This chapter is such a downer, especially after my King's Game chapter! So much sadness, it was almost too overwhelming for me, haha. Thank you all for the positive reviews on my previous chapter, I'm glad everyone liked it! I hope this chapter meets your high standards, as well!

Disclaimer: I do not own Persona or its characters

~Gekkoukan High School rooftop, Midnight~

Shinjiro, Koromaru, and Aigis were already at the entrance to the Labyrinth of Memories when everyone else arrived.

"I see that you all had some fun this evening...?" Aigis asked. "I'm sorry that I was not able to join all of you...I wanted to make sure I got enough rest, in case of another battle."

"Awww, don't worry, Aigis." Ryoji said. "But...it would have been more fun if you were there." He winked.

"...?" Aigis looked confused.

"What the hell did you guys do, anyway?" Shinjiro asked.

"We played King's Game!" Teddie yelled.

Shinjiro flinched. "...King's Game...?"

Before Teddie could explain, Akihiko cut in.

"Can we...not talk about it...please...?" Akihiko cringed.

"Anyway, we should hurry...this place disappears after Midnight." Ryoji told everyone.

Aigis nodded. "I agree."

Aigis and Ryoji headed in. Almost everyone else headed in as well, but Junpei remained silent. Yukari looked back at him.

"Is...something wrong, Junpei?" Yukari asked.

"...Hmm? Oh, no...everything's fine." Junpei said.

Yukari chuckled. "What's the matter, did you want to dance with Yosuke-kun some more?"

Junpei glared at her. "...Shut up!" He ran inside.

Yukari sighed and went in as well.

~Labyrinth of Memories~

When Junpei and Yukari entered, they noticed that the place looked...different.

"Does something look odd to you?" Yukari asked Fuuka.

"Yes...everything looks...warped..." Fuuka explained.

"What's going on, Ryoji?" Akihiko asked.

Ryoji looked just as confused as everyone else. "I-I don't know...this is strange..."

"Well, if you don't know what the hell is going on, then who does?" Kanji yelled.

Ryoji was pondering something. "..."

Kanji looked angry. "Well?"

"That's enough, Kanji-kun." Naoto told him. "Let Ryoji-san think."

'...Ryoji-kun...'

"...!" Ryoji heard a voice in his head.

'This place is different because one of our friends is in pain...and when they're in pain, I'm in pain as well...you need to help our friend get out of that pain...by fighting what is troubling him...' the voice said.

Ryoji rubbed his head. "...Is someone here suffering from something?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Where is this coming from, Ryoji?" Souji asked.

"Nngh...I heard...Minako's voice..." Ryoji explained.

"What?" Akihiko yelled.

Ryoji continued. "She told me...that one of our friends is in pain..."

"Well, it can't be any of us, since she doesn't even know who we are..." Yosuke said.

"...Wait a minute...Junpei looked troubled before we came in here." Yukari told everyone.

Everyone looked at Junpei, who remained silent.

"Did something happen to you, Junpei-san?" Aigis asked.

He looked at everyone else. "I...ran into someone on my way from Club Escapade."

"...Who?" Ken asked.

"..." Junpei bit his lip.

"I think it would be faster if we find the door leading to Minako's memories." Ryoji said.

Aigis nodded. Everyone followed Ryoji from corridor to corridor, until they came across a lone door at the end. The door clearly read 'Memories of Heartbreak', followed by 'Junpei Iori'.

"Junpei has to be the one to open the door." Ryoji explained. "Judging by the way this place looks, it's obvious that Minako's memories aren't the only ones we're dealing with right now. Is everyone ready?"

"Wait." Souji said. Everyone looked at him.

"In case we have to go into battle, I say that we should only have four people battling at a time, in case something might happen like last time." Souji explained.

"I agree...it would be unwise for us to all battle at once, blindly attacking our enemy." Aigis nodded.

"Alright...but then, who's gonna be in charge?" Ken asked.

Ryoji looked at Shinjiro. "I say Shinjiro-san should be the leader. He does possess the power of the Wild Card now, after all."

"But...that means that Souji-kun could also be the leader." Yukari said, looking at Souji.

Souji scratched his head. "I don't mind filling the leadership role...but I think it would mean more if Shinjiro-san be the leader."

Shinjiro stared at Ryoji. "...Tch." He nodded. Shinjiro then looked in Akihiko's direction. He didn't say anything, but Shinjiro could sense the anger within his best friend.

"Alright...now that that's settled..." Ryoji began. "Junpei, open the door."

Junpei nodded and grabbed the door knob. He hesitantly opened the door, revealing memories that he wished had stayed buried...

