A/N: So here it is: Shirakawa Boulevard. Honestly, I wasn't expecting this chapter to be so long but I wanted to really flesh out the details because the events here really make an impact. As mentioned previously, I have modified the course of events to specifically suit Minato and Mitsuru. For those of you who want more interactions between them, rest assured, this chapter will have a generous serving of it.
In regards to where the story is headed next, Yakushima is coming up soon. To keep things fresh however, there is more than one reason why they must go there and the answer to that will lie in my next update.
So for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy this monster of a chapter. I hope it blows you away the way it did for me when I wrote it.
The days following Fuuka's incident were some of the best. Everything was normal for a change, or as normal as life was when one had the nocturnal job of slaying Shadows, and Minato never felt better. His habit of falling asleep during class began to subside, the responsibilities of being Mitsuru's assistant were achieved with relative ease, and visits to Tartarus every other night were more enjoyable than they had ever been. He did not know the catalyst of this unexpected optimism but supposed it was all thanks to Fuuka.
Things had changed ever since she was declared battle ready and now, she played the role that Mitsuru had been doing for the last two months: to remain in the lobby of Tartarus and provide navigational support. With a Persona that could not only direct them to the stairs of each floor, but also pinpoint a Shadows' weaknesses, the struggle that was figuring out how to defeat Shadows instead became a competition to see who could defeat the most on a given floor. Of course, there were several precautions taken in order to avoid the shortcomings of the previous operation; the primary one being someone staying behind in the lobby to protect Fuuka. At first, it seemed to be a good idea to keep the exploration interesting but after a few days, Minato noticed two things.
The scoreboard became as skewed as the Formula One Constructors Standings.
And a decline in the attitude of his classmates, Junpei in particular.
Minato guessed it had something to do with the fact that Junpei had been assigned to watch over Fuuka more often than not but other than Yukari, who else could? He was their field leader and most important asset, Mitsuru wanted to make up for her combat hiatus, and it was impossible to convince Akihiko to stop training. There hadn't been any heated arguments yet, though somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew there would be. The only question was when? When would Junpei finally crack and accuse him of things that were out of his hands? The wait for it was dreadful given Junpei's mood swings were unpredictable and as a few more days passed, it looked as though he himself would crack instead.
Once rumours of couples being found unconscious began to spread around school like a wildfire however, setting the mouths of many females ablaze with useless gossip, he found it relaxing rather than frightening. Hell, he was actually glad. Perhaps it was time to settle whatever problem Junpei had. Though whether it was prudent to do so given what came with a full moon made him think twice. According to Fuuka, the Shadow was located in a building in Shirakawa Boulevard: an adjoining area to Iwatodai Station. More commonly known as the 'red light district', the place was infamous for its bright neon lights, sleazy bars and love hotels. Just a mere description was enough to make Yukari uneasy and when Junpei's usual teasing was nowhere to be found, Minato knew for sure that something was wrong.
It irritated him that he had to fight whilst knowing one of his allies was unstable but seeing as though nothing could be done, Minato just followed Fuuka's directions and led the others through the Boulevard in silence. Even though there was no one around, the acrid scent of saké, tobacco and cheap perfume somehow hung in the air like a haze. Combined with the way the Dark Hour smelt of blood and decay, every breath taken made him want to throw up. The smell lingered in the hotel where the Shadow was too, blanketing the atmosphere and leaving everyone in a sour mood. He hoped that the fight would be quick and effortless because if walking through the corridors already sapped their energy, then a prolonged fight similar to the previous would probably kill them.
"Fuuka, how far away are we?" Minato asked as he led the others down another corridor.
He held up his left hand to cover his mouth and nose, with his right gripping the hilt of his sabre, and breathed short breaths. Behind him, Junpei and Yukari were doing the same, while Akihiko waved at the air in front of him every now and then. Mitsuru, who was beside him, held a handkerchief to her nose and Minato could hear her mumbling something. He presumed it was cursing of some sort, perhaps in French because her voice was quite euphonious, but questioned that assumption because he knew Mitsuru wasn't one to swear.
At this point, I wouldn't blame her if she did, he thought.
"Not far now," Fuuka replied telepathically from the dorm. "Just one more floor up and it'll be two rooms down from the one near the entrance."
"That's a relief," Minato said, the others nodding in agreement at Fuuka's words.
As they ascended another flight of stairs, which took a surprisingly large amount of effort, Minato couldn't help feeling that they were walking straight into an ambush. The thick and sticky air that, combined with the purple-pink lighting, made him want to glue his eyelids together. The nauseating smell, that had worsened to the point where even taking small breaths could make you gag. The soft voices that hissed unintelligible words in his mind and raised his suspicion. It all appeared to be part of the Shadow's plan to weaken them to the point they would be annihilated in one clean sweep.
He let his thoughts wander upon approaching the correct room and when the others had gathered around him, he turned to face them. "Does something about all this feel off?"
"Not anymore wrong than it always is," Junpei said. "Come on, let's get this over and done with." He stepped forward, and was about to push the door open when Akihiko placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Hang on a second Junpei," Akihiko said, then turned to Minato. "What do you mean by off?"
Minato averted his eyes from Junpei's cutting look. "I mean it seems rather odd that the Shadow would be just waiting here for us to kill it. Don't you think it would have a backup plan of some sort?"
"You mean like the one in the train?" Yukari asked and Minato nodded.
"You might be onto something. And considering how each of the previous fights went..." Mitsuru said. "So, what do you suggest we do?"
"I'm thinking–" Minato started.
"–that we should just kill the damn thing and stop wasting our time!" Junpei snapped. He pushed past Akihiko, rammed the door open with his shoulder, and summoned his Persona.
Haunting laughter alongside sparks of electricity filled the room immediately after Junpei's charge and Minato had no choice but to follow suit. He directed the others to attack the Shadow while it was still focusing on Junpei. Between the many hours spent training and their resolve to finish the job quickly so they could leave this forsaken hotel, the battle was soon over. As the Shadow exploded into nothingness however, Minato did not feel the satisfaction and relief that victory brought. He instead felt that sense of being ambushed lurking about. Because the Shadow was defeated too easily. No full moon Shadow had even been that easy. He looked around for any signs pointing towards a follow-up attack but apart from the ceiling mirror, the rotating waterbed, and the voices that continued to linger in his mind, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
"See, what did I tell ya," Junpei said, half smiling as he strode to the door leading towards the hallway. "There's no ambush."
"Well there could have been," Yukari said, stuffing an arrow back in her quiver. "You just got lucky. Besides, there's nothing wrong with taking extra care. Especially after what happened last time."
