To the readers: Hey guys, this is my first fanfic I've written and I'm thankful that you AT LEAST clicked this fanfic, curious of reading it (I hope it interests you, in some way :) ) . I just finished played P3P (and I'm playing it again with New Game + ) and something urged me write down a fanfic for it. Yeah, P3P is so awesome, and I love most of the characters (especially Minako ~she's so cute). So, I hope you enjoy my story which is set mostly in non-canon point of view (but there are some that cannot be avoided) and if I can only be good at drawing, I would put links for the appearance of the OCs. On to the story!
~PROLOGUE~
Darkness.
Oblivion.
Void.
Only the Blue-haired boy is there. Chained.
Having served as the Great Seal, he was tired.
Too Tired.
.
.
.
.
.
"The Time has come, child." A mysterious voice spoke up.
"Minato Arisato, the Great Seal, do you wish to see the light in your world?"
From his blank eyes, Minato gave a feeble hint of emotion. It is what he was doing, right?
"That is one way, but there is a better one. Agree to my terms, and you will be lead to this 'way', child." the voice gave a persuasive offer.
That would mean to lift up the seal, is that correct? Minato thought.
"That seal will be voided. Simply put, you are given the only chance to rewrite your fate. Your destiny. Your Future. I will ask you one more time,
do you accept?" the voice asked him one last time.
Will he accept this opportunity to change?
Or will he be forever bounded to his duty?
.
.
.
.
.
"I...Accept." Minato answered in an unsure manner.
YOU...HAVE...SEALED...YOUR...FATE...
As the voice fades away, the chains that once constricted Minato's body quickly disappears. It is not long before his consciousness is being swallowed up by darkness. Darkness whispers...
|The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate... |
| Entrusting his future to the cards, man clings to a dim hope. |
| Yes, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed... |
| Attaining one's dream requires a stern will and unfailing determination. |
Time never waits.
It delivers all equally to the same end.
You, who wish to safeguard the future,
however limited it may be...
You will be given one year;
go forth without falter,
with your heart as your guide...
0 THE FOOL 0
Date:? Time:?
"Where... am... I?" Minato asked himself as he open his tired eyes. It seems he is sitting on the seats of this familiar monorail, Minato remembered his earliest memory was inside this train. "ATTENTION PASSENGERS, WE SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR ANY CONVENIENCE CAUSED BY THE DELAY. THE NEXT STOP IS: IWATODAI."As Minato eyed on his surroundings, it felt very different. He thought that his fate will be rewritten from the start. He was wrong.
The train is virtually empty. He found no signs of life although the train is steady in motion. It seems he was the only passenger. Minato tried to stand up to stretch his arms wide, then letting out a sigh.
"Huh?" Minato felt something strange.
Minato didn't know he had a girly voice. As he swayed his body look on his reflection at the train window...
.
.
.
"Wh-wh-wh..." Minato could not believe it. His reflection is a GIRL?
WHAAAAAAAAAAT?! Minato screamed internally. Right, Internal Identity Crisis ensues.
To make sure he isn't dreaming or what, Minato examine every part to make sure. He wears the Gekkoukan Uniform. FOR GIRLS?
Okay, I hope I was just cross-dressing... he hoped.
Minato had wished his hair is blue and that blue-silver eyes. He's wrong. His hair is now auburn and his eyes were crimson. GREAT.
This is not good. Definitely. NOT. GOOD. Minato's losing hope.
Proceeding to his last check. Minato puts his hand on his chest. Oh no...
" I'M. A. GIRL!" 'He' cursed himself in 'his' breath. NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
Minato felt he wanted to cry. Why did he became a girl? That's not part of the agreement...
"May I help you with something, my lady?" A voice from behind emerged. As Minato look to respond to the owner of the voice...
A masked man in white suit. He has a walking cane in his left hand. He has its head topped with a matching top hat. He appears to be sitting across him.
"Something that troubles you, perhaps?" the masked man asked again while he motioned his head to look up. His mask is colorless but it happened to have feline features, and is adorned with butterfly wings. "How did you..." Minato is at loss of words.
To piece everything up; he is a girl, in an empty moving train, save for this weird masked man who offers help. Maybe it's okay to be weird at this time.
Minato let out a big sigh, then curled his lips in attempt to explain. "I...um...you see...I am supposed to be...a boy..." Minato answered with a perplexed face.
The masked man stood up with the help of his cane. As he fixed his face to the confused Minato. "Then from this day now on, accept who you are. No use throwing tantrums. Now, we must disembark from this locomotive."
The masked man answered calmly. Minato would like this guy. At least there is somebody that understands him...her for a while.
{ .THIS IS THE FINAL TRAIN BOUND FOR TATSUMI PORT ISLAND...}
As they prepared to exit the train, "My lady, may I know your name?" the masked man politely asks.
Am I still Minato? I'll check my I.D to see if that is still my name. It's too...male for my new identity... she pondered then proceeds to rummage her things finding her I.D.
