A Loophole in Destiny
A Persona 3 Fanfic
Author's Notes: Please forgive the inaccuracies and incorrect grammar you find in the story and sorry if the story is not good and/or boring.
Chapter 1: Wishes
"Minato-ni…" Minako called her twin brother as they both stood opposite each other unable to move their bodies. They're standing in front of 2 huge golden doors in a white, empty room.
"Hmmm?" Minato murmured as a response to the younger twin.
"Do you think everybody's doing ok?" Minako asked then Minato replied in a serious tone, "I'd like to think they are." Suddenly, Minako giggled in her position, something that Minato hasn't heard for who knows how long they've been there. The older twin wanted to look at his sister to see if she's alright but as much as he wanted to, he couldn't move his body save for his mouth.
"I think right now, Yukari-chan and Junpei are arguing because of Junpei's perverted ways." Minako said. "Probably" was the only answer that Minato gave his sister.
"Shinjiro-senpai and Aki are probably arguing as well. I'm sure Shinjiro-senpai's lecturing Aki about how he should eat healthier foods and stop taking that protein stuff he takes." Minako continued giggling as she spoke about their friends.
"I think Ken and Koro-chan are watching Featherman Ranger X right now while Fuuka-chan's busy chatting with Natsuki. I wonder what Mitsuru-senpai and Aigis are doing too. I can't think of what they could possibly be doing right now." Minako said, feeling a little down because of this then Minato spoke up. "I'm sure Mitsuru-senpai's busy with things in the Kirijo Group and Aigis is either watching Featherman Ranger X too or watching Junpei and Yukari arguing away."
After Minato's statement, they both briefly smiled and fell silent again. This is how it's been for Minato and Minako since they became the Great Seal, casual talk then silence for a long time. The silence that seemed like forever was broken after a while with a familiar voice, "Do you want to return to your friends?" the voice said.
The Arisato twins gasped as they recognized the voice, "Ryoji!" they said in unison and as if on cue Ryoji appeared from a distance seemingly approaching them with his sad smile.
"Do you want to return to your friends?" He repeated his question as he got closer to them.
"Of course, I miss my friends so much and I'm sure my brother does too, eh Minato-ni?" Minako replied.
"But no matter how much we want to return, we can't because this is our destiny. To be up here, by these doors and prevent Nyx from waking up." Minato said bluntly. Ryoji frowned at Minato's statement and everything became quiet again for a moment.
"So…. I'm glad you visited us again Ryoji-kun." Minako said, smiling a little trying to break the awkward silence and lighten the heavy atmosphere. "You haven't visited us in a while. I was worried you won't come see us again." Minako continued.
"I'm sorry. I've been busy for a while that's why I haven't visited you." Ryoji answered while looking at Minako.
"Busy with what?" Minako asked curiosity can be traced in her voice.
"Different stuff" Ryoji answered as a bright, kind smile appeared on his face and turned to face Minato. "Well? Minako answered my question already, how about you Minato-kun?" He asked the older Arisato.
"I already gave you my answer. I want the same as she does but no matter how much we want that, we can't leave this place." Minato answered him bluntly but Ryoji just kept smiling at Minato and said, "Well I want the same. I want you two to be able to return to your world and to your friends."
Minako corrected him with a smile, "Don't you mean our friends? They're your friends too Ryoji-kun."
"I guess that's true." Ryoji said looking down briefly and looked up at the twins again. "Well, we're not the only ones who wish for you two to return." Ryoji said then continued, "Just listen to all those wishes." The three of them fell silent inside the empty room and suddenly started hearing voices.
The first voice they heard was that of a man. "Hey you two, why did you guys leave? I'm the one who's sick and yet you left this wonderful world ahead of me. This place has gotten so sad after you guys died. I wish you guys were here so I have someone to talk to. You two were the only ones who spent time with me without pitying me." They can hear the man's voice laughing weakly then coughing up a little.
"Minato-ni, isn't that voice Akinari's?" Minako asked her brother and Minato answered her, "Yeah, it is. Akinari…" After a while, another voice found its way to their ears. It was the monk whom they met in Club Escapade, always drunk.
"Tch" they heard him say. "Kids these days aren't careful at all. I told you two to take care of yourselves but you didn't listen to me. Now look at where you ended up, in a grave." Mutatsu paused for a bit then continued, "Remember when I told you the last time we saw each other that I'll go see my wife and son and talk to them? Well I just did and they forgave me. So now, I have a house to come home to. It would have been nice though if you two were there to help me out. You promised after all."
Mutatsu paused for a moment again then spoke again, "My son would've been glad as well to meet you two. He'll have 2 new friends he can hang around with." They heard the monk chuckle a little followed by a sigh. Minako smiled upon hearing the monk's voice and finding out that he finally reunited with his family. Minato let out a little smile as well because of this and soon they heard another voice, this time from a crying little girl.
