Fate Rewritten by Wordsworthy

Disclaimer: I obviously do not own The Shin Megami Tensei series since obviously Atlas does. This is, after all, just a fanfiction written for the sole purpose of entertainment and no profit motive whatsoever. So please just enjoy the story and do not sue me for this. If you wish to know more about the series, please support the companies producing them directly and purchase their merchandise if you like.

Chapter 2: Reiji Yashuu (零時夜襲)

In the dead of space, or wherever the strange limbo laid in the greater scheme of things, a rare smile went unseen by anyone as two outstretched hands took gradual form.

"And so it begins."

The small group of friends froze up slightly a little after they entered the ward as their eyes centred on its lone occupant. Something about the sparse sunlight that filtered by the curtains gave his long blue hair a pale unearthly sheen while illuminating his features with an almost surreal glow. And that gentle smile. That striking, yet unslipping smile. The same one he wore when he last greeted them all those years ago. The same one with which he greeted them now. He looked so very contented, so very at peace, so very… completed… that it brought back renewed pangs of fear and worry amidst his friends; that he won't be coaxed back from that tranquil stillness… that he won't be coming back any more…

"Hey hey! How's it going? You look well." rang out Junpei in a more airily than usual fashion as he made towards the man in the centre of things, breaking the awkward silence that had congealed with his deliberately clownish tone. "Hey, how long are you guys gonna just stand there? Time's a wasting you know."

Aigis flashed a grateful smile towards Junpei for his well-timed intervention as she gave a slight nod in acknowledgement. He had always been the moodmaker of the group, and despite all these years and his now evident maturity, he never failed to amaze her. Turning around to her other friends, she noticed the two other very affected women quickly turning away, trying to stow away the stubborn tears that had gathered beyond their irises.

He's very well loved. But that is to be expected.

The more composed of the three women returned a fond smile towards the blonde before she turned to the men around her.

"Why don't you guys go get together first? We girls will go set up the table and prepare for lunch in the meanwhile."

"Good idea, Fuuka. Let's go Ken." agreed the silver-haired man while the lankier young man nodded in approval as well, moving to join the other who was already talking away with their common friend.

Having regained enough of their bearings, the redhead and the brunette turned back towards the remaining two women with sheepish and embarrassed expressions, no doubt rueing their loss of control so early on. The blonde gave them an assuring smile to indicate her understanding; after all, they do share the same sentiments on oh so many levels. The green-haired woman tried not to look too amused at their friendly rivalry slash camaraderie as she gave them a slight push towards the pantry at the corner of the room.

"Let's go."

Between the four women, the tasks at hand seemed to pose less and less of the desired distraction as dinnerware and cutleries were quickly rinsed, glasses and plates arranged and the table set for lunch. Taking stock of their handiwork, or rather the lack of any work left, the women shared a "why not?" smile as they proceeded to join the others by the bed.

"… she's going to be five soon and I can tell she's going to turn out to be a quite the looker, just like her mom. But can you believe it? Every time I tell Chidori how glad I am that she takes after her more, she always complains that there's too much of me in her for that to happen…"

"Oh great, just what this world needs. Another noisy Iori." chipped the higher pitched voice of the approaching brunette.

"Who asked you Yuka-tan? And what's wrong with another well-meaning angel to brighten up the world more. Why, give it ten more years and my girl will be all hot and you'll be all aunty…"

"Say that again and you'll be lying on one of the ICU beds downstairs Stupei!"

The little playful spat came to quick end as both heads were promptly bonked lightly by the two slightly older sempais while Fuuka was busy fussing about more than necessary, calming and smoothing out the situation. Ken and Aigis just looked on fondly though, both no doubt thinking of how they missed these nonsensical tirades that were more fun than malice. In the meanwhile, Koromaru simply laid at his usual spot at the base of the bed, unperturbed by the little commotion while giving a few sagely canine yawns.

"Well anyway, I'll bring Minako down here to see you next year since it'll be a weekend then. She had always wanted to meet her Nazukeoya, although that doesn't quite fit the case here."

"I still can't believe Junpei's a Dad… man I feel old." muttered Ken while shaking his head slightly.

"Now don't you start. I haven't even said anything yet." remanded Fuuka politely, although shivers could be felt down the college student's back as he shook his head frantically in correction.

After a short break for lunch at the dining table nearby, the gathering by the bed resumed shortly thereafter with Akihiko giving a brief update on his latest boxing medal and a little demonstration of the various martial art styles he had chanced on during the course of his travels; Silat and Muay Thai. While the others played the graceful audience and ooh-ed and ah-ed accordingly, Mitsuru and Aigis chatted a little of their own as they had a little tea on the side.

"How is he, Aigis?"

"Physically, his vitals are in excellent condition as usual, but his scans indicate a lack of activity within his cerebral cortex."

"So… it's almost like he's brain dead…" uttered the usually confident chairwoman softly as her head lowered. It struck the blonde how much she resembled a lost child all of a sudden as a dull ache flitted through her circuits as well. She reached out a hand and patted the redhead's lightly.

