Author's Note: This chapter introduces another OC character who's full name is Ichiko Fujihara, she's a young elementary school girl. Also this chapter's been spilt into two parts due the length.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all rights go to their respective owners.

Chapter 14 - Air Museum & Meet Ichiko!

The Aerospace Museum was actually really spacious in the flesh, if this was non-life threatening situation Runa would of loved being here. However, no such luck, Runa lamented the fate of museum. It would burn to the ground and all it's valuable historical information would be lost forever. Caleb's will be so annoyed when he comes back from his Persona Thief quest.

Two children, one boy with brown hair that seemed vaguely familiar and a girl with short light pink hair in pig-tails were in front of a mechanical plane part. The two looked at the piece briefly before they rejoined a larger group of school children. It appeared that were at least two classes of elementary school children of different year levels in the museum on a field trip.

Yukino noticed the danger the young children were in. "Uh-oh… Looks like some kids are here on a field trip. What should we do, Maya-san?"

"We need to evacuate the children before we can start looking for the transmitter. Let's tell the etchers and get their cooperation," Maya suggested.

Runa watched her five fellow Persona-user walked toward the teachers minding the children and she looked up to a the top of an old biplane, to see Tadashi and Tamaki.

"Hah-aha… Heaven calls! Earth calls! The people call! …Uhh, what was my next line?" Tadashi failed to a grand entrance. He wore what seemed suspiciously like a Dread Pirate Robert's costume, complete with fencing rapier.

"Defeat evil, wasn't it?" Tamaki reminded him. She wore a matching outfit but she had fake cat ears upon her head.

"That's right! The world calls for me to defeat evil!" Tadashi responded.

Tatsuya snarked. "Cat-woman and Dread Pirate Roberts are here to save the day… Oh, this is just wonderful."

"Hey, you did pay attention during that movie! I told you it was good," Runa smirked remembering her unawakened self forced Tatsuya to watch the 'Princess Bride,' movie.

"No comment," Tatsuya played with lighter.

Yukino recognised her former school mates. "Tadashi? Tamaki!? What're you two doing up there!?"

Tadashi cringed and complained. "Ack! Geez, Yukino! We're wearing these masks for a reason! Don't blurt our names out like that!" The he composed himself and continued his monologue. "Evil-doers who threaten to choke our peaceful Sumaru with the shadow of fear! I'll send you to hell, where you belong! Let's do this, partner!"

Tamaki and Tadashi glanced at each other and said. "Ha!"

They both leaped off the biplane and Tamaki landed gracefully on the ground. Tadashi landed a bit awkwardly, though. Runa cringed at the sound.

Tamaki was concerned about her boyfriend. "Ooh, are you okay?"

Tadashi must however have an enormous pain tolerance as he jumped to his feet, and pointed his rapier at the six Persona-users. "You can deceive society, but you don't fool me! We already know that you're the Fuhrur's minions!"

"We're not…" Runa said and yawned.

Tamaki chuckled at Tadashi's claim and apologised on his behalf. "Sorry bout all this… Tadashi's swallowed the stuff that this teacher named Okamura told us at the agency."

"Ack! Geez, Tamaki! That's detective-client confidentiality! You can't just go around telling anyone who we're working for!" Tadashi whined.

" Look, there's no way Yukino and her friends are the Fuhrur's minions. Cool your thick head and think for a second, idiot!" Tamaki scolded him with her rapier just touching his chest.

Tadashi reluctantly agreed. Tamaki lifted her rapier off him and returned it to her side. Tadashi muttered a grumbled apology and everyone shook their heads at him.

Suddenly the PA system came to life. King Leo's voice boomed across the museum. "I've been waiting for you, Cursed Star and his little sister. Allow me to ignite a welcoming flame as congratulations for making it here."

The entrance to Aerospace Museum bursted into flames. Runa gritted her teeth, it must of been activated by a remote transmitter.

Maya warped her arms around herself. " Ah… Ah…! No-o-o-o!"

"Maya-san," Runa moved to the journalist's side as the woman slid to the ground, shaking.

"Each floor of this Aerospace Museum has a trap that will ignite after a certain amour of time starting with the lowest floor. Witch… You will not escape me this time! Everything is destined to perish regardless. You and these brats will be an early sacrifices! Heh… He-eh-he-e… Hy-aha-ha! Hy-a-a-a-aha-ha-ha-ha-a-a-a!" King Leo declared over the PA system.