"I got no problem with being more careful but I just think that you guys were being way too paranoid."
He was not sure if his senpai or Yukari noticed it, but in either case, Minato knew Junpei was primarily referring to him. Leaving his investigation of the room behind, he holstered his Evoker and approached Junpei.
"Fine. I admit that I was being paranoid," Minato said. "But you know just as well as I do that I'm only being this way so that everyone makes it out in one piece. Your safety is just as important as everyone else here."
"Yeah yeah, spare me the lecture man," Junpei said, turning to face the door. "Let's just go." He placed a hand on the handle, twisted it and pushed.
But nothing happened.
The door would not budge.
"Uh oh," Junpei mumbled.
"Oh great, what did you do now?" Yukari asked.
"I-I didn't do anything. But, uh, I can't open the door."
"You're kidding right?"
Junpei shook his head.
"Here, let me see that," Akihiko said. He gestured for Junpei to step away and threw a punch at it. As soon as his cestuses connected, he was thrown onto his backside. He grimaced. "Something's holding that door shut."
"Wait a minute," Mitsuru said. "Didn't we leave the door open?"
"I'm pretty sure we did," Minato said. He replayed the fight in his head. Gunshots, flying arrows and an explosion of Shadow blood. No recollection of seeing the door slam shut. He frowned. Why couldn't he remember something that happened less than fifteen minutes ago? He did not have an eidetic memory but remembering something as simple as this should have been easy. "Huh. On second thought, I don't remember."
Mitsuru's brow creased as she folded her arms. "Yamagishi! Can you see if there's anything behind that door?"
"Right away Mitsuru-senpai," Fuuka replied. A few minutes passed. Then she spoke, "I don't sense anything behind that door. But–"
There was a hiss of static and they all cringed at the connection dissipating.
"Wait, what was she going to say?" Akihiko asked, holding his head.
"I'm not sure," Mitsuru said with a troubled look. She sighed. "But it seems we're trapped here."
Yukari's eyes widened as she processed Mitsuru's words. Then she slumped her shoulders and groaned. "Ugh, thanks a lot, Stupei."
"Oh, so now it's my fault?" Junpei retorted.
"Well of course it is. Whose idea was it to just barge in without a plan?"
"Hey! You know you wanted that Shadow dead so we could get out of this shitty place just as much as I did!"
Yukari's face softened and she looked away, knowing it was true. Minato inhaled deeply in an attempt to calm himself but even so, he was still on the verge of joining their pointless argument. Then, knowing this had to be settled first before they could figure out what to do next, he stepped in between the two.
"As much as I love the way you two argue like an old married couple, we're not going to get anywhere like this," Minato said. "So just accept the fact that we made a mistake and let it go already."
"Fine," Junpei said. "If that's what the leader wants. Do you even have a plan to get out of here?"
"Well there is something we haven't tried yet."
Minato turned to face the door and after gesturing for Akihiko to catch him if there was any recoil, he positioned his sabre in the narrow slit above the lock. Then sliced downwards. He was confident that the lock would break so when the blade instead shattered on impact, shards of metal spraying, Minato's heart sunk.
It sunk even further when he realised that a broken weapon was the least of his concerns. While he stared in disbelief at his now useless blade, the others had pivoted to the vibrant hum emanating from the back of the room. By the time Minato spun to see the dark shroud seeping out of the glowing mirror's spider web cracks, it was too late. The discharged pulse of energy that wavered the distortions of the Dark Hour smashed into him like a fierce tidal current. He was surprised that he was still standing and seeing his friends also standing confused him. Didn't pulses of energy like that cause some kind of physical damage? Knock them back into walls? It was puzzling that this particular pulse did not do either of those things but, if it made it easier to get to his friends, then what did it matter? He reached out towards the blurry figure that looked to be Yukari, only to find that his right arm would not move. He tried his other arm, then his legs, and it was all to no avail. Minato did not understand. How could his limbs feel as if they were shackled to four giant boulders? He was standing. He was fine. He was–
–drugged. He had enough time to register that fact from the final functional part of his brain when he heard it.
The shouting.
The coughing.
The moaning.
The sounds penetrated through the thick, oily scent of tobacco, perfume, sex and alcohol that soaked the room, painting vivid hallucinations that danced before his eyes. The part of him that tried to counter it knew the images really were hallucinations but that was all it could do before whatever was in his system had completed its mission.
His consciousness faded and except for the pink shroud and the voices that now cooed in his mind, he heard and saw nothing else.
Cascading water that rushed like a waterfall. Rising steam that made the air humid and heavy. Bright lights that threw their rays to the ground. The world returned to him in stages and as it did, he pictured himself by a small lake in a tranquil rainforest. Calm, soothed and relaxed. It felt right to be in such a place because really, was there anywhere better? Of course not. Nothing could beat the sounds of brimming wildlife, the earthy smell of the verdant flora that surrounded him and–
Apple scented shampoo.
What? Shampoo? No that couldn't be right. He was in a rainforest. Who brought shampoo to a rainforest? He blocked off the stream of random thoughts that interrupted his meditation and instead concentrated on mother nature's sublime creations: the flora, the fauna, the amazing scent of–
Apple.
Again? What was this madness? Annoyed that he couldn't find peace, he decided he would hunt down the source of this unnatural but enticing aroma. As he opened his eyes, the cocktail of scents that had assaulted him back in the room with the glowing mirror began to swirl in his head. He ignored it and blinked, trying to make sense of the cream coloured square in front of him. It was only after a minute of hard staring, that he realised he was not having a vacation in the Amazon.
But in a bathroom.
He sighed, and gathering what strength he had, pushed himself to his feet using the edge of the sink to steady himself. Once the specks of colour in his eyes dissipated, he inspected his surroundings. Expensive, marble tiles that covered the floor and walls. An assortment of fluffy towels that hung on a rack above and to the side of a pair of fancy sinks with heart shaped handles. And a mirror blasted with steam.
What am I doing in a bathroom? I'm supposed to be–
"In the Amazon? My, your imagination is truly splendid."
Minato froze at the words and for a moment, he thought Pharos was somewhere in the room. He looked around to see if it was that cheeky boy who had spoken but there was no sign of him anywhere.
"Who are you?" Minato asked.
"Does it really matter? Besides, I think that question would be more appropriate for the person up ahead."
Minato was about to inquire what the voice meant when he felt something turn his head and direct his attention towards the shower at the back of the room. He was not sure what he was supposed to be looking for and raising an eyebrow, he said, "There's no one there."
