"Man, I'm whipped" Junpei said as he theatrically fainted and lay unmoving on the floor of Tatarus

"Man, I'm whipped" Junpei said as he theatrically fainted and lay unmoving on the floor of Tatarus.

"Geez, stupei cn't you be serious for once?" Yukari said with a sigh.

Junpei gaze no response as he continued to lay motionless on the floor moving not even one muscle.

Yukari scowled. "Your so childish!" Junpei still ignored her and lay motionless on the ground. She gritted her teeth in rage before a brilliant idea came to her. She let out a false gasp "Junpei, there a shadow behind you!"

He jumped up immediately swinging as he swung his sword wildly. "Where's that damn shadow? I'll hill it!" There was no shadow, only Yukari's faint snickering could be heard. Junpei realized he had been tricked! "That wasn't funny Yuka-tan."

Her snickering had grown into full blown laughter. "You should have seen your face! You were all 'where is it, where is it.'" She mimicked his voice mocking him.

"Look who's talking! If I remember correctly weren't you the one who was afraid of ghost haunting the school?" He then mimicked the sound that a ghost makes.

"Hey, knock it off you two!" Akihiko said stepping in. "Or do you want a real shadow to find us, especially considering the condition were in?" Looking over the group he could easily tell they were all tired.

"Sorry sempai." The pair said apologetically.

"Hey Arisato," the upperclassman said turning to their dark blue haired leader. "Did you see any access points on this floor?"

Minato closed his eyes trying to recall the thing they sought. He shook his head, "can't say that I remember. I'll ask Fuuka to make sure." Turning on the mic to his head set he said "Fuuka can you check to if there were any access points on this floor?"

There was a moments pause before Fuuka answered. "No I'm afraid there isn't one on this floor. However you're still a ways from the powerful presence I sensed earlier, so you might be fin on the next floor."

"We won't know until we try." Following Minato's lead everyone ascended the stairs. When they reached the top of the stairs it was the worst possible scenario. They had all been separated!

"Everyone try not to et attacked by-" Fuuka tried to warn them but was interrupted by a scream that could only belong to Yukari.

"Leader," Akihiko called over the head set "Iori and I came up near the access point. Do you want us-"

"Head back down!" Minato interrupted him as he rushed in the direction of Yukari's scream, sword in one hand evoke in the other. "I'll go after Yukari. We have to keep casualties to a minimum!"

All alone Yukari stood face to chest of a large golem like shadow wielding a large sword. She fired an arrow at it but it harmlessly bounced of. "Yukari-chan please hold on a little longer, Minato-kun is on his way."

"Easy for you to say" Yukari shouted as she ducked under the shadows large sword before firing another arrow hitting the shadow.

Even though the arrow hit it seemed to little damage. The shadow took the chance to rub it in by scratching the place where the arrow hit signifying that it was no more than a bug bite. "Why you!" Yukari reached for her evoker, pointing it at her head she pulled the trigger. Her persona, Isis, appeared in front of her unleashing her strongest wind skill, garudyn. Yet the attack was barely effective.

Before Yukari could even brace herself the shadows sword collided with her throwing her against the wall. She slid down the wall as she let out a whimper. Fighting alone was much harder than fighting in a team

"I'm done for" she said in a weak voice as the shadow approached her. She shut her eyes as the shadow raised it's blade as she waited for the end. BANG! Instead of hearing the sound of hearing the blade strike the walls of Tartarus and herself instead she heard a gun shot.

Opening her eyes she saw the figure of a boy roughly her age with an evoker to his head and a sword in his other hand. In front of him there was an explosion of white caused by a shadowed persona with a cape of coffins. It was the persona of the death arcana; Thanatos. This would be the second time that persona and its wielder saved her.

Minato rushed forward and thrust his sword into the shadow before retracting it, he rotated around slashing it once more before he jumped into the air. He drew back his swords, letting out a cry; he slashed through the shadow turning it into nothingness. The boy grabbed his evoker again and pointed it at his head. There was another bang but instead of the angel of death it was a woman dressed in green, it was Tatania.

A warm light enveloped her and she felt the pain from earlier fade away. "Took you long enough," she joked. Yukari attempted to stand before a sudden pain shot through her body and she stumbled forward. She collided with something hard but she thanked it for holding her up. Looking up she saw it was Minato. "Sorry, I think I sprained my ankle when I hit the wall."

"I could carry you."

"There's no way!" Yukari declined as she pushed away from him, feeling pain shoot through her leg again she nearly stumbled again. "See I'm fine" she said through gritted teeth but the expression on hr face read pain.

Minato sighed before crouching down with his back to her. "Come on, get on."

"No, I can walk by myself." Yukari said stamping her foot, she learned her lesson when pain shot through her leg.

