Piecing the Fragments
Chapter 10: Finding your True Self
Original Concept: Persona 3 Portable
Created by: Atlus
Written by: wrathie
Author's Notes: Game Spoilers Galore, Readers be warned.
Note: The info about Castor was provided by Daniel Acaba and his P3 FAQ on Gamefaqs!
Author's Notes: Thank you Kaiser Dude for the beta-edit as always!
Remastered and re-done on 03/02/13
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..
Sanada Akihiko only emerged from his room nearing dinner time and to the second generation of S.E.E.S's amusement, he dumped several packets of takeaway beef bowl he pulled from the kitchen before sitting down at the lounge and looking at them studying.
'Studying hard I see... that's good, where's Mitsuru, she might reward all of you for taking your studies seriously. Especially you, Junpei... I wonder how much she'll pay me for getting a photo of this.'
Akihiko smiled even as Junpei protested, the senior looked at Minako meaningfully and the girl nodded before excusing herself to speak with him.
Before Minako left though, she whispered to Junpei to tell Yukari that she was going out to settle that 'problem' and to tell let Yukari in the loop too. Junpei responded with a nod and a thumbs up to the brunette who skipped away.
'So what's going on between the two of them huh, Junpei?'
Yukari's ears perked up at the prospect of a juicy rumor, Yukari was disappointed when Junpei simply remarked that it was complicated but he explained anyway.
'It's something between the two of them, she said that she'll tell us if they need help.'
'… Is that so?'
Yukari seemed unconvinced but she knew that it was a remarkable change for her to even consider others and she took it as a victory nonetheless.
'But back to studying now, Junpei, stop staring at the magazines!'
'A-ugh... alright alright... this studying business is hard to get used to...'
Junpei groaned and Yukari couldn't help but laugh at him being so miserable.
'That's too bad, as it'll only get worse. C'mon! Get your spirits up!'
'Hai hai!~'
Yukari didn't think that she would end up to being friends with Junpei, or with any one in general... but now that she did, she didn't think it was a bad thing either.
No, it was definitely a good thing after all.
..
..
'I need your help.'
Akihiko got to the point quickly and Minako fought the urge to roll her eyes. She knew that he wouldn't be able to get Shinjiro to be off the drugs and the wild card agreed to help. In fact she'll be shocked if he did manage to do that.
'I suppose you believe me now, sempai.'
'I believe you... it might be incredible... but I'm using a Persona and fighting shadows daily... so it isn't as far fetched as I imagined... I know you'll be asking for something in exchange from me... but if it's to help Shinji, I'll do anything.'
Akihiko's resolve was impressive and his bond with Shinjiro was to be admired and Minako giggled softly as she nodded her head.
'I do not dislike helping others when they are so determined, Akihiko-sempai... so I'll help you... it won't be for free, but my favour will be something that only Aragaki-sempai can do, so it can be considered free~'
The wild card nodded before her eyes turned serious and she crossed her arms, leaning against the wall as she asked Akihiko.
'How did he take it... was he surprised?'
'If he was, he didn't show it... listen, I know I need your help... and know you can handle things by yourself... but, be careful Minako.'
Akihiko took a while to say that he was worried for her and Minako's eyes softened at that, something the usually clueless boy would not have spotted and the senior smiled weakly at the girl in front of her.
She was so weak and frail looking, but so determined and powerful in her own right. Perhaps it was alright for him to depend on her as well. But for now, he'll look over her till he was absolutely sure.
Minako felt a faint bond form between the two of them, one of the Star Arcana but inside her, another Persona, Odin of the Emperor awakened and tugged at his mental restraints, reminding him of Akihiko sempai's Persona as well.
'I will... and I take it that we will be meeting him today huh... can we meet him nearer to the Dark Hour?'
'That'll be difficult... why?'
'I'm afraid... we might have to beat some sense into his persona to prove our point.'
Minako cracked her knuckles and Akihiko felt a shiver run down his spine at the dangerous look that Minako sported in her eyes.
'Let's try not to do that... but then again, I got his evoker... so let's go.'
Akihiko brought out a silver suitcase that had seen better days that he had prepared beforehand and Minako nodded.
'We'll be trying to persuade him... but if we fail...'
'Then we'll be dragging him back, whether he likes it or not.'
..
The two of them left before Mitsuru and the chairman returned from the control room and the two juniors shrugged when they were asked where the two of them were. Even if they did know, they wouldn't tell as the two of them caught the meaningful glances from Akihiko and Minako before they left.