Seriously Leo is incredibly annoying… Especially with that stupid laugh! Runa cringed and sighed unhappily.

Then Maya started to stand. "…I won't…run anymore… I won't give in!" She shook her head and forced herself to focus on the task at hand. "Listen, everyone! We need to get all the children to the roof! I remember this place being made up of four pretty big floors… You two, find the teachers and head to the rooftop!"

Tamaki and Tadashi nodded and rushed off to the teachers. Maya continued to take charge. "Our job will be to check each floor's exhibition rooms and make sure there are no kids who haven't evacuated yet."

Runa gazed at Maya with admiration and guilt while Yukino declared. " Let's get this done, guys! We need to search everywhere for them!"

Without having wasted a moment, the six heroes searched the building for children who had not evacuated. The first room was empty. Runa felt the familiar heat on her skin as she and others searched, there were three teachers, all up and that was new to say the least. Also there more children in the first part of the museum than there was in game due to their being two classes at the museum not one. It was different, but Runa had no idea how different so it was necessary to check every room. There is no save file, she had to make certain that no died. Everyone but King Leo had to make it out alive. In the second room they checked, the heat and the smoke made her vision hazy, but Runa could see at least eight children in the room.

"There's kids in here!" Tatsuya called out to the others as he joined Runa in the room.

Maya walked in and asked the children. " Are you all okay?"

Several nods and coughed of affirmation indicated the children were scared but unharmed.

"Good… Make sure you stay low and cover your mouths before grabbing your asses and running to the roof!" Maya instructed them. The children followed her advice and Tatsuya directed them to where they could find the stairs.

Then the search recommenced. Runa felt uneasy with situation, the building seemed less stable than she imagined. They searched the rest of the rooms on the floors before they entered the catwalk anteroom. Inside they heard a girl scream."Aa-a-a-ah! It's so hot! I'm gonna die!"

Runa focused her attention on Ixquic. The girl stood in a old fashioned plane where flames licked it's surface. Runa gasped and coughed because of the smoky air. Tatsuya gave Runa a brief glance of concern, but quickly returned his attention to Ixquic.

Ixquic was crying, her mask long abandoned. "No-o-o-o-o-o-o! Help me-e-e!"

"Is that the cosplayed chick from the bathroom!? What's she doing in the Zero? Eikichi recognised Ixquic as she stood in the plane.

"She's gonna die if she stays in here much longer! What should we do, Tatsuya!?" Lisa exclaimed and turned to him for guidance.

Maya answered before Tatsuya could. "No… I'll jump down and rescue her!"

"…!" Tatsuya spun to face Maya. "What?"

"Are you out of your mind, Maya-san!? It's impossible! The fire's too strong!" Yukino disagreed with her friend, Maya.

"You don't a thing is impossible until you've tried it!" Maya argued with her and then turned to Tatsuya. Her eyes not only reflecting the fire in the room but her own determination. "Tatsuya-kun, I need you to go look for a rope! Once I jump down there, the rest of you help pull the girl up."

Tatsuya blinked and realised he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it. He sighed. "… I'll leave this to you, Maya-san. I know I would never be able to talk you out of it."

"We'll go find a rope. You look after Maya-san, Tatsuya!" Eikichi announced. Lisa, Eikichi and Yukino went out the door.

Runa attempted to follow them, but Lisa turned her around. "Runa-chan… Stay with them. Make you're brother doesn't do anything stupid. You're the healer, if they get hurt… You need to be nearby… Stay with them, and be careful of yourself, too!"

Lisa then ran to catch up with the others and Runa gulped before she went back into the catwalk anteroom. There she saw Maya stood on the plane and Ixquic was in tears. "Hey, lady! Please help me!"

Runa waited for the others to come back, but there taking some time. She stared at the support wire that the plane was hanging off. The wire creaked and groaned. Tatsuya cursed, his hands curled into fists.

Runa bit her lip. What was taking them so long! It happened so quickly in the game…

"AH!" Runa gasped as the wire groans grew even louder. The flames were weakened the structure.

"Damn it… Hurry it up, guys," Tatsuya said, sweat running down his brow.

Runa waited a second, but still the three didn't return with a rope. Then she despaired. What if they don't get here in time…? Oh gosh… No…

Runa searched the room with her eyes in a panic. What can I do? What can I do, damn it!?

