Persona 3: Boku Ga Shinigami de Shinigami Ga Boku
Chapter 9: S.E.E.S vs Strega! Clash of Truth and Falsehood!
...At the outskirts of Port Island station...
"..." Shinjiro is sitting at the stairway, along with some 'punks' and 'tough chicks' on the area, until...
"Oh, shit! It's them!" One of the punks said!
"You mean those three? Wow... They're freaky..." ...The tough chick refers to Takaya, Jin, and Chidori, who are on their way to this "back-water part of town".
"Tch..." Shinjiro is disgusted by their conversation...
"Urusai! Let's go!" ...The "residents" of this place leave the area, with the exception of Shinjiro, who is neither a resident of this place, but at the same time, he can be found here most of the time! ...Ironic.
"...Why do I always treated like I'm some walking-zombie around here...? They always left when we come around... They're like back-alley rats." The pale young man, Takaya, said.
"...Beats me." Shinjiro grunted at his charading words.
"Jin, give him the capsules."
"Here..." Toss! Catch...!
"...Thanks." Shinjiro stands up... Then he is about to leave. "I'll pay you the same as-"
"Hold. This time... Information is all we need."
"Right... We wish to ask you something..." Takaya said, catching Shinjiro's attention.
"...And? ...What bullshit do you want, this *time*?" ...He emphasizes on the word "time" as this may implify that, this may not be the first time, ..he made an errand out of him.
"Your acquiantances have been busy lately... They've been spending their time greatly, at that tower of the night... For what reason do they have taken this burden upon themselves...?"
"Hmph... And If I refuse to tell you anything...?" Though Shinjiro may seem rough... He is *very* loyal to those who he knows, and those his loved ones, knows... like Akihiko for one, he's his childhood friends.
"Hmph, then... We will have no choice but to force the information out of them..."
"...! ...Yeah, do whatever you want." Shinjiro is about to leave again, after that warning...
"Hold it. They're going down if they get on our way... You understand...? You've been hanging out with one of them, from what we understand..." Jin said adding their suspicion.
"...Hmph, you're starting to piss me off. Just do whatever the hell you want, and get the hell out of my business." Tap, tap, tap...
"Tch, Useless after all." Takaya commeneted as he walks off...
"..." Chidori remains silent the whole time, though his loyalty to the two, is *very* high as well...
Later... At evening, at the dormitory...
...Keplunk... Everyone arrives in after a very long trip from the vacation island... "Sigh... Whew, what a long to get to home... Sigh... I feel like I lost all of my apetite to eat..." Junpei said as he and the other guys, along with Aegis, carry the heavy luggages since they are... well, the "masculine" type as Yukari would put it... Being motherly concern, Mitsuru objected to that, but Minato, in his Shinigami Mode, insisted as well, much to Junpei's dismay, and Akihiko is pumped up, to strengthen his strength.
"Oh, you guys are back! Welcome!" ...Toriumi-sensei is here, at the dinning room, cooking dinner, as usual... She may have been coming here and keeping the place together during the gang's absence...
"Oh, Toriumi-sensei. What are-" Yukari greeted her first but-
"What are you doing here? Did you...?"
"Hai, I thought might come today, so I cooked you dinner, have some dibs now, everyone."
"Yay! I'm hungry~!" Hamuko cheerfully walks to the dinning room, along with everyone. The boys put down the luggage near the T.V and the counter on the left side of the room.
"Sa... I'm going upstairs for a while, I need to change on my t-shirt..." Minato said heading up.
"Me too..."
"Same here..." Junpei and Akihiko as well.
"Don't forget to wash now, we don't you guys starving to death you know." Toriumi-sensei said jokingly to which the others sweat drop.
Then, the next day... At Minato's room...
"...You're awake...! Please... Open your eyes... The sun has already shine..."
"...Huh...?" Not hearing this "usual" voice, Minato instantly gets up from his slumber, then turning to his left is...
"Mission Accomplished. Ohayou-gozaimasu." ...She said smiling, Aegis, that is.
"...Oi, what are you doing here? And... What do you mean by, "Mission Accomplished"?"
"First, it is my priority to be at your side, and second, the paper on the door says: "Do things in five seconds", thus, you have awakened in five seconds..." She said raising two fingers as if counting, which of course, Minato sweat drops.
"...Uh... O...kay... So... How should we proceed...?" ...Right now, he's Shinigami Mode would help, but then... It might cause trouble as well, since... knock, knock. Uh oh. Time to change into his 'persona' to respond to that knock. "Sa, ohayou... darling~"
"Hm, ohayou-gozaimasu." She responded back, though her expression is quite... blank.
"Oi, Arisato-kun? Are you awake? That girl took off and we couldn't find her..." It's Yukari...