Whatever they were about to do, it'll probably be something important and yet something that Mitsuru sempai wouldn't approve.
Caught in a dilemma, the two of them did not hesitate and covered for the two of them without hesitation.
Traces of deceit within S.E.E.S... but when they themselves were tangled in a much bigger web of deceit... was it wrong to fight fire with fire?
..
'Shinji.'
The silver haired man returned to the outskirts with Minako in tow, the girl walking closer to her sempai as some of the boys who were there were looking at her in a disturbing fashion, some licking their lips while checking her out. Without noticing she had wrapped her hands around Akihiko's arms and somehow, the senior did not mind at all.
Naturally the two of them separated from each other when they confronted Aragaki Shinjiro in a dark corner of a particular alley, far from where he usually was. It was like he was avoiding Akihiko but the two of them were glad that he choose that spot as they did not want any prying ears to overhear their conversation.
Walls have ears after all and Minako looked around cautiously as Akihiko had tracked down the elusive beanie wearing sempai down several buildings and alleys, sometimes losing sight of him as he navigated the outskirts like it was his own back yard.
But eventually they did corner him in the end and Shinjro looked disgusted at Akihiko when he placed the suitcase down beside him and spoke evenly to him.
..
'What do you want, Aki... tsk, you're so persistent... I told you, I'm not going back and I'm not cutting the meds...'
'I don't want to see you dead, Shinji.'
Akihiko cut him off softly and Shinjiro's stance seem to weaken a little before he laughed at that.
'That's too bad... I think that's meant to be... my death that is...'
'She told me that... but she's the one that wanted to change fate too. I... no, we don't want you dead.'
Minako certainly didn't expect Akihiko to reveal that too soon and she was caught off guard, unable to react immediately when Shinjiro's gaze turned to rest on her and she froze just like a deer in headlights.
'Ah...'
'Little brat... how did you know.. .wait, how old is she..? She's with you?'
Shinjiro seemed genuinely confused and that made Minako a little mad as she shouted her age, telling him that she was the one who told Akihiko the truth.
'Hah... real mature, falling for that...'
Shinjiro smirked while Minako slapped her forehead at being so silly. Even Akihiko looked a little awkward at having one of his cards played against him.
'So you found out huh... well, I guess it's gotta come out sooner or later.. what are you going to do then? Drag me back? Don't kid me... I'll rather die than to do that... you can't stop me from doing what I want to do.'
Before Akihiko could speak however, Minako took things in her own hands, just like how she had been doing ever since this journey began. She had experience many things, many changes and by damn she was going to let Shinjiro undo all of that by being a stubborn dickhead!
..
'So I'm just supposed to watch while you seek death?! Is that what I'm supposed to do?! I don't want you to die!'
Minako raised her voice while the two boys was shocked at her words. The girl was not supposed to know him, as far as Shinjiro was concerned and for Akihiko, he didn't think that the girl would feel so much for Aragaki Shinjiro to lose her normal cool.
'I don't want you to die, Shinjiro-sempai. I don't want you to do something that will make me and Akihiko-sempai and everyone regret... if you keep taking those drugs, you really will die!'
'Heh... I already got one leg in the coffin girl... but most importantly... who the hell are you? Why do you think that you know me, that you know what I want to do... and what will happen to me? You're just bluffing... you know noth-'
Shinjiro was calling her bluff, trying to get her to admit that she did not know what she was talking about despite her words striking home in all accounts.
There was just no way that she would know what was going to happen but it was uncanny how she seemed to read his mind.
'My name, is Minako!'
Minako screamed her name this time and that name that staggered Shinjiro as he took a step back, wincing as though he had been struck physically by the name itself while the girl prayed for another miracle.
If it happened to Junpei, to Yukari, to Akihiko and many of her social links... perhaps this would happen to Shinjiro as well. Please, just let him awaken a little bit of his memories!
..
'M-Minako?'
Akihiko did not know what to say as something larger than who he was was at play here as Shinjiro seemed to have taken a much bigger blow than he would have imagine just from hearing her name. His best friend was confused and unsure of himself as he mumbled the name to himself repeatedly.
'Minako...? A-Arisato... Minako?'
Shinjiro stumped upon a name that he couldn't have known and his head snapped back to the girl so fast that he was thankful that his neck didn't snap. Minako herself dropped to her knees in relief, tears flowing down her face as she sobbed yes repeatedly to him.
Although it was an emotional scene, Akihiko could not help but feel gutted at seeing her so emotional towards Shinjiro.
