NOTE: Hey! okay sorry for the suuuper long wait. But here it is! Chapter 13. I'm kinda proud of this one.
Anm: sorry for making you agonize :( I added more AkixMitsu like you wanted. I'll add more in the next coming chapters. I promise!
BrokenAria(love that name): Thank you for saying that. means so much comming from a fellow writer. but what do you mean about the text walls? I see you only read the first chapter(bad beginning) but I hope you read the rest of the chapters as well. I'm dying to know what happens next in your fan fiction :)
Thanks for the reviews and I haven't said this but DISCLAIM! I own NO Persona3/P3FES or P3P...not even P4/P4golden or P4A... TT^TT
AKIHIKO'S ROOM
He didn't ask to be in her team after what had happened yesterday. He was afraid and angry.
'Miki would never do that. She'd never sell her body to some pimple-faced, alcoholic scumbag teenager.'
He paced his room all night long, wondering whether or not to be angry or afraid of his little sister.
"If that is really your sister, Akihiko Sanada then she must have changed a lot through the years you've been separated. She would have not been the same anymore after that tragic incident." Caesar said as the boxer walked lines. The king of Greece sighed. "Stop pacing around. You are giving me a headache."
Akihiko stopped and plummeted himself on the bed. "I don't know anymore, Caesar. Tomoe looks like her and smiles like her but their personality is the complete opposite."
"You should just let it go, boy. What if you are mistaken? And she is not your sister." Akihiko groaned in annoyance and shoved a pillow on his face.
*knock knock*
He lifted the pillow off his head and looked at the door. 'Who'd want to talk with me at this hour?'
"Mitsuru Kirijo, maybe? She's been in your chamber hundreds of times..." Caesar shuddered at the thought but he couldn't complain. He's had many a maiden in bed before. And not just one woman.
Akihiko lazily walked to the door as a second round of knocks came echoing through the door. "What is it Mit—?" both master and persona eyes widen as they saw who knocked on the door.
"Can I come in for a minute, senpai?" She stood there like a timid rabbit. And he gawked, stupidly. She rubbed her sweater-covered arm and looked at him, shyly. She tied her hair up in a long pony tail, eyes fully of worry under her dark silver rimmed glasses and had a long sleeved zip-up sweater with vertical stripped boxers.
"Y-yeah...Come right in." he swung the door open to let her in but he kept his arm over the doorway that she had to bend down to get through. She didn't know where to sit and stood awkwardly on the rug. He led her to his unmade bed and they sat there together. The sound of his alarm clock ticked (though the hands never moved) made the atmosphere stiff.
Akihiko looked at her while she looked around, fascinated by his room. She looked at him through her glasses. 'I guess glasses run in the family.'
"The attire in your room suits you Sanada-senpai. It's cute." Of course she wouldn't bring it up right away.
"Th-Thanks..." He was only capable of saying one word since he hadn't prepared for this at all. He fumbled with his sweating hands then picked at his red shirt. He was restless and didn't know what to do. Miki was in his room, not like that hasn't ever happened but yesterday he was angry yet sad. The silence filled the room and he couldn't look at her anymore. He stared at the fabricated lines on his bed.
"Say something or this will go on forever." Caesar encouraged him. Akihiko breathed out a deep sigh. He forgot he had been holding his breath ever since she sat down on his bed, cross-legged.
"I'm—"
"Sorry..." She looked at him pleading. "I'm sorry senpai. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. It was very disrespectful and I know you were only trying to see reason and you're just looking out for your teammates and I—"
"W-whoa, calm down. I'm sorry too. It's mostly my fault anyway so don't apologise." He grabbed her shoulders.
"But it's my fault too! I shouldn't have said any of those things...I know you're just being responsible..." She looked down, hair covering her head.