"Ohayou! Minato-kun! Open up, will you!" KNOCK! KNOCK! ...Now *that's* an alarm clock Hamuko...
"H-Hey, you might knock down the door if you keep doing that! ...Sorry, anyway, we need your help ok-"
"I am not a girl, I am Aegis, and I am here..."
"Huh?" Both girls stammer on that question.
..tap, tap, tap. ...Keplunk. She opens the door, much to the two's surprise. "A-Aegis? What are you doing here...?"
"Yeah... And... M-Minato-kun."
"Yo!" ...He simply waves at them cheerfully, Hamuko speculated that he has gone into his "split-personality" from what she can tell.
"He was asleep, so I unlocked the door..." Aegis simply answered. Sweat drops appear on the two's heads...
"That's unlawful entry! Didn't we told you to stay at the living room all night!" Yukari scolded the android maid... who is apparently, quite aggressive towards Minato... sort to speak.
"Ha ha... Y-Yeah... Don't you think that's kinda... sneaky burglar...?" Hamuko jokes to which no one finds funny, and to Aegis's wonder.
"Ha ha ha... I don't understand that Hamuko-chan..."
"I prefer to be stand by on this room from now on, if this is acceptable."
"...!" Both girls are surprise at this suggestion, and Minato, in his Shinigami Mode, snickers with excitement though he only finds this situation amusing as a way to spend time with girls, as his characteristics dictate.
"What...? N-No...! That's not acceptable!"
"Uh... That's... going beyond the line of sex..." Toink! ...Yukari "bumps on" on Hamuko's choice of words...
"That's... again... makes no sense. Anyway, that cannot happen... Arisato-kun! Don't just sit and lie there! Tell her!"
"Alright, sa, you can make yourself at home here, my darling~!"
"...!" The girls are surprise by this, and Aegis approves of it. Then Minato changes into his school uniform, for the second examinations begin today, Whoosh! Keplunk! ...He then left through the window as a "short cut" for him...
...The girls sweat drop needless to say. "Ugh... I just cannot understand him."
"Ha ha ha..." Yukari and Hamuko said.
"Sa, I'll be moving on some stuff in this room, gun powders and mechanical investment are, I believe, necessary." Tap, tap, tap... Aegis left the room... Again, the two sweat drop at the series of development.
"...How the heck is this going to turn up...?"
"Ha ha ha... Sa ne?"
...Later... After school... At class 2-F...
"...Um.. A-Arisato-kun..." ...Yukari approaches Minato...
"Hm? What is it, babe?" ...He's still in his Shinigami Mode by the way... he's been attracting girls into him because of that...
"...? Babe...? Eh, since when did *you* were able to say that...? Anyway, c-can I... ...can I have a word with you...? It's something important... and private. Can we go to the roof...?"
"Huh? Oh, sure thing~!" He said with his flirtious attitude at the moment, as his Shinigami Mode compels him to.
Later, at the school roof...
...Both the male and female are staring at each other, with the female, Yukari, staring down on her feet. "Um... You... Y-You might have forgotten about this already but... B-Back at Yakushima... I-I... I... forget it..."
"Don't waste my time, say something like you really mean it, come on, let's see some style!" He said "charging" her up... sort to speak.
"Arisato-kun... Sigh... Okay, here goes..." She takes a deep breath then... "Back at Yakushima... I really said a lot of stupid things didn't I?"
"Yeah... And that makes *you* adorable!"
"Huh...? Uh... yeah, why are you acting this way, anyway?" ...She said blushing, it seems the distant between them has "narrow"... in some way. "You know, I've been thinking a lot... About our lives... About what we gonna do, after highschool... The ocean has been part of our lives too... without parents too..."
"Ah... Ah..." Minato looks at the distant sunset along with Yukari. "We are part of this "life" that we are heading on a journey to."
"Journey?"
"Hm, a journey towards enlightenment." Tap, tap... He walks off near the fence. "Everyone is seeking happiness... Those who has stop, or at failure to do that, have become bitter, and ignorant. Those damn politicians, for one, they think their "analytical" thinking is all that is the way to salvation, while in fact, it's destroying them, corruption leads to stupidity... and stupidity can only be cure through... *Death*..." He said in a dark tone, as if he's the grim reaper... ...There is truth in what he say though, some politicians, if not all of them, have become "bitter" and corrupted, to the point, that the only thing that can assure them of salvation is... *Death*. Minato is willing to become that 'Shinigami' and he will not hesitate to 'take' the 'lives' of those who are 'suffering' from 'it'.
"Arisato-kun... Hm... Ja, ...why Us? ...Why are we living with no parents, while the others have theirs...? What is the 'truth' behind all these...?"
"That... can be found inside your beautiful heart, Yukari..."
"...!" She is taken by surprise when she mentions her by her first name... "Arisato-kun... Ha ha, you know, Hamuko-chan was right about you... You're unpredictable, and quite the charmer... I think I'm beholden to you..."
