"You're back."
The boy in prison clothes was sitting on Makoto's bed when he entered the room; his short legs dangling off the floor. His wide childish smile would have been rather disarming and innocent if only the warped discoloration of the world during the Dark Hour didn't distort one's perception. In the eerie green lighting, the boy's smile only looked sinister.
"The moon's almost full isn't it?" the boy observed as he turned his head to look at the window where indeed the enormous green moon was almost full. Makoto walked up to the window and looked at the same sight as the boy.
Blink. The boy was now standing by the window in front of him. "I see that you made a few friends," he said, smiling even wider, "that is, if we can call them that." He looked up at Makoto with those bright blue eyes of his. "Though there is one who seem to resent you... someone very close."
Blink. The boy was by the door, facing his back to the room. "Be careful," he warned.
"An ordeal awaits you."
XI. The Anehazuru Incident
Makoto went down for breakfast - it was Yukari's turn again this week - after finishing his early morning training at the rooftop. He had changed out of his hakama and into grey sweatpants and what most Japanese teenagers call a Y-Shirt. He thought that maybe it was still early for breakfast though, but still went to the first floor anyway.
Upon reaching the first floor, he saw that there was no one around yet - as he figured. Sounds were coming from the kitchen though, so Makoto went inside to see Yukari panicking behind the center island.
"Oh, Yuki-kun," Yukari said as she noticed the blue-haired boy enter the kitchen. "Sorry, but breakfast's not done yet. Actually - it's better to say that nothing's done yet." She scours the almost empty fridge and cupboards for ingredients while talking. It looks like she doesn't know what to serve for breakfast this particular morning.
Makoto walked up to the fridge a hurried and harried Yukari left open, and took a look inside. Aside from Akihiko's energy drinks and protein shakes, all that's left inside were some eggs, two pieces of scallions, and a plastic container of miso paste. He then peeked inside the freezer and saw some packets of natto sitting at the back of some ice cube containers and more energy drinks. Makoto then wondered if Akihiko was by now a caffeine junkie with the number of cans stored in the fridge every week.
"Fried eggs," Makoto suggested as he closed the freezer.
"I've thought of that," Yukari replied, sounding exasperated. "But I'm just not sure how Senpai would take it if we served just that with rice. I probably won't hear the end of it, how it was my responsibility or whatever."
"Senpai?" Makoto wondered. The first person that came to mind was Akihiko - maybe because he was just thinking about him and his love for protein and, apparently, caffeine. "I don't think Akihiko-san would mind though. I saw him eat raw egg once. Said something about protein."
"I'm not talking about Sanada-senpai," Yukari snapped. "I meant Kirijo-senpai."
"Kirijo-senpai..." Makoto echoed. Well, he didn't know much about Mitsuru besides that she's scary when angered and the fact that she seem to like green tea mixed soy milk. "How about fermented soy beans?"
"You mean natto?" Yukari looked up from her position on the floor rummaging the cupboard under the sink in a bid of desperation. "Do we even have natto?" she asked standing up.
Makoto replied by opening the freezer and taking out the packs of natto from the back then showing it to Yukari. The girl stood up and walked to Makoto to take the natto and place it atop the kitchen counter. Makoto then closed the fridge since it has now served its purpose. "Well, it's all we've got," Yukari muttered. "I wonder if she'd eat it."
"What makes you think Kirijo-senpai won't?" Makoto asked.
"Remember the week you spent in the hospital?" Yukari said as she took out a stainless steel bowl and placed the packets in it. Makoto nodded in answer. "Well, that was Kirijo-senpai's turn on kitchen duty." She placed the bowl with frozen packets under the tap and ran it. "She never really did cook that week." She closed the tap and proceeded to remove the ice on the outside of the packs while submerged in water. "One of her maids - I forgot her name - came by and prepared a week's worth of meals for breakfast and dinner we could just store in the freezer and heat up when it was time to eat. Everything was gourmet level.
"So you see, I can't mess up," Yukari concluded as she continued defrosting the packs of natto in the hopes it'll thaw faster. Makoto watched his classmate as her fingers moved dexterously in the water, breaking off pieces of ice here and there. Letting the words sink in, he then opened the fridge again and rescued the miso, eggs, and scallions from the company of Akihiko's drinks. "What're you going to do with that?" Yukari asked as Makoto placed the items on the counter.
"Mix it with the natto," Makoto simply said as he went straight for the cupboard and took out a large bowl. Yukari stared and moved out of the way as the blue-haired boy removed the steel bowl filled with frozen natto and tap water from the sink and then proceeded to clean the large bowl he took from the cupboard. After washing this, he took a towel from the cabinet and wiped it dry. He then placed the bowl on the counter and continued by cracking the eggs open with one hand. "The rice," he then said, reminding Yukari.
