Chapter 12

"Yu, can I talk to you about some things?" Ruby asked.

Yu had been listening to his friends discuss some potential battle strategies with the other members of Team RWBY. Their combined wind and fire attack had opened their eyes to new possibilities. "Sure, what's on your mind?" Yu replied.

"Actually, I'd like to talk in private if you don't mind." Ruby said.

"That's fine." Yu said. "Want to get some coffee?"

"Sure." Ruby answered.

"I'm really glad Blake and Yang are okay." Yu said. He sipped his coffee. It was not quite like the coffee he was used to, but this café was good enough. "I know how hard it is to see the people you love in pain." So far he was wondering why Ruby had insisted on speaking privately. Small talk was not exactly something to hide.

"I was actually going to ask you about that." Ruby said. Yu noticed that she had not touched her coffee. "We both got knocked out in that fight, and our friends had to fight without us. They got pretty beat up. When I came to, I was so disappointed in myself. I'm supposed to be their leader, and I was just lying there while they were fighting for their lives. My sister almost died. I feel so guilty. If I was a better fighter, they might not have had to go through that." She had tears in her eyes. "The same thing happened to you, but you just took it in stride. You're so strong. How do you do it?"

"I'm not that strong." Yu said. "My strength comes from my friends. I'd be nothing without them. I rely on them the same way they rely on my. If one of them is knocked out of the fight, I have to take up the slack. If I'm knocked out, I trust they'll do the same for me. The best thing you can do for your friends is to set them up so they can succeed without you. The leader is important, but so is everyone else. Removing one piece from the team shouldn't make the whole thing collapse." He was not sure he had actually answered her question. Ruby still looked sad. "We got our asses kicked, but we still won." He was a bit worried that sounded like something Kanji would say, but he was going for a pep talk here. "Your sister, your teammates and mine had the strength to overcome the challenge, even without their leaders. I think you've done a great job as a leader. You inspire them. They can't help but admire you, and I feel the same way."

"Thanks, I needed that." Ruby said, managing to smile. "I can see why everyone likes you so much. You always seem to know exactly what to say." She took the first sip of her coffee. It must have been cold by now. "So, are you actually dating all the girls?"

"It's complicated." Yu explained. "It's not as if I set out to make that the case, it sort of just happened. Chie always wanted to protect people, but I helped give her the confidence she needed to actually take a path that could let her do that. With my encouragement she decided to try to become a police officer. Yukiko felt helpless, but I helped show that she could do things on her own, but critically, that she didn't have to. She thought she wanted to run away, but I helped her see that was not what she really wanted. Rise couldn't figure out what kind of person she really was or what she wanted to do with her life. I helped her see she that there was no one real her, and that by leaving her career as an idol, she was running away from what she loved. With her I'm not sure it mattered, she seemed pretty…friendly from the moment we met. I helped Naoto come to terms with the fact that she's a girl. She felt like it was a problem because she wanted to be a tough detective, and her gender didn't fit the image. I think I'm the only person she feels comfortable talking with about her feelings."

"Wow." Ruby said. "That seems like a lot of work if you weren't even trying to date them."

"It's worth noting that I helped the guys out too." Yu defended himself. "I care about them all. They're my friends, and I'd do anything I can to help them. Romantic relationships are a pleasant side-effect. I can't imagine they're unaware of the situation too. I'd never hide anything from any of them, and I'd never intentionally hurt any of them. Unfortunately, I'm leaving town soon, so we'll be separated from each other. That's going to be tough for all of us." He frowned. "At least we got to have one more adventure together, and I feel like you and the rest of your team are my friends now too. You're an amazing person, and I'm quite happy I had the privilege of meeting you."

"You're something else." Ruby concluded. "I don't think I've ever met anyone like you." She took a sip of her coffee. Her facial expression suddenly changed and she almost did a spit-take. "Are we on a date now?!" She blurted out with alarm.

"Only if you want it to be." Yu said.

"Man you're smooth." Ruby said. She was blushing. "Uh, I think it's time we rejoined the others."

"Did I make this awkward?" Yu asked.