"Oh but there is. You just need to look harder."
Upon hearing his words, Minato took a step forward and just when he was about to give up, he saw it. A silhouette in profile against the shower glass. And not just any ordinary silhouette but one that displayed the full beauty of the female body. He tried to avert his gaze from the stunning image before him but his eyes were glued to it. Any feelings of shame or embarrassment that he should have felt was replaced by an immense desire to see who it was.
"Go on. You do want to, don't you? Enjoy this moment. The present is all we have."
"You, you can't force me to do anything," Minato said, aware that he was contradicting himself.
"On the contrary, I think I can. I didn't want to have to introduce myself but you leave me no choice. I am the voice of your inner self. And I'm telling you to embrace your desire. Let it free you from your shackles. Such is my wish."
Minato was about to reply but when the silhouette arched her back and let her tumbles of hair hang loose, the words dropped out of his mouth. It couldn't be. Those curves. Those long legs. And most importantly, that hair. Only one person could fit that description and thinking if it was really her fuelled the burning blaze in his chest even more. Entranced, he pushed forward and in a few seconds, he was right in front of the door, ready to swing it open. He could do this. If she could pose so provocatively, then who was to say he couldn't take advantage of the moment? He gripped the handle, took a deep breath and–
"No!" Minato said, bringing his hand away from the door handle as if it were a cobra. "She's my comrade. I can't do that to her. We're only friends, nothing more."
"Are you sure about that? You are seconds away from bliss. Isn't pleasure what you truly want?"
"It isn't."
"I beg to differ. I've seen the way you look at her, the way you act around her. You try to pretend you're not interested but I know you are. You care for her. You'd do anything for her. And most importantly, you want her."
Minato stiffened as deep down, he knew it was partly true. He did like her. He did care for her. He wasn't sure if he was desperate to the point he would do anything for her but, he certainly did want her by his side. Yet in spite of the facts, he still resisted. "You're lying. I admit that recently, she's been on my mind more often than not but that doesn't prove anything."
"Is that so? Well then, why don't we see what she thinks!"
Voices erupted in his mind and the pain that followed felt like being hit in the head by a hammer. Minato fell to his knees, clutching his head as the noise rattled his skull. His so-called 'inner self' was mad. If he himself didn't know what she thought of him, then how could something claiming to be his conscience show him what she thought? Minato continued to hold his head but refrained from doing so once he felt something warm and fuzzy course through his veins. It made him confident, then happy, then elated. He never knew such joy was possible until he realised what it was.
Mitsuru's feelings.
They were filled with so much interest, so much warmth, so much passion that at first, Minato dismissed it. For her to feel that way was wrong and irrational because he knew who and what Mitsuru was. An elegant woman with leadership and combat capabilities that matched, and to some extent, surpassed his own. Not some young, immature girl who daydreamed of kissing the cutest boy she could lay her hands on.
"This isn't Mitsuru-senpai," Minato said through gritted teeth.
"Why do you seem so sure? Isn't it wonderful that she's taken a liking to you? It's what you want no?" When Minato did not reply, the voice continued, "Hmm. It seems you still need convincing. In that case, how about this!"
Minato grunted at another blow that hammered his mind. Instead of drowning from a wave of voices however, visions of past happenings between him and Mitsuru played before his eyes. The way she brightened up whenever they passed each other in the dorm or at school. The worried, concerned look on her face when he was in that limousine, telling her of the whispers his Personas spoke. The enjoyment they shared in correcting each other's swordplay whenever they fought together in Tartarus, the irresistible smile she conjured when he comforted her the other day, the hug they shared when...
He could not grasp that last vision for more continued to assault him. He knew there had to be a finite amount of them but they kept on coming like the way rain falls endlessly on a miserable day. Every vision made her affection grow and the weight of it crushed him, compressed him, until the only thing he could think about was her desire for him.
"See, you cannot deny it. She thinks of you the same way you do for her. It's meant to be. You know it is."
"LIES!" Minato bellowed. It hurt to shout when his mind was being spun into oblivion though he knew it was the only way to keep his sanity. "They're...all...lies!"
"Don't deny your instincts. Don't avert your eyes from the truth. Just embrace it."
Another vision was thrust upon him and now he was in her embrace during their previous operation staring into those beautiful red eyes that shone with a loving concern, hearing her thoughts echo in his mind, and feeling the sensation of her emotions flow through him.
Innocent interest.
Fiery lust.
It all enveloped him in a bubble of intoxication that intensified when his own memories of her slipped in. Her sweet yet spicy scent that he picked up as she led him to the command room for the first time. Her radiance of serenity and elegance as she stood by the door to his homeroom. Her curvaceous figure that became even more so in that biker gear. It was too much and as his eyes returned to the silhouette behind the shower door, his resistance crumbled.
"There you go. There's no need to resist. You want her. And she wants you."
Yes, he did want this. He wanted to hear her speak French in that sexy voice. He wanted to run his hands through her gorgeous tumbles of red hair. He wanted to feel her soft, smooth skin against his.
He wanted her.
He needed her.
So why was he waiting? She liked him too didn't she? Those thoughts of hers? They were the truth. They had to be the truth. Mitsuru never lied. He cringed, feeling his mental walls break down. He did not understand why he continued to fight. He wanted this. She wanted this. And yet, it seemed wrong.
Then the shower stopped.
The absence of rushing water startled Minato and for a split second, he felt as if he really was at peace in the Amazon. The struggle between to take her or to not had suspended and his 'inner self' seemed to have retreated. Using the edge of the sink to stand once more, he watched as the silhouette retrieved the towel hanging on the shower window, wrapped it around herself, and opened the door.
"Ooh, Minato," Mitsuru giggled, twirling her hair. Even with only a towel wrapped around her, she was breathtaking, with a light blush on her cheeks and a smile he knew all too well. "I had no idea you were waiting for me." She giggled again. "If you want, we could hop back in there. I'd love to see the real you."
She raised her arm and beckoned for him to take it. Minato's eyes never broke contact from hers and he automatically reached for her hand.
Then he stopped.
"What's the matter? Are you scared? You know, the first time is always a little scary. But don't worry. Just let your instincts guide you."
Minato blinked. The voice. There was something different about it. It sounded unlike before.
"My instincts?" he asked.
"Why yes. And what better time to rely on them than now? The girl of your dreams, standing before you, willing and ready. The least you can do is satisfy her no?"
