Izanami-sama no Tatari (Invite Only)

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Adachi took a few more steps forward, turned around to say something to Anpu, only to find he was gone. "Ah, crap."

-------------

Naoto thought about that for a moment. "I guess it's possible in theory, but I've never considered it." She suddenly turned her head as she heard footsteps. Souji was walking back toward the group, and while he didn't seem to be happy, he didn't look anywhere near as sick as he had before.

"Sorry about before," Souji said.

"What was up with you before, anyway?" Minato asked.

"Nothing, I just kind of zoned out," Souji said.

"Like hell. Everyone here knows that your 'it's nothing's are as meaningless as everyone else's," Minato said. It looked like things were about to get tense again when Souji looked to the side.

"There's Kanji and Atem," he said. He really could only see Kanji, but if Kanji was there, Atem couldn't be that far behind.

-----------------

Kanji scanned the crowd, and nodded. "Yeah, they're all by the Takoyaki stand."

He started working his way through the crowd, trying to make his way down to the Takoyaki stand.

[mugenginga]

Teddie opened his mouth, but Minato got his question out first. The blond was a bit grateful for the interupption, in all honesty. He didn't want to bother Souji, but he was still concerned.

Kanji had always had a... presence. It was part of why he got teased so much for his hobbies. It wasn't just his gender, after all. It made it easy for both he and Atem to get back to the group. Yuugi was still thinking about that. They could talk to their Personas? He'd come up with his idea about Souji because Izanagi seemed to be something more than a Persona. He dropped that train of thought as he saw Atem. Atem was thinking about something...

"Anpu is up to something," he started with, "Naoto, how much do you know about poisons?"

If that didn't get the group's attention, nothing word. Ryoji had come out of his own mind and jerked his head up. Had Atem said poisons?

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Naoto could tell there was something on Atem's mind; the question Atem asked had confirmed things.

"Only what I've read in books. Are Adachi and Anpu planning to poison someone?"

"That Anpu guy was asking Adachi about some kind of paralyzing poison... something that would keep whoever got poisoned from moving, but so they could still see what was going on," Kanji explained.

"I have heard of some like that... but I couldn't give you a name," Naoto said.

...Shit, Souji thought to himself. Hey, is this the danger you kept yelling at me about?

It would seem so.

It would 'seem?' You're not too omniscient for a god. Souji thought back. By this point, everyone else would be able to see that distant look on his face again, like he wasn't all there.

I am the same as you; our knowledge is tied. I can only know things that you would know yourself if you only tapped into your own latent abilities.

Shut up. Souji ordered. Izanagi didn't speak again, so Souji was at least glad that he had listened. This was still bad. If he was right, Anpu was after him, not Atem like everyone else was probably thinking.

"A paralyzing poison? The only thing I can think that would be used for is torture," Minato said.

[mugenginga]

Yuugi had paled at Kanji's suggestion. And then Minato brought up what he was thinking. It wasn't beyond Anpu by any means to use something like that on Atem. Ryoji wasn't sure to be relieved or apalled that Anpu was after poison with a goal other than death. He made his decision on appalled when Minato brought up his suggestion.

Atem glanced over at Souji. He'd never seen Souji with that look before. He had to set things in priority at the moment. He turned back to Naoto.

"He said he'd prefer something liquid that was undetectable by the senses if placed in something. What bothers me even more, however, is that I'm fairly sure he knew he was being trailed," Atem looked very nervous, "I think someone other than myself is the target. Knowing Anpu, he probably meant it as a warning."

"Who else would he be after?" Yuugi asked.

Atem closed his eyes. Considering Anpu's hatred towards him, he could come up with a possibility. He didn't want to admit it. For one, he wasn't good at holding himself back when situations like that occurred. And he sure as hell didn't want anyone to suffer to get to him.

"Sensei, are you talking to Izanagi!?"

Well... that was one way to get to the point...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji had been watching the proceedings silently, or at least what he hadn't missed thanks to Izanagi, until Teddie spoke. Souji saw all eyes suddenly come on him; both Naoto and Minato weren't looking too surprised, but Kanji looked confused.

"Wait, talkin' to his Persona? What?" Kanji asked.

"...Yeah, I was. He keeps warning me about me being in danger... I think this is it," Souji said. He had to wonder how they had figured that out. Talking to one's Persona didn't seem like the logical choice when it came to a question of someone suddenly zoning out like that.

"Wait, what do you mean he was talking to Izanagi?" Kanji repeated.

"Sempai, I'm not going to ask why you didn't tell us Izanagi started talking to you, but if you're right, then that means Anpu wants you for some reason," Naoto said. She turned around and started thinking. "...I can't think of a reason why Anpu would go after you besides it being a favor for Adachi, though."

[mugenginga]

Ryoji looked at Kanji, "It's over my head too. Apparently because Persona are accepted Shadows, they're seperate enough entities that you can have conversations with them. That's what Teddie said."

Teddie fidgeted, "But in most cases I think they're too similar to us to have anything constructive to say..."

"I don't think Adachi likes him. Eliminating that choice, I can only come up with one thing," Atem said. It was a bit dark, "He's trying to make some kind of point. From what he and Adachi-san said, he's done something to his upper arm that made it bleed, all to 'put Bakura in his place'. I can't figure why he picked Souji to focus on either, though."