She found her leather wallet. As she opened it, there is the I.D. It clearly states...
"ARISATO MINAKO." She read it loudly. So that's the girl version of her old alias? Just replace the 'T' with a 'K'? Cool.
The masked man gives a quiet, carefree laugh. "For the record, the time is 23:59 of April 4th, 2009. BUT, not for long..." he said softly but cryptic, as if he is waiting for something big to happen. As Minako leave the train with the masked man...
TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...
The world she enters undergoes a drastic change.
Electronics ceased to function.
Darkness envelops the place.
Puddles of blood is seen on random areas.
The sickly green light glimmers from the skies.
The still air makes everything eerie. But Minako didn't show any sign of fear. Actually, she smiled.
"The Dark Hour. I am not surprised that you anticipate this phenomenon." the masked man remarked as he glanced to the girl's smiling face.
Then, they walked out of the station like nothing have happened.
This man knows about the Dark Hour. But what did he mean by that? Did he knew something? Minako is in deep thought. She convinced herself that this man isn't normal at all.
As they walked down the streets; Minako observed the standing coffins that dot along the sidewalks, the blood puddles that splattered the streets and the eerie sight of the moon that thrones the starless skies.
"May I see your admission pamphlet, my lady?" the masked man asked as they walk along the empty streets. How could he know that she is enrolling at Gekkoukan High?
Minako rummaged through her things and found the pamphlet in question, then giving it to the masked man.
"Interesting, you are assigned to a student dormitory. It is two blocks away from here, from the next corner at the left." the masked man remarked with fascination.
As Minako processed the remarks, wait... is the dorm supposed to be straight ahead? As she is in deep thought, she realize that the masked man was giving her the pamphlet back.
Minako grabbed and read it to make sure. The masked man wasn't wrong. That means that she must stick to the directions. The walk was peaceful until...
A shadow...
A blob of dark matter emerged at the front of them around 10 meters away.
"I can do this." Unfortunately, the moment she realize that her power hasn't awakened and she has no evoker, she's screwed.
"Stand aside." The masked man raised his left arm horizontally, gesturing her to let him "take care" of the shadow.
Minako stepped backwards. As the shadow rushed to its enemy, the masked man grasped on its cane. He clasped his fists to his cane holding like a sword pointed to the ground.
"Per...so...na..."
Then he quickly slam his cane to the ground.
The ground shook violently.
"OSIRIS."
A large bluish mist evoked from his aura, the mist blanketing Minako with low visibility.
Then, a persona like she has yet to see has appeared from the masked man. A verdant-skinned humanoid with its lower body wrapped in bandages and is equipped with a crook and a flail as its hands. It seems to have metallic body and only has it Atef crown as its head.
"Megidolaon." he uttered.
A white ball of energy appears above the shadow then it explodes violently. After the explosion, there was no sign of the shadow.
As the battle have ended, the persona and the mist have disappeared too.
Minako rushed to the masked man, filled with awe from her eyes.
"I think I will call you Osiris-sama. *giggle mischievously*" Minako stated cheerfully.
"Very well, I can use that name. Shall we proceed?" Osiris suggest to continue escort her to the dorm.
They arrived at the said dorm. Minako's face expressed disappointment. Although the dorm look similar to the dorm she knew, it was less 'grand' and has only three storeys.
Minako took a glance at Osiris. Despite being masked, she could tell that he's worried, for some reason. "Well, this is not the dorm I knew, but I may be fine from now - Wait..." the Dark Hour wears off gradually.
Wait a minute, what about the contract? If she didn't have that contract... she is dead worried. "How about the contract from Pharos? Oh no...it can't be..." Minako's mutter expressed agitation.
"Contract?" Osiris asked her with a hint of assertiveness. "Isn't it already in your personal inventory, Minako?"
Minako proceed to look for the contract. She couldn't believe it. There is already a contract found in her possession, but something's different.
"Memento Mori." written in blood in a fine cursive handwriting under her name.
Minako froze in fear, then look down. When did that appear?
Osiris noticed Minako's limply gesture. "Today is April 5th. And the time is already one in the morning" Osiris seemed to get more enigmatic and darker." Perhaps I have to take my leave now, Minako." He then gradually melds into darkness. "We...will...meet...again" as Minako look back, he vanished with no trace.
She didn't even thank the mysterious man. She felt guilty, but he said that they will meet again, right? She went inside the dorm with caution.
The moment she knocked the door several times with no apparent response, she urged that she have to go inside.
Inside the lobby of the dorm, it looks just like the dorm she knew. Minako would anticipate a familiar face that would come down from the staircase. But no one's coming down. As Minako scan the surroundings, she spotted someone at the sofa. A girl who is fast asleep.
As Minako crept quietly to the sleeping person, the sleeping girl woke up lazily.
"uhhhmm...*yawn*" She stretched her extremities wide and the moment she open her sleepy eyes, her reaction is a sure winner.
