AN: Chapter Nine. Whoo, we're getting somewhere. xDDD Review, please!


That Weekend...


"It's alright, don't push yourself."

Hamuko's eyes squinted in concentration, taking one delicate step at a time, using a small cane to keep her balance. Looking at the calendar, she noted that it was now Saturday. "But... I have to.." she panted. "They're coming from school to visit me today, and I... want to show them... how far I've come." She glanced around at her new hospital room. Flowers, colorful pictures, and random objects from her own suitcase were placed around the room. She smirked, thinking of the roses that Junpei had gotten her one day, a flirtatious grin on his face. She hoped that their attitude wouldn't change towards her once she was out of the hospital and back on her feet.

Her small tanktop was lifted up, allowing the numerous wrappings around her rib cage and abdomen to breathe. The bandages used were thick and wide, allowing virtually no movement from her stomach-area. The doctors were still afraid that if the girl would irritate or use it too often, that the wound might reopen. However, much to their surprise, the girl seemed to be healing relatively quickly.

"Yes, I know, Miss Arasawa, but you look a little tired today."

The girl glared at the nurse, her eyes fiery as she took another defiant, yet shaky step. Her stomach clenched tightly, but the girl resisted the uncomfortable feeling. "I'm fine. I have something to prove. I want to get out of here."

"Well, that's no attitude to have here, young lady. If we do not deem you fit to leave the hospital, you cannot. So do not push your luck with me; I can see that you're pushing yourself," she muttered, giving her an all-knowing look.

Hamuko shrunk away from the nurse's gaze, now looking intimidated instead of angry. She wouldn't hold her back just because she could, would she? She realized that treating her nicely would probably boost her odds of getting out of the torture chamber that she called a "hospital." Hamuko grasped the handle of the small cane in frustration. Calming herself, the girl handed it to the nurse. "Could I please try walking without this? Just once?"

"...Very well, then. If you feel pain or get dizzy, stop and let me know."

Breathing deeply, the girl took a few timid steps in one direction, trying to straighten out her back. To her surprise, the girl made it across the entire room, but quite slowly. She made it to her bed, and sat down on it, a little woozy, but incredibly relieved. She looked up at the nurse with pitiful, but smiling eyes.

She smiled, rolling her eyes. "I can't believe it. Well, you seem to have made some real progress. I'm happy for you. Now see, that wasn't so bad. Be a little nicer to us, we're trying to help you." And with that, the nurse left the room to discuss further matters with the doctor, leaving the door open as to let any visitors in.

Meanwhile, Hamuko grasped a small hairtie from her wrist, gently pulling her hair up into a messy ponytail. She took the sheet from her bed and wrapped it around her shoulders, kicking her legs back in forth in anticipation.

"Hellooooo? Anyone in here?"

Minato peered into the room, precariously balancing a stack of books, both his and Hamuko's. "I come bearing gifts of joy," he announced sarcastically. He dropped the books on her bedside table, relieving his arms of the cumbersome weight. He flopped into a chair and smiled at the vase of half-withered flowers sitting next to the pile of textbooks and homework. He'd helped Junpei pick them out as a get-well present to her and let him give them to her. They nearly came to blows over what colors the roses were going to be; Junpei had taken a liking to the yellow ones while Minato thought the pink ones suited Hamuko better. The florist, eager to keep things peaceful and nonviolent, had offered to compromise by putting the two colors together in one bouquet for the same price. Now, with the flowers half dead, the argument seemed pointless.

Still, the room as a whole was much friendly and warmer than it had when Hamuko had first arrived. "You're walking around a lot better," Minato congratulated her. "Everyone at the dorm's getting anxious for you to come back. Fuuka and Yukari unpacked a lot of your things for you and they've kept your room clean so it's not a mess. We've kept down the rumor mill at school, too. I hate to tell you, but you're sort of a hot topic right now. The stories are crazy, everything from you getting hit by a car to being stabbed in a drug deal gone bad. We've been pushing the first one, of course. The truth would be too unbelievable for even those gossip-happy people to believe."

