As I can recall, there was a girl who quoting fate a lot. The girl is completely elusive creature. She is strong yet fragile, she is composed yet uneasy, she is the most manipulative girl in this world.
"Time never waits. It delivers all equally to the same end," she often murmured those line.
She didn't ask my name or current situation when we first met. She was standing before me, asking me with softly tone, "What do you think about fate?"
"Huh. What do you mean?" I startled, asking her back. She, who came from unknown place, asked nonchalantly about fate. I felt very uneasy with her presence.
In other occasion, she was sitting on my desk as stiff as solid rock while observed me thoroughly. Head tilted, one hand on her chin, leg crossed. Her angelic face and snowy pale skin made her looks like a marble sculpture than human. She smirked, seemed proud with herself, staring haughtily at me, "You are lamenting about future, right? I'll help you to change the fate with all resources. Just take it."
I was charmed by her dark crimson eyes. The eyes were enchanting. It was so round, deep, and fierce yet fragile. But I already was badly inconvenient with her offer. It was so compromising. She offered to lend her hands out of nowhere. Moreover, because of its unchangeable that's why it called as fate.
"Thank you for your kindness. However, I don't need help. No one can change past whether it is for good or bad," I refused her politely.
"You don't believe on me, do you?"
"No, I completely believe on your ability but I don't think that I need to change anything," I gave her another excuse.
She locked my gaze with her dark red eyes, again, citing fate as her reason, "What if, I help you to change the course of future because I've been bound to do that by fate."
Smiling, she charmed me again with her red blood eye. And, on that afternoon, my life has been frantically turned upside down without premonition. I've got no memo before.
This is the story about the one whom I want to protect. The girl who bound by fate.
There was a large red bird with Yukiko's face and hair, sitting in a cage at the middle of lounge. The cage was a grey steel carved with the big elegant chandelier hang below. The fire blaze was swirling around the chandelier. Ominous creature. Malicious. Awful. The shadow as fiercely as the dancing fire below. Yukiko itself, was trapped in another golden cage, unconscious.
"Agi," said the Shadow casting fire to my face.
I repelled the fire with my left hand, swaying the sword, running straight to the shadow. I tried to slash her but I missed the target. Backing off, I took the defense pose.
"What a grotesque bird. But don't worry, I can finish her in second. Let me cast some Armageddons," the strange voices from my head confidently declared a win.
"Mabufu," I summoned Berith rather than accepting the provokes. The persona spell the ice attack. The steel knight looked satisfied, his gigantic red horse brayed, showing his dominance.
The shadow jerked. She must be can't resist ice because she throw fire so much. Unfortunately, Mabufu wasn't enough to end her. She woke up and immediately threw a tantrum. The priestess was unpleasant. Chuckling, she called for reinforcement, "We're not done yet. Show me this strength of yours! Come my prince."
The new shadow had been summoned from out of thin air. Dumpy, rapier clenched in the left hand, prince from medieval era with gold crown clinging on his blonde hair. The Charming Prince was cast Terror Voice straight to my heart. I couldn't resist the spell.
The magic made me frightening. I wanted to runaway but steeled my heart to stay. "You look so tense, master. You need more relax. Let me come up," the voices said some nonsense as usual. How could I relax right now.
"Yu, watch out!" Chie shrieked with fearful tone. The bowl-shaped hair girl was dreading, her brown eyes dilated, holding her breath.
Shadow Yukiko abruptly spelled Shivering Rondo. I turned my head, too late, there is no way I can't evade the attack. Suddenly, Yosuke pushed me out and took the mortal blow. The brunette was so painful, but manage to standstill.
"Ahahaha, what hopeless princes! Shall I destroy you all?" The shadow let her excruciating laugh roar through the castle.
"Don't get distracted, Narukami. Keep focus, friend. We have to save Yukiko." Yosuke was out of energy after got the blow, struggling to breath, his dark brown eyes searching for some focus.
"Take this," Chie then gave him medicine.
"Thanks, Chie. You are so helpful." Yosuke finally regained his strength back. He summoned Jiraiya to cast Tarukaja to Chie.
"By the way, the Prince looks so similar with Chie especially his bow cut hair, so classic and peculiar," at this situation, Yosuke inconceivably able to mocking about Charming Prince.
"He's got the point, the bowl-shape hair suit the prince best."
