Next chapter!
Strange Things Keep Happening
"Narukami-kun."
Yu, who was walking home after a long day of school (half of which was spent on thinking what strategy to employ when they go to save Rise that night), looked up from staring at his feet, realizing that Chie and Yukiko were now walking on both of his sides.
"Hm?"
"Teddie contracted Yosuke." the tomboyish girl continued when she knew she had his attention. "Appearently, since yesterday, he started to feel another presence aside from Rise-chan's."
"Someone else is in there?" the silverhead didn't show his worry but the girls could by how he sounded that he was, indeed, concerned about the news. Yukiko went on where Chie left off.
"Not really... Teddie said that he was actually fighting the Shadows - and he could change Persona like you can, Narukami-kun!"
That made him stop and they walked ahead a bit before realizing that he wasn't walking between them anymore. Yu shook his head and looked at them, nodding to himself after a moment.
"Tell Yosuke to tell Teddie not to do anything. I will talk to him if we encounter him tonight when we go for Rise. We don't know if he is a friend or foe, so have him say to stay out of his way until further notice."
"Yes, leader-san!" Chie said cheerfully, causing him to flush as Yukiko giggled and took out her mobile phone to call Yosuke.
"Young Master Minato."
The bluenette, who was now fighting some Gigas, stopped after defeating them as he looked at Elizabeth's older sister, whose name was Margaret if he remembered correctly.
"Yes?" he spoke politely.
"My young Master has become aware of you." Margaret said in a silky voice. "If you do not wish to meet up with him, I'd suggest keeping your actions on a down low..."
"I presume that teddie-like Shadow is why he knows about me?" Minato questioned, pointing his nearly invisible sword towards a corner, from where a squeak was heard before a small tail vanished from sight. The older woman laughed eerily before nodding.
"Indeed." she told him. "Are you planning to introduce yourself to him and his group? Also, Elizabeth questioned about your health since she could not stay and chat herself. She has a lot of work to do with our younger brother Theo for her absence..."
"Probably." The older - yet younger - Wild Card muttered. "Tell her that I am feeling fine and that she shouldn't worry. I am sorry to hear that she is stuck with so much work though, she shouldn't have bothered..."
"Very well." Margeret chuckled. "My guest will be back soon so I must go." she bowed to him before leaving. Minato stabbed a weak Shadow that tried to attack him while he wasn't paying attention as a voice spoke seemingly from within him.
'We shall meet him correct?'
"Yes." he replied out loud absent-mindly as he stabbed yet another brave Shadow. "Honestly, you'd think they would know better than to attack me..."
The voice just silently giggled at that.
After what felt like hours later, Yu and his friends had managed to save Rise, albeit by Teddie's strange behaviour. Everyone was celebrating after the hard battle was over and done with when Yosuke felt a chill and turned to look at their beary friend.
"Teddie? What's wrong?"
"Am I... empty?" the bear said in reply, his voice monotone but scared all the same. "There is nothing inside me?"
"What does he mean?" Rise questioned, her voice reflecting her fear as Teddie began to grow bigger and bigger until he took up most of the room in a demented version of himself. "Narukami-senpai!" she cried as the monster began to suck everything around itself in. "What's going on!?"
"I don't know!" Yu grabbed her and held onto a pole, to make sure they don't fall into the enemy's hands. "We might be too weak now to take it on..."
"Partner!" a teary Yosuke cried as he flew past them but Yu summoned Izanagi, who caught the other boy and held him close so that he wouldn't get blown away. "Thank you..." he sighed in relief.
"Welcome..." Yu was amused as he looked at Rise, who now had something that looked like a Persona behind her. "... Rise?"
"This is my fault! I want to help as much as I can!" she told him, determination shining in her eyes. Yu nodded as the monster opened itself mouth to speak, a chilling laugh escaping it's giant depths.
"You cannot defeat me..." it taunted. "... you are too weak!"
"We will see about that!" Yosuke shouted back, relatively bravely in the leader's opinion, but the large Shadow just laughed in return as its attack grew stronger, disrupting Rise's attempts to analyze it. Chie and Yukiko, who were holding onto each other with their Persona's help, yelped as it did and Yu gritted his teeth. He had to fight it. But if he had Izanagi fight it, Yosuke would probably get eaten by it. And he looked like the only one who still had enough energy to do so and changing Persona was out of question too...
"Time to die..." it spoke evily. Yu held onto Rise as Izanagi held Yosuke and grabbed the arm of the girl's Persona and closed his eyes. He had to wait until it began to tire but what if...
"MESSIAH!"
The sudden shout caused them all to look at the entrance to the dungeon in surprise, just to see a strange with blue hair and monotone eyes stand there, pressing what looked like a gun to his head, as a Persona they've never seen (but it must have been strong if Rise's gasp was anything to go by) began to fight Shadow Teddie, finishing up so quickly that it made even Yu look surprised. It was reduced to the rolled over, flat Teddie again as the teen walked towards them in a somewhat graceful matter.
"W-Who are you?" the idol asked, awed. Yu couldn't really blame her for that. Could this be ...?
That's it for this chapter! But yes, some little matters:
1) The sword that Minato uses is Lucifer's Blade, his Ultimate weapon (he also has the armor and footwear XD)
2) Minato uses Messiah here but he won't spam him in every upcoming fight.
3) He is implied to be younger or even the same age as Yu because, in my headcanon, Minato wouldn't age due to being the Seal for what's well over a year in this so he is still the same age as he was when he 'died' to seal away Erebus (there will be clearly spoilers in this so if you aren't aware... well, now you are? XD)
Thank you for reading and stay tuned! :)
