Disclaimer : I only own a copy of the game and my lack of creativity brain…
Sorry for the long wait to this chapter! (If there's anyone waiting though…)
And, I wanted thank all of my friends who's been supporting me until now. (even though most of my friends didn't know that I'm writing a fanfic…) And also to all of you who've been reviewing, voted, or adding my story into their favorite and alert lists! Not to be forgotten, I'm really grateful for the mental support which a certain friend of mine from a certain forum always gives me… All of your supports are greatly appreciated!
I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter as well…
Note : The words in italic are the thoughts in someone's mind…
Soon after that, Sukuna-Hikona returned, with a confused expression on her face, but, no matter how her friends try to dig up about that, she'll just say : "It's nothing, I only have some things in my mind which I need to think of…" with the similar gestures like her own partner. But then, Izanagi thought that he heard her whispered "Midsummer Night's Dream..?" Hearing that, Izanagi ignored it anyway, since he knew that she won't say anything anyway even if they asked her even though he can't help himself from feeling curious about that…
~The classical music is still being tuned in the club~
Himiko : Oooohh! How I loved this "Cadenza"! It feels soooo romantic! Too bad my order just ended up that… *scowled*
Sukuna-Hikona : *Sigh* I'll really appreciate it if you didn't bring that subject up again…
Izanagi : *Throwing apologetic look towards Sukuna-Hikona*
Kintoki Douji : Now, that Sukuna-Hikona had returned, let's begiiin the neeext rouundd! Futsunushi, spin the wheeeeelll!
Futsunushi : I'm not Fortuna… *Spin the blades anyway*
Round 3
Futsunushi spun the blades and stopped each of the blades in front of each of them.
Everyone's checking their blades carefully…
Take-Mikazuchi : Awriiightt! Who's *hic*! The King now?!
Everyone falls into deep silence while examining the blades in front of them. Until someone's voice break the silence…
Konohana Sakuya : Oh! Yes! The scratch is here! My turn, finally! Okay, I'm the Queeeen now! Hmm, what should I do..?
Hearing Konohana Sakuya, the sober ones sighed in unison, silently hoping for no victim in this round…
Himiko : Then, Your Highness, what's your order for us?? *Giggles*
Konohana Sakuya : Hmm… Can't quite decide yet… But… *lamps lit on Konohana Sakuya's head* Hey! I know...!
Izanagi : I suddenly had a bad feeling here…
Tomoe : !!! *startled* Wh-what?! I've just felt a chill on my back… I didn't like this kind of feeling…
Sukuna-Hikona : Be careful everyone… Let's just pray and hope that Virtue is doing his job right now…
Konohana Sakuya : Okay! I've decided! I won't repeat the same mistake as you did, Himiko! Now, the queen will announce her order! Listen well, everyone!
Jiraiya : Dude, I think her arcana is Priestess, but now, she acted like an Empress or maybe an Emperor…
Konohana Sakuya : *Didn't even bother to listen* I want number… three to KISS number five-
Sukuna-Hikona : Oh my, don't tell me…
Izanagi : I think I know what's the next word of her sentence…
Konohana Sakuya : ON THE LIPS!!!
Sukuna-Hikona : Just the word I expected...
Jiraiya : Y'know, sometimes I'm scared if either of you said that you've got a bad feeling or starting to deduce something… 99% of those comes true… Hey! Wait! *staring at his blade* Whew, I'm saved, I'm six…
After hearing Jiraiya's words, everyone looked once again towards their own blades, mostly gave out a sigh of relieve, except for two of them… One of them gave out a loud "yeah!" and the other one gave a horrified look to his/her own blade, hovering right in from of him/her…
Himiko : Yeah! I'm three! Time to get into some action!! Who's the lucky number five here…?
Everyone glitches after hearing Himiko's statement, Izanagi thought (even though all the sober ones' thought is no different than him): Huh? Himiko? How could she kiss anyone? She didn't even have a face to begin with… But I got the feeling that she won't stop or hear us out even if we tried to, but… it'll be a real pain if she really tried to "kiss" someone, or to be precise, "pierce" someone with that metal aerial…
As the result of their own thoughts, the sober Personae let out another sigh in unison, then tried to look around to find out who's the next suspect for the victim list, although after some seconds, they've found out who it is. She's all tense, her face is expressionless, and she moaned a silent "no…" Seeing that, it's obvious for the others to understand that she IS the "lucky number five".
Kintoki Douji : *peeked his neighbour's blade number* Heeeeyy! Everyone! Tomoe's five!!
