Awkward Christmas (Rei no Kaado)

[mugenginga]

Anzu frowned at Jounouchi, but it seemed by this point she was fighting to stay mad at him. The girl was still clearly depressed, but she wasn't angry at him. She turned and looked at Adachi for a final time as he turned onto the second floor. Jounouchi walked down beside her and she followed him as the blond headed down the stairs. Atsuro wouldn't be spoken to again unless he spoke.

----------

Teddie looked up in surprise as Souji ran out of the kitchen. It was likely he hadn't meant to be rough when he grabbed Izanami, but his panic meant he had grabbed with enough force that you could see he was pressing into her skin even through the sweater. She almost fell at the reverse force, but managed to stay upright with a stumble. Teddie's eyes widened as Souji yelled at her.

"Y-You're trying to kill Adachi-baby!?"

As Souji had lectured her, Izanami's expression hadn't changed. She didn't seem to be holding much in the way of any emotion. The common interpretation of flat emotions was that of calm anger. It was probably the closest to the accurate emotion. Izanami looked down at Souji's arm and seemed to be in thought. She nodded her head and put her her free hand on Souji's wrist.

"If it was anyone else, I'd call them a fool," she sounded fairly calm, "I won't let him kill you, but do what you can."

Teddie blinked. Had... had that just gone way too easy. He shook his head and glared at her. Why was she being so nice now?

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji still looked worried as Izanami put her hand on his wrist. But he nodded at her words. She believed he could convince Izanagi to stop this, and that was good enough for him. This was the same goddess who had tried to turn all of humanity into shadows because she thought she knew what they really wanted. If she trusted in him that much...

"Thank you," Souji said, and removed his hand before walking past Izanami and pulling the door open himself. He spotted Izanagi walking down the hallway and walked out into the hallway, cutting him off. Izanagi gave Souji a look that told Souji he was still trying to mimic Adachi, but at the same time, it was noticeably off in the same way it usually was when Souji saw him.

"Oh, it's you. What do you want?" Izanagi asked. Izanagi looked between Souji and the doorway, where he spotted Izanami. So she had been here. And she'd dressed all nice for the little failure after all, how nice of her.

"For starters, why don't you get out of Adachi's body and back in mine?" Souji said with a smirk. Izanagi smirked and dropped any mimicking of Adachi he'd been attempting. There wasn't much of an expression difference.

"Took you long enough to realize I was here, you stupid Shadow," Izanagi taunted. He looked over toward Izanami again. "You're so much of a failure you've fallen for Izanami too, hm? How cute. And you didn't seem so eager to have me in your body before. No, you were fighting it with every ounce of your being, to the point of even forcing yourself to go berserk and force me out at one point. I bet Nyx's avatar's success at throwing her off gave you a bit more hope, hm? That you could finally become your own person instead of just some piece of a god?"

Souji just let Izanagi rant. He wasn't sure why the god wasn't trying to just kill him now. He would have thought Izanami's presence had something to do with things, but that didn't seem very likely. He looked toward her for a second before turning back toward Izanagi.

"Izanagi, I'm sorry."

Izanagi stopped in the middle of another sentence of angry ranting and frowned. "About what?"

"It was wrong for me to get mad at you over all of those little things. I was frustrated, and the stress of the coming Fall just made me lash out at you," Souji said. That was what he needed to start out with, the incident that had led Izanagi to leave his body in the first place. He could move on from there.

[mugenginga]

Izanami looked mildly surprised as Souji thanked her. A slight flush raised on her cheeks, which she didn't seem aware of. She was aware of Teddie glaring at her, but she didn't acknowledge it. She let Souji walk out into the hall to confront the magnified negative emotions of her brother. She took a few steps forward, enough that Izanagi could see her when he looked into the apartment. Teddie was on his feet and had his card out. The only reason Izanami looked calmer was hundreds of years of emotional control. And the expression as dangerously flat, and the fire in her eyes was clearly directed towards Izanagi.

That flat expression went to a glare as Izanagi spit out the "how cute" comment. As he went on, she smirked. Piece of a god? Souji was more his own person than this aspect of Izanagi was. After all, all "Magatsu" Izanagi consisted of was the magnified violent emotions. There was fear there, too. The "fight" response of flight, so the more violent aspect of it, but fear nonetheless. She took another few steps forward and Magatsu Izanagi would sense her aura flare. She had full intentions of attacking him as soon as he raised a finger against Souji. Teddie gave her an untrusting expression and stepped forward along with her.

