Hey guys, I'm back again with Fate's Second chance.

In this chap, Akira's….

Akira: DON'T SAY IT (depressed)

Haha…you'll see.

Chapter 11: Duel! Naoya VS S.E.E.S

(Akira)

1st May 2009

Dark Hour

"Let's see, 15th Floor…Senpai said that she sensed a blockade up ahead near one of the closer floors, so I don't think we should stop now."

"But still, it's your call, Minato."

Our blue haired leader pondered for awhile as he considered the options. The current part consisted of Minato, Yukari, myself and Akihiko-senpai. You might be wondering when on Earth was he allowed back on the team? Simple, really. Remember that day we all healed him with nearly every single ounce if dia? Well it actually did the trick!

Our senpai can be so muddle headed at times.

"That's strange," senpai said, "there aren't many shadows on this floor as the previous one. I wonder if destroying the guardians of certain floors decrease the number of shadows on the next few."

"Whatever it is. Arisato, please lead your team to the next floor."

"Roger."

So, without further ado, we were being led up the large staircase in front of us.

"Hey, this is…small."

The room that lay before us was considerably smaller than the ones we've been in: a square shaped area with nothing but a blocked staircase.

"Hey, what the hell?" I asked as I walked up to the blockade, "what's up with this?"

"It's probably a blockade," yeah Akihiko-senpai, that's kind of obvious. I did notice a small treasure chest tucked in a corner as senpai and Yukari went through the return portal in the room. I called Minato over to investigate.

"A document?" he wondered aloud as he opened the treasure chest, retrieving its contents: A few, dusty notes. He folded up the notes in a neat fashion and placed them in his pocket. I WAS going to protest, but he is the leader after all.

Oh well might as well catch up with the rest.

"Two of you, get back down now. There's no way to get through the blockade-"

Her voice was momentarily cut off. I tried to shout for her but it was to no avail. Moments later, we heard Mitsuru-senpai again.

But something wasn't right about her voice.

"Two of you. Minato Arisato and Akira Arisato, please return to the first floor."

"Senpai? Hey, what the heck?"

The communication line went dead again.

"Crap…come on!" I dragged Minato as we entered the exit point.

We made our way out of the access point as soon as possible. However, what we saw was actually kinda disturbing: Senpai was held at sword point. I recognised her captor almost immediately. That stupid black-mop head, business suit and crappy looking tie. In his left hand was a semi-automatic pistol.

"Naoya Todou…" I almost dropped ebony and ivory in shock, "what in the world are you doing here. And what do you think you're doing to senpai!"

"Ah, it seems we meet again. Arisato, Arisato and, oh, Arisato too," he grinned with an ever-so slight mock tone in his voice, "And as for your senpai. Let's just say we were trying to settle some, business deals. But boy, she sure is one tough nut to convince."

"CUT THE CRAP!" Akihiko-senpai charged at the older man with a readied stance. Naoya did nothing except look in his direction.

Suddenly, Akihiko-senpai was blown back by a seemingly invisible force, Junpei taking the full impact of senpai's body.

"Whoa there, Akihiko Sanada. Shouldn't boxing have already taught you to NOT to charge recklessly like that? Or maybe that injury made you lose touch?"

"Tch."

Is he taunting us? But whatever it is, first and foremost, there's something off about him.

*chick*

"You…" I hissed as I raised a gun at Naoya's head, "Tell me how you can enter Tartarus. How you can tap into the dark hour without being turned into a coffin. Most of all, although I do feel some reluctance to admit it… .!"

The air was tense in the room. By this time, Yukari had her bow drawn and pointed straight at him. Hamuko's nagitana had a reach long enough to go neck-to-neck with Naoya. Even Minato had a tight grip on his evoker, ready to draw it out at any moment necessary.

"I don't care about who, or what the hell you are. Just follow us out of this tower, and we won't hurt you. Back at our dorm, you'll answer all the questions we have," Hamuko threatened, which I actually found…kind of scary for someone her stature.

"So, Mr Naoya," Hamuko smirked, "what say you agree to our terms? That way, everyone's a winner, don't you think so?"

"Haha! I guess you're probably right as well, seeing as I'm at a disadvantage I might as well give it up now. But on a second thought…"

"I guess not."

Withdrawing his sword from senpai's throat, he raised it into the air.

"If all of us are so hard on about going through with it the hard way, WITHOUT wanting to listen to me talk, then I'm actually pretty glad to return the favour."

The air around us grew thick. A strong presence started to emit from Naoya.