"No, I think I did." Ruby replied. "Let's just go back; I have some things to think about."

"I must thank you both for coming." Theodore said. "There has been an interesting development in regards to your powers. When Yang awakened her Persona, Ruby awakened a completed bond of the Empress arcana. You now both have access to the Persona Isis."

"The same sort of thing happened when the rest of my team got their Personas." Ruby said. "Why call us here for this?"

"That is not the interesting part." Theodore replied. "It seems you have awakened an incomplete bond of the Fool as well. Given the friendship you two now share, this is no surprise. What is a surprise is the result. Ruby, you now have access to the Persona Izanagi."

"That's my Persona." Yu said in surprise. "That's impossible."

"It seems that it is not." Theodore continued. "It is not unprecedented for a guest to gain the core Persona of another, though the circumstances that lead to this happening previously were quite different. I am very surprised that Ruby has gained access to your Persona while you are still living."

Yu was not sure what to make of that, but it gave him a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Does that mean I'm going to die?" He asked.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry if my comments alarmed you." Theodore said, flustered. "In the other instance of this occurrence that I am aware of, the original possessor of the Persona was deceased when his power was taken on by one of his former companions. The situations, though similar on the surface, are actually very different. In this case, it seems that your fates are closely intertwined, leading to a crossover in your powers. At least that's the theory I find most plausible at present." Theodore paused for a moment, waiting to see how the guests reacted. "The link between the two of you has room to grow. If you continue to nurture it, it may unlock new powers."

"So, am I supposed to date him or something?" Ruby asked with concern. Yu was not sure if he should be insulted by her reaction, but decided to just let it go.

"That is but one possibly route." Theodore said. "Simply pursuing a stronger friendship would more than suffice. This bond is currently based on a mutual understanding of each other. Improving that understanding – however you chose to do so – is the key to the maturation of the connection between you."

"I don't understand." Ruby said, frustrated.

"Don't worry about it." Yu encouraged her. "I didn't understand most of the things they told me until I experienced them. You'll get it."

"Yu is correct." Theodore said. "These concepts can be somewhat opaque, but through experience all should become clear. You are both excellent guests and I have tremendous confidence in both of you."

The final portal, the final victim, the final lock were all that separated them from their goal. They entered the portal, eager to face the challenge ahead. This world was the strangest yet. They were surrounded by blackness. It was not dark, as they had no trouble seeing each other, but there was no apparent light source. The place was featureless. It could go on for miles or the next wall could be a few feet away. It was the sort of impossible place they had come to expect.

"The final victim is straight ahead." Rise reported.

"How far?" Yosuke asked.

"I can't tell." Rise said. "This place is weird. I don't detect any obstructions between us and her, so we should be able to see her. I don't know why we can't. There are some powerful shadows here, but they feel far away."

"I'm impressed." A disembodied voice boomed. None of them recognized it, but it was definitely a man's voice. "You're excellent fighters and work quite well together. Your resolve is so powerful I can feel it."

"Who are you?!" Ruby shouted. "What do you want?!"

"A fair question." The voice replied. "I am the one who created this world. The other worlds attached to this place may have come from your minds, but I am the one who facilitated their creation. I called those people here, the ones you have 'rescued.' I've watched your progress with great interest, and you have exceeded all my expectations."

"You're the culprit then!" Naoto shouted. "Show yourself so you can face justice."

"I will not be doing that." The voice said. "That said, I'm not a bad person, so I am willing to make you an offer. It is inconsequential to me if you die here or not, so the choice is entirely yours. You have played your roles and are no longer required. You have two choices. I am willing to give you what you want, that mechanic girl, and let you leave this place in peace. You will not be harassed, but in return, you shall leave me in peace. I will fix this wretched world, and you will all be witness."

"We're not giving up until we stop you." Ruby said.

"That is your second choice." The voice continued. "If you persist in your foolish attempt to stop me, you will face another trial in this place. I promise you it will be more difficult than any you have faced before. Remember that you barely survived the last trial. If somehow you complete that, the last lock will be opened, and you will have the opportunity to face me. If you do so, I will be forced to kill you, for I cannot allow you to stop me. The people of this world will have what they desire, whether you want them to or not."

