I do not own the Persona series nor do I own the Megami Tensei super-series that it is a part of. I do own the ideas, plot, and characters of this fanfic. Any products, services, logos, works, or companies referenced are the property of their respective owners.
Took forever, but finally finished this chapter. Sorry about that.
Chapter: Fusion
-Monday April 13th-
When Monday came, Itsuki was absent from school. Remembering how sick Makoto looked and acted when he first got his persona, it really is not that surprising.
Other than that, the morning was pretty normal and boring. When lunch rolled around, me and Makoto went up to the school roof. We were not alone up there, but we found a spot away from other students.
"So," Makoto said as he started eating. "I guess we have a new teammate."
"I guess," I replied before taking a bite of my food. "Unless he does not want to join our team."
"I guess," Makoto said. "Not sure why he wouldn't. Me and you are both loners who would never imagine being heroes, but we did it. Katsuragi's popular, though, so he has friends to fight for."
The only response I could think of was 'I guess' so I kept silent.
After a short pause he started speaking again. "I was watching the news this morning and saw something important."
"Really, what?"
"That girl from the other day, the little girl in the other world," Makoto said. "She was on the news. Her name is Aiko Hoshi, and apparently she was big into astronomy. According to the news, her and her dad were out a bit from the city stargazing."
"She was stargazing and just wandered into another world?" I asked. It would not be the oddest thing to happen lately, but it is still odd.
"No, a lot worse," Makoto continued. "They never came back. The cops searched the area they were staying and found the dad's body, but the girl was missing. The police are looking for her and whoever is responsible for the murder and kidnapping."
"So we could have seen her ghost," I mused out loud. "Or maybe she wandered into the other world and then somehow got out. Maybe it was Cernunnos who killed her dad and kidnapped her. But why?"
Makoto muttered something, but I could not make it out. I tried thinking, but I do not have enough knowledge on what is happening to even theorize why.
We sat there in silence for a few minutes before I tried striking up a new conversation.
"So, Honda, we are allies now, but barely know anything about each other. Tell me about yourself."
Makoto almost choked on his food after hearing the request. After clearing his throat, he weakly replied.
"You don't want to hear my life story, it isn't that interesting."
"You do not need to go into too much detail, just tell me something about yourself."
"I'm telling you, it isn't worth telling," Makoto insisted.
"Fine, if you are that hesitant I will start," I said. "I was born and raised in Fukuoka. Both of my parents had good jobs and I am a single child, so we were well off. I played soccer in middle school, but stopped after that.
"A couple of months ago, my dad was diagnosed with some lung condition and had to move out of the big city and to somewhere with cleaner air. I do not know why my parents chose Okako, but here we are. Now, your turn."
"Fine," Makoto relented. "Me and my younger sister, Maki, were raised by our grandparents. I've never been much of a people person, and now I'm a loner who prefers books to people. I've never played any sports or been in any clubs or groups. There, that good enough for you?"
It was obvious he was hiding things, but pushing him would probably be a bad idea and I am just not understanding enough to do it gently. Besides, I did say it did not need to be in-depth.
"That is fine," I said. "Lunch is about over anyways, we should get going back to class."
As we stood up, everything started to dim except for Makoto. This was the same thing that happened at the diner the day after I rescued Makoto-creating a social link.
Indeed, the same deep voice from that occasion started speaking. "Thou art I...And I am thou...Thou hast established a new bond… It brings thee closer to thy goal… Thou shalt be blessed while creating Personas of the Magician Arcana…"
Then, as quickly as it came, everything suddenly returned to normal.
After school, Makoto had to go straight home but I took a little detour back to the diner. Like before, the door to the Velvet Room was there. Now that I have three personas, a new ally, and a new social link, stopping in might be a good idea.
Just like the last time I visited, I felt the Velvet Room Key in my pocket and pulled it out. I unlocked the door and went inside.
The Velvet Room was still the train car moving through space, Igor still sat behind the small table, and Victor still stood off to the side. It looked just like it was when I was last here.
"Welcome, dear guest," Igor greeted. "I see you have gathered more persona. So are you ready to perform persona fusion?"
"Yes, I am," I replied as I took the seat across from him. He waved his hand over the table and the persona cards for Satsuki Sarutobi, Ankou, and Tristan appeared on the table.
"By fusing the persona you have, I can pull stronger persona from the sea of your soul," Igor explained. "But be aware that some fusions would produce no results and you cannot do any fusion which would result in a persona stronger than yourself. Are you sure you would like to fuse?"
"Of course. So what can I make with these?"
"Let's see, dear guest." Igor placed the Sasuke Sarutobi card over the Ankou card. Sasuke was replaced by a blank black picture and the arcana and name disappeared from the card. "That is an incompatible fusion. How about this one?"