Hamuko laughed at the boy's spirit. "Just tell them the truth. I'm sure they'll take it fine. 'Oh, yeah, no big deal, she just got impaled by a giant black creature set on destroying mankind.'" The girl rolled her eyes, smiling. "I'm just glad that I can come back soon. I'm sick of this place. N-Not that you guys haven't made it bearable or anything!" she suddenly interjected, tucking her bangs away from her face. "I just mean... I want to be able to hang out with you guys and have fun. And being in a hospital... well... it's hard to do that."

Out of nowhere, the two could hear Mitsuru and the Chairman's voices out in the hall.

"Yes. That's what the doctor had said."

"Excellent," Mitsuru responded.

"Should we go tell her, then?"

"I'll do it. Mr. Chairman, can you give the doctors my sincerest thanks and let them know that my father will be supporting them in their endeavors?"

"No problem, Mitsuru."

And with those words, the redhead girl walked into the hospital room, her usually cold, proud face replaced by a softer one. "Well, then, Arasawa." She paused for a moment, sighing in relief. "The doctor has given you permission to leave tonight, as long as we are all careful to watch you. And you still need to take next week off school."

The excitement that lit up Hamuko's face was a sight to see. "Really! Yes!" she cheered, her eyes closed in absolute bliss. Elated, the girl almost jumped up from her bed, staggering a little as she grabbed Minato's hands, shaking them up and down. "Did you hear that? You don't have to keep wasting your time with me here anymore! I can finally go out! Yes!" She let go of his hands and clasped hers together. "Thank you, Mitsuru-senpai!"

The Senior chuckled. "Don't push yourself too much. Fuuka's coming. She and I will gather your things here. And, Arisato-kun, if you do not mind, Hamuko may need some help outside. Just give her a little support, the doctor says that she can walk relatively well now. My father has a company vehicle outside; we're going back to the dorm in that."

As if on cue, Fuuka entered. "The Chairman just told me the news!" she chirped, almost as excited as Hamuko.

Minato let his hands be shaken by Hamuko, but he was sharing her enthusiasm. "Wow, so soon?" He looked around at the room; Hamuko's belongings were going to have to be packed. "I can't even imagine what the others will say; they weren't expecting you for another few days!"

Minato took out his cell phone and typed out a new message. "'Hamuko coming home 2nite!'" His fingers danced across the keys, and he sent it to everyone who wasn't at the hospital with them. His phone practically blew up moments later. He flipped through text after text, smiling wider with each one.

"They're thrilled," he summarized.

Hamuko grinned widely, clearly sharing his enthusiasm. "I'm so excited!" She sat back down, catching her breath. The girl sighed in great relief. "You'll have to introduce me to some friends of yours, Minato-kun," she chirped.

"Ooh! Hamuko-chan! You can join some clubs, too. That's a great way to get to know people," Fuuka commented as she was placing the girl's things in a large bag. "You can be in Cooking Club with me! It's a lot of fun!"

She perked up at the suggestion. "Oh, ah...sure! Sounds nice." Within a few moments, Mitsuru and Fuuka had managed to pack up everything that belonged to Hamuko. "Are we ready to go?"

Mitsuru nodded. "Let's get going, then. We need to go ahead and get you situated back in your room."

Hamuko stood up again, her legs less shaky this time around. She extended one arm, as if to put it around the boy's shoulder. "Ready, Minato-kun?"

"Alright, let's get out of here." Minato bent down and let her put her arm around him. He was tall and strong enough to take her on his own, thought it was a little off-balanced. As they discharged her from the hospital, they were offered a wheelchair no fewer than three times. Each time he responded with, "No, we're fine, but thanks."

In the fresh, outside air, the plushy-looking car waited, the chauffeur standing with the door opening. "Nice car, Mitsuru-senpai." He gently sat Hamuko down on the seat and then climbed in. "Uh, sir?" Minato beckoned the man. "Can you drive carefully? Don't hit bumps too hard or anything."