She clenched her naginata tighten and then she paused dropping her weapon. That's it! My naginata case! I'm still wearing it! The part of the case is a rope, I thought it was just stylistic at first, but yes… It's pretty strong! It's long enough, I think and it's certainly do the job enough, I at least hope.

"Tatsuya! Can we use my naginata case!?" She shouted rushed up to him after she untied the rope from her naginata case and held it out in front of her.

"Huh? Runa… What are going on about!? This isn't the time…!" Tatsuya started to yell then paused. He grabbed the rope. "I see, the strap's a rope…"

Tatsuya leaped into action throwing the rope over the rail. Maya tied the rope around the girls waist. Tatsuya instructed Runa to grab the rope and help him out. She nodded and held the rope tightly as she planted her feet on he ground.

They attempted to pull Ixquic up, but it didn't work with just the two of them. Runa then had an idea. "I'll tie it to the rail at the end of this walkway. Then they'll be less pressure on us."

"Right, just hurry!" Tatsuya shouted.

Runa set to worked and swiftly they tried pulling Ixquic up again, but this time the second rail helped them pull the girl up.

Once the girl was close enough for Tatsuya to grab, he told Runa. " Hold the rope steady, sis! Be careful, but don't let her fall, got it!?"

"Got it!" Runa replied and wrapped part of the rope around her wrist to take up the slack. She grunted, she knew it was bad for her wrists to do that but she couldn't fail. Besides she could hardly feel the rope rubbing against her right wrist and hand. Although she the why she felt it in her left hand and wrist made up for that.

Tatsuya pulled Ixquic over the railing and Runa felt herself fall forward onto her knees. With weight on the rope no longer there, some of rope suddenly moved under her hands. Runa hissed in pain and glanced down at her hands. They were covered in rope burn and bleeding. Her arms felt like they were nearly pulled out of their sockets. Tatsuya called out to her after he untied the rope from Ixquic. "Runa, you alright!?"

"I'm… Ah… I'm…. f-fine!" Runa lied between pants. She was exhausted and she could hear her heart beating fast in her eardrums.

Tatsuya was about to say something when Lisa, Eikichi and Yukino returned. Yukino seemed rather grim. "We couldn't find a rope! And… Oh, it appears you found one."

"Yeah, we did… Just help us get Maya up here before…" Tatsuya responded but was abruptly cut off when one of the planes wire creaked. "We need to hurry!"

Yukino, Eikichi and Lisa rushed over and grabbed the rope. They untied it from the second railing so they could pull Maya up faster.

Runa got up and hesitated to pick up the rope. Her left palm stung and throbbed.

"Runa-chan, pick it up already!" Eikichi snapped.

Runa paled and gingerly held onto to rope. She winced as she tighten her grip. The rope cut into her already marred hands. She focused on her breathing to block out the pain.

Maya held onto her end of the rope, eager to leave the surface of the burning plane. Eikichi shouted out. "It's your turn, Maya-san!"

Runa eyes widen as she recalled what happened in the game. It was a different rope, but this event was the same. Runa sniffed the air. The rope that was hung over the rail closest to the plane exhibit was burning. Runa yelled out. "Tatsuya, the rope!"

"Huh…? The…" Tatsuya was confused but then he saw the rope was weakening. He launched forward just as the last thread of the rope disintegrated. The rope burn Runa's hand again, she cried out. She staggered to her knees. Runa panted and glanced up at Tatsuya.

You know those moment where they world seemed to slow down. Apparently they actually happen. Tatsuya's hand had reached out for Maya's hand as she fell back.

"No!" Runa whispered, but then saw Tatsuya's Persona's hand appear, extending Tatsuya's reach. The girl held her breath but felt the air shift around her. Her vision blurred.

She blinked and suddenly she was somewhere different. Everyone was gone. She felt smaller and frighten. The world around her felt unsustainable, like a dream or a memory. Runa looked down at herself, she was no longer wearing the idol outfit but a dress, like one a small girl would wear.

She thought, what's going on here?

She then without wanting to, moved her head up. She saw an older boy, Tatsuya Sudou as known as King Leo, was his identity, she soon realised. It was a dream/memory. This was her younger unawakened self's memory of the day Araya Shrine burnt.

Young Runa felt tears stain her checks as her small unscarred right hand reached out to Tatsuya who was laying prone on the ground.

She called out in sobbing. "Big… brother! Wake up! …Wake up! I'm scared!"

