Catch-22: The Two Faces
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Everyone has two faces….at least, the ones that they are willing to show.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
When I see you, I think "I wonder which face she sees when she looks into the mirror."
― C. JoyBell C.
"Goro."
"Yu."
Yu was leaning against the wall and watching everyone talk, eating or gathering supplies. Goro approached him. Goro leaned against the wall next to him.
"So, you know," Goro said.
"I do," He acknowledged.
"Do the others?"
"Of course."
Goro seemed surprised by that answer.
"Why? Why haven't they…."
"Answers."
"And they think that I will give it to them?" Goro snarled.
"I don't think that you will. At least, not to them. Well, maybe, Ren and me. No, we don't think that you will gave us the answers."
Goro's face turned from confusion to understanding.
"You have a plan…"
"Vaguely," He said mildly.
He almost laughed as Goro's mask slipped into frustration.
"I will find out."
"Maybe."
"I thought that I could understand you better among your peers and the other Wild Cards," Goro noted.
"And?"
"I understand nothing about you."
He chuckled softly.
"I'm not that confusing. Actually, I'm quite easy to figure out. On other hand, it took me quite a bit of time to figure you out."
"Oh?" Goro said.
"You're the angriest but the loneliest person that I have ever met."
For the first time, he ever met him…he was speechless.
"Someone made an interesting remark about you distancing yourself from the others and I see what he meant. You're afraid that you are going to get attached because it would be difficult to kill us if you do."
"So, you knew."
"You made it clear when you tried to shoot me."
"Point taken. Then why….?"
"Because I failed once before. If I don't try, then I would be an idle passenger to your story."
"This isn't some fairy tale shit…"
He sighed.
"Goro…you make your own choices. Yes, I'm trying to use the "power" of friendship and common sense to get through to you but I think…."
He paused for a moment before getting up from his place along the wall.
"I think that you made your choice. I fear ... I fear that I will find you in a body bag then I will have someone else to bury," He said as he turned away.
Silence reigned between them for a moment. He glanced over at Goro for a moment. He saw a moment of uncertainty in those eyes.
"My hand will always be there, Goro even if you try to cut it off."
"I plan to kill you for it."
He smiled sadly.
"I know. You forget something…," He said as he turned to leave.
"Oh?"
"Who said that I won't stop you first?"
He sighed as he walked away. He knew that he would…that he must.
Theodore looked nervous when he approached him.
"Master Narukami….can we talk for a moment?" Theo paused in his work.
"Of course."
"In the future, I was told that I will serve you."
"You were a little lost and wouldn't take no for an answer."
Almost every persona in his head snorted at the comment.
"Then something happened to my Master?"
"Yes."
Theodore's shoulders fell.
"Then I failed my Master."
"No, you didn't"
His body jerked and his eyes widened at his words.
"I know Igor. He wouldn't think that you failed him in any way."
"But….I…"
"Theo…How many plans do Igor have?"
"I…."
"At this point, I have known Igor for many years. He has plans for plans. It wouldn't be a total surprise to me that he had a plan for what happened to him. A fail safe. He is like me and the others in a way. He is a Fool. A wild card in terms of fate's design. The problem is that he never tells anyone his plans and that tend to leave you and your sisters stress out"
It was strange for Theo just to stare at him.
"My sisters…are stressed?"
"Of course, they are but they are better at hiding it, especially Margaret."
Theo gave him a strange look…he couldn't place it.
"I see."
"Theo…what happened isn't your fault. From what your future self told me, you tried to stop it. You're not weak. You are much stronger than you know. I'm so grateful for your support even if you don't always agree with me," He said as he touched Theo's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Theo was just staring at him like he was a mystery that he quite didn't understand.
"I think…I know why I call you Master."
He nodded.
He still doesn't know the reason.
"Master put things into perspective for us. We don't always see what he sees. You do the same. I look forward to serving you, Master, when the time comes," Theo said with bow before he left.
That was a strange conversation.
Well…stranger than usual. The one that he had with Theo about doughnut holes was interesting.
You don't get it, do you, laddie?
Not really but it made Theo feel better.
Veles made a long suffering sigh.
"Mr. Narukami, it is a pleasure to meet you," Nagi said as she approached him.
He glanced over his shoulder to Nagi, standing close by. She bowed to him and he bowed slightly back.