"Oh, right," Yukari said, snapping out of watching Makoto's methodical, almost mechanical, movements. She then proceeded to prepare the rice for breakfast. "Where did you learn to crack eggs one-handed?" she asked, taking measured amounts of rice grains from its storage container and into the rice cooker pot. "I've always wanted to learn that."
"Grandmother taught me," came the boy's simple reply.
"That's right, you lived with your grandparents," the girl said as she washed the grains of rice with tap water. "I heard you lived abroad." Makoto nodded as he beat the eggs with a fork. "Where exactly abroad?"
"Different places," Makoto replied. "Jumped around the UK and Ireland when I was younger; a summer in France; spent a year in Norway; then state to state in the US."
"Wow," Yukari said, placing the pot into the rice cooker and turning it on. "So you never returned to Japan until now?" Makoto nodded. "But why move around so much? And with your grandparents, too."
"Grandfather's work demands we move around," was all Makoto said as he set aside the beaten eggs and took a knife from the block in front of him.
"He still works?" asked Yukari as she poured the water from the steel bowl and refilled it under the tap. Makoto only nodded in answer. There was then a lull in conversation as Yukari watched Makoto chop the scallions.
After some time - and a few more trips under the tap - the frozen natto has been thawed. Yukari opened the packs and removed the film, then dumped everything into a large bowl. Makoto stared at the bowl of fermented soybeans.
"Want to stir?" Yukari offered as she saw the look on Makoto's face. He nodded once and took out a pair of chopsticks. Yukari then handed him the bowl of natto and then went to the rice cooker to check its progress.
Turning around, she found that the blue-haired boy was stirring the beans with such force that some of its sticky threads were spilling over and onto his shirt. Not that he minded, or even noticed.
"Yuki-kun, stop!" Yukari shouted with her hands in front of her in the universal body language that meant to cease. "You're stirring a bit too hard. Look. Your shirt's all sticky; even your arms." She took the bowl from Makoto and placed it atop a mat on the counter, then took a wet towel and proceeded to wipe off the threads from his arms and shirt; like a mother cleaning the mud of a child's t-shirt after a long day of running around in the park.
Just then, Junpei entered the scene.
"Oi, Yukatan. Is breakfast ready yet?" Junpei stopped as he saw Yukari wiping a wet towel across Makoto's arm. "Whatchoo guys doing?"
"Making breakfast," Makoto answered.
"Well, if that's breakfast then I'm just gonna buy something from the convenience store," Junpei said, sounding irritated. He then quickly exited the kitchen with a tch-ing sound.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Yukari remarked as she handed the towel to Makoto so he could wipe himself. She then took the bowl of natto and chopsticks, and stirred. "You should probably wash up and change. I can handle this. I just have to mix this with the eggs right?"
Makoto nodded and said, "Mix the natto with the eggs. Put the soy sauce and mustard from the pack, and a tablespoon of miso. Mix. Pour over rice. Then add the scallions for garnish."
"Got it."
And Makoto exited the kitchen as well.
As he reached the stairs though Junpei's voice called out to him from the lounge.
"So," Junpei said, "you and Yukatan seem to be getting pret-ty close, eh?" He was seated on the sofa, his head facing the front door. "Man, some of us are just born lucky."
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked, realizing that this was the first time in two weeks he and Junpei were to talk outside of their Tartarus explorations. While even when in the tower, the other guy was somewhat quiet and irritable. He no longer even hanged out with him and Kenji after class.
"Whatever, man," Junpei scoffed as he stood up and went outside without even a single glance in Makoto's direction. The blue-haired boy was only left wondering what could make Junpei act like that. Did he somehow misunderstand what he saw in the kitchen? But it never seemed to bother him before when rumors would float around school about Makoto and Yukari. What changed then to make him so irate?
Makoto dismissed the thought and shook his head, then went up to his room to change.
Junpei didn't show up for breakfast that morning.
"What do you think is his problem?" Yukari asked as she trailed behind Makoto who was pushing the shopping cart along the aisle of baking mix and flours. "When I asked him after class if he wanted to help out with the grocery he was all for it but then suddenly said that he had something else planned and ran off. Like I can believe that." She took down one of the pancake mix from the shelf and looked at the back for the nutrition label. "What do you think, Yuki-kun?"
"No idea," was all the blue-haired boy said as he took box after box from the shelf.
"Geez, you could at least pretend like you care, you know," Yukari sighed watching Makoto place the boxes inside the cart. "And how many more pancake mixes are you planning to buy?!" She walked off to the cart's side and stopped his hand from taking another box.
"Akihiko-san requested pancakes," Makoto said.
"Well, I for one am not eating nothing but pancakes for the whole week," Yukari replied as she removed the boxes from the cart and returned them to the shelf. "We'll buy two and that's it. You need a balanced diet for these things you know so stick to the list I gave you. Come on." She then lead the way by pulling the cart's front towards the produce section of the supermarket. "I guess it's for the best that I came with you."