...

Memories of Heartbreak...

The Dark Hour had begun, and Minako was sleeping in her room. Just then, an alarm sounded in Minako's head.

"I'm sorry to wake you up..." Fuuka's voice said. "Um, I'm not sure how to say this, but...you need to go to the fourth floor...and please hurry!"

Minako quickly got out of bed and ran to the fourth floor. When she entered the command room, everyone else was already there.

"What happened?" Minako asked.

"What's going on?" Yukari asked as well.

"Yamagishi sensed something!" Mitsuru yelled. "...Other Persona-users. They're outside Tartarus!"

Ken got angry. "Other Persona-users...? Don't tell me it's..."

"...Strega. They're still alive. " Akihiko said.

"First the Dark Hour won't go away, and now Strega is back? What's happening?" Yukari yelled.

Akihiko turned his attention back to Fuuka. "How many are there, Yamagishi?"

"There's only one, but..." Fuuka looked confused. "I thought she was in the hospital..."

Junpei looked surprised. "Huh?"

"No...she's...she's inside...*shriek*" Fuuka held her head in pain.

"What's wrong?" Mitsuru yelled.

"...Long time no see." A familiar voice said.

"Chidori?" Junpei said, shocked.

Mitsuru looked confused. "She's speaking through Yamagishi?"

"I can't stand the site of you all anymore...so, I've decided to do something about it. Come to me..." Chidori beckoned.

Fuuka then regained control of her mind and stood up.

"You alright, Fuuka?" Minako yelled.

"Nngh...yeah...I'm fine." Fuuka said.

"What the heck...? I thought she was...Junpei, do you know what's going on?" Yukari yelled, looking at Junpei.

"..." Junpei turned away from Yukari.

"Junpei!" Yukari yelled.

"No, dammit! I have no idea!" Junpei yelled, glaring at Yukari. "Just leave me the hell alone!" He ran out of the command room.

Yukari's eyes widened. "J-Junpei? Junpei, wait!"

"This is most likely a trap. But, we're dealing with Strega, so we must pursue this." Mitsuru explained. "...And if we confront them, we may gain some insight into our current situation."

"Please be careful!" Fuuka told everyone. "I only sensed one person, but the other two may be nearby."

Mitsuru nodded. She looked at Minako. "We have no idea what they're planning, so choose your allies wisely. We'll go after Iori once you've made your decision."

Minako began thinking. "I choose...Aigis, Akihiko-senpai, and Ken-kun."

"Okay, let's go." Fuuka said.

...

~Entrance to Tartarus, Dark Hour~

Chidori was standing at the front of the entrance. Junpei stood opposite her.

"Chidori! What's going on? Why are you doing this?" Junpei yelled.

"..." Chidori looked solemn.

"It doesn't make any sense!" Junpei stared at her. "I mean, I know I'm not that smart, and I've done a lot of stupid stuff...but, we shouldn't be fighting like this!"

As he began to walk toward Chidori...

"Junpei-kun! Look out!" Fuuka yelled.

"...!" Junpei barely dodged the axe that Chidori threw in his direction.

"Whoa...!" Junpei looked surprised.

"...Tch." Chidori wasn't pleased.

"Chidori...! Why?" Junpei looked hurt.

By then, everyone else had caught up with him.

"Get back, Junpei! It's useless trying to reason with her!" Akihiko yelled.

Fuuka readied her Evoker. "No! It's too dangerous! ...I know how you feel, Junpei-kun! But please, just back up!"

Chidori readied her Evoker as well.

Mitsuru and Yukari pulled Junpei back, while Minako, Akihiko, Aigis, and Ken got in front to fight Chidori.

...

...

Memories of Heartbreak...at a standstill...

"..." Everyone regained their composure.

"Why did the memory just stop?" Yukari asked. "There's more to the memory than just that!"

"My guess is..." Ryoji looked at Junpei.

Junpei's expression saddened. "...We have to fight Chidori...is that it?"

Yukari and Fuuka gasped.

All of a sudden, Chidori appeared before them. She was wearing the same clothes she wore on that day.

Akihiko looked at Shinjiro. "Shinji, hurry up and pick your team so we can fight!"

Shinjiro looked at him. "..."

Junpei stood in front of Shinjiro. "Senpai, please...let me fight her, too!"

"Junpei...are you sure that's a good idea...?" Yukari asked.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Junpei yelled.

Souji cut in. "What Yukari-san means is...won't it cause you more pain if you fight her...?"

Junpei's eyes widened. "No, dammit!" He turned to look at Shinjiro again. "...Your call, Senpai..."

