►(Persona 4/Multifandom) CASTING SHADOWS -literate-OPEN◄

Make it count!

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[Edge_Vanhite2121x]

~*~Yuuki Chariven, the Silent Scholar~*~

Yuuki nodded back, searching out a place to keep cover while he handles that monster. "You owe me an explanation for this!" he yelled to Yosuke as he backed against wall, crouching low on the ground. Now, more questions came to mind, left unanswered.

Where was he? How'd he wind up here? Why was he brought here in the first place? Where did that monster come from? He took another glance at Yosuke, summoning Jiraiya from a tarot card. He was dumbfounded; he thought he knew everything that was needed to know. What... was that? It's another monster, but... it's helping him?

As he continued to contemplate his thoughts, the shadow let out a ill-stricken shriek loud enough to pierce his eardrums. "GYYAAAHHHH!!!!" Yuuki then covered his ears and cringed, feeling a bit light-headed. He had one of hands attempt to inspect his glasses lens, double-checking if neither of them were shattered from the sound-wave's threshold. They were on the verge on cracking, but it was a relief for him that it didn't. His eyes underneath weren't going to be much of a friendlier greeting than the one he gave earlier.

[Ake00]

Yosuke Hanamura

Yosuke moved back from the attack, positioning himself back in front of Nanako. He'd made himself a permanent bodyguard of sorts, one that never moved from that spot, even as the wail rippled through the air and pierced through his headphones. He stifled a cry as the damage hit him head on, but he bit his lip to keep from voicing any distress. That was the last thing Nanako needed, and it would only feed into her fear.

"If you really want to be tougher, then you need to face yourself! Accepting that you have a side you don't like isn't the same as being a bad person," he said as the shadow reached its arm up, ready to bring it down for a strike. Yosuke tensed, and then practically grabbed Nanako by the waist and pulled her aside as the hand came crashing down on the spot they'd been before. Debris and surgical trays went flying haphazardly in several directions. Yosuke came to a stop with Nanako on the other side of a gurney. "Accepting that bad side and resolving to change- THAT will make you tougher. That will-"

He paused. He really REALLY didn't want to say it: Maybe Nanako was meant to fight after all. Everything was leading to it: Nanako being in the shadow world, her facing her shadow, her having such a great resolve, and having as close a connection to Souji as Yosuke himself had.

"That will make you strong. Like your big bro. It'll... it'll let you fight like him. And we can find him together..." he said, though the look on his face made it clear he was reluctant to say so at all. And just for a moment, he was thinking of the unused pair of glasses that sat tucked in a pocket inside his jacket, black frames filling his pocket. Just then, something clamped around his ankle and Yosuke found himself being pulled off balance. He turned just in time to bring down his Kunai on the clammy hand, but he was on his back then, being dragged forward.

"Screw you!" He yelled as he was pulled towards the shadow, shattering his tarot and sending a burst of wind towards it.

[Ake00]

((Bumping to the next page to fix glitch))

[Edge_Vanhite2121x]

~*~Yuuki Chariven, the Silent Scholar~*~

Yuuki had been locked up in his personal room for quite some time, studying endlessly until realized how much time had past. He took a glimpse to the window, now covered in rain droplets splashed on the glass. Lightning struck before he was able to hear the static coming from the moderately-sized TV in his room. He then shifted his gaze to the ornate clock hanging in his room.

"Midnight...?" he said aloud, approaching his TV with caution. He had heard about the rumor of the 'Midnight Channel' all too well, but something wasn't right about it. He had always thought of it as someone's lame excuse for a joke, if even considered one.Then... what made him feel so uneasy about this?

As he closed in to inspect whatever his silly TV's problem was, it seems as though something reached out from the screen and grabbed hold of his wrist. "Wh-what!?" he stammered as he struggled to break free from the grip, eyes widened in shock. "Let go of me!!!" he yelled out with all his breath before sinking through, his room now completely uninhabited.