"I believe that we have already met," He said.
He could see Nagi flinched a little at this comment.
"So, you know who I am?"
"Vaguely. It isn't too hard to put the puzzle pieces together. You're the odd man out…sort of speak."
He gauged Nagi-san's reaction carefully. She seemed surprised but…pleased.
He is beginning to see a trend here. Why do gods always seem so pleased when they are discovered? Izanami was really pleased when he and his friends figured out that she was the cause of the fog.
Ego. Gods think that they are indestructible. They never think that a moral can figure them out. That is what get them in trouble.
Aye.
YUP!
"Interesting," She said with some measure in her voice.
"Everything here has a place. Each group and their attendants. It is either you or Hikari. Since the movies are based off of Hikari's experiences, my guess was you. So, tell me…who are you and what is your purpose?" He asked.
Nagi-san chuckled.
"I am Enlil."
He frowned slightly. That is a new one.
Veles?
Enny? This isn't usually their dictum. Usually, they are out to exterminate humanity, and Kiki steps in to stop them when they step out of line. They have been at it for a few thousand years now.
"And your purpose?" He asked.
"I'm an administrator of the collective who is born from humanity's desire to end all of their pain," Enlil proudly.
"And…?"
"I relieve their pain."
Hmm…there are more of these theaters.
"How?"
Enlil paused.
"I give them a safe haven from the pain and misfortune that plague them."
Well…that is a lie. After what the others have told him and the moment he saw when they returned, Hikari is often exhausted at these "trips" to the movies. It felt more like a trap.
He stared at her for a moment. It was the stare that he gave when he wanted an answer. It worked almost 100% of the time because apparently, he was scary.
He just thought that yelling isn't the answer.
He only yelled when he was angry or someone was in danger. He wasn't at that point…yet.
"Safe haven or a cage?" He said with a tilt of his head.
"They are free to leave."
"And the locks and the chains?"
"Merely…the desire of my guests. They want to be here."
So, the theaters aren't empty either but filled with people like Hikari. So…question…were they here or another reality?
"And the films?"
"They are merely watching their own movies."
"Another question? Are you trying to fool me…or yourself?"
Enlil jerked at his comment.
"What do you mean?" She said.
"From what I heard from the others and Hikari and moments that I caught here and there, her films have been carefully edited. Her most painful memories are at the forefront and none of the positive experiences of her life. So, there must be an editor. Doe is the one who plays it for Hikari. So, that leaves you. So, again…are you trying to fool me or yourself?"
A moment of silence.
Enlil chuckled.
"You are a clever one."
"Merely putting the pieces together."
"To answer your question, neither. I'm helping these poor souls. These humans are too weak to cope with the hardships of their reality and this is the only way to end their suffering. They are free to leave at any time."
"But they won't. You made sure of that."
"I have done no such thing. I'm offering them salvation!" She said angrily.
And bingo was his name, oh.
High Pixie giggled.
Still…not really their M.O. They…she is a hardliner for sure but she is likely to flood your entire country than play with cages.
"You are offering them their own self-destruction."
"By their own hand, not by me. I'm merely an observer."
He rephrased from snorting.
Well, that comment was bullshit.
Could it be…?
Yabby doesn't play in this world. He doesn't deal with the mess well. He is more organized than your damn manservant. No, he will leave Enny with her things.
He frowned for a moment. Something to file for later. He has come across gods acting out of character but it is usually there is outside influence in play.
"Then this world will fall by our hand, not yours."
"And you're threatening me?" She groaned.
"I don't make threats. It is a waste of time. The thing to think about is…if I'm here, what do you think happened to you?"
Enlil's eyes widened.
"One of us will walk away from here, Enlil. I think that I will place my bet on us."
"Sensei! We are ready to go!" Ann shouted to get his attention.
He bowed slightly to Nagi-san and left without looking back.
-P4P5P3-
When the final lock fell…when they stepped outside of those doors…
He was ready.
He might have been a little bit dramatic about it.
End of The Two Faces
Next Chapter: The Path That We Walk Alone
A/N: Akechi/Yu conversation was added when I extended this chapter. I think that it fit well with the theme. Of course, it sets for you know…the moment in the few couple of chapters in Catch. Thank you for the lovely support! Anyway, read and review if you wish.