"uhmmm...uh wha- who are you? Are... oh...right...you're the student...that we've been..hmm...waiting for...right?" She managed to struggled through her drowsiness in a funny way and fights it by jumping out of the sofa and do some seemingly energetic stretching exercise. This girl has long black hair tied to a ponytail, had grey eyes, pale skin and fashions the Gekkoukan's School uniform but instead of the usual blazer, she wears the cream sleeveless sweater.
"Hi! I'm Rio Iwasaki, a junior like you and happen to be your new dorm mate from now on. What's yours?" Rio tries to give an energetic introduction to Minako.
"I'm Minako Arisato. Nice to meet you." Minako answered with a fake smile plastered on her face.
Rio, quite distraught of Minako's scripted introduction, still wants to keep the atmosphere in high spirits.
"Well, that was quite...nevermind that thing, you should be excited as I am! Well, your brand new room is waiting for you! I'll help you on your luggage." Rio seems unusually cheerful. Too cheerful is more correct.. Minako didn't mind, then they proceed to the second floor. As they are in the hallway, one of the tenants stepped out of their room.
"Hi Saori-san! Say hi to our new dorm mate!" Rio waved her free hand at the sleepy girl that recently left her room about to get something at the fridge.
The girl waved lazily back then she fixed her tired eyes to Minako's crimson eyes.
"Good evening. I'm Saori Hasegawa." the sleepy girl introduced herself and then it is Minako's turn to introduce."I'm Minako Arisato. I'm happy to see you as my new dormate." She is obviously got caught by Rio's enthusiasm.
Saori Hasegawa had dark, curly hair; the skin is pale; has grey eyes and a mole under her left eye.
Saori chuckles lightly. "That is good to hear, I guess. You should sleep early tonight so you wouldn't be late for the first day of school. Don't want your first day to suck, right? I'll see you tomorrow - I mean later morning since it's past midnight." Saori quietly walked downstairs. She was quite an awkward person despite looking so mature...at least what Minako thought.
As they are in the far end of the hallway, Rio used the bronze key to open the wooden door - to Minako's new room.
"Well, this is your new home, dorm mate. If you need something, just tell me - um...but I'm quite sleepy so you *yaaaawn* should say something before I fall asleep here...ermm" Rio really tried her best to stay awake.
"Um, no. Not really. Thanks for the help though. Well, good night!" Minako quickly lied, still bid farewell before slamming her door. Quietly.
Minako sit against the door, hugging her knees and nervously fidgets. "Great. Another year of adventure. I thought I would see Them... but it seems I will live a quite normal life, huh?
I mean, my new dorm mates doesn't seem to have THAT ability and...wait...what about Osiris? He is never present in my past life. I don't feel my life is restarted, just... a new perspective. Although I feel I still have that power..."
Minako pondered deeply.
What...? She heard something, there's a conversation at the hallway so she just stick her ear to the door. Of course it would be impractical to go out and join the gossip.
"Rio-san, did you...experience that...?" It sounds like Rio and Saori are chatting at the hallway.
"Umm...oh!That 'that'...I fell asleep while waiting for her. Sorry..."What are they talking about? Minako tried to press her head to the door harder.
"That is why I got up this late...Would Yuko-san knew this?" Who's Yuko? What the hell?
"*sigh* Saori, let's talk about this tomorrow, okay? We're just as sleepy as a sloth." Rio couldn't been more correct.
After they entered their respective rooms, Minako finally stood up. She jump in the bed and remove her loafers with her feet, then curls up to her new blanket and buried her face to the feather pillow.
"Did they actually experience the Dark Hour? They might have the possibility to have the potential...I have many things in my mind, so...forget it and just let me have some good goddamned night sleep..."
Unfortunately, she can't sleep. Her head is like being barraged by machine gun-speed of worries and what-ifs. Oh boy... this is going to be a rough night.
...
On Minako's dreams, her eyes were groggy as she noticed she is sitting in a blue room. And an old gentleman with a long nose is sitting across her at the opposite end of the table. She recognized this place.
"Welcome to the Velvet room. It is so nice to see you, once again." The old man hints familiarity at his tone, grinning at Minako's presence. "I am Igor, the proprietor of the Velvet room, if you have forgotten already."
Minako noticed the contract that she unconsciously holding shines brightly, and hovers to the table. "This is the contract that you signed, when you were alive at your past life. Now that you restarted your journey..."
"We will do the same process once again." The old man grinned even wider.
"I require you to abide one rule; to be responsible on your choices that you make." Igor changed his tone to a much darker one.
"We will meet again..."
Time: 6:00 Date: April 6th
*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
The alarm clock buzzed violently inside Minako's new room. But this girl proved that alarm clocks are ineffective to her. The clock reads 5:30. Still, Minako hasn't responding.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Hey, it's me. You should prepare yourself for school."
No response.
"I hope you are not sleeping or else..."
Still, no response.
"Fine! I'm going in!"
SLAM!
Rio barged in to see...well terrified to see the room have gone to war-zone.