"Well, that's part of it." She looked up. "Not only it's because I have to be responsible for you but—" he stood up, rummaging through a box on his desk. "Part of it is because of this." He took out an old, ripped piece of paper. It was shaped like a square and Tomoe immediately knew it was an old photograph. He gave it to her, sadness in his gray eyes.
She took the picture from him and hesitated a glance. The paper frame held a vision of three little orphan kids. Shinjiro stood in the left, pouting with his cheeks flaming. Akihiko smiled, excitedly at the camera with his hands behind his head. And a little girl stood between them. Silver pigtails on each end a broad smile on her face and a single cloth patch over her violet coloured eye. The kohai's eyes widened at the resemblance. The way the little child smiled reminded her of the old days. Several memories flashed by her as her eyes grew weary and sad. She looked up at the man standing in front of her and said.
"This picture...I can see why you take so much care towards me."
"So you remember?" he knelt down, eyes starting to shine. Tomoe didn't know what he meant but nodded. "I remember." Akihiko smiled widely and begins to laugh. The girl on his bed began to worry as he kept his head down and his arm across it. He was crying and laughing out of joy and she didn't know why.
"Senpai?"
"I'm fine. I-I'm just really happy you remember." He wiped the tears out of his eyes. Then his heart skipped a beat. She smiled his sister'ssmile and said that she was happy too.
"Stay." He said. "Please. Just like old times. We'd sleep together in the bed as I sing you to sleep. I still remember the lullaby." Akihiko then reached up and touched her cheek. Tomoe began to flush and stood up. "Sorry, senpai but I think I should go. It's late."
He wouldn't push her so he stood up too and hugged her tightly. It felt so different now. "Okay. Goodnight."
Tomoe felt happy and awkward at the same time. She embraced him too yet not as hastily as he did. When she pulled away, her cheeks burned as he kissed her forehead. She didn't know what to do but stand, smile and turn around into the hall. The door closed with a click and she leaned on it. Sighing, a voice came to her.
"Why did you not tell him, huh?" Norn came to her mind first as she with three different voices (Norn's has three bodies on a clock) spoke in an ancient Norse accent. "We have entered your mind and have seen your memories. So why not tell him?"
"It's too soon. Plus he looked really happy." again with a sigh she looked up at the lamp above her.
Black Frost cackled. "Heeho! Don't delude him anymore, lady. If you keep that up, he's bound to think that way forever. Hohee!"
"Black Frost is right." Gabriel whispered. "If you keep this up, my lady, Akihiko-sama will only hurt more."
"I'll tell him. Just not now." Tomoe wasn't used to so many Personas in her head all at once. But it was soothing. Many of them liked her, pitied her when they saw her memories and supported her. Sometimes when she was in a situation, they'd help her out by summoning themselves instead of waiting for her. 'I wonder if Hamu could do that too.'
"We choose to come out or not." Suzaku responded in a rich voice. For a bird she sounded so peaceful and elegant. "If the one holding us is worthy of our assistance, we will help without hesitation."
The others mumbled in agreement.
"Are you all just pitying me 'cause you've seen my past?" Tomoe arched a brow and crossed her arms.
"Yes and also we want to be in your aid." Norn said simultaneously.
"I don't need your pity though..." Tomoe smiled.
"Shujinko?" suddenly Mitsuru walked to the second floor dressed in a silk lacy night gown. Tomoe figured she'd wear something like that but at a dorm? Kirijo's night gown matched her scarlet eyes as a shade of pale purple and over top was a matching robe. Her hair was in a tight braid that was on her left shoulder. She looked confused and pretty. "What are doing up so late?"
"I was, uh..."
"Where you in Akihiko's room?" She walked over from the staircase, arms crossed.
"Yes. I felt really bad about what happened yesterday so I came to apologise." Tomoe moved from her spot off the door and turned to face Mitsuru. The red head stared at her, lips tightened.
"Could you not ask for forgiveness later in the day, instead of barging in his room?"
Now Tomoe's brow raised. "No. It's been eating away at me and I just couldn't wait till later. Is there something wrong, senpai?"
