Been a while, I know, but I'm finally around to updating. I'm going to try and do it more regularly now, so be patient.
Narukami Yuu was a calm guy by nature. Level headed, tried to see all the angles. His mother once joked about him becoming a police detective like his uncle, Dojima, he was so calm and insightful. He had already been designated amongst his friends as their leader for this attribute. But he had been very surprised, not quite shaken, when a mystery boy had showed up in Yukiko's castle, making quick work of the Shadow they had been having trouble with.
The boy had quickly collapsed afterwards though. From the ferocity of that…beast he had unleashed, it was completely understandable as well. After the battle, he had sent Yosuke and Chie home with Yukiko, she would need the rest, while he called his uncle to come take them to the hospital. Dojima questioned him briefly, asking where he had found him. The grey haired teen said outside of Junes, in the pouring rain. The detective left it at that.
Now, Yuu found himself at the bed of the resting mystery hero after school, watching him through calculating eyes. Was he a threat? Was he here to harm more people? Unlikely, otherwise he wouldn't have intervened at the castle. An ally perhaps? Possibly, but Yuu doubted either Yosuke or Chie knew him.
The youth found himself leaning forward, learning the other teen's features. Yuu was intrigued by this new Persona user, an enigma. Was Arisato Minato his real name or an alias?
Yuu took a peek at the file heading at the end of the bed. "Tsk. John Doe. Damn." He looked up to make sure no one was coming in, and took a more in depth look at the file. What he saw made his eyebrows rise.
Cracked ribs galore, internal bleeding, fractures in both legs and particularly his right arm. Minor concussion. Did all of this happen from his romp into the other world? That didn't seem likely, he had appeared quite collected, bodily wise, in the castle. Prior injuries then.
A groan from the bed in front of him pulled Yuu out of his musings as he turned his attention to the enigma, the puzzle, the challenge.
Light leaked back into my senses as I became painfully aware of my injuries, and how I desperately wished for Thanatos to mask the pain once more. Searching for him, I found him resting in the recesses of my mind. He must be tired too after all of the recent events.
Looking forward, I noticed the grey haired kid from before, Narukane? Narakase? I can't remember, but he's looking at me with a look I'm not quite sure how to name. Scientific interest? Strategic? I tune out my own thoughts when he opens his mouth.
"Narukami Yuu, remember me?" he says, nodding his head in acknowledgement of my awakened state. "Quite the number of war stories you've got here." He held up a folder, probably reports of just why my chest feels like it was hit by the flat side of Shinji's axe.
"That bad huh? Certainly explains a lot." I rubbed away some of the sleep from my eyes with my left arm, the one not in a cast the size of my thigh. "So, what can I help you with? These aren't casts, just flesh wounds."
The guy, Narukami, gave a chuckle. "Monty Python, well played. I was hoping you could answer some questions of mine."
"Rather unorthodox, don't you think? I don't remember the Japanese police ever handing out junior detective badges." I'm not quite sure why I baited him.
Narukami let out a full laugh at that point. "Just missed the induction ceremony I'm afraid."
I let out a fake sigh, "Oh drat, did I? Guess I saved up all those box tops for nothing."
"There's always next week, you can join with the rest of class."
"I knew eating all those poptarts would come in handy."
"And come in handy they did, if you ate enough to become a junior lieutenant."
"Just call me Snorlax." I was beginning to wonder if I was on Vicodin.
"I'll keep a flute on me." Narukami said back, partaking in the nonsensical banter.
"Be sure it's not an ocarina."
"Because Japan is really Hyrule under a spell."
"Ganondorf." I say, holding up a finger to make him pause.
"Oh yes, right. Can't overlook that evil."
"Just like you can't overlook the evil of the Shadows." Narukami said back, bringing the humor to an intense stop. "Now, moving on a more serious note-"
"But I thought I was Sirius?"
"Horrible timing and a bad pun, tsk tsk. So, Arisato Minato your real name?" The grey haired kid asked, leaning back in his seat.
I regarded him for a bit, two could play at the analyzing game. He's ready to move, judging from his tense stance, but is confident enough that his guard is down. He thinks he has power to back up the confidence I realize. I prodded for Thanatos in the back of my mind, urging him awake.
You called for me?
'This boy is a Persona user, can you send out a probe, see how strong he is Thanatos?'
Child's play.
As Thanatos pooled his power around him to prepare for what I called a 'ping', I gave Narukami an affirmative answer, "Yes, my name is actually Minato, Arisato Minato."
"And what you did back there? That thing you pulled forth?"
Barely a newborn of a Persona, but he is…different. He is as you were.