There must be something between the two of them for her to try so hard, to even blackmail and threaten him to save Shinjiro and he realized that he was a little... no quite jealous of that.
..
'T-The hell I know who you are... Arisato Minako or whatever, you don't understand... what it is like.'
Shinjiro roared like an injured animal and he could not help but struggle in his bid to cope with the information overloading his brain. For a brief instance he was sure that he knew the crying girl in front of him as the name seemed so familiar, the crying face that brought a lump in his throat and how he felt terrible that he was the reason for the tears.
But that must be a lie, he did not know her and he shouted at her to get lost.
'You don't know anything! Why would you have the right to tell me to stop!'
Shinjiro challenged her again and his mouth dropped in shock as Minako shouted once more just as the Dark Hour started. Akihiko clicked his tongue in dismay, knowing that Mitsuru will have their skin if they did not succeed. Tracking down Shinjiro took more time than he'd imagine it to be and they were paying for it.
But in retrospect it would be better as they might be attracting attention from other people.
'Because you don't want to give up on Ken-kun, do you?!'
Minako's next words were just as staggering to Akihiko and Shinjiro as the two of them did not expect her to drag the boy into the equation... perhaps she really knew something or everything as she continued, an emotional wreck as she screamed at the two dumbfounded boys.
Hidden scars, bad memories and taboo subjects were dug up by the girl as she demanded answers from Aragaki Shinjiro.
..
All her emotions came rushing out like a flood and Minako preferred it that way as she was faced with an unreasonable Shinjiro. Gone was the understanding, soft-in-the-inside senior that she was fond of. What greeted her was of a desperate and self destructive individual that was ignoring everything around him.
No, she would beat the sense into him as she screamed out question after question at him, shocking herself and even Akihiko at revealing how much that she knew. She was holding nothing back when she knew that one wrong mistake could be their last! She had gone too far to be stopped now!
'I know that you blame yourself, I know what happened that night when you killed Ken's mother by mistake... but it was an accident! Ken-kun is still living strong and well... and so should you!'
'You don't get it do you?! Her soul won't rest easy one day I live in this world... and it's the same for her son. I'm the one that caused that incident to happen. It's not accident, it's MY FAULT! DON'T YOU GET IT?! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ANYWAY!'
Shinjiro was getting pissed off and irritated and he actually moved towards Minako, grabbing her by the collar while roughly shoving Akihiko away with his spare hand when he tried to intervene.
'I...'
Minako was stuck looking at his eyes, filled with anger, regret, disappointment, confusion and pain at having his most deepest secrets exposed like this. But Minako was not having any of that crap... there must be another way, there must be to avoid this fate!
'I KNOW THAT YOU WOULDN'T BEAR TO ALL OF US BEHIND! That... that you really care about Akihiko-sempai and Mitsuru sempai... and even Ken-kun... that's why you choose this path... that's why you said it is meant to be, that you... want Ken-kun... to be the one to kill you, right, sempai?'
The air froze and it was Akihiko who snapped when he lunged at Shinjiro, the latter recovering a second later and shoving him back to the floor in a murderous rage. Ordinarily he would not have stood a chance but Shinjiro was out of control now. Who does she think she is? Telling him that? Telling him the truth in front of Aki.
Who is this girl?! And why couldn't he hit her at all?!
..
Minako closed her eyes as she flinched when she saw the hand being raised to hit her, she waited for a few seconds before realizing that Shinjiro was crying now as he slowly lowered his hand, staggering backwards in disbelief while looking at her. He was on the ropes now, she could feel it.
'Who are you?! Why do you know all of this?! WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU!'
'I'M ARISATO MINAKO! AND I'M HERE TO DRAG YOU BACK WITH US, ALIVE!'
Minako screamed as she got back up to her feet after being shoved down. She reached for her naginata that she had brought with her for this purpose after all.
'There's no use in trying... even if you know everything, you can't stop me... Amada he, deserves to know the truth... as well as the gift of redemption.'
Shinjiro laughed weakly as he tucked his hands into his pocket, watching with interest at how Akihiko was wincing as he struggled to get up out of the corner of his eyes.
'IS that really redemption?!'
Minako's words were like a slap in the face for Shinjiro and he growled menacingly at the advancing girl again. He had no idea who she was or why she could read him like a book... But he came too far to stop now as well!
'Do you know what Ken-kun is obsessed about?! He's obsessed about revenge! About growing up and getting his revenge for his mother... do you want him to live with that knowledge all his life?! That he was living to kill someone?!'