"Almost, but he's not. His brain is undamaged and functioning perfectly; it's just that his… spirit… is not home at the moment. We all know where he is right now, don't we?"

Hands were squeezed reassuringly.

"I wonder if he gets lonely over there… all alone…"

"But he's not alone. Look around, we're all here aren't we? Come on, let's go join the others. I'm sure he would like to hear about your latest corporate takeovers as well."

The redhead gave a throaty chuckle at the blonde's newly acquired sense of humour, dry as it may be.

"He'll find stocks analysis and industrial espionage plenty interesting, I'm sure."

"Tres bien?"

The two smiles visibly widened even as the redhead gave the blonde a light playful nudge with an elbow.

"Some guys have all the luck."

"Huh?" was the slightly puzzled, but mostly disinterested reaction by the boxer as he set his teacup down. "What do you mean Junpei?"

The man in question gave a wry grin as he stuck a thumb backwards towards the bed where the girls were gathered this time.

"That. That's quite a harem. I mean, just look at them. We have the hot kaicho of the Kirijo group, the ever popular Yuka-tan and the last but not least, the ultimate moe icon and gynoid, Aigis. Fuuka's less explicit with her affections but she's suspect as well. Haha, man… people will kill to take his place."

The college student looked at him incredulously.

"Junpei! You're married! To Chidori of all people! With a five year old girl! What more can you ask for?"

"Well," chipped the silver-haired sempai amusedly. "I'm more shocked that gynoid is in his vocabulary."

"Haha, I guess I'm quite lucky to have Chidori and only Chidori. Can you imagine having to choose among them when he wakes up? Man, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. But just between us men, who do you think stands a higher chance?"

"Hmm… it's hard to say…" mused Ken as he rubbed his chin theatrically, much like one of those old fashioned detectives you read in novels. "They're all beautiful women in their own rights and they're obviously quite smitten with him."

"You think so? Well, I'm rooting for Aigis since she obviously cares for him a lot, but the whole android deal makes her a little less suitable biologically. Even though those gynoid upgrades over the years means that even her skin and body is all soft and supple like a normal girl, the thought of them getting it on is still a little disturbing, if you know what I mean…"

"Guys…" went a soft prompt that went unnoticed by the two lost in their own interesting speculations and fantasy-bookmaking.

"He'll also have it rough with Mitsuru-san too I'll expect. After all, she is the head of a powerful global conglomerate and is rich beyond imagination while he didn't even finish high school. The status-quo thing isn't good for any healthy relationship…"

"Guys…" went the second unheeded prompt… or perhaps more of a prayer to some obscure god this time.

"Mmm… that would leave Yuka-tan… she does seem like the most normal out of the three. But just between you and me, I think she's getting a little more neurotic over the years…"

"Neurotic you say!" hissed a shrill voice that was literally dripping with venom and vehemence, jolting the two out of their own little world and straight into hell.

"Y-Yuka-tan! When did you… I mean, whatever you heard or think you heard, I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding…" stuttered a very much afraid Junpei.

"Somewhere in the middle of soft and supple." answered another obviously cold and annoyed voice that contrasted the blazing red hair, although something sure seems to be burning somewhere…

"Mitsuru-san! I ah, I mean, I didn't mean to… I mean…" said a shrinking Ken as he realised they were cornered on all three fronts. "Have mercy please!"

"I wouldn't worry about that. It just so happens that we are in a hospital." replied the blonde who had an uncharacteristically evil smile on her angelic features.

"Akihiko-sempai! Help!" the two soon-to-be-deceased souls (or something like that) pleaded earnestly towards the only other man in the ward. The said man had his palms faced up as he backed away slowly from the inquiring face of a certain Yamagishi.

"I didn't say anything. Really!"

"Sempai!"

"Enough of that," the redhead cut in sternly.

"Execute them!"

Two loud unearthly screams resounded throughout the hospital, causing several alarmed nurses to drop whole trays of medicines and a few anxious apologies over botched injections. Some curious looks were cast towards the western ward where the sound came from, but none were really brave enough to check it out. In fact, most were still shuddering slightly from collateral damage alone.

Grimacing at the sight of his two fellow specimens of the male species sprawled out on the couch, the silver-haired boxer heaved a well deserved sigh of relief.

"Too… close…"

Really, hell hath no fury than a woman…

He clasped a hand over his mouth, in case he said it aloud somehow.

By the time the two lost souls crossed back over from the River Styx, night has already fallen to its third hour. The two were surprised to find that a charitable amount of dinner had been set aside for them… along with a not so charitable stack of dishes and other cutleries for them to serve the remainder of their sentence. Casting a slightly accusing look that screamed treachery and payback at their fellow man which the other shrugged off quite easily, the two set off to do the dishes. At the slightly bemused looks of the now placated quartet, he justified himself with a simple sentence that was chocked full of logic.

"I rather stay on winning side; in this case, your good sides."

The visit reached its scheduled end all too quickly for most, if not all of their likings, as the clock read half past eleven. Well, apart from Aigis and Koromaru who lives right in the hospital, the others were dependent on the trains that stop running a little after midnight. Even the chairlady and her secretary hadn't any further allowances of time to stay on, since tomorrow was another working day after all and business was bound to be hectic as usual.