Mitsuru cleared her throat and turned to her with an expressionless face. "Not at all. It's late so I think it be best for you to rest for the remainder of the night." The girl nodded and said her good night. Then Mitsuru shook as she looked at the door to Akihiko's room. In what little confidence, she had, Mitsuru knocked on the door.
Before Tomoe locked her door, she looked at her beautiful senpai. What business would she have with Sanada at this time? She didn't ponder anymore into the matter and locked the door tightly before heading off to sleep.
"Tomoe-? Oh, it's you, Mitsuru." Akihiko turned sullen and Mitsuru's eyes began to flutter with worry. "May I come in?"
He didn't understand why but let her in anyway. She looked stunning in her silk robe and gown. She stood on the carpet, body away from him. "What's up?"
She said nothing at first which gotten his attention. "Mitsuru?"
"Do you love me, Akihiko?" she asked, voice lightly strained as she still faced the window. Akihiko blushed softly and looked away, embarrassed. He rubbed his neck then responded, laughing nervously.
"Wh-why are you asking so suddenly?" she caressed her arm and he knew something felt off. He walked over to her and slipped his muscular arms around her waist.
"Of course I do, Mitsuru. You know that." He whispered in her ear. He saw her eyes glow in a sad way that he felt sad instantly. "I'll always love you. Forever." It sounded cliché but it made her smile. She looked up at him and they instantly locked lips. A single shed of tear slipped her closed eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. As they parted to breathe she touched his forehead with hers and whispered. "I love you too." They held each other in a tight embrace until she moved her head to nestle it on his chest.
"Akihiko?"
"Hm?" the soft music from his radio sang a soft lullaby as they swayed to the music. He wrapped his arms down her back and waist and he moved with her to the melody. "Is it possible for me to stay here, with you tonight?"
Akihiko was a bit surprised and smiled into her hair. It smelt of roses. "I wouldn't have let you leave anyway." And they chuckled together as the music replayed from the beginning.
She had nothing to worry about. Akihiko loved her and she will always love him in return. The scarlet lady danced in time to the music as her emperor of silver whispered a tune.
They were late. The others didn't waste time though. Aigis and Shujinko got right to work as one took a team with them into the Abyss. The others, of course, walked up to the Command Room to file and organize as much of the data as possible.
She was never tardy and this was her first. She slept in his arms last night, curled into his body as he petted her hair. They stayed up, conversing many things. Things about their situation, their college plans and their future. And she loved the idea of him in her future. A black dress, a veil and a ring with him in a white tux and glasses. She loved his glasses. It makes it more real, him more real and imperfect. But he was perfect to her in every angle.
"Who has Shujinko taken? We have more people here than before." She stated as she and Akihiko walked into the room.
"She only took Shinjiro-san." Ken responded. Akihiko asked why.
"She said it was because he'd been slacking off in the Abyss and yanked him off the couch before he could even come up with a comeback." Yukari said eyes on several file folders.
Akihiko protested, saying that having only two members in the Abyss was dangerous and started for the door. She in a cool voice told him that they were strong enough to handle a few shadows. "Shinjiro's strong enough to take care of her. They'll be fine, Akihiko." Yukari looked up, worried. She knew there was something wrong in her senpai's voice.
In the meantime, Mitsuru looked around the Command Room. Aigis and Metis sat on the stools together while Yukari, Ken and Junpei sat in the couch. She eyes the boy in blue, hands over his head as his cap remained over his eyes.
"Can someone wake Iori up before I 'execute' him?" He jolted awake and fixed his cap. He looked around to find the two senior's stare at him while the others laughed.
He cleared his throat and looked at her. "I-uh was just giving my eyes a break, senpai. You know how bad they get when I stare at words all day." She glared at him and smiled which caused Junpei to cringe.