It was as he suspected. The voice was different. Not in the sense that it had changed tone but the way he could hear it louder in his right ear than his left. He turned away from Mitsuru's mischievous eyes (which was harder than he anticipated), backed up a few paces, and looked at the steam coated mirror. It was blurry but amid all the steam, stood his reflection.
Except it wasn't his reflection at all. Yes it had the same cobalt blue hair that covered his right eye, was wearing the same Gekkoukan High boys' uniform, and had the same set of headphones and MP3 player hanging around his neck. But as the steam cleared he noticed that his reflection's eyes were dark yellow, unlike his own cool grey, and the skin of its face was shadowy and twisted.
Which could only mean one thing.
"Oh I would satisfy her...if she were REAL!" Minato spat, his voice quivering with rage.
"What are you talking about?" his reflection replied. "The Mitsuru before you is the real deal."
"If you really think that, then you don't know anything about her at all."
"And I suppose you do? That's big talk coming from a person who thought the bathroom was a rainforest. Why does it matter anyway? She wants you and only you. Isn't that enough?"
Minato shot another glance at 'Mitsuru?', who didn't look annoyed in the slightest despite the fact she had been ignored and denied the opportunity for ultimate satisfaction. And upon meeting her eyes, he came to realize that even if she really threw herself at him like this, it would be meaningless. Because he wanted more than just being able to make love with her. He wanted to know Mitsuru for who she was, quirks and all. What made her laugh, what made her cry, what made her happy. Taking her now was a temporary cure that would only serve to destroy his chance at a genuine relationship. So...
"No, it's not enough," Minato said, returning his attention to the mirror. "Besides, you got her all wrong."
"How so? Perhaps she does giggle and twirl her hair when she's in love," his reflection said.
"Perhaps. But there's one thing you forgot to account for. She has never called me by my first name!"
Minato lashed out at the mirror as he shouted those words and felt the surge of his Personas respond to the intruder in his mind. His reflection gaped in shock before being smashed into nothingness and as the mirror cracked, bent and shattered, so did his mind. The mental maelstrom wiped out all his thoughts and the only thing he knew after that was–
–a mind shredding migraine. The pain's rhythmic throbbing was enough to make him stir and as he opened his eyes, his sense of reality returned. He heard the hum of the air conditioning, saw the lighting's purple-pink hue, felt his head on a fluffy pillow and his body on a soft mattress, smelt apple scented shampoo and–
Apple scented shampoo? Again? He was in the love hotel in Shirakawa Boulevard. Not chasing the illusions that the second Shadow had created in his mind. He stared at the ceiling, frowning at how the scent could be so strong and refreshing, and trying to figure out how there was a reflection of himself staring right back. There's a mirror up there, idiot. But why did he look funny? Minato blinked several times and once he felt his eyes focusing, he looked back at the ceiling mirror.
And saw that there was someone lying on his bare chest. For a moment, he thought the Shadow was toying with him yet again but upon feeling something soft on top of him, he knew it was not the case. He averted his eyes from the mirror that made him dizzy and directed them downwards to see luscious curls of dark red hair. He blinked again and again to ensure that he was not hallucinating and after the eighth time, his pulse quickened.
Mitsuru.
Lying on top of his bare body.
In a hotel room that encouraged such acts.
Just imagining it was already preposterous enough so realizing that it was actually happening sent him into a state of arousal he didn't think he could return from. Feeling her soft and smooth as silk skin on his. Inhaling the refreshing aroma of apple mints from her hair. Admiring her sexy, black lace lingerie that brought out her curves. It all reminded him of how enticing she was in his mind and how much he wanted to take her.
But, this was not an illusion, not a place where he could do whatever he wanted. This was reality. And he knew that if he did take her, there would be dire consequences, probably involving his exile from S.E.E.S., if not his death. He severed the thought. He already promised himself he'd rather a relationship with her than a one night stand and with that in mind, he gently pushed her off him so that he could figure out where they were and how they could end this Shadow.
As soon as he did so however, Mitsuru stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Minato didn't think she would wake so quickly and caught by surprise, he could only watch as she took in her surroundings.
"Where am I?" Mitsuru asked the empty air before looking at herself. "And why am I wearing this?" She turned around and as her eyes fell onto a bare-chested Minato, she immediately blushed and pulled the sheets to cover her chest. "Wha-? Arisato?! Have you been here this whole time?"
"I have," Minato replied, trying not to think about how that blush made her look even cuter. He swallowed hard and then raised a hand. "But before you jump to any conclusions, this is not what it looks like." When Mitsuru raised an eyebrow and gave him a rather cold stare, he continued, "This is probably going to come out wrong but believe me, I didn't do anything to make you...get into bed with me."
"Wh-What makes you th-think I should believe you?" Mitsuru said, still blushing furiously and holding onto the sheets the way someone would hold onto the edge of a cliff.
Minato looked around the room to avoid her eyes and thought as hard as his headache would allow. Then he returned his attention to her. "I honestly can't say since I don't remember anything between falling for that ambush and waking up here. But I swear on my life nothing happened." He held Mitsuru's inspective gaze and after a minute or two, decided to say something when she spoke.
"Okay. I believe you," Mitsuru said, loosening her grip on the sheets.
"R-Really?"
Mitsuru nodded. "Not believing your theory regarding those Shadows almost cost me my life. If I were to not believe you now, I fear it would cost us our friendship. And I can't allow that to happen, not when Iori is already so moody. Anyway, we had better–" She cut off and gasped.
Minato was unsure of what concerned her so until he felt an ebbing pain in his fingers. He looked at his right hand and saw that it was bloodied all over with multiple cuts. So I did lash out at the mirror. Great, now I won't be able to use my saber.
"What happened?" Mitsuru asked.
"I must have punched something," Minato replied, before cringing as a stab of pain shot through his hand.
Mitsuru let go of the sheets and to his surprise, edged towards him. She then took his hand and inspected it. "This looks bad." She looked around, spotted the bathroom a few paces away from her side of the bed and stood up. "Come on, we'll need to wash it before it gets infected."
Before Minato could object and tell her he was perfectly capable of taking care of his hand, he was up and following her into the bathroom. Which of course, looked exactly like the one in the Shadow's illusion. It had the same set of tiles lining the walls and floor, the same shower at the far end (thankfully with no silhouette), and the same cracked mirror above a pair of sinks with heart shaped handles. The familiarity of it all irked him and seeing Mitsuru suddenly blush upon noticing the bathroom's appearance made him narrow his eyes. Was it possible that she had been in that illusion? As the 'fake' Mitsuru? Considering the level of realism the Shadow had managed to imbue the illusion with, Minato thought it was likely. But if that's true, then why was she acting strange and calling me by my first name? She never does that and Akihiko is the only person she–
A stream of warm water splashed onto his injured hand. Minato flinched as pain erupted from the multiple cuts but as soon as he tried to pull away, Mitsuru grabbed his arm.
