The days passed gradually, the weight of their decision slowing the pass of time.

The day was Christmas Eve. One week until their decision. But this was not a day to stress over it. For this night only, two lovers forgot their worries and spent the evening together.

"I-I… I have a present for you."

Akihiko presented her with a white box with the red ribbon on top. Smiling widely, she took the box, weighing it. It was heavy. Looking back at him as if to get his permission, she slowly removed the lid of the box to reveal a tiny little music box. Her eyes widened at the sight. She took it out of the box and slowly opened it, allowing the classical music to play. 'Clair de Lune'.

It was perfect.

"It's so beautiful…. You really got this for me?"

He nodded. "It's yours. You can store jewelry in it…. I wanna make you a promise."

"What promise would that be?"

"Every Christmas, I will buy you something to store here. I want to fill with jewelry just for you."

Minako smiled bashfully, remembering she had a gift for him as well.

"I made you something but… I'm not sure you'll like it."

"If you made it, what's not to like?" He said it effortlessly, making her blush.

She presented him with a stuffed rabbit cellphone strap. He took it in his hand, dangled it around, and basically inspecting it.

"Ah-um … isn't this a bit too cute for me? Ah, but you made it, so it's precious."

She blushed even harder, if that was possible. "I made it based off the bunny you gave me. The one that was Miki's…"

"It's perfect. I'll keep it with me always."

.

Minako spent the night in Akihiko's bed, as she had been doing so for most of December. Mitsuru had decided to turn a blind eye on the lovers' late night activities, given the extenuating circumstances.

They simply lied there, curled up together in pure bliss. It wasn't until the high of their actions wore off that Akihiko and Minako thought the same recurring thought.

They could die soon.

Or they could stay together forever.

They simply needed to act.

Akihiko's mind was already made up. He was willing to fight. He would never stop fighting for those he loved most. Shinji and Miki believed in him ….and now he was going to protect Minako.

He wanted to live.

Minako was scared. She was incapable of killing her own brother. There was no way she could stand to lose him again. But defeating Nyx was supposedly impossible. They could live normal lives until the Fall….

But would choosing the ignorant path really make them happy?

She also wanted to live. But what kind of life would it be?

.

It was time.

Aigis came back the day before, begging Minako to kill him and start a new life. Aigis begged Minako for her forgiveness. Minako accepted. By then, everyone's minds were made up except for hers.

Her friends were willing to fight or die trying.

Minako still did not make her decision when Minato arrived. Despite the circumstances, Minato seemed oddly calm.

"Long time no see." He said with an odd smile on his face. Just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared from his face. "Midnight is around the corner … once the clock strikes I will change from this form into something unrecognizable….. have you reached to a decision?"

Everyone was silent.

"…. I'll be waiting in Minako's room. Until then, sister." He began to walk up the stairs.

"…. Minato-kun…." Fuuka whispered underneath her breath.

"Oh, one more thing." He stopped in his tracks and turned back to face them. "If it's killing me that makes you on the fence, then don't worry about that. I will disappear either way."

"You… you'll disappear?" Minako asked, not wanting to hear those words. She would lose her brother either way?

"I won't feel any pain by dying. You don't have to worry bout me." He smiled again. "I'll be waiting."

Then he left them.

….

"Minako…" Akihiko held her hand tightly. It was an unbearable burden, but as his sister, it was all riding on her decision. Minako's grip loosened from his hand as she pulled away from him. She was following her brother upstairs.

She had made her decision.

.

"I can't kill you, big bro."

.

Right before her eyes, he had become a monster. No longer was he Minato Arisato. No longer was he her brother.

He was the Appriser. Bringer of Nyx.

And on January 31, 2010 they would meet once again.

This time, in battle.

.

Now that I'm getting to end of the P3 plot, I really wanna wrap this up so I can move on to P4. That's where the real fun begins. So the next chapter will be pretty jumpy, but it will be the last of the P3 side. Don't worry though, there's plenty more after this.