"Minato-neesan, Manako-neechan… I told you two to wait for me didn't I?" The girl sobbed.
"Maiko…" Minako gasped as they heard the young girl's voice, sobbing.
"It's unfair! You promised that you'll wait for me to come back so we can play again. So why did you leave? You broke your promise!" Maiko continued in between sobs. The Arisato twins and Ryoji just kept silent as they continued to hear Maiko sobbing as she spoke.
"Please… Minato-neesan, Minako-neechan… Come back…" It was the last thing they heard their young friend say before starting to cry harder. It was a long, awkward silence as they heard Maiko cry then, they heard the voice of another of their good friends.
"Come dear! Hurry up! Minato-san and Minako-chan are waiting for us." Though the twins didn't speak, they both thought the same; it was definitely Bunkichi calling on his wife, Mitsuko.
"Almost there dear..." They hear Mitsuko answer with a somewhat tired voice to her husband.
"Hello Minato-san. Hello Minako-chan. How have you two been?" Bunkichi asked as if the twins he were right in front of him.
"It's been a while hasn't it?" Mitsuko said as she tried to catch her breath. "Sorry if we haven't visited you in a while. As you both know, Mitsuko and I are both getting old." The old man chuckled after saying this.
"You've been gone for a while now so you've probably already met our son. I hope he's taking good care of both of you up there." Bunkichi said softly chuckling again.
"We know you are in a good place but it's been lonely again after you left. It felt like we lost 2 important members of our family again." Mitsuko said in a sad tone.
"Come now dear. Let's not make our dear friends sad by being sad." Bunkichi told his wife gently.
"It would be nice to see them again though and spend time with them again." Bunkichi chuckled softly and Mitsuko can be heard agreeing while chuckling a little as well. They were probably remembering the good times they've spent with the Arisato twins. Soon, the voices of Bunkichi and Mitsuko slowly faded like the previous voices as another came through.
"Hurry up Kenji! It would be nice if we got to visit our friends before the sun started to set." The next voice yelled at Minato's friend, Kenji. It was Yuko Nishiwaki, Minato knew for sure.
"Geez Kenji, can't you be any slower?" A third voice added. This time it was Rio Iwasaki, the Tennis Club captain and Minako's good friend.
"Stop complaining already. I mean we are already here right?" Kenji answered in a tired voice then continued, "Huh? There's an old couple on Minako and Minato's graves." Kenji said as he noticed an old couple just about to leave the Arisato twins' grave while he was trying to catch his breath, it was Bunkichi and Mitsuko.
"They're probably friends of Minako and Minato." Rio said.
"Yeah, they have a lot of friends who care about them." Yuko added. After the couple had disappeared, the three approached the graves and Yuko spoke up first.
"Hey Minato! You too Minako-chan! It would've been nice if you were here so you could've witnessed Rio and Kenji's great love story!" She said giggling a little while Kenji stuttered as he tried to think of something to say and Rio just kept silent.
"Yeah, Kenji was slow but at least they're finally together." Yuko continued while Rio and Kenji were both silent. "Come on you two, we came here to talk to our friends didn't we? So why are you lovebirds so quiet?" Yuko teased the two as Rio finally got her voice back.
"Y-yeah…" She stammered then continued. "We came to visit you guys and well, I came here to tell you that Kenji and I are together now." The black haired girl said obviously talking to Minako. Minako smiled upon hearing her friend say this.
Rio continued, "The Tennis Club is planning on another trip to Inaba and Yuko was going too. It would've been nice if you were here too so we can all go back there. We had a lot of fun there didn't we?" After she spoke, Kenji spoke up.
"Hey Minato, I know this is late news already since Yuko and Rio here broke it to your sister and I know you're together up there but I still wanted to tell you this. I'm over older women already." Kenji chuckles after saying this. "Not that Rio's that young or anything." He joked as Rio jabbed him on the stomach with her elbow while Yuko just laughed at the 2.
After some time of laughter, they became quiet again then, Yuko spoke up again. "Well you two, it's getting a bit late so we're going ahead now." The 3 friends said their goodbyes to the twins as their voices slowly faded.
Minato felt that it was ironic how their friends thought he and his sister were in heaven watching over them and such when in fact they were on the moon guarding the room where the so-called Maternal Being slept.
"They all visited us…" Minako said softly feeling a few tears fall down her cheeks.
"They all wish to see you again. You've touched their lives greatly and they care for both of you very much." Ryoji said softly as he gently wiped the tears off Minako's eyes. "I wish I can stay longer but I have to go now. I have some things I need to do. I'll visit you again sometime." Ryoji said smiling softly and wiping the last of Minako's tears as he left the twins.
