Chapter 3

Mystical blue glass shattered on the opposite side of Chidori's head as a thunderous shot echoed from the gun-shaped Evoker in her offhand. Her fingers clenched the chains of the axe to her right: a visual representation of the pain she felt by summoning her Persona. A tall, feminine figure spawned just above the redhead. Its red and black body emitted energy. It wore a strange skull-like mask over long blonde hair. With a torch in one hand and a dagger in the other, Medea put forth her power in the form of flames that surrounded the entire rooftop.

The other members of SEES arrived and took a moment to comprehend the fire around them before Mitsuru pointed her rapier toward Chidori. "We should stall her until the Dark Hour has faded, then we can disarm her knowing that her Persona won't be a problem" she explained.

"Wait, Mitsuru", Akihiko interrupted, "her Persona uses fire. You know this is a bad idea."

Mitsuru didn't take her eyes off of Chidori. "Despite my weakness to fire, I trust my ability to safely stop the enemy. I will do my best to make sure that Evoker never reaches her head again," she explained before carefully stepping toward her opponent. "Who are you?" she asked with her eyes locked strongly with Chidori's.

Chidori gave no answer. She tossed her axe high and swung downward. Mitsuru hopped to the side, keeping her blade pointed at the axe-wielding lolita. She gracefully lunged forward, tilting her head to the back. Chidori saw this coming and twirled to Mitsuru's left before catching the rapier's hilt with the chains of her axe and elbowing the fencer in the head. Mitsuru quickly recovered and unlocked the bond on her blade while pushing Chidori back with her spare hand.

"Chidori, stop this!" I called. The girl didn't answer, and she appeared to be completely focused on the battle.

Chidori drew back and Mitsuru cautiously walked forward, waiting for an attack. Chidori's left hand found the hilt of her Evoker once again, and she brought it to her head. "Now!" Chidori commanded as she pulled the trigger. Medea's demonic figure reappeared above her.

"Mitsuru, get back!" Minato yelled in worry as he ran across the rooftop to catch up to her. Mitsuru stepped back as she realized that it was too late.

"Agidyne!" Chidori commanded. Medea raised its torch, and in a split second, Mitsuru was knocked back and covered in flames.

"Dammit!" Minato angrily exclaimed, "Yukari, heal her!"

Aigis and Akihiko ran to pick up Mitsuru. They brought her into the dorm while Yukari drew her Evoker. In front of Chidori stood the blue-haired boy, now holding out a longsword. Minato attempted to break the chains on her weapon, but she quickly parried, striking his sword to the side.

The flames around us died down and the atmosphere faded into its regular state. "The Dark Hour's over! Disarm her, now!" Fuuka excitedly commanded.

Almost instantly, Chidori grabbed me and stood me up, holding her axe to my throat. "Allow me to escape, or your friend dies."

Everyone backed off, not knowing what to do. Chidori held the blade to my throat all the way to the door. Luckily, she had only chained my arms down. I slid beneath the axe and tackled her against the wall before hitting the ground near her. "Get her, now!" I demanded. Minato picked up her axe and Evoker while Aigis stood Chidori up and bonded her wrists.

"Medea!" Chidori screamed with her eyes focused on the Evoker in Minato's hand. "Give her back! Give back my Medea!" I didn't understand what was wrong with her, why she was so obsessed with her Persona.

Mitsuru came from inside the dorm, fully healed. "Don't hurt Chidori – promise you won't hurt her" I worriedly begged.

"We won't", replied Mitsuru before she turned away from me, "So 'Chidori' is your name? I have a lot to ask you."

Chidori paid no mind to Mitsuru, and her head hung low. Her voice was quiet, but I could still hear her: "I'm not... afraid... of dying."

We gathered in the lounge while Mitsuru contacted someone to take her into a Kirijo-run hospital. Everyone's eyes were on me.

Akihiko stood up and asked, "Junpei, care to explain all this?"