"I agree." Then she sat in a chair, grabs a cup of tea and got to work. Iori's excuses won't ruin her day. He was dumbfounded while Akihiko chuckled. He reached for a stool and sat beside his girlfriend, following her lead.
ALITHEIA* 15TH FLOOR
"This is going to take forever!" Tomoe mumbled as she reloaded. "How the hell did this many Shadows come out so suddenly?"
Shinjiro grunted as he hammered his way around the shadows that crawled to them. "This just amazing." he said sarcastically. "Happy now? We're surrounded with blobs and birds!"
"Hey, don't blame me for that! I wasn't the one who rushed around the place complaining about not fighting any Shadows!"
"This wouldn't have happened if you just left me alone!"
"Are you saying this is my fault?!"
"YES!" They haven't fought like that in a long time. Fuuka sighed heavily and spoke.
"Are you sure you don't want the others to help you, Tomoe-chan?" the girls' voice echoed through her. "There isn't much to do here as of now."
"No, we'll be fine." Fuuka hesitated and understood but she should ready the team just in case. Tomoe shot a bullet towards a flying bird that blocked something behind it. There in the corner stood a black silhouette of a girl. Tomoe's eyes widened and ran without thinking. Shinjiro saw her run and hollered for her.
"I'll be back! Just don't die!"
"Easy for you to say." And he smashed another with his bludgeon.
"You're not going to follow, senpai?" Fuuka interjected with concern in her voice. "She could get hurt."
"You heard her right? She'll be fine." Fuuka sighed heavily again then froze. Chills ran down her spine and the Command Room was filled with silence. They looked at her, concerned.
"It can't be..." Her eyes flew open as she reacted to the sounds echoing in her mind. "Senpai, run!"
A sudden sound of chains followed by a harsh gust of icy wind vibrated through the corridors of the Abyss. Something horrifyingly nostalgic was coming. He was told to run but he planted his feet firmly in the ground. Behind him was where Tomoe had ran off and he wasn't going to let Death kill her.
The silhouette looked shocked as it turned to run away, leaving trails of black smoke under its feet. "Wait! Come back!" Tomoe chased after it, running out of breath. Fuuka had lost communication with her, hearing nothing but static as soon as she ran to follow the black shadow. Tomoe didn't know what she would do if she even came contact with the creature but she had to try.
"Wait! Please, don't run. I-I just want to talk!" She slipped and fell as she turned to a sharp corner. Getting up and moving hair out of her face she almost screamed. Black upon black piled on each other, eyes staring at her as claws scrapped the ground and walls. The silhouette stood there smoke clouding her body. It's white, pupil-less eyes stared at her as her arm reached for the sky. Tomoe gasped sharply as the shadow pointed its black finger at her.
Slowly the Mayas crept forward claws grasping the bloodied floor. Then the girl smiled wickedly and the Shadows lunged their bodies towards her. Tomoe didn't have time to grasp her evoker but Norn appeared, golden body bracing itself from the attack.
"Run, child. We have got this." She spoke, golden eyes staring at the frightened girl. But the girl's frightened trance was broken and stood up. "No. I need to talk to it. It might know something about the Abyss."
"Are you...suicidal?" Loki smiled devilishly. "Does not matter to me since you are nothing but a weak mortal."
"Silence Loki!" Gabriel looked at the determined girl. "Norn shall defend most of the frontal attacks and the others and I will aid you though the way." Tomoe thanked the angel and watched to see if the coast had been clear. When the elemental rain had slowed down she raced through, Gabriel and an upset Loki at her side. She had never done it before but three summonings of personas all at once was overwhelming. But she didn't forcibly summon them; they assisted her when she was in danger.
"Siegfried and Ares defend her rear!" Gabriel ordered. Two more personas were summoned, weakening Tomoe's strength. The fading shadow in front of her grinded its teeth and summoned several more Shadows at its stead. "This isn't... going to work..." she breathed out and fell to her knees. The four soldiers stopped and blocked the attacks coming for their master.