He moved the Sasuke card and placed Tristan on Ankou. The card changed into another blank, black card. "No good, that is incompatible as well. But there is one combination left."
This time, he overlaid Sasuke Sarutobi and Tristan. This time, it changed to a persona card of the Empress Arcana named Senri. She looked like a cat-woman with pure white skin wearing the top half of a white leopard-print robe, a thick belt, what looked like a red thong, and a wide-brim hat. Despite looking ridiculous, she was the only persona I can fuse.
"Good enough, I want to fuse Senri," I said.
"Yes sir, dear guest." Igor snapped his fingers and the cards disappeared. Then a circle covered with a complicated pattern appeared on the table and both Sasuke Sarutobi and Tristan reappeared, on opposite sides of the table. Igor made a flourish with both hands and the circle glew with blue light. When it faded, the two cards were gone and the Senri card was in the middle of the table.
Igor picked up the card and threw it into the air, the card turning into blue specks of light before disappearing.
"Greetings," a soft feminine voice spoke in my mind. "I am Senri and I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
"So now I can use her in a fight?" I asked Igor.
"Yes, honored guest," the old man replied.
"And I have to buy Sasuke Sarutobi and Tristan to use them again?"
"Oh look, you can remember things," Victor answered.
Igor gave him a sharp glare that shut up the younger man.
"Behave yourself Victor." Igor turned back to me with his Cheshire Cat smile. "Is there anything else we can help you with, dear guest?"
"No, I am fine for now," I replied as I stood up. "Thank you for the help."
-Saturday April 18th-
Over the week, me, Makoto, and Athena went back to the Land of the Ancients three times for training. I also got a few more Persona and did some more fusions. My current team of Personas is Senri, Saki Mitama of the Priestess Arcana, Oberon of the Emperor Arcana, Archangel of the Justice Arcana, and Inugami of the Hanged Man Arcana.
Itsuki stayed at home for the week, so me and Makoto have not been able to talk to him yet. Neither Igor or Victor had any major news for us. We made another visit to Hephaestus and dropped off the tarnished candlesticks, but he didn't have the proper material yet to forge anything. We have not seen Aiko again, or anyone else for that matter.
Overall, a useful but uneventful week. And with another Saturday, we are meeting up at Golden Ramen again.
Unlike usual, I am the first one there. Looking at the non-ramen part of the menu, something called 'Chef's Surprise' catches my eye and I order it.
While I am waiting for my order, Minato arrived, followed shortly by Athena. Both of them sat down with a quick greeting and ordered their food.
The three of us were making plans for the next time we should go back over when we got a new guest.
"Hey guys, room for me?" Itsuki Katsuragi asked as he walked up to us. He looked like he felt better and I just realized that he must be almost a foot taller than me.
"Sure, sit down kid," Athena said, motioning to the seat next to her.
"Thanks." Itsuki sat down before looking around the table. "So, anyone want to explain to me what the hell happened last week? Or why I could barely get out of bed until this morning?"
Athena was about to answer but was cut off by our food arriving and Itsuki ordering his food.
The Chef's Surprise was an odd dish with a multitude of ingredients, including rice, a fish head, a small steak, and what I think is chicken broth among a multitude of other ingredients.
I dug into the dish. All these odd foods and taste combinations. I am not even sure why a ramen place would make such a complicated dish, but I am glad they do. I picked up so many tastes and I still am not sure I know all of them.
Even if I could not name every last ingredient, I felt my knowledge rise just from what I could.
After finishing the meal, I looked up at the rest of the table. The other three were staring at me with odd expressions.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" I asked.
"No, but you were really into your food," Athena replied. "I was half-expecting you to lick the bowl clean."
"Uh...sorry." I set the bowl down and straightened in my chair. "So, where were we?"
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing," Itsuki said. He looked rather calm for someone trying to wrap their head around an alternate world where gods and embodiments of negative emotions live.
"Moving on to the next question, who the hell is Himeros? The name keeps repeating itself in the back of my mind."
"Himeros?" Athena said. "He's my nephew, and one of Aphrodite's kids so he's a god of love. He's about one-sided romance and lust. Pretty much a love god without true love. I guess that's your Persona."
"Thanks. Wait, what? I thought you said a Persona represent a person. How am I 'a love god without true love'?"
Athena answered him with a raised eyebrow.
"You know what, nevermind. Don't answer that, I'll figure it out myself. So, when are we going back over?"
"You want to join us?" I asked him. "You know that it is dangerous and people's lives may be in your hands, right?"
"Of course, Taro. Who hasn't always wanted to be a hero? It's every kids dream, to get fame, respect, and the love of others."
"Uh, Katsuragi, I do not think-Wait, did you just call me Taro?"
"Of course," Itsuki said like it was nothing. "That is your name right?"
"Yes, but that does not explain why you are using my first name when we barely know each other," I replied.