By the time he regained consciousness, he found himself in what he believed to be the Shopping District, but more dark and... distorted. He slowly stood up and brushed himself off somewhat groggy from the fall, noticing his glasses were no longer on his face. He reached out and felt around his surroundings for them, immediately placing them back on. He can see perfectly fine without them; he just doesn't want to intimidate anyone with those fierce eyes of his.

With a little ways of walking, he crouched down to find a small, furry animal. A fox, he hoped it was. The small creature yipped at him, clawing lightly on his slacks with its paws. He wasn't exactly an animal expert, but he could at least get a basic idea of the message it was trying to get across. "Follow you, right?" he tried to comprehend as it scurried away from him. With no other lead or a choice with that matter, he began pacing towards the cub. You better find a way to get me out of here... he said mentally, hoping the message got to the small cub. Just... where am I?

[Ake00]

Yosuke Hanamura

Yosuke came around the corner, hot on the heels of the fox. His eyes were still very watchful for any movement, keenly aware that that letting his guard down increased his chances of getting attacked. It would only take one good hit from behind or one solid blow to the head and he'd be knocked out, with no one to revive him. It was entirely possible that the fox could make an effective teammate in battle, especially since it was no ordinary fox. But it wasn't like he could request the fox fight shadows with him. He decided to take no chances, and focused on watching his own back.

Yosuke jogged behind the fox as it rounded the corner. There, Konishi Liquors came into his vision, still just as dreary, still radiating just as sinister an atmosphere as it always did. He bit his lower lip, hoping that the fox had a reasonable explanation for leading him to a place that he always took great pains to avoid... a place that, for the most part, his old teammates helped him avoid too.

Only this time, his heart nearly stopped beating in his chest. Several yards ahead of him was the familiar figure that made him gasp. In the dim atmosphere, he could make out the gray hair, the straight stature, and even the faint hints of glasses resting on each ear. To further prove his suspicions, a young fox almost identical to the one at Yosuke's heels stood at his side, patiently waiting. His memories stirred.

Unable to stop himself, Yosuke made a mad dash towards the figure he was positive was his missing friend. Yosuke's hand shot out and clamped down tightly on the boy's arm, whipping him around to look him in the eye.

"SOUJI!" Yosuke's expression was one of of hurt, but there was just so much relief behind it that he couldn't hold back a wide smile. "Is that you, partn-"

He trailed off, the words dying on his tongue. Behind those wire framed glasses were not the eyes of his best friend and leader, but a stranger that only mimicked his appearance. Yosuke's face fell, and sank with his heart. Instead of letting the sadness take hold, he let a fierce wave of anger build up inside him and he strode backwards out of reach of the fake-Souji. Yosuke drew his Kunai forward and wielded them threateningly in front of him, anger still pulling his features almost into a sneer.

"Who the hell are you?" Yosuke said. Shadow? he wondered. That was precisely the kind of trick that shadows had loved to play on them. It was an especially cruel trick after wishing so deeply that he could see his friends again. He expected that any moment, this white haired reflection of his friend would turn into the shadow of his own likeness and mock him for the false hope. "You think this is funny?"

[Panic At The NuclearPlant]

Nanako 'Nana' Dojima

The sheep in wolves clothing
Searching for the Wolf
Hiding from the Sheep

The girl giggled and chuckled as she walked around Nanako. It was almost as if Nanako was a zoo animal out for display. The shadow girl snapped her umbrella on the floor, right next to Nanako's legs. '' You're Such a Stupid Girl! Trying so hard! You know alone you can't do aaanything, yet you chased out the only one that could help you! '' she snaped, glaring at Nanako. '' I wonder if anyone will come to save you like they did last time? I think not! Especially after you screamed and yelled at that boy! ''

The Shadow crossed her arms and huffed. '' So unladylike! I swear! You really trying that much to be like your older cousin? '' she asked with a grin. Nanako stared up at the girl in disbelief. How could something like this exist!? The girl was annoying! So annoying! Why did she looked like her, and why was she wearing such a frilly dress?! Nanako hadn't worn anything like that for the past year and a half!

Nanako stood up and stared at the shadow grudgingly. '' Shut up! You don't know anything! '' she shouted out, clenching her fists. The girl grinned, '' Of course I know everything about you! I'm you! And you're a pitiful little girl who can only bark! Bark! And here you are getting kidnapped again! And you're going to have to get rescued....AGAIN! '' snickered the Shadow with a grin.