"..." Minato smiles at that... mischeviously, which made her nervous. Well, she's not the 'first victim' of his Shinigami Mode, so it's no surprise.
"W-Well, why don't we head home now? Oh, wait... I think some decorations for my room, can you come with me to Port Island station?"
"Ah, sure, sa, let's go." Tap, tap...
"Uh, hey, wait up!" Tap, tap, tap! ...And so the 'couple' left... sort to speak. ...Some of the guys and females took notice of them as they left the school ground, Junpei for one, he concluded that Minato is "at it again" which means, this is not the first time, going home with a girl... He goes home with Hamuko frequently, and sometimes, with the four of them, him, Minato, Yukari, Hamuko and Fuuka.
...Later... At a flower shop in Port Island station...
"Yes? What type of flowers are you looking for, young lady? Oh?" The shop vendor then notices Minato, who is waiting for his 'girlfriend' by the time she's done shopping... "Ah, is it for him?" She asked snickerly.
"Eh? Uh... N-No, he's just... he's just a friend of mine..." Yukari said blushing.
"Heehee." She giggles at that... Yukari thought of her being the same as Hamuko, since she does that snickering laugh as well, oftenly...
"W-Well anyway... do you have anything that is colored pink?"
"Ah yes, the beautiful Takeba Yukari loves pink... it suits her cute personality~" Minato said, joining the conversation for some time now, after spacing off at the distance!
"Gya-h! D-Don't scare me like that! And besides I..."
"Hmnhmn. I was just thinking the same thing there, dear boy, you're quite the charmer I see." The shop vendor said.
"Ha ha... Why thank you, kind lady, your kindness warm my heart..." He said winking at her, which made Yukari blush with rage, and the shop vendor blushes embarrased.
"Oh, stop that~" She hits him with a spatula, which can only wonder where she got that...
"Anyway, one pink flower please, here's the yen, keep the change." ...Minato paid for Yukari, which compensates for her rage...
"Ah, arigatou-gozaimasu~ have a nice day now~!" And with that, the transactions are completed... sort to speak.
"Here, do you like this one?" He hands the flower to his 'girlfriend'.
"Ah, Ah, arigatou... but... you haven't seen my room, why did you ordered this one? Uh, I mean... it's... not like I wanted you to come there ha ha."
"Ja, why don't you invite me in?" He said jokingly with a wink.
"Oh~ come on, stop that~! Ha ha~" ...She hits him with a spatula as well, which, again, one can only wonder where she got that... like the shop vendor of the flower shop.
...Either way, Shinigami Mode really is unique...
"Well, anyway, it's time to go home, it's getting late already." Minato said heading for the train that has just arrived...
"Oh, you're right... It's almost time for dinner... Huh? ...H-Hey, wait up, will you!" Tap, tap... She follows behind him... Two 'lovers'... perhaps... with loyalty, and love... one can wonder on the life of others, and that of oneself, and joy will be spread... like in Christmas... ...The evening slowly comes as if it's a blessing of the love that is yet to come... ...One will learn... and One will love... Forgive the past... And move on... Knowing what happened in the past, and what will happen in the future... is happening *Now*. ...There is only now...
...The next day... At Iwatodai Station...
"Next is... Oh, wait a minute..." Minato agreed to accompany here, after the brutal examination. Sort to speak. ...They are at Iwatodai station to buy some shopping clothings but then Yukari notices someting out-of-place. "Huh...? My wallet... It's... It's gone! Where- wait, I bumped into that guy in the station earlier... Maybe he got it... Oh wait! ...Maybe... Maybe he stole it! I better get it back!" Tap, tap... Minato is about to follow suit but... "Oh, you just wait here... DON'T come at me, okay?" Tap, tap, tap... She warns him much to his awkwardness, as he does not wish to let her go, as his Shinigami Mode compels him to rebel against her wishes, and follow her.
"..." Tap, tap, tap... He does so. He heads for the station up ahead...
Later... At the intended destination...
...Yukari is surronded by three punks... "What was that *bitch*?" One punk asked with a vein on his head.
"Say, brother, can I have a piece of this slut?" The second one asked snickering.
"..." Yukari is outmatched... No surprise there. She *is* a girl after all, if this situation is an insult to girls, well, forgive the gentlemen for their compassionate sides for...
"...Hm." Minato watches the area unfold then... Now, is the time to act... LET THE GRAVE TAKE THOSE WHO ABUSES OTHERS! ...The voice of the grim reaper on his mind, said outloud then! "Hiyaa-!" Tap, tap, tap...!
'Wh-What the-!" Strike! "Ugh!" The first punk is sent flying on the opposite direction!
