Shopping.
Grocery shopping was good. Pulling on a light blue hoodie, he muttered a few words to his friends before leaving. The frigid wind bit into his still flushed cheeks and made him shudder. He had not gone far down the street before he felt people fall into step behind him, shuffing on the snowy ground. Minato took diverse routes through alleyways, trying to lose them. But they too knew these streets and they had cornered him in a moment of weakness.
Twitchy figures, drug users on a downward spiral.
'G-give us the m-money... T-that's all we w-w-want!'
Fists clothed in sleeves, a flash of a knife clenched within. He had no Evoker with him...
'Hey!'
A stray black feather blew on the winter breeze, a silhouette illuminated nearby.
The drug users fled, terrified by a haunting fear that filled their hearts. Minato gave a sharp sigh of relief, his breath steaming up. He did not notice the footsteps as his saviour came closer.
'I can't believe some people...'
Dressed in a white cream hoodie and his usual scarf...
Well, people had said things that Personas would come to their user's need when their life was in danger...
Minato quiet agreed that this took the biscuit.
'You left pretty quickly last night...'
'I did...' Death admitted. 'Sure, we had a good time, but-'
'Let me guess; You couldn't stay?'
'No...'
Minato had been expecting that. 'I just wanted you to still be there when I woke up.'
In truth, after gathering his clothes and getting dressed, Ryoji had stayed for a while, he had stood and watched Minato sleep. Black wings sprouting from his back, he leapt out of the window and flew off. He had stayed as long as he could.
'You look cold... Let's get something to drink.'
Hot chocolate with mini marshmellows. MInato sipped his down as best he could without burning his tongue, letting it warm his body. Then the bluenette notcied Ryoji staring sadly down into his own mug. 'What's wrong?'
'Time ticks on mercilessly..' he stated. 'Every second that passes brings Nyx closer...'
Mood Killer.
'Hey, Ryoji...?'
Cerulean eyes looked to him.
'Forget about the future, focus on now. Us.'
'Us...' he considered it. 'Such a sweet dream... But every dream must end...'
Minato shook his head. 'I... I don't want it to end...'
Their drinks were drunk and soon they left to face the chilling weather outside. Minato found Ryoji's presence reassuring, like having some sort of... depressed guardian angel. He just wanted to smile, Ryoji had such a wonderful smile.
'You humans, you spend your whole life waiting for a single moment and then... One day, it's tomorrow, and the moment's gone.' The scarfed figure mused as they walked back.
'Come in. Come in with me.'
'I can't...'
'Can't, or won't?' Minato demanded, Ryoji's negativity grating on him.
'I... Can't face them, it's the guilt... I...'
The two shared a gentle goodbye kiss.
'But sooner or later, Ryoji, everyone has to face their shadows.'
Minato left him standing in the gentle snowfall.
'I.. Was going to be with you... Forever...'
'I don't care about The Fall, Philemon, I have my own agenda.'
'Would your agenda involve those two? What are you planning...?' Philemon sounded suspicious.
'My own amusement.' Nyarlathotep replied with a smirk. 'I want to be there when their little troop reaches the top of Tartarus, and Minato Arisato's heart takes an emotional blow so hard that it shatters into shards! I want to feel the despair that fills his heart as the light leaves his eyes! The final call to Nyx!'
His laughter bounched around the ethereal gazebo. The masked man turned away, disgusted.
If humans had the power to call Nyx, then it had the power to destroy her. It was just a matter of finding a light so bright that no dark despair could eclipse it.
He slapped Nyarlathotep's hand away as he reached for the butterfly mask.
'I thought you didn't interfere?' The Crawling Chaos demanded.
'This is not interference, this is pest control.' he replied.
"Sooner or later, Ryoji, everyone has to face their shadows."
Minato's words echoed in his head as he sat on the roof of the snow covered school. He bowed his head, thinking back on everything that had happened.