"We must do something." Siegfried exclaimed, staring at the girl on the ground behind him. Ares laughed maniacally and slashed, ripped and tore the Shadows apart.
"Leave it!" he cackled. "I haven't had this much fun since the war between the gods!" Loki agreed and they pumped fist, dead Shadow in each hand. Gabriel sighed as she raised her lily and shafts of light appeared. It landed on the floor, indicating a design. Transparent papers with symbols began afloat and shone brightly, eradicating the Hama-weak Shadows. The four of them would last in battle forever but she was the one holding that fate. Tomoe's health and spiritual powers began to decline quickly and she had lost most feeling in her body. Her hands trembled at her skirt as a card slipped out her pocket.
A portrait of Siegfried. Her eyes dilated and widened. "Fusion...Spells." she whispered. Tomoe looked up and stared at the godly figures surrounding her. She picked Siegfried's card and it began to glow. Another card grew brighter in her pocket and her fingers reached for it. It was Ares' card. She didn't know how it worked but went with her instinct.
"Ares. Siegfried." The two looked at her. "We're going to do a fusion spell." They looked at each other then nodded. They didn't like the feeling of working together but that didn't matter. Their master's frail body began to look paler and cold. Gabriel heard their conversation and disappeared, pulling Loki along. "Be careful, milady."
Tomoe grasped her evoker as the two warriors stood at either side of her. Tossing the cards in the air and placing the gun to her temple, she spoke clearly the words that slipped to her tongue.
"Scarlet Havoc."
The eyes of Ares and Siegfried began to glow and with such speed swung their swords that their bodies were unable to be seen with a naked eye. The light from their eyes and swords were only visible as they moved together in a lightning/hurricane form. Screams of terror and agony came from the dying shadows and the silhouette turned furious, screaming. In all the chaos the girl flitted away from the room and departed from the floor. Tomoe swore then collapsed.
She woke up several minutes later to find a fragile voice in her head. "Tomoe-chan? Can you hear me? Tomoe-chan?"
She woke up, dizzy and heavy. Siegfried picked her up and began to jog. "F-Fuuka?"
"Thank god!" She sounded more than relieved. "I have been trying to communicate with you! Shinjiro-senpai is in trouble!" That jolted her up from the persona's body.
"What do you mean?"
"He's...fighting something terrifying. The others are trying to look for you guys but they can't seem to get to you. I can't even locate you right now." Fuuka felt sweat drip from her brow. "Anyways, you need to help him! He's—"
"Fuuka, what? What happened?" She glared at Siegfried and he bolted down the pathway, Ares beginning to dissipate. "He's dying! Tomoe-chan please hurry!" her eyes widened at the news. She began to feel numb and cold again. He wasn't really dying, was he?
'He's strong. He can handle whatever that he's fighting. I'm sure of it.'
She rubbed her arms, feeling her intuition turn for the worse. Siegfried halted and put her down. He disappeared and she looked up, horror plastered onto her face. It was there. A long-nosed revolver, floating chains, a white mask covered in blood. Her mind screamed memories, terrifying memories that felt like nightmares. Her knees went weak as she saw the man on the floor under his alter ego. He was covered in blood. His blood. Tomoe choked and raced to his side.
"Thanks for taking your sweet time. Fuck, I thought I wouldn't have to see that bastard again." She cringed and looked at Death in the face.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone." She cradled his head and pressed hard at his rib wound. He cried in pain and chuckled. "This is... nothing. I've been through a hell lot worse, believe me." He winced. Tomoe had stopped breathing and lifted her hand from his torso. Her hand shook as she saw his blood on her skin. She gasped and shook harder, another memory forced its way up and she screamed. He jolted at once and tried to calm her down.
"What are you doing?!" Loki screamed. "You're going to get yourself killed!"
"Summon us." Siegfried said. Ares nodded. "You need us."
