Author's Note: I'm sorry for the extreme lateness of this chapter. I was busy for the exams, and life is getting hard. Please do not expect this story to progress as fast as it used to do. I'm not sure I can keep up since Exam is right before my eyes. Thank you very much
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 4 or any of the lyrics or poems that I used in this fic
Chapter 13
Forgotten
of no summer. It was a test: if the tree lived,
it would mean you existed.
By this logic, you do not exist. Or you exist
Louise Gluck – "Vespers (Once I believe in you…")"
Pi… pi… pi…
The red cell phone of Amagi Yukiko was ringing. Doujima shifted his gaze from his papers to the cell phone he had kept. His eyes narrowed.
The name displayed was not something that could make his mood softened.
X
Chie kicked the stone on her foot, watching it flew to the air then off to the river. Her eyes drifted from the green canopy all around her to the silvery blue Samegawa River. She was supposed to go to the office soon or at least go back to her home to check Yukiko. But she couldn't bring herself to do any of the two. To the office now meant explaining to Doujima while going back home now meant… she would need to meet Yukiko.
It had never occurred to her that she would ever feel this way to her very best friend—at least not exactly this way. She had been jealous of her since they were becoming best friends—of course she was not affected by it anymore—but… jealous because of… this?
It was suffocating. She wasn't sure meeting her now would be best…
X
Naoto tapped the papers on the table as she waited for an answer. The call ring was getting too long; she was kind of worried. Uneasily, her eyes drifted to the clock…
9 A.M. It's morning enough for someone—like Yukiko, more over—to wake up. And under the circumstances between her and Souji, it was a slim chance for Yukiko to be forgetting her cell phone.
The ring suddenly stopped. Finally somebody picked it up.
"Yukiko-Senpai. I need to talk to you about the ca…"
"What case, Shirogane?"
The detective strained her jaw. Her grip tightened and her movement of tidying the files stopped immediately. As always, her mind reacted faster than any of her other conscious sides.
"What happened to Yukiko-Senpai?"
Doujima chuckled on the other side. He didn't seem cheery though.
"You know better than I do. Aren't you, Shirogane?"
Naoto remained silent. This wasn't going to be pleasant… but maybe…
"Why, Doujima-san…" She released the tension on her chest. A fleeting smile was visible on her lips. "We're both in a lost here. It wouldn't seem fair for one to do one-way talk, would it?"
X
The breeze was calm and the road was quiet. Chie walked slowly along the path she knew very well, heaving deep sigh as the sun was slowly getting higher on top of her. Her eyes drifted to the familiar roof of her house, slowly realizing that she hadn't turned off the front light when she went out of the house earlier this morning.
It was off now.
Muku must've made quite a fuss a while before. She recalled how animals were uneasy whenever those… lizard-eyed men or a Persona appeared. Chie walked down to her house slowly, pacing her steps with the slow stir in her heart.
As a best friend, she loved Yukiko. Saying otherwise would mean a lie—or, in their words, denying themselves. But saying that she wasn't uneasy would mean just about the same. She just had to accept it.
Chie gave a wry smile as her house came into full view.
Seemed like old jokes came true after all…
X
"Agh! Ouch! Ah!"
Bones trauma? Inner bleeding?
"Oww! Ouch! Ouch!~ AWAWAWAWA!"
Rontgen and thorough check-ups? The hell with it all! Just bring Yukiko here, give her a fan, and with one blackout, he would be as good as new.
Which means he didn't need to go through this damn sound wave thing process! It was killing him! He would be dead the moment the medication was over.
Yousuke limped from the rehab room to the place where his father was waiting. The man was busy on his cell phone, talking with fast sure tones to his subordinates back in Junes. Yousuke looked around. Perhaps there was some place where he could go smashing Susano'o's card unnoticed. His Diarama wasn't as good as Yukiko or Teddie's Diarahan, but at least he could just cure the aching and sore feeling.
Pi… pi… pi…
Yousuke flipped open his phone, looking at the name of the caller while grimacing from his move.
Shirogane Naoto.
Ah. That's a little weird.
"Yousuke speaking."