Minato... He would never make it to his graduation, he would never live to see his eighteenth birthday.
'... And it's all my fault...' he sobbed softly. 'Hm?'
His attention wandered to the blue butterfly as it flew around his head.
'Aren't you cold, little guy?' Ryoji asked. 'Did you come here to think too?'
Since when did butterflies come out in the winter, anyway?
The door to the roof opened and a flustered janitor stepped out.
'I feel like such a tramp...' He muttered to himself before looking to Ryoji. 'Hm? What are you doing out here? Surely in weather like this you should be wrapped up warm at home, or with friends?'
'I... Can't see my friends.' Ryoji admitted.
'Now, surely there must be someone out there who cares for you? Someone you want to see again?' the janitor folded his arms, raising an eyebrow. 'Hmm? Pretty girl, or boy?'
'...'
'Look, if you love someone, then you should be with them.' the eldery man cast his arms out, letting the snow fall onto his jacket. 'Life is short!'
Ryoji shut his eyes, considering.
He didn't see the janitor smirk. Just one more push...
'I'm sure they miss you just as badly...'
Ryoji had gone.
'Welllllll...' The janitor collapsed onto the bench, golden eyes finding the butterfly. 'I should really get an award for my acting. Go on, my little time bombs, tick away...'
Philemon had nothing to say. He could only silently pray.
Minato did not take kindly to being hoisted off the floor by his ankle. 'Put me down, idiot!'
Ryoji's laughter carried across the warm summer air, holding the fishing rod tightly. 'Would you look at that! I caught something!'
'I'm a person! Not a fish!'
He hit the wooden deck of the port with a crash, landing in a heap.
Ryoji laughed louder still.
Minato sat up with a huff, struggling to get his hair out of his eyes. 'You idiot...'
'Aha... OK, I'll make it up to you. Drinks on me.'
'Fine...' the bluenette admitted. He noticed Ryoji draped an arm over his shoulder in a friendly way. 'So... Aigis... What's her deal?'
Minato awoke to rest on a tear stained pillow.
'Minato...?' Yukari stood in the doorway, looking into the room. 'Have you been crying again?'
He quickly wiped his eyes, turning away. He just wanted to sleep, be ready for Nyx...
Together, they raided the fridge and grabbed as many ingredients as they could.
'Hey, I don't think a skinny guy like you could eat that much...'
Both stared in wonderment at the towering sandwhiches they had built.
'It's worth a try.' Minato gave a large smile, trying to figure out where on earth to start.
Ryoji gave a small laugh seeing Minato reaching for the top of the sandwhich. 'Ok, we know it's too tall when you have to stand on a stool to reach it.'
Minato gave a small laugh in his sleep.
'Guh... So much food. So full...'
They sat on the sofa, rubbing their bloated stomachs. Koromaru whined sharply as he wandered into the lounge, Yukari had dressed him in a maid outfit, and the dustpan and brush in his mouth did little to disprove that image. He placed the cleaning instruments at Minato's feet and looked up at him with another whine.
'What? You want us to pick up the crumbs?' Minato wondered.
Ryoji sat up as he belched loudly. Immediatly his cheeks flushed red. 'Pardon...'
Minato laughed for a while afterwards.
The S.E.E.S. members had gathered around the doorway to Minato's bedroom, glancing at the clock occasionally and unsure wether or not to wake him. The Dark Hour would be upon them soon. 'What do you think his dreaming about?' Yukari wondered.
Junpei could only snort loudly. 'Who do you think?'
The cobalt haired teen gave another sleepy smile.
Alone. The two leant in for a kiss, a kiss that was cut short by a curious whine from Koromaru.
'Shoo! You're ruining the moment!' Ryoji ordered, waving the dog away. Koromaru backed from the room and Minato was quick to push the door shut.
'Where were we?' he wondered, sitting himself back down next to the scarfed teen.
'I remember...' the two leant closer again.