"What the-! Wh-Who the hell are you! You're gonna pay for-" Strike! "Ugh!" The second one as well!
"Teme! Hiyaa-!" Strike, strike, strike...!
"..." Yukari watches from the 'sides' then..."Arisato-kun..."
"Gyaah-!" Tap, tap, tap... The punks left the area in a hurry, as they fear the Shinigami...
"Arisato-kun... Arigatou."
"Ah... No problem." He dusts himself off without an itch of what the punks inflected on him... mostly dusts and some dirt from their hands...
"But... you went overboard..."
"Huh...?"
"...Didn't I tell you to wait for me...? That I can handle myself...? ...Are you looking down on me...? Do you think I'm stupid...! I didn't need your help! See? I got my wallet back all myself!" ...Yukari's hands are trembling... It seems she doesn't really mean what she's saying.
"...It's no *big deal* you know..."
"It IS a big deal! I hated relying on someone else!"
"..." How shameful. Even stupidity has plagues those he loves... or at least partially. Minato decided to test her on this, loyalty and love, or egotistic... "Hmph, fine, I'll leave."
"...!" Tap, tap, tap... He is about to walk away but then, "Wait!" Tap, tap! ...He is stopped by her... "Gomen... You... You were just trying to help, I know..." ...It seems she has regretted what she has said... Yay! Yay! Yay! The 'audience' in Minato's mind clap applauses for that, the audience are, oddly enough, are Tomochika, Kazushi, Junpei, who is yelling "Way to go Yuka-tan!", Akihiko, Mitsuru, and lastly, Hamuko, the rest are their classmates, and other teachers, as if they are watching an opera show. "S-Sorry, but... I-I-I gotta jet, S-Sayonara!" Tap, tap, tap...! She left running towards the dormitory.
"..." Seeing that there's nothing else to do, Minato decided to go home as well, though much later than she is.
...The very next day, after a long deadly, examination, at the school roof...
...Minato is called by Yukari, for a "very important class discussion", as she put it... though Minato, being in his Shinigami Mode, knows that there is more to it than that... which is ironic, since Yukari is the one who is hiding it, and they both have the same idea of talking about what transpired yesterday. "Umm... A-Arisato-kun... A-About yesterday... I... I... Ugh... Nevermind..."
"...Don't waste my time, you came here to apologize for your actions yesterday, when you were a damsel-in-distress..." He said in an almost, mocking tone, as a way for her to get agitated and at the same time, become mature.
"I-I... That's... Ugh... Gomen... I hate relying on someone..."
"...That's quite an ego you have there beautiful ojou-sama~..." ...He said once again in a mocking tone... which again, made her agitated, at the same time, embarrassed to the point that she is may be angry, but has no witty come back to Minato's words.
"Gomen... but... but there's a reason why I'm like this! ...Can you really blame me...?"
"...Yeah, I *can* blame you... Why would you let your stupid ego get the best of you...? You, who are very, beautiful and sexy...?" ...His mocking tone is subsiding, and his more, flirtuous personality is surfacing.
"W-Well... It's... my okaa-san... She's... well... I don't want to be like her... So I thought... I thought that I..."
"...You *thought* that you will be better than her by not relying on someone... yet... in the end... you became much worse than her." Again, his mocking tone is returning...
"Dammit... Yeah... you're right... Gomen... *sob* *sob*..."
"..." Minato walks up to her... and pulled her for a hug, as he pats her on the head. "Sorry..."
"No, you didn't do anything wrong... This is my fault after all."
"Yeah... So grow up, already."
"Yeah... *sniff* *sniff* ...Alright..." Tap, tap, tap... She stares at the setting sunset... "Maybe... maybe... ...I should rely on you and the others... that is best for me I guess." She painfully admits. ...Though as she admit that, the pain subsided, as it is 'killed' by Minato, being him a Shinigami and all, and the one he personally exterminate, are evils like this. "Maybe..." ...She turns to him... "Maybe we should..." ...A grand confession... Yay! Yay! Yay! ...The same crowd in Minato's mind cheer, with Hamuko cheering"Yukari-chan! Minato-chan!" Which is awkward. "-chan" is not a suffix, Hamuko would add but since... some certain people call Minato "-chan" since he, is, a child after all. At least, that's what most people refer to, when talking to a sweet child... Not that Minato is "sweet", but many people find him sincere, which makes him "sweet" in their eyes. "La la la... te te te mo mo mo..." ...Oddly enough, there are four chibi-Minatos dancing around in circle, in a caramelldansen(Note: This is a referrence of Caramelldansen of Persona 3! Ha Ha!) in Minato's mind, as if congratulating him of the "love development", the four are saying some words like... "Pimp show!" "Badass show!" "Stylish show!" "Charming show!" (Note: These are sort of like a referrence of Minato's stats in school, like charm, courage, and academics ha ha!)