He inhaled sharply as she spoke but the girl was not done yet.
..
'Do you know how empty he is all his life?! That the only thing he can think about is revenge?! He can't even think about what he is going to do in the future!'
Shinjiro interjected as he laughed, amused that he was giving the kid what he wanted after all.
'Now isn't that nice, he's going to get his wish!'
'Have you considered what will happen to Ken-kun if he kills you with only that thing remaining in his life?! Are you going to let him die with you?! KEN-KUN HAS NOTHING! BUT YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU CAN GIVE TO HIM, SHINJIRO-SEMPAI! ARE YOU GOING TO LET KEN-KUN'S MOTHER DOWN?!'
Minako howled as she charged at him and he found himself unable to avoid her as she gripped him in a tight hug despite this being the first time she met him. The naginata that she had brought with her was left forgotten on the floor even as she hugged him tightly.
But why, why does he feel like he knew this girl from a long time ago... that he could feel his insides being torn apart just by knowing that he was the reason for her tears.
Why was he... feeling that way towards a girl he just met?
..
'Then tell me, what should I do. What I can do if you deny me my fate.'
After a while, Shinjiro asked softly as the girl sobbed in his chest wordlessly, hiccuping and coughing as she let him go too. She looked at him with the same determination that had made him accept her words and he'll play along with her, for now anyway.
'Tell me girl, what is left for me if all you can say is that I am wrong... what can I do... for Amada... for screwing up his life... for taking away his chance of revenge, for doing what you say is better and right.'
Shinjiro asked softly as Akihiko stood up again, watching the two of them apprehensively. Akihiko had no idea what was going right now but at least he could ascertain that Minako had for the moment, knocked out the suicidal thoughts from his best friend's mind.
'Tell me girl...'
'Minako.'
She spoke softly and Shinjiro laughed as he remarked.
'Alright, you're a fine piece of work, Minako... Tell me then, what I should do.'
Shinjiro was putting a gamble on this girl who seemed to have all the answers but even he was shocked when she took a few steps away from him and pointed an evoker at him.
'… what?'
..
'… You don't need drugs to control your Persona. Personas are an aspect of yourself. I believe you can control Castor.'
Was she crazy? Akihiko looked like he was about to intervene when she placed the evoker against her forehead as well and Shinjiro was rewarded with the sight of Akihiko backing away in fear. Who the hell was she to make even Akihiko back away so easily?
'Personas are the facet of your personality... they are your true self... Shinjiro-sempai must have rejected himself that day... that's why he lost control of his Persona and it went berserk...'
She explained softly, still sniffing a little before pointing the evoker at Shinjiro without hesitation.
'… I... I don't know what will happen... but... I won't force Shinjiro-sempai to accept my suggestion... It is difficult to fight against fate... but I've decided to fight against it this time...'
This time? What does she mean?
'Sempai can either try and face your Persona... to remember who you are... and then to try and help Ken-kun with us... to be with us where you belong... or you can go on doing what you were doing before... leaving us behind... all of us, who cares about you.'
Both of the boys did not know what Minako was talking about or why she was so confident, but both of them felt that it was something that they have to consider carefully before deciding.
It was as if they are seeing the future changing in front of their eyes.
..
'I'll protect Akihiko sempai... and Shinjiro-sempai till the end... I don't want to see any one of you to be hurt... ever. So please... Shinjiro-sempai... please...'
She was begging him, giving him a choice to go against fate for once, against the destiny that he imagined was set out for him.
'Alright.'
Shinjiro growled and adjusted his beanie after a moment of hesitation. Aragaki Shinjiro decided to go with whatever this crazy girl was saying. If anything, at least it'll be a fun ride... but most importantly, he felt a bond form between the two of them already.
If this girl wanted to protect Amada and Akihiko, he'll be fine whatever she does... if anything, he'll be glad that she would be there to look after the two of them if he fails.
'C'mon... let me see my good friend again... Hah!'
Shinjiro grinned savagely before nodding even as Akihiko shouted at the girl to stop.
..
'No! Don't do it, Minako! C-Castor is dangerous!"
But his warning was for naught as the girl fired the evoker and in the next moment, Shinjiro felt himself engulfed by pain.
..
Minako didn't know what she was doing truly and although she knew what she was saying was the truth, that Personas are one with their owners an embodiment of the user's true self, she wasn't totally sure that by forcing Castor to materialize they could get Shinjiro to tame it again.