"I can't." she whispered. Shinjiro heard her and grasped her hand. It was ice cold. "I can't."
"Tomoe. Get out of here." She shook her head rapidly. "Yes you do. If you don't—"
"I'm not going to let you die alone!" She screamed at him. "If you're going to die, so am I!" she buried her head in his shoulder. "I'm not leaving you alone. Ever."
Shinjiro sighed but felt happy. He hugged her with his good arm and said. "Okay."
"You are not going to let us die here so easily!" Ares jumped out of her. "Siegfried, we gunna do this or what?" the latter chuckled and summoned himself too. Tomoe's eye glowed this time as Chariot and Strength shouted their special attack.
"Scarlet Havoc!"
"What happened?" Akihiko asked. Fuuka was lost in a trance when a shiver ran through her. she hadn't felt that feeling in many a time. How could it have come back? She had to find Tomoe-chan.
"What's the matter, Yamagishi?" Mitsuru lowered her gaze as everyone stared at the girl inside the clear globe. She had gone silent after a time and her fingers clasped more tightly.
"It can't be..." she screamed then eyes shot open."Senpai, run!"
The others stood up and screamed the same question again at her. She didn't talk to them as she tried to communicate with the battle leader. "Tomoe-chan! Where are you? Please say something! Senpai's in trouble!"Tears running down her eyes.
"Fuuka, what the hell happened?!" Akihiko banged the glass case she encased herself in. Her shocked face silenced him and everyone rushed down the stairs.
"Where are they, Yamagishi?" Mitsuru and Akihiko stayed as the red head asked the bluenette a question. "Somewhere in the Abyss. I can't locate their precise coordinates. Death," she choked. "has somehow blurred my vision of them. What's worse is they have been separated."
"How?" Akihiko's rage was spilling.
"Tomoe-chan saw the black shadow and chased after it. I lost contact of her afterwards."
"This is bad." Mitsuru tapped her chin and the door slammed open. Junpei walked in with a morbid look on his face. "We tried opening one of the doors into the Abyss but its shut tight. It's like something doesn't want us in."
"What?" Mitsuru almost slipped when Akihiko barged her away. He raced down the stairs along with Junpei. "Yamagishi, keep trying to get through to Shujinko." the girl nodded and was left alone in the room. Mitsuru hurried to the lounge to find Akihiko stomping up the stairway to the basement.
"They're right. We can't get through. Damn it!" and punched the glass beside him. It shattered and frightened his younger dorm mates.
"Try to remain calm Akihiko-" she began. He glared at her and in amazement silenced her tongue.
"Remain calm? How can I when Shinji and Tomoe are alone in the Abyss with Death chasing them!? Huh, Mitsuru? How can I stay calm?!"
"I-I..." she was scared, shaking in fear of her boyfriend. Yukari went to her aid, hugging the girl's arm.
Ken spoke up, scared as well. "What's going to happen to them? Will they be alright?" Junpei patted the boy's shoulder. He knew how much Shinjiro-senpai meant to the kid. Aigis felt like she had to say something. Metis cried heavily on the couch, feeling guilty of not taking care for her master.
"All we can do is wait. The door has closed itself to us. Hopefully they will be alright." Even though she tried to convince the others, Aigis' words felt like she was trying to convince herself.
several minutes have passed when Fuuka raced down the stairway. She reported to everyone that the two were teleported to the desert and on their way. A wave of relief passed the team and they all sighed. Except one. Akihiko still was filled with anger and guilt. Grunts and a cry of pain echoed in the basement entrance.
"We're almost there. Hang a bit longer." They heard her voice followed by a pained chuckle.
"Lost all feeling in my right side. I don't think I can hang on much longer." He then yelled louder. "Aki, I know you can hear me, you bastard. Help me over here."