"It'll hurt less if you hold still," she said, bringing his hand back under the running water.
Knowing he would lose the argument, Minato bit his tongue to keep himself from retorting and let her tend to his hand. The pain fluctuated as she worked her way through cleansing each individual cut, then subsided once she wrapped a gauze bandage she'd found in one of the cupboards around his hand. He was impressed.
"That should do it," she said. "Is it still painful?"
"A little, but I'll manage," he replied. "Thanks. You're quite the nurse, you know that?"
Mitsuru folded her arms and gave him a small smile. "Well, I've done something like this before for...a friend many years ago. It isn't something you forget, and with someone like Akihiko around, I've had plenty of practice. I'm not sure if nurse is the right word, since I don't have a uniform or..." She trailed off and looked away from him for a moment, bright shades of pink creeping into her cheeks. "U-Um, Arisato? Y-You wouldn't h-happen to know wh-where our clothes are w-would you?"
Minato was confused. Then, as his eyes darted from her chest, then to her toned midriff, then to the fishnet stockings that wrapped her shapely legs, it hit him. He flushed and quickly turned his back to her. "I, uh, think they should be outside? Let me have a look."
He exited the bathroom and shaking the sexy image of her out of his head, took a good look at the room they were in. Unsurprisingly, it was a luxury suite. In front of him, elaborate drapes hung across the window overlooking the bed and to his left, there was a doorway leading to an adjoining lounge. A pink door (with a heart shaped handle) stood beside it and thinking that the wardrobe was where their clothes decided to hide, Minato moved to push it open.
Greeting him under neon purple lights however, was not their clothes but instead, a long line of coat hangers which held an assortment of intimate apparel. Ignoring the fact that Mitsuru had probably found her outfit here, he went deeper into the wardrobe. More lingerie and hosiery? Check. French maid and policewoman costumes? Check. Their school uniforms? Nope. Minato sighed. If their clothes weren't in the wardrobe, then where were they? Much like his throbbing headache, the question continued to linger as he returned to the bedroom. Shutting the wardrobe door, he turned to find Mitsuru wearing a bathrobe and standing by the doorway to the lounge. She was more composed than before but as she peered into the lounge, a look of embarrassment and disgust crossed her face.
"Well, our clothes aren't in the wardrobe," Minato said. "Are you alright? You look pale."
"Oh I'm fine," Mitsuru said, giving him a sidelong glance. "It's just that, well, I wish they really were in the wardrobe." She gestured for him to look at the lounge and what Minato saw made him even more conflicted about what happened after he fell unconscious.
His white shirt. Her white blouse. His black pants. Her knee-length skirt. His school shoes. Her leather boots. His headphones and MP3 player. Her red ribbon. It was all scattered everywhere, as if some pirate had ravaged the room in search for buried treasure. Their clothes lay on the floor, on the sofa, and even hung from the top of the flat-screen television. How Mitsuru's undergarments had ended up over there was perplexing to no end and as much as he wanted to forget seeing it, Minato knew it was impossible. Hell, forgetting everything he was seeing right now was impossible.
"This is..." Minato said. He was completely loss for words.
"I know," Mitsuru said. "It's as if you and I..." She trailed off and cast her eyes away from the disturbing scene.
Minato took a deep breath. Let it out. Then looked Mitsuru in the eye. "We better regroup with the others soon. If that Shadow can agitate both of us like this, then Yukari and the others could be in serious trouble."
Mitsuru nodded. "But before we do, can I ask for a favor?"
"Sure."
"Please don't speak of this to the others. Just thinking about it is already so embarrassing, I don't think I can handle talking about it as well."
"Don't worry," Minato said, giving her the most reassuring smile he could conjure. "I won't."
They then went around the room to retrieve their clothing, trying their best to ignore what the situation looked like. Mitsuru left for the bedroom to change shortly after doing so and while waiting, Minato collected their Evokers off the glass table in front of the television, and the rapier that leaned against a wall near the entrance. Gripping Mitsuru's rapier reminded him of his own saber and it saddened him that he no longer had the weapon. Oh there was nothing wrong with using an Evoker to fight off Shadows but it didn't come with the same satisfaction a blade could bring.
Mitsuru seemed to understand this and as they exited the room to search for the others, she prudently avoided talking about it. In fact, she avoided talking to him altogether unless it was related to finding the others. While the silence was comforting, it felt unnatural to Minato because whenever they were together like this in Tartarus, there was always something to discuss. Student Council affairs, elements of correct swordplay or even just how he was finding his subjects. There was always something that kept the monotony of walking through hallways interesting.
Now that there was nothing, a part of his mind panicked and thought that because he had seen her partially naked and in provocative attire, their friendship was over. Done and dusted. Minato would not blame her if that was true but he knew Mitsuru was better than that. She was smart enough to know everything that happened back there was all the work of the Shadow. She believed him that nothing happened between them. But even so, why? Why does she still look so distressed and uncomfortable? The answer continued to elude him as they proceeded through more corridors and when they ascended the flight of stairs leading back to the floor they were ambushed, he decided he would ask her. Just as the words formed in his head though, ready for deployment, there was a voice that made him forget what he wanted to say.
"There you are!"
Minato and Mitsuru turned to find Akihiko and Yukari approaching them. While they were relatively unharmed, they both had a similar troubled expression.
"Are you two alright?" Akihiko asked.
Minato exchanged a glance with Mitsuru whose eyes told him 'Please don't say anything about us'. Then he turned his attention to Akihiko. "We're fine. Although, my hand has seen better days." He raised his right hand that was wrapped in bandages and shot Mitsuru another glance. Her reply: 'Thank you'.
"What happened? Did you punch something?" Yukari asked, stepping forward, Evoker in hand.
"I don't really remember what it was but I must have," Minato said. He gestured at her Evoker. "You don't need to heal it though. Better you save your energy for the next fight." When Yukari raised an eyebrow, he continued, "There's a second Shadow. It was the one responsible for the ambush that separated us."
Akihiko folded his arms and grimaced. "So that's what the dark pulse back in that room was. Man, how could we have fallen for that?"
"Well it was kind of inevitable since we were locked in that room" Yukari said. She holstered her Evoker. "Then again, it was Stupei's idea to charge in. Geez, why does he have to be so thick headed?"
"Maybe you should ask him," said a voice.