Once they had finally reached the dorm, Hamuko's heart almost seemed to explode from her chest in anticipation. After getting let out of the car, she continued to use Minato for support until they finally opened the door. In the lounge, Hamuko could see the whole team talking and joking around. "H-Hi, guys," she started, smiling.

Ken looked up from his elementary school homework. "Hiya, Arasawa-senpai."

Yukari grinned, walking up to her. "Hey, look at who's up and about! How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright," she answered truthfully, gratefully taking a seat in one of the chairs that was left open. "How are all you guys doing?"

Meanwhile, Fuuka was on her way upstairs with Hamuko's things, wanting to make her work quick so that she could return and talk.

"Welcome back," Akihiko said, gentlemanly rising to meet her.

"Hi, Akihiko-senpai," she chirped with much enthusiasm.

Minato headed upstairs to drop his backpack off in his room. As he came back out, tiptoeing over the mess in his floor, he closed his door at the same time Shinjiro did down the hall. "Hey, senpai. Heading downstairs?"

"Yeah." That was usually about as far as the two ever got into conversation with each other. For some reason, they had never truly gotten along as friends, only as acquaintances.

In Minato's opinion, there was a certain coldness to the older teen that never made him comfortable around Shinjiro. Others had managed to get him to open up, but that had yet to happen between the two of them. Wanting to change that, Minato said, "Hold up, I'll go back down with you." He fumbled with the keys hanging from the lanyard on his belt loop and locked his door, then turned to catch up with Shinjiro.

Shinjiro waited patiently as Minato joined him. Together the two walked back downstairs and separated at the lounge. Shinjiro headed into the kitchen, hungry for something to eat. He came back with a piece of toast in his mouth and found the others in the lounge. "She's back," he stated obviously as he took one of the single seats on either ends of the couch.

Hamuko couldn't help but laugh aloud when Shinjiro appeared, carrying a piece of toast in his mouth like an animal. "Hello, Shinjiro-senpai," she snorted, waving at him with a grin on her face. This was were she truly wanted to be. This already seemed like her new home, and she was happy to be a part of it. The young girl glanced around the room, taking in everyone's faces. She leaned her head back, resting against the edge of the seat. It was quiet for a few moments before she spoke up.

"So, um... You guys were talking about you being part of that SEES group, right? Well...I want to join."

Yukari's eyes widened as she gazed at Hamuko, along with the rest of the team. "Really?"

Hamuko readjusted herself in the seat, paying no heed to the bandages on her chest. "Well, yeah. I mean, I saw what you guys all did last week; I'm assuming that monster thing was not supposed to be there. Specialized...Extracurricular...Execution- Oh. Yeah, I get it." She almost laughed at herself.

Fuuka, nearly tripping over herself to get downstairs, rushed into the room. "So what are we talking about?"

"Yes, thank you very much, sir. Alright, goodbye."

The Chairman stepped into the room after hanging up his cell phone. "What's this I hear?" he asked, smirking at what part of the conversation he had picked up.

Hamuko grinned at the Chairman. "Well, um, I want to join your guys' little group. If that's alright with you. I mean, it seems hard to fight those things... I nearly died trying to, but uh.. That was just a fluke. Right?"

Ikutsuki sighed, half-smiling. "You are correct in that. We were not expecting a Shadow to have itself hidden so well, and be able to manipulate its surroundings. That definitely was a new one."

"Shadow...?"

The chairman thrust his palm against his forehead. "Oh, dear, I forgot about that. We still need to explain everything to you, don't we?"

A little question-mark could almost be seen over Hamuko's head as confusion was clearly written all over her face.

"Alright, alright." Ikutsuki laughed. "Now...who wants to tell the story?" he asked, as if he was asking a bunch of schoolchildren to relate a bedtime tale to the girl.

"I'll do it." As one of the senior members, Akihiko had quite a bit of experience in this particular situation and was willing to relay the information for the thousandth time. "Pay close attention, because this takes a little while."