Runa felt weird as if she was invading someone else's life. She felt she didn't belong in this girl's mind. She was her but yet not her. With gulping breaths the younger Runa turned toward the shrine when another girl's voice was heard. It was Maya's. Younger version, but it was her as Runa knew. "Tatsuya-kun! Tatsuya-kun!"

"Big sis…!" Young Runa called out. The insane older boy who started the fire and hurt Tatsuya Suou however groaned and slapped the Young Runa which shocked the poor girl.

The older boy grinned and moved toward small girl. "You annoy me…"

"Tatsuya-kun, can you hear me!? Please… Answer me! Tatsuya-kun! Your sister's in trouble!" Maya's younger self shouted out.

"Heh… He-eh-e-e… Hy-aha-ha! Hy-a-a-a-aha-ha-ha-ha-a-a-a!" The young pale blonde man chuckled distracted from Runa by the fire and Maya's cries.

"…" Young Runa backed away a little before curling herself into a ball and she cried.

"Tatsuya-kun… Run! You have to run and take your sister with you!" Maya pleaded.

The young Runa yelped as the insane Sudou grabbed her by the arm and dragged toward the fire. The girl struggled but she wasn't strong enough. The young man forced the girl put her arm into the fire. He stood on her back with one foot to make she could not move. The girl screamed as her arm burnt. Tatsuya was awoken by Runa's screams and pushed himself to his knees. "Let my sister go, you big jerk!"

A Persona, Vulcanus arose from above Tatsuya and attacked the young man with an Agi spell.

The heat of spell burnt Sudou's face, and resulted in Sudou's foot no longer holding young Runa down. The girl quickly pulled her arm out of flames, and back away whimpering. She could no feel the pain, in her hand and wrist. This confused her and she stared at her charred arm, shaking.

Tatsuya panted heavily, but Sudou arose from the flames, one half of his face melted. With knife in hand, he started towards Tatsuya. Young Runa called out for Tatsuya. "Big brother!"

The dream abruptly ended as voices filled the current awakened Runa's ears, and a wave of heat washed over her. She sat on her knees next to the rope and her bleeding hands were by her sides. It appeared she momentarily past out due to blood lost. She let out a breath with she saw Tatsuya had caught Maya. Lisa, Eikichi and Yukino had helped Tatsuya make sure Maya got over the railing, and that Tatsuya didn't fall himself in the process.

Everyone was sitting around in circle, exhausted. Maya told Tatsuya. "Th-Thank you… Tatsuya-kun. You saved me again."

"No problem," Tatsuya replied with a brief nod.

Yukino casted her gaze to Runa and started to ask. "Runa-chan, why didn't you… Oh my…"

"What…?" Runa wearily croaked.

"Your hands…" Yukino muttered. Tatsuya turned his eyes slowly to her and his eyes widen.

"You said you were fine! Runa, I…! Why do you do stuff like this!?" Tatsuya yelled at her, furious.

"I was only trying to help, I…" Runa replied but was interrupted.

"I don't care," Tatsuya told her and picked her up. This stunned Runa. Tatsuya glared at Runa as he sat her down on ground that appeared least prone to falling due fire damage. Maya approached her and casted a Dia spell. That stopped the bleeding and healed the majority of the wound. Maya took off her tie tore it into strips and wrapped those strips around Runa's wounds.

As she did this, Maya spoke to her. "Runa, I'm sorry about your hands. I hope this makes it feel better."

"Thank you, Maya-san," Runa mumbled embarrassed. Maya almost died and I had to get myself injured yet again. Hopeless… Runa silently scoffed at herself.

Runa could feel Tatsuya hover over her while Maya went over to Ixquic. Maya asked. "How about you? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Oh-my-gosh!" Ixquic sobbed and ran to hug Maya. "Wah! That was terrible! I was so scared…!"

"It's okay… You're safe now. You did a great job hanging in there," Maya assured Ixquic as she held the girl. Once Ixquic pulled out of the hug, Maya determined. "C'mon, we shouldn't stay here. You need to hurry up and get to the rooftop too."

Ixquic wiped the tears out her eyes and nodded. The girl ran to door and headed toward the roof.

At this point Tatsuya turned and glared at Runa. Runa grimaced. "And, you say you have nothing in common with Katsuya… Ha… You're both worry-warts."

"Not now, Runa," Tatsuya scolded his eyes indicated he was not in the mood.