Yukari gasped and turned around to find Junpei, staggering towards them with a ripped shirt, grazes on his arms and face, and a katana that dripped Shadow blood.
"Junpei, I–" Yukari started before stopping as Junpei raised a hand.
"Isn't it 'Stupei', Yuka-tan?" Junpei said. When Yukari remained silent, he continued, "You know what, call me whatever you like. I don't give a damn anymore."
"Where have you been?" Akihiko asked.
Junpei shouldered his katana and snorted. "I was in the laundry. It took me a while to get my bearings straight and when I did, I heard shouts. I thought it was one of you guys but instead, half a dozen of those stupid pieces of shit jumped at me."
"Half a dozen?" Minato repeated. He was impressed. Though with the way Junpei swung his katana in wide, sweeping arcs, he supposed something was bound to get hit.
"Yeah. Why, you thought I couldn't handle it?"
"I didn't say that. It's just that we haven't encountered any Shadows since we regrouped."
"Seriously? I bust my ass off trying to survive and you say you haven't seen any Shadows?" Junpei sighed. "Well I guess I can't expect anything less. Shadows cower and scram from our leader after all."
Minato took a step towards him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh I think you know what it means," Junpei said. He tilted his head to the side. "By the way, why do you smell like apple?"
Minato stiffened and he felt Mitsuru do the same. He didn't have to see her eyes but he knew that they were telling him to change the topic as soon as possible.
"How is that even important right now?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. After what the Shadow had done to him, as well as the faint ebbs of pain that emanated from his headache and hand injury, it was exceptionally difficult. Feeling his Personas vehemently swirl in his mind was not helping either.
"So something did happen. I knew it," Junpei said. "You're just one lucky bastard aren't ya?"
"Alright, that's enough," Akihiko said, stepping in between them before Minato could respond. "This isn't the time or place for arguments. If you two want to butt heads, go do it sometime later. Right now, we have a Shadow to track down."
Junpei looked at Akihiko and held his hard gaze for a moment. Then he turned away and scoffed. "Fine. Do you know where it is?"
"Um, I do," Fuuka said suddenly, causing everyone to flinch.
"F-Fuuka?" Yukari said. "Have you been listening in on us this whole time?"
"Y-Yes. I was going to say something before but, well, when Minato and Junpei started arguing, I didn't really know if it was the right time to speak up."
"Don't worry about it," Minato said. "We're done for the time being so go ahead and tell us what you know."
"O-Okay. The Shadow's in the same room as the previous one. What I was going to tell you before losing contact was that there's a seal on the door. To break it, you have to break the mirrors that give off the same energy as the Shadow. I'll try to narrow it down but hopefully you'll notice something too," Fuuka said.
Minato looked to the others who nodded in understanding. "Alright then. Let's finish this."
They set off again following Fuuka's directions, all the while checking every door they came across just in case she had missed something. Every few doors or so, Shadows burst out and armed only with his Evoker, Minato left the fighting to the others. Watching them take out waves of Shadows without him wasn't something he enjoyed but, with the narrow corridors and doorways creating a bottleneck that forced them to fight in single file, he knew joining in would just slow them down. And waste his energy. So instead, he opted to keep track of which doors they had searched and watch for any Shadows that might ambush them from behind. It was tedious but Minato figured it would at least give Junpei the opportunity to be the 'leader' again. And keeping him satisfied was one less thing to worry about. He hoped it was anyway.
As Minato waited for their search of the final door on this floor to conclude, he noticed Mitsuru hadn't gone in with the others. She still looked troubled and when he approached, she sighed.
"Some operation this is huh?" Minato said, leaning against the wall.
"It's more strenuous than I had anticipated," Mitsuru replied. She lowered her rapier and looked at him. "Arisato, I...I apologize for not speaking up back there. It's still hard for me to come to terms with what happened in that room so if I had said anything, I felt it may have led the others to believe something did happen."
"It's okay. If it helps, I'm having a hard time accepting what happened as well." He gave her a small smile. "Besides, I don't think Akihiko-senpai or Yukari suspect anything. Especially since they looked to be hiding something themselves."
"That's true. But what about Iori?"
Minato turned his gaze on the wall in front of him. "He can think what he likes. Either way, it's none of his business."
Mitsuru's expression softened but just as she was about to speak, the others emerged from the room and Fuuka's voice echoed in their heads.
"I can confirm that the seal on the door is broken. You should be able to fight the Shadow now," she said.
"It's about time," Akihiko said, grinning. He turned to Minato. "You going to be alright taking the lead?"
"I'll manage," Minato replied, meeting his gaze before looking at all of them. "This time though, let's do it properly."
They then returned to the room where they were ambushed. As he stood in front of the door, a familiar feeling pulsed through Minato, and the wispy whispers that occupied his mind the moment he entered the hotel returned to taunt him. Ignoring them and his throbbing head, he motioned the others to get ready and placed his left hand on the heart shaped handle. Then he twisted it and pushed the door open.
Immediately after entering, the sickening blend of scents from before assailed them like a rain of invisible arrows. Minato took care not to breathe deeply and grabbing his Evoker, he went forward into the murky purple-pink glow. He passed the dreadful maroon drapes that covered the window looking out to the streets below, passed the numerous couches and mirrors that seemed to be everywhere in the room, and passed the wardrobe full of naughty outfits to arrive at a huge, circular waterbed.
Hovering above that bed with its angel wings and basking in its own glory of being a mutated heart shaped piece of jelly, was their target. Golden spikes stood from its shoulders and on its torso was the male and female symbols intertwined with each other. The Shadow stared at them and even though the mannequin mask that was its face had no expression, it may as well have been smirking and laughing.
"Why hello Amazon boy. It's a shame that it had to come to this."
Minato noticed the others had drawn their weapons and Evokers, all looking very annoyed. So it was true. The Shadow spoke to them as well. Realizing it made him curious as to what it could have possibly shown Mitsuru but he cut the thought as the Shadow continued to speak.
"Seriously a real shame. I give you the opportunity to have sex with the girl you lust for. And you instead come and find me? I don't know how much more stupid you can get."
Fuelled with blazing anger at how the Shadow had almost ended their relationships, Minato drew his Evoker and raised it to his temple.
Then the room flashed a brilliant blue as the gateway to his psyche opened.
Personas poured out of his mind like the unending torrent of a waterfall, clashing with the Shadow alongside his friends'. And as many that were lost, Minato kept the stream flowing and fused even more. He pulled them out of his psyche, pushed them together, and sent them charging at the Shadow. He could hear in his mind that the Shadow was in pain but it still continued to laugh. Minato did not know why until something zoomed across his eyes. He turned in the direction it had come from and felt his stomach drop.