Rio wasn't worried about the unpacked boxes, she was worried how Minako have transformed into a burrito and now slacking at the floor, with the alarm clock still buzzing. She thought only boys do this.
She quickly deactivated the alarm clock and tried to wake up Minako.
"Minako-san! Minako-san! Mina- 'Man, she sleeps like Kenji. So hard to wake him up everytime.' C'mon, you have to get up or else you'll be left out! You've got 30 minutes to prepare yourself, sleepyhead!" she did her best to wake her up.
"errhm...ugghh...just one more minute...*yaaaawn*...fine, fine...just help me here" Minako finally woke up, still in her burrito-like setup while Rio tried to untangle the mess. For some reason...
"Uhm...Minako-san, I don't know but...your face is red as a tomato" Rio commented confusedly.
Don't tell me I'm blushing because a girl help me this close?! Y U do this brain? Act like a girl! Girls do this, right? Minako shooked her head hoping to remove her blushing.
"This is another awkward situation...hey, you need to have a quick shower and change your clothes! We have to be off at six sharp!" Rio said with a hint of determination gleaming through her dark eyes.
Then, Minako galloped to the bathroom and took a quick shower.
Well, a girl who took a "quick" shower usually emerges out of the bathroom thirty minutes later... However, Minako hasn't fully grasped to be a true girl.
As she undresses (she cursed herself on removing her bra) she quickly turn on the shower into cold, grabbed the soap and started to vigorously rub it into her body...hmmm...interesting. Minako haven't fully explored her body so this might take a while, she thought.
Unfortunately, she took too long.
"Minako-san! It's already 5:45! You can have a quick shower for only ten minutes! We have a deadline, so please hurry up!" Rio call her with a streak of worry in her words. Damn it, Minako! Forget the bra thing, you've wasted too much time!
It's 06:00. Minako rushed out from the dorm as the three girls are already waiting outside.
"Minako-san, what made you took so long?" Sorry Rio, I took too long. *sigh*
"Minako-san, I hope you grabbed something to eat before going to school. It's hard when you don't have your breakfast" Saori, don't worry. I'll eat it while we walk. It's called 'Multitasking', okay?"
The short,purple-haired girl crossed her arms in frustration.
"So you're Minako Arisato. I'm Yuko Nishiwaki. We must hurry up." So this is Yuko. She's...Cold.
The group left together in a rather fast pace.
Then to the station...then to the monorail...to the station again...then walk...a little... Finally, Gekkoukan High School.
"Welcome to our school, Minako-san!" Rio exclaimed with the usual determination.
"I hope you like it." Saori smiled sweetly and...
"Arisato, this is Gekkoukan High school that you have enrolled. Stick to the rules." Yuko gives a forceful welcome with a tinge of coldness in her words.
"Yuko-san, don't give Minako-san a bitter welcome. At least just smile a little."
Hmm... Why do I get a feeling that they are parallel to my old friends? Like, Rio seems to be like that capped guy due to being carefree and energetic, Saori is like the brunette in pink and silver-haired senior fused together and especially Yuko who is comparable to the ice queen of obvious reason.
Minako pondered deeply.
RING! RING!
The bell had rung. It's time to get inside.
The main lobby is filled with students swarming at the bulletin board.
"What? No way!" "Yes! We're classmates again!" "Him again? At least that one's better than this one..." such expression have filled the atmosphere.
Saori tapped on Minako's shoulder.
"Minako-san? Uhm, we're both transfer students so, let's stick together." Saori seems to be embarrassed on dropping this. And here I am, thinking I was the only one. Minako let out a sigh.
As Minako managed to get a glimpse on the bulletin board...
Hers and Saori's name has a red circle on each of them. It could only mean...
"Saori-san, let's go to the faculty office." Saori nodded silently.
At the Faculty Office...
"Hello. Are you two the new students?" the familiar voice greeted them inside. Of course, it is...
"11th grade, correct? I'm Ms. Toriumi. I teach composition. Welcome to our school." her scripted introduction brings Minako faint memories.
"You are both assigned to my class, 2-F." 2-F? That's the same class we had! Unfortunately, Rio and Yuko is in the other section.
"You two should go to the welcoming ceremony." Ms. Toriumi directed them to the Auditorium.
At the Auditorium...
"When applies this to student life, this means..." It seems the principal's speech makes a good lullaby to some students, students like Minako.
Minako's eyes wavered to sleeping. Saori was at her side trying to keep her up to not being caught.
"Hey, do you see that girl? Yeah, the auburn one. She sleeps like an angel." "Dude...I think i have a crush on her!" "There is hope for me once I got her name!"
Despite her sleepiness, she can hear her schoolmates murmuring. She have no idea how popular she would have become. That is just the first day.
"I hear talking!" a reprimand from a teacher is heard behind them.
"Shhhh! You'll get me in trouble!" Ms. Toriumi tried her best to silence her students. Poor Ms. Toriumi.
Everyone is exiting the auditorium. Saori gave a worried look on Minako.
