Prolouge

[AN: Hello! This is my first fanfic that I have ever written to show to the public! Its probably not that good, or it probably seems similar to some other fanfics (I use them as inspirations, I would never copy them). Anyways, Im a big Minato x Mitsuru shipper and so I made this creation of mine. I hope you guys enjoy :D

This story takes place in 2017 instead of 2009. This makes things more easier and interesting. It also has an alternative AU where Minato grew up with Mitsuru (yes theyre the otp of this fanfic). Im not sure but I might add OCs and even the female protagonist in the future.

Now, lets start the story shall we? ;D]

February 15th, 2009

A small boy with navy blue hair walked down the streets. It was a cold night tonight and his black jacket with a blue scarf had no affect. He could see his breath as he exhales. 'Where am I even going?' He asked to himself. Despite having no destination whatsoever, the boy still kept walking, as if his body was on autopilot and his mind frolicking elsewhere. The small steps that tapped on the road coming from his winter boots echoed throughout the empty street. The bandage around his right eye stayed, wrapped rightly and comfortably around his head. It was nearly twe-

Beep Beep Beep his watch started beeping as the clock struck twelve.

Suddenly, everything started to became green and random blood pools werre scattered everywhere. Coffins of where people shouldve been standing in the alleyways stood, ominously. Usually, boys around his age would start crying in fear and call out for their parents.

Well, not Minato Arisato.

Minato was this 9 year old boy who was labeled as the 'weird and freaky mute'. This was merely a nickname from his schoolmates though, he wasnt a mute in reality. Minato use to be like other kids, innocent, playful, full of emotion. However, that all changed after his mother's death.

"Ah, there it is..." Minato said as he noticed the giant tower standing infront of him, where Gekkoukan High usually stood at day. But by night, during the 'other world', it turns into this monstrosity of a tower. But in Minato's eyes, it was the only safe haven he has from his father. Walking in, relaxed as ever and longing for some heat and warmth, he stopped in his tracks when he saw 6 men and a small girl infront of the 'lobby'. Minato hid behind a pillar and peeked them from the pillar to observed the suspicious invaders. Four males with tuxedos and equipped guns holstered, one male with a lab coat (probably a scientist), another male with an eye patch. The girl that stood next to the eye-patched man had two wavy side ponytails with the colour of natural crimson red held the man's hands tightly. They must be related. Her white blouse with a giant red ribbon on it and a black skirt was her eye-catching attire.

"Amazing! Look at its interior!" The presumed scientist shouted in amazement.

"Those grand stairs, these marbel pillars, this magnificent lobby!" He was starting to act like an interior fanatic, fangirling about the lobby of the tower.

"Mr Izuki, we know that you're a scientist who research about these type of things, especially with this so called tower, 'Tartarus', but please calm yourself. We dont know what lives here and who could be listening" the man with the eye-patch said to him.

'He seems like he's in charge...' Minato thought as he noticed how authoritive he is and how the other men respected him.

'Tartarus? Is that what they call it?' Minato fathoms about the name.

The scientist let out a cough and went back to his professional stance, toying with his glasses for a bit.

"You're right, sir. Please forgive my actions, Takeharu-sama" he apologized.

Takeharu nods. "Its fine, Mr Izuki. Just refrain from doing such things in the future. Understand?" He asked, still in an authoritive tone.

The scientist nods. The four guards looked around the lobby. They theirselves seemed fascinated too. Especially the little girl standing next to what Minato presumed the eye-patched man as Takeharu from that scientist earlier. One of the guards started looking towards Takeharu and spoke out.

"Sir? Are you sure its fine to bring your daughter here? Like you said before, we dont know what lies in here. She might be in dange-" "Its fine. I was the one who asked to come first anyway. I will hold responsibility for any harm that happens to me" the girl answered his question.

"You heard her" Takeharu didnt even looked back at the guard and focused on examining the terrain.

"U-Understood sir, please forgive my out-of-turn question" the guard apologized and went back to guarding the two.