Nanako clenched her fists, then in a move of pure anger, she moved forward to tackle the girl. '' You're Not Me!!! '' she shouted out as she held down the girl. A grin spread across her face as her eyes glowed. Nanako was thrown to the wall of the blood red hospital. The girl was now getting taller and spinier. It was becoming much much taller and growing much much thinner. The girl had turned into a monster, and was now looming over the petrified Nanako.

Shadow 1 l Shadow 2 l Shadow 3 l

[Edge_Vanhite2121x]

~*~Yuuki Chariven, the Silent Scholar~*~

Yuuki remained calm and unfazed as a hand grabbed onto him, assuming it was whatever dragged him in here the first place. He shifted his eyes towards the figure, glaring from behind his glasses. At first, he wasn't able to see properly due to the dense fog around him, but upon closer inspection it was just a red-head kid who seemed to be a few years older than himself.

Just before he was able to answer the question thrown at him, he was already being threatened with a kunai knife. He stood there, now glaring at the weapon close to his face. "Hands off..." he said coldly as he shoved his arm aside, obviously unamused from the look in his eye. He could have disarmed him if he wished, but he definitely wasn't in the mood to. Who was he? What did he want?

He then let out a heavy sigh and turned his back, wanting to avoid eye contact with the stranger. Why the fox cub led him here? He could really care less. He glanced at the red-head once more before having the thought to make a run for it, even if he wasn't exactly sure where he was or how to get out. "I should be asking you the same thing..." he grunted, adjusting his glasses back in place. "Whose idea of a joke is this?!" his tone began rising as his eyes narrowed, facing the stranger and grabbing him by the collar. "I get dragged out of home, lost in the middle of a distortion and now this! Where the hell am I?" he then loosened his grip, panting after his little rant.

[Ake00]

Yosuke Hanamura

"You're... not a shadow, are you?" he said, though it was more to himself than the Souji-look-alike. Yosuke met Yuuki's cold gaze with just as much discontent, his anger still lingering from when he thought he'd been tricked. It was slowly dawning on Yosuke that he wasn't facing his darker side after all. Yuuki certainly had a cold stare, but it was nothing compared to the eerie golden glow of his shadow's eyes. Yosuke lowered his Kunai, perplexed expression on his face. If this wasn't a shadow then what was it?

Then, it struck him. This was a person. A genuine, normal, very down to earth human. Possibly someone with Persona of his own because how else would he have been able to get into the TV world? He was confused even further when Yuuki insisted on not knowing where he was.

That was when Yuuki reached out to him, grasping his collar in one swift movement that would set any normal person on the defensive. The movement lacked any real malice, the type that most shadows trying to kill him had, so he didn't bother moving out of his reach. Only experience allowed him to tell the difference between murderous intent and a bad temper. While Yuuki was unimpressed by his mistake, and none too pleased at the rough treatment, he wasn't a serious threat. Not the way a shadow was.

"I get dragged out of home, lost in the middle of a distortion and now this! Where the hell am I?"

Yosuke raised his eyebrows at his, fixing his jacket as Yuuki's hands moved away. He gave Yuuki a look, eyes examining him from head to toe thoughtfully. He sounded like he'd been kidnapped and thrown in. With a sigh, Yosuke let his shoulders fall and his Kunai rest loosely in his hands at his sides. His voice was significantly less hostile, and in fact, more sympathetic despite Yuuki's temper. This guy didn't need to be yelled at, he needed to be escorted out and helped. That thought alone curbed his temper, at least a little.

"If you want to know the truth. You're in for a long story. Come on, let's get you out of here, or the place'll start to get to you before long." He was right about to explain how the world could weigh on a person's health, the fox grew tired at being ignored and nipped impatiently at his ankle.

"WHAT? OW?" he cried. "Do ya mind!? I'm trying to be a nice guy here," Instead of understanding Yosuke's point of view, it caught a hold of his pant leg and tugged urgently, almost desperately now before it ran off down the street. While Yosuke was completely used to odd conversations between himself and mystical beings, Yuuki must have thought he was insane.