"Hey, isn't that Yukari-san?"
"You're right. Hey, Yukari~"
Yukari stopped in her tracks as two girls wearing Gekkoukan High uniforms came up to her from further down the aisle. Meanwhile, Makoto only held to the shopping cart as he took a gander at the shelf to his right. Apparently they were in the snacks aisle now.
"Isn't he the rumored transfer student?" asked a girl with the ponytail.
"Rumored, you say?" Yukari asked in reply, forcing a smile.
"So it's true that you guys are dating?" a girl with the bob chimed in excitedly.
"No! We are definitely not dating!" Yukari rebuked as she waved her hands in front of her.
"Eeeh? Then what're you guys doing then?" said the bob. "You look like a pair of newly-weds shopping for groceries together like that."
"We live in the same dorm and it's his turn on kitchen duty starting tomorrow so I'm just helping him out," Yukari explained in a hurry, getting increasingly flustered and sweating despite the supermarket's A/C. "It's his first time you see."
"Is that so?" the ponytail said, now looking at what the rumored transfer student was doing. Seeing the look on both girls' faces, Yukari turned around just to see Makoto filling up the cart with all brands of potato chips.
"Yuki-kun!" Yukari snapped loudly at the blue-haired boy.
"These're mine," Makoto said as he nonchalantly placed another bag of chips into the cart.
"I don't care even if you pay for the chips yourself," Yukari replied, "but we're not buying them!" She then proceeded to return the bags onto the shelf as the two other high school girls watched with increasing amusement. "Have you any idea how much calories these things contain? Now come on." After the chips were removed from the cart, Yukari then started pushing Makoto to get a move on. "See you two at club next week." And then they were off.
"I knew it," Yukari sighed as they were out of earshot from the two Gekkoukan girls. "Doing the grocery with just the two of us was a bad idea after all."
"Five minutes ago you said it was for the best though," Makoto contradicted.
"Geez, you can be incredibly thick sometimes you know," Yukari muttered looking increasingly tired all of a sudden. "But with you like that, I guess the rumors doesn't bother you at all, huh..." Makoto shrugged. "Well, let's just get this over with and get back to the dorm," Yukari sighed as she pushed a hand into the boy's back. "Hopefully, we don't run into them again. Or anyone else from school for that matter."
They eventually finished shopping for groceries without further incident - not counting the multiple times where Yukari had to stop Makoto from sneaking more food items into the cart.
On their way towards the exit after paying at the check-out counter, however, Yukari stopped in front of a magazine and newspaper stand and read the headlines.
"There's been an increase in the number of new Apathy Syndrome victims this past week. The number of deaths is also on the rise," she told Makoto who looked over her shoulder to see the numerous papers reporting on the recent suicides by confirmed Apathy Syndrome victims. "Do you think we're making any actual difference here?"
"I don't know," Makoto answered bluntly, making Yukari turn around to look at him.
She wondered what was going on inside that head of his. She wondered what exactly was his reason for joining SEES. He didn't seem to care if their efforts were of any use in curbing the problem with the Shadows. He was a good field leader in keeping her and Junpei safe, yes, but reckless when it came to himself.
Why do you fight, Yuki-kun?
"I see," Yukari muttered to herself and looked up into the dimming sky as they exited the supermarket. A ghost of the moon could somehow already be seen. "Looks like there'll be a full moon tonight."
Makoto looked up at the moon. As he laid eyes on that spherical orb in the sky, he suddenly felt a tug under his skin: an ominous feeling. And he heard the boy's voice inside his head:
The moon's almost full isn't it? Be careful. An ordeal awaits you.
That night, Makoto stayed up staring at the full moon until the Dark Hour struck.
He felt restless, something he didn't usually feel. Thinking back to the recent events since he stepped foot in Iwatodai, there have only been two circumstances where he felt the same way as he did tonight: one, when he first met the boy in prison clothes the night he arrived; two, when he saw that giant Shadow on the rooftop last month. Seeing that the boy's visitations were not succeeded by the same ominous feeling any longer, he could only conclude that something similar to the latter will soon present itself. Tonight.
So when an alarm blared all over the whole dormitory, he knew he had been correct.
Still in his school uniform, Makoto then headed up to the fourth floor in an almost leisurely manner that disregarded the anxiety that was crawling beneath his skin and whispering unintelligibly in his ear. He reached the Command Room just as the pajama-clad figures of Yukari and Junpei arrived at almost the same time on the fourth floor's landing.
"You're still dressed," Yukari noted, staring at the blue-haired boy in uniform.
