Me: Here we go again!

Picup: Time for…

Me: Another chapter…

Me and Picup: Of Hidden Hour Hold!

Me: I don't get a lot of reviews for this story.

Picup: Be glad people at least read it.

Me: True…

Picup: Disclaimer Minato!

Minato: What? Oh, fine… (grumbles)

Disclaimer: The author doesn't own Trauma Center or Persona 3 because it is the copyright of Atlus. Can

I leave now?

Picup: Yeah, yeah… god horn dog.

Minato: (blushes) S-Shut up!

oOoOoOo

Hidden Hour Hold

Chapter 9: Fight On for the Cure

oOoOoOo

"No luck yet, Dr. Stiles?"

"Sorry, sir… we're still trying to track down the animal that infected Sanada. Hopefully, we can make a
vaccine once we find it."

"Ah… our R&D will be ready then…"

"… if possible, could you ask Sidney if Dr. Niguel could be sent over?"

"… I don't see why not."

"Thank you."

Dr. Stiles backed out of Director Kazuo's office, nodding his head to Angie, who had been waiting
outside patiently. Angie sighed with relief but then frowned, "I can't believe after three days that the
Hydra is now eluding us even."

"I know," Dr. Stiles replied, "and we can't even harm it. It must be running away now that we know a
vaccine can be made from a tissue sample."

"I'm afraid there's more than that too," Angie said, looking solemn suddenly, "While I was tending to the
patients, Ms. Yamagishi came and informed me that Mr. Sanada's health is falling again. I guess that
explains Ms. Kirijo's recent string of visits. The Hydra needs to appear soon or else I'm afraid this is one
case we'll lose…"

"Please, don't say that Ms. Thompson…"

Dr. Stiles and Angie jumped, turning around to face a rather morose Mitsuru. The young CEO seemed a
little weary, but she hid it well behind those stern, auburn eyes.

"Yamagishi is trying her best to find the Hydra," she said coolly, "but disappears before she can get an
exact location… please, just wait a little longer."

"We will Mitsuru-san…" Dr. Stiles said, "but it needs to be soon. The medication we gave him won't
work again."

"I understand…" she sighed and turned to walk away, but Angie stopped her, "Wait, Mitsuru-san…"

"Yes?"

"What is your relationship with Sanada-san?" Angie asked, staring at her. She was being serious, but Dr.
Stiles was quite aware that his glasses had slipped, "A-Angie?!"

"… until this is over, I cannot say anything," Mitsuru replied after a moment and then walked away, most
likely, to speak with Akihiko. It had been her routine for the past three days since he had told her what
was happening. She would come in every chance she had and stay until she had to leave. He wasn't
having breathing or motion problems yet, but did startle her to find out his eye sight had failed
completely now. Fortunately, he had kept his promise and remained in his room during the Dark Hour.

Mitsuru entered his room, quickly taking a seat next to his bedside. Akihiko blinked slowly and turned
his head. The bright, silver sheen in his eyes had become completely clouded, his pupils white, but still,
he smiled, "-Back so soon Mitsuru?-"

"-I just needed to stretch my legs for a moment…-" she said calmly, placing a hand on his bedside. He
shook his head, "-You heard something, didn't you? That's why you came back.-"

"-… The Hydra has disappeared again… they're afraid that we won't find it in time…-" Mitsuru whispered
as his hand touched her lightly. She looked up at him, sighing, "-We're doing our best to hunt it down on
the field and with Yamagishi summoning Juno…-"

"-Don't overwork yourself…-" Akihiko cut in, frowning , but then smirked, "-I'll try to fight the GUILT as
long as I can. It won't take me that easily-."

"-You'll be surprised how fast your body just wants to give in-," Mitsuru whispered, disheartened. His
brows furrowed, "-It can protest all it wants… I'm not letting this parasite win.-"

She smiled and was about to say something, but an alarm started to ring, followed by a quick series of
beeps. Looking up quickly, her eyes widened as they spotted Akihiko's machine fluctuating wildly. He, in
turn, was gritting his teeth, his eyes shut tightly as his hand clenched into a fist. Sweat formed on his
brow and he gasped sharply, holding his shoulder in a vise-grip. Mitsuru leapt to her feet and placed a
hand on his, flinching. He was ice cold.

"-It's happening again!-" someone yelled outside the room. Hurried footsteps could be heard,
accompanied by tire wheels, most likely a crash cart.

"-Hold on Akihiko…-" Mitsuru whispered, holding onto Akihiko tightly. She closed her eyes and willed
Artemisia to awaken in her mind, conjuring the persona's strength and passed it to the pained man. The
nurses arrived at that moment, lead by Fuuka and were about to pull Mitsuru away, but the teal-haired
nurse held them back, "-Wait a moment!-"

The irregular patterns on the machine started to even out, returning to normal after a moment. Akihiko
panted, his body shaking and the nurses just stood there, stunned. Mitsuru opened her eyes and
whispered, "-Are you alright Akihiko?-"

"-Y-Yeah… thanks Mitsuru-," he replied quietly. Even with the machines back to normal, she held onto
him, afraid to let go.

oOoOoOo

Derek and Angie stood together silently outside of Caduceus as the Dark Hour began once more.
Immediately, they stepped back as Fuuka summoned her own Persona, Juno, and clasped her hands
together. The nurse closed her eyes, trying to locate Hydra.