"...The same thing..." He murmured as if responding to his "chibi forms" on his mind.
"Hm?"
"N-Nothing."
"Score!" Then one chibi-Minato comes to his right shoulder, and sit there.
"..." Of course, only Minato can see it.
"What's the matter?"
"...Nothing. Anyway, Yukari..." ...He walks up to her.
"...Wh-What? ...S-Suddenly calling me by my first name..."
"...Rely on me more, will you? I'll... protect you, with Death on my side..." ...He said giving a radiant smile along with the chibi one, though Yukari doesn't see it, of course.
"..." Yukari feels like all of her doubts and fears are being melted by "Death" itself... A Shinigami that kills evils huh... cool... *Very* cool... "Ah... Ha ha... Ha ha ha... Ha ha ha! ...Ha ha ha..." She begun to laugh while crying as she buried her face on Minato's chest.
"Hm." Both Minato and the chibi form of his, nod and smile at that, and he pats her on the head. ...The sunset continues while the chibi one is again, dancing a weird dance, not the caramelldansen this time.
...Later that night... At the dormitory...
...Hamuko is there, along with everyone, doing various activities such as reading, and watching T.V. about the news, Aegis is sitting at the lower sofa with Mitsuru beside her. Keplunk. "Ah, Minato-kun, welcome back!"
"Arisato-kun, welcome back." She and Fuuka said.
Minato comes in followed by Yukari. "Yo, say, would you mind going to Tartarus for tonight? ...I need to sweat some buckets." Junpei requested.
"Ah... sure." He granted his request, then the chibi Minato saluted, as if congratulating him of being granted of one's request.
"Sure... Before that though, dinner time." Mitsuru advised.
"Me too~!" Hamuko cheered as usual, and they eat dinner. ...Later that night, as they agreed upon, they went to Tartarus with Aegis' first fight with the Shadows, though new at this, she seems to be very capable... as Mitsuru and Zanchou suggested that she has been fighting some of them for some time now, being an Anti-Shadow weapon and all, and some distant past of being trained into combat, much like Mitsuru. Surprisingly... She also has a "split personality" that is similar to that of Minato's Shinigami Mode, called Orgia Mode, which makes her very suitable in combat, and it makes sort of unstoppable, unlike Minato however... Hers is not base on instincts, so it's not very dependable as Minato's so he's still the leader despite someone having more physical strength, she's an android after all... ...The night ended with them clearing the second block, and finishing the first set of floors of the third block... Yabbashah Block.
...The next day... At Paulownia Mall...
Again, Minato and Yukari are "dating" as their classmates and other students would put it, mostly male students. ...And also, the chibi-Minato is still on his right shoulder, watching the whole scene unfolds, ...though it's just a "side" of Minato, that is like to observe love novels and situation take place, and what will be the outcome of this... It also seems to be going with Minato for the rest of his stay in Iwatodai dormitory... "Stay here for a moment okay? ...I'm going to buy something." ...Yukari is about to leave with the chibi-Minato waving her off playfully. Te Te Te Mo Mo Mo... Again, it spoke incoherent language which make sort of not understandable... Minato however can understand it, since it's... him. From what he can translate, it says... "Go, my sweat heart~ Go, and be free~" which makes Minato sweat drop, and so is the chibi since he pick it up in some television branchise. Then... Riing... riing... "Huh...? Wait, someone is calling..." She picks up her cell then... "Hello? Oh... it's you..." ...Her expression became dark... "Huh...? You don't wish to get married...? Huh...? W-Wait...! D-Don't cry! Just do whatever you want! ...Okay, okay... Hm, I'll call you back..."
"...What was that?" She and Minato sit on the bench near the fountain.
"Oh, that was... ...That was my okaa-san... She said she doesn't want to get married..."
"...Married...?" Minato asked with a question mark popping on the chibi's head.
"Ah... She wanted to get married... again. After losing Dad... She wasn't the same as ever anymore... She's more like me... Or at least, that's what my Dad used to tell me. She used to tell me that Dad was the greatest person on Earth... and it was a shock... *very* shocking that he passed away... Now, that I know the truth... I... find myself lost sometimes too... We're kinda similar you know that...?"
"...Yeah, I do." The chibi nodded in agreement again. Te Te Te Mo Mo Mo... Translation: "So, so, indeed, indeed."
"But, now... I can... I can understand her situation... losing someone you care... without knowing what happened to him... That's... That's just an horrible experience to experienced... I realized this when I begun hanging out with you Minato-kun... Oh! Uh..." ...She just realized that she called *him* by his first name! "I uh..."
"...No need to worry... darling." ...He said in his flirtuos tone while rubbing her cheeks~. "I will... take... good... care... of you."