"Uh, excuse me but I think we have an emergency here," Junpei said, brushing past the two to get into the command room. He pushed the door open and disappeared inside without even so much as a glance at Makoto.
"Honestly..." Yukari muttered under her breath and followed the goatee. Makoto did the same.
Inside the room - aside from Junpei - were Mitsuru and Akihiko still dressed in their school uniforms. And, unlike Junpei and Yukari, they looked wide awake. This only compounded the sense of restlessness inside Makoto as he surveyed the room, locking on to the large monitor on the wall showing a satellite map of Iwatodai with a red blinking dot somewhere out at what looked like open waters.
"So what's up with the wake up call, Senpai?" Junpei, stifling a yawn, asked Akihiko as soon as everyone was gathered near the bank of consoles. But Akihiko only turned his head to Mitsuru in answer.
"A Shadow's been spotted outside of Tartarus," Mitsuru explained her tone becoming grave. "And according to the energy readings Penthesilea is picking up, it's not an ordinary one either." Makoto's face, though remaining utterly passive, couldn't help but harden at the jaw at this piece of news. He was right to stay awake tonight, but wondered how the boy in prison clothes was aware of such developments enough to warn him.
"Wait, do you mean it's something like last month?" Yukari asked, a worried look on her face.
"That is what we fear," replied Mitsuru. "And as I am confident with the amount of progress you all have gathered this past weeks, assigning you to intercept this particular Shadow is still wrought with danger." She paused, and then continued with her grave tone becoming more so. "But we must all do what we can to eradicate this current threat. Is it not the reason we all joined SEES: to protect the city from the Shadows?"
Yukari remained silent, only nodding. Makoto stared off distantly, but slightly changed his passive face to say that he understood. Only Junpei seemed to be the one energetic enough to answer, despite being barely awake a few minutes ago.
"So we just need to kick its ass right? Well count me in!"
"Me as well," Akihiko piped in, pressing a fist to his chest. But Mitsuru didn't look amused.
"No, Akihiko. I can't allow you to be on the assault team," the redhead said. "Aside from the fact that you're still injured, I've contacted the Chairman and he's currently outside the city. So I need you here to relay the information I send you to his position. Understood?" Yet despite the question, Mitsuru's tone left no place for argument as Akihiko, despite wanting to accompany the assault team, only nodded stiffly in reply.
"Don't worry, Senpai! I got this covered!" Junpei declared as he placed a hand on Akihiko's shoulder. But the silver-haired senior only looked to the blue-haired boy staring at the monitor.
"You're in charge," he said. "Lead them well."
"Understood," Makoto replied without taking his eyes off the screen, while Junpei removed his hand from Akihiko's shoulder a look dawning on his face that suggested he had swallowed something disagreeable.
"All right," Mitsuru spoke. "Everyone get ready. You three go an ahead to the rendezvous point, as I still need to prepare a few things."
"Uhm, where's the rendezvous point?" Yukari asked looking up from staring at her feet.
"Iwatodai station," Makoto suddenly said making everyone turn to him in surprise. He looked at the rest of the team with blank eyes and pointed at the computer screen, specifically at the red dot on what seemed to be open waters. "It's somewhere along the monorail tracks right?" Mitsuru gave an impressed smile as she nodded.
"Correct."
"Ugh, where is she?" Yukari said loudly as she glanced at her SEES wristwatch.
It took them roughly twenty minutes to get to Iwatodai Station from the dormitory. Although it took Makoto close to an hour to walk from the station to the dorm on the night of his arrival, he was walking rather leisurely that time. Tonight, they had decided to 'borrow' some 'unlocked' bicycles on the way to speed things up. It was an important mission after all.
Just then a low growl could be heard from the distance which grew steadily louder with each passing second. With all eyes directed down the road, they saw a single glare of light becoming bigger as the growling could now be distinguished as the roar of an engine. The sudden glare was the headlight of a motorcycle.
Moments later, a silver Ducati parked itself right in front of the three high schools students seated on the steps of the train station. Taking off the helmet, the driver was revealed to be none other than Mitsuru, wearing a peacoat and pants ensemble.
"I apologize for the wait," the redhead said as she got off the bike. Junpei, becoming rather excited at the sight of the motorcycle proceeded to examine it all angles; it was a splendid looking piece of machinery after all. "I've located the Shadow to be inside a monorail not far from this station. It's position has remained unchanged for the last thirty minutes." Hearing this, Junpei abruptly ceased his admiration of the bike.
"Wait, it hasn't done anything?" the baseball cap asked. It was suspicious for a Shadow with an immense energy reading to remain in stasis, and they all thought that. But what was more surprising, at least to Yukari, was how it was Junpei who first voiced it out.