"I reckon it was the sexier version of yours." I gave a cool smile at how his eyes narrowed, his brain visibly going a mile a minute behind his eyes. "I'll give you a hint you already know." I said, gesturing for him to come closer. He quirked an eyebrow, but complied. Not that I could injure him in my state.
He regarded me carefully. "On three."
"One…"
"Two…"
"Three."
"Persona." said the young man, while I gave a short chuckle. He glared at me before returning to his seat, knowing he fell for that one.
"Fine, fine, you win that round. But I really do need to know. People have been dying in this town, and I think it's connected to that world we first met in. If you can shed any light, it would be much appreciated."
I gave Narukami a regarding look. He wanted…very sensitive information about the Persona and the way they worked. I didn't know anything about these murders, but inner selves and Shadows I most definitely knew. I thought back on everything so far. SEES, Pharos, Nyx, the seal, Elizabeth, the strange castle…
Why did it feel as though everything in my life suddenly revolved around the Shadows? I was tired of them, the black ichor that composed their bodies, the masks, the corruption…
Those who are destined for battle often detest it the most.
'Thank you dear friend, for that wonderful fortune cookie-worthy quote.' I stared hard at the wall, contemplating everything. Narukami was still waiting on an answer. How old was he? He couldn't be out of high school, he doesn't need to be trying to solve murders.
'Just as we were.' I thought bitterly. I gave him my answer, "Alright, but you catch me up to everything here first."
"I'm back." Narukami said as he walked through the door."Nanako, is your dad back yet?"
"No." he heard her say. "There's food in the kitchen if you're hungry."
"Thank you Nanako, I'll come back down later." Narukami said as he went up to his room. Locking the door behind him, Narukami went to his desk and pulled out his laptop, Dojima suggested he get one for some fun and for the work.
Well, he would certainly be using it for work.
There were files on everybody on the internet, be they articles, school social sites, mentions of people on forums, there would be always be something. Narukami was personally disturbed by how much he could round up about himself on the internet. But tonight, he wanted to make sure. Izanagi was on edge the whole time in the hospital room,
"Now, let's see who you are…" Narukami said quietly, typing 'Arisato Minato' into the search engine.
After clicking and reading several different articles and sites, Narukami leaned back in his chair, his brain working quicker and quicker.
'What's a dead man doing walking around in Inaba?'
I awoke with a start, the world quickly coming into focus. It was dark, night time. But what caught my attention was the ethereal blue door at the end of my bed.
'Igor knows I'm back.' I realize, then I chuckled. "Of course he knows…" I muttered. I tried moving my legs off the bed, but only pain met that action. "Damn. Thanatos."
I heard him growl in my mind, indicating he was at the ready. 'Go and get me a wheel chair, would you? And don't be seen.'
Done.
Several minutes later, a wheel chair rolled into the room, seemingly by itself. I sat up, reaching for the handles and pulled it closer. Thanatos lifted me into the wheel chair, and I dismissed him back to my mind. I rolled forward, and opened the door.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room." A voice to my left said. I turned to look at her. I was reminded of Elizabeth. "My name is Margaret. And I believe you already know my master."
"Igor."
"Welcome back. I had not anticipated having you as a guest once more, people usually only make use of the Velvet Room for one quest in life. It would seem you are destined to be unique in that design."
"So I take it you had nothing to do with Elizabeth coming to find me?"
It was Margaret who answered this, speaking before her master had the opportunity. "My younger sister went after you of her own volition. It would appear she succeeded."
I wince slightly, I can feel a minor bit of hostility from her. Just barely there, on the edge. Understandable. Her sister just sacrificed her entire being for a boy.
"As wonderful as it is to have you as a guest again," Igor said, breaking the tense atmosphere, "I'm afraid to inform you that we will be very limited in use to you. While you may have once been the Wild Card, that power is now in the hands of another. The personae you obtained in your last quest were cleared from the compendium upon your…believed death."
"So I have no compendium to draw from."
"That is correct. There are, however, a few persona that are only accessible to you. Thanatos is one, as well as Orpheus, since he could feel your return has decided to answer only to you. Messiah and Orpheus Telos are also again at your side, but ask you grow strong enough to handle them again."
I bite down on my lip, not liking this new development. I had been counting on having an army at my back, but now I had a handful of, admittedly powerful, persona who will not answer my call just yet.
"I'll take Orpheus for now then."
"He's already with you."
I feel him out in my mind, finding my first persona. 'Care to heal me up, Orpheus?'
As I felt Orpheus begin to cast dia repeatedly, I looked back at Igor. "So, Igor, where do you suggest I go from here?"
The hooked nose man only smiled.
A/N: And there is chapter 2. I hope you all enjoyed.