At the far right of the room was Yukari, bow in hand with an arrow nocked. It appeared as if she were to fire it at the Shadow but, upon looking at her eyes and seeing them burn with an immense hatred, Minato realized the Shadow was not her target. He was not her target either.
Oh shit.
Before Yukari let the arrow loose, Minato dropped his Evoker and ran, hearing Fuuka shout in his mind what he figured out seconds ago. He could see the others breaking eye contact from the Shadow to search for Yukari but there was no time for them to react. The arrow was already on its way. And Minato had seen that look on Yukari's face one too many times. He knew who her target was.
He tackled Mitsuru to the ground, feeling something heavy hit him in the back of his left shoulder like a punch. She looked at him as if he had gone mad but when her eyes darted from his to the arrow's shaft protruding from his back, she immediately paled.
Yukari's arrow had impaled him.
"I...made...it," Minato said before crying out as pain exploded across his body. He then rolled off her and onto his right arm, feeling his shirt swell with blood and whatever strength he had left fade away.
"Akihiko, Iori, cover me! And watch out for Takeba!" Mitsuru shouted as she held Minato steady and whipped out her Evoker.
They both glanced in their direction for a second, saw the situation, and directed their Personas to shield them from Yukari's attacks. Seeing as they could handle it for the time being, Mitsuru turned her attention on Minato and summoned Penthesilea.
"You'll be okay. I promise you'll be okay!" Mitsuru said, instructing Penthesilea to place her hands near the wound.
A mint green glow enveloped the Persona's hands and the familiar cooling sensation pulsed around his injury. Minato welcomed it with open arms but knew it wasn't enough. The pain had already taken hold of him and dragged him into the realm of unconsciousness once more; a place where Mitsuru's pleas faded to nothing, her touch faded to nothing, and his sense of the world faded to nothing.
Drifting.
Endless drifting.
Until...
A door opened.
White light pierced his eyes and Minato felt himself being drawn towards it like a moth. It soon died down to reveal a familiar room. One that was painted deep blue and imitated an elevator.
"Why hello again," a familiar voice said.
Minato looked to where the voice had emanated from. And sure enough, sitting on the opposite side of a table which housed an assortment of tarot cards, was Igor. The old man eye's were still as bloodshot as ever and he still rested his chin on his clasped hands, as if the time between this visit and Minato's previous had been a mere minute apart.
The Velvet Room? How? And...
"Why am I here?" Minato asked. He blinked. There was no pain in his body. He shot a glance at his right hand, and then at his left shoulder. Both were void of the injuries he'd sustained back in the hotel. Does this mean I'm dead? Or was Mitsuru successful in healing me?
"Well my dear guest," Igor said, unmoving from his position, "that is something you should ask Elizabeth."
The room flashed white again and Minato noticed Elizabeth was now standing beside Igor. Where did she come from?
"Ah, there you are Minato-sama," Elizabeth said. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting but I had to make sure you were ready."
"Ready? For what?" Minato said.
"Hmm. How should I put this in words you'll understand?" Elizabeth creased her brow before coming to a light-bulb-flashing-over-her-head moment. "Ah yes. You will now be ready to unleash a new part of your potential."
"What do you mean?"
"We've been observing you use your Persona fusion skills," Igor said. "And seeing as you have mastered the Normal Spread, Elizabeth and I would like to provide you with a new form of assistance: the Triangle Spread. Henceforth, you will now be able to fuse three Personas, something that I'm certain will benefit you greatly. Now then, you must make haste for your friends need you. Until we meet again."
The flashes of light began to increase in tempo. The wisps of his Personas' existence twisted and coiled, their voices calling him to rise. And before Minato could speak the many questions on his mind, darkness greeted him and threw him back to reality.
"Can you hear me? Please Arisato, say something!"
Minato awoke, feeling as if someone had drenched him with a bucket of cold water. He gasped and opening his eyes, found himself propped up against a wall; Mitsuru and Penthesilea kneeling beside him. The Persona's hands were still pressed around his wound (which fortunately, was not spouting blood) and judging from how weary Mitsuru looked, he figured the healing must have been going on for a while.
"Mi...tsuru...senpai," Minato managed to say. The pain had lessened but he could still feel it throbbing.
"Oh thank goodness," Mitsuru said, breathing deeply. "I feared I was too late."
He gave her a slight smile before looking over her shoulder to see Akihiko and Junpei, who had taken a beating in defending them from the Shadow and Yukari's onslaught. They were still on their feet but Minato knew that it would not be long before the fight was over and the Shadow would turn to them. He grimaced, annoyed that after all the chaos of tonight, they were unable to finish the job. There has to be something that we can do. But what? Mitsuru-senpai is too tired and I'm...
...ready to unleash a new part of my potential.
The memory of Elizabeth's words hit him. He looked towards the battle again and all at once, everything coalesced. With great effort, he leaned forward, startling Mitsuru.
"Arisato? What are you doing?" she asked.
"Your...Evoker," Minato said. "I know...how to end...this."
Mitsuru looked at him skeptically but seeing he was serious, she dismissed Pentheselia and passed her Evoker to him. Ignoring the dull pain in his right hand, Minato took it. Raised it. And squeezed the trigger.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
The sea of his soul shuddered each time and when all Personas were present, he pushed them together with his mind. Emerging from the white glitter was a long, blonde haired muse, dressed in a revealing purple gown. She glided across the room, evading the Shadow's tongues of fire, before firing off a pink beam.
At Yukari.
Thinking it harmless, Yukari made no effort to defend herself and instead nocked another arrow. The beam struck her as she did so and at first glance, it appeared to have no effect. Upon seeing her still standing, Junpei shot a quizzical look at Minato.
"Dude! That didn't do shit!" Junpei yelled. He turned back to the battle and was about to take evasive maneuvers when Akihiko held up a hand.
"Wait Junpei!" Akihiko said. "Look closer. Takeba's eyes. They're different now."
Junpei squinted and saw that they really were. The intense glare of hatred had reverted to a neutral look. "Well I'll be damned. He did it again."
"Takeba!" Akihiko said, leaping away from the Shadow's attack. "We need healing. Now!"
Yukari blinked a few times and slowly lowered her bow, confused by the sounds and smells of the room. Then she heard Akihiko. Saw him and Junpei, exhausted. Looked across the room to see Mitsuru beside an injured Minato. And finally realizing where she was and what she was doing, she seized her Evoker and brought it to her forehead. Just as her finger curled around the trigger, the Shadow attacked. A ball of fire was hurled towards her and occupied with summoning her Persona, Yukari was frozen in place.