Shinjiro had a pained look on his face. 'I'm not cut out for this leader role...' "...Alright...Junpei, Aigis, and..." He looked at Akihiko. Akihiko stared back at him, before turning away, averting his gaze. Shinjiro sighed. "...Ken."

Ryoji nodded. "Everyone else should stay out of their way...we don't want anyone else to get hurt."

Shinjiro took his team and stood in front of Chidori.

"I don't belong here...I...I've always known that!" Chidori yelled.

"Chidori..." Junpei's face saddened, but he looked more than determined. "Senpai, let's finish this!"

Shinjiro grunted slightly. He had his Celtic Axe firmly in hand.

"Trismegistus, Vorpal Blade!" Junpei yelled. He summoned Trismegistus, who unleashed a barrage of slashes upon Chidori.

"Ahhh!" Chidori faltered, but quickly recovered. Chidori then swung her axe at Junpei.

"Gah!" Junpei's arm got slightly cut, causing blood to ooze from the wound.

"Junpei-kun, you have to calm down!" Fuuka yelled.

"She's right, Junpei-san!" Rise yelled as well.

Junpei looked angry. "I know what I'm doing!" He readied his Evoker again.

But before he could pull the trigger, Shinjiro stopped him.

"Whaaa?" Junpei looked at Shinjiro.

"Don't be so reckless!" Shinjiro yelled at him. "This Chidori isn't the one you knew back then, she's just a figment of your memories!"

Junpei looked at Shinjiro, then back at Chidori. She was staring blankly at everyone.

"Aigis!" Shinjiro yelled.

Aigis nodded. "Initiating Orgia Mode." She began glowing. "Athena...God Hand!" Aigis yelled. Athena appeared and summoned a huge hand that smashed itself into Chidori.

"Irk..." Chidori grabbed hold of her Evoker. "Medea...come...!" She shot herself, and her Persona, Medea appeared. "Agidyne..." Medea unleased a burst of fire upon Junpei.

"Why is Chidori only attacking Junpei?" Ken yelled.

"...!" Fuuka finished analyzing Chidori. "Listen, everyone! Chidori repels Agi, Hama, and Mudo skills! I'm also sensing that she is only going to attack Junpei-kun, so be careful!"

"Tch." Shinjiro ran at Chidori, and struck her with his axe. She dodged the attack. Chidori then ran towards Junpei.

"Medea!" Medea emerged once again and attacked Junpei. Junpei fell backwards.

"Junpei-san!" Aigis yelled.

"Someone heal Junpei-san!" Rise yelled.

"I'm on it!" Ken readied his Evoker. "Kala-Nemi, Diarahan!" Kala-Nemi spun around, and healed Junpei to full health.

"Takaya was right...you are a nuisance!" Chidori yelled. She summoned Medea again. "Ragnorak!"

Medea unleashed a huge pillar of fire on Junpei. Junpei managed to dodge it.

"Chidori, please, stop this!" Junpei yelled.

"..." Shinjiro walked up to Junpei and punched him.

"What the hell was that for?" Junpei yelled, rubbing his jaw.

"You're letting your emotions get the best of you..." Shinjiro said calmly.

Junpei got angry. "You'd probably act the same way if Minako-tan was the one we were fighting, instead of Chidori!"

Shinjiro lost his nerve. He grabbed Junpei by his shirt collar.

"Aragaki-senpai, please stay focused!" Fuuka pleaded.

Shinjiro bit his lip and released Junpei from his grip.

"*gasp* Look out!" Rise screamed.

They all looked at Chidori then. She began glowing.

"Why? Why won't you leave me alone?" Chidori yelled. "I just don't get it, Junpei..." She then summoned Medea. "Medea! Mamudoon!"

Medea unleashed a huge circle of dark energy around the team.

"Gah!" Aigis collapsed.

"No way..." Ken collapsed.

Shinjiro and Junpei managed to dodge the attack.

"Damn it..." Shinjiro muttered. He began to run towards Chidori, but Junpei held him back.

"Wait, Senpai! Don't injure her!" Junpei yelled.

"...Injure what? She's not really there, dumbass!" Shinjiro yelled back.

Junpei cringed. "I know that, but..."

Shinjiro looked at him. "Listen to me, get it through your thick skull. She's just a figment of your memories!"

Junpei stared at Shinjiro, then back at Chidori. "I...I can't..." Junpei closed his eyes, tears beginning to form.

Shinjiro sighed. "That person you ran into...it was Chidori, wasn't it...?"

"...!" Junpei remembered.