"What desire?" Yukiko asked.

"I said I would fix this world." The voice explained. "There is too much despair, too much pain. I will put an end to it. That requires the merging of this world and the afterlife, but everyone will be much happier for it."

"I think he's saying he's going to kill everyone." Kanji said.

"That's a crude way to put it." The voice said indignantly. "Life as we know it will end, but a new, better life will take its place."

"You're insane!" Blake yelled. "That's not what people want!"

"I am not going to argue with you any further." The voice concluded. "Make your decision. Live in peace and be a part of my new world or resist and die."

"We're going to stop you." Yu said.

"Yeah, we're not going to quit until we take you down!" Ruby shouted.

"Very well." The voice said calmly. "The die is cast." The voice paused for a moment. "Now then, I promised you a trial, and you shall face it. You've done an excellent job thus far, but I wonder just how well you will do without your leaders." The floor dropped out from under Ruby and Yu, and they disappeared from sight. The others rushed to where they had been, but there was no way to follow them, just a solid floor. "Don't concern yourselves with their welfare. They are fine, for now." The voice sighed. "There are still too many of you for my liking. You fight well as a team, but in smaller groups, things would be quite interesting." The floor dropped out from under all of them. They felt the sensation of falling, surrounded by impenetrable blackness.

Yu landed softly on his feet. He looked around, but could see only the same featureless place he had been in before. He was alone.

Ruby let out a slight yell as she began to fall. She was somewhat embarrassed to have been taken by surprise. She landed on her feet, the impact so slight it was as if she had only fallen an inch. Everyone else was gone. She was surrounded only by the same blackness she had been in before the floor had dropped out beneath her. She was alone.

Yukiko was nervous. Yu and Ruby had disappeared into the ground and then they had all fallen. Now they were split up. Yu and Ruby were nowhere to be seen, but Teddie, Kanji, Rise and Blake were there. The others were missing too. It appeared that they were still in the same empty space where they had started, and their fall, though long, had produced only the slightest jolt on landing.

"This sucks!" Kanji shouted angrily, shaking his fist at the air. "Why won't that asshole just face us? That coward must be afraid we'll kick his ass. Well he's right!"

"We need to stay calm." Blake advised. "The culprit wants us to be angry. When you let emotion take over, that's when you make mistakes. We need to stay focused. Rise, can you detect any of the others?"

"I can, but it doesn't make sense." Rise said. "They're right here. They should be right in front of us, in the same positions they were before we were separated."

"This whole place makes no sense." Teddie complained.

"Wait!" Rise shouted. "There's someone or something coming. This place is really messing with my abilities, but I definitely sense something coming toward us."

Yang was angry. She was sick of falling into traps, even if this one had been unavoidable. At least she was not alone. Weiss, Yosuke, Naoto and Chie were with her, seemingly surprised to be there. The others were mysteriously gone.

"Is everyone alright?" Yosuke asked. "Hey, where is everyone?"

"It seems we've been separated." Naoto said. "The culprit said he wanted us to be in smaller groups, and it seems he succeeded in making that reality."

Yang summoned her Persona. It held a fireball in its hand in an attempt to illuminate the space. It made no difference. There was something else though. "I think my Persona has a form of Rise's power." Yang said. "It's not as good, but I can definitely feel where the others are."

"Teddie's got a power sort of like that too." Chie said.

"Please don't compare me to Teddie." Yang said with a sigh.

"Well, where are they?" Weiss asked impatiently.

"That's the thing, I can only sense they because they're so close." Yang explained. "They're right here, all around us. Why can't we see them?"

"Perhaps this place is separated into several overlapping worlds." Naoto thought aloud. "Maybe we're all in different worlds that occupy the same space."

"So it's like they're in another dimension." Yosuke said.

"Not exactly, but that is a good analogy." Naoto said. "The culprit said there would be a trial. If we overcome it, it may allow us to rejoin our companions."

"I hope they're okay." Chie said.