I ignored the voices again, and took a look to Chie who was yelling for disapproval, "Don't making ridicule with my hairstyle, Cheapsuke."
"I just want to lighten the mood, can't I?"
"Spend it after we finish them," Chie didn't let her annoyance bother her. She subsequently let Tomoe to offence with Mabufu. Charming Prince is knocked down but Shadow Yukiko could resist the attack and landed another Double Fang to Chie. The persona tried to block the attack with her double naginata, protecting her master, but she lose on strength. The strike was hurting Chie so much. She was thrown to the floor with loud bumping sound. Lying down unconsciously on the floor, Chie was already defeated.
Yosuke was furious, retaliating for Chie. Jiraiya attacked The Priestess with Sonic Punch, didn't bothered with Emperor, punching straight to her limb. The shadow avoided the punch and blew Magician with fire.
The tension mounted. Assessing my level and fighting skill, defeating Charming Prince wouldn't be so much this difficult. Unexpectedly, judging from my current situation, I was lose two step ahead or might be seven steps. "For the worst case, we might loose," I thought dreadfully. I wish that I have the compendium earlier than should be so I could cast high level persona.
"O Master, don't you think it's my time for me to show up? You already defeated. Ice cream and strawberry cake is fine for the token," the voices underestimated me.
"Do as your please but promise me that you wouldn't finish her," I tried to convince the voices owner for not to do some reckless actions, "Just knock the shadow off."
With flatness tone, she retorted, "I can't promise you, Yunyun. I may slipped my hand."
The voice's owner was creature of extreme. She definitely doesn't hesitant to defeat Shadow Yukiko, even killing her. I knew it since our first meeting. Indeed, I cannot lose Konohana Sakuya, which is Yukiko's persona, die before blossom.
"Even for lightening the mood, please don't call my name Yunyun in this desperate situation," I refuted her with stern voice.
And then, fortuitously, The Shadow immediately threw another fire. I startled but could manage to dodge the attack. I have no time to hesitant, I let Berith cast another Mabufu. Charming Prince defeated, sadly Shadow Yukiko could manage to stand. I then swung my sword, trying to slash the shadow again. She repelled my attack, grabbing my sword, resisting my action. She threw me, making my right limb landed first. I bumped on the floor harshly, made a crack coming from my shoulder, leaving the poignant and burning pain.
It was bad. Shadow Yukiko was ready to cast another fire spell when the strange voice's owner came up. She swung her naginata fiercely so she could blow the fire away. The shadow was infuriated, roaring the castle with bloodcurdling screaming, then giving the second attack with Double Fang. She graciously avoided the strike. It is like dancing rather than dodging. She buoyantly moved from right to left then elegantly spine, letting her dress ruffled. For the last, she spammed Bufudyne again and again. The shadow totally defeated for instant. It is impossible for resist Bufudyne from the person with 99Lv.
"Easy, huh," She was satisfied.
I hold my limb to stand and walked toward her. Smiling, I thanked her as expressing my gratitude.
"Too bad I can't throw Armageddon or Megidoloan," she noted her reluctant. "As my promise, defeating without killing. It was so bothersome but never mind."
"Defeating is enough, thanks again," I retorted
She crossed her hands while her left hand still clenched on the naginata. Her crimson eyes were glinting contemptuously to me, "Master, as the god thunder, you must be undefeated. But why you are getting lot of scar like that?" Rather than compliment me, she humiliated me. "You are weak, master."
"Please, don't bother about my strength." For second time in a day, I wish that I already had the compendium.
"For the last, Mediarahan," she then recited healing spell. The burning pain from crack of my shoulder disappeared, evaporating like gas. I clenched my left hand to feel the power back.
"Well, I've never let my job unfinished. Good job myself," she complimented herself.
She suddenly swang her naginata, taking a pose then heading back to my shadow. She even has got me a salute, "Until then, farewell."
The castle suddenly turned silent after she had gone. The lounge turn to be wide and creepy empty space. The shadow was defeated, leaving the scratches of after battle everywhere. I turn my head and take a look to surrounding. Yosuke was walking approach me. relieved. His bruises was gone and so did with another wounds.
"Finally, that shadow is defeated. I believe on you, Narukami. You can beat that ugly shadow," said Yosuke happily.
"It was not a big deal, by the way," I replied plainly
"Thanks for healing me too."
"Never mind."
"How are Chie and...Yukiko?"