"True," Mitsuru agreed. "It is suspicious to know that the Shadow has not made a move to wreck havoc as if it's waiting for something, or someone." She turned to look at all of them in the eye, but dwelling a second longer on the blue-haired boy still seated on the stairs. "But we have no choice but to pursue it where it stands. You all will head to the monorail by way of the tracks while I provide support from here." She then placed a hand on the motorcycle where a small gadget was installed on the back.
"Walk on the tracks? Isn't that dangerous," Yukari voiced out her apprehension.
"Don't worry, no electronic equipment is operable during the Dark Hour," Mitsuru tried to ease the other girl's worries. "All the trains have currently stopped and will remain that way until the end of the hour-" She looked at her own SEES wristwatch. "-which is about twenty-five minutes from now."
"But how come your bike works, Senpai?" Junpei said straightening up, "And even these wristwatches the Chairman gave us, now that I think about it."
But Mitsuru only gave a proud smile and said, "Because it's special.
"Now. We only have a little over twenty minutes left so we must move fast. The Dark Hour is basically a hidden hour so we must prevent any damage done the city during this time or else there might be panic.
"Commence operation!"
The monorail in question was already a kilometer out into the tracks from the station eating about ten minutes of the assault team's time before they finally reached it. They only have about fifteen minutes until the end of the Dark Hour. Thus, they need to end this quickly if they wanted to get off and then back to the station before the trains start moving again.
"We're here," Yukari announced to no one in particular.
The signal's definitely coming from that train. Please investigate it and eradicate the enemy.
"Gotcha, Kirijo-senpai!" Junpei exclaimed.
All three cautiously drew nearer the train in question. It was definitely not moving, out here in the middle of the tracks. Yet the doors, as far as Makoto could see, were all open. He wondered then why the doors would be open when it was in transit when midnight struck and essentially freezing it into place. But then again, the Shadow was inside the monorail.
They entered the train.
"By the way, why're the doors open?"
But just as Junpei voiced out what Makoto already had in his head, the door they came through suddenly closed. So did the one opposite it. Then another one. And another one. Before they knew it all the doors started closing in pairs along the train. Yukari and Junpei both went to a door and tried prying it open.
"Figures," Makoto muttered making Junpei whip his head at him.
"What? You knew this was gonna happen?!" Junpei grabbed Makoto's collar and shook him. "And you didn't bother to tell us?!" Spit was flying from his lips and onto the blue-haired boy's face. Yet Makoto only looked at him with cold eyes.
"Doesn't change anything," Makoto said with a blank tone. "The Shadow's inside. We needed to go after it. So we go inside. Whether I figured it to be a trap doesn't change anything. We still need to go after it. Inside." He paused, staring at the other boy's furious eyes.
"Then we could've just lured it out!" Junpei shouted, spit flying some more.
But Makoto could only stare at him. The Shadow had stayed in the same position for the past forty-five minutes inside a monorail in the middle of the tracks out at sea. Considering its actions, or lack thereof, Makoto didn't think that luring it outside would have proven at all fruitful. Or did his own sense of fatalism made him blind to that one contingency?
What's going on? Why is Yuki and Iori fighting?
"We're trapped inside the monorail," Yukari explained. "All the doors just suddenly shut close."
It must be the Shadow. It knows you're there.
And as if to prove Mitsuru's words to be true, a floating Shadow materialized in front of them from the darkness. From all their time exploring Tartarus, they all recognized this one to be classified as a Tiara. Junpei and Makoto broke off, and all three readied their weapons. But before they could engage the enemy, it abruptly turned on its heel - metaphorically - and ran - again, metaphorically - down the car and further into the center of the monorail.
"Hey, come back here!" Junpei shouted as he started to give chase.
Wait!
Junpei stopped.
The Shadow is acting strange. You three should take caution.
"What? But it's getting away!"
Yuki.
Yukari and Junpei looked at Makoto.
You're the field leader. It's your call.
A pause and then, "Take caution," was all the blue-haired boy said. But the baseball cap let out an impatient sound and pulled his sword off the ground.
"Like hell, i'mma listen to you!" Junpei spatted. "If you don't want to take care of it then fine by me. I can handle that thing by myself!" He then turned around and ran after the Shadow's tail.
"Wait, Junpei!" Yukari called out but to no avail as Junpei disappeared into another car. "Yuki-kun! We need to go after him!" Makoto stared at her as if he didn't care either way, but then lifted his sword tip off the ground.
"Understood."
But just before they could give chase, the whole train lurched forward sending them back. The monorail was moving along the tracks even though it was still the Dark Hour.
"Why're we moving?" Yukari shouted desperately.
It seems the Shadow has taken control of the monorail.
"It 'seems'?" Yukari snapped. "Gosh, that's helpful."
Oh no.
"What is it now?"
There's a train just up ahead. At this rate the train you're on will collide with it.
"What?!"
Listen, the energy spike is coming from the front of the train you're in. Iori's headed that way thus you need to catch up with him before he endangers himself.