All in all, it was a very tense silence.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Izanagi moved to glaring at Souji as he finished up. "You think this is what this is about? Because you got a little pissy at me? This is because you didn't do what you were supposed to. You didn't just give in and fade away like you should have." He looked toward Izanami as he felt her energy flare up. He gave a smirk.

"So defensive of your boyfriend, aren't you, Izanami? Well, another reason you're such a failure. That stupid bitch fell in love with you," Izanagi growled. He pulled Adachi's gun from its holster and pointed it at Souji, who tensed and took a step back. He gulped and continued speaking.

"It's not just because of that. I haven't exactly been hospitable to you since you first appeared. And you're right, I did refuse to fade away. I didn't want any of this, and you just made an already bad situation worse. But I know now I can't get away from any of this," Souji said. "I'm willingly accepting you back, Izanagi! Can't you listen to me?!"

Izanagi returned to scowling at Souji. "It's too late for that. Even if I did return to your body, your essence is too stubborn to fade away, and your friends, as well as that infatuated goddess, will just react with anger if I beat you out of existence like I should. I'm done talking." He began to close his finger on the trigger...

...and then suddenly turned his gun toward Izanami. Before Souji could react, he pulled the trigger on the gun.

[mugenginga]

Izanami's eyes widened as Izanagi took out Adachi's gun. She took several steps forward and was standing in the doorway as Souji started speaking again. She only stopped because he'd begun to speak again, and her brother hadn't fired the gun. Teddie was effectively blocked from getting out. Neither he nor "Mana" were that large, but her pose pretty much took up the whole doorway.

The "infatuated goddess" was running forward as she saw the finger pull down on the trigger. The speed at which she was moving to knock the gun out of Izanagi's hand was a speed at which no human could track. Izanagi, however, could track it just fine despite the limitations of Adachi's frame. There was a bang, and Izanami's eyes widened.

Her knees hit the ground with normal speed. Her hand went up to her chest with normal speed. She turned her head after looking at the blood on it with normal speed. She looked at Souji with an expression of pure shock at normal speed. It didn't feel like normal speed to the goddess or her avatar. It probably wouldn't feel like normal speed to Souji, and it sure as hell didn't to Teddie, who was frozen with shock.

_"S-Souji..."

And then she fell.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

The world seemed to slow down as the bullet hit. That was the only way to describe how it felt to Souji, because every bit, every detail of what had just happened was etched into his head. She gave her last stuttered out word, and then she fell, and then everything felt like it was moving normally again. His mind didn't start cooperating until she hit the ground.

"Mana!"

He stared down at her still form for a few moments before looking toward Izanagi, his expression one of pure hate. His eyes were shining a bright yellow as he rushed at Izanagi and punched him in the face. Izanagi didn't have a chance at dodging as Souji rushed him, and he didn't want to in the first place. What began was what could only be described as a no holds barred beatdown.

"You fucking bastard! You fucking bastard!" Souji screamed. Izanagi was taking the hits, but at the same time he was blocking just enough of them to keep from being beaten into a bloody pulp.

"Haha, what happened to your insistence on life, Shadow? This is just how you reacted when she killed all of your little friends, too!" Izanagi taunted. "You care about the bitch who tried to kill you that much?"

"Shut the hell up!" Souji screamed. His hits got even harder, and Izanagi realized that Souji was getting too strong for him to handle. Time for plan B, it seemed. For the first time in nearly two weeks, he allowed Adachi dominance. Adachi woke up disoriented, confused, and being beaten into a bloody pulp by Seta. He threw up his arms to try to block the oncoming punches, but a sweeping kick knocked him off balance.

"Seta, what the hell are you--"

"Shut the hell up!" Souji screamed. Adachi fell back onto the ground, and he looked terrified. He didn't know what was going on, he didn't even know how long he'd been out. But one thing he knew for sure was that Seta was going to kill him.

[mugenginga]

It hadn't been more than a few minutes since Jounochi had left to take care of Anzu. Both Yuugi and Atem were putting clothes away when a sudden sound reminded them how thin the walls tended to be. They didn't transmit everything, but a gun shot didn't qualify as the world's quietest sound. And given the last time there had been a gun shot... was that yelling? Was that Souji yelling?

Atem and Yuugi looked at each other for a brief moment before they were both heading out of their apartment.

----------

Teddie had been looking at the silver haired woman on the ground. He wanted Izanami to go away and never bother them again. It was quite possible he hated her, hated what she had done to his home. But this... was far too much. He wanted her gone, not... dead. Was she dead? Was she really dead? Teddie looked back up at Souji, and it hit him that the teenager wasn't stopping.

