Catch-22: The Point Where We Return

By: M14Mouse

Summary: We return to beginning.

Disclaimer: Don't own them.

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.-T. S. Eliot

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

Yu has been shot before much to the annoyance of Aegis.

From that experience, it hurts like a bitch.

From what the doctor told him at the time, the bullet grazed his shoulder.

Still…he would highly recommend never getting shot.

This was different.

He could feel the impact much like a hammer to his rib and stomach.

His body jerked forward then backward toward the ground. He felt his entire body slam onto the ground. It knocked the air out of his lungs and the pain from his ribs flared to life.

"You will not hurt Sensei!" Takeo shouted.

He heard a loud crash and Akechi cursing.

He felt another pair of arms pick him up from the ground.

"YOU TWO!"

"We will protect Sensei. You can go away now," Takeshi groaned into his ear.

His vision became blurry, and he struggled with keeping his eyes open. The pain in his chest and stomach didn't help matters at all.

He could make out the sound of fighting then no more.

-P4P5P4-

He felt a familiar pull that he felt for many years at different points of his life.

He could hear the soft sound of a singing voice and piano in the background. It was pretty at first but after every time he stepped into the Velvet Room, it became headache-inducing. Over time, it faded to an almost comforting background noise.

He could hear the soft clacking noise of glass and the smooth sound of the engine.

"Fancy place that you have here," A familiar voice said.

His eyes snapped to see Adachi sitting across from where Margaret normally sat. In his hands, he had a drink and he lifted the glass to acknowledge him.

He looked the same before prison…before the arena. Same suit. Same crooked tie. Same wild hair. Same lopsided grin.

"You know…I think that it suits you. You always were more put together than almost everyone I knew," Adachi said before he took a sip of his drink.

"Man, this is some good stuff. Probably expensive too."

He felt himself grin.

"I spent time in Europe when I was a child. They are less restricting about alcohol in comparison," He said.

"No fair. Drink this good stuff…" Adachi said as he waved his hand around.

"I like the wines….still do really. Sake is alright. I suppose. Not fond of beers and such. My father liked scotch. My mother was fond of whiskey."

"Your parents have good tastes," Adachi said.

He chuckled.

"So, where in the hell is this place?"

"This is my Velvet Room. From what I have been told, the place between dream and reality. It is a place that holds significance to us. For each of us, it is different. Minato was in an elevator. Ren is in a prison. I do wonder if that is Yaldaboth's chosen or not. Mine was a limo. You are here because of your connection to me."

"Limo, huh? Why?"

"When I moved somewhere new, we always took a limo to the airport. For me? It was traveling to an unknown place…again and again."

"Interesting, I guess. Just saying that you had good tastes. And you might be someone interesting…ish. even if you are a brat and a dumbass. Hell, that is why I liked you," Adachi said.

"You know that it is more than that," He noted with a smile.

"Maybe. Really, it doesn't change much, does it? You and your dumbass gang catch the big bad killer. See what that solved? The world is still fucked up."

"Yet, it is our choice until someone takes it away. Again."

Adachi paused and tilted his head slightly at him.

"Who did you piss off this time?"

"Not my fault."

Adachi gave him a dubious look.

"Mostly."

"Figured. So, what are you going to do about it?"

"Stop him, of course," He said.

Adachi snorted.

"What would that solve? People still want to be controlled. They want the lies…."

"Adachi…this conversation didn't work when I was 16. Do you think that it would work now?"

"No…but it is worth a try. It isn't like I have anything better to do. Being dead and all."

"Sorry about that."

"Not your fault. Could be your friend…could be my big month. Either way…I'm dead. So, what are you going to do about it? I didn't put a bullet in you. You sure know how to pick them…"

"I know."

"So you plan to turn away from him? Kill him? Never mind on the second one, you don't have the backbone."

He paused for a moment.

"COME ON! You plan to save him! He put a bullet in you…kind of. Good idea with the vest by the way."

"Kanji is going to get the best sewing machine that I can buy."

"You are a dumbass."

"I will stop him."

Adachi laughed.

"BY SAVING HIM! Stupid dumbass…"

"By bringing him to justice. I don't know his circumstances but he is the product of his own decisions. The same as you. You may call me a dumbass. I will always be someone who seeks out the truth. Even if it hurts. You know that more than anyone," He said coolly.

He wasn't going to lie. It did hurt. It hurt a lot even if he knew that it was a possibility that Akechi would kill him with no notice. The same with Adachi when he nearly put a bullet in him.

Adachi just stared at him.

"You're a dumbass. Stubborn but….hehe….I'm not surprised. It runs in the family. Your damn uncle is the same way. A family of dumbass…hehe," Adachi said as he shook his head before he continued.

"But….if anyone could do it, it is you….I guess."

He smiled softly.

"And your stupid kids…they know what you have planned?"

"I don't think that I have talked about my students." He said.

"I'm dead and bored. What else is there to do?" Adachi said with a shrug.

"Not being creepier than you already are."

"HEY! I am not looking…I mean! I mean…brat, I wouldn't look at your kids like that!"

"You know that I can drag you into hell now."

Adachi laughed.

"You're joking."

"No, I'm not."

-P4P5P4-

"Sensei…." Takeshi said.

"Sensei…." Takeo said.

He groaned as he heard the brothers' voices.

"Wake up…a weird lady is here."

"Weirder than Lila."

"That's scary."

"She doesn't have pencils."

"She has guns."

"Big guns."

"Takeo wants to know where she keeps them."

"Takeshi agreed."

He opened his eyes. His vision was a little blurry, but he knew that face and blonde hair from anywhere.

"Hello, Aigis-san," He said.

"Hello, Yu-san. After you have receive adequate medical attention, we're going to have a talk," Aegis said.

End of The Point Where We Return

Next Chapter: The Point Where We Begin Again

A/N: Look at this…it only took 115 chapters but look! We got back to the beginning of the story. (Let's hope that it doesn't take me another 115 chapters to finish this thing). Anyway, thanks for the reviews, kudos, favorites, etc. Read and Review if You Wish.