Shin Megami Tensei
Persona 3: Carpe Diem
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Persona 3, SMT, or any characters within. They belong to Atlus. (George Sears belongs to Hideo Kojima)
Author's Note: Nope. No cliffhanger ending for Carpe Diem. It shall be seen through to the end, ParaPol and CD will be written simultaneously because I'm an impatient bastard.
Eleventh Story – Yes Ma'am!
JULY 9, 2016
Fuuka stood over Mitsuru's shoulder, holding one of the largest bouquet of multicolored roses she had seen in her life. Mitsuru herself was standing in front of a mirror, wearing a pure white wedding dress that clung to her body as if it were surrounded by static electricity.
She was getting ready in a small office on the side of the all-faith chapel. Specifically, this might have been Akihiko's old office before he removed himself from office work to go back into the field, much to Mitsuru's chagrin.
"Mitsuru, I'm so glad for you! I never imagined this would happen – er, I mean...you know, with Akihiko's-"
Mitsuru laughed a little, looking at Fuuka in the mirror as a civic android was helping Mitsuru fit her dress.
"It's no problem, Fuuka. I know what you mean. I'm actually amazed myself that Akihiko had enough courage to ask me to marry him!" Mitsuru said, bringing her hand to her mouth while she was laughing. Undoubtedly this was probably the most feminine she had looked in her entire life (and probably would be until the end of her life).
Her hair was tied up in a bun, held together by a single chopstick. Her lipstick complimented her hair well, and, just for good measure, she had worn contacts today instead of her glasses.
"I believe you are ready, Kirijo-san." the android said in its monotone voice, proceeding to walk over to the door. "Shall I let your father in now?"
"Certainly!" Mitsuru said, turning around to face the door in anticipation for...Chairman Tanaka?
"Sorry, Mitsuru. Takeharu is taking a little longer at your mother's grave than I thought, so he sent me in his stead, just in case the wedding started before he arri-"
"Wait! Tanaka!" someone shouted from down the hall, prompting Tanaka to step off to the side, allowing the man they all knew as Takeharu Kirijo to burst through the door frame, only to be caught by the civic android.
"Hello sir. How may I be of service?" the android said to a struggling Takeharu. He set himself free from its grasp pretty easily enough, before straightening his suit and his posture to face his daughter.
"So, Father. How do I look?" Mitsuru asked, holding out her arms and spinning around one time.
"Mitsuru...you look gorgeous." he said, coming closer to hug his daughter.
"Mitsuru...I'm proud of you. I'm proud as your commanding officer but, more important, as your father..."
Mitsuru easily returned the hug as Fuuka came around the side to face the two of them.
"Well then, Mitsuru. It's time." Fuuka said, pointing towards the door.
"Yeah, well, can you hurry this up, please. I have an appointment with some Australian investors in a few hours, and you know how hard it is to get to the surface from this level," Tanaka said, walking over to the chapel doors. "Oh, and Mitsuru, congratulations."
"Thank you, Mister Tanaka," Mitsuru said, offering her arm our to her father, who took it graciously and escorted Mitsuru over to Tanaka's location.
"Yeah, yeah, don't think that just because you're getting married that I'll get off your back about a return on my investment!" he snapped, but in a friendly manner, opening the opaque glass door to the chapel. Inside, Mitsuru could instantly see the chapel was packed. Most of those in attendance were S.E.E.S. Officers, many of which had attended Gekkoukan at the same time as Mitsuru.
In the front rows were the founding members of S.E.E.S., including Chidori and Junpei's two small children: Takaya and Jin Iori (it had been Chidori's idea to name them that way). Over to the right hand side of the chapel were three portraits of Ryoji, Minato, and Yukari. Although they could not be there physically, they would never be separated spiritually. Aigis was presiding over the ceremony once again, clad in black and white robes, she had a large smile on her face, obviously full of glee to see this occasion occur.
And finally, standing in front of the altar where Aigis was standing was Akihiko, the man whose name she would soon take. He was dressed in a near-white suit, it was slightly silver, adding to the attraction as it matched his hair.
His smile would have been good enough, but the fact that the audience was also in awe made her feel special. The women were smiling and the various men had their jaws dropped. She always used to get this type of reaction back in Gekkoukan, but this was the first time she was actually aware of it. And it felt good.
As the two of them, father and daughter, walked down the isle, Takeharu came a little closer to Mitsuru to whisper something in his daughter's ear.