_{"...I'm surprised he didn't pick me."}

Atem's eyes widened an he jerked his head towards Yuugi. He opened his mouth but didn't find the words to express his surpise. He understood why Yuugi had gone there, but not how he'd thought of it. Atem had gone there himself. Anpu knew about their relationship. Yuugi was also the smallest. Even if he knew Yuugi could stand up to more than it seemed, it didn't change the fact he looked the weakest.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji looked away for two reasons. One was the "Izanagi talking" thing. Normally, Souji would have thought Teddie had the right idea... except it was Izanagi who had spoken first. While Personas seemed to have a degree of autonomy, they didn't seem to have enough to start a conversation. Otherwise all of them probably would have spoken to their Personas before if a Persona could do that.

The second thing was the Bakura's arm bleeding thing, which Souji did know the reason behind.

"I passed by Anpu earlier. He cut Bakura's arm open with a knife while I was watching," Souji said.

"I bet Bakura knows what's going on... if there was a way to ask Bakura without Anpu finding out or taking dominance, we'd probably be able to answer a lot of our questions," Minato said. He looked over at Naoto. "What's up?"

"Something's bothering me, about when we found Anpu and Ryoji. There aren't any bathrooms on that end of the grounds. Which means that Anpu was heading that way for a reason," Naoto said. This was true even considering he'd been being chased by Ryoji earlier. Ryoji obviously hadn't been in the main festival area, or there would have been a huge panic. "Anpu would have known we were going to see Izanami, if he can hear things through Bakura."

[mugenginga]

"It did seem odd how easily we got lost," Ryoji said, "Bakura was really stressing he'd gotten the directions, too. He apologized right before he... well, Anpu clocked me."

Teddie looked confused at Naoto's comment, "How is that important?"

"Oh god," Yuugi said as soon as Naoto finished. Actually, a lot of the comments were falling on top of each other. Everyone went quiet at Yuugi, though, who had turned with his wide eyes towards Souji, "The myth of Izanagi and Izanami. If she considers you the same as Izanagi and after revenge, you could be in a lot of danger!"

Atem glanced at Souji as Yuugi finished. He didn't know the myth of Izanagi and Izanami, but he didn't doubt his Partner, either. What threw him though, was why Anpu would be helping Izanami with that. On the theory that he had gone. to see Izanami, Anpu would have been after something. He wasn't the type to do something without getting something he considered to be of equal or greater worth in return.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

And then Souji went pale. He wasn't sure he felt safe hanging around this festival now.

"I think it might be a good idea to head back home now," Souji said. Naoto nodded.

"Adachi has been here the whole time we've been here, which implies he's been here since early this morning. His shift would be ending soon, and he'd be heading back to the station soon. Not only that, but if Izanami is really after Souji, then she may try to take him herself," Naoto said.

"Wait, what about Bakura?" Minato asked.

"At this point I doubt Anpu will allow Bakura any control at all. We could just tell whoever the head officer is here to tell Bakura we had to leave without him," Naoto suggested.

[mugenginga]

"...Naoto's right. Bakura is stronger than he seems, I doubt Anpu would let him any autonomy if he knows what's going on. I'm bothered by what Anpu is getting in return, but we can discuss that later."

"That really bothers me too..." Yuugi said.

"We'll protect you, Sensei!" Teddie insisted.

"I feel like laying down, anyways," said Ryoji. He was always laying down lately, but now that he wanted to know what the group couldn't tell him, maybe the dreams would make themselves clearer.

He looked a bit pained. He believed Souji that the information was bad. He believed that bad things would happen if he learned. But it wouldn't leave him alone. He would keep his word to never bring it up again, he he had to know. It had passed want. And looking back, he realized he skirted it the closest in his dreams.

"Who is going to ask the message be delivered to Bakura? I think that man who was smoking before might be in charge here."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

"I'll do--" Kanji was cut off by Naoto suddenly cutting in.

"I go tell Takahashi-san. I met him before while I was investigating that death at the mall," Naoto said. She turned to Kanji. "Kanji-kun, while I appreciate your willingness to help, I doubt Takahashi-san will trust you too much. Remember, you scare off on-duty officers without even trying."

Kanji looked away. Yeah, he had scared off a lot of officers in his time.

"Alright, Naoto, you go do that," Souji said. Naoto ran off toward where she had seen Takahashi earlier.

He was walking nearby a rather foul smelling bush, shaking his head at it. Naoto approached the man.

"Excuse me," Naoto said. Takahashi turned around.

"Eh? Oh, I remember you. Say, you wouldn't happen to have seen that silver-haired friend of yours, would you?" Takahashi asked.

"Why do you ask?" Naoto inquired. Takahashi gave a small laugh.

"Wanted to see if he's still alive," Takahashi said. Naoto narrowed her eyes.

"In any case, would you mind delivering a message for me to another friend of mine?" Naoto asked. "We were looking for him earlier, but we can't seem to find him anywhere."

"I don't see why not. What does this friend of yours look like?"

"He has white hair, and he's wearing a blue and white striped shirt and a black trenchcoat," Naoto said. "Tell him that something came up and we had to head home early."

"Alright. Now move along, and tell that friend of yours that if he has to throw up that badly to do it in the bathroom instead of out here where everyone can see it," Takahashi said as Naoto turned to leave. When did...? She shuddered and started walking away even faster.