'That girl intrigues me... She looks around my age, maybe a few centimeters shorter, looks like the rich-type, speaks very formal (although, I suppose I speak formally too), and theres no doubt she's the cutest girl I've ever seen in my life' Minato didnt realize that the last thought in his head just now could've been counted as a 'flirt'. He's too clueless to notice. Minato deadpanned her, in a curious matter, trying to find more information about her. Feeling his stare, the girl looked back and tried to find the source of the aura towards his direction. Minato flinches and quickly hides behind the pillar. Looking around and noticing nothing, the girl shrugs it of and looks back forward. Minato let out an exhale. 'That was close...'.

"Hmm? What is it Mitsuru?" Takeharu looked down to his daughter.

"Nothing father" she assures her, and smiles at him. He smiles back gently.

'Mitsuru... sounds like a pretty name...'.

"Nghhh... Agh... Aaaaghhh!" Minato's thoughts were interrupted by a horrifying scream. He looked back towards the small group. The source came from one of the guards who was shielding the scientist. He was on the floor, trembling, crying, terrified. His hands scratched the surface of the carpeted floor and left marks, his head was slamming itself to the floor, blood pouring out. The others were in shock, and stood back. Takeharu standing infront of Mitsuru to shield her and two guards infront of them. The scientist however, was watching in an amused matter.

Just before anyone could say anything, the guard screamed even harder for one last time, before he turned into a black, slimey goop mob.

Everyone froze. The mosnter turned towards the small group, it's red eyes glared at them, and focused on a poor guard who held his gun shakingly. The monster started moving very slowly towards it. Everyone didnt know what to do. The targeted guard stood still, his mind racing and sweat falling. Takeharu couldnt watch any longer and commanded

"Guards! What are you doing?! Shoot it!". He held his frightened daughter tight. The other guards seemed to wake up from their trance.

"Y-Yes sir!" They did as told, aiming for the monster.

But, it didnt seem like any of their shots gave an affect, as the monster seemed like it wasnt feeling anything. The scientist watched intrigued, waiting for a next move and looking forward to seeing a rare sight.

Minato couldnt move. 'W-What the hell is that?!' Even though he stood behind the scene and was probably safe from this 'goop monster', he still felt his heart pound hard.

The monster brought up a slimey hand-like part of its 'body' and slashed the poor targeted guard down to the ground. He fell unconscious. Everyone's mouth went agape.

The monster looked at the father and daughter, and glared at them. The guards ran infront of the two, but the monster slashed them to the sides, making them hit their heads to the wall and go unconscious. It was just Takeharu, Mitsuru and the scientist, who was watching from afar in the back.

Just as the monster was about to make their way towards Takeharu however, Mitsuru intervened, and stood inbetween the two.

"Don't you dare touch my father!" She shouted at the monster, eyes determined to protect her parent.

"Mitsuru! What are you doing?!" Takeharu went speechless. Minato was about to come to the rescue and help the family somehow before an unexpected turn if event happened.

Mitsuru's body started glowing a bright light, shining and lifting her up in the air. Nothing was there, and she just floated around the glowing aura. Suddenly, a sound of cracking glass echoed throughout the lobby. It came from Mitsuru's mind.

A tall, slim woman-like figure emerged from behind Mitsuru. She had a blue armor chest piece with a dark blue shirt-like clothing underneath. The shirt had white sleeves

Silence was everyone's respond to this. Silence, filled with shock and confusion. But also, along with astonishment.

Minato's mouth felt like it just dropped to the ground. 'W-What the hell is going on?!' He kept questioning himself.

Takeharu was sitting in the ground, wide-eyed. He fell down a moment ago when the figure had just appeared. He, himself, could not believe his eyes. But it was not because he just saw his own daughter do something miraculous, it was because it meant that she had to follow in the family business.

Mitsuru glared at the monster, who froze in fear. She pointed at it, looking to the figure with an authoritive look that meant 'kill him'. The figure nodded, and with a strike with one of its rapiers, the monster had a giant slash on its body, and it started evaporating into slime, then into dust. The figure sheathed her rapier and disappeared. Mitsuru dropped from the air and landed on the ground, tired and exhausted. Takeharu rushed towards his fatigued daughter, and kneeled by her.