"Minato-ni…" Minako called her brother out but he didn't respond. "I want to go back. I want to go back to our friends." Minako said sobbing weakly.
"Stop that Minako! You know that wanting isn't enough. We can't go back there because we have to stay here. Crying definitely won't help either so stop that." Minato said in an annoyed tone. Minako sobbed weakly not saying another word to her brother. Neither spoke for a while and only Minako's sobbing could be heard. As Minako was slowly calming down, they hear someone else sobbing and Minato's eyes widened when he heard the voice call out his name. It was someone he held dear and loved greatly.
"Minato, please come back…" The female voice said in between sobs then continued, "I need you Minato. I need you so much." Minato felt even more annoyed than he already was but he knew that this was just a cover, a cloak to hide the pain he's feeling.
"I love you so much Minato." The girl said in a trembling voice as she continued to cry. Minato felt like his heart was breaking when he heard the girl say this and said in a low voice, "I love you too Yukari."
The twins just stayed silent as they heard the girl's sobbing slowly fading. This was the last voice they heard for a while and everything went quiet again.
Meanwhile, "Are you sure you don't want to go with me Aigis?" the redhead leader of S.E.E.S. asked their blond friend.
"No, Mitsuru. I would like to stay here with our other friends. I would like to come back to school after the summer break." The girl answered in a monotone voice.
"Very well then, I will be back in Japan after 3 months." Mitsuru said, giving up on convincing the robot to come with her.
"Please be careful while you are away. I will also take care of everyone on your behalf." Aigis said again. After this, Mitsuru headed towards the airport as Aigis and Koromaru looked on from the entrance. "Let us go home, Koromaru-san." The robot told her companion and Koromaru barked in agreement and the two of them left.
While they were walking, Koromaru barked and Aigis looked at him. "Are you sure it is him, Koromaru-san?" Koromaru barked again as he turned around.
"It's been a while." Ryoji said leaning on a tree.
"It is you Ryoji-san." Aigis said as Koromaru barked at him. "He said what are you doing here? Is the end coming again?" Aigis said as she translated what Koromaru said.
"Can we talk somewhere private or at least somewhere with less people?" Ryoji asked the robot.
"Very well, let us head to the Shrine. But you have to tell me now. Does your coming here again have something to do with the coming of the Fall?" Aigis asked Ryoji and he shook his head as a reply while he started walking, heading towards the shrine. After some time walking, the three reached the shrine. Koromaru started running around, playing as he left the 2 to talk. Aigis on the other hand, stood still near the entrance as she waited for Ryoji to start talking. Ryoji said as he sat down on one of the swings, "Come sit with me Aigis."
"I am fine standing. So what do you wish to talk about Ryoji-san?" The robot asked coldly.
"How is everyone doing?" The boy asked and the girl replied still in a cold, monotone voice, "Everybody is having a hard time even though everyone is trying to move on. Why do you ask?"
"Well, they are my friends too. What about you Aigis? How are you doing now?" Ryoji asked Aigis, concern in his voice.
"I am sad about losing Minako-san and Minato-san. They were the reason I wanted to live but now that they are both gone, I do not know what exactly to do. Can you please tell me, where you are trying to go with our conversation?" Aigis replied, with a hint of sadness and pain in her voice.
Ryoji smiled a little at her, "You're sounding more like a human every day. That's good. I just came by to see how everyone is doing and to prepare a few things for their return." Ryoji said with a smile as he stood up.
"Preparing a few things for their return? Are you talking about Minako-san and Minato-san?" Aigis asked, her voice sounded somewhat excited.
"It was nice talking to you again Aigis." Ryoji smiled sadly as he walked towards the robot, grabbed her metal hand and gave it a gentle kiss. After this, he started walking out of the shrine leaving Aigis wondering as he refused to answer her question. Aigis just stood by the entrance of the shrine, curious about what Ryoji meant as she waited for Koromaru to finish playing then they left the shrine.
There's been so much stress and issues in the dorm after the Arisato twins "passed away". There was always awkward silence and a heavy atmosphere. This was the first time in two months that Fuuka felt happy. Natsuki arrived earlier to visit her dear friend and they went out to the movies and spent a lot of time together happily.
"I'm so glad you visited Natsuki-chan! You have no idea how happy I am right now." Fuuka said to her friend with a genuine smile.
"Well I missed you to so I had to come here and visit you." Natsuki said then continued, "It's a different feeling when we're together physically than when we talk online." "That's true." Fuuka giggled.
"So how are you coping with the death of the Arisato twins? I mean, they're from the same dorm as you after all. It must have affected you." Natsuki suddenly asked.