"Geez, it took him eleven years to propose to you? He better take damn good care of you, or I'll take care of him!" he whispered.
Mitsuru wanted to scold her father, but couldn't seem to bring herself to accept the thought of her slapping her father in the middle of her wedding. She decided that punishment would wait.
When she got to Akihiko, she was almost impressed by his demeanor. That is to say, if he looked more excited than nervous, she would've been sold. Akihiko bowed to Takeharu, who returned the bow in kind. This was the first time in a long while that anyone had seen Takeharu this happy.
"So, chose a white Western wedding after all, eh?" Akihiko asked is a hushed voice, slightly smiling.
"Yeah, well. I'll tell you about it after this is over," she replied, before Aigis began the ceremony. She spoke in an overly formal tone of Japanese that didn't make much sense, even in this situation. But that was perfectly alright to all of them. Even if Aigis was talking in a tone that would put the Emperor to shame, all that mattered now was the 'here' and the 'now'. Mitsuru actually felt kind of bad for spoiling Junpei's wedding all those years ago. Seeing as neither of them had complained, though, she guessed she didn't have anything to feel guilty about.
"Please exchange the rings now," Aigis said, barely able to keep herself from bursting into tears.
It wasn't just a wedding, it was the manifestations of everyone hopes and dreams. For eleven years, Mitsuru and Akihiko had been waiting for this moment. Maybe, if the members of S.E.E.S. remained steadfast in their beliefs long enough, then their own peace would come.
As Akihiko slid his silver ring onto Mitsuru's finger, he didn't doubt it one bit. They would deliver themselves from evil so that the night may once again be a symbol of love.
Mitsuru slid her ring of gold onto Akihiko's finger, signifying the end of the ceremony, and prompting Aigis to clap her hands in delight.
"Wonderful! Now, if the two of you will please sign the register," Aigis said, pointing to a small book laid out upon the altar. Akihiko took something out of his pocket: his family stamp, and punched the register.
Mitsuru signing, however, was more symbolic. She could no longer use her own family stamp, instead handing it back to her father, who took it in one of his hands while extending a pen in another. Taking the pen, she bent down to the register to sign her new name: Sanada Mitsuru.
And it was done. Aigis proclaimed that they could now kiss each other, prompting Mitsuru to put down her pen and violently force herself upon Akihiko for a few fleeting seconds before they broke apart.
"Well...I bet your mother would be proud, of both events," Takeharu said, putting his hands on Mitsuru's shoulders and looking deep into her eyes.
"What do you mean, fa-"
Suddenly, Takeharu released his grip from Mitsuru and unpinned the black star on his chest, putting it in Mitsuru's palm before closing her hand around it.
"Congratulation, commander."
"Wait, what?"
"As of today, I resign my post as Commander of S.E.E.S., in my stead, I appoint my daughter, Mitsuru Sanada," he said, looking over at Akihiko for a brief moment, "from Adjutant Commander of S.E.E.S. to Supreme Commander. May you find the Light within yourself, my daughter." he said, hugging her before facing the chapel doors, as if to leave.
"Father...where will you go?" Mitsuru asked. After the Board of Directors chose Mitsuru to head the Kirijo Group instead of Takeharu – noting declining profits (no doubt because of the huge expenses required by S.E.E.S.), S.E.E.S. was all her father had left.
"I asked a friend of mine the same question just before he disappeared. Do you know what he said? I shall go to break the tragic cycle of the Arcanum, so that the world may be a better place and I may have a firm constitution to finally rest."
"Ryoji!" Aigis shouted out, her hands shaking. Takeharu turned around to look at the android, before replying in the affirmative.
"Yes. Ryoji Mochizuki was his name. Now we chase the same goal and walk on the same path...I will return with Ryoji, but not before we set ourselves free," he said, turning back around and beginning to walk towards the doors.
"And if you fail?" Mitsuru asked, not quite confident in their whole plan, if one could even call it that.
Takeharu didn't answer that question, he kept on walking towards the doors. No one stopped him. No one could stop him. In that moment, something inside them all changed. They were no longer simple men and women doing a public service. No. They were ParaPols, and they would ride the storm until the darkness turned to light, even if it cost them their lives.
Takeharu disappeared past the opaque glass doors and for a few moments it seemed as if no one would follow him, before Mitsuru ran towards the doors and pushed them open. But her father was already gone. Something told her he would be back, but until that day came, that was the last anyone had ever heard of Takeharu Kirijo.