"Ugh, Stupei!" Yukari exclaimed in frustration. "Yuki-kun!"
"On it," Makoto replied. And they ran off inside the train.
Hurry, everyone. I've estimated the time until collision...
"How long do we have?" Makoto asked as he and Yukari hurried towards the front car.
Eight minutes.
Junpei made short work of the Shadows he encountered with the use of his Persona, further inflating his ego. They crumbled as Hermes' fire attacks incinerated them before they could even get close enough. Or if they did, one swing from his sword and they go up in smoke.
He, too, could take out these things easily like the other guy. Yeah, he didn't have any fancy official training with sword fighting like him or didn't have as much experience when they started out, but he got the job done didn't he? Yet, all they could see was that guy. It was unfair.
He just got here last month and the whole school's already abuzz about him with rumors that say he and Yukari, one of the most sought after girl in the whole school next to Mitsuru, were dating. There was even another rumor spreading around that they'd been spotted shopping for groceries together like newly-weds, being all sweet together. And if that wasn't enough, some were even going so far as to say that there might be something going on between him and the Kirijo heiress as well. She did suddenly appoint him as her assistant in the Student Council after all. While Junpei himself still hadn't manage to get a girlfriend yet, let alone a date. It was unfair.
Then there was the wonderful friendship with Akihiko that the boxer's fan club are just eating up. Well, the senior did seem to have taken a great liking to the other guy that he'd appoint him to be field leader in regular expeditions and even on this particular mission. It didn't came to Junpei though to think with how well the other guy was doing that he'd naturally be assigned to take charge in urgent matters such as this. He only thought it to be unfair.
"Hermes!" Junpei shouted, pulling the trigger and shattering his mind. The winged figure of his Persona materialized in front of him and flew straight at the advancing pair of Tiaras, obliterating both with its sharp wings. "See that? I got this!"
He was visibly sweating now, yet this did not deter him as he cried out with his sword held high. But as he advanced towards the next car, a sudden block of ice came flying towards him from the darkness ahead. He managed to throw himself sideways to avoid getting hit.
"That was close," he breathed with relief. But he then stood up and continued.
Entering the front car, however, made him abruptly stop in his tracks. There in front of him was a large shadow which looked uncannily female - judging from outer appearances. It was clothed from the waist down as it sat with legs open and what looked like its breast hanging. Her hair appeared to be scrolls with writing on them as they stood hovering around her masked head. It gave Junpei a suffocating feeling as if the amount of power it has was suppressing him. Yet, he forced himself not feel scared.
"Hah, let's dance then."
He grabbed his Evoker from its holster and raised it to his temple; but before he could pull the trigger the large Shadow's scroll-like hair shot out from its head and hit him squarely on the chest, giving him no time to raise his sword and protect himself. The attack lifted him off his feet and threw him a few feet backwards. His Evoker flying further behind him.
The Shadow was now creating a large pointed missile made of ice out of thin air. He tried to stand but the pain on his chest sapped the strength from his limbs as he remained sprawled on his backside, vulnerable to the enemy's next attack. No way, he thought desperately.
The ice projectile was formed, and in an instant it came hurtling down towards a helpless Junpei. The point of its nose mercilessly directed towards his chest.
But it did not connect.
Suddenly, a wall of wind gust its way from the floor a few inches in front of Junpei and destroying the ice before it could even harm a hair on his goatee. Turning around, he saw Yukari and the other, guy behind him and hurriedly running to front car. The other guy, Makoto, picked up his Evoker on the way and handed it to the baseball cap.
"You okay?" Makoto asked Junpei who gave him a chagrin smile.
"Of course," Junpei replied as he took his Evoker.
"So," Yukari joined in, "could someone tell me what we're up against here?"
The Shadow's Arcana is the Priestess. Be careful, it doesn't appear to have any weaknesses.
"Okay, thanks for that," Yukari said, evidently displeased with the lack of good news.
Also, you only have five minutes left.
"Wait, what? What do you mean five minutes left?" Junpei cried starting to panic. "What happens after five minutes?!"
"We crash into the train up ahead," Yukari said gulping down the fear stuck in her throat.
"What?! But we're still inside!" Junpei cried again.
"Then we die," Makoto said blankly.
"What?" Junpei stared at the calm blue-haired boy dumbfounded. "How can you say that as if - as if you don't care?" But only the same cold, blank look stared back at him. "We'll die, dammit! Doesn't that mean anything to you?!"
"Not really," Makoto simply said, shocking both Junpei and Yukari, and Mitsuru who was listening in. "But if you're that scared-" He looked at Junpei, and then to Yukari, "-then do something about it." He then cocked the Evoker to his temple and fired.