Hearing him, the sober ones threw their glances to Tomoe. Izanagi and Sukuna-Hikona can't help of feeling bad and grateful at the same time, they're concerned about Tomoe, but soon realized that there's nothing they can do to help her out, but, they also felt grateful for that their situation last round, which they thought to be the worst, aren't as bad as now… Tomoe's expression hardened, but soon, it changed to be panicked and horrified. Seeing her, Jiraiya felt that now's the time for him to encourage Tomoe, to make her felt better, just like the way she did for him back then, but, he couldn't find the right way to do so, and at last, ended up on doing nothing at all. The silence felt awkward since they didn't find any appropriate word to say to her, until someone's voice break the awkward silence…
Himiko : Oooh! So you're number five… Hmm… Too bad it's Tomoe, I wish it's a guy… *hic* But… it's okay anyway! C'mon Tomoe, come here… *reaching out to Tomoe*
Tomoe : Wh-wh-WHAT?! Y-you've said that you'd rather do it with a guy right? Th-then, ask Konohana Sakuya to change her orders!
Take Mikazuchi : Hey! You can't do it just like that!!!
Kintoki Douji : As you know, the king's orders are-
Jiraiya : Yeah, yeah, it's absolute, as I know…
Sukuna-Hikona : Ssst! Jiraiya! Don't say it like that!
Jiraiya : Whoops! Sorry!
Tomoe : *Giving a "why don't you help me?!" face*
Himiko : You heard them, sweetie… *approaching Tomoe*
Tomoe : *shuddered* S-s-s-s-swee-sweetie??!! *Back off three steps*
Seeing the tragic scene right in front of their faces now, the sober personae really felt that they should do something now… But nothing seems to get across their minds… Then…
Izanagi : I didn't come across any good way to avoid this now…
Sukuna-Hikona : Same here…
Jiraiya : Oh, no! Then, what should we do?? We can't just sit still on our asses right now, can we?! I-I-I'm going to try and talked to Himiko to buy some more time for you two to think of a way out! *going right away*
Jiraiya : H-hey Himiko…
Himiko : Hmm?? What is it?? Can't you see that I'm busy right now…? *giggles*
Jiraiya : Oh! Umm… Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, I-I just wanted… to ask some questions…
Himiko : Hmm?? What is it?? Make it quick!
Tomoe : *whisper* Jiraiya! Take your time! Make it as long as possible! Please~~
Jiraiya : *started to feel the pressure of the condition* I-I'll try…
Due to the condition's pressure, Jiraiya has forgotten all of the questions which he had been collecting in his mind for about ten minutes ago…
Jiraiya : *speaks to himself* Then, I'll just have to go with being spontaneous… But, aw! My muscles still hurt… Here goes! *Walking slowly to prevent further muscle problems*
Jiraiya : Uh, okay, umm… Himiko, d-do you really intended to do this…?
Himiko : Huh? You know that even if I *hic* didn't want to do this, I don't really have a choice, right?? Heeheehee…
Jiraiya : But… You just seems to be a bit… over-enthusiastic to pierce her!!
Himiko : *suddenly glared at Jiraiya* WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PIERCE?!
Jiraiya : EH?! No, no, no, no!!! I-I-I mean KISS!
Izanagi : NO! Don't say it that way!
Sukuna-Hikona : My, my... I guess Virtue is on holiday today...
Himiko : So, what are you trying to SAY here??!! Are you trying to say that I'll hurt somebody if I kissed them??!
Jiraiya : No, no, no!!! That's not what I meant!!!
Himiko : Then, you don't need to prevent that from happening, DO YOU??! *glares viciously*
Jiraiya : *sweatdropped* Uh… Man, girls are really scary when they're angry…
Himiko : Tomoe! Come here!
Tomoe : Huh?! *sneaking quietly, but was called suddenly when she's near the corner towards the stairs*
When Himiko realizes Tomoe's attempt to escape, she ran after her. As for Tomoe, she also ran away, but to the different direction. But, it seems like Fortuna didn't side with Tomoe, when Tomoe's trying to escape, Himiko seems to know the direction she's heading, so Himiko stood in front of her, Tomoe tried to resist, but she couldn't lift her spear to fight her own "incapable-of-fighting" friend, so she just closed her eyes and held the spear in front of her, as if trying to protect herself. Himiko, knowing Tomoe's doubt, Himiko took advantage of it, she approached Tomoe and put her metal crown-like-blindfold around Tomoe's eyes. As for Tomoe, who've felt that there's something around her eyes, tried to touch the thing which prevents her vision. In the progress to do so, Tomoe subconsciously release her grip on the spear, as if it's her cue, Himiko took the spear and kicked it away.
Tomoe, who've just realized what she'd done, stiffened at the corner, and realizes that she can't run away anymore.
Himiko : Okay then… Tomoe… Can you please take off your helmet there? It just gets in the way now…
Tomoe : N-n-no! NOOOO!!! I can't take it off even if I wanted to! Really! It's always on my head and I can't take it off! And also, I believe the helmet is to protect me! At least from you now…
Himiko : Oh, well then, even if you didn't want to take off your helmet… The queen's order is absolute too! So…
Tomoe : No! NO! Don't do it!!! NOOOO!!! *Yelling hysterically*
Himiko then pulled her face closer to Tomoe, causing Tomoe to scream even louder than before. All the sober Personae watched the incident with a pained expression on their faces. Izanagi closed his right eye, still with a "sorry I can't help" expression on his face, Sukuna-Hikona, not wanting to see the tragedy, closed her eyes and continue to face the ground. While Jiraiya, he just threw an apologetic and sympathized look towards Tomoe. As for the drunken Personae, Take Mikazuchi and Kintoki Douji were looking at the incident with all their attention, and Konohana Sakuya was yelling : C'MON KISS HER!! while watching eagerly at them.