But anyway, after that emotional breakdown, she wanted to beat something up and too when she pulled the trigger on the evoker despite Akishiko sempai's warning, she switched to the ultimate Moon-Arcana Persona, Sandalphon immediately.
The Persona was tugging at the seams of her mind, showing that she was affected by the Moon Social Link as she fired the evoker into her temple, summoning it.
'SANDALPHON! AKASHA ARTS!
Even as Minako unleashed the ultimate Strike Based skill on the Black horseman that emerged from behind Shinjiro, she realized that it was a real threat when it was much larger than she imagined. Having multiple appendages and the steed blowing fire out of it's nose meant it wasn't like the Castor she was used to at all.
To make the situation worse, the Strike Skill didn't seem to phase it that much, if anything it made it angrier as it charged straight at her, leaving Shinjiro behind it even as he clutched his head in pain.
Well, there's no going back now and she blocked the slash based Deathbound with her Naginata after diving back for it. Sandalphon managing to block most of the blows a component of that.
'Shinjiro-sempai! I know you can do it! Please, think about Akihiko-sempai and Ken-kun... I know... that-'
Minako was rudely interrupted when the rouge Persona, which had been tangling with Sandalphon, retreated before charging forward with the strike based Heat Wave, knocking her and her Persona back with that single skill.
..
It was thankful that Sandalphon had blocked most of the attack for Minako after realizing the danger that she was facing as she winced. She was however up up again in a heartbeat before jumping on top of her Persona's shoulders while it flew straight for the rogue Persona. The angel-type Persona grappling with it's steed even as Minako leapt up, twirling her body and using the full weight of her body and her momentum to strike at the mask that Castor wore on it's face.
By experience, every shadow's weakness was the mask on it's body and it should the same with Personas. However Minako was stopped from accomplishing her objective as Castor's multiple hands intercepted her and threw her to the floor roughly.
'Ugh!'
She landed on her back roughly beside Shinjiro but Minako was able to look up to see Sandalphon successful stalling Castor with a powerful Maragidyne that blasted the Persona a few feet backwards, crashing into the floor heavily as well.
'Sempai, sempai! You have to get a hold of yourself... it's you... you cannot fight it...'
Minako rushed over to Shinjiro, limping a little as she shook Shinjiro urgently. As if in reply to her words, Castor smiled eerily, the mask he was wearing taking a life of it's own as it recovered. It glared at Minako and her accompanying Persona, Sandalphon hovering protectively over the two of them and spoke.
'This man has rejected me, refusing to admit the fact that his fate of death was impossible to deny... He was afraid of death, unable to accept that his time in the mortal reign would be shorter than most.'
'HAH! Afraid of death?! I... I...'
Shinjiro laughed while clutching his head, beads of perspiration forming as Minako was finally able to help him stand up to face him.
'Yes, you are afraid of death... that is why you seek it... and that's why I am the true self! THE SHADOW OF YOUR HEART!'
Castor remarked as he reared back on his steed, a sure sign of it using a spell and Minako braced for impact even as she saw a huge fist shaped energy dropping down from the sky towards the two of them.
God's Fist, another powerful Strike variant skill and Minako pushed Shinjiro down while screaming at Akihiko to take cover. She wasn't sure if Sandalphon was able to cover them appropriately... but she shouldn't have worried as the Moon Arcana Persona took it easily without breaking a sweat.
'You're wrong, Shinjiro-sempai isn't afraid of death at all!'
Minako tried to say but she found herself falling into Castor's trap as the mask around Castor's face pulsed once, and then twice before it grew to cover it's entire form. The eerie smile it was showing caused her to remember those horrible memories of the last battle of Nyx, how she was unable to protect Junpei and Yukari in one of the worlds, how she watched in horror as Aegis was destroyed in front of her eyes as she tried to protect her from Nyx... how everyone died in front of her when they forced themselves to go to the moon to defeat Nyx with her.
..
It was enough for anyone lose their will to fight and the last thing Minako heard was her own scream of despair before another crushing God's Fist blew Sandalphon to dust and Akihiko screaming at the two of them to watch out.
Author's Notes: Thank you for your support. As of 13/02/13 the latest chapter in my remastering efforts is chapter 15, the remaining chapters would be edited in due course. Although the standards would drop a little, the story is still readable.
Thank you for your time. My theory for Shinjiro is that he lost control of his Persona/shadow like how the others did in P4 and thus is fighting to get control of it.