"Has anything happened over there? Is there any other attack involving Yukiko-Senpai?"
"Ah… well… uh…" A barrage of questions without any greetings was so Naoto, but he was a little taken aback by the fact she didn't know a thing. "Well… uh, yeah. You didn't know?"
"No, I don't," If she was angry, it was wonderful how her voice remained flat and emotionless. "Tell me."
Strange for someone like Naoto to be left behind without the latest issue, especially if things were as crucial as now. Straightening his back with a grimace, Yousuke then told her everything.
X
"Coach! We can't do it without Manager!"
"Come on, Coach! We cannot do this anymore!"
"Coach, what if we…"
"JUST SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY!"
Daisuke stomped his foot to the ground in agitation. The boys shuddered then fell silent immediately. Daisuke gritted his teeth, clenching his fist till his knuckles turned white.
"So what if Manager Ebihara is in the hospital?" he yelled back. "That will not change anything! What we can do for her now is to train like always and get that damp trophy then greet her with a smile! GET THAT?"
The boys fell silent. Daisuke gritted his teeth then bellowed again.
"Now get your ass on the training once again! Don't disappoint the Manager now! GOOOO!"
The blue jacketed coach chased the boys away, blowing his whistle like a maniac. The boys ran again eventually, giving shouts of vigor when Daisuke blew his whistle twice with rhythm. Rise watched everything from the bench, Ichijou Kou sitting beside her with his arms folded while Kanji was somewhere by the riverbed—looking at everyone like a hawk.
After a few moment of silent, Kou sighed. He glanced at the idol beside him.
"So you're saying… that coach is going to be attacked soon?"
"Not only him, but you too," Rise turned to look at the blue haired basketball player. "You see… both of you have very high possibilities of being attacked by the culprit. That is said by the detective herself."
"Shirogane-kun, eh?" Kou looked at the sky. He chuckled. "Heh, that one tough chick."
Rise giggled.
"Wow, that's one way to say you're surprised, Ichijo-Senpai."
Kou grinned as Rise laughed. The dark haired boy smiled then took a deep breath.
"Well… so… tell me if I get this straight," He furrowed his eyebrows. Rise stopped laughing and looked at him. "Those people that have been attacked and people like us that are going to be attacked next… becoming a victim or soon-to-be victim just because the simple reason of being close with Seta Souji?"
Rise didn't answer for a while. She smiled wryly.
"Simple?" She sighed. Kou raised his eyebrows. "People will think that way… thinking that being friend with him is simple…. Of course. But maybe it is simple…"
Kou blinked.
"Kujikawa-san?"
"Anyway…" Rise smiled at him. "Well… yeah. It's that simple."
Kou rubbed his neck. He didn't seem to understand her earlier statements but then he finally looked at her again, seemingly discarding what he had heard earlier.
"Then if that's the reason, aren't you also included?" said the basketball player, titling his head. Rise smiled again. "I mean, people like you, Hanamura, Amagi, Satonaka… and even that Tatsumi kid are also included, right? He was with all of you all the time."
"Yes, we are," answered Rise without even thinking. She gave a small smile. "But… I think we can handle them our way."
Kou only raised his eyebrows yet again. He nodded a few times, but didn't seem to understand. He looked at the sky again, saying nothing more. The breeze was gentle, caressing them with the warmth of summer. It was serene… even at times when they could die at any second. Rise watched him watching the sky and after a while said slowly, "I kinda surprised, you see…"
"Oh, why?" Kou turned to see her again. Rise chuckled.
"I thought you would be kind of like, "WTF? Why me?" or "BS!" or something along that line, you see… but you didn't say a thing," Rise shook her head. Her eyes gleamed as she looked at him again. "I mean, aren't you scared? Or… angry or some sort? Especially when you said that the reason is… 'simple'."
Kou looked at her blankly for a second then laughed. He raised his shoulder.
"Well… to tell you the truth, I really am feeling kind of confused and scared," He gave a laugh. He then heaved a deep sigh, looking at the sky once more. "But I'm not angry. If I really am in danger because I'm a friend of that man… then I'm not regretting it. I won't regret meeting that man."