"S-Sensei! Stop, you're going to kill him! Sensei!"

Teddie ran up and tried to grab one of Souji's arms.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji only barely heard Teddie's words, and even then, he didn't stop. Izanagi was going to pay for this. He was going to kill Adachi if he had to. It was a good thing Teddie had grabbed him then, because by now Adachi was barely conscious. Souji tried to jerk his arm away from Teddie.

"Let go of me!" Souji yelled. "He's going to pay for what he did! Dammit, if I have to beat that stupid god out of him, I'll do it!"

Adachi was cowering against the wall. He still had no idea what the hell was going on. There was a dead woman on the floor over there, and Seta was pissed... She almost looked like some relative of Seta's, almost like... oh shit.

And hadn't Lucifer said he was going to protect him from Seta? Maybe he hadn't protected him last time, but nothing had happened last time... well something was happening now!

[mugenginga]

Teddie was pretty much hugging Souji's right arm for the grip. When Souji yelled at him to let go, he only grabbed on tighter. He even added to it by throwing his weight down. Souji would pretty much have to drag the blond across the floor to get any movement now. Teddie looked up at Souji, his fear and panic clear on his face.

"You didn't kill Adachi-baby in the TV World before! You didn't kill Nametame even though he pushed Nanako-chan into the TV World! You have to stop this, this isn't you!"

"A-Adachi-san!?"

Yuugi had stopped and looked in horror at the battered policeman on the ground. He didn't even note the two prongs of the Ring sticking out of his pocket. It was likely pure luck that had saved Adachi from stabbing himself. Atem had slipped past and actually made it onto the actual floor and his eyes widened as he saw Souji. The teenager's eyes were yellow, and Teddie was latched onto him, begging him to stop. The situation quickly fell into place.

"Souji-kun, snap out of it!" Atem shouted. He was worried but his voice was fairly firm.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Teddie's words were only barely registering in Souji's head, and even with what he was actually hearing, he was continuing to struggle against Teddie's grip. This wasn't him? He didn't understand what Teddie was saying. He didn't even notice Yuugi and Atem's arrival on their floor until Atem yelled at him to snap out of it.

Souji looked between Yuugi and Atem, Adachi, and Teddie, and slowly the yellow color faded from his eyes and his expression changed to horror. He didn't even know what he'd just done. Izanagi had killed Izanami, he'd gotten angry, and he'd attacked Izanagi, and now Adachi was cowering on the floor.

"W-What...? But I..." Souji looked back at the terrified Teddie again, and then back toward Adachi.

"You're fucking psycho! What the hell's wrong with you!?" Adachi cried as he scrambled to his feet. He was getting out of here. He didn't even realize he had the Ring, much less that it was sticking out of his pocket.

[mugenginga]

Atem didn't relax as Souji went lax. His eyes moved to Izanami's still body and then over to Souji. There was an eerie silence of calm about him as he did that. Yuugi had been heading over to Adachi when the man got to his feet. Atem looked at Izanami again, noting that her back wasn't moving like a breathing body should. He moved quickly and stood at the stairs, blocking Adachi's path. Adachi had just shot someone, and there were two witnesses. He wouldn't get out of it so easily this time.

"Partner, go into Souji-kun's apartment and call an ambulance and then the police," he stated.

Yuugi's eyes widened. What exactly had made Atem jump to that of all things? He headed down the stairs a bit more and one could hear his breath draw in as he saw Izanami's body. She... wasn't... she wasn't moving. The short teenager paled and looked at Atem. He looked like a deer trapped in headlights.

"S-Sensei..." Teddie relaxed his grip as he saw the yellow fade from Souji's eyes.

"Partner, go!" There wasn't time to argue this. Adachi was already panicking, and there was a chance he would shoot someone again.

Teddie released Souji and got back into a standing position using the wall. He looked at Izanami's body. He wanted her out of their hair, but dead...? Was it that easy to kill a god? He didn't think so. Killing Ryoji would have just made them forget, right? But that didn't change how still her body was. Yuugi had managed to talk himself into moving at Atem's words. He ran past Souji and Teddie, heading into the apartment. Adachi hadn't seemed so willing to just... shoot someone...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Adachi looked even more trapped as Atem moved in front of the stairs. That Mana chick was dead on the floor over there, everyone seemed to think he was the one who'd killed her... maybe he had killed her, or rather that Izanagi guy had. He was pretty sure he'd remember shooting a chick in the heart like that.

