Me: Chapter 12 already... hm...

Picup: What are you thinking about?

Me: Stuff... what else?

Picup: (shrugs) I dunno... I'm not you.

Me: True... well, let's get started.

GS: So Trauma Center quoted.

Disclaimer: (World appears) The author doesn't own Persona 3 because Atlus does.

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Imperfect Arcana

Chapter 12: The Reunion

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Empty and daunting, her eyes glazed over as she looked into the empty plain she had grown use
to over the unknown hours she had been stuck here. The pain that throbbed and stung
mercilessly vanished long ago as did her vision of the Shadow surrounding her, tearing at her
flesh for blood and growing in size and strength.

Mitsuru had no memory of arriving in the blue gown or the small white band attached to her
wrist, just the cries for both rescuing and death, and a wish for someone or something to take her
away. Her silent prayers seemed to be answered, but then why was her head beginning to throb.

She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Was it because... she was forgetting something? If
she was, was it really that important?

The ache gradually moved to her chest and she turned her gaze to the side, confused. Maybe it
wasn't something, but more someone.

"Mitsuru!"

Mitsuru looked up, aware that her surroundings had changed now. The haunting green twilight
of the Dark Hour hung overhead, the charcoal coffins shimmering with red ominous light. In the
distance, she made out two figures, both males, both at least junior high and both looking
around. They appeared as nothing but silhouettes to her as they both looked around in a frenzied
panic.

"Where is she?!"

"Shit! I knew splitting up tonight was a bad idea!"

"Say something next time!"

Those voices... they sounded so familiar yet she couldn't recall. Faintly, she heard a small cry
too far from a scream for them to hear and unfortunately, it was coming from behind her and
they were turning away. Mitsuru frowned, her brows furrowed and the urge to call to them rose,
but she stopped. If they couldn't see her, then she doubted they would hear her either.

Turning around, she listened for the faint voice once more and began to track it down. The city,
it felt like she had been in this very place before but her head hurt just trying to remember and
the band against her arm still confused her. Into the alley she walked, the small cries getting
louder until finally, she heard a thump against the ground. Her leg started to throb and she
looked down, her eyes widening when she noticed there were four fine cuts on her leg, "...!"

"Stupid shadow... Uh!"

Mitsuru limped forward, steadying herself on the wall and gasped as she turned the corner. She
had to blink several times before deciding she wasn't just seeing things. What she saw was
herself but with shorter hair and a familiar blue headband. The uniform her younger self was
wearing was from junior high but one white sock was torn and covered in blood. Young Mitsuru
Kirijo was unable to move, her leg bleeding profusely and leaving her open prey. She was
already covered in bruises and minor injuries but that one was by far worse as it had most likely
torn the muscle as well.

The young red head looked up sharply at the sound of movement. It was a squelching noise
recognizable in an instant. A blue masked shadow appeared, looking at the young girl, excited at
the sight of her bloodied leg as she attempted to crawl back. The Maya crawled forward, its
grubby hands reaching for her leg, grasping her ankle and pulling her towards it. "Ah! Let me
go!" she exclaimed, reaching for her abandoned rapier. Her fingers grasped the hilt and she
swung around, cutting its arm off. It roared and the severed arm writhed as she moved back
quickly. More Mayas emerged at the roar and started moving towards the cornered girl.

"Sanada-san... Aragaki-san..."

She whispered, shaking.

Mitsuru looked at her younger self, her eyes wide. W-Who did she call for? Why did those names
ring a bell?

Her younger self was backed into the wall and the same Maya grabbed her ankle with a rough
tug. She struck out with her rapier again but the Maya raised a claw and swatted the blade to the
side. It left her hand and landed with a clatter against the ground. The other Mayas swarms and
moved the rapier out of range and out of sight. Mitsuru could see her younger self fighting to
hold herself together in the situation, but for an instant, it slipped.

"Akihiko! Shinjirou!"

"...!" Mitsuru took a sharp inhale of breath at the names, a spark going off in her mind. She
glanced back at the sound of footsteps and saw the two boys appear around the corner, weapons
drawn. They instantly attacked the shadows.

As she watched, the more she remembered everything. She held her head tightly as she fell to her
knees, gritting her teeth. "W-What is this?" she whispered, shutting her eyes tightly.

"You tell me Mitsuru..." a deep voice growled. Her auburn eyes snapped open and she looked
up, "S-Shinjirou...?"

Indeed, standing before her was the deceased teen, his untidy brown hair held down by a black
beanie and his eyes, as always, cold and leering at her. His hands were stuffed in his trench coat
pocket and he blinked, "Well? Why the hell are you here?"