"What more proof do you need that the Chidori before you isn't the real one?" Shinjiro asked.

"...You're right, Senpai..." Junpei said, facing Chidori. "Let's get this over with..." Junpei readied his Evoker. "Trismegistus!" Trismegistus appeared, and held Medea in his arms, in an attempt to hold her back.

"NO! MEDEA!" Chidori screamed.

Junpei looked at Shinjiro. "Now, Senpai!"

Shinjiro nodded. "Orpheus, God Hand!" Shinjiro ran towards Chidori, and struck her with his axe. Orpheus quickly followed suit, punching Medea. Both Chidori and Medea disappeared.

"Is...is it over...?" Junpei asked.

Shinjiro looked around the room. Then, all of a sudden, the memories continued. Junpei and Shinjiro stared blankly into space, as the memories of that day flooded into them.

...

Memories of Heartbreak...resuming...

"Chidori!" Junpei ran up to the collapsed Chidori.

"I told you...don't touch me..." Chidori said, her face sullen.

"Chidori, please...tell me why you're doing this..." Junpei said.

Chidori looked up at Junpei. "What I fear most isn't death. What I fear most is...attachment. Once I become attached to something, I fear that I will lose it. That's why we only live for the moment...but you...you brought me pain...pain that I didn't want...pain that I never asked for..."

"Huh...?" Junpei looked confused.

Chidori continued. "When I'm with you, Junpei, I fear everything...I fear loss...I fear death...I fear that my time with you will end...that's why I..."

"Chidori...?" Junpei began.

Fuuka then stepped forward. "I'm sensing..."

Everyone looked at her.

"What? What is it?" Mitsuru asked her.

Just then, Takaya and Jin emerged from Tartarus.

"So then..." Ken began.

Akihiko stepped forward. "There you are, you sons of bitches!"

Takaya sighed. "Chidori...I see that it is too late. You've been poisoned by them..."

"What the hell does that mean, you friggin' ghost?" Junpei yelled angrily.

Takaya laughed. "I am no ghost...fate permitted me to live, even though I wasn't attached to life...you might say I was...chosen."

"You bastard..." Junpei yelled. "I've made up my mind! I won't let you do this to her anymore! I'll protect Chidori with my life!" He kneeled beside Chidori. "Chidori, don't stay with them! Come with me!"

Takaya drew his revolver, and began laughing maniacally. He aimed it at Junpei.

"Look out, Junpei!" Akihiko yelled.

As Junpei stood up, Takaya pulled the trigger.

"Huh...?" Junpei looked down at his chest, blood spreading across his clothes. He fell to the ground...lifeless.

Chidori looked at his body. "...Jun...pei..." She nudged his body back and forth.

"Noooooooo!" Fuuka screamed.

...

...

Chidori began glowing a golden color, with Medea floating above her. Then, Junpei regained consciousness.

"...Ah!" Junpei opened his eyes.

"Junpei-kun!" Fuuka looked surprised.

"Junpei!" Yukari yelled.

Junpei slowly sat up. "I..."

"It worked..." Chidori smiled.

"She revived him...I can't believe it." Akihiko said, amazed.

"Her power is the opposite of mine. Her persona doesn't sense life; it emits life...but in order to revive a person, she must..." Fuuka's expression saddened.

The glow around Chidori faded away, and Chidori collapsed on Junpei's lap. Junpei held out his arms to catch her.

"Chidori!" Junpei yelled.

Chidori smiled. "I can hear the life pulsing through you..." She chuckled.

"Huh...?" Junpei looked at her.

"Now I will live inside you, and we'll be together...forever." Chidori said, still smiling.

"Wh-What're saying...? Chidori...Chidori!" Junpei yelled.

She looked up at him. "I'll protect you, Junpei...always..."

Junpei held her close to himself. "I-I'll protect you, too! Please...don't go!"

Chidori reached up to touch Junpei's cheek. "It feels so nice to be with you..."

"Chidori...!" Junpei screamed, tears forming in his eyes.

Chidori's eyes slowly began to close. "Thank you...Jun...pei...I love you..." And then, her hand fell by her side, and her body became heavy in Junpei's arms.

"...?" Junpei began shaking Chidori's body. "This can't be happening...Chidori...Chidori, answer me..." There was no response. "Chidori...! Aaaaaaaah!"

Takaya and Jin stepped forward.

"What a pity...such a meaningless death..." Takaya said.

"...!" Minako got angry. "How dare you!"

Akihiko held Minako back from reaching for her Evoker.

Junpei looked up, with hatred in his eyes. "Meaningless...?"