Akihiko stood up and did what he was told. He was first to see the horrors of his bloodied up friend. The school jacket, shirt and pants were stained in velvet red. His beanie clutched in one hand that pressed against his right side. His face returned to the same state it was in when the two had fought but worse. Jerking from his reverie he aided the two to the couch. The girls gasped and Junpei hid Ken behind him, not wanting the kid to see his hero in that state.
Fuuka laid the medical kit by the couch and they all turned to Tomoe, waiting for her to heal him.
"I can't." voice shaking. She stepped back. "I'm sorry, I can't." They saw her arm clutching the other, keeping from shaking and harder. Her hands were stained in his blood and they understood. Yukari was afraid also but stepped up and began to examine her patient.
Mitsuru ordered the android to follow Fuuka to the storage in the command room. "There you'll find hospital equipment. Bring it here as soon as possible." They kept some hospital equipment in storage just in case anything bad happened like the night of October 4th.
"Have you examined him before you got up here?" Yukari asked, unbuttoning the shirt.
"Yes. He's got three broken ribs, his humerus, radius and his left femur is broken. So is his nose and jaw." Her voice sounded strain and full of dry tears.
'My god. This was way worse than when Junpei got caught in Akihiko-senpai's fan-girling- stampede.' Yukari thought. Fuuka came down with the equipment and attached them to Shinjiro.
Before he went under, Shinjiro stared at Tomoe with a sad glance. He didn't like it when girls cry. Makes strong men weak. Surrounding her was Koromaru and Aki. The comfort they gave her made no difference as she stared at his battered body. Mitsuru eyed Akihiko's action but said nothing. Another problem had been posed.
Why was Death still alive?
HOURS LATER: COMMAND ROOM
Junpei had to admit, Yukari was an amazing doctor. She knew what she was doing. Healing his bones was something only she could do. Tomoe had nothing on her. Still the girl had more experience than Yukari. With a whisper she instructed her along the way. He was in his room now, asleep from all the morphine.
"How did Death end up in the Abyss?" Akihiko asked, hands still on his sister. Mitsuru paced around thinking. Fuuka responded first.
"W-Well, since Death is a Shadow..." Junpei shook his head. "No. Ryoji was Death also. And he said he'll be sleeping for the next hundred years or something."
"But that doesn't explain why Death is still lurking." Mitsuru shook her head. She then turned to the graynette. "How did you fend them off?"
Fuuka twitched and stared at Tomoe. "I don't remember anything. I saw senpai bleeding to death and everything went black." she shivered. "After I got to my senses, I was dragging him up the stairway."
Mitsuru knew she was hiding something but didn't press. she began pacing again. "You know what this means don't you?" Tomoe looked at her and nodded. Junpei was confused with the silent conversation. "It's exactly like Tartarus again. We can't have pairs going in on their own anymore." she stared at Shujinko who sighed and looked down.
The door creaked open and Yukari walked in. "He's awake now." she stared at Tomoe. "He's been asking for you."
Hesitantly the girl stood and walked out alone. Metis stood up to but her sister shook her head, asking her not to pry again. The room turned heavier and no one spoke a word.
Fuuka was the only one who knew what happened there. She thought she'd never seen another person with the exact same power. The cyanide-haired girl stared at the door that closed. Yukari was there, back turned from them. She saw her hands were clenched into fists. She's been holding back on either the sight of Shinjiro-senpai's blood or the rage she felt when she saw the intimacy between him and Tomoe-chan. Being one of her closest friends, Fuuka knew how much she loathed their relationship. It was like betrayal.
"It cannot be helped, dear one." Juno whispered. "You know as well as I, how much those two care for each other. Even if it is only a short amount of time."
'I know. But Yukari-chan is probably only one who doesn't want to accept it. Everyone else doesn't seem to mind.'
"Do you?"
'I'm just happy that both of them are smiling again.' She knew Tomoe-chan fairly well and she's always looked alone even when she's been surrounded by so much people. "Do you think of this as a betrayal?" that caught her off guard.