"What, finding this guy isn't enough?" he said impatiently. The fox only spun an urgent circle around itself and then yipped very testily at him. What more could it have possibly...?

And then a cold dread churned in his stomach. There were two foxes.

The other fox had found this human and had led them to each other. That would have been enough in itself, but the second fox with Yosuke was still leading him somewhere. There was still someone to find.

"... s**t," he hissed under his breath and turned to Yuuki. "Okay, I know you're freaked out and pissed off, but there's some real bad stuff going on here and you wanna stick by my side until we get back."

He broke out into a run after the fox, half turning, "Just follow me for now! Ask questions later! Trust me!"

[Edge_Vanhite2121x]

~*~Yuuki Chariven, the Silent Scholar~*~

Shadow? Get to me? Yuuki thought as he crossed his arms, rather confused at the situation at hand. Just when he wanted answers, a fox similar to the one that found him began nibbling on Yosuke's ankle as if trying to attract his attention.

But, one thing still kept running through his head the moment he arrived in this strange world. What was the purpose of being brought here? he thought over and over like a broken record, contemplating on a suitable reason. It hasn't been a week... but, why am I here?

By the time he came back to his senses, Yosuke seemed to be in a troubled mood, following the small animal that nipped at him earlier. His ears then twitched when he mentioned 'until we get back'. Did he really know a way out of here? However, he was having second thoughts on following a complete stranger.

Especially when he mentioned the word 'trust'. How could he 'trust' him or anyone else? There was only one... and I left her slip through my fingers... he thought as harsh memories began flooding back again. He looked back up, noticing that Yosuke was almost lost in his sights. He hesitated for some time before running off after him, trying to shake off the constant burden on him. Better than staying here, I guess...

[Ake00]

Yosuke Hanamura

Yosuke raced through the fog, eyes on the fox in front of him. It had a very specific destination in mind. There was no time to question, even as they passed by familiar castles and buildings with bright flashing lights, all evoking memories that Yosuke pushed aside in favor of finding the other supposed victim trapped in this world. He hadn't known how long he ran, and spared only occasional glances back to make sure that Yuuki was still with the second fox. He wouldn't get lost as long as he kept with the animal. He just hoped that if they encountered anything dangerous, the fox would have enough sense to keep him back... and Yuuki would have enough sense to listen.

His eyes came upon a looming form of a building, a mockery of a hospital half worn away and twice as warped. He never hesitated to run inside, eyes only catching flashes of red as the fox sped through the hallways and darted down creeping corridors. It turned a final corner, and then the room opened up into a sweeping room filled with gurneys and used surgical equipment. The walls of the hospital were red, sending even more chills up his spine.

Finally, his eyes fell upon the creature moving at the center of the room. Button eyes and a hooked nose turned in his direction at his arrival. Yosuke's eyes moved across the way, only to land on a smaller young woman leaning against the wall, horrified.

"Nanako!?" He ran forward, Kunai brandished and tarot ready in his hand to call Jiraiya if needed. He ran to her side, coming to a stop beside her and intinctively standing in between her and her shadow. "Are you okay!?"

He paused, looking at the odd creature. His eyes never left it, trained on what he knew was a dangerous threat, measuring its strength as well as he could without Rise or Teddie. His voice was dead serious. "Nanako is... is that just a shadow...? Or is that yours?"

[Panic At The NuclearPlant]

Nanako 'Nana' Dojima

The sheep in wolves clothing
Searching for the Wolf
Hiding from the Sheep

The shadow grinned as it tapped the tile around Nanako repeatability. Nanako was covering her ears as it screeched out loudly. It wanted to make the girl suffer. It lashed out, cutting the girls arm as she raised it up to defend herself. It's not me...It's not me....It's not me...It can't be me! she thought, repeating it over and over and over in her mind as she trembled.

As Yosuke ran into the room, running towards her and standing between her and the shadow that was screeching out loudly in a high pitched giggle. It's fingers where clicking together like metal banging together. '' I-I'm fine! '' she stuttered, her face red with fear and shame. Here she was being rescued again! Why couldn't she defend herself! Why was she always the one being rescued!?