Rise's brown eyes widened slightly. Kou's smile broadened.
"You won't too, right, Risette?"
His smile softened. He looked back at the blue sky.
"There is just no way… that I will every regret meeting him. Not after he showed me the world outside my own shell and my own self… And I guess…" He titled his head at her, grinning. "The same goes to you all too, am I right?"
Rise looked at him for a while then smiled.
"Right."
X
"Chie didn't call you?"
"No, she didn't," There was still no sign of emotion in her voice. It seemed like the only thing that could make her angry was underestimating her, and other thing wouldn't budge her a bit. "And I doubt either Rise or Kanji had any idea about this as well."
"Oh, I see…" Yousuke titled his head, a little confused. "That's kind of weird…"
"Did anything happen?"
"Well, I've told you…"
"No, I mean," Naoto sighed exasperatedly. "Did anything, in normal terms, happen there?"
Whatever 'normal terms' mean here?Hey, Naoto, which part of this whole situation is normal, I ask you?
"Well… uh…" Yousuke messed his hair. A second later he groaned in pain. He couldn't lift his left hand too now! That sound wave thing was definitely a hoax! "Chie did seem kind of weird this morning."
"Chie-Senpai?"
"Yes, well… she… she visited me in my house this morning and…" she saw me half naked. Yousuke's face blazed. SCRATCH THAT. "And… yeah… she… thanked me for saving Yukiko but… eh… well… yeah, kind of weird."
"Ah."
The 'ah' that came from the detective's mouth sounded so meaningful. Yousuke wondered if him saying the same 'ah' would sound that intelligent as well… he highly doubted it though.
"I see," Her words suddenly sounded so fast. It didn't seem that calm anymore and… a little bit forced? "Well, I'll call you later. I need to contact the others."
"Well… yeah… Sure…"
"Take care of your wound. And…" She trailed off, thinking. "Never mind. Later, Yousuke-Senpai."
"Well. Ah. Yeah. L-Laters."
She hung up.
Yousuke looked at his phone, a little confused. He rubbed his hair.
Now why was Naoto stopping her sentence back then? Since once she did so, it usually didn't bode so well…
X
"Tadaima!"
The door opened with a creak. Muku barked as if answering but other than the dog's loud 'woof!' there was no other voice answering her. Chie stepped in, looking at her messed up living room and the kitchen beyond. She titled her head.
"Yukiko?"
There was no answer. Chie stopped by her way on the steps, noticing how the side door was open. She went to the opened door and walked out of the house to the small yard, wondering where her best friend might be after waking up from the Awakening.
"Oh, okaeri, Chie!"
Chie stopped her steps.
Yukiko was by her backyard, an ornament fan by her right hand and Amaterasu gliding above her. The Persona shattered into lights as its mistress turned around, smiling warmly at her host.
"I thought you wouldn't be back for a while… so I was just thinking about trying it out," She shyly closed the opened fan—apparently the one from the case in Chie's bedroom. Chie smiled in relief. "I'm sorry I was late at replying. I didn't make you worry, did I?"
"A bit," Chie laughed. She watched Yukiko as the manager flicked the fan in her hand again. "You're not injured anywhere, are you?"
"No, I'm not," Yukiko opened and closed the fan with a flick. She beamed. "Thank you for saving me."
A fleeting pain hit Chie's unconscious mind almost immediately. She blinked a few times then sighed.
"I'm not the one who saved you…" she said slowly, slightly clenching her fist. Yukiko blinked. She seemed to have forgotten. "It's… Yousu…"
Pi… pi… pi…
The phone cut her off before she could finish. Chie took out her cell phone, looking at the screen with a certain degree of annoyance—combined with a slight relief she didn't understand. She immediately answered the moment she read the name.
"Satonaka speak…"
"Doujima-san is getting agitated right now!" Toshi's voice sounded like he was in a hurry. "Hurry up and get your ass here, Satonaka! You don't want to get chewed again, right?"
"But I still—"
"Just hurry up! There has been another case! He'll eat you for sure if you don't get here in three minutes!"