Runa nodded and casted a healing spell on her hands to speed her healing process a little more. She winced and flexed her hands. Her left one felt stiff and sore. Not painful, but at any rate still not 100 percent. Lisa commented. "We need to move, you right?"

"Sure am," Runa nodded and went to pick up her naginata. It was not on fire and it wasn't made up of metal or plastic so she was glad.

Tatsuya eyed her like a hawk before dragging her to the door with him. No way he was letting her out of his sight for a while.

Whatever flashback Tatsuya experienced probably increased his big brother instinct. I'm gonna be asked every five minutes if I'm okay, aren't I? Runa sighed as Tatsuya's grip on her arm was tight but familiar. Tatsuya and Katsuya probably had good reason to worry about her but the thing was… I'm not really their sister, not the exact same one they knew. My unawakened self was and this me, isn't exactly her… My awakened self doesn't deserve Tatsuya's nor anyone else's kindness.

After reaching the next floor, the group searched for people. They found two more exhibit rooms full of children and told them to head to the roof. Then on the next floor they heard a elementary-school kid called out. "Help! Someone help!"

The poor kid was stuck in the elevator. Runa paled and swore internally.

"Hr-rgh! N-n-n-ngh! Ugh…" The elementary-school kid grunted as he tried in vain to free himself.

"It's no good. The elevator's broken." Eikichi tried to open the elevator by pressing the button to free to boy, but the effort failed.

"Step aside," Yukino ordered. Eikichi side stepped out of the way. Yukino partly summoned her Persona to increase her strength and started to pull open the elevator doors. Inside you could the elevator was partly between floors and the boy was stuccoed between the roof of the elevator and the ground of this floor.

"That looks awkward," Runa commented.

"Talk about an odd situation… Oh well, we'll just have to pull him out. I need your help here, Tatsuya!" Yukino requested. Tatsuya agreed and together they pulled the boy's legs until they managed to pull him out.

The boy scrambled away from the elevator with fear in his eyes but gratitude towards his saviours.

"You're not hurt, are you? Your friends are on the roof with your teachers, so hurry and go to them! But this time use the stairs!" Maya approached the frighten school boy and advised him.

The little kid gulped and nodded. "I vow to never use the elevator again, don't worry!"

The kid rushed off up the stairs. The group paled after the elevator shaft suddenly made a huge noise. They turned around and the cables had broken. Tatsuya commented. "I thought that only happened in movies and books…"

"Have you looked at our life today?" Runa questioned him.

"You have a point," Tatsuya agreed despite not liking the thought.

"Hy-a-a-aha-ha-ha-ha! Glad you were able to make it. But starting now, you'll be up against my demons! Better hurry, or you'll be burned to cinders! He-eh-hee… Hy-aha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" King Leo's voice then shouted over the PA system. Surprisingly despite the fire, the system still worked.

"That ass#*! …! Is everyone okay!? We'd better be careful… We've got demons to look out for now, too! Tatsuya-kun, we don't have tie to let his assassins slow us down! We should brush them off and run!" Maya cautioned.

"Don't worry, I'll cast a few Estoma to keep the majority of the demons away from us," Runa added.

"Thanks," Everyone muttered in response.

Runa glanced down guiltily and summoned her Persona. "Electra! Activate an Estoma spell!"

A wave of energy rippled around them and soon the group set off. As they neared the roof there was a familiar Persona resonance. Tatsuya noticed and commented on it. "That's…! It's him. It seems we're headed in the right direction."

"Ah, so you sense him too? Hey, Tatsuya-kun, I sense King Leo's up ahead. My Persona says has told so," Maya confirmed the thought.

They continued to move forward towards the roof but a thought however entered Runa's head. Something was missing, but she couldn't quite put a name on it. Runa frowned as she thought, but then suddenly the oppressive heat seemed to turn icy. Those two kids, the ones I saw looking at the mechanical plane part when we first entered the museum. Have I seen them again since? No… And they weren't with the group that Tadashi and Tamaki took to the roof… I just presumed they were, but looking back I don't actually remember them being with the rest… Oh god, they're still in the building!

Runa without a word started to to sprint back the other way, she could let those two kids die if she could do something about. She heard Maya's voice call out after her. "Runa-chan…!? Wait we are you…!" The was sudden loud crack and groan from the building which startled Maya. "Huh… What was that!?"