Orpheus materialized as Makoto ran up to the Priestess Shadow with his sword coming from the side of his body. The scrolls shot out at him, but with his reflex being better than Junpei's, and the fact that he hadn't exhausted his stamina yet, Makoto only dodged them. By the time he got a few feet near the enemy, a scroll came down at him from his left. He changed the angle he was holding his sword and struck the scroll with a diagonal slash from below. Just as he did so Orpheus, unhampered by the scrolls since the enemy had been focused on his summoner, was already in front of the Priestess, blasting its face with fire. The mechanical man shattered into shards as the blue-haired boy returned to Yukari's and Junpei's sides.
Makoto shot both a look and they answered by firing their Evokers. But as Io and Hermes materialized out of thin air, the Priestess had also summoned its own reinforcements: a couple of Tiaras were now advancing towards them.
The three went into engagement.
Soon all three were coordinating their attacks accordingly. They alternated in calling their Personas to keep themselves from getting in the way of the others' attacks. But the Priestess was proving to be formidable, yet not invincible as it was starting to lurch forward. Unfortunately, so did Makoto.
Just as he was about to deal double damage to the Priestess in tandem with Orpheus, while Yukari and Junpei's Hermes covered them, a sudden sense of vertigo overcame him. Orpheus shattered midway his advance and Makoto dropped his sword, and instead held the right side of his face with both hands. Acting quickly, Junpei jumped in to pull Makoto away as Yukari, with the help of Io, gave them cover.
"Oi, Makoto!" Junpei screamed at the convulsing body of their leader. "Makoto, get a hold of yourself, man! Hey!"
"What's wrong with him?!" Yukari cried as the Priestess suddenly lowered her scrolls, even the Tiaras stopped their advancement. They were watching. "Yuki-kun!"
But Makoto could only clutch at his right eye which was burning as if a branding iron had been thrust into it. Yet he did not scream in pain, only groan in anguish. There was something wrong here. Just as he was to deal what he had meant to be the final blow to the Priestess, an image of an explosion came into mind and screams of terror echoed inside his ears, then a dark looming figure advancing painstakingly slow towards him. It was the same as when he had seen the large Shadow last month.
Everyone, you only have three minutes until collision!
Junpei gritted his teeth. They had no time left. For whatever reason, Makoto suddenly broke down in the middle of an attack. It was up to him to finish this. But rather than for the sake of his ego, he needed to get the job done because he sure as hell won't be dying tonight. Their lives were on the line here.
He raised his sword high in both hands and with a battle cry ran towards the Priestess. Yukari realizing what he was doing, nocked an arrow and took down the remaining Tiaras. Seeing this, the Priestess built up a blizzard inside the monorail, significantly lowering the temperature and hindering Junpei from advancing any further. But he tried to force his way in.
Makoto, despite being incapacitated and lying on the floor, reached out a hand to try to stop Junpei's advance. You can't defeat it, the blue-haired boy shouted in his head.
Just then, the world became white...
"Are you lost, boy?"
I looked up to see a man in a thick brown cloak speckled with snow, his hood covering much of his face, and a wooden staff in one hand. I turned around to look at my surroundings; all I could see were snow-covered trees. I lowered my head; all I could see was the snow-covered ground. I looked up at the man again.
"Are you lost, boy?"
I nodded.
"Want me to take you home?"
I nodded a second time.
The man reached out a gloved hand from underneath his cloak and I took it. He then walked forward, and I followed holding on to his hand. It felt cold, even through two layers of cloth, but I held on. Turning my head skywards, I asked the man a question.
"The blizzard? Hm, I don't know. Just died down I guess. Which is good. Better to find one's way when there's no snow hampering his sight, eh?"
He then laughed. A loud hearty laugh.
"So what was a young'in like you doing out here in a blizzard ne'ways?"
I told him.
"Oh, got separated from your grandparents, you say. Well, tis a good thing I found you or you could have died from hypothermia. D'you know what hypothermia is?"
I shook my head.
"It's one of those newfangled words young'ins use when a person becomes too cold, or something like that."
We then walked in silence: the man leading the way with his walking staff, and I following alongside as I held his cold hand. Soon I could see the village where my grandparents and I live. But even without me telling the man my address, he led me down the streets and alleyways until finally, we were in front of my house. I let go of the man's hand.
"Well now, don't go be getting lost again y'hear?"
The wind was starting up as snow came down from the sky. I looked up and saw that the clouds had grown darker and thicker. The blizzard was back.
"Right then, best I be off now. Stay safe, boy."
He crouched down and patted my head, then turned around. I grabbed hold onto the helm of his cloak. He looked over his shoulder at me. I asked his name. He told me. I repeated his name to him. Then he turned around once more and vanished into the blizzard.
"If you find yerself in trouble a-gain, just call out, ayt?"
...as snow for a moment.