"… Ken and Junpei, you have the north sector today. Check by the Shrine," Mitsuru ordered. Both
nodded and ran off, weapons in tow. Yukari turned and looked at Mitsuru, "Are you alright, Mitsuru?"

"I'm fine… just flustered," the red-haired woman replied. She looked over at Derek and Angie, frowning,
"Are you sure that medicine won't work again?"

Unfortunately, Derek nodded, "I'm sorry. They tried using it twice before, but it still needs some
perfection. By the time it's done, I think we won't need to worry about GUILT anymore though."

"I see…" obviously, that wasn't what the woman wanted to hear. She turned to Aigis and Yukari, "You
two have the south sector."

"Will you and Fuuka be alright?" Yukari asked, raising an eyebrow. Really, this seemed to be asking for
trouble. Mitsuru nodded, "We'll be fine."

"Well, if you're sure…" Yukari sighed. She nodded towards Aigis and both ran off quickly.

It was silent for a moment, but then, her auburn eyes flashed, "I suggested that you and Ms. Thompson
go into the hospital."

"W-What? Mitsuru-san?" Derek looked confused. Fuuka looked up sharply, frowning as Juno
disappeared.

"Mitsuru-senpai… the Hydra is almost here," she said. Angie and Derek looked up, alarmed. The blonde
nurse quickly understood what the woman had purposely done, "You must call the others back! You
can't fight it in your condition."

"All I have to do is get a sample of the Hydra," Mitsuru said coolly, drawing her rapier, "Its my fault
Akihiko is like this… the others don't need to get involved."

A loud screech echoed, making the hospital duo shiver involuntarily.

"…! Juno!" Fuuka cried. The Persona appeared immediately appeared, just in time to block a clawed
hand and sharp fangs. Derek shrunk back, surprised at the Shadow's sudden appearance, the teeth still
trying to break through the glass dome. Ice shattered, knocking the snapping jaw away with a yowl.
Hydra looked up, six heads now instead of just the three before.

"I'm your opponent!" Mitsuru exclaimed, firm in her stance. All six heads were focused on her quickly
and it yowled again, charging forward. With its attention off them, Fuuka called Juno away and pulled
Derek and Angie towards Caduceus.

"She can't fight that alone!" Derek exclaimed as he was forced to run into the hospital doors. Angie
looked at him, "What can we do?! She sent the others away and Yamagishi-san can't fight! … No
offense…"

"None taken Ms. Thompson," the older nurse replied, looking back towards the fight. She could make
out the flash of a rapier in the tangled mess and she watched as the red-headed woman spun back,
dodging two snapping heads. Her rapier struck both, drawing black blood as she carved a chunk of flesh
away. The Hydra hissed, jaws snapping left and right. She leapt aside, pulling her evoker out, and placing
it against her temple. She called, "Artemisia!"

This persona almost appeared human, face hidden before a red mask and clothed in an elegant blue
dress and adorned with worn, golden armor. She cracked a whip in her gloved hand, holding it sharply
so it snapped. Large blocks of ice broke over each head and the main body in an instant. The Hydra
collapsed, frozen. The woman disappeared and Mitsuru ran over to the hospital, her hand closed around
something black, the Hydra's flesh. Fuuka opened the door just in time.

"Got it…" Mitsuru panted, holding the bleeding lump, "Now, we just need to…"

"The Hydra's getting up!" Angie exclaimed. Indeed, the Shadow was rising, a seventh head appearing
from its body and it roared. Mitsuru hissed, "It will destroy the hospital… Dr. Stiles! Take this!"

"Ah!" Derek yelped, catching the black lump in his hand. He turned green at the feeling, but watched as
the woman ran back outside, "H-Hey!"

"Yamagishi-san! You must contact the others!" Angie yelled as Mitsuru returned to battle. Fuuka
blinked, but nodded, "I know. At this rate…"

The teal-haired nurse didn't finish, but closed her eyes.

"-Everyone! If you can hear me, its urgent! You must return to the hospital! Mitsuru-senpai is in trouble!-"

Her eyes widened at the burst of yellow-orange flames, sparks hitting the door, "Agidyne!? Mitsuru-
senpai!"

"Fire!?" Angie exclaimed, stepping away from the glass. Fuuka covered her mouth, "Mitsuru-senpai is
weak against fire…!"

"This isn't good!" Derek looked out as the flames died away. Mitsuru was down, burned and panting for
air. The Hydra started moving closer, jaws dripping with saliva and probably toxins. The seven heads
started fighting each other, trying to see who would get the first bite, but it was quickly finished, the
winner lunging at the woman…

"CAESAR!"

A powerful bolt of lightning struck the Hydra.

Mitsuru looked up towards the roof and Derek, Angie and Fuuka ran out to find Akihiko standing there,
his clothes haphazardly thrown on and the muzzle of his evoker still pressed against his forehead. He
seemed livid, his eyes glinting, "Get away from her…"

oOoOoOo

Me: That was long… gah! (falls)

Picup: … (pokes) … oh well. The end should be soon…

Me: It is… merow…

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