerous…are you okay?" Makoto asked.
"I'm fine! I will soak it and take some pain meds when I get home! No biggie! Isn't it like we are fighting or something?!" Ryuji said.
Makoto gave Ryuji a look then turned to him.
"How could you tell?" She asked him.
This Makoto was slightly more confident in herself and her actions than his Makoto. Although, he did believe that his Makoto was more vocal and had more of an edge with her actions and her words.
"Everyone has tells. Ryuji slightly drags his foot when his knee is bothering him. Beside putting your hair behind your ear, you tap your fingers gently on your lap when you are nervous. Noir tries to get out every winkle in her clothes…even if she doesn't have a single winkle in them. Oracle constant folds and unfolds her fingers. Joker? He messes with his mask to extend his glasses when he is nervous. Should I go on?" He said with a small smile.
"We aren't the only ones with tells, Master Gambler," Makoto said with a challenge in her voice.
"Oh?" He said amusedly.
"Yes, you play with the top of your cane when you're about to attack. You straighten your jacket when you are finished with an attack like a grand performer. You play with your cards and your dice but you're really listening to our conversations. You always have a small smile when you know something and are able to say it…."
"In his defense, he knows a lot of stuff," Ryuji added.
"That isn't the point…" Makoto turned to answer Ryuji.
"Those are wonderful observations but you are forgetting something…"
"Oh?"
"They aren't tells…"
The roar shakes the walls of the tunnel.
"Those are things that I want to show you," He said with a grin.
-P4P5P4-
"….I figure you out," Akechi said as he sat at the table.
Akechi asked him to meet him at a club, Jazz Jin, in Kichijoji. He never really traveled to this part of the city too often. It was nice. When he gets back to his timeline, he should make a point to come here. This place had a relaxed atmosphere and the music added to it.
"Oh?" He said as he took a sip of his drink.
"You're a wild card."
"I'm glad that someone noticed. My personas having a grand time with the whole thing," He said with a smile.
"The others are stupid and couldn't see a forest from the trees," Akechi noted.
"Oh and since we are sharing…you're dead and a wild card which remains me of Minato in a way," He noted.
Akechi stared at him.
"Minato?"
"He is dead…kind of. It is a very complicated situation."
"I'm impressed that you figured it out. So far, only Ren has figured it out."
He shrugged.
"One of my allies has a connection to the underworld. She told me," He said as he glanced over Izanami, who was singing on stage. Her voice has a strange sense of sadness and longing. Izanagi has been strangely quiet throughout the evening.
Two words: Marriage counseling.
He snorted.
"The ally that we haven't met yet," Akechi noted.
"Oh, you will meet her and you will know her when you see her. She has a flair for the dramatics," He answered.
He could feel Izanami's staring at the back of his head.
"One should talk. You were quite dramatic with the doctor."
"Not my style really. I'm more subdued but the doctor wouldn't take it. It needed to be showy to get his attention. Besides, I have seen some of your interviews, Detective Prince."
He has been researching what happened with Akechi but he just dropped off the face of the planet. He was afraid of the answer that he would find…or the body.
"Much like you…a mask to wear and a role to play. It was amusing to lead the masses by their noses," Akechi said.
"I beg to differ. There is too much paperwork involved. I hate paperwork,``he said.
He can already imagine the paperwork and schoolwork sitting on his desk when he got back.
Urgh.
Akechi chuckled.
"It's strange. In another time and place, we have been friends."
"Maybe….Maybe."
End of The Present Tense
Next Chapter: The Present Tense II
A/N: Oh, Yu...whatever I'm going to do with you. XD On this note, as readers, you have 2 more chapters before Royal Arc is finished before jumping into a transition chapter that leads into Persona Q2. Fun, yes? Anyway, thank you for the wonderful reviews, kudos, favorites, etc. Thank you!