"urrm...sorry...let's go." Minako groaned, trying to wipe her face and stretching her legs.
"Greetings."
Hmm? That's a male voice Minako have never heard. As she turned...
"I am Hisoka Oshiro. I am a junior like you and currently running for the position of Secretary in the upcoming Student Council Elections. I am more than pleased to meet you."
He has dark, spiky hair; a thick-rimmed eyeglasses; wears a necktie in favor of the usual bow tie and has...a staff?
He looks like a kind gentleman, that's good.
"This is Minako Arisato. A transfer student and happen to be the same class with her. Please, this is her first time, so please give her a chance." Saori seems more troubled than Minako.
Hisoka extends his hand to Minako. Minako happened to hold his hand and he help her stand, she felt like it is in some kind of a fairy tale scene. Moments later, her face has tinted to red.
Hisoka laughs carelessly. Where did she heard that familiar laugh? "Although this is the duty Mitsuru Kirijo would do, I have to take the honors. Welcome to our school. I hope you have a wholesome school year." The bespectacled student painted Minako with his sincere smile. "I'm checking on new students so they would feel home at this institution. Once again, welcome."
Minako blushed. She liked this guy. And to think that she acts boyish, a seed of femininity sprouted at Minako's heart. She is one step closer...
"You must abide the rules and make sure to study diligently. Once you do these, you should be fine. You should go now to your respective classrooms."
Hisoka exchanged goodbyes to Minako and Saori as they went to their usual businesses.
Minako didn't feel to have lectures at the first day. Introductions seems to only interest her, after that, she would activate her 'sleep-like-a-ninja' technique. This is effective when the day seems to be against you and the only way is to sleep away.
Time: LUNCH TIME Date: 6th of April
Minako was on her way to the cafeteria when...
*BUMP*
"Oh! I'm really sorry." Minako immediately apologized, her face was already red. She took a glance to the one that bumped to her.
A male student with a hoodie.
Who's this? I've not seen him before in my past life. Minako is trying her best to recall this student.
"I...nevermind." then he quickly walked away...
/Shinji - no. It couldn't be him. It's not him/ Minako thought to herself as she fixed her eyes on the hoodie student.
The hallway was dead silent. Minako has skipped a heartbeat the moment she bumped into him, then he left like nothing happened? Things are getting weirder.
Who would he might be?
Time: AFTER SCHOOL Date: 6th of April
"Hey, you look like a deer with headlights." As Minako was packing her things, a familiar voice is heard at her back. Could it be?
"I'm Junpei Iori. Nice to meet ya. I know what's like being the new kid..." The capped boy introduced himself.
"Oh! I'm Minako Arisato!" Minako's introduction impressed Junpei.
"Whoa, hey...you're much active than I thought-" Suddenly, the brunette girl in pink cut in.
"Don't you do any better? You're hitting girls on their first day." the brunette scolded Junpei. Junpei would just plug his ears with his fingers.
"Oh! Hold on. Minako Arisato, Yukari Takeba. Yukari Takeba, Minako Arisato." Junpei gave indirect introduction to the brunette. Yukari doesn't seemed amused.
"Hi! Don't bother him; he's creepy and perverted, so stay away from him." Yukari gave a teaseful warning to Minako, Junpei jaw-dropped in response.
"Whaaaaat? I'm just being friendly here." As Junpei and Yukari exchange their teasing...
"Minako-san! Let's go home together!" Rio called out from Minako's homeroom, together with Saori and Yuko.
"Guys, let's have ramen at the Wakatsu before we go home!" Minako cheerfully replied.
At the Wakatsu Restaurant...
"Who's on the special? 3? How about you Yuko? 2 special? Okay! 5 special, please."
"The first day is okay, I guess." Saori remarked.
"Hey Minako-san, guess what, there is a change of schedule regarding the club recruitment. Starting tomorrow, new recruits can register at any sports club. Join my club!" Rio seems her energy never gets down.
"What's your sport, anyway?" Minako looks interested.
"Tennis!"
"Okay! I'll join you!"
Rio and Minako are chatting quite noisily.
On the other hand, Saori and Yuko seemed too quiet. Yuko was the first to break the silence.
"Hasegawa, did you enjoy your first day of school?"
"Yuko, there were good and bad things happen, so it's fine to me."
"It's that so?" There is silence between the two. Saori must think of something to change the subject.
"Oh, right. I have to tell you something. Do you know Hajime-san?" Yuko skipped a beat.
Yuko remembered Hajime. Hajime used to be the member of the Kendo club and one of Kazushi's good friend. But since the 7th grade, he quit the club and became a sheltered person.
"Yes. Why you asked?" Yuko replied halfheartedly.
"He is...one of my new friends, in my class." She answered with a weak smile. Yuko couldn't believe it. Hajime shut away every person he met, save for the teachers and his closest friends. Yuko then proceed to gobble down to her ramen. "*Sigh* That hoodie boy."
Time: 21:00 Date: 7th of April
"*yawn* Minako-san, see you tomorrow!" Finally, Rio has her energy suppressed. She needs her good night rest.