"When you first arrived, it was very late at night, around midnight, in fact. On your way here you no doubt noticed the coffins standing in the street, blood all over the place, and the way everything looked sort of green. This is called the Dark Hour, or the secret twenty-fifth hour of the day."

Pausing for a moment to let her process that much, Akihiko continued, "No normal person can experience the Dark Hour. They sleep inside the coffins, completely oblivious to everything going on outside. A small percentage of people can experience the Dark Hour, and an even smaller group within that percentage has the potential to summon a Persona. Those who do not have the potential are easy prey for the Shadows. They spawn in a place called Tartarus and feed off humans, turning them into the Lost. You probably haven't seen them yet, but they're almost like zombies because they don't respond to anything."

"You, of course, are among the group of people who have Persona. We all have the power to summon our Persona, excluding the Chairman. They are a physical image of our psyche and personality that respond to danger whenever we're threatened. They each have their own abilities and weaknesses, like my Polydeuces is electricity-based, but weak to ice."

"When you tried to get into the warehouse, Yukari tried to stop you," Shinjiro remembered. "Your Persona burned her, so it's probably fire-based."

"Nice observation."

"Personae are all different, just as much as the people controlling them. I'm a little different," Minato explained, feeling like now was the best time to bring this up. "It's extremely rare, but it's called the Wild Card ability. I can summon many different Personae instead of just one."

"Lucky..." Junpei muttered darkly.

"My true Persona is Orpheus, though. You saw him that night at the warehouse."

Hamuko slowly nodded, taking in all of the information. "So, I'm supposed to believe there's an extra hour in the day that no one else can see?" she asked, raising her eyebrows and looking at them in concern. Before the thought crossed her mind that they were all on some kind of drug, she thought of herself. She saw all of that too. She had her own Persona. There was no choice for her but to accept it. She sighed, shrugging her shoulders and throwing her hands up in the air. "Okay!" she said, giving up on all of her previous logical thoughts.

Yukari laughed. "It's strange, isn't it? We wonder why it's like that too, don't worry."

Mitsuru gazed at the girl seriously. "The purpose of SEES is to execute the Shadows. If we let them run rampant, many individuals would become the Lost. Ordinary people refer to this as 'Apathy Syndrome,' so it must be understood that you can't talk about all of this normally as you would with anything else. They just believe it to be some sort of mental affliction, but for those of us that really do know what happens... Well, it's much different."

The young girl accepted this with no more than a nod. "I understand." She clenched her fist, feeling determination running through her veins. Hamuko put up her fists, grinning. "Bring it on. I'm ready to help you all." Breaking her tough-girl facade with a giggle, she glanced at the boys. "You'll have to all teach me some pointers. I haven't done this stuff in a while."

"In a while?" Fuuka questioned.

"Yeah. When I was younger, I used to take martial arts classes. I could probably still swing a weapon or two around," she chirped, smiling as she reminisced.

Mitsuru raised her eyebrows. "That's impressive."

"Martial arts?" Akihiko's attention was piqued, his eyes brightened with passion for his sport. "Good. Once you're recovered enough, I can help you get your strength back up."

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Shinjiro warned. "You won't be fighting for a while in your shape, so don't get your hopes up."

Minato nodded his agreement. "Senpai's right. We have to focus on the most important things right now. In other words, waiting for Hamuko's condition to improve and preparing for the next full moon."

Though a little disappointed, Akihiko saw their point. "Right. We should have about three weeks before the full moon. Hamuko, you should probably sit that one out. Three weeks is just not enough time, I'm sorry."

The young girl pouted, dropping her fists. "But... " She sighed, glancing at them. "Fine. You're right." She really hadn't thought of her own health. "Hey, wait a minute. What's the significance of a full moon?"

Ikutsuki spoke up this time. "Very powerful Shadows appear every full moon. There are 12 in total. If we defeat all of them, we should be able to end the Dark Hour for good."

"Really?" Hamuko asked, surprised. "That's odd."

He raised his eyebrows at her response, but said nothing.


To Be Continued...


"Dormitorium"... I think this one is self-explanatory. Dorm. ^^;