As the group gathered by the door, all heads turned back towards their common friend for a final look as he saw them off with that gentle smile of his once again before they bid their farewells but not good-byes.

"We'll drop by if we're around, but we'll definitely see you again next year."

"Definitely."

"Stay well."

"Ja-naa!"

With a final look behind them, a hand reached towards the switch by the wall as the light in the ward dimmed to a glimmer as opposed to a complete darkness just before the heavy doors closed gently with a soft click.

"What's the matter Junpei?" asked Fuuka in concern as she noticed the taller man check his watch for the fourth time in as many minutes. "Are you running late?"

"Haha, is Chidori gonna pull your ear off again when you get back?" came the atypically soft jibe from a slightly deflated Yukari. It had been a long day after all.

"Ya… I mean no! It's not that. It's just that it's going to be midnight soon." explained the bleached blonde.

"Oh." was the knowing response from the others as they too checked their own watches reflexively.

"Heh… There hadn't been a Dark Hour for a good ten years now thanks to him, but somehow, I hadn't managed to kick the habit of sleeping after midnight." continued Junpei with his rare, slightly melancholic adult face.

"You're right… we have a lot to be thankful for." agreed Akihiko sincerely while the sense of loss became slightly more defined in the group all of a sudden.

Sensing the awkwardness he caused in the air, Junpei went back to his non-adult face and his clownish tone.

"Well, it's not like anything's going to happen now. What's the worse that could happen…?"

As if on cue, a loud explosion broke the stillness of the night just as the second hand struck its apex.

"What the?" went a startled Fuuka as heads snapped in the direction of the noise.

"An explosion?" wondered Mitsuru aloud. "It sounded like it came from…"

"The hospital!" finished everyone at once as they instinctively began running off towards the direction they came from.

"Stupei! You…" growled Yukari in between breaths.

"I know. Me and my big mouth." finished the said Stupei.

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the long delay for the update. To cut a long, sad and painful story short, exams happened. Indeed a sad sad day for many, but for me in particular. In any case, I'm back on track and since I received quite a few reviews over my absence, I had decided to start work on this piece first, and so there you go. Keep up the reviews and I'll prioritize this story over the others. Fair no?

This chapter is still pretty much an interlude piece, so it's got quite a bit of fluff and speculations floating about. However, its true purpose is to lead towards the real action, which I have slated as the focus of the next chapter so please look forward to it.

With regards to the characterization of the leads and foils, I'm retaining most of their personalities from the Persona 3 series, but with a few alterations that I feel most fits with how they'll turn out in ten years time. Akihiko and Mitsuru are still as confident and elite as ever, although I've given Mitsuru a little more vulnerability with regards to Minato, but that's more as a plot device to explore later. Yukari is still the cheerful and snappy girl/woman and I've decided to leave her as that since it suits her. Junpei is one of the characters I have changed a fair deal to reflect his eventual maturity; so he now switches into his clown mode when he feels the need to defuse a tense situation, but is perfectly capable of serious thought too. However… he still remains an idiot at heart, since it serves as comic relief that way too. Ken's grown up over the years too, and he seems to have picked up a few bad habits and characteristics from Junpei; overall, I just mean for him to have an enjoy life to the fullest attitude, hence the slight idiocy. Fuuka has also undergone a great deal of change under the Mitsuru's wing as her secretary, so I've boosted her confidence a great deal. She still maintains her perceptiveness and caring nature though, and I'm toying with her being the lead of a second surprise pairing. Something else to look forward to. Oh, Koromaru's still… Koromaru I guess; a dog with an attitude. But that's fine, since I like dogs.

Well, I still haven't decided on who to pair Minato up with, so feel free to state your case on your favourites and why they deserve the man who saved the world. Kinda like the bachelor, no? But right now, I'm leaning towards Aigis since I personally feel that sex isn't a great deal of consideration on my part as opposed to spiritual compatibility. But I digress.

A few notes about some references: the title of the chapter, Reiji Yashuu (零時夜襲), stands literally for midnight assault. I could have used "midnight assault" but I like the kanji for Reiji (零時) as it looks great and has connotations of zero hour, which ties in with the concept of the dark hour. Not to mention zero is a theme associated a lot with Minato in the game.

The term Nazukeoya used in the chapter is also normally used to refer to someone who gives another his or her name. In this case, I've conceptualised Junpei's daughter to be named Minako, after Minato obviously; hence the almost but not exactly fitting feeling expressed by Junpei. On a trivial side-note, from my research into FES, Chidori gets to live somehow but without her memories of the Dark Hour, so I'll take it as that. I hope that addresses the concerns of some readers.

In case you readers haven't realised, I'm a quite a big fan of kanji, since I'm part Chinese, so I'll be using them quite a lot. But rest assured, I'll give a lot of explanations so you can just enjoy the beauty of the word form.

So that's all for today. I'll be looking forward to your reviews if any, as well as constructive or otherwise criticisms and discussions. In return, please look forward to the next chapter in the works. I've just decided the title of the chapter.

00.