Junpei cursed, raising his own Evoker in hope of having Hermes get there in time.
Akihiko yelled as he dashed to push her out of the way.
And Minato heard a gunshot. Looking to his right, he saw Mitsuru lower her Evoker and put a hand to her side. She was breathing heavily and on the verge of collapsing; having Penthesilea take the hit meant for Yukari had weakened her. Greatly. Using the last of his energy, Minato pushed himself to his feet. He winced at the stabbing pain but managed to hold Mitsuru steady with his good arm.
"Yukari! Now's your chance!" he shouted.
Yukari wasted no time and called Io. The Persona appeared above her and placing its hands together, cast a bright green pulse that emanated throughout the room. Minato felt it fight back the ache in his shoulder and saw Akihiko and Junpei regain some of their energy.
"Good job Takeba," Akihiko said, smiling as he readied his Evoker. "Alright, let's go!"
More gunshots erupted as Hermes and Io joined Polydeuces in one last assault. Charging towards the Shadow, they unleashed a barrage of attacks. Unable to block them all and weakened from all the damage it had sustained, the Shadow was quickly overwhelmed. Bashed and slashed, it then released a high pitched scream that shattered the mirrors before finally exploding in a mess of black and pink.
For a while, nobody said a word and remained where they were. Minato wasn't sure if silence after a battle was going to be customary but a fresh jab of pain pulled him away from his thoughts. He let go of Mitsuru, fell to his knees and grunted, breaking the silence that had entranced everyone.
"Arisato!" Mitsuru said, kneeling beside him. She reached for her Evoker, then stopped as Minato shook his head.
"Don't tire yourself," he said, watching the others approach. He cringed. "I'll be alright."
Mitsuru pursed her lips but before she could scold him for being so stubborn, someone gasped. She looked to the others and saw that Yukari had a hand over her mouth.
"Minato? Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" she said, her face paling as she saw his blood soaked shirt and the arrow that was lodged into him. "I...I...I wasn't myself, you have to know that and...and–" She cut off as she wiped the tears that began to form.
"It's okay," Minato said. "The Shadow was controlling you. It's not your fault. Besides, better for it to hit me than kill Mitsuru-senpai."
Yukari's eyes widened. "Wait. I was aiming for..." She trailed off and met Mitsuru's gaze. To her surprise, it wasn't at all hostile.
"Yes, you were aiming for me," Mitsuru said. "If it weren't for Arisato, I'd likely be dead. But you can't blame yourself. You had no idea what you were doing."
"B-But I..."
"Let it go Takeba," Akihiko said. "We've all forgiven you already so there's no hard feelings."
Yukari looked at Akihiko, then to Minato. "If you say so."
Gazing into her eyes, Minato could see she was still very distressed. Perhaps traumatized even. As Akihiko helped him to his feet however, he heard a cough that reminded him she wasn't the only one with a problem tonight.
"So we're all good now are we?" Junpei asked sarcastically.
Everyone turned to see Junpei with a dissatisfied look on his face. Minato couldn't believe it. Considering everyone's physical and mental states, not to mention Akihiko's warning earlier, he assumed that by now his classmate would have dropped whatever he was annoyed at. Bottled it up. Saved it for another day. He supposed Junpei's tenacity was admirable but this time, it just served to create even more unnecessary squabbles.
"Iori, what are you getting at?" Mitsuru said with a sharp look.
"Y-Yeah Junpei. Can't you see he's badly hurt?" Yukari said, turning to face him.
Junpei ignored them both and strode towards Minato. "So, you're the hero again huh?"
"I'm not claiming to be anything," Minato said. "Each of us played a part in this operation. Maybe it didn't go the way we wanted it to go but we're still alive. Isn't that good enough for you?"
Junpei held Minato's gaze. Then he brought his cap down over his eyes and turned around. "To you maybe. But not to me." He then walked out of the room.
Minato and the others soon followed suit. As they made their way through the corridors and down the several flights of stairs to the hotel lobby, his thoughts wandered across the many realms of tonight's happenings; Junpei's arrogance, Yukari's brainwashing, his injury that would likely have adverse and permanent consequences. As much of an issue they all were though, none could match the puzzle that was Mitsuru's feelings.
Those thoughts of hers that he felt running through his veins before made his mind spin in a spiral of emotions. It was ecstatic and frightening, wonderful and deplorable, so real and yet so fake. He knew there was no reason to think that Mitsuru harbored feelings towards him because the Shadow's visions had to be an illusion. But no matter how much he convinced himself of this, he just could not let his curiosity go. What if the Shadow really was right? What if Mitsuru really did feel something? Judging from how she'd been acting lately, there was a chance it could be true. Yet a chance was just a possibility, and within possibility lived doubt. And when faced with doubt, Minato knew the only cure for this suffering was to approach Mitsuru and simply–
Ask her.
"That was quite the show."
On the roof of a building opposite the love hotel, stood Takaya. He watched in amusement at the five small figures that were the members of S.E.E.S. trudge along the sidewalk to the long black vehicle parked a few blocks down.
"Your thoughts Jin?" Takaya asked.
"They're dangerous, but they have their weaknesses," Jin said. He was sitting on the floor with his laptop in his lap and didn't look up when speaking. "Without Kirijo's leadership and Arisato's unique skill set, they would be severely lost on how to handle things."
Upon hearing 'Arisato', Takaya burst into raucous laughter.
"What's so funny?" Jin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Look down at him and you'll see," Takaya said.
Jin strode over to the edge of the roof and squinted at the five figures. Then his eyes locked onto the one with the unnatural blue hair. And noticed the blood soaked shirt. "He's injured?"
"Indeed. Quite badly too from the looks of it," Takaya said. "That must explain the lull in the power surge." He took a breath. "What an interesting turn of events."
"You want to greet them now and be done with it?"
Takaya let Jin's words flow through one ear before shooting them out the other. They were the enemy, yes, but with the only formidable opponent disabled from his full potential, Takaya knew it would not be fair. And it wasn't just that too. He was intrigued by Arisato's powers. How the boy could pull more than one from his psyche. How the boy could push them together to form greater ones. Thinking about seeing it in action before his very eyes was enough to send a rush of excitement down his spine.
"No, we will give them our warm welcome come the next full moon," he said. "Besides, there is no fun in taking out crippled sheep. Let them have a chance. No matter how small it is."
His laughter resounded into the depths of the heated night.