"A-Another case?" Yukiko quickly looked up to her. Chie glanced at her briefly in anxiety before shouting at the phone again. "B-But who? W-When…"
"Just go to the office already! Or straight to Shopping District! We're going there now!"
The call was cut off. Chie turned to look at Yukiko, who stood rigid with the fan in her hand.
Chie smiled wryly.
"Looks like our yellow eyed-lizard hate to waste time."
After a short grin, Chie jumped away from Yukiko's sight, leaving her best friend with the key of the house.
X
The wind blew gently, ruffling the clothes of two men as they looked down to the town from the top of the roof of Junes. They watched as people passed by endlessly. Ordinary people. Not much of their concern.
"What's next?" Under the cap, his eyes were unseen and only a small portion of his black hair was visible. His short brow haired friend shifted, hiding a hand that was red with blood. He had patches of dark red splattered all over his black clothes. Not a very tidy way of eating. "I'm hungry too, you see."
"They're gathering forces, trying to hinder us," His friend merely straightening his body. "Guren and Coris failed last night. Choose the one that is less guarded. Unless you eat more, you cannot fight them."
"Che," The small man with cap crouched. He grinned, showing a set of white fangs. "Small preys don't interest me."
His friend turned to look at him from between his brown bangs. His yellow eyes narrowed.
"Push your luck then."
The black haired man chided and pushed his cap deeper. He snarled.
"I don't need Luck. You'll regret saying that, Aren. You will do."
After the words, the small man jumped from the top roof. Aren watched as his friend jumped away then folded his hand, red tongue licking some of the blood that smeared the corner of his mouth.
"You are the one who will regret that, Vala."
X
"But who? Who is the victim?"
"I don't know, Naoto-kun! She was off right after the phone call was cut off," The Satonakas' phone was old and dusty, but it was working alright. "I want to go too, but apparently I cannot jump as high as she can."
"That explains our deduction that someone's physical boost is affected by their Persona," Naoto stopped for a while. She then remembered what she ought to say. "Your cell phone is in the hand of Doujima-san. I'll call Chie-Senpai to get it back. We need it to contact Souji-senpai."
Yukiko froze. I-In Doujima's… and why…
"B-But why…" She stopped. Pieces of remembrances suddenly reappeared in her mind. Her phone… that night. "B-But how… why… A-And b-by you mean contacting t-then…?"
"No, I don't mean we're going to tell everything to him," Naoto sighed. She gritted her teeth on the other side. "I am not feeling well with the way this case is going. My bad premonition somehow keeps on strengthening as if it would come true. I don't think it's wise to tell him to come, when all of the Arcana are gathering within his body."
Yukiko pursed her lips. All of the Arcana… within his body…Naoto continued.
"What I meant was… you must somehow make him telling you all person he contacted during his stay here in Inaba," Naoto sighed. "I know you once said that you wasn't in a good term with him, but I suspected that now… perhaps you could… Okay, what I mean is, we all know he is a great person, and I'm sure he cannot stay away from you for too long and…"
"Yes, I understand," Yukiko clenched her jaw. She took a deep breath. "I will try."
"And I think… I have the clue as to how we can wake our Persona again."
Yukiko blinked. She pushed the phone closer to her ears.
"I know it's almost too late since only Rise and I left but… maybe… It's worth trying."
X
Daisuke folded his arms as he watched his boys went away. The sun was setting and the breeze was getting softer, bringing the sound of the summer cicadas to their place. Kanji Tatsumi watched everything from the side of the road, playing with glasses in one hand. The coach turned to look at the blonde man then said, "Are you really supposed to be here at a time like this? I mean, is your duty really to look after me? Aren't there more people in need of your power?"
"Well, Naoto said so," Kanji put on his glasses. He grabbed his coat, almost let it fell off. "It's not about whether you're a man or whatso… but you had seen what happened in the plain before with Ebihara, right? You need… special power… to be able to fight them back."
"Like what Satonaka had?"
Kanji nodded. He looked up at the sky.
"Yes. Like what Chie-Senpai had."
Daisuke titled his head at Kanji.
"Then that mean you had it too."