"See ya, Rio-san!" Minako waved lazily as she enter her room.
TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...
The Dark Hour has settled in. Minako couldn't sleep again. Great, another sleepless night.
hmmm? Something's knocking on the window. Minako jumped out from the bed and see what's causing it?
As Minako opened the window... "Meeeeooooow"
It is a black cat. Minako let the cat in. "Meeooow?" She then gently grabbed the cat and tried to hug the cat like a teddy bear and lied down to her bed.
"...Are you not afraid of the Dark Hour? Cats are very mysterious while the people...wait a minute." Minako suddenly paused.
"You may have noticed...that I'm not all there...myself." The black cat spoke? Minako almost threw the cat into the window to her shock. She hoped she was just dreaming.
"It is only this time when we are both mad. You're mad, I'm mad." The black cat grinned creepily, his jagged teeth is remarkable aside from his grin.
Minako had her tongue tied. Is he...who will replace THAT BOY? She tried to say something but fascination got her mind in disarray.
"Ph-Ph-Pharos? You're a cat now?" Minako stuttered still in surprise. However, the cat stares intensely to her eyes. "I can't go back to yesterday; I was different then. But If you beg for my name..." The cat answered bitterly.
"I assume the name of...Neku. I art thou. I live inside thou." Neku stated mysteriously. So he is just like the boy, huh? At least he is cuter. Minako had one more question with this grinning cat. "Then, how did you know I was...mad?"
Neku crept closer to Minako's ear, then he whispered softly "Because, it would take insanity to dream me up and talk to me." Out of the corner of the eye, Neku vanished into a black smoke.
...
"I'll see you soon, Neku-chan." Minako whispered to herself. It is not long before she finally put herself in a deep sleep.
Time: 05:00 Date: April 8th
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Minako, it's time to get up!"
No response.
"Uhmmm...Minako?"
She is only talking to the door.
"Minako-san...I'm going in..."
Saori entered Minako's room. Rio was right all along...
Minako's bed is a mess. Her bedding is already in disarray, the pillows are scattered on the floor and Minako herself looks like a zombie yet to be animated.
Saori tiptoed quietly to the sleeping girl and wake her up.
"Minako-san...Minako-san..." Saori prod the sleeping girl flaccidly. Seconds later, Minako groaned drowsily.
"uhhrmmm...Neku-chan...stay...with me..." Minako looks like she's sleep-talking. Saori shuddered as she felt her cold sweat dropping.
"Minako-san, it's me. It's five in the morning. Get ready for yourself." Saori expressed worry in her words.
"mmrnghh...*yaaawwn*...but it's just five...gimme five more minutes..." Saori infer that she doesn't want to wake up yet.
LUNCHTIME
*yaaawn* Minako didn't feel like listening to some boring lectures. Oh, she needs to sign up for the sports club. She promised Rio to join the tennis club.
She met Saori on the 2nd floor hallway whilst going to the cafeteria.
"Minako-san, nice to see you! If you want, please join the library committee with me. I feel lonely being the only one..." Saori pleaded with bitterness.
"Is it okay to join one or more clubs? I...don't know. I promised Rio to join her club so..." Minako gives a confused face.
"It's fine, Minako-san. You can join as many as you can as long as you can handle them." Saori smiled weakly, hoping Minako would be interested.
"Well, okay then. It won't hurt to try, right?" Minako finally agreed.
Time:? Place:?
Darkness filled the place. The big room seemed to be dotted with electronics and varying types of robotics. It seems like a laboratory or an engineering hub.
Suddenly, the lights were turned on.
The light shines to a glass pod. It seems a girl is sleeping inside. But, it doesn't look like an ordinary girl. Several cables were attached to her and her body is made of metal. Only her face is human-like.
Moments later, her eyes were finally open. Eyes red as blood, her bluish flowing hair, the girl has awakened.
{System turned on from approx. 10 years of hibernation. Scanning surroundings. Running self-diagnostic check on background. No remarkable signs of human life.}
Out of the blue, a robotic voice is heard. [You have finally awaken, #031. Now is not the time to waste away, you have an important mission to finish.]
It is revealed from the control room that is opposite from the glass pod. A human like figure is seen at the room. The girl seemed surprised to the revelation.
"Where - Where am I? Who are you? Release...me!" The girl violently protested.
The glass pod opened, the girl fell down flaccidly.
[#031, or should I call your human name, Labrys? I will give you an order - Escape this wretched place and go to this location: Iwatodai.] The voice commanded.
The girl couldn't believe on what the human said. She knew that humans made them to be tools and be imprisoned here. But this one...how can she put this? Different than the rest?
She smiled. Then she got up, and rush to the door. The door to freedom.
"Minako Arisato, I need to talk to you" Yuko call out as she spot Minako walking home alone from the school.
"Yes, Yuko-san?" Minako replied with confused face. It's not usual that Yuko socializes.
As Yuko join her, she just stare at ground with somewhat bitter expression.