"Come on, we're working to fight this Carnada guy together. I think we've gotta be close for something like that. Besides, I call everyone except for like teachers and my parents by their name, and insist they do the same to me. My name is Itsuki, if you didn't know."
I gave a quick look over to Makoto who gave a weak shrug. "I don't like it, but I can't argue with him."
"Fine, Itsuki," I said with a small sigh. "And it is Cernunnos, not Carnada. I am not sure how you even mixed those two up. What was I saying? Forget it, I can not remember. Did Athena explain everything to you?"
"Pretty much," Athena said. "I might've forgotten a few things, but probably nothing major. Also, since we have a new guy, we'll need to drop by Hephaestus's forge again to get him a weapon. You all fine with meeting up tonight around midnight?"
"Fine by me," Itsuki said.
Makoto gave a shrug.
"Good for me," I said.
"Okay, team. Plan set. Now where is our ramen?" Athena started trying to call over the waitress when everything started darkening.
Another Social Link already? Strangely, all three of the others remained normal looking.
"Thou art I...And I am thou...Thou hast established a new bond… It brings thee closer to thy goal… Thou shalt be blessed while creating Personas of the Fool Arcana…"
The Fool Arcana? I thought that was my arcana? Well, I guess it would be hard to make a Social Link with myself.
Then, like the last two times, everything returned to normal. I guess that seals it, we are officially a team now with no going back.
We ended up meeting closer to 11:30 than midnight, but we still met up that night in front of the school. Me and Makoto had our bags, but Itsuki did not have one.
"Okay gang, time to go." Athena held up her hand and the air started shimmering. She stepped through the portal, followed by me and then Makoto and Itsuki.
We came out in the workshop, which was somehow even more covered in clutter.
"Ha, y'all are coming to visit little old me?" Hephaestus greeted us. "So what do ya need this time, sis?"
"Some equipment for the new guy," she said as she pointed at Itsuki.
"Ha, big lad, eh?" Hephaestus looked over Itsuki for a few seconds before going to one of the tables. He shuffled some things around before bringing over a new chain mail. "Here lad, this should fit perfectly."
"Thanks, man," Itsuki replied. He took the mail and slipped it on. "Cool, real chain mail. This is so awesome."
"I like this one," Hephaestus said before letting out another round of laughter. "Has real enthusiasm. Now for a weapon. You look strong lad. I think either an axe or a bow would fit ya. Gimme one minute." He went back to his tables before returning with an axe, strangely the kind someone chopping wood would use and not a battle-axe, and a bow. "Which would you prefer?"
"Hmm...I think I'll take the bow," Itsuki replied. Hephaestus handed the bow to him before going to yet another table.
"Almost forgot the most important part," the god said with another laugh. He came back with a quiver. "Magically enchanted. Just reach for an arrow and you'll get one. Here ya go."
"That is so cool!" Itsuki slung the quiver over his shoulder and held up the bow. "So what'll this cost?"
"Haha, I really like this lad, sis. But for a friend of my sister, it doesn't cost a thing. Although, making better weapons and armor'll take more materials and effort, so I might need to charge you something for those. Hahaha!"
For some reason, Itsuki started laughing along with him.
"Why are you laughing at that?" I asked. "He just said that we have to pay for good weapons and armor."
"I don't know," Itsuki replied with a shrug. "His laugh is just kind of infectious, I guess. So when are we getting to Shadow killing?"
"We can go now," Athena said as she opened another portal, fog coming out of this one. "Thank you for your help, Hephaestus."
"No problem, always nice to help someone out." The god let out one more laugh before going to one of his forges.
I went through this portal first, the others all following. When we came out, we were in the woods. For some reason, there were less of the glowing trees than the last time. Athena led us back to where we saved Itsuki-or, as she called it, The Gilded Vault. I swear, my life has become full of strange people lately.
"Ready, guys?" Itsuki asked, excited to rush in.
"Give me a second." I pulled Athena's Sword out of my backpack, and Makoto pulled out his Forged Staff. "Okay, ready."
The set-up of the Gilded Vault was odd. The first floor is not very big, but it has a few shadows. The second floor does not repeat like when we first visited, but both it and the third floor were devoid of shadows. Despite our best efforts, we could not open up the vault door on the third floor, meaning we can not go up to the top half of the place.
Considering all that, we were on the first floor for our training.
I had just managed to attack a Shadow before it struck Itsuki from behind. As usual, there was a second of darkness and that odd feel of smooth stones against my skin before we entered the pocket dimension.
The Shadows were a Soul Dancer and three Fiery Candles.
"Okay, let's do this," Itsuki said as he grabbed an arrow. I was about to stop him, but he actually managed to shoot the arrow and it hit the Soul Dancer.
"Looks like you are the fastest," I said to Itsuki. "Athena did explain this to you, right?"
