"Thanks for coming out with us, Ken." I lead Souji and Ken down a street to where I feel the signal coming from. A weak flow of energy, signaling the presence of another Arcana Shadow—another opponent for us to face.
"No problem. After what happened at school last month, I didn't want to leave Souji alone with you… No offence, Minato."
"None taken." Putting my fists up, I mime a few punches into the air. I don't want to be caught with my guard down this time. I can't risk going berserk again—like last month, as Ken says. I'm lucky that everyone forgot about it within an hour. Lucky for the Shadows, and the memory loss they bring. Only Ken and Souji remember now. Souji eyes me warily, as I perform a strong uppercut into nothing.
"Careful, Minato," He chuckles. "Don't want to hurt us, right?" I glare at his joke.
"Ha-ha, very funny, Souji." Behind me, Ken slows his walk.
"Hey, guys, any idea where we're going?" I focus on the presence. My skill isn't nearly as powerful as Fuuka's, and I find it difficult to pinpoint exact locations, along with other fine details, but it helps us track our opponents, at the very least. I sense power coming from down the street- a seedy back alley.
"Down that way." I motion toward the epicenter of the energy waves. Souji tightens his muscles, and brings his sword up.
"Any idea what we're up against?" I shake my head.
"No." A thrum of sound echoes through the streets, coming from the alleyway I've sensed. Ken raises his spear into a position ready for battle. The three of us edge closer to the corner—closer, closer…
"Hyaa!" Dashing ahead before we can check around it, Souji gives a wide swing of his blade, but hits nothing. Wait—there, further down! It's the next Arcana Shadow… the Hierophant.
"Careful, this one can be tough." I warn Ken, just before he can rush out into the battle. I'm less gung-ho than these two. I can't afford to be careless, not when one wrong move could lead to… no, don't think about that Minato. Don't remember the blood. I almost feel sick, but I force back any hint of nausea, put my fists up. Ready for action, I guess. Souji plunges his katana deep into the Hierophant, and pulls it quickly back out. Ken digs his spear into the ground and throws himself around it, kicking our foe. Even though he's much taller now—almost my height—Ken still fights like he did in his S.E.E.S days.
I hang back a bit longer, and admire his attacks. They may essentially be the same, but each one carries with it a finesse that it never used to. Ken's definitely matured well. Deciding I've watched for long enough, I charge in, and deliver a punch to the bulbous body of the Hierophant, knocking it down.
"Let's go." Souji growls, sword at the ready.
"Yeah!" Ken agrees. I nod in approval of their move. After a moment, the three of us are on the Shadow—punching, stabbing, slicing. By the time the dust clears, the Hierophant is hardly able to find its feet, stumbling about clutching its swollen torso. Gritting his teeth, Ken dives towards it and makes a leap into the air, slamming his spear into its head, causing it to truly collapse. Prying his weapon from the Shadow, he staggers back, as it disappears into a puff of purple-black smoke.
"Too easy," Souji places his sword on one shoulder, yawning all the while. "Can we go home yet, Minato?" I focus again, and sense another disturbance nearby. Which Shadow is this? Before I can answer, I feel lost for words, in need of a deep breath—like I'm choking up underwater. Trying to pry invisible hands from my throat, I collapse to the ground, only to realize that it's not another one of my fainting spells- Souji and Ken are down too. Reaching out to Souji, I manage a single word before my world turns black.
"Souji…"
This bed is soft, like lying on a pile of feathers. In the background, water shuts off, followed by the sound of a door opening. I glance up behind me. It's Souji—his hair dripping from his shower, wearing only a pair of black jeans. Winking at me, he sprawls himself out on the bed.
"Like the room?" He asks. Of course I do—it's all decked out in reds and pinks, with sumptuous fabrics and luxurious furnishings. The utmost of romantic locations.
"I love i—" Before I can finish my sentence, Souji's mouth is pressed against mine, his tongue venturing into my mouth slowly, slowly. After my surprise disappears, I grab his face and return the kiss, closing my eyes tightly shut. Forever passes. We pull ourselves away from each other, but the movement seems like it takes all of our willpower. It might well have.
"That was heavenly." Souji whispers, before drawing back off the bed and wandering back into the bathroom. When he returns, he's drying his hair off with a towel. I suddenly feel a hint of jealousy enter me. I haven't had a shower in forever. Not since… not since that time at Junpei's! Oh, hell, what are we doing? Souji gazes at me longingly, and I struggle to remain sensible. I'm not falling for this trick again—I should have known the Lovers would be prowling about! Damn it, this is all a spell… Souji continues to stare, looking hurt by my sudden seriousness. I've got to snap him out of it.
"Hey, Minato, what's wrong?" He's still under the Lovers' influence. My Souji would never be so openly concerned. Turning away, I steel myself; there's only one way I can deal with this. "Minato?" Taking in a deep breath, I look back at him. I've got to give him a shock, and I can't think of any other way of doing that. Clenching my fist tight, I grit my teeth, then throw a punch at his cheek. He's too slow to dodge, and it collides with a sickening thunk. One blink. Two blinks. His eyes turn dewy for a moment, then spark into a puzzled expression.