And so, when the aerial touches the helmet…
Tomoe : Oh God, Th-this can't be happening! But, I did know, at least, that this helmet is very strong, even through all the battles I've gone through, it didn't even get a scratch on it!
Just when Tomoe had those thoughts in her head, suddenly there's a loud "CRACK" noise, which was coming from… Tomoe's helmet itself… The aerial pierced its way through the helmet's thick, transparent glass, which even a shadow can't scratch, and now, the distance between the aerial and Tomoe's lips are just a couple of centimeters left. Tomoe wanted to scream, but her voice was stuck, she's feeling sick and it felt worse after each second passing, especially with the smell of alcohol drifting to her face through the broken part of the helmet. Just when the aerial almost meets her lips, Himiko pulled away.
Himiko : Whew! That'll do it! How's it Your Highness?
Konohana Sakuya : Yeah! You're great, Himiko! You got the guts!
Take Mikazuchi : Yeah! Like a man!
Himiko : Heeheehee… Thanks! *hic* I-I'm a girl anyway!
Tomoe : *Fall on to her knee* pant-pant-pant…
Tomoe fall on to her knee after she was "released" by Himiko, her face looks exhausted, and… awfully stressed out. But, as soon as she realized that her helmet's broken, her expression even looked more horrible than before.
Izanagi : Umm… Are…you…okay??
Tomoe : M-m-my… h-hel-helmet…
Sukuna-Hikona : Uh, umm, but fortunately you aren't really kissed on the lips by Himiko right? Or… You're really…? But, your lips aren't bleeding…
Tomoe : N-n-no… Her aerial didn't meet my lips… B-b-but… He-helmet…
Jiraiya : H-hey… Why don't you calm yourself first? You looked so horrible now…
~After some while~
Jiraiya : How's it Tomoe? Feeling better now?
Tomoe : Uh-huh… But… I'm still concerned about my helmet…
Sukuna-Hikona : If I may know, why were you so concerned about your helmet?
Tomoe : It's because… As far as I can remember, I always wear this helmet, it's like a part of myself now… And more importantly… I can't train with my helmet broken!
Izanagi, Sukuna-Hikona and Jiraiya : *Sweatdropped*
Sukuna-Hikona : *sweatdropped* I thought there's something more to it…
Jiraiya : Well, she's a training-holic anyway…
Tomoe : B-but… What should I do with my helmet now…?
Izanagi : Hmm… Try to take it to Ippon-Datara's place… He might be able to fix it…
Tomoe : Oh! Good idea! How can I forget about him! I often come to his place!
Jiraiya : Whoa, her emotion changes so quickly…
Sukuna-Hikona : *chuckled* Well, anyway, it's good to see her in high spirit again…
Meanwhile, Futsunushi as the eye witness…
Futsunushi : Hmm… I don't know whether she's a victim or a survivor… I guess, she's a victim, yet, a survivor..?
Victims thus far : 1
Survivor thus far : 1
Victims and Survivor at the same time : 1
~To be continued~
Author's Notes:
Once again, thanks for reading The Persona's King's Game! To tell you all the truth, I still felt that this story is kinda…horrifying...(In my own opinion) but, I won't quit half-way! And also, I'm not too good with words (vocabulary) and kinda mess in grammar too… For example, I'm very confused when I wanted to mention Himiko's so called (by me) as metal crown-like-blindfold, I just hope everyone understand what I mean by that… It's the item which Himiko always hold on to, she usually wear it to Rise whenever she's scanning the area… And, sorry if I'm taking quite a while to update… I have my lab reports waiting to be worked on and so does this fic! I'll try my best to finish both as quickly as possible! And I'm sorry if this story looks like drama script format… (At least I thought so…)
Okay, to the story now… About Virtue and Ippon-Datara which I mentioned, the idea was based on the game, especially about their description. In the game, it's written that Virtue is the angel which helps people and working on miracles, while Ippon-Datara was said to be the incarnation of a famous blacksmith, so just think of Ippon-Datara as Daidara in the Personae world. And about Fortuna, I guess everyone knows her and her role already...
And I wanted to clarify something (again), that I didn't plan on pairing any Personas, and obviously no Yaoi/Yuri and those things… Himiko is not a lesbian or anything, she's just not in her right state of mind, that's all…
Umm… I guess that's all I needed to explain about this chapter… As usual, please tell me what you all think about this story or chapter by reviewing, or voting in the poll I made… And, if there's something you'd like to ask me regarding the story, feel free to send PMs… I really appreciate all of your reviews and polls, they helped me going through the hardships by thinking there's someone who're looking forward to the story! (Sorry if I'm hyperbole here…)