"I uh... Hm, I understand... A-Arigatou." ...His Shinigami Mode as yet, to kill another 'evil' inside a persona. "Hm, say, can we... stay here a little bit long...?~" She almost asked demandedly.
"Hm, sure thing... darling~"
"Heehee." ...They stayed there until evening...
...The next day... At Yukari's room...
...Yukari quietly snuck Minato, inside her room... "I hope no one finds out that I snuck you in here... If I didn't... I mean, if we weren't careful somebody might come and running, if I accidently scream... *gasp*! S-Sorry, it took m-me by surprise when I said that."
"...Too late, it's engraved right into my memory." He said pointing his forehead, Oh, and he's in his Shinigami Mode, as expected, since this is only way to deal with girls like Yukari...
"Haha, I'll take that you're willing to be in trouble just for me, right? ...That's... ...That's sweet of you... ha ha..." She said laughing while blushing. Then they talk there for a while with pink carpets on the floor, where they sit and chat. "Oh yeah, I wanted to give this to you." ...She hands him a pink strap with a toy on it. Te Te Te Mo Mo Mo! ...Translation: "Ooh! Score! Score! Score! Yahooo!" ...The little chibi-Minato said while dancing, a hip-hop dance while he is staring at the toy on the scrap. "You know what it is right? It's the strap for my cellphone. ...My dad gave it to me when I was young. ...And I talk at the toy figurine whenever I'm alone. You must think I'm crazy huh? ...But, as I get to know you, ...I talk less and less with my little friend.
"...Huh?" Minato stares at the toy figurine... Strangely enough... It winks at him, this must have been a spiritual guide for Yukari... Who knows what God sent to them...? ...The toy seems to be telling Minato to watch over her for the rest of his life, Te Te! And the chibi-Minato confirms it, he is nodding triumphly with a smile on the original one... The original Minato that is.
"...Sa..." He hugs her tightly and tenderly... "I will... never... let you... become... just... a mere memory for me... I will... 'kill' the negativity in... *you*..."
"...Hm. Arigatou..." ...And with that, an unbreakable bond is forged... How beautiful. ...There is both joy and wonder... In coming to understand another... Indeed... there is joy... and wonder, in what will happen in the road of love... where the road is endless, and at the same time, it has an "end" in which that... will be a memorable happy ending for the pairs who walk it... Then the Sun will rise... Lighting up the sky as the darkness fades away... ...
Later that night...
...Minato and Yukari walk downstairs... "Hm? Were you in your room, all this time?" Akihiko is there, he's the only one, thank God, or everyone else might have become suspicious of their... activity... in Yukari's room earlier...
"Uh... y-yeah... we did..."
"Hm? The two of you?"
"Oh, uh, I..."
"...Yes, we did, some, studies... at our rooms." ...Minato said with his usual, cheerful expression, that his Shinigami Mode shows from time to time, it is here that he can "facade" his intentions through this "facade" expression... though of curse, he does this for good reasons. ...His intincts are mostly, reliable to the point, that he may have become... "one"... with them, sort to speak.
"...I see, well, dinner is yet to be served, so hang in there." ...Akihiko continues rubbing his boxing gloves as a way to "freshen them up", sort to speak.
"Oh, I'll do that, Minato-kun, can you help me?" Yukari said asking for her, now boyfriend's assistance...
"Ah, let's."
"Minato-kun?" Akihiko asked noticing that he is just called by his first name... which is a sign of danger.
Te! Te! Mo! Mo! Translation: Medei! Medei! ...Uaarrgghh...! Boom! The chibi-Minatos performed a scene in which a plane crushes into the city... then they both left out of the crash-site, leaving with stars all over their heads...
"...We got to know eacher other." Minato said with an "innocent smile"...
"...Okay, ja, I'll be waiting for dinner." ...He continues rubbing his gloves, thank God, he bought it. ...The two sighed, and smiled, but then they quickly remembered to play safe then continue their activities...
...Later that night...
"Good evening..." Again, at Minato's room... Is...
"...! ...Pharos..."
"Heehee, I'm glad you remembered me... Soon, the moon will be full again, and the next ordeal will be upon you, so be careful... I'll come again. Sa, good luck... my friend." ...He vanishes without a trace. ...Seiing that there is nothing more to do, Minato went back to sleep.
...The next day... or rather, the following set of days... at the schoolcampus...
"Yohoo! ...Freedom at last!" Junpei exclaims outloud, catching everyone's, who is on the campus, attentions. "The dark days of testing are finally over! ...The Sun is shining bright..."
"Yeah... You couldn't wait, to get some fresh air... Well, you got two days, to see the result of the exam... Which is a wonder." Yukari said sullenly.