Runa spun to see was causing the noise and her eyes widen. She lunged forward and grabbed Maya the wrist pulling the woman forwards as the part of the wall and ceiling collapsed. This caused a firry blockade to form between them and the others.

Tatsuya shouted out to them after he coughed because of the dust and smoke. "You two okay!?"

"We're fine, but looks like we're stuck over here!" Maya replied, her eyes squinted through the flames and the smoke to see a vague figure of Tatsuya and the others.

"Why the hell did you run off, Runa!?" Eikichi questioned.

After she coughed once or twice, Runa said. "We haven't rescued everyone. I remembered the two kids we saw when we first entered the museum. I didn't see them with the group that went with Tadashi-san and Tamaki-san and I haven't seen anywhere else."

"Still, not a good reason to go running off without any idea as to where they actually are!?" Tatsuya snapped.

"I… F#(%…! I see your point, I did jump the gun…" Runa admitted.

"Clearly," Tatsuya sighed.

"We'll find the kids, and figure out another way to catch up with you guys later," Maya informed them.

Yukino had reservations about the idea. "You sure you'll be okay, Maya!"

"I will, Runa-chan will watch my back! I trust her," Maya replied. Yukino and others seemed satisfied with that.

Tatsuya warned both of them to be careful and told Maya. "Make sure you bring my sister back alive, got it?"

Maya promised to do so before Tatsuya went to join the others.

Runa stared at Maya, her eyes wide. "You trust me?"

"Yes, you just saved my life a second ago, of course I trust you. By the way, thanks," Maya smiled.

"…! I… No problem," Runa mumbled and started walking forward.

Maya walked alongside her and together they searched the area for the two missing kids. As they neared their second corner Runa heard footsteps from a distance. Runa also heard two humans voices as well as a demon's voice.

"!" Runa rushed past Maya and around the corner. There she saw Lich pursuing two children, the ones she had been searching for. Runa gripped her naginata tighter and moved in-between the children and the Lich just as the demon was bringing down it's scythe upon the girl who had tripped over. The girl with link pink hair in pigtails gasped as Runa used her naginata to block the scythe.

"Don't worry, everything's going to be okay," Runa told the girl as she pushed her naginata forward and caused the Lich demon to stumble backwards.

"Er-r-r-r… Ar-ar-ar-r-r-r-rgh! Rgh!" The Lich gnashed it's teeth. It was a gruesome sight, it's skull was had rotting flesh upon it's surface. Flies buzzed around inside it's skull, the flies also flew out it's mouth when it opened and came back inside the skull through the nostril or eye socket.

The creature lunged at Runa, but she raised her weapon and stabbed it through where heart would of been. The Lich didn't mind for long though and started to move closer to her by impaling himself further. Runa paled and kicked at the monster. She tugged on her weapon but it was stuck in the demon's ribcage. Runa gasped and realised physical attacks were working.

The Lich laughed and grabbed the naginata. It pulled her weapon out of itself.

"Huh? Why…" Runa puzzled but she soon was given the answer.

The Lich lifted the naginata, using it's height to it's advantage. Runa's feet left the floor. Before she could let go however the Lich swung the naginata flinging Runa into a wall.

"AH!" Runa stuck the wall with a thud, her naginata rolled to the ground a few feet away from the Lich. Runa was winded and she gasped for air when she slid to the ground.

She doubled over and coughed violently. The Lich's shadow grew nearer and it's skeletal hand with strips of tattered flesh clung to it's surface placed itself into her hair and pulled upwards. Her head looked up at the demon. The Lich grinned and dropped her hair before it stepped away.

Runa relaxed momentarily but suddenly, she couldn't breath. Her legs kicked the air uselessly. Her hands clawed at the Lich's hand as they held her by the throat. With it's other hand it raised it's scythe and slowly began to move it behind the back of her neck, as it readied it to cut off her head

She was just about to black out when suddenly a bright light filled her vision. The scythe dropped with a clang to the ground and turned to dust. Runa slammed into the floor as the hands holding her there had vanished.

"Got him… You alright, Runa-chan?" Maya asked. Runa pulled herself up and gave Maya a smile. Runa's face then fell as the Lich rematerialised behind Maya and sank it's scythe into Maya's shoulder before Runa could speak a word.

Maya hissed in pain before she spun around and summoned Maia, her Persona. "Finish it! Hama! Hama! Hama! Hama!"

Eventually the Lich fell permanently and Maya slumped to her knees. Maya then fell sideways to the ground unconscious.