'I don't know...I want to say no, but...' She didn't finish the thought as Mitsuru dismissed everyone. Aigis took members and went to the Abyss.
SHINJIRO'S ROOM
She didn't want to go in at all. But she didn't want to just stand there looking like an idiot either. Should she knock? No that would make it weirder. Tomoe turned the handle and the door creaked loudly. 'Crap.'
"Tomoe?" He sounded raspy and drunken. She ducked her head in and smiled, too broadly.
"Hey! How you feeling?" he raised a brow and smiled. Which hurt hell a lot. His face was probably the only thing that hurt now. everything else is numbed by the medicine. "I'm in pain. What do you think?" It was suppose to be a joke but she didn't take it that way. She smiled and giggled like a school girl crushing on her teacher. "I was just asking." she walked in now, hands behind her skirt. "You seem tired. You should rest."
"I've got plenty of time for that later." She was acting weird, even for her.
"No, now before Yukari-chan comes and sets in another morphine needle on ya."
'Yukari-chan? Since when did she start calling her that...?' "I don't need the morphine. I can sleep without it."
"Nuh uh!" she shook her finger at him. "You'll be up all night crying about the pain." she turned and said that she'd go get the pink girl. He grabbed her before she walked away.
"Don't pretend anymore. I don't like it when people lie to themselves." She stood there for a long moment, not doing anything. Not saying anything. the sound of dripping blood and water filled the room. He grasped her hand tighter then pulled her to the bed. She cried this time. Tears spilled but she kept her voice low. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." she said, barely audible. She broke her promise for the third time.
"I figure you to be the suffer-alone-in-silence type." he chuckled in her hair. Coconuts wrapping around his nose. she kept her strings of apologies like a recording tape that got stuck in one place. "Don't be sorry. Worrying doesn't look good on you."
She lightly clawed his chest and whispered into it. "I was so caught up in catching the shadow I didn't realize I left you alone to defend for yourself." her wet tears tickled his chest but her lips on his skin made his heart beat faster. "I'm so sorry. If there's anything I can do, tell me."
"Anything?" he sounded shy but serious. He kissed her hair and pondered. After a moment of silence, Tomoe felt awkward and tried looking up at him. "Senpai?"
"You say anything right?" she gulped then nodded. He caressed her arm that he was holding and kissed her hair again. "Alright." he was making it so painfully suspenseful for her.
He hugged her tighter and nestled his face in her hair. "Stay." she was quiet and smiled into his chest. He pulled the blanket underneath them and opened it for her. Taking her shoes of she cuddled next to him, eyes beginning to droop. He didn't sleep for a while as he gazed at her now sleeping face. It was just like that time with Hamuko. Except with more clothes.
Tomoe mumbled in her sleep, brows creased and hands twitching for something. Shinjiro grabbed her hand instantly and she smiled. The idiot. Again she mumbled. "Shi...nji...ro..."
This is why he didn't like it when girls cry. Makes strong men weak.
Sorry for taking soooo long! . I was caught in a block for sometime but I'm back, hopefully. I'll try to update again on the 22nd(Akihiko's birthday XD) of not then on October 3rd.
Alitheia* - had to change the name of Lethe a bit. Sounded really boring. Lethe is one of the four rivers in hell. This river represents oblivion or forgetfulness. It fits into my story since Shinjiro is kind of repressing something in his memories that he can't remember. (ch 6 I think :S)
Yukari's healing abilities- okay I said it before when Tomoe first battled with Akihiko(ch 7)that Injuries like broken bones don't heal fast but since Yukari's persona, Isis is a healer, her powers are stronger than anyone else. the bones heal but it takes time, guessing like three days to heal?
Tomoe's tears- She cried when she visited the dorm to get the evoker left for her in Hamuko's room. She also cried when Ken was injured.
So that's my short wiki for you. Hope you like this chapter. I did :) Reviews are mandatory! LOL nah, but it's appreciated. (please! TT^TT)