What the heck is going on?

Watch and learn, but don't be scared though. This event won't destroy your chances.

Orpheus incarnate? Where were you all this while? It's kind of a bad timing now!

Whatever it is, prepare yourself Akira! This is no ordinary opponent.

Susano-o?

Hate to break it to you, kid, but it looks like you're gonna have to fight this solo.

WHAT! Don't shit with me, Loki, everyone was…

"No way…everyone!"

It had merely been seconds after Naoya had unleashed some strange force, but it seemed that was all the time he needed to knock my friends to the ground.

Crap…what did he do?

The look in Naoya's eyes was now completely different, in a literal sense. His eyes, once brown, were now gleaming red and yellow.

"Get ready, because holding back is not an option!"

BGM: SMT Persona: A Lone Prayer

Naoya was the first to make his move. He raised the semi-auto pistol and fired at me. Reacting in time, I did a quick roll forward, praying that I did not collide with anyone on the floor.

"Hey man. I think that gun of yours is NOT funny at all!"

I tucked ebony back and drew out my sword and attempted a slash at Naoya's arm. The attack connected, but only a little. Without even the slightest flinch, he raised his own blade up to parry my second strike. Seething with anger, I pressed my blade against his to keep the pressure.

"It seems you've lost some skills, Akira," Naoya sighed, all while keeping his blade connected with mine, "it seems I was right after all."

"What was that!"

"It means: you just went down and sucked," Naoya retorted, lifting his firearm dead at my forehead. Quickly, I broke contact with our blades and knocked the gun out his hands and into the air, sheathing back my sword. In his moment of shock, I planted a hard kick in his body and caught his pistol as it landed back.

Heh, I wonder what he's thinking now.

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Naoya raised his hands, "cool it, man. What's with the style. Well then again, it WAS how you used to fight."

"What do you mean was!" I threw back the question at him.

"Oh-ho, so you have COMPLETELY no clue at all? Damn, I thought he should have at least hinted some stuff to you, oh well."

"Damn you…!"

"Akira!" Yukari yelled, still on the ground, "don't fall for his mind games!"

Fancy telling me that when you and the rest of the team are still down on the floor.

"Dude! Stop getting distracted!"

Shut the hell up Junpei-WHOA!

It was just in time when Junpei's warning came. Naoya in my face within a split second, giving me no room to breathe as he forced me into a defensive stance with the guns while his blade hacked away.

"Junpei's right, Akira. You gotta stay focused or you might die."

I had no time to figure out how he knew Junpei.

THWACK

It came like a rushing wind. I didn't even see his moves properly. One second the blade connected with the tip of the guns. The next moment came as my hand bled, and I was left disarmed. The tables were turned. I was below Naoya as he held me at gunpoint once again…

"Shit…!"

"Tsk, tsk…really now? Is that all you've got? Kind of a let down, I was hoping for more of a challenge."

Damn it. Who is this guy? Was he like the chairman, no persona? But this guy seemed extremely strong, and I can feel…power flowing from him.

That's it, time to stop screwing around…

"Time I got serious, son of a bitch."

Magician arcana, come!

Hands blazing, I forced Naoya to back as he threw of his blazing office jacket. I drew Ebony and switched it to evoker mode.

"Let's see you handle this!"

"Ares, Getsu-ei!"

The war god did a heavy slash at Naoya, the shape of a pale moon faintly appearing. He touched the fresh wound that had appeared on his hands.

"Urgh…bastard…"

BROPEI!

The bald dude was getting back on with his cap, "Hey man, whatever you did, that was SO uncool. Hermes!"

Shooting himself, Junpei evoked the messenger of Olympus.

"Agi!"

…

…

"Um, what the hell Junpei?" I gaped as Naoya stood, looking the same, "NOTHING is happening!" That was when I noticed Naoya slapping his knee, laughing, even though he was still bleeding, "You guys have NO clue what's going on, damn you're slow."

"Don't talk so much, just take a look around you," I pointed to my back. Slowly, one by one, my fallen teammates were beginning to stand up, "I don't care that Junpei's attack that nothing to you."

"HEY!"

"But do you think you can take us all down?" Mitsuru-senpai narrowed her eyes on the businessman, "Honestly, what sort of people work for the Nanjo group these days? I am VERY curious to find out."

Despite being surrounded by weapons, the black haired man just sighed and shook his head (I promise, if he does that again…), "I see. You really don't remember who I am."

"For the last time!" Yukari yelled, arrow readied, "what on earth are you talking about!"