"Minako-san, we haven't talk to each other that much. I apologize for being cold to you. I'm not that kind of person, Minako-san" Yuko apologized with a sad tone.
"Yuko-san, it's okay. So, let's eat somewhere before we go to the dorm. Sounds good?" Minako tried to change the subject.
Yuko nodded with a smile in her face.
Time: Evening Date: 8th of April
It's 19:00, everyone is having their dinner at the dorm.
"There's homework already? WTH?" Rio complained while chewing her food. Who wants to have homework, anyway?
"Rio-san, It might be inappropriate to talk while chewing, but I agree with that. There's a quiz tomorrow in Physics, you know." Saori join in the discussion.
Yuko is silent as ever, enjoying her meal of teriyaki.
"I'm still terrible at cooking, the meat is not yet soft" So...Minako was the one who cooked the food?
"It's okay, Minako-san. When I cook rice, half of it got burned" Saori shared her bad cooking skills to the girls.
Rio was amused of the discussion "You said that to me, Saori-san. You just forgot to set the timer for that. Mine, guys, when I tried to cook scrambled eggs, not just it burned, I put too much salt in it!"
The girls laughed. Even Yuko laughed at Rio's much horrible cooking skills. The quiet evening is filled with the gabbing and laughter of the tenants of the dormitory.
Once everyone's done eating, they proceed to their respective rooms. Either they will do their homework, studying, idling or sleep early. Minako chose the latter part.
TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...
Dark Hour. Neku sat near the window, like it's waiting for Minako to woke up. As Minako opened her eyes...
"You were sound asleep. I make sure nothing's lay a finger on you, hmmmm?" Neku gave a wide grin, a creepy one.
Minako gasped. "Why are you here? I'm trying to sleep..."
The cat jumped to the bed and stayed with Minako. "Shadows, that's why. You haven't awaken to your innate ability, so I make sure to keep my eye on you." Neku said with sinister tone.
Although Minako seemed bothered, she hugged Neku like a stuff toy and the two slept together.
Time: 05:45 Date: 9th of April
"Argh! We're going to be late! Let's eat breakfast at school instead!" Rio exclaimed with her hair standing up.
"Rio-san, you're right. Looks like Minako-san hasn't woke up either." Saori seems awfully worried.
Aaaaand...They arrived almost late at school. Saved by the bell, as they say. That time is 07:15.
Time: AFTER SCHOOL Date: 9th of April
"Hey, Let's hang out at the Paulownia Mall!" Minako suggested, expressing with her carefree smile.
"Yeah, Let's not think about Physics, alright?" Rio gives a hands-down remark to Minako.
"It's a good thing to shake away stress, right? Then let's eat our dinner at the strip mall in Iwatodai." Saori couldn't agree more.
Time: EVENING Date: 9th of April
It's 22:00. No one seems to have the mood to sleep, except Minako.
Yuko is doing something at the computer, Saori quietly reads a book at the dining table and Rio is looking for something to watch at the television. Everything seems very normal.
TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...
The dark hour woke up Minako. As Minako look from the window, the moon is already full.
The full moon, huh? Where could that shadow be? Minako thought to herself as she change her pajamas to her uniform.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Minako heard a scream downstairs. Of course, she hurriedly went downstairs only to find out.
Her dorm mates are already here? And, what is that THING?
"If you want to hurt her, I won't allow you that!" Yuko gives a bold threat to the creature.
It was a shadow. A dark blob with two arms and wears a blue mask.
Saori seemed to be the one who screamed, as she cowers in one corner and curl herself up.
Rio, on her aggressive stance, has her hands grasped on...a frying pan?
"Take this, you scum!" Rio charged to the shadow, striking it to its head.
"What in the world? What's going on, Yuko-senpai?" Minako started to panic.
"So, there are monsters, huh? Stay there and I'll handle it." Yuko ordered as she went to the kitchen area grabbing something she can use as a weapon.
"Darn...Urghh!" *THUD* Unexpectedly, Rio was knocked off when the shadow hit her while catching her breath.
"I...won't let you hurt my friends!" Yuko shielded Minako as the shadow gets closer to her.
As the shadow attempt to strike Yuko, the shadow's arms was covered in ice before it shatters, losing the creature's arm in the process. As Yuko and Minako looked at the doorway...
"Quite late, am I?" It was the masked man in white.
Minako was saved once again by the mysterious man and she was very happy to see him. Yuko, on the other hand, was more confused.
"For the finishing touch... Per..so..na! GARUDYNE!"
A large gust of wind diced the shadow, effectively annihilating it. Only the black mist is seen dissipating from the shadow.
Yuko and Minako have widen their eyebrows. It was amazing! Meanwhile, Rio has regained her consciousness while Saori has lifted up her fear.
"We must go outside. It's too dangerous here." Osiris pointed his finger to the doorway. The rest nodded to agree.
As they walked outside, they have contemplated the bizarre world they're in.