Kanji didn't say anything. He merely nodded. Daisuke chuckled. He turned back, looking to the bench where Rise and Kou sat.
"Kujikawa-san too?"
Again, Kanji nodded. He rubbed his neck.
"She has yet to wake it up again though," he said with a sigh. Daisuke furrowed his eyebrows. "Well… you see… it's kind of complicated… and anyway…"
"You won't need that kind of knowledge if you were to die soon."
Cold wind blew right from behind Kanji. He turned back quickly, but the first thing he saw was a hand stretching right in front of his face.
"GARUDYNE!"
X
Chie held back a grunt as she stepped into the crime of scene. It was a small room, with tatami and low table… with the addition of a whitish print of an old woman's body by the very middle of the room. There was puddle of dark blood and some of it had smeared the table—Chie got a very clear view of how the woman had lost her life. An investigator standing by the doorway offered her a photo that she took a quick look at. There was no unnecessary wound, but a stab by the stomach was enough for a very old woman to lose her life.
"Kuroda Hisano," said Toshi, who stood beside the low table while holding a pocketbook. Doujima was by the far back of the room, examining a low wardrobe. "She just came home from the city to visit her husband's grave. While resting from the long trip, she was attacked by the culprit and lost her life. There is no trace of struggle. Perhaps it happened too fast for an old woman like her to react."
"How could someone…?" Chie gritted her teeth, stopping her sentence midway. Drips of black liquid were visible—although not as stand out between the dark bloods. Of course… the attackers were not 'someone' in the first place. They were 'something', inhuman beasts that feast on Arcana. Hearing her voice, Doujima shifted. He glanced back from his shoulder, looking at the woman standing beside Toshihiko.
"You came, Satonaka."
"Ah. Yes, Doujima-san," Chie gave a salute. She nodded. "Satonaka Chie re—"
"Will I end up like that too, Satonaka?"
Chie froze. She lowered her hand, eyes widening when Doujima shifted to look at her more closely. His weary eyes fell on the blood, wavering with thoughts.
"D-Doujima-san—"
"Will Nanako end up like that too?"
"N-No! No! Of course not!" shouted Chie immediately. "We'll protect you! We won't let that happen! Of course we…"
"Will you end up like that too?"
Chie opened her mouth then closed it. Would she end up like that too…? A voice from the very back of her mind said she would. If it was necessary to protect everyone, she would.
Toshi watched her as she went silent—watching her as she tried to pick the words for her intention. Doujima gave a wry smile.
"As expected from you… Satonaka."
X
Kanji stepped back, staggering, when the wind managed to blow him from his stance and slash his skin like invisible blades. He groaned, opening his eyes right when he saw a fist coming right into his face.
"BASH!"
Blood splattered the road almost at the same time with Kanji's groan of agony. He swayed—the world was spinning before his eyes and his brain was shocked frozen by the impact. But the attacker moved, fast, before his opponent could fully comprehend what had just happened.
In a split second, two kicks had landed on Kanji—sending him flying to a signboard. He was slammed to the board hard, sending it crackling and crashing to the ground. His attacker slowly stood, sneering as he watched his opponent lay on the road helplessly.
He was the same small man, with the same cap, who had previously attacked Ebihara Ai. And now he was back for his meal. Seeing how Kanji trying to stand up, the small man raised a hand once again.
"GARUDYNE!"
"ROKUTEN MAOU!"
The wind swept the Persona in one powerful attack and Kanji clashed his teeth together in pain. He tried to stand up, shifting his body weight on one knee to pull himself up. The blue card was falling even as he tried to stand. This man must be…
"SONIC PUNCH!"
Blood once again spilled to the road, and Kanji was slammed to the ground. He groaned, cursing, trying to push himself up but the attacker sent another wind crushing him, forcing him to kiss the ground once again. Kanji let out a loud grunt, hands shaking as he tried to stand up again but he couldn't.
"D-Dammit you…!" Kanji coughed up blood as he tried to push himself up. "You… I will not...!"
"GARUDYNE!"