Souji didn't react much as Yuugi ran past him. He just looked up and followed Yuugi with his eyes before looking back at Atem again. He seemed tired, but on the other hand, he'd just gone pretty literally berserk on Adachi. It was natural for him to feel tired like that. One thing he realized now was that this wasn't Adachi's fault. This was Izanagi's, and Izanagi wouldn't rest until he was dead.

"Don't bother calling the police. It's not Adachi's fault," Souji said. He looked back over at Adachi. "It's not his fault Izanagi's using his body to try to kill me. Izanami just got caught up in the crossfire..."

Which still wasn't true. Izanagi had specifically targeted Izanami, and the way he'd done it made Souji think he'd made it look like he was shooting him to make Izanami freak the way she had.

[mugenginga]

Yuugi paused a few steps into the apartment. He still had to call the cops, but Souji was saying he shouldn't call the police? There was probably going to be questions as to how Izanami had gotten shot in the chest like that. He shook his head and continued towards the phone. He could ask questions after he got the ambulance called. If there was any chance of her living, it would come with the ambulance.

Atem looked towards Souji as he spoke. Izanagi? If it was that simple for Izanagi to jump bodies, he had to wonder why the god hadn't done it previously. The hows seemed to be linked to the Personas of the two of them, although in Souji's case it was the dominant one. He shook his head as Souji told him they didn't have to call the police. A cautious eye turned to Adachi for a moment before he focused his full attention back on Souji. Teddie, in the meantime, had crouched down next to the body of Izanami's avatar. He didn't know about things like pulses and such, but holding his hand in front of her face wasn't coming up with anything.

"S-sensei... I think... I think..."

I think she's dead...

"Souji-kun, you said that Adachi was responsible for the deaths of two women before, right? He needs to be behind bars, and whether it was him or not it was his body. Even if they can't keep Izanagi there, if he's a known murderer..."

Of course, Atem was unaware of a rather important fact. Takahashi knew about Adachi's previous "indiscretions". He knew he'd killed two women, having gotten it out of the man after finding him in prison clothes. About the only chance they stood was Takahashi's growing grudge against the man. Still, the former Pharaoh was unaware of it. Maybe it was a misuse of the criminal justice system, but...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji moved to glaring at Atem as he spoke. It was obvious to Souji Atem was just using this as an excuse to get Adachi back behind bars. Souji couldn't deny that he would love to see Adachi where he belonged instead of roaming free like this, but putting him in jail now wouldn't do anything. If that happened, Magatsu Izanagi would either just break him out or vacate his body, most likely to return to Souji's own body and then force him to die some other way.

"So you're saying that Adachi should be arrested again because of the crimes of the one possessing him? If that's the case, then shouldn't Yuugi be arrested too? You killed people while in his body before!" Souji yelled back at Atem.

At the same time, he kept glancing back at Izanami. A twitch, a breath, anything that would show she was still alive. Wasn't she a goddess? Wasn't she immortal? She'd said she'd be fine from those burns before, so couldn't she heal from a gunshot wound?!

Adachi was pressed up against the wall. They were arguing about taking him to jail. He didn't want to go back there, and hell, he didn't even remember shooting that Mana chick! His stupid Persona must have done it. He didn't even know what Seta had done to cause his Persona to possess him, but he didn't like it and he wanted this stupid bastard out.

[mugenginga]

Atem had already opened his mouth to argue with Souji. No, he shouldn't be put in jail because of the one possessing him. But to Atem's knowledge, the man had killed two women before. Souji had said as much, after all. If they could use this to put the man where he belonged, it seemed worth it. However, no words had time to escape as Souji made the point of the early days after Yuugi had solved the Puzzle.

The former Pharaoh's eyes widened and for about half a second a strangled sound came out. Souji had managed to incite a reaction of pure shock from the teenager. It wasn't so much that he had pulled Yuugi into the argument, but it was the reminder of things he knew he'd never be able to forget. He could run in circles with how both deaths had been necessary. That man would have likely ended up shooting someone, and it had come down to the soul of Yuugi or his classmate when it came to those dragons.

Besides that, even if he could argue those two had to die, it didn't excuse the other cases. How many people were permanently broken because of the Dark Games? The Egyptian teenager turned his head away, the shame apparent on his face. Nothing he could say rang as a valid argument. Even if the actions had been fueled by Yuugi's own emotions, his partner would have never gone as far as he did. He didn't even notice Yuugi approach the doorway again.

"I called the ambulance. They didn't ask questions, but they're probably going to want to know how she got shot..."

Teddie was staring at Izanami's body. He looked up a few times just as Souji turned back away from Izanami. No further blood was flowing from Izanami's wound, and it had been going rather fast for a few minutes there...