"Ding-dong".
Ryoji drew back. 'Was that the doorbell, or did you just have a really good idea?'
Another sweet memory in dream form made him smile again.
Laughter from the S.E.E.S. members as they rushed barefoot through the sand. Minato stood on the beach, feeling the warm summer sun, and enjoying the holiday. Beach volleyball! The warm golden sand between his toes, the sun, the sea, the fresh air, and...
Minato looked to his left, he recived a devilish grin from Ryoji for his efforts.
Him.
Mitsuru took a photo for the memories.Philemon looked down on the sleeping man. A spark. The tinest glimmer of light shone through the dark coulds of despair.
They went for drinks afterwards. It was amusing for all when Junpei inhaled the fizz of the lemonade and sneezed loudly. The chain reaction of giggling resulted in most people spilling their drinks. Minato was forced to lick up the large amounts of whipped cream that had fallen from the spiral atop his drink and onto his hand. He felt those cerulean eyes upon him, and so took it slowly and deliberatly, running his tongue up his fingers. Just for added effect, Minato, one by one, slowly sucked his fingers clean. He gave a mental smile and knew it had the desired effect when Ryoji shifted in his seat, trying to readjust the canary yellow shorts he wore.
Minato Arisato gave another small laugh in his sleep. The spark of light grew into a frail flame.
'Ice cream!' Yukari suggested in a cheer.
They found it was just the thing in the powerful summer heat. Minato stood in the shade, searching for new ways to embarass Ryoji. Playful ways. He found the answer in the from of the slowly melting popsicle in his hand. 'Mm...' he playfully licked it.
Ryoji wasn't paying attention.
'MMM!'
'Hm?' he turned to look at the bluenette.
'Mmm...' Minato licked the popsicle again before beginning to suck it.
'P-please dont... Not again.' He pleaded softly.
Minato had him now and wasn't going to let him go until he had gone red in the cheeks.
He pulled the popsicle from his mouth and licked it once more, savouring the sharp cherry taste.
'Mm... So big and tasty...'
Ryoji gulped deeply. 'Damn you...'Minato awoke, immediatly he felt sad that the one in question was not there. The light dimmed back into a pale glow. He wanted Death... Where was he?
He wanted to be kissed, cuddled, and hear sweet words whispered...
'My plan is flawless, Philemon, and you know it is! Fun and frivolty...' He gestured his hands out to the top floor of Tartarus. '... And this is how it ends...'
The two of them watched as the blue haired teen slumped to his knees, staring up at Nyx's avatar. Heart broken, sadness and despair seeping out of his form in waves of dark smoke.
Philemon was unamused. He strode through Minato, making the form ripple and distort. Dispelling the illusion with a wave of a hand, he left the two of them alone.
'There is another side besides the dark and despair, Crawling Chaos. I am a testemant to that.'
'Be that as it may, Philemon, to where else does a man turn when the heart abandons all hope?'
The Crawling Chaos began to slowly circle his counterpart, giving an amused chuckle. 'That's right... Minato Arisato is no different!'
He stopped, taking Minato's form, albeit if the bluenette had fiery golden eyes, features eclipsed by unnatural shadows, and a diabolical sneer. He continued walking again, shifting through the Shadow Sides of the S.E.E.S. members, bar Aigis and Koromaru.
'They wear the masks of caring friends, but the seed of darkness is not so easily dispelled! Unease turns to distrust, spreading into fear and hatred as it consumes the heart! In some part of their own mind, they believe Him to be a monster. I know this is true because...'
He stopped in front of Philemon, in the form of Ryoji, yellow scarf turned a blood crimson. 'I am a monster too. What use is a feeble light against centuries of despair?'
The spirit guide said nothing.
'Look here, Philemon. You may have won our little bet, but I will win this new game... I will prove to you and those humans that no-one could love a monster!'
No-one could love a monster? Philemon gave him a sideways glance, but said nothing