"Yeah, I think I got this," Itsuki replied before trying to reach for another arrow. His hand stopped just short. Guess the Soul Dancer is not weak to arrows. "Nevermind, I don't got it."
"Here, let me. Persona Change, Saki Mitama. Bufu!" Saki Mitama is a strange thing that resembles an extremely curved rain-drop turned on its side and with a really calm face. It is a dull gold. It shook a little and ice surrounded the Soul Dancer. The Lovers Shadow broke the ice, but fell over. Struck a weakness.
"Persona Change, Oberon. Garu!" Oberon was an elegant man wearing a crown, a pink tunic, and white tights with butterfly wings. He gestured towards one of the Fiery Candles and a blast of wind struck it, destroying it in one shot. "Garu!" The second Fiery Candle shrieked before being destroyed. "And once more, Garu!" The wind blast tore apart the last Candle.
Then, I unsheathed the sword and charged the downed Soul Dancer. The Shadow split in half.
"Damn, Taro, you crushed them," Itsuki said with a laugh before we returned to the Gilded Vault. "And damn, that sensation feels weird. So, where's the next target?"
We spent what felt like an hour training, no need to describe every battle because it would get boring quickly. After a few battles and some time to shine, we learned that Itsuki can use electric magic, a few physical skills, and healing magic. A good thing to because a Fiery Candle landed a nasty hit on my while I had Saki Mitama, who is weak to fire magic, equipped. Itsuki took to fighting Shadows easily and is actually a pretty good shot with the bow.
Things were mostly normal until we were about to leave back to Okako.
Two high-pitched laughs started sounding and the fog cleared around us.
"Hoshi is back," I said as I pulled out my sword. Okay, I would not use it on a little girl, but the giggling was unnerving. "And it sounds like there is another girl too."
Indeed, Aiko Hoshi appeared again, still wearing the same white dress. There was also another girl with her. Strangely, she wasn't Japanese. In fact, she looked American and had long, blonde hair. The other girl looked about the same age as Aiko and was wearing an identical white dress and no shoes.
"Aiko, we can help you." I took the lead , stepping forward and sheathing my sword. "I can help get you back to your family."
Aiko giggled before talking. "Daddy's dead, but older brother is so much more fun. I wanna stay here and play."
"Older brother? Makoto, that news report you mentioned Monday, did it mention any family?"
"Her mom and her older sister, who goes to our school. But no brother. And what is with the other girl?"
"Hi, I'm Tallie," the American girl said. Surprisingly, her Japanese was flawless, but that may have something to do with this world. "Older brother told us to play with you. Do you want to play?"
"No, we just want to help you." I took a step towards the girls, but Athena quickly rushed in front of me.
"Stay back, this is dangerous. There is a lot of energy coming from those girls."
"Too bad," Tallie said. "Let's play anyways."
"I want first turn," Aiko said, stepping forward. "Astronomos!" There was a weird red light and a large fireball appeared in front of her. It shot at Athena, followed by nine chunks of rock. They all struck Athena dead-on, and she let out a scream of pain.
"My turn! Komoidia!" Another red light appeared, this one behind Tallie. The laughter of what sounded like hundreds of people filled the area, an unbearable noise that actually hurt to listen to. When it finally stopped, I fell to my knees with a massive headache.
"Your turn," the girl said with a wide grin. "Come on, have fun with us."
"That actually hurt," Athena said. She was obviously injured and was breathing heavily. "I have no idea what these girls are, but you can't fight them. Leave this to me. But first," she let out a loud scream of pain as she held up her hand, "let's get you three back home. Tell Hephaestus not to worry about me."
I wanted to protest, but the portal caught me before I could get a word out. Me, Makoto, and Itsuki landed back in Hephaestus's forge.
"Eh, lads? What are you all doing here? And where is Athena?"
I was too shocked, and breathing too hard, to answer, but Itsuki managed to speak.
"We got attacked by little girls," he started out. Hephaestus raised an eyebrow, but let Itsuki continue. "We don't know what happened, but they used like really powerful magic or something to take us out in two attacks, including Athena. Athena said we couldn't fight them, so she sent us here."
"Oh Gods. This is not good. My sister is a powerful fighter, it would not be easy to take her down. Whoever these girls are, they are strong. Where is she? I have to give her some back-up."
"No," I finally managed to get out. "She said to tell you not to worry."
"Not worry? How can I not worry! Damn it!" He was practically roaring in anger. "What were the girls' names?"
"Aiko and Tallie," Makoto spoke up. I almost forgot he was even with us. He looked shaken up and was actually bleeding from one ear. "But they were normal girls. Something was up with them."
Finally something clicked in my head and this whole mystery made sense.
"Cernunnos is kidnapping little girls, giving them Persona, and using them to build an army."