"Whoaah...that's one, big eerie moon we got here." "Uhm... blood? I don't like blood" "Interesting. It looks like we're on a horror movie of sort."
Moments later, they felt the ground shook and heard giant footsteps. From a far corner, It's...a shadow!
As the shadow takes its form, it is composed of arms with no identifiable body. There were arms that each carries an unusually long sword, some are regular hands while one of them carries a distinctively blue mask.
"Magician" Minako muttered to herself.
"Uhmm...Magician? That's a magician? I thought that one that plays tricks and do magic, right?" Rio doesn't seem to be on her normal self. Minako face-palmed in response.
"Now, this is your chance. OSIRIS!" Osiris lunge forward and prepares his ice magic. He drew...a gun? Then he placed the gun to his temple and shouted "Bufudyne"
As the Magician shadow rushed to its enemy, it slowly trapped itself to the icy prison Osiris created.
Osiris turned back to see the amazed faces of the girls. Then he handed over the gun to the first person, that would be Rio.
"This is an evoker. It is used to summon your power that resides in you. Now, don't hesitate, just do what I did." Osiris explained calmly.
Rio seemed unsure to take the gun-like evoker. Why take the form of a gun, anyway?
"So, like this and pull the trigger? Are you sure?"
...
"Fine then. I'll trust you on this one. Here goes nothing."
Rio's hands were shaking, her face expressed fear and hesitated to pull the trigger.
Don't panic, it looks like a gun - but really it is not. No more clowning around. It's now or never.
For a moment, Rio smiled.
"Persona! ~Let's do this, HIPPOLYTA!"
Blue mist has appeared as she pulled the trigger. Evoked from Rio's psyche is the amazonian queen Hippolyta.
Thou art I...I art Thou,
I art Hippolyta, Master of Bows,
Together, we will bring victory!
"Urrrhmmm...Okay...SINGLE SHOT!"
The amazonian queen conjured an arrow made up of pure energy, drew her bow and shot at one of the shadow's tangling arm. With accuracy, the shadow let out a cry as it lost one of its hand.
"Next, please." Osiris hints the evoker to pass to the next person who happen to be Saori.
"I don't think I can do that...?" Saori answered antienthusiastically. Unfortunately, Osiris can't accept that.
"You must awaken your power. Only you can protect yourself." Osiris replied quite bitterly.
"Okay...I think now I can do it."
Just close my eyes and put it here and pull it...
"Persona! ~Give me strength, CIRCE!"
The bluish fog clouded around Saori, as her persona is summoned from her psyche. The famed sorceress who hexed men into animals.
Thou art I...I art Thou,
I art Circe, Master of Sorcery,
From this day on, I shall be at your side.
"Hnnnrrgh...right...ZIO!"
The sorceress channeled from her staff into the enemy, creating a jolt of lightning that somewhat electrocuted the shadow. It let a piercing cry.
"Next" Yuko was the next one.
Yuko tried to stay calm, she didn't muttered anything as she took the evoker and attempt to awaken her persona.
Concentrate. Breathe. Pull.
"Persona! ~Come forth, HERVOR!"
The bluish mist blanketed the persona user. The shield maiden who wield the Tyrfing emerged from Yuko's psyche.
Thou art I...I art Thou,
I art Hervor, Wielder of Tyrfing,
Thou and I are like two sides of the coin. Remember that.
"*huff-puff, huff-puff*...CLEAVE!"
The shield maiden charged to the shadow, then swing her legendary sword, Tyrfing, to the shadow.
The ice prison shattered. The shadow is free now, but limps away then retreated back to darkness.
"Is it over? Did we defeated it?"
The girls felt very happy, save for Minako who was unable to summon hers.
"I am happy for you, girls. However, I do believe I have to answer your questions but I cannot stay here any longer. I will see you soon...fools."
Osiris bid farewell as he melts into darkness.
"Let's call it a night, everyone..." Yuko said wearily.
Everyone nodded.
[The Arcana is the means in which all is revealed...Attaining one's dream requires a stern will and unfailing determination...]
As Minako entered the dorm, something flashed at her subconsciousness. It seems she obtained the FOOL tarot card.
END
Author's notes: Cool, huh? I thank you, good sir/madam that you've managed to reach the end of this lengthy chapter (unless you skipped, liars go to hell!) The story is very different but it retains some from the script from P3P. No SEES, but a different group with the same objective. That would mean very different story line since most of the story from P3P is based on SEES. I hope you would anticipate the next chapter. :) :)
The story's a little rushed up, it's been a while that I write stories but I'll try to improve next time.
- Hey, Is there somebody willing to sketch my OC's and for the cover pic for this fanfic? For Free? I don't feel to confident on drawing them myself like I have THAT talent. For those kind souls who would like to try, just PM me and I'll try to describe them one by one. Then maybe you might post on Deviantart website (I have an account there! The username's noypi6) and inform me if it's done. PLEASE I badly need one.
REVIEW, FAVORITE AND FOLLOW.
I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE PERSONA SERIES.