Makoto, forcing himself into a kneeling position, took out his Evoker and fired.
"Jack Frost!"
Shouting a new name, a different entity manifested itself in front of them. It was a small white thing with limbs wearing a blue jester hat. It was the snow spirit, Jack Frost.
Gaining back the strength to move with the pain in his eye subsiding to a dull throb, Makoto stood up to see, through Jack Frost's eyes, that the Priestess was creating another large projectile of ice. But Jack Frost intervened as he tried nullifying the blizzard inside the train car, just like when he made it disappear all those years ago in the Norwegian mountains.
Junpei, who had also noticed the incomplete ice projectile raised his sword and cut it down as the Priestess still made use of it in an act of desperation - or at least, what Makoto felt like desperation. The baseball cap turned around to see Makoto standing at the back, a Persona that wasn't Orpheus hovering above him. Damn, show off, he thought but this time with no animosity as he smirked to himself.
"Oi, Junpei," Makoto called out, now sweating visibly. Junpei look at him in surprise, this was the first time Makoto called him by his first name without an honorific. "Finish it." He pulled his cap down and took out his Evoker as he turned around to face the Priestess again. Makoto then turned to Yukari. "Takeba-san, cover him." Yukari nodded, preparing her bow.
"Hermes!" Junpei shouted as he pulled the trigger. Hermes materialized behind him. And with a smirk, they charged in. Yet, even as the Priestess was busy futily trying to create another blizzard, it was aware enough of the oncoming attack to retaliate with her scroll-like hair. But she was too preoccupied to successfully defend thus Junpei and Hermes managed to get inside and deal double damage.
A loud shriek echoed inside the monorail as the Priestess Shadow disintegrated to nothing.
"Hah! Told you I got this," Junpei called out from the front and giving the rest of the team a thumbs up while he had his back to them. Makoto raised his own thumb as Jack Frost disappeared with a cackle. Only Yukari didn't seem at all pleased.
"Why aren't we stopping!?" she cried as the windows show that the monorail was still speeding towards a collision with another train.
You're going too fast. You'll have to find the brakes! Quickly!
And with the sense of urgency returning, all three members of the assault team rushed into the control room. There were levers and dials and buttons everywhere. None of them knew which one was the brake and they all started panicking - except Makoto that is. Seeing that they barely have enough ground before the back end of the other train comes to meet them, he walked towards a red lever to his left and pulled it down.
Outside, sparks flew as the wheels were forced to stop, yet the monorail continued to move forward due to the momentum. The other train came closer. And closer. Even as the one they were in became slower and slower. The shriek of the wheels coming from below them then grew muffled as the monorail finally jerked to a stop just mere inches away from the train in front of it.
Yukari and Junpei, relieved that they were still alive, lost the strength in their knees.
"Thanks, Yuki-kun," Yukari breathed from her sitting position on the floor. "How did you know which one was the brakes?"
"I didn't," Makoto said. Yukari and Junpei jerked their heads upward in shock. "I guess it was a lucky brake." Junpei let out another sigh as Yukari groaned.
"I can't believe you could still joke like that," she remarked. "But I'm still grateful. So thanks."
Is everyone alright?
"Yeah," Yukari replied. "Thanks to Yuki-kun, we're still alive."
Thank goodness. I'm sorry I couldn't be of any much help to you. But there's still over five minutes remaining in the Dark Hour. I suggest you all exit the train. You're almost already at Port Island Station anyway. Good job, all of you.
"Well, come on. Up and at 'em," Junpei said as he stood up. "Hey, by the way, Makoto." Makoto looked up as he helped Yukari to her feet. "Thanks for saving us." The baseball cap then started scratching his nose. "But I still think you're an asshole for not telling us about the doors and shit."
"Well, I still think you're an idiot for running off on your own," Makoto replied. "But you go the job done"
"Hah," Junpei laughed as he gave a sheepish smile. "So how 'bout a truce?" He raised a hand to the other guy.
"Okay," the other guy replied, also raising a hand.
And they shook on that truce while Yukari watched, rolling her eyes but smiling.
"Ugh, boys..."
AFTERWORD:
Whew, my longest chapter yet.
I tend not to write long chapters because of my attention span, that's why my chapters are short and episodic - something my Aristotle fanboy of a professor would weep at, I guess. But hey, I somehow had fun with this. The first half came easy enough because it was something new. I only had problems when it came to starting the mission and henceafter; thinking of a way that didn't just copy from the movie. Although I still went by its direction.
So what do you think of the interactions here? How are you finding the characters so far? And Makoto?
Welp, that's that. And please, leave a review or send me a PM if you have the time. Give me your ideas, your thoughts, your suggestions, and... okay, your violent reactions, too. Cheers!
P.S. WHY, PRINCE?! WHY?! You hurt me, man. Truly. T_T