"We, uh… where are we?" Good. He's back to normal. "Did you just… hit me?" I shake my head. He doesn't need to know that I punched him. I just want to forget about it.
"Don't worry." Noticing his lack of a shirt, Souji gets up off the bed.
"And why am I…? … Ah, hell." Not bothering to question me, he walks into the bathroom yet again. I spot that my bow's come undone, and re-tie it quickly, just in time for when he returns to the bedroom, fully dressed this time.
"We were being controlled by the Lovers," I inform him, before he can say so much as a word. "It's somewhere around here." Souji folds his arms, and nods.
"Alright." Looks like it's time for me to sniff out that Shadow… but, hey, wait, I feel like I'm forgetting something.
… That's right. We don't have Ken.
"Where's Ken?" Souji shakes his head at my question.
"Dunno. We should go look for him." Good enough idea. I stuff my hands into my pockets, and stride towards the door, Souji tailing close behind. Drawing one hand out, I push it open, and lead Souji into the hallway.
"Looks like we're in a love hotel." If the color scheme wasn't enough of a clue to begin with, that is.
"'Course we are," Souji replies, before pointing down a hallway. "Shall we get looking?" I nod, before jogging off down the hallway he pointed to. A moment later, Souji joins me, holding his sword high, ready to fight if he has to. I feel oddly safe with him at my side like this… Like I'm not in a love hotel, hunting Shadows, but somewhere entirely different, where I don't have to worry about being a Persona, and having been declared dead two years ago. A few meters in front of us, a door begins to swing open, causing Souji to freeze, readying himself for a fight. From it staggers a drowsy-looking Ken, his chestnut brown hair in a total mess, his eyes only half open. Immediately falling from his tensed pose, Souji dashes over to Ken.
"You okay?" He asks, somewhat half-heartedly. Ken blinks at him wearily, before clicking into action.
"I… think so," He grumbles. "Something's up, though, I saw some pretty weird things in there."
"I know." Souji and I say, perfectly in unison. Sharing a glance, he and I can't help but smile. Like Persona, like user, I suppose.
"Any idea where we're heading now, then?" Ken stands his spear on one end next to him.
"Give Minato a minute." On cue, I focus on finding the Lovers. They aren't on this floor—I ascertain that almost immediately. With a bit more searching, I figure out that the Shadow hides on the next level up.
"Floor three." Ken nods, and then begins to sprint off. Souji is quick to follow. After a moment of watching them dash away, I join their running. A corner, then another, then a flight of stairs, chasing that distinct aura of a Shadow. Finally, a long, empty landing. The three of us freeze, panting.
"Are you ready?" Souji asks Ken and I, looking between us. I smile, as does Ken. "… Then let's go." Sword raised high, Souji presses on, running at full speed towards the door at the other end of the landing. Once again, Ken and I tail behind. Pushing the door open ahead of us, Souji disappears inside. One step, two step… all three of us are in. In front of us floats a giant heart-shaped Shadow.
"Appropriate." Souji chuckles, before leaping at it.
"Let's take it down!" Ken slams his spear into the heart, with a twisted grin on his face, like he's pleased to be fighting it. He must've had a bad dream, to be trying so desperately to kill the Lovers.
"Minato… a little help?!" Souji calls out, as he dives at the Shadow, and runs it through with his sword.
"Right." Springing at our opponent, I throw a punch at it… only to be thrown back by a powerful fire spell. Slamming into the wall behind me, I grimace, my head cracking back with a loud, unpleasant noise. My hair becomes wet with blood at the point of impact, and my eyes flicker open and closed… open and closed. Souji turns my way for a moment, but it isn't long until his attention is drawn back to the fight. Come on… isn't this the part where I turn into Messiah? Why isn't anything happening?
Open… Closed.
Open… Closed.
Open… Closed.
… And suddenly, that familiar surge of strength as I contort into my natural form. Getting to my feet as the dizziness subsides, I glance towards the Lovers. I narrow my eyes. Raising one arm up, I reach out.
"Megidalaon!" In a burst of golden light, the Shadow disappears. Ken and Souji fall back from it.
"Geez, Minato, some warning next time, please!" Souji growls, dusting himself off. Ken looks towards me, and seems to startle a bit when he notices that I've changed into Messiah.
"It's so strange seeing you like that up close," Taking a few steps closer, he gazes into my eyes, as though mystified by the icy blue color they've adopted. "It almost reminds me of Ryoji."
"Wait, who's Ryoji?" Souji asks Ken, at the same time as shooting me a look that reads 'change back now, please'.
"I'm not the one to ask." Ken points to me, as I envelop myself in light and return to human form.
"Same question." Souji's dead eyes stare at me. That intensity again… I don't want to talk about Ryoji, but Souji's emotionless eyes are coaxing the words out of me regardless. So enchanting…
"… This is going to be a long story." I sigh, hoping to dissuade him.
"I'm listening."
I know you are, Souji, I know you are… and that's what makes me scared. How do I know you won't hate me for the way I can be compared to someone who nearly ended the world? My head says you won't, but the rest of me won't believe it.
And the guilt of not being able to trust you is unbearable.