"I... I don't..." she replied, looking away from him. He frowned, "You don't know this is the
dead plain?"

"D-Dead plain?!" Mitsuru gasped and furrowed her brows. So, death had finally been granted.
Shinjirou let out a small snort of what sounded like disgust, "Yeah, but why the hell are you
here? Have you even seen what your being here has done?"

Slowly, she shook her head. He closed his eyes and turned around, walking off into the empty
plain. He looked back for a second, "Well? Are you just going to stand there?"

She looked around for a second and then took a step forward. Shinjirou looked back and kept
walking, knowing she wasn't too far behind. The area soon faded, replaced slowly by that of the
lounge at the dorm. SEES was sitting in the room, gaze distant and no words exchanged. Fuuka,
in particular, had her head bowed and was leaning against Junpei. Junpei, in turn, had his arm
wrapped around the young girl in an attempt to comfort her. Ken was kneeled next to Koromaru
whose ears were flat and his tail still while Aigis stood next to them. Yukari sat alone on the
second couch, looking at her lap with an almost intent.

The door opened and everyone looked up, watching as Minato entered the dorm, closing the
door carefully.

"Well? How is he?" Yukari asked as the navy-haired teen took a seat next to her. Minato let out
a heavy sigh and shook his head, "The nurses said he was sleeping, but when they went in
earlier, he was staring at the ribbon. He actually didn't notice them."

Mitsuru observed the entire scene and then turned away, "A-Are they talking about Akihiko?"
"... Yeah. He's been in the hospital for a week since they tried to save you," Shinjirou replied.
She looked up sharply, "They came to Tartarus?!"

"No shit... and the results weren't what they were hoping for," he grumbled. He turned away
and walked off, disappearing through the dorm wall. Mitsuru followed close behind as they
walked along the streets of Iwatodai. Time seemed to fly, the Dark Hour appearing to flash by
and soon, they were standing in front of the Tatsumi Memorial Hospital. They entered, walking
by the few employees on late night shift and stopping before a dark room. Shinjirou stepped to
the side and looked at Mitsuru, expecting her to go in first.

Her auburn eyes looked at the door and she took a deep breath before stepping through the door.
She looked at the only occupied bed, moving closer to see who it was and gasped, "Akihiko...!"

Akihiko continued to slumber, his hand clasping a tattered red ribbon tightly. She sensed
Shinjirou walk up behind her, "That's the only thing SEES could give Aki after defeating the
shadow. The last thing he saw before the doctors put him to sleep was you flat lining. For all he
knows, you're dead..."

"What?!" Mitsuru looked at Shinjirou, "I'm dead?"

"No... you're in a coma, but the doctors haven't approached Aki because he's been like this," he
muttered, "Dammit Mitsuru, Aki needs you back."

"And if not for him, for what you promised..."

"...!" Mitsuru turned around. Sharp features, graying hair and one black eye patch, Takenaru
Kirijo was watching her closely, his hand in his suit pocket. He sighed, "Mitsuru, have you
forgotten why you fight again? I thought you had a resolution..."

"Father... I did but..." she started but Takenaru shook his disappointed, "I thought you knew
better than to give up Mitsuru..."

"...You're right... I'm sorry father... I guess I let a small argument on where my loyalty lied
mixed with my ultimate goal," she sighed, bowing her head, "And Shinjirou, I should've realized
what would happen... I'm ready to go back."

"... Aki wants you to wake him up. Make sure you do," Shinjirou said and smirked. Mitsuru
smiled and look at the two, "Thank you... Goodbye Shinjirou... goodbye father..."

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Akihiko continued his restless slumber, trying to ignore the light of the sun flooding into the
window. It was almost trying to sooth him but he refused, grasping the ribbon tighter in his hand.
Something warm rested upon said hand suddenly and he tried to pull away. The grip was tight
and refused to let go in fear of losing the last thing by which he could remember Mitsuru, but he
stopped when he realized the hand wasn't trying to take away the ribbon, it was just resting
curled around his fist.

"Akihiko... Its time to wake up..."

The voice was soft yet forceful and commanding and it made his eyes snap open. He recognized
it in an instant and shot up, his hand still in the person's grasp. Her auburn eyes were focused on
his hand with the ribbon, though she was keenly aware of his grey eyes looking at her, wide with
shock. His fist unclenched and the ribbon landed in her hand. Finally, her eyes rose and locked
on his, a small smile gracing her lips, "Good morning Akihiko..."

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Me: No it's not the last chapter. The next one might be... or the next one because I don't like odd
chapter endings.

Picup: Oh good...

Me: Damn this chapter is like... the longest out of all of them.

Picup: And getting longer the more you type down here.

Me: (looks) Dammit... XD

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