Sure, he was stunned at the amount of threats that were thrown at him. But then, all he did was step back.

"Then I'll show you the difference between your level, and mine."

He raised his free hand and placed it across his face. Suddenly, his eyes began to glow a shade of yellow and red.

"Per…so..na"

"Persona!"

A persona appeared above Naoya, bearing royal Egyptian robes and a long staff in his hand. His skin was a dark green color.

"What, this cannot be…" our senpai gaped at the persona.

"Take a good look at this!" Naoya clenched his fist and pointed forward, "Amon-Ra! Shibaboo!"

The Egyptian god raised his staff, for a brief moment nothing happened. Then it came. Darkness overcame our sights. At first, I thought the blindness affected only me, until I heard the others crying out in shock.

"How do you like it? Can't see anything can you?" he taunted as I heard footsteps. Damn, now I know what the blind feel like sometimes, so helpless, not being able to see anything. I could hear the footsteps getting closer. In desperation, I slashed my sword out, only to be parried easily.

"Shoot!"

"Eurydice!"

"Orpehus!"

The loud cries of the Arisato's echoed the room. I heard the sound of wind as the harps were swung violently across, but then I felt a barrelled object at my forehead

"A persona too represents the current state of yourself. If you are blinded, their attacks aren't exactly spot on either."

Like hell I needed to know that now.

"If that's it," I felt the gun press against me harder, "bye bye!"

Am I gonna die like that…?

Scanning

I have the WORST possible timings today I swear.

Target: Naoya Todou

Arcana: Unknown

Persona: Amon-Ra

Abilities: Unknown

Life Force: Unknown

Spirit Pressure: Unknown

Not much useful information either…

Incoming attack: 1.2 seconds.

THANK YOU FORESIGHT!

In a final attempt to keep myself alive, I swung my head back. Then, with as much force as I could, I used my free hand and grabbed his shoulder. Feeling the gun move away from my forehead, and using my head, I did a head-butt. Slowly, my vision cleared, as did everyone else's.

"TAKE THIS!" Yukari let loosed an arrow almost immediately, striking Naoya in the back. The impact must've been hard, because as soon as it hit, he dropped to the ground on one knee. Seeing our chance, Hamuko gave the command, "Akira, Akihiko-senpai, Junpei and Minato! Go for an ALL OUT ATTACK!"

The team of us four rushed towards the lone persona-user. However, Naoya just stayed where he was, eyes now closed.

"Fusion spell…"

"Everyone, be careful! Something's not right about his power levels!"

Senpai, not with the Vegeta reference now!

"YAMAOKA! LULLABY!"

(Naoya)

I stopped the fusion spell as I heard the name "Yamaoka" being called out. One by one, the members of S.E.E.S fell to the ground, asleep. I turned around, recognizing the man in thin glasses, motorcycle outfit and the huge NO.1 scarf around his neck.

"Kei…" I sighed as I forced myself onto one knee, "what are you doing here? I thought you sent me here by myself."

"Yes, I did. Yet I thought it stupid to send you into battle against Persona-users such as them," he turned to the now sleeping S.E.E.S on the ground, "although I must say, I did not expect to have you been injured that much."

"I'm still human you know?" I rolled my eyes and pulled the arrow out of my back, "That aside, we should really get these teenagers out of here. Can't have them trapped in Tartarus."

As quickly as possible, Kei and I dragged them all out of the shadow nest, right in time as it turned back into the gorgeous high school.

"Should we leave them here, Kei?" I glanced at the them.

"My sleeping spell is rather potent. From what I've observed, they should wake in three hours. But let's not talk about that for the moment," turning back to me, Kei gave me one of those rare little smiles, "so, how's it like to be fighting again?"

"It's true that it never really leaves you. That arrow hurt a little more than I hoped, however. I'm actually surprised that my Jack Brother's fusion spell worked on them all."

The moment was interrupted as Kei's phone rang. As he listened on to the other voice on the phone, his eyebrows started to scrunch. Knowing him, this was either something serious, or he was just plain annoyed by the other person.

I think I can take a guess.

"Fine, fine. I think I'll go on home first," I sighed as I trudged ahead of him, "She called to make sure I'm safe, am I right?"

"Your wife is concerned about you, Nao," he rolled his eyes and dialled another number onto his phone.

"Now, about these seven. I think I know a certain someone who has a vehicle that can fit them all inside. As you said, leaving them all out here would look rather suspicious."

And…WRAP UP!

Hoooo boy! Things are heating up now, I'd say!

Read and review :3