"Hmph," Minato is in his Shinigami Mode, as usual as a way to get "interacted" with the women, and males alike, in the school grounds, while keeping himself "busy" with his joyful world of... enthuasm, and frienship... and love, two that is, Chihiro, who he sometimes visit to see what she's up to, and second, Yukari, who is constantly visit by her, and has to keep their relationship a secret, so that no ruckus, would be caused by it... Not that he mind but, he doesn't have time for weak-minded-fools. Te Te Te! Mo Mo Mo! The chibi-Minato on his right shoulder is dancing hip-hop, while the four on his head, are dancing around in circle, while holding hands together... Le Le Le! Yo Yo Yo! ...Then chibi-Hamukos came to be partner with them, as they are now holding each other by the opposite gender, and personality.
"Yo!" ...Then Akihiko greets them at the gate, much to the girls, his fan girls that is, who are constantly "harassing" him as he put it, wonder. "Shunji-san called me... He said something about a new candidate... New member, I think."
"...New member? You mean...?"
"You mean another person is going to join?" Hamuko asked excitedly.
"Maybe..."
"Oh, Yamagishi!" ...! Oh, it's Natsuki... Fuuka's new friend. "Oh, you're going back with your friends now... huh. That's okay-"
"Oh no! What is it?"
"Well... I'm... kinda need of assistance, I need help in my research project."
"Oh, I see... Ja, I'll help you." Fuuka waves at the gang, bidding them farewell, and that they will see each other back at the dorm, then they wave back.
"...She has definitely change." Junpei commented...
"Hm." Hamuko nods at that.
"Hm." Followed by Minato, and the chibis around him... Who are still dancing, by the way.
"Ah... Friendship... How beautiful! Adolescence is a wonderful thing, so full of vribancy!" ...A voice from afar yelled.
"...! Oh, Mr. Chairman." Yukari is the first to greet him.
"Oh, hello, I thought I might pick up someone here and introduce to him..."
"Hello." ...! To their surprise... someone... who is still at elementary level comes in to the conversation... He has brown hair, and he seems to be mature for his age.
"...! *gasp*!" ...Akihiko gasped at the sight of him, he seems to have history with him...
"This is... Amada Ken-kun, he'll be staying at the dorm, during the break..." Ikutsuki introduced the young boy.
"Hello, nice to meet you, Wata shi wa... Amada Ken, pleased to be your acquiantance." ...He said bowing, making his "cuteness" felt by the girls such as Yukari and Hamuko, and to Junpei's dismay, Akihiko and Minato seem to be unaffected.
"Oh, it's... you." Junpei said recognizing him.
"Ken-kun, is this your first time here?" Yukari seems to have recognized him as well.
"...! You... You know him...?" Akihiko asked surprise.
"...Yeah, we see him by the shrine once in a while."
"Oh, is-is that so...?"
"Are you... Sanada-senpai?" Much to Akihiko's dismay, he seem to have looked up to him.
"Oh uh, yeah."
"...I heard a lot about you... you haven't lost a boxing match yet!"
"Y-Yeah... It's... nice to meet you."
"...He seem to be distressed don't you think...?" Junpei asked Hamuko.
"Hm, ...Senpai seems to be acting strange around him... Is he... embarrased of him? Ha ha."
"Hardly..." Minato commented, with the chibis around him, nodding, then continuing their dances as if it's a way to progress time.
"As you can see, he's still in his elementary school, so I thought... It must be lonely for him staying all by himself in the elementary dorm so... I decided to transfer him into your dorm." Zanchou said.
"To our dorm!" Yukari asked in disbelief, so did the rest.
"Pleased to be with you, I hope I don't get in the way." Ken said.
Everyone is agitated as they are careful, not to expose any relevant information to the dark hour... and Tartarus, and Shadows.
Then, a week later... At the commad room... It's the full moon, once again, and everyone prepares for a finale of the moon phase tonight...
"Well, it's a full moon, once again. This time... it will be the sixth one." Zanchou-san said.
"Any luck, Yamagishi?" Yukari asked Fuuka, who is scanning the area for any signs of "hostility" from the Shadows it is giving... whenever they are nearby.
"I found it, but..."
"But what?" Mitsuru asked.
"...For some reason, I'm finding it hard to pinpoint its location... It's almost as if... it's not on the surface, it's underground... Almost ten meters."
"Perhaps it is on the underground, military base that was once used long time ago." Aegis said, she is sitting at the end of the right sofa with Minato and Hamuko.
"Military?" Hamuko asked.
"Used long time ago?" Yukari asked.
"Well, the geographical data was updated in her memory bank, then again, the informatin hasn't been updated for a decade." Zanchou explained.
"Um... Would that be a good idea?" Junpei asked not getting what's going on.
"Hmph," This is the right time to enter into his Shinigami Mode... Minato that is. His chibi "guys" are still with him, and they are dancing playfully with the chibi-Hamukos like in a ball room. "...We won't know until we get there, so let's go."