"Hm...?" Takaya looked at Junpei. Junpei turned to face Takaya and Jin, and readied his Evoker.

"...Aaaaagh!" He pointed his Evoker towards his temple. "Persona!" And he pulled the trigger. Trismegistus appeared, with Medea right in front of him.

"Medea...?" Jin stared in confusion.

The resolution in Junpei's heart has awakened a new Persona...

Hermes has given rise to Trismegistus!

"Aaaaaarrrggghhh!" Junpei yelled. Trismegistus unleashed a burst of fire aimed at Takaya, but Jin shielded Takaya from the flames. Jin got blown backward from the impact.

"*gasp* *gasp* I refuse...to...ugh..." Junpei had a hard time breathing. He nearly collapsed. Everyone ran up to him.

"Junpei!" Akihiko yelled.

Takaya looked at them. "My...that was quite a spectacle. Now, allow me to reciprocate." Takaya drew his revolver again, but this time, Jin grabbed his arm.

"Takaya, don't!" Jin yelled.

"...Wh-What is the meaning of this? Release me!" Takaya grunted.

"Don't forget about your mission! This is just a waste of energy!" Jin pleaded.

Takaya stared at Jin, then back at the members of SEES.

"I have something much greater to accomplish...and since you have no means of destroying the Dark Hour...I will let you be...for now." Takaya put away his revolver. "...But know that the day I shall finish this is soon approaching."

Then, Jin pulled out a grenade, took off the safety, and threw it at the members of SEES. When the smoke dispersed, Strega was gone.

"Wait!" Junpei yelled, struggling to get up.

"Stop!" Akihiko yelled back, putting his hand on Junpei's shoulder.

"Let go! I...!" Junpei began.

Akihiko looked at him angrily. "She entrusted you with this life!"

"...!" Junpei looked down.

"Don't waste it..." Akihiko frowned.

"..." Junpei turned around to look at Chidori's body. "Chidori..." Junpei wiped the tears in his eyes. "Chidori, I...I...this is so hard...but...it's not just my life anymore..."

Yukari frowned. "Junpei..."

...

...

Memories of Heartbreak End...

Junpei and Shinjiro regained control of their minds once again.

"..." Shinjiro looked at Junpei, who was trying his best not to cry.

Junpei wiped his eyes. "I'm alright now, Senpai..."

"Junpei!" The others ran up to him.

"Are you alright, man?" Yosuke yelled.

"Of course he's alright...this is Junpei we're talking about..." Akihiko said, smiling.

Yukiko and Chie began crying. "That was so...sad..." Chie said.

Junpei looked at them. "Like I said...I'm alright now. There's nothing to worry about..."

Ryoji stepped forward. "Well, this wasn't the memory we were supposed to accomplish...but I say that's enough for today..."

"I agree..." Ken said. "We should resume tomorrow."

As everyone began to leave, Junpei just stared off into space. Shinjiro was about to leave as well, when Junpei stopped him.

"Hey, Senpai...what would you have done...if it was Minako-tan instead of Chidori...?" Junpei asked.

Shinjiro just stared at Junpei.

Junpei smiled. "You don't have to tell me...I know that you don't like to show emotions around others..."

Shinjiro had a pained look on his face. "...C'mon, let's get outta here..."

Junpei nodded. "I'm glad that you're our leader, Senpai..." And with that, he walked out of the Labyrinth.

Shinjiro was following close behind. 'If it had been Minako instead of Chidori, huh...?' Shinjiro scratched his head, a faint smile appearing on his face. '...I probably would have protected Minako with my life, as well...assuming that I was never in the hospital beforehand, of course...' Shinjiro smiled, and looked up. The moon illuminated the whole sky.

"Hey, hurry up, Shinjiro-senpai!" Junpei yelled.

Shinjiro looked back at Junpei. '...When did I become such a softy...?' Shinjiro sighed. 'It must be...because of Minako...'

Well, how did I do? I tried to improve my way of describing battles as best as I could. Did I do well? Anything I need to improve on more?

My story is revolving more around Junpei and Chidori's relationship right now, but the next memory retrieval chapter will be around Minako's memories again. I just wanted to add in JunpeixChidori cause that part was so sad for me to play through...damn, that Takaya...he always has to make in-game characters suffer!

Oh, and if you're wondering why I didn't include that one portion where Chidori is speaking to Junpei in his dreams (?), I didn't add that cause since this is based off of Minako's memories, I don't think she would know about that, since that was just between Chidori and Junpei, so...yeah. ^_^

I hope you liked it! And please review!