The next wind that crushed him pushed Kanji to the ground, refraining him from saying anything else than the groan of his pain. He tried, and tried, but the pain hit him like showering needles, rendering him helpless as that man watched him suffer. The small man sneered, taking off his cap to brush invisible dust from his trousers. His yellow eyes glimmered with satisfaction.
"Emperor, down."
Taking advantage of Kanji's disability, the attacker shifted his attention to Daisuke, who was petrified by his place. Everything was almost too fast for someone to even notice. The attacker sneered.
"Next."
And he flashed, so fast—taking Daisuke's throat in one leap and slammed him to the ground. The coach coughed, struggling under the weight and power but he could feel how wind intensified all around him. Kanji's eyes widened in disbelief.
"NO!"
"GARULA!"
Wind gathered around them then crushed their body in one powerful swirling swoop. Daisuke screamed, blood splattered as multiple wounds was created within a fraction of second. The man sneered as he watched blood dripped from the wound, and he opened his mouth, ready to have his meal once again…
"GET THE HELL OFF HIM!"
"NO, ICHIJOU-SENPAI!"
SMACK! A loud sound was heard when a heavy bag filled with full-mineral bottles hit the small man right on the head. The man was down to the ground, forced to release his grip over Daisuke. His yellow eyes shifted sharply, narrowing in disgust at Kou who stood right beside Daisuke, heaving heavily with the bag of bottles in his right hand.
"Don't you dare…" Kou held up his bag. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY BEST FRIEND!"
"Ichijou-senpai!"
Rise ran to their side, catching Kou on his hand. Her eyes roved to the attacker for a bit in anxiety then continued to tug Kou away.
"Ichijou-senpai! Don't! You—"
"A regular… man… DARES to hit me?"
The deep voice froze Rise's system. Her eyes quickly glanced at the small man, who slowly stood up. His yellow eyes were narrowing dangerously—the irises turned the pupils into mere slits. Kou gritted his teeth, ignoring Rise's tugging on his hand.
"Hands off my best friend!" He bellowed, stepping forward. Daisuke groaned, shifting his wounded body in pain. "I don't know WHAT THE HELL you exactly are, but I don't give a damn! I won't let you touch my friend anymore!"
The small man heaved a low sigh, slowly standing up. He stood in low position, lowering his back like a cat ready to jump. Rise watched in anxiety as the event turned. It wasn't good… This really didn't bode well… That stance… That stance… was like… how everyone in the TV world…
Something struck her like a lightning. Something that rendered her cold.
"No… No!" Rise tugged Kou harder. "Run, Senpai! This isn't—"
"The LOVERS."
Rise glanced quickly at the man. He was taking deep breaths. His nostrils moved like he had smelled something… delicious. A sneer curved up his lips.
"… And a piece of Strength… I have… a huge accomplishment today…"
The small man lifted his face to take another deep breath. His yellow eyes drifted to Rise and Kou—glimmering with hunger. Kou gritted his teeth, clutching the bag harder till his knuckle turned white. This man was insane. He was a total lunatic!
"Y-You monster…"
Rise glanced around, trying to find a way out. Kanji was still lying helpless by the signboard… There was no sign of him moving… They cannot…
"For you prey… to fight against me…" The small man crouched, snarling. Gusts of wind were formed on his palms. Rise's eyes widened. "What exactly… can you do?"
"NO! RISE!"
And the next thing she remembered… were only flashes of crimson coloring the asphalt.
X
Chie stood still as Doujima went out of the room, brushing past her without saying anything. Toshi watched everything happen, even until the door closed behind his superior. The young officer turned to look at Chie, smiling faintly.
"You'll turn like this too eventually?"
His voice was light, too light, for such heavy question. Chie tightened her jaw, glancing at him. She chided.
"You don't understand a thing."
Toshi raised his eyebrows. He chuckled.
"Even with such power on your side, you're going to say that you'll turn like this too?"
"I SAID SHUT UP."
Toshi gave a small smile at her aggressive return. He closed his notebook.
"If you think so… then what a shame for that power to have landed on your hand."
He walked away, brushing past Chie without any other word spoken.
X
So this is the power you've given me… The power to protect everyone
To Be Continued