"Mitsuru! Are you alright?!" He asked with concern, checking her body multiple times for injuries of any sorts.

"Yes father, Im okay..." she smiled warmly.

"I'm just glad that you are alright father" her smiled was framed on her face, before she lost consciousness and napped in the arms of her loving father.

Takeharu exhaled thankfully. He looked down to his daughter. 'This isnt what I wanted. This isnt what she's suppose to do. What have I done? Mitsuru is going to grow up with the burden of our family name, all thanks to me...' Takeharu couldnt stop blaming himself. He let his precious daughter come on to his life in the worst way possible.

"A persona!" The scientist shouted with excitement in his voice.

"Did you just see that Takeharu-sama?! Your daughter just summoned a persona!" The scientist started to giggle in glee and happiness. 'Persona? Is that what they call those figures? Does that mean other people can summon those things too?' Minato became intrigued by the scientist.

"This is great! Not only did we just experience what a shadow is capable of first hand, we have our own persona-user on our side! Hahahaha! This is great

news-" "Mr. Izuki!" The scientist was cut off by an enraged Takeharu.

"My daughter is unconscious, she sacrificed herself for me, and you're talking about this now?!" Takeharu shot a glare at Izuki.

"But sir, this really is grea-" "SILENCE! I dont want to hear another word of it until we get her to safety! Her life takes top priority, understood?!" Takeharu's voice echoed all around the room, making Minato tremble for a moment. Izuki fell silent.

"Forgive me, Takeharu-sama. I shall call reinforcements..." Izuki bowed before walking out of Tartarus, Minato barely being able to completely hide from him, since the pillar he was hiding in was right next to the only entrance and exit. He thanked the gods that Izuki was blind with his weird objectives. After Izuki left, the room went silent.

Minato looked at Takeharu, who was holding Mitsuru in his hands gently, not wanting to wake her up after an exhausting event. 'So... This is what its like to have a loving father...' Minato looked at them sadly, flash backs from just a few hours ago passed through his mind.

"Your life? Your life?! This so called 'life' you inherit right now is not yours, but mine! You cannot take control of it without me! You are in my chains! Chains you cannot break, Minato!" His father shouted at him.

"I dont care! Why would someone as cruel as you run my life?! You hurt mom you bastard! Im different then you! Im not like you! Im not gonna be you!" He shouted with all his might.

"Thats not for you to say..." His father gave Minato his signature glare, but this time it intensifies, as if it was like a sword, a sharp sword. So sharp it pierced right through his soul. Minato couldnt move. Even if he's saying all of these things and acting tough about it, he was scared. He was a coward. He couldnt stand up to his father properly 'How stupid of me for even trying...' He thought to himself as the flashback ended.

Minato placely touched the bandage that wrapped around his head, covering his right eye. He brushed it and felt tears welling up in his eyes, he merely brushed them off with his sleeves.

"Come now, Mitsuru. We should get you home now..." Takeharu interrupted Minato's thoughts as he stood up from the ground, Mitsuru in his hands. They were making their way towards the exit, Minato hiding from them.

This was like those scenes in the movies where the characters came back from a tiring fight. They were about to go back home from a tiring roller coaster of emotions. They were going to check on their injured and have open doors to the future.

Well, this was suppose to be like those scenes...

BANG*

But...

Minato got up, Takeharu looked behind. His eyes widened

What if I tell you...

The unconscious bodies of the fallen guards from before stood, turning into monsters as well. They glared at Takeharu. The two monster then dashed towards the father and unconcious daughter, getting their 'hands' ready for attacks.

That this was...

Takeharu crouches, and faces towards the opposite direction of the monsters, showing them his back. He held Mitsuru tightly and tried to cover her from any incoming attacks. The last thing he wants to see is seeing his daughter get injured by his hands again.

He waited. Expecting a painful slash to his back that would cause blood to pour out. He waited. But nothing happened.

Takeharu looked back, and this was definetely a surprise.

A young boy with navy blue hair stood, inbetween them. His blue eyes fixed on the monsters, and his own 'persona' appearing behind him. His eyes glowing, his hands clenched together, his aura bold.

Only the beginning?