The little girl with pink hair rushed up. "Oh no! Is she okay?" The girl's eyes were watering.

The boy wandered over too, he was younger and his eyes were wide. "What's going on?"

"It'll be fine… I know magic so, I'll make her all better in no time," Runa assured the children and partly assured herself. Runa closed her eyes and assessed the damaged. It was bad but Runa convinced herself she could do this. Then she called forth Electra. "Heal her, my other self! And then me…"

Afterwards Runa sat back and took several deep breaths. She was utterly exhausted, she had plenty of SP and she was fully healed, but she felt she was running on empty. She had almost died far too many times today… Runa brighten when Maya came round.

"Er… Where am… Oh, Runa… Hey, I thought I was meant to save you," Maya sat up.

"Hi, Maya-san," Runa waved, but cringed when she heard another part of roof collapse in the distance. She stood up. "We need to get moving, come on."

Maya took the hand Runa offered her and rose to her feet. Maya turned to the children. "I want you two to follow us. We'll protect and get you somewhere safe."

"Wow… I'm Ichiko, 9 years of age. And you, are so awesome!" The girl, Ichiko beamed at Maya, the girl's eyes sparkled. "You saved our lives from the fiendish demon of evil! Thank you! You are my heroine! Way better the girl in white!"

"Well… I-I'm Maya, nice to met you," Maya laughed nervously. The girl nodded.

Then Ichiko spun to Runa. "And you… I forgot what you did, but let's get to the roof. I don't think you can handle another demon."

Runa jaw dropped. If it weren't for me! You would of got your head chopped off! I saved you, you ungrateful little…! Ugh!

Moments later, Maya, Ichiko and the boy were already walking away from her. Runa rushed to catch up and but felt something tug on her clothes. She looked down and saw the brown haired boy. The boy who was younger than the girl, spoke to Runa. "Thank you."

"Huh?" Runa blinked.

"I already thanks Maya-san, but I didn't thank you," the boy answered before he saw Ichiko start to wander off. The boy panicked and pulled the girl back closer to him. "Don't run off again! Last time you did that we got lost! You're meant to my mentor buddy!"

Maya and Runa smothered a giggled. It was cute to see that the younger of the two kids was the more responsible rather than the elder.

Not long after they reached a dilemma… Runa asked Maya. "Got any water spells?"

"No, and currently I don't have any other Persona but my initial with on me," Maya frowned.

"Um… Right," Runa started at fiery blockade right in front of the entrance to the stairs.

"Maybe if I use a Bufu spell?" Maya casted the spell, but it couldn't put out the fire long enough.

"No good?" Ichiko asked.

Maya shook her head. "It's close, but it's not quite enough. Runa, any chance you could learn Aqua or Bufu in the next few seconds?"

"Ah… No… That's unlikely," Runa sighed.

"Um, excuse couldn't one of you just use that fire extinguisher?" The boy suggested.

"Huh?" "What?" The two young Persona-user turned around and paled.

"I didn't notice that…" Maya rubbed the back of her neck nervously.

"That's okay, Maya-sama! You can't do everything," Ichiko reassured her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't notice it either," Runa apologised.

"And, so you should be," Ichiko huffed. Runa felt a vein her forehead throb. You little brat!

"Um, it's very hot… Maya-san can you make it cold… with ice magic?" The boy wondered.

Maya nodded and casted Bufu on the fire extinguisher.

Ichiko clapped and hugged the boy. "Wow, you so clever Yosuke!"

"Yosuke…?" Runa echoed. She stared at the boy and suddenly knew why he looked familiar. It was Yosuke Hanamura, at 4-5 years old.

WOW… Didn't expect that… So that meant if I hadn't of been in this world, these kids would of… Survived without me and wouldn't of run into that Lich demon. I don't know how I cause that chain of events but since Yosuke has to live… It must have been my fault, Runa realised.

"Oh, yeah. I'm Yosuke Hanamura, I didn't tell you my name," Five year old Yosuke sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, in a manner that was unmistakably, Yosuke Hanamura's.

"The fire blocking the stair is out! Let's go!" Ichiko announced as she rushed up the stairs.

"Huh, oh thanks, Maya-san," Runa told the journalist.

Maya nodded and walked up the steps closely followed by around five year old Yosuke and Runa.

Quick note, part two of Aerospace Museum will be uploaded straight after this one. Thanks for reading this part!