Her eyes opened wide as Yosuke asked if it was hers. Of course she wanted to scream out it wasn't, but what would that do!? It had to be hers... But still.. '' It's Not Mine! I-It's not me! '' she cried out, grabbing her head, trying ot block out all the noise. She didn't want to be here! She wanted to be in Elemtary again! With her big bro!

The shadow looked towards Yosuke, quickly lashing out it's long slender fingers with the hopes of grabbing the boy and bringing him towards it.

[Edge_Vanhite2121x]

~*~Yuuki Chariven, the Silent Scholar~*~

Yuuki struggled as he tried to keep his sight on the fox cub he had been following, eyes squinting as he ran though the fog. ...This is no ordinary fog... he automatically assumed, having difficulty with the low visibility provided with it. One would need a katana to cut through this s**t...

As the fog began to clear, he stopped as his eyes manage to catch sight on what he believed to be a hospital. Great... he growled. As if this place is already twisted enough... He looked around as he searched out the fuzzy animal, noticing it was headed straight towards the distorted building. Seeing that he had no other choice available, he went ahead and followed the cub to the end.

By the time the fox stopped, he wound up in a ruined room where several figures could be found. The red-head he met earlier, a young girl who seems to be suffering and the last one really took the cake. "Wha-What is that thing?!" he stammered, laying his eyes on the creature as one would consider a 'monster'. "The hell's going on?!"

[Ake00]

Yosuke Hanamura

His expression never changed after Nanako insisted she was fine, because he could read the signs. Every posture, every tense muscle, every sharp movement told Yosuke she was terrified. He turned his back to Nanako slightly, nudging her behind him protectively.

"Nanako, it's gonna be okay," Yosuke insisted. He couldn't believe himself. He'd blindly asked her without explaining what the shadow was. He'd just assumed that she had understood Shadows, but it had been two years ago and she had most likely tried to block out the incident. After all, he had gone through the same time and tried to block out his. "I know its scary, but that thing's a part of you. If you keep denying what it's saying, keep insisting it isn't you, and it's just gonna get worse."

Yosuke brought the headphones around the base of his neck up to his ears and placed one hand into his jacket where his music player fit snugly. He pressed the play button and let the beats take over. He was completely different after that, no longer the clumsy, teenager of the real world, but a seasoned fighter in a surreal one. He assumed an offensive position, tossing his Kunai into the air and catching it to the beat.

"You're not alone. We've all been through it too." he explained, just as the menacing shadow reached out its wiry hand towards him. It was getting angrier by the minute, giving off a menacing aura of blue smoke as it heaved and grew.

"Stay back!" he yelled at Yuuki in the doorway, just as the hand crept inches away from Yosuke's face. Right before the touch reached him, Yosuke flipped his tarot up into the air and brought down his Kunai onto it. The tarot shattered and the glittering form of Jiraiya sprung forth into the air.

Sonic punch! he thought, and the attack went flying.

[Panic At The NuclearPlant]

Nanako 'Nana' Dojima

The sheep in wolves clothing
Searching for the Wolf
Hiding from the Sheep

Nanako stared up at Yosuke as he spoke to her. Telling her it was going to be okay. Did he see the giant thing in front of them!? She sure did! And it obviously wasn't her! Nanako was not that tall, or scary! She wished she could be taller and more threatening, but she knew it would never happen.

It wasn't her! It was not her. It could not be her. She stared up at the shadow silently as it was lunging towards Yosuke. As Yosuke yelled to a boy with white hair who was standing in the door way, Nanako flinched. There was another kid there!? That wasn't good!

The shadow cried out as it was hit by the Persona. That wasn't suppose to happen! The girl was suppose to get what she deserved! The Shadow hissed as it let out a high pitched scream, it would cause damage to all in the area. '' I-It's not me.. Yosuke... I want to be tougher.. but not scary... it's not me... '' muttered Nanako as she looked at the floor, refused to let her eyes meet the shadow's.