"Get on before-"

"Death is near!" Fuuka said finishing his thought.

Yukari scowled as Minato glared back at her. "Fine" with a sigh she climbed on his back and he started running toward in direction he arrived in.

"Fuuka, can you tell me where the access point is? Yukari if any shadows come up you have to fight them for us." Minato said distributing orders.

'Well someone certainly has grown braver' Yukari thought as she listened to his orders. It was only a few months ago that they had just met and he had gotten scared when she drew her evoker. Now he was like a completely different person who she had grown to trust and depend on. In fact there were times when he became her primary rock of support. She smiled to herself about all the talks they had.

"Yukari!"

Hearing her name brought her back from her world of memories only to see something from her memories she wasn't very fond of, shadows. Yukari aimed her bow at the shadows as she tried to balance. She fired two bolts at the shadows but only stunned them long enough for them to run by.

"Fuuka it would be really helpful if I knew where that access point was." Minato shouted as he continuously ran down hallways searching for the exit.

"Sorry it's just a little further. Turn here and it should be down the hall."

As Minato rounded the corner he saw the access point at the end of a hall with not a shadow in sight. This did not bode well. "Yukari get out your evoker and be prepared to shoot me.

"I sense death" Fuuka distraught voice called over the headset. Without hesitation Yukari aimed her gun at Minato's head.

As if on cue Death rounded the corner directly in front of the access point. "Pull the trigger now!" she flinched from his shout and as if on reflex she pulled the trigger. BANG! Minato's body glowed in a faint blue light before the energy was expelled out of him.

The energy gathered in the sky forming multiple orbs of yellow light. The air crackled with electricity. It was the fusion spell Thunder call! As they neared Death a bolt of thunder fell from the sky striking death and in the process thrust them forward past the paralyzed reaper. Tossed by the might of his own power, Minato hurtled through the air, yet his only concern was protecting Yukari from being hurt any further.

There existed a moment of weightlessness before Minato's back collided with something hard. He could feel Yukari body resting on top of his own. At first he planned to catch his breath as he lay there however the sound of someone clearing their throat brought him back to reality.

"My, my what do we have hear?" Minato opened his eyes to find Mitsuru hovering over him.

"Minato-san I did not know you two were so close" the voice of Ken chimed in.

"He never does that with me" Aigis added.

Minato opened his eyes to see his friends hovering over him; they were back on the first floor of Tartarus. Apparently the blast had thrown them through the access point. He didn't quite understand what they were mumbling about until he looked down at Yukari. The two of them seemed to be clinging together for dear life! He had a single arm wrapped around her as she tightly gripped his shirt. The two looked at each other before Yukari pushed herself away.

"It's not what you think! You see I sprained my ankle-" Yukari began.

"So I decided to carry her." Minato continued the story.

"Then death came along-"

Mitsuru raised a hand shushing them. "We've already heard the story from Fuuka. We were just taking joy in how you two arrived here." Mitsuru chuckled to herself. "Anyway Arisato you seem tired so Iori will carry Takeba back to the dorm."

"Me? Why do I have to…" Junpei was about to protest when he gave it some thought. "Sure I'll do it" he said with a smirk.

"Sempai I don't trust that smile" Yukari said with fear in her voice.

"You do have a point, what was I thinking when I recommended Junpei?"

"Hey!"

"Then Akihiko can do it" Mitsuru continued on ignoring Junpei.

"I'm talking here dammit!"

"No, sempai is just as tired as the rest of us and the dorm isn't that far so I can carry her." Minato said as he knelt down to pick up Yukari.

"Hello can't anyone see me? Fine I just wait here than" Junpei said as he crossed his arms indignantly as everyone continued walking. Another idea came to mind before he chuckled "Fine I'm coming."

"Wait! Junpei walks in front" Yukari said as if reading his mind

"Oh come on!" Junpei shouted in defeat.

"Hey Minato" Yukari whispered as the walked from Tatarus. "Am I…a burden?"

He was a little taken aback by her question "Of course not. You've helped us out a lot, what made you think that?"

"Well it's just that it seems that no matter how much trouble I get in or when ever I'm upset you're the one who seems to be the one that saves me. I was just wondering if you ever get sick of it."

"Don't worry about it. Like Orpheus did for Eurydice I'd go through hell for you."

"…Thanks." Yukari said in a low voice. She tightened her arms around his neck as she rested her head on his shoulder. Somehow he had did it again. In away no one else could he comforted her and somehow has she clung to him she felt safe.

TBC

I really wanted to do this story. It's just taken me so long to actually do it. I really hope I captured everyone one correctly. If not I would like the readers to help me improve upon it. See you next time