"I agree... We won't what to do, until we get there, so be ready. Everyone, prepare for battle." Mitsuru, the leader, commanded.
"Yokai." "Understood." Everyone said. Then they went their way... Unknown to them, someone who *has* the same special powers as her, though not to the extent... Now, the clash of two groups... is about to begin... Bong, Bong, Bong! I need a hero today...~ ...A chibi-Hamuko sings while a chibi-Minato drums up a huge drum. ...And I'll be your hero...~ He said... ...Then both chibis kissed and the gang moved out.
...Later... At the intended destination, that is underground...
...Everyone came here as Fuuka suggested that the target is here. "The target should be around here..." She said.
"Well done." ...! Turning around, they see... "You have done well in getting here." ...Takaya and Jin.
"Who are these guys? I didn't sense a thing till now..."
"We are known as Strega, to some people..." Takaya begins the introduction.
Flashback...
...tock, tock, tock. Jin is typing through his laptop briefcase, then he found the information that he's searching. They seem to be in an underground place or something... This may be a criminal hideout..."Oi, Takaya, take at look at this, apparently, Ikutsuki is the leader of that group..."
"...What? The scientist who-"
"Wasn't he the one... who plans to rid the world of the tower of demise?"
"Why, yes, I think, he's under orders from Kirijo..."
"Why would they do such thing? With the power they have... They wish to destroy the Tower of Demise as well!" ...He's beginnig to get agitated... And Jin notice that.
"Whoa, easy Takaya..."
"Yes... yes..."
End of Flashback...
"From what we have heard, you have undertaken a "righteous" battle to save the world..." Takaya continues...
"...Hn." Minato is in his Shinigami Mode which makes him very secure to every of Takaya's words as his instincts are unstoppable right now, so he can see that' he's mocking them of their intention.
"...But, we came tonight... to put an end to that dream." ...! Everyone else, except him and Aegis, are taken by surprise.
"Wh-What!" Akihiko exclaimed.
"But... why the hell *would* you wanna stop us!" Junpei demanded an answer!
"Simple. If the dark hour and Tartarus, would disappear, then so will our power. ...And we can't let that happen now, can we?" Jin said mockingly.
"...! Power...? *gasp* Don't tell me you're persona-users as well!" Mitsuru suggested that assumption and everyone is surprise by it.
"You should use that pretty little head of yours for a change... Only a chosen few are to wield the power of the personas... And the frontier of the dark hour is ours alone... Just like the tower of Demise..." Takaya continues with his rumbling.
Te Te Te! Minato's chibis are giving him a bad gesture. "Tower of Demise...?" Akihiko asked.
"Are you crazy! You think we like the dark hour!" Yukari exclaimed angrily.
"...Is it not so? ...How about the rest of you? Do you wish to return to your pathetic ordinary lives?"
"...!" Some of them are taken by surprise at this.
"Huh...?" Junpei asked.
"..." Akihiko has nothing to say.
"Hmph, of course we have... You think an era of conflict would suit us best? ...No, you're the one who is pathetic." Minato said confidently as he is the pillar of support for the group right now. ...Everyone looks up to him.
"Minato-kun..."
"..." Takaya has no come back. ...Then Jin walks up front.
"...You all have your reasons for fighting... "Justice" is only an execuse. ...And that makes you all hypocrithes! So I say, to hell with you!"
"Hmph, you're the hypocrithe, egotistic fool." Minato said mockingly which matches his. "You say we are hypocrithes, well... I'll 'kill' that delusion of yours."
"Minato-kun..."
"Arisato..." Everyone looks up to Minato at the moment.
"..." Takaya and Jin simply walk away... Then... Tomp!
"...Have fun in there." Crrrrkk...! The gates are closing.
"Hmph!" "Hey!" Tock... tooocckk... Tock! ...Minato managed to kick off a small block to prevent it from being locked outside, Takaya and Jin noticed that, but they decided to ignore it.
"Dammit, they shot the door-!" Akihiko tries to prevent the locking, but all he could do, was to leave everything to Minato has managed to prevent the gates from locking permanently.
"We will be alright, rather than wasting our energies, I suggest we deal with the Shadow first." Aegis said.
"...You're right, if we lose our cool, then they win." Yukari said trying to calm down.
"Grooaarr!" ...! The Shadow... or Shadows, can be heard far beyong the sand hall of this place... Now... The party begins...!
End of Chapter 9
Note: The chibi characters are kinda like a reference of vocaloid character Hatsune, who is in her chibi form that I found in Tales of Graces, and decided to make something similar to that ha ha! Also, I slightly altered the social link events, I know, and that is a part of the plot twist, and so is some other events, oh, one last thing... Those who knows the caramelldansen of Persona 3... well, the reference is just above ha ha. Well, that's it, Ja ne! Hope to see you all soon again!