"That was sudden." Fuuka said and they both giggled then Fuuka continued with a more serious tone, "I'm sad. They were my close friends so I felt really down when they died." Fuuka tried to hold her tears back and Natsuki came closer to her comforting her.
"It's going to be okay. I know you're sad, that's actually why I came here." Natsuki told her friend with a soft smile as Fuuka wiped her tears smiling back at her.
"You're a great friend, Natsuki." She said and they both smiled then Natsuki looked behind Fuuka curiously.
"What's wrong Natsuki-chan?" Fuuka asked looking at her friend.
"There's a really cute boy looking at you." Natsuki giggled pointing behind Fuuka.
"It's not polite to point Natsuki-chan." Fuuka said giggling as she turned around and dropped her jaw in surprise.
From a good distance, Ryoji was standing looking at her with a smile. "Ryoji-kun… What is he doing here?" She muttered to herself.
"See?" Natsuki giggled even more while standing close to her smaller friend. Ryoji waved at Fuuka as he continued to look at her.
"Natsuki-chan, do you mind if I leave you for a few minutes?" Fuuka asked her friend in a serious tone.
"Huh? Is something up?" Natsuki asked, confused. "I don't know yet. Just wait for me, I'll be back soon." Fuuka said as she started to walk towards the fountain. Ryoji headed towards the same fountain as Natsuki looked at both of them confused.
"She seems like a close friend of yours." Ryoji said as a greeting to Fuuka.
"Yes, she is." Fuuka replied. "Why are you here Ryoji? You said that if we defeat the Nyx, it would delay the coming of the Fall for a longer time." Fuuka asked.
"My being here has nothing to do with that. I came here to ask you about something important." Ryoji replied then continued, "Do you know anybody by the name Theodore or Elizabeth? I believe they're acquaintances of Minako and Minato."
"Yes, I've helped the twins before in a battle against Theodore and Elizabeth." Fuuka answered.
"Do you have any way of contacting them?" Ryoji asked again.
Fuuka looked at him curiosity running in her head, "Why?" she asked.
"I need to talk to them." Ryoji said. "Well?"
"I do have Theodore's number, if that's enough for you." Fuuka said still curious.
"Can you please call him for me?" Ryoji asked then Fuuka sighed, "I am dialing his number but you talk to him." She said.
"Okay." Ryoji said. Fuuka took her phone out then dialed Theodore's number. Once it started ringing, Fuuka gave the phone to Ryoji.
"Hello, Fuuka? Is something wrong?" Theodore greeted on the other end.
"I'm sorry, this isn't Fuuka. I'm Ryoji, a friend of hers." Ryoji answered.
"Did something terrible happen to Fuuka?" Theodore asked in concern and Ryoji immediately answered, "Not at all. Listen, if it's not too much to ask, I'd like to talk to you personally."
Theodore asked in a curious tone, "Hmmm? Talk to me? I don't think we know each other so what are we going to talk about?" Ryoji laughed a bit as he heard this then softly said, carefully eyeing Fuuka, "It's about your very special guests." Theodore gasped upon hearing the word guests, "Minako-sama and Minato-sama?"
"Yes." Was Ryoji's simple answer then continued "So can we talk?"
"Of course, where shall we meet?" Theodore asked without having second thoughts.
"I'd like to meet you in the place where they're resting peacefully." Ryoji answered and Theodore asked again, "Do you mean their grave?" and Ryoji replied, "Yes. I will be waiting for you there." With that, Ryoji hung up and gave the phone back to Fuuka.
"Thank you for your help, Fuuka. Well, I have to get going. Take care of yourself and have a good life." Before Fuuka could ask any more questions, Ryoji has already left.
Fuuka, confused returned to her friend who was waiting in the Chagall Café. "I'm sorry I took so long." Fuuka apologized.
"No worries. So who was the cute guy?" Natsuki said, teasing her friend. "Ryoji Mochizuki. He arrived in Gekkoukan High after you left but he studied there only for a while." Fuuka said in a somewhat blank manner. Natsuki looked at her with concern as Fuuka snapped back and gave her friend a smile.
"Do you want to go to the Karaoke bar after we finish our drinks?" Fuuka asked cheerfully and Natsuki's short answer was a nod.
I was trying to avoid making it longer that it already was but it is better than hurting people's eyes so, sorry for the chapters being too lengthy.
I can't think of any other way of making the chapters shorter so again, sorry. T_T
I will try my best to make the other chapters shorter .
Also updated a few words, sentences I noticed in the process of adding spaces.
Thanks so much for everyone who find interest in my very first *not to mention, long* fanfiction. (hopefully it won't be the last either. hoho)