I took a look to the girls. Chie was hugging Yukiko, relieved because she finally save her best friend.
"They are seems fine."
"Yeah, you are right," Yosuke nodded, giving a tender look to the happy reunion in front of him. "Want to join them?"
"Just wait a little longer, they need a time only for both of them." I stared blank to both of girl. Let the emptiness gnawed my heart.
"Hahaha," Yosuke chuckled. "I do think so."
"Anyway, your persona is totally awesome," said Yosuke impressed
"No doubt about that. She is awesome in many way."
My name is Narukami Yu. Yu has taken from kanji "Yū" means calm and Narukami from "Naru" of light and "Kami", indeed, means god. People tend to associate me with my name when referred to my calmness. I'm seventeen years old. I'm currently live in Inaba. I attend Yasogami Highscool. This is my second time of April. What I hate the most right know is being called Yu-chan.
"Okaeri, Yu-chan."
"Yu-chan, you are late."
"How does your day, Yu-chan"
It's really irritating me. Totally hated it.
I walked sloppily to my room. Fighting Shadow Yukiko along with Charming Prince was tiresome. I nearly be defeated but could turn the table, thanks for someone help. I steered the knob, entering my own room. The only haven I have, very private place of my own.
"You have made me wait for one hour and twenty minutes. Have you bought my request, Yu-chan?"
There was a girl who sleep as she likes on my bed. Instead of sleeping, she was busy with handheld game in her hands. She asked me while kept her attention on the game screen. She woke up from bed, ignoring her surrounding although her skirt raise unintentionally. She, pretending nothing has happen, continued imposing her request. All I could do was averting my eyes somewhere else except pant.
Beautiful with porcelain skin. Auburn hair. Crimson eye. Seems so energetic. Enchanting. That was my first impression on her. Frankly speaking, her appearance has nothing to do with her attitude.
I sighed, "Please don't call me Yu-chan again." I shut the door, locked it, then dropped my katana on the floor.
"You don't forget to buy an ice cream and strawberry cake, do you?" She stubbornly asked about her request again. "It's token for me after lending hand to defeat that ugly princess. You should not forget to buy it. Take it as future investment, Yunyun."
She called my name again with another nickname. It was as stupid as silly investment that she offered. I tried to maintain my calmness which is as weak as icicle, easy to melt.
"It doesn't mean you can call my name as your please when I forbid you to call me Yu-chan."
"Then, can I call you Yu-tan, or Naru-naru, or maybe MiYu-chan? Oh, I prefer the last," she ignorantly kept making fun on my name.
"Just call me Yu."
"I don't want it. It's dull, as stiff and stoic as your face," she simply stab me at heart.
I deadpanned. Yu is simple and clear. But I obviously never have a chance to win against her tongue. It's already five months since we engaged to live together happily. She make fun of me. I ignore her for the best. That the harmony we can share.
"What ever you say. Anyway, please wake up from my bed."
"Hm, then I will stick for the first. Yu-chan is the best. Yu-chan is the fittest."
I abruptly disturbed her from her position. I forced her to give some spaces so I could lay my tiring body on the bed.
"So, why do you take so much time after visiting Midnight Channel? You must be forget my request. She imposed her request again, accusing me for senseless prejudice.
"I'm not gonna forget an errand from you," I weakly pointed to a plastic bag on my desk which contained her request. "So, what the reward?"
She raise up and stand before me. Spinning, let her dress ruffled again. She then pointed to me with serious look, "What do you want?"
Bothering with her pose, I indifferently answered, "Just let me taking rest. I felt so tired after exploring Midnight Channel."
"I won't ask anything further." I emphasized it.
She nodded, "Alright then."
Disappeared along with empty air, she went back to my shadow, trailing behind the faintly smells like daisies.
I sighed, remembering about past. I remember that night, I was on my way back home from visiting Nanako at hospital. Unluckily, rain poured so immensely. I was upset by rain then stopped at the entrance. After considering whether continuing or discontinuing my way back, I turned my limb back to Nanako's room. Someone abruptly knocked me from behind. I lost my conscious.
When I woke up, I was at Midnight Channel.
When I got my senses again, I was beaten.
When my eyes were wide open, I saw a smile played faintly from her lips. I gave her smile back. She then nonchalantly asked me, "What do you think